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ISSUE 34  |  MARCH 4, 2016

Hi <<First Name>>,

Welcome to Embroidery News Issue 34.

It’s official … our needlework community is the best!

You are all so generous, so passionate and so engaged in your needlework WE LOVE YOU!

Thank you for all your kind messages about issue #89.

Thank you to everyone who has already registered for BATB 2016. (WOW! What a response!)

Thank you for sending in your photos for ‘What Are You Stitching’ and feedback on what we write about.

Thank you for supporting us through purchasing the magazine, our books, patterns and kits.

Thank you for your needlework.  Your stitching really does make a difference, so keep it all goingit’s working!

In the same way we are privileged to create publications that inspire you, your projects inspire us.  Further, your needlework projects create such joy for others – whether you give them away as gifts, display your work for others to admire and appreciate, or just engage with us or any other online needlework community.  It all creates a sense of purpose and momentum that help keeps needlework relevant and alive in our society.

If ever there was a moment in history, or a generation that can benefit from the joy, the satisfaction and the peace that needlework brings, it is surely now.


Do you have something you can share with the Inspirations community? We’d love to hear from you, please email us embroiderynews@inspirationsmagazine.com.au

THE BENEFITS OF NEEDLEWORK –
Fighting Time Poor

It seems our opening piece in last week’s Embroidery News about overcoming the scourge of being Time Poor and reiterating the benefits of needlework, resonated with many of you.   If you missed it, you can read it here

There are in fact numerous studies and testimonies proving the benefits of needlework for both women and men across the spectrum of society, yet in much the same way our diets need more fruits and vegetables, what is best for us seldom wins over convenience.  Perhaps part of our job here at Embroidery News is to help remind us how fabulous the wellbeing benefits of needlework really are… although in some ways we’re probably preaching to the converted!

That said, this week we wanted to share an inspiring email we received for those who need some encouragement to push on with their needlework:

I have always done some form of needlework.  This past summer, after losing my husband, I had to move from our family home.  Prior to making the decision to move, I agreed to enter a quilting challenge.  People thought I was crazy when I said I would do it.  However, as the stress of sorting out 50 years of memories and deciding what to take and what to leave got overwhelming, I would go into my sewing room and pick up the beautiful fabrics and my needles and thread and create.  I would be so much better after an hour or more of my “therapy”.  I finished the quilt and the move with my sanity intact.  Sonja Sanguinetti.

Thank you sharing Sonja – we grieve with you for your loss, and are heartened to know needlework has helped carry you through.

INSPIRATIONS EVENTS AND TRAVEL UPDATE


This year we’re hoping to enjoy your company when you join us for either Masterclass on The Mekong in May, or at Beating Around The Bush in October.


Registrations for BATB 2016 opened on Monday and some classes have already sold out, with others filling fast.  If you’re planning on coming, click here to check out our new website where you can register online.

Dreaming of a Needlework Getaway Adventure? Escape with us!

Me time, needlework time, cruise time, stitch and chat time, all rolled into one!  From May 15th – 22nd 2016 you can embroider on a five-star luxury cruise down the Mekong.  Once you’ve experienced this exotic destination you’ll be hooked, and will want to join the regulars who return each year.

Email our hostess with the mostess Laura today for a copy of our 2016 brochure.  Ready to book?  Click here to sign up online.

INSPIRATIONS MAGAZINE UPDATE

We love that you are loving our Fabulous Flowers issue #89.  This week it’s all about windflowers, which is the gorgeous flower that adorns the front cover of issue #89.  The project, aptly named ‘Windflower’, is by the superbly talented Susan Porter

Susan first stole the flower show with her project ‘Sweet Violets’ featured on the cover of Inspirations issue #82.  In issue #85 her stumpwork rose ‘Full Bloom’ proved incredibly popular and now this time she is back with another raised embroidery piece to capture our attention.  One can’t help but gaze at the splendour of this perfect flower as Susan yet again re-creates nature using the needle and thread in such a vivid, life like design.


Nothing smells as sweet as a studio full of hundreds of rose petals!

With so many stunning designs in her portfolio, we always look forward to seeing what Susan creates next, and we can even share a little secret with you… the next issue of Inspirations #90 has yet another Susan Porter piece!

