Hi <<First Name>>,
Welcome to Embroidery News Issue 42.
Wherever in the world you are living, April and May are gorgeous times of the year for gardens. The northern hemisphere is delighting in spring flowers and the southern hemisphere is enjoying rich Autumnal colours. While we celebrated Fabulous Flowers in Inspirations issue #89, the new issue #90 ‘Just Imagine’ features some wonderful projects that look like they have come straight from a garden. So our theme for this week’s Embroidery News is ‘Gardens’ and we have some amazing projects to share with you including the project featured on the front cover of issue #90 aptly named ‘Garden Fresh’.
If you’re reading this issue of Embroidery News on a tablet or mobile device, and assuming the weather permits, why not take yourself outside and enjoy the beauty of the needlework gardens featured below amongst the beauty of your own garden and allow nature to inspire your next stitching project. |
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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.
| THE BENEFITS OF NEEDLEWORK |
Lynette Hale from Christchurch in New Zealand shares how needlework has been her lifetime companion and remains so, even to this day…
‘Dear Inspirations, I am now 77 but have been stitching since the age of 6 years old. I am Past President of the local Canterbury Embroiderers Guild, having been in it for 27 years. My late husband died very early in my marriage leaving me with 2 young sons to raise. Stitching was my salvation. It kept me sane during the hard times, where I could “lose” myself in the stitching. I am now living in a retirement village where I have a lot of lovely neighbours and friends who keep “checking up” on my progress on the current piece I may be working on.
The piece you see above is a mat which I have just finished recently. It is taken from a Japanese magazine which I found on the net. I love hellebores and this design was just calling to me to stitch it! There are many unusual fillings in the design including needle lace and pulled thread stitches, plus double lazy daisy as an outline on the hellebores.
I get inspired by what others have stitched, so keep up the good work. It is one of the best stitching magazines around and I hope it will be around for many generations of stitchers to come. Yours in embroidery, Lynette Hale.’
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
| INSPIRATIONS MAGAZINE UPDATE |
Inspirations magazine is what one might call an aspirational publication. We seek out the world’s most beautiful needlework and present it in such a way so as to inspire you to try it yourself.
Yes, it is the best of the best, however that doesn’t make it unattainable.
When one considers how complex and gourmet cook books have become in recent years, in general it has raised our overall collective level of culinary skills, thanks to high-end chefs breaking down their restaurant quality dishes for us to cook at home.
Chefs like Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay set an exceptionally high water mark, yet they are always encouraging and guiding us to try different flavours and learn new techniques.
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When it comes to needlework, the pages of Inspirations are filled with not only highly skilled needle artisans who break down their exquisite projects for you to emulate, but also those like Julie Kniedl who took on the challenge to try something new and, to their wonderful surprise, discovered they were capable of so much more than they ever imagined.
Garden Fresh by Julie Kniedl – Issue #90
Adorning the cover of issue #90 is another one of Julie’s fabulous creations. ‘Garden Fresh’ is a cob of corn cleverly fashioned from fabric, wire, beads and thread using a number of stumpwork techniques. The luscious plump kernels and papery green leaves look good enough to eat, and really showcase just what is possible with a needle and thread and some imagination.
If you find Julie Kniedl’s work aspirational, then her story which we finally teased out of her and also features in issue #90, will truly inspire you. We’ll leave you with some excerpts:
‘Thinking about writing a profile on my embroidery is funny, because I don’t have any accreditations, qualifications or training; to me it’s just something that I love to do and which can be done by ANYONE.’
‘To be honest, it is because of Inspirations that my interest in embroidery really developed. Not at a rapid boil but at a slow simmer, and I mean slow.’
‘I don’t use any unusual techniques or complicated stitches. The majority of my embroidery uses only basic stitches i.e. long and short stitch, blanket stitch, stem stitch, French knots and lots of wrapping (my least favourite part).’
‘My inspiration comes from just seeing what’s around me. All you need is a needle and thread - qualifications not necessary!’
