Hi <<First Name>>,

Welcome to Embroidery News Issue 35. Do you have friends or family members who get lost in an abyss, staring into their mobile phone, tablet or computer screens?  It’s a curious modern day phenomenon, but I think we may have found the solution – NEEDLEWORK! These past few weeks everyone from the Inspirations office has been out and about either on photos shoots, procuring props and location scouting for the photo shoots, setting up and attending Kaffe Fassett lectures, selecting projects for upcoming publications, or just getting everything ready for all our pending deadlines.  Suddenly it dawned on us – who has time to spend hours looking at a screen when there is so much beautiful needlework to either admire or create! Perhaps the problem is people who stare at their phones all day don’t have anything more compelling in their lives – thank goodness we do!  Nothing can compete with the beauty within the world of needlework. Problem solved! Now… what shall we stitch next? 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

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been discussing the numerous mental, physical and spiritual benefits of needlework and how important it is to prioritise time for it in our lives.  This week Liz Almond from the UK shares her own personal experience of the benefits of needlework:

In regards to the benefits derived from embroidery I cannot emphasise enough just how important a role embroidery has to play in the lives of so many people. I run three Facebook groups associated with my website ‘Blackwork Journey’ with about 2,000 members.

Many of the ladies display great enthusiasm towards the groups and towards each other. For those who are older, have physical problems, live in remote areas, are carers, widowed or lonely, your magazine, the newsletter Embroidery News, the Facebook groups and the websites provide a real lifeline. It gives an opportunity for people to ask questions and receive a reply, to talk about their work and display their progress which encourages others to try something new.

Time spent on a hobby that you enjoy brings benefits in so many areas and cannot and should not be underestimated or undervalued. We need to expand our horizons and spread our knowledge to the next generation certainly, but never forget what it can give to us as individuals! - Liz Almond - www.blackworkjourney.co.uk

Thank you Liz – the echoes of ‘here, here’ from everyone in our community agreeing with you can be heard around the globe right now.  We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.

If you have a story about the benefits of needlework you would like to share, email us at embroiderynews@inspirationsmagazine.com.au

Evening bags are always a popular choice of project for those who enjoy some construction with their needlework and ‘Florentine’ by Anne Davies also combines the added sparkle of a crowd favourite technique - bead embroidery.

Inspirations has featured some spectacular evening bags over the years, two of which adorned the covers of issue #80 and #85.

‘Minaudiere’ by Susan O’Connor Inspirations issue #80 Purchase Printed Copy Here.

‘Poppy’ by Susan O’Connor Inspirations issue #85 Printed Copy SOLD OUT

Florentine allows you to stand out from the crowd with this stunning silk and velvet bag.  The front and back of the bag are embellished with beaded, hand-dyed lace motifs finished with a beautiful beaded picot edge. Lined with a co-ordinating cotton print, the bag features the perfect finishing touch of a superb beaded tassel.

If you like Anne Davies Florentine, it’s featured in the current issue of Inspirations #89 and you can purchase her gorgeous scissor fob ‘Busy Bee’ as a digital download.

Inspirations issue #89. Purchase your copy here.

‘Busy Bee’ by Anne Davis. Purchase your copy here.

INSPIRATIONS ISSUE 89 KITS

Windflower by Susan Porter is a superb stumpwork study of Japanese windflowers.		Les Hirondelles by Catherine Laurençon features dainty thread painted swallows.
Kit contains: fabrics, wire, ribbon, threads, needles.		Kit contains: fabric, threads, needle.
Great value at only $46.75 (based on 15% subscriber discount) Click here to order		Great value at only $67.15 (based on 15% subscriber discount) Click here to order

After wrapping up all our current conversations in the last few issues of Embroidery News, this week we launch a whole new series of conversation starters. Ready? Set. Go! . . . If you’re a reader of Inspirations, you’ll know Ansie from her article Loose Threads that appears in each issue of the magazine where she shares the stories behind Inspirations.