Sweet Violets – Issue #82

Full Bloom – Issue #85

GETTING YOUR SUSAN PORTER FIX

Ok, lets break this down for you… here is how you can get your next Susan Porter Fix:

INSPIRATIONS MAGAZINES– Purchase issue #89 for her new project ‘Windflower’. Purchase issue #82 for her project ‘Sweet Violets’. Unfortunately #85 is sold out, but digital patterns from this issue will be coming soon.

Inspirations issue #89
Purchase your copy here.


Inspirations issue #82
Purchase your copy here.

INSPIRATIONS KITS – Windflower Kit Now Available

Kits for the project Windflower by Susan Porter are now in stock and available for purchase.

Kit contains:
– fabrics
– wire
– ribbon
– threads
– needles

Great value at only $46.75
(based on 15% subscriber discount)
Click here to order
Browse our complete range of kits here.

INSPIRATIONS EVENTS
STITCH WITH SUSAN PORTER AT BATB 2016

Susan Porter will be with us at Beating Around The Bush in October this year, and will be teaching these three divine projects.  Why not book a class with her and join us at BATB 2016 by registering here.

VISIT SUSAN’S WEBSITE – EMBELLISH EMBROIDERY

Check out Susan’s newly updated website ‘Embellish Embroidery’ to learn more about what she’s up to and what other projects she has available for purchase.  Click here to visit!

FUN FLOWER FACT…

Susan O’Connor our Editor In Chief, was telling us this week that in the first three issues of Inspirations, every single project features a flower.  This prompted her to design some projects with fruit as an alternative and so it was in issue 04 Susan’s slippers ‘Golden Harvest’ featured on the front cover and broke the pattern of flowers, flowers and more flowers!

Inspirations issue 04

CAN YOU HELP?

After being tempted by Vietnam last week, we now pick up the conversation Jillian started a couple of weeks ago when she queried the origins of a piece of antique cloth she’d recently found.

Jillian is trying to uncover the history of such pieces & this week we’ll share what the Embroidery News Community has to add to the conversation . . .

Kay Dennis suggested Jillian’s cloth may be a form of Filet Lace which originally dates back to the 1300’s. Kay has two such pieces in her collection, but as the net on hers is more irregular than the one seen in Jillian’s piece, Kay was wondering if Jillian’s piece may be a machine form of Filet Lace.

Margaret Warren from Hobart in Tasmania, Australia tells of a personal connection she has to such a piece as Jillian’s :

‘During the Second World War my grandmother Emily Warren crocheted three large supper cloths, one for each of her sons who were away fighting.  Fortunately all three returned to claim their cloths and this fabulous peacock cloth is one of my most treasured possessions. The pattern is rather tattered but the cloth, measuring 1.35m square is still pristine.’


I also have a school exercise book containing patterns which my Grandma tore from magazines such as The Australian Home Journal, The Australian Woman's Mirror and The New Idea.  The peacock pattern is one by Australian Mary Card who achieved worldwide acclaim for her designs.’

Sara Zander from California in the USA brought the Lacis Museum of Lace & Textiles in Berkeley, California to our attention as she’s sure that any questions regarding lace could be answered by reaching out to either the owner, Jules or the curator, Erin. Lacis’ website - www.lacismuseum.org – offers information about the exhibitions at the museum as well as outlining the classes they have on offer. Lacis’ current exhibition is one on historic ball gowns which Sara found simply stunning! Their ‘sister site’ – www.lacis.comallows you to shop their extensive range of lace and textile paraphernalia from the comfort of your own home.

Roberta Kenney from Pennsylvania, USA – whose husband and son are airplane history buffs – recognized the plane on Jillian’s cloth as one of the biplanes the British flew and the roundels as copies of the insignia that were found on the airplanes the allies flew.  They suggested the cloth may be a memorial piece honouring someone involved in WWI.

Kay Smith from Christchurch, New Zealand recently found an old book ‘The Craft of the Crochet Hook’ which includes patterns of a similar technique used in the piece Jillian uncovered and generously offered it to Jillian as Kay can’t crochet to save her life’!