GETTING YOUR JULIE KNIEDL FIX
Here are 4 ways you can enjoy Julie’s work:
1/. – Purchase a copy of Inspirations issue #90
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Inspirations Issue #90 Includes ‘Garden Fresh’ by Julie Kniedl as well as the following projects:
Small Change,
Tulip,
Modern Crewel,
Honey Bee,
Resting Place,
Tea for Two,
Blossom
Click HERE to order.
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2/. – Stitch Your Own Corn Cob With A ‘Garden Fresh’ Kit
Garden Fresh by Julie Kniedl is a fabulous three-dimensional, lifelike corn cob that looks good enough to eat.
Kit contains:
felt, beads, wire, threads and needles
Price: AU$104.55
(based on 15% subscriber discount)
Click HERE to order
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3/. – Create a Julie Kniedl project from past issues of Inspirations
 Briar Rose by Julie Kniedl is an amazing lifelike study of a rose.
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 Christmas Bouquet by Julie Kniedl is a stunning three-dimensional embroidered Christmas bouquet.
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Price: AU$46.75
(based on 15% subscriber discount) |
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Price: AU$74.80
(based on 15% subscriber discount) |
To purchase click HERE |
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To purchase click HERE |
Every project from Inspirations issue #90 is now available to purchase as a premium quality kit, sourced and assembled by us, delivered to you anywhere in the world.
Browse our complete range of kits HERE. To view issue 90 kits at the top of the page, change ‘Default Sorting’ to ‘Sort by Newness’
Last week we started a new conversation as we shared the embroidery challenge Maureen Sharkey from San Mateo in California, USA has set herself in wanting to embroider the ‘Experience the Mighty Auroras of Jupiter’ poster that she found through the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Well start a conversation we did indeed! We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of responses we’ve received and amazed by the creative suggestions put forward by the Embroidery News Community. I have no doubt that at least one, or a combination of a few of the following suggestions will be sure to set you on your way Maureen!
Jacqueline Wallace suggests being ‘really brave and using neon and glow in the dark paint for the aurora. I wouldn’t use a brush I would use something flat that was easy to manoeuvre. Mask off the horizon, put the paint in a line and drag it over the material till your heart’s content. If you don’t like the result, simply wash it out while it’s still wet and start again.’
‘Neon Paint’ by kennywfz
From Minnesota in the USA, Wendi Girard’s ‘first thought about how Maureen could achieve the look she is going for is to use the layering technique that Gary Clarke uses to stitch on sheer organza.’
Want to learn more about Gary’s signature work on organza? Issue 83 of Inspirations Magazine contains Gary’s project ‘Hummingbird’ which is a unique organza embroidery of a dainty hummingbird. To purchase a printed copy of issue #83, click HERE.
Gary will be teaching another of his organza projects ‘Budgie Fan’ at Beating Around the Bush in Oct this year. For details regarding Gary’s class click HERE.
When Mavis Brown embroiders ‘sky or water or anything ethereal, she uses an overlay of organza or sometimes a fine chiffon. It comes in a variety of colours and weights and would probably work for this picture. She would do the embroidery and set up the colour streams and then overlay.’ Mavis suggests experimenting until the desired effect has been achieved.
Organza Fabric from aliexpress.com
Christina Wilke from Victoria in Australia suggests that Maureen ‘paint the picture onto silk then embroider the stars, balloons and foreground using fine silks.’
Image courtesy of craftsy.com
‘May I suggest that if she hasn't already considered this option, that she try either wool, silk or silk paper to create the effect of the various colours in the sky? She has already thought of soft fabric and that may well work beautifully, but using wool and/or silk fibres will be one of the best ways to create what the poster depicts. Fortunately in the USA, and I trust in California, the availability of such fibres abound’, shares Toody Cassidy from Cape Town in South Africa. Toody’s photo below, although the colours are not appropriate to Maureen’s poster, shows the concept she had in mind and hopes it will give Maureen ‘a titch of inspiration’!
As Maureen lives in California, Pam Crone thinks she lives ‘in the best place to find threads which will help with her project. Silks plus a scattering of fine glittery threads. These could even be as fine as the threads used for machine embroidery.’
Caribbean Dreams Scarf’ from MarveLes Art Studios
Susan Cuss ‘was thinking that organza in the different colours of the picture would work well to give a nice shimmer to create the auroras, as well as to allow the stars to shine through from underneath. The stars could be aurora borealis crystals (perfect name for this application, don't you think?!) so they would sparkle just like real stars.’