Ansie is currently planning a road trip to Alice Springs, Australia and would love to know of any interesting textile, fibre, needlework or other creative places she could stop at along the way so her road trip can become a ‘Destination Needlework Adventure’! Ansie will travel north from Adelaide through the Flinders Ranges and then along the Oodnadatta track to Kings Canyon, Uluru and Alice Springs. She will then travel back via Coober Pedy, along the Gawler Ranges to Coffin Bay before arriving back in Adelaide.

Maps of England and Scotland courtesy of etsy.com

Claire’s next ‘Destination Needlework’ location, departing in May, is taking her from the US to London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland. Whilst Claire already has Hampton Court on her must do list, she is hoping that someone in the Embroidery News Community can add to her list by pointing her in the direction of other places of needlework and embroidery interest.

Featherwale Corduroy design by Robert Kaufman

Every time Carol pleats featherwale corduroy she breaks her needles and makes large holes in her fabric. Does anyone have any suggestions for Carol that will allow her to easily pleat thicker fabrics? Carol would love to try her hand at pleating denim, but given her experiences with featherwhale corduroy is too scared to try!

The question now is which conversation will you become a part of?! We’d love to share what you have to add to the conversations with Ansie, Claire, Carol and the whole Embroidery News Community, so please email us at
embroiderynews@inspirationsmagazine.com.au – we’d love to hear from you!

Depending on the time of day you are enjoying reading this issue of Embroidery News, you might be in the mood for some lovely fresh strawberries on your cereal for breakfast, perhaps in a fruit salad for lunch, or with some ice cream for dessert.  Denise Forsyth from Mercer Island, Washington, USA just needs to be careful she keeps her real strawberries separate from these gorgeous stitched ones she has created, as they look good enough to eat! 

I made my strawberries for our local Treasures in Miniature show and sold them at the time.  Now I am preparing to teach a class later this month at one of our local guilds, so I am making some more.  They are all different pulled thread stitches on 32 count linen with pearl cotton filled with ground walnut shells.  Very fun to make.

I am so excited, we are coming to Beating Around The Bush 2016.  I have been studying the catalog, lots of decisions, in the end I chose Betsy Morgan’s Tall Year Square (which has since sold out!) Hazel Blomkamp’s Jacobus Rex and Nicola Jarvis Love Day.

Hope you enjoyed seeing my strawberries,
Denise Forsyth

Oh Denise your strawberries are an absolute treat!  Very excited to hear you’re coming to BATB – we look forward to a fabulous time with you, and we might even have to enjoy eating some beautiful fresh Australian strawberries while you show us how to stitch together these delicious creations of yours.

We’ve said it many times before, but Weddings are always the perfect occasion to get creative and stitch together a special something either for the bride and groom, or even yourself to help celebrate one of life’s great events.  This week Janet Broomfield shares with us her gorgeous cushion:

Hi, my name is Janet and I have just finished this project for our youngest daughter’s wedding.   I used a pattern I found in the Inspirations Bridal book but instead of using silk for the cushion, I used a lace hanky that was owned by my Mother so my daughter has a little bit of her Nana with her on her wedding day.  My mother was well known for her lace hankies on which she would put perfume on so that when she produced it, people around her could enjoy her fragrance.  I got the initials for the cushion from Mary Corbet’s site 'Needle and Thread'. 

I live in Perth Western Australia and my principal passion is patchwork and quilting, but I absolutely love the beauty of embroidery and try in my small way to encapsulate it.  I am a regular subscriber to Inspirations magazine and love the beautiful items you put in it.  Congratulations. 

Best wishes, Jan Broomfield 

Thank you Jan for your kind words and for sending in this project, you have created such a fabulous piece and what a beautiful idea to incorporate Nana’s hanky.  Surely this will become a family heirloom for you all to cherish.

Quick shout out to Mary Corbet for the terrific letters Jan used.  Mary is a huge supporter of Inspirations so make sure you check out her website and sign up to her newsletter here!