As mentioned, we love the fact we’re a part of such a responsive and generous community!  Jillian has also received a couple of comments that were posted directly to her blog, ‘Always Stitching’, so if you haven’t yet read it, or would like to see the comments posted, make sure you check it out here.

Until next week when we start a new conversation . .

WHAT ARE YOU STITCHING?

This week we have a special guest star in ‘What Are You Stitching’.  Issue #89 features a sensational article on Jerome Speekman and his amazing embroidered pieces, like this one:


Do yourself a favour and if you have the magazine check out the article, if you don’t have it buy it HERE, it’s worth it just to read about Jerome.

Not long after we sent Jerome a copy of issue #89, he sent us this email:

‘Hello Team! After having finished my commissioned waistcoat I started to feel edgy. I always get like that when I have no embroidery on the go.  I feel like there is something missing in my life.  However, after my last work I just couldn't think of what would be my next challenge. I felt I had done it all as far as embroidery goes.

So finally I decided to go back to my roots and where it all started for me. I typed into Google “birds” and this was the first bird I saw, so I am having a go at it.  What Am I Stitching? A Toucan!   See you, Jerome’

How good is that?  What an amazing piece, and imagine how great it will come up once it’s finished.  Thank you for sending that in Jerome and giving us a sneak peak at what you’re working on – and welcome to ‘What Are You Stitching?’!

Someone who doesn’t need a welcome to ‘What Are You Stitching’ is Shelley Dutko from the USA whose projects have featured in several issues of Embroidery News.  Shelley continues to send in wonderfully fun and fresh designs she creates herself, so let’s take a look at her latest creations:

‘I love your magazine and am so inspired by the lovely work in your pages.  Recently I was asked to create a pillow to auction for the benefit of a local animal shelter. I was inspired by nursery rhymes and a little girl named Valentina helped me pick out buttons from a craft store.  I tried to give it some perspective with the fraying, and the moon was worked in sequins and applied separately to give it a 3-dimensional look.  I found the darling animal prints and was able to incorporate them nicely to mimic the sky and the water.  I like the burlap, it gives it a country-type feel.  I really enjoyed working on it and am very happy with the end result which I have called the ‘Owl and the Pussycat’ pillow.

My second project is a little pillow I am making for my sister. She has a sweet, very old dog and I wanted to give her a little memento.  I am not sure how to finish it, I might do a Kandinsky-style where the piece is on a swivel and shows both sides, maybe hanging on an ornament hook.  Using Levi material is interesting; I never know how it will fray.  Thank you for your wonderful inspirations.  Shelly.

Shelly whenever we look at your projects they just make us smile as not only are they very clever and intricate in design, they have so much personality!  Thank you and keep up the great work.

Jeanne Polzin from Florida USA has been hard at work creating this elegant and graceful piece as a gift for a well deserving recipient.  Here’s Jeanne’s story:

Hello Inspirations, while I was waiting for Embroidery News to come back this year and Inspirations issue #89 to arrive, I busied myself with the project pictured below.   It was a gift for one of our guild members who has given a lot of herself for many years to our guild here in Sarasota, Florida. 

This piece is an insert for a box top.  It's approximately 6.5 x 6.5 inches and sewn on silk duiponi with silk ribbons and threads.  Some ribbons and threads were from a long time guild member who now suffers from Alzheimer's and I wanted to include her in some way in this gift.  To personalize the design, I stitched the recipient's initials in the center. 

Here's a little hint that, for all I know, may have started "down under."  I wrapped the frame and fabric edge with a length of elastic bandage, pulled taut, to keep the edges clean and to prevent wear and tear.  It works like a charm.  Please, keep up the good work with Inspirations, I love your magazine!  It is truly an inspiration!  Yours in stitches, Jeanne Polzin

Jeanne there are so many things we love about this project.  Not only is your embroidery so skilful, the design is stunning and graceful all at once, plus the level of thought you put into it is just lovely.  Well done.

Penny Taylor from the UK is someone with a plan… she has started something which needs to be finished by Christmas this year.  Let’s cheer her on as she tells us about this piece:

‘Hi everybody just thought you would like to see the beginnings of my latest project by Larissa Holland 'Twelve Days.' A pear from the tree the partridge sits in, you never know l may get the partridge sewn soon, well in time for next year lol.  Penny, South Wales UK.