Aurora Borealis Crystals from SparkleSoiree’s Etsy Store
Marjolein van Vessem (whose blog about all things creative can be seen HERE) loves the challenge that Maureen has set for herself and having recently had success creating stars on the Christmas cards she embroidered, suggests that Maureen uses glow in the dark threads to create the look she’s aspiring to.
amazingdesigns.com
Maureen, we wish you well in your embroidery endeavours and hope the incredibly creative and varied suggestions from the Embroidery News Community set you on your way and no pressure, but we as well as many of the Embroidery News Community are eagerly awaiting photos of the finished result!
| STITCH.OLOGY WEBSITE NEWS |
QUILTING THROUGH THE GARDEN
It seemed only fitting that this week we mention our book ‘Quilting Through The Garden’ which is a digital download exclusive.
Jill Newton perfectly combines her enthusiasm for her garden with her love of needlework as she skilfully leads you through the embroidery, appliqué and construction of this wonderful summer quilt.
Embroidered queen size bed quilt and 5 matching accessories.
Easy to follow, detailed instructions and clearly illustrated stitches and techniques.
20 individual embroidery designs and full-size patterns.
More than 80 step-by-step photographs and diagrams.
Presented with stitchers of all skill levels in mind.
67 pages including 4 pattern sheets.
Produced by Inspirations and released exclusively as a digital book, you can purchase and download a copy for only $14.99 HERE.
INSPIRATIONS ISSUE #90
NOW AVAILABLE AS A SINGLE PURCHASE
 ‘Tulip’ by Christine Bishop – Issue #90
JUST IMAGINE
...the fabulous things you can do with embroidery! Need inspiration? Turn the pages of issue 90 to find enticing three dimensional work, a contemporary take on traditional styles of embroidery, and beautiful
pieces that keep time-honoured techniques alive.
To purchase a printed copy of issue #90, click HERE |
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NEW DIGITAL PATTERNS JUST ADDED
Here are some digital patterns our website team recently added in keeping with the theme of ‘Garden’.
 ‘Fruits of the Hedgerow’
by Carolyn Pearce
Scalloped blanket embroidered with a profusion of fruits and flowers. |
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 ‘Market Day’
by Jenny McWhinney
The warmth of wool is the perfect backdrop for these whimsical little creatures designed by Jenny McWhinney. |
To purchase click HERE |
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To purchase click HERE |
Beautiful Needlework. Sold Here. www.stitchology.com.au
Per usual our super talented needlework community have sent in some wonderful projects for us all to enjoy, and in keeping with this week’s theme, they are all garden related.
Maria Hofstetter gets things off to a great big blooming start for us by creating an entire flower garden using just a needle and thread.
‘Greetings from Switzerland. This is my Knot Garden I stitched with the help of the artist/teacher Owen Davies at the Royal School of Needlework in London.
 When I retired from working as a Kindergarten teacher here in Switzerland, I wanted to do something special. Stitching is not so common here, and I heard about the Royal School of Needlework in London, Hampton Court.
Owen demonstrates how to cut the fences on my work and Hampton Court
Twice I traveled to London, lived in a small hotel and every morning walked along the Thames, carrying my embroidery frame. At the RSN were students from America, Japan and England and everyone seemed so very good at stitching. Owen Davies was full of ideas, he made wonderful gardens and we learned so much. I also did a goldwork course at the RSN with Tracy A. Franklin.
It was such a wonderful experience. My completed knot garden measures 30cm x 30cm (11.8’’ x 11.8’’) and it took me many, many hours of stitching, of which I did not count! I enjoy Inspirations magazine very much, thank you for all you do. Maria Hofstetter, Zürich Switzerland
Your knot garden is brilliant Maria, it’s busting with colours and textures – if only we were small enough to walk through it! Good on you for making the time to study at the RSN, what a magnificent experience that would have been, it truly is an outstanding organization. Also thank you for reminding us how talented Owen is! For anyone interested in learning more about the RSN, check out their website HERE.
