Hi <<First Name>>,

Welcome to Embroidery News Issue 39.

We cover so much ground in each issue of Embroidery News, that when something strikes a chord with everyone, it can sometimes take us a few weeks to circle back to it. For example, the response to EN 36 featuring ‘fine feathered friends’ was overwhelming.  Afterwards we received so many incredible bird projects that everyone has been working on, we’ll have to dedicate another issue to the topic in the near future. Then there were the amazing Easter eggs in EN 37 that Peggy Kimble sent in which got everyone very excited about the technique of Temari.  We have lots of additional information to share on that one too… The world of needlework is a hive of activity with so much going on and so many of you creating wonderfully skilful and inspiring projects that we can hardly keep up with you all!  All the while there is another issue of Inspirations just around the corner (#90) and we can’t wait to show you what’s in it! For now, we have another action packed, filled to the rafters, got it all going on, issue of EN for you to enjoy below. Until next week… keep on stitching!

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

We continue to receive uplifting and encouraging emails from our community reminding us all of the benefits of needlework.  This week one of our regular contributors to Embroidery News, Victoria from Northfield in Illinois, USA shares her story of how even the mundane aspects of Needlework can play a therapeutic role in our lives…

‘I do love your newsletter that comes to my inbox each Friday – thank you!
Maybe the following story would be helpful to someone:

Years ago I went through radiation treatments after a malignant tumour was removed from my salivary gland.  The radiation was directed at the side of my face, where the tumour was located.  The prescription was standard - six weeks of treatments, five days a week and it didn’t take long for the treatments to destroy my taste buds.  Food does not taste good without these helpful receptors!  I stopped eating and forced myself to drink water to keep myself alive. Soon I had little energy so I sat around and thought about how completely miserable I was.  

One evening I looked at the basket of floss I had accumulated over the years (for years I would just toss the floss into a basket when a project was completed).  I mentioned that I wanted to organize this beautiful stash and my mom came over with a box specifically designed for this, along with bobbins on which to wind the floss.  For the next week, I pulled the floss from the basket, identified the colour and wound it on a bobbin.  I then wrote the number of the colour on the bobbin and placed it in the box, in numerical order.  Three boxes and countless bobbins later the job was complete. 

I still have my floss in these boxes and I often think about how this time consuming job help keep my sanity when I was at my lowest.

By the way, I have been cancer free for 25 years now – and I’m still stitching.  Thanks again for the beautiful, encouraging and helpful newsletter!
Victoria C. Frank’

How wonderful to hear you are cancer free Victoria and isn’t is amazing how some small, insignificant things in our life can at times become so much more.  Thanks again for your continuing input in EN, it is greatly appreciated.

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

Planning on attending Beating Around The Bush 2016?
Classes are selling out fast, so book today to secure your spot.

> Printed copies of the BATB 2016 catalogue are still available – Order HERE
> Digital PDF of the catalogue available to download for free – Click HERE
> Registrations are now open, we’d love you join us, to sign up – Click HERE

Over the 22 years Inspirations has been in publication, we have had the privilege of featuring projects from dozens of the world’s best needle artisans.  Issue #89 includes a fabulous article honouring an Inspirations regular ‘Helen M Stevens’ who in 2016 is celebrating 35 years of needlework.

To commemorate this milestone in Helen’s career, issue #89 features her sensational project ‘Flowers of the Sea’ and this week we take a closer look at this spectacular underwater scene.

‘Flowers of the Sea’ by Helen M. Stevens - Inspirations #89

With a design that looks like it could have come straight from the Disney movie ‘Finding Nemo’, this striking piece depicts a clown fish swimming among coral in the Australian Great Barrier Reef.  Helen chose a design centred around coral as this is the traditional gift to mark a 35th anniversary.

Helen has used numerous clever techniques and thread choices to give ‘Flowers of the Sea’ a spectacular finish that glints and sparkles when it catches the light.

To create an illusion of water Helen used a metallic blending filament but removed the fibre core leaving only the metallic component. She then wove it through different elements to create a three-dimensional effect.

The use of Piper Silks which are a flat, untwisted filament silk thread, creates a glorious sheen for the coral and the mesmerising honeycomb stitch, worked in metallic DMC gives the completed work that added element of wonder.

Helen has even created some tutorial videos demonstrating her innovative honeycomb stitch, you can view Part I here:

‘Flowers of the Sea’ is the perfect project to celebrate 35 years of embroidery and we are grateful to her contribution not only to Inspirations, but to the needlework community the world over.  THANK YOU Helen.

