Copy
Email not displaying correctly? Click here
ISSUE 5   |   July 10, 2015

Hey <<First Name>>,

Welcome to the Embroidery News.  This week we learn why Susan is often seen with colour pencils in hand, more of everyone’s amazing needlework is on display, find out what projects from Inspirations #86 are most popular and discover how a guild is making a difference in their local community.

What about you?  What’s happening in your needlework world?  We’d love to know… send us photos, links, or an update that keeps us in the loop on what you’re up to. 

Maybe you’ve attended an event recently you can tell us about, or if you’re going somewhere in the near future, take some photos and send them in.

 

Email us at embroiderynews@inspirationsmagazine.com.au

KEEPING UP WITH SUSAN

As her fans know, Susan O’Connor is an extremely talented needle artisan in all areas of stitch. Her contribution to both the Embroidery & Smocking community over the past several decades has been vast in the number of projects and designs she has created as well as significant in terms of bringing innovation and a freshness in her approach.

However there is another special talent Susan possesses that you may not be aware of… here at Inspirations we like to call it ‘colouring in’.

Now we’re not talking about the adult colouring craze that is sweeping