Well Penny – now that we have shared the start of your ‘Twelve Days’ project with everyone, we all have a vested interest in seeing you finish it!  Great job so far, that pear is super cute – now we need your photos of the rest of it. 

Sue Watson from Sunshine in Victoria, Australia has been hiding her talent from us.  Out of nowhere she has sent us these 4 sensational projects to enjoy:

Hi to everyone at Inspirations.  First I’d like to thank you all for providing the most beautiful magazine – I’ve enjoyed it for years now and have made so many things from those wonderful pages.  I can’t get over how amazing your photography and creativity is, and the print clarity is stunning.  Congrats to all of you! 

I have attached 4 photos here of some of my work that I wouldn’t have been able to do without you. The peacock I designed myself from the skills I learned from Inspirations.

The baby blankets now grace new baby nurseries and the blue bird is a particular favourite of mine. 

I’ve done so many projects but the email would be too big if I sent photos of everything!  Thanks again for bringing so much joy to so many of us out in Embroidery Land!  Cheers, Sue Watson

Now Sue… where have you been?  These projects are just brilliant, you are a very talented stitcher, have a keen eye for detail and really high quality of finish.  We enjoyed receiving your email very much – please be sure to send us some of your other work in the near future.

BABY BLANKETS?  Did we hear someone ask about baby blankets?  It’s true it has been a long time since we featured a baby blanket in Inspirations, however your patience is about to be rewarded. Before this year is out we promise baby blanket fans will be well looked after.

How good is that Blue Wren from Sue Watson?  It’s a Trish Burr project which featured in Inspirations issue 77 and we have some great news about this issue.

Printed copies of Inspirations Issue 77 NOW AVAILABLE.

This highly sought after issue of Inspirations contains some of our all-time popular projects from designers including Jenny Aiden-Christie, Trish Burr, Jane Nicholas, Hazel Blomkamp, Jenny McWhinney and June Goodwin.   

Click here to purchase a copy today.

What Are YOU Stitching?  We’d love to see it… send your photos, a description of the project and a little about yourself including where you live, to embroiderynews@inspirationsmagazine.com.au.

STITCH.OLOGY WEBSITE NEWS

Last week there was a glitch in the matrix and the links for the new digital patterns we added didn’t work (sorry about that!).  Here they are again, all fixed and good to go:


‘Gift Of Flowers’
Beverly Sheldrick

'Flowers For
Elizabeth
'
Susan O’Connor

‘Love’
Alla Akselrod

‘Bianca’
Patricia Girolami

Purchase here

 

Purchase here

 

Purchase here

 

Purchase here

This week we have two new digital patterns.  If you enjoyed Shelley DutkoOwl and The Pussycat’ project above, you might like the pattern ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’ by Heather Scott.  Or if Twelve Days Of Christmas is more your theme like Penny Taylor from the UK, Anna Scott’sFirst Day’ from Inspirations #67 is now available.


‘Hey, Diddle Diddle’
by Heather Scott

Colourful nursery rhyme sheet set to embroider.


‘First Day’
by Anna Scott

Magnificent stumpwork study.

 

Click here to purchase

 

Click here to purchase

Beautiful Needlework.  Sold Here.  www.stitchology.com.au

SUBSCRIBER NEWS

WE BRING THE BEAUTIFUL – THE ONLY THING MISSING IS YOU.

Inspirations is the world’s most beautiful needlework magazine.  We bring all the beautiful needlework projects from all over the world together for your viewing pleasure 4 times a year in each issue.

So if we bring the beautiful, all you need to do is subscribe and we’ll deliver it right to your door anywhere in the world.

If you have never subscribed, we’d love to have you join us. 

For those who don’t have a current subscription – we’d love to have you back.

Either way we’d really appreciate your support.

Beautiful is waiting … subscribe today.

PRINT | For a print subscription simply fill in our secure online form with your details. It’s so easy and quick, you’ll be done in 5 minutes. Click Here.