GETTING YOUR HELEN M. STEVENS FIX

Here are 4 ways you can enjoy Helen’s work:

1/. – Purchase a copy of Inspirations issue #89

Inspirations Issue #89 Includes ‘Flowers of the Sea’ by Helen M. Stevens as well as the following projects: Chatelaine Still Life with Flowers Windflowers Les Hirondelles Florentine Love Letters Curtain Call Click HERE to order.

2/. – Purchase the ‘Flowers of the Sea’ Inspirations Kit.

‘Flowers of the Sea’ is yet another kit which has been so popular we are currently sold out. However, this week we are taking pre-orders for the next batch of kits which should arrive in around 10 weeks time. Pre-order your kit today to avoid disappointment. Kit costs is AU$128.35 when using the 15% subscriber discount. Click HERE to order.

3/. – Purchase Helen’s Digital Patterns and Save 10%*

Helen has a new range of digital patterns now available on her website and  has generously created a special offer for members of the Inspirations/EN community where  you can enjoy a special 10% discount when ordering 2 or more patterns.  Simply use the promo code ‘INSPIRATIONS’ at check out.

Browse the collection of patterns on her website HERE

4/. – Visit Helen’s Website here

INSPIRATIONS ISSUE 89 KITS REMINDER

Limited Kit Titles for Inspirations issue 89 are still available, including:

Les Hirondelles  by Catherine Laurençon features dainty thread painted swallows.		'Love Letters' by Elisabetta Sforza is an elegant floral monogram on a pristine linen cushion.
Kit contains: fabrics, threads, needle.		Kit contains: fabrics, threads, buttons, needles.
Great value at only AU$67.15 (based on 15% subscriber discount)		Great value at only AU$64.60 (based on 15% subscriber discount)
Click HERE to order		Click HERE to order

To browse our complete range of kits, click here.

This week’s ‘Can You Help?’ points Mary in the direction of all things needlework inspired in Poland, helps make Lis’ trip to Italy a true Destination Needlework Adventure and echoes Robyn’s call for help regarding her upcoming trip to Myanmar.

First we set sail to Poland where Gaylor from the USA suggests:

‘Mary might try ecclesiastic sources such as cathedrals and churches. Especially on a Saturday when the altar is being set for Sunday services.  I have found in the past that the altar guild love to share their knowledge and expertise and probably know where to look for local supplies.’

Images courtesy of Materialistic: A Blog about Stitching

And Mary from New York City shares that :

While living in Warsaw as an expat, my favourite museum was the Ethnographic Museum.  This museum had a very nice exhibit of the traditional costumes of Poland - a feast for the eyes of anyone who loves embroidery! Since it has been over a decade since I have lived in Poland, I am hoping that this exhibit is still on display.  In any case, this museum is worth a visit.

Credit: Henryk T Kaiser / Photolibrary / Getty Images

From Poland to Italy where Mary Snell provides a detailed checklist that Lis can work from while planning her Destination Italy Adventure . . .

In Florence, Mary recommends visits to both the Duomo and Accademia Museums. Mary highlights the Or Nue Vestment at the Duomo Museum as well as the 15th Century Altarpiece that is located on the second floor of the Accademia Museum.

Or Nue Embroidery courtesy of www.needlnthread.com

Also in Florence, Palazzo Davanzati, a wonderfully restored old palazzo that now serves as a museum, has a small room filled with cabinets of old Italian Lace. Mary suggests asking the docent for its location as its easily missed. The Museum can be found at Via Porta Rossa 13.

Images courtesy of ‘Old Italian Lace’ by Elisa Ricci

In Milan, The Poldi Pezzoli Museum, which can be found at Via Alessandro Manzoni 12, has a lace and textile room which Mary suggests you simply ‘open the drawers and enjoy’! The museum also houses tapestries and oriental carpets.

Image courtesy of traveldk.com

Mary has found that www.italian-needlework.blogspot.com.au is an excellent resource for further information about all things needlework inspired. The blog’s creator, Jeanine, has lived in Italy and has also translated several embroidery books from Italian to English.

Embroidery Designs from Italian Pottery courtesy of www.theunbrokenthread.com

From Italy to Myanmar where we echo Robyn’s call for help in planning her ‘Destination Maynmar’ trip in September. We’re still hoping to hear from someone in the Embroidery News Community who can help point Robyn in the direction of any thread &/or fabric shops in Yangon, Bagin and Mandaly. If you can help make Robyn’s trip to Myanmar a true ‘Destination Needlework Adventure’, please email us at embroiderynews@inspirationsmagazine.com.au.

Map of Myanmar courtesy of koekoek.etsy.com

INSPIRATIONS INDEX 1-75

Good news!  We have finally added the ‘Inspirations Index 1-75’ to our website for purchase as a printed book.