Next is Gillian Bryan from Victoria, British Columbia in Canada who has created an adorable needlepoint/knitted farmyard which comes complete with its very own vegetable garden:
‘It has given me great pleasure to make this needlepoint/knitting/latch hook farm set based on The Knitted Farmyard by Hannelore Wernhard for my granddaughter Polly. The play mat is 40"by 40" and was my first foray into needlepoint in over 30 years, due in part to the fact this last year was a bit challenging with cancer treatment leaving me with some nerve damage in my hands as well just feeling ill. Consequently, I have sought refuge in less-fine work such as this play mat (rug canvas is 3.6 holes per inch).
Knitting the tiny vegetables was the most fun. I really enjoy getting the tiny details right--the glint of Mouse eyes shining from the mouse hole in the barn, the eggs in the hedgerow nest. Those are the bits a child will cherish.
My mother was a needle woman and I started knitting in school at age 5 and still usually have a knitting project underway 62 years later as it is portable. I taught quilting for some years but normally achieve only a quilt a year--my six children remind me regularly of which of them is still waiting for her quilt. I guess embroidery is my first love. That is why I so enjoy Inspirations.
Since the birth of my grandchildren Jane (4) and Polly (2) they are both a little too well-kitted out with my smocked and embroidered dresses, handmade dolls, quilts, etc. While their aunts register their chagrin, I say it’s their own fault; all they need do is provide me with more grandchildren! Gillian Bryan
Gillian what a treasure you have stitched here… it really does make us want to shrink in size and walk amongst all your flowers and vegetables and marvel at the farm animals you have created. It looks so fun and enticing – your granddaughter is very spoilt indeed to have such a clever grandmother.
Our next garden has a lovely sentimental purpose which the creator Jen Wark explains…
‘This is my latest project, my beautiful, friendly, faithful, loyal, pretty little Maltese/Shih Tzu cross was just 2 weeks short of 15 years when she, out of kindness, had to be put down due to multiple medical problems. Her name was Zoe and this is a little memorial garden I created in her honour.
This has taken some months of intense work and over one hundred dollars of ribbons & threads but what a joy it has been & is.
I love to see work from other people so am sending this in for you to add to the mix. I am an inspired member of The Embroiderers Guild, Gold Coast, Queensland in Australia. With thanks, Jen Wark.’
Jen there is so much to adore here… your piece looks fabulous, you’ve done a superb job, but we also love the creativity of stitching an adorable needlework memoir for you to treasure the memory of Zoe forever. Well done.
Now we have a fabulous cottage garden quilt all the way from Harare in Zimbabwe.
‘Dear Embroidery News, I thought you would like to see the quilt that I made from Inspirations Issue #57. It is hand quilted, I loved making it and it was a birthday present for our eldest granddaughter when she turned 17. I called it ‘Emily's Valentine Quilt’ as she had been following its progress and always called it the valentine quilt because of all the hearts.
I have embroidered ever since I was big enough to hold a needle and as I am 75 I guess that is about 70 years. I love smocking and have been doing that for about 17 years. My mother had always smocked dresses for our four daughters and after she had died our first granddaughter arrived so I taught myself to smock from the ‘Australian Smocking and Embroidery’ magazines.
I will shortly be doing a needle lace course with Hazel Blomkamp when she comes to Harare in May. It is great to learn new things and I often pass on my knowledge of smocking to other people as it would be a shame for this to become a lost skill. All needlework is such an amazing way of relaxing and should probably be prescribed instead of drugs! Keep up your good work. Best wishes, Geraldine Melrose’
Geraldine we couldn’t agree with you more - it seems the benefits of needlework are far, far reaching and according to our needlework community are tried, tested and proven to work. Much better than any drugs indeed. Now your quilt is divine, what a truly wonderful gift for your granddaughter, whom we know will cherish it, and your needlework and quality of finish is just marvellous. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Regular readers of Embroidery News will be familiar with Peggy Kimble, our 92-year-old needlework powerhouse from Canada who contributes to EN frequently. This week Carla Crowther shares her story of how she met Peggy and Carla also treats us to a sumptuous strawberry piece that looks like it was picked from her garden just this morning…
Hello Folks, I’m enjoying the magazine, pictures are fabulous, it is really great!! Issue #86 featured a blackwork strawberry pattern and instructions, new to the technique I took a day course, loved the technique and did the project in red… just like fresh strawberries.