We first met Rita Mifsud from Malta in Embroidery News issue 28 where she sent in a terrific Christmas themed table runner she had just finished.  This week she’s back with this pretty in pink bag: Dear Sir/Madam, First of all, I hope you are all having an excellent 2016. I am enclosing a picture of a make-up bag I made.  Hope you like it! Thanking you, Rita Mifsud

Rita that is such a sweet design and what terrific colour choices you have made.  You have certainly created one very beautiful make up bag, well done.

Next up we have a piece which is the result of a creative collaboration between two friends…

Hello, I would like to forward some pictures of what I am working on.  This design was rubber stamped with ink, the tree trunk was drawn with the edge of a 'credit card' and was designed in a local needlework store who were giving a creative 'workshop'.  A dear friend of mine designed it and then asked me if I could embellish it with embroidery.  Stitches used included, French knots, blanket stitch, bullions, stem stitch, running stitch, chain stitch and lazy daisy stitch! I used perle 8 and 12 and also six strand floss, it was such a fun design and such a pleasure to work… my friend is so very pleased with the outcome!  Chris Richards, Warwickshire UK

Thank you for sending this in Chris, what a fascinating story and such a wonderful creative challenge for you.  You have done an amazing job bringing the elements of the original picture to life, job well done!

At Inspirations we love receiving photos of your projects and it’s an added bonus if they happen to be from one of our publications.  Sometimes we even get projects like this one from Julia Guest in Scotland, where a design has been adapted and extended into something equally as beautiful and as stunning as the original…

Hello, I thought I would send you a photo of an embroidered box I have just completed from Inspirations issue 42.   I took the stumpwork needlecase pattern and adapted the pattern for the top and side.  I am a member of the St. Andrews branch of the Scottish handcraft Circle and have been receiving Inspirations magazine for several years now.  I just love embroidery and especially crewel work, hope you like my box!! From Mrs. Julia Guest St.Andrews Fife Scotland.

Julia we have no doubt Margaret Light will be so thrilled with your version of her ‘Strawberry Fields’ fields design – you have done us all proud by skilfully creating a perfect companion to the original needlecase.  We don’t just like it… we LOVE it!

If you would like to make Margaret Light’s ‘Strawberry Fields’ needlecase, or like Julia use the fabulous design to create your own masterpiece, you can purchase this project as a digital download: ‘Strawberry Fields’ by Margaret Light Stunning needlecase richly decorated with padded strawberries from Inspirations issue 42. Click here to purchase.

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.

This week we have two new patterns for your stitching pleasure, both crewel work and one of them in response to a special request from Janet Every in the UK:

‘I was recently wandering through the blog of Janet Granger and came across a piece about an Elizabethan Sweet Bag she stitched from Inspirations Issue 36.  The photograph of it has captivated me and so, as the magazine itself doesn’t appear on your list of back issues, I write to ask you to consider adding the pattern to your store.  Please! I live in the UK just love getting Embroidery News. Janet

Thanks for writing in Janet… we have added  ‘Elizabethan Sweetbag’ by Susan O’Connor just for you!  (Oh.. and for anyone else who loves the project as well!) If there is specific project you would like to see added to our website, email us at embroiderynews@inspirationsmagazine.com.au.

‘Garden Of Earthly Delights’ by Margaret Light Crewel Bag and Cushion		‘Elizabethan Sweetbag’ by Susan O’Connor Crewel Work Sweet Bag
Click here to purchase		Click here to purchase

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

BILLING NOTIFICATION EMAIL

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Don’t miss out – use our secure online form here and select ‘Update Details’ to let us know your new payment details and let’s get your subscription current again.  Alternatively email us at subs@inspirationsmagazine.com.au with any questions regarding your subscription.

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

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 two weeks ago 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.

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: 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 and Pomegranates Exhibition
Where: Hampton Court Palace
When: to 22 Jul
Details: Click here

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
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
When: 18 Mar | 1 Apr
Details: Click here

What: Bacchus Marsh Quilt In
Where: Bacchus March Public Hall – Main Street, Bacchus Marsh
When: 19 Mar
Details: info@bacchusquilters.org.au

What: Pulled Thread Strawberries
Where: Pacific Northwest Needle Arts Guild | Seattle
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