This invaluable reference book is a comprehensive catalogue of Inspirations issues #01 through #75 and includes gorgeous photographs of every project.  You can look up your favourite designer, search by the title of a project or by a specific needlework technique.

Click HERE to purchase your copy today.

INSPIRATIONS ISSUE #52

In other news for this week, printed copies of Inspirations issue #52 are now available again.

If you missed out on purchasing a copy of issue #52 when we promoted it back in EN #17, you’re in luck – we discovered some more stock in our recent warehouse day. Featuring beautiful projects from contributors including Carolyn Pearce (an exquisite Christmas ornament), Susan O’Connor (two stunning stumpwork botanicals), Jenny McWhinney (a gorgeous blanket), Tanja Berlin (an elegant blackwork design) and Kris Richards (an embroidered linen handbag).

To purchase a printed copy of issue #52, click HERE.

NEW DIGITAL PATTERNS JUST ADDED

‘Creative Neelde’ by Joan Gibson A cottage garden embroidered on a ticking needlecase.		‘Toy Soldiers’ by Susan O’Connor Superb blanket emblazoned with Grenadier guardsmen.
To purchase click HERE		To purchase click HERE

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

Flowers, flowers and more flowers… with issue #89 ‘Fabulous Flowers’ having only a few weeks left as the current issue before issue #90 takes the spotlight (released later this month), we start ‘What Are You Stitching’ this week with some glorious, gorgeous flower projects.

Amansie from France gets us started with this piece using the technique ‘point of Beauvais’ also known as tambour stitch.

‘Hello, I always look through Inspirations magazine with great interest, but since subscribing I have never seen any “point of Beauvais" work.  I embroider alone in my little province of France. I embroider my dreams. I do not have a fireplace in my room, but I wanted to embroider a fireplace screen...... I dreamed of making it happen for months, years even, and I have finally retired so here it is!

For this piece, I found a drawing I liked, but as it was very busy and I adapted it to make it more elegant and the measure of my heart!

Because I embroider alone in my area and am very interested in finding others who use "point of Beauvais”, I now have a blog to share my passion:

http://amansie.canalblog.com

Thank you for your interest from your friend in France, Amansie.’

Thank you Amasie, that truly is an elegant piece you have created, what a delight! You are correct in that we have not featured any point of Beauvais or tambour stitch in Inspirations recently, however you may be pleased to know that we did include a project in issue #55 ‘Flowers of the Field’ by Gisele Carrieres.

Printed copies off issue #55 are still available, click HERE to purchase.

Next up Heather Bryant from Auckland in New Zealand has been hard at work preparing for a special family event…

‘Hi, like everyone else I love receiving my Inspirations magazine and as soon as I open it I want to stitch everything in it. I have only been stitching for the last few years and love every minute I have a needle in my hand. 

When I opened issue 86 and saw the Flowers of Panicale by Paola Matteucci  I knew that this would be the perfect clutch purse for my son’s wedding.

Originally I was going to wear a blue outfit, but when I tried it on just before the wedding I decided it wasn't the right colour, so I went out and bought the coral coloured dress and jacket seen in the photo. The reason I'm telling you this is that when I started stitching the Flowers of Panicale I had purchased a piece of blue silk dupion for the background to match my dress. The blue no longer matched my new dress so I ordered two samples of dupion, one fuchsia and the other raspberry.

The raspberry toned in with my dress perfectly so the background of the purse is slightly different to the one in Inspirations. The flowers are embroidered separately on tulle so it was very easy to change the background before the purse was assembled.

While stitching the purse I also made my son and his fiancé's wedding cake for them. I am not a cake decorator so this was learned from the Internet. The wedding was a wonderful celebration and as is a tradition in our family the cake was cut with my husband’s Navy sword.  Regards, Heather.’

Wow Heather, what a brilliant job you did re-creating the ‘Flowers of Panicale’ clutch bag and how talented are you to decorate the wedding cake for the big day as well!  Your needlework is so precise, the bag looks perfect complements your dress beautifully.  Thank you for sharing your special day with us.

Raymonda Crowe from Pawling, NY, USA has also created a gorgeous bag, this one for less formal use.

‘For many years the Pomegranate has been a favourite motif that I have used in illustration and to create a variety of needleworks and quilt fabric art.  A friend gave me a copy of Inspirations Issue 62 featuring the project 'Garden of Earthly Delights'.

Here is a picture of my completed tote: wool on linen. Thank you for the wonderful Newsletter that you have made available online for needlework lovers to enjoy.  Raymonda’

Thanks Raymonda, your tote bag is just wonderful – it’s full of colour and the design is in perfect proportion making this gorgeous crewel work project a real collector’s item. 