DIGITAL | For a digital subscription you can purchase it through Zinio direct here or through the Inspirations APP which can be downloaded via the iTunes and Google Play stores, by searching ‘Inspirations Magazine’.


CALL US | If you are not sure what option is best for you, have some questions or just like to talk to someone rather than type, we’d love to hear from you. You can call us from anywhere in the world on +61 8 8293 8600 anytime and if we’re not in, leave a message and we’ll get back to you. For anyone within Australia, call us on 08 8293 8600.

Otherwise email anytime us at
subs@inspirationsmagazine.com.au

NEEDLEWORK NEWS

A few weeks ago in ‘What Are You Stitching’ we wrote about how dogs are often used in needlework and how Hazel Blomkamp sends our office regular updates as to the antics of her beloved canines.  Well the internet was ablaze this week with the wonderful news of new arrivals at Blomkamp manor.

BLOMKAMP: Neville and Brenda are delighted to announce the birth of Colin, Roger, Frank, Norman, Shirley, Maureen, Audrey, Janet and Linda by Caesarean Section at 6 pm on Wednesday 24th February. Mother and babies well, father confused and grandmother running around with bottles of puppy formula.

Congratulations Hazel and good luck keeping that lot under control!

THIS WEEK ON FACEBOOK

Silk embroidery 
VIEW HERE >

 


Faded grandeur silk
VIEW HERE >

 

By Trish Burr
VIEW HERE >


QUOTE:

" In a ball of yarn is the potential to make a dream that you have come true."
~ Melanie Falick ~

WHAT'S ON

What: El Anatsui | Five Decades
Where: Carriageworks | 245 Wilson Street Eveleigh, New South Wales
When: to 6 Mar
Details: Click here


What: The Power of Pattern | The Ayako Mitsui Collection
Where: Art Gallery of South Australia
When: to 13 Mar
Details: Click here


What: Slipstitch
Where: Latrobe Regional Gallery, Victoria Australia
When: to 17 Apr
Details: Click here


What: A Stitch in Time – Home Sewing Before 1900
Where: Victoria and Albert Museum | London
When: to 1 May
Details: Click here


What: RSN | Peacocks & Pomegranates Exhibition
Where: Hampton Court Palace UK
When : to 22 Jul
Details: Click here


What: Embroidery & Patchwork Exhibition ‘Stitches in Flight’ by The Embroiderers’ Guild of Victoria, Ballarat Branch Australia
Where: Minerva Space, Mechanics Institute, 117 Sturt Street Ballarat
When: 4 to 7 Mar
Details: egvballarat@gmail.com


What: The Embroiderers’ Guild of South Australia | Artful Stitches Exhibition
Where: 16 Hughes Street Mile End
When: 7 to 19 Mar
Details: Click here


What: The Embroiderers’ Great Escape
Where: Orewa College – 76 Riverside Road Orewa New Zealand
When: 11 to 13 Mar
Details: Click here


What: Smocking Arts Guild of NSW Stand @ Linnwood House Open Day
Where: 25 Byron Street Guildford, New South Wales, Australia
When: 17 Mar | 11:00 to 4:00
Details: Click here


What: Mollymook Embroiderers | Free Introductory Lessons
Where: Uniting Church Hall | 24 Wolseley Street, Milton New South Wales, Australia
When: 18 Mar | 1 Apr
Details: Click here


What: Bacchus Marsh Quilt In
Where: Bacchus March Public Hall – Main Street, Bacchus Marsh, Australia
When: 19 Mar
Details: Click here


What: Pulled Thread Strawberries
Where: Pacific Northwest Needle Arts Guild | Seattle, USA
When: 26 Mar
Details: Click here


Send us details about events, exhibitions and celebrations happening in your place of stitch and we’ll include them in Embroidery News. Contact us at embroiderynews@inspirationsmagazine.com.au

Happy Stitching
The Embroidery News Team


Welcome to ‘The Embroidery News’ published by Inspirations Studios Corporation. You are receiving this email because you signed up online, at a craft show, when you subscribed to our magazines, or when you purchased something from our online store. Subscribe to our mailing list to keep up to date with news and events. If you no longer wish to receive emails from us, we'll be sorry to see you go, but click here and we will remove your email address from this list. Thank you