I retired from a career in nursing about 2 years ago and wanted very much to meet other folks interested in embroidery. My nearest guild is close to a 2-hour drive away, so I asked if they knew of anyone local I could meet up with. They suggested a lady named Peggy Kimble.
Peggy Kimble’s Easter Eggs from EN 37.
After emailing Peggy a few times, she invited me to her home to talk about what we might get up together. Well, I hit the Jackpot with Peggy who is a longstanding teacher, mentor and founding member of EA Canada. We have been meeting every two weeks for over 2 years now and she has introduced me to the most wonderful things - blackwork, temari, sashiko Deerfield, needlelace, crewel, goldwork, Japanese work, Mountmellick, and more. Darn thing is, she finishes many of our projects long before I do and I never know where our afternoon will take us - and neither does she! all good fun and stitching! Keep up the great work. Thx Carla.
What a great story Carla, every time we learn something new about Peggy it raises our level of wonder for her even further. Your strawberry is delicious in every way, stitching it in red really makes it stand out and the mounting and framing you’ve had done are terrific – we love everything about your project, it’s awesome.
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.
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’. |
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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
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Michele Hill’s latest book “Afternoon Tea with May Morris” is now available for purchase on our website. Michele has applied an interesting twist in her William Morris journey and explored the designs of William’s daughter – May Morris. These gorgeous designs combined with Michele’s love for formal afternoon tea, makes for a truly delightful book of quilting, sewing and cooking!
You can now purchase printed copies of Michele’s self-published book HERE
INSPIRATIONS ISSUE #49 NOW ADDED
 Berry Harvest by Jenny McWhinney and Jan Kerton – Issue #49
Our library of Inspirations back copies available in print continues to grow, and this week issue #49 makes a showing.
Inspirations issue 49 brings a lovely variety of projects for needleworkers of all levels.
Projects include the extremely popular children’s blanket ‘Berry Harvest’ by Jenny McWhinney and Jan Kerton (pictured above), as well as a needlecase by Kris Richards, a handkerchief sachet by Susan O’Connor and much, much more.
To purchase a printed copy of issue #49, click HERE |
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Digital Patterns Recently Added:
Jenny McWhinney fans rejoice! Two of her most popular projects, now available as digital download patterns.
See more of Jenny’s most recent work by visiting her website HERE.
But wait… there are even more new digital patterns:
| QUOTE:
" To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow."
~ Audrey Hepburn ~ |
What: A Stitch in Time – Home Sewing Before 1900
Where: Victoria and Albert Museum | London
When: to 1 May
Details: Click HERE
What: The Embroiderer’s Guild of Victoria | Threads of Asia Exhibition
When: to 1 May
Where: Embroidery House | 170 Wattletree Road Malvern, Victoria
Details: Click HERE
What: Catwalk | Rijksmuseum Fashion Collection
When: to 16 May
Where: Rijksmuseum Amsterdam | Postbus 74888 1070 DN Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Details: Click HERE
What: RSN | Peacocks & Pomegranates Exhibition
Where: Hampton Court Palace
When : to 22 Jul
Details: Click HERE
What: Contemporary Textile Exhibition by Five Artists Inspired by Five Countries
Where: The Studio Gallery @ Worthing Museum & Art Gallery | Chapel Road Worthing, West Sussex
When: 6 to 21 May (Workshops Available on 7 & 14 May)
Details: Click HERE / 07787 361 175
What: What’s the Point? Embroidery as Art | Exhibition, Gallery Talks & Classes
Where: Lemoyne Center for the Visual Arts | 125 North Gadsden Street Tallahassee, Florida
When: 7 to 28 May
Details: canopyoaksega@gmail.com
What: Merseyside Embroiderers Guild | Diamond Anniversary
Where: Liverpool Anglican Cathedral UK
When: 29 May to 3 Jun
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 |
Nature’s Bounty
Succulent Spool
Briar Rose
Christmas Bouquet
Crazy patchwork