For anyone else who is a fan of ‘Garden of Earthy Delights’ by Margaret Light you can purchase the project as a digital download, or we do still have printed copies of issue #62 for purchase. The magazine and the pattern include instructions for creating both a bag and a cushion.

Garden of Earthly Delights by Margaret Light – Inspirations issue #62

Purchase Digital Pattern of Garden of Earthly Delights HERE

Purchase Printed Copy of Inspirations issue #62 HERE

Christine O’Brien from Canberra in Australia wins our award this week for perseverance.   Here is her story as well as photos of her stunning project:

‘Hello, thank you for your truly inspirational newsletter and magazine.  I thought I would share with you a project I have just completed after three and a half years. It is from Inspirations issue 75 and is called ‘Bits and Pieces’ by Alison Snepp. I made this for my daughter and know she will cherish it. The picture shows it ready to give to her.

I found it very slow going at first as I could only see well enough to work on it during the day. Things changed though after reading "Crewel Intentions" by Hazel Blomkamp. She suggested that you don’t want to restrict yourself to only working in daylight hours so you need to get the right equipment! I did this (a good combined light and magnifying glass) and progress was quite steady then as I embroidered a bit most evenings. Thank you Hazel!

Kind regards, Christine.’

Oh Christine, what an absolutely stunning project!  Your attention to detail and precise stitching has created a magnificent gift for your daughter – and the gift wrapping just finishes it off splendidly.  All your hard work and long hours are definitely worth it – both Alison and Hazel will be thrilled when they see this.

Printed copies of Inspirations issue #75 featuring ‘Bits & Pieces’ by Alison Snepp are still available.  Purchase your copy HERE.

To finish off ‘What Are You Stitching’ this week, we have a couple of amphibious friends that have hopped on by to say hello…

‘Hi, I have just finished the Golden Frogs from Inspirations issue 66. The magazine was given to me by a friend in my embroidery group as she knew I liked both gold work and frogs.  I belong to a group called Charnwood Threads in Leicestershire, England and enjoyed the magazine so much that I became a subscriber and another member of our group has since subscribed too.  I also love doing hardanger and crazy patchwork. I have been embroidering for 5 years now and have learnt most of my skills from the lovely members of my group.  Lynda Hawkes from Leicestershire, United Kingdom.’

Thank you Lynda for sending in your brilliant frogs, they are really terrific.  Also a special shout out to you and your group for helping keep Inspirations going and supporting us by subscribing, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

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.

LOST AND FOUND

We’re on a mission to help find our LOST SUBSCRIBERS.  This week we sent out emails to anyone who is on our database that is not a current subscriber.  Is that you?  Have we lost you?  If you haven’t received a magazine this year your subscription is not current.  We miss you!  Come on back!  Renew your subscription today by simply filling in our secure online form with your updated details, it’s so easy and quick that you’ll be done in minutes. - Click HERE

NEW TO INSPIRATIONS? 
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.

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.

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

Printed Copies of Magazines Recently Added:

‘Little Bits’ from Inspirations #78 by Barbara Jackson

Inspirations issue #78 features projects from the following designers: Alison Snepp; Lorna Bateman; Barbara Jackson; Hazel Blomkamp; Di Kirchner; Alison Cole; Jill Newton; Heidi Reid; Nancy Lee and Jennifer Kennedy. To order a printed copy of issue #78 or for more information including a full list of projects with images of each, Click HERE.

‘Gilly Flower’ from Inspirations issue #79 by Betsy Morgan,

Inspirations issue #79 features projects from the following designers: Christine P Bishop; Margaret Light; Betsy Morgan; Lesley McConnell; Anna Scott; Monique Johnston; Patricia Girolami; Maggie Gee; Maria do Ceu Freitas and Meri Almeida To order a printed copy of issue #79 or for more information including a full list of projects with images of each, Click HERE.

Digital Patterns Recently Added:

‘Papillon’ by Rosemary Frezza An award winning design of lifelike stumpwork buterflies.		‘Nimble Fingers’ by Carolyn Pearce Exquisite needlecase giving you a special place for your needles.
To purchase click HERE		To purchase 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
When : to 22 Jul
Details: Click here

What: The Embroiderer’s Guild of Victoria | Threads of Asia Exhibition
When: 16 Apr to 1 May
Where: Embroidery House | 170 Wattletree Road Malvern, Victoria
Details: Click here

What: The Textile Society at The Art Institute of Chicago | Annual Meeting
When: 19 Apr
Where: Fortnightly of Chicago | 120 E Bellevue Place Chicago
Details: Registrations at textilesociety@artic.edu

What: Celebration of Needlework Show
Where: Nashua Courtyard Marriott Hotel | Nashua, New Hampshire
When: 27 Apr to 1 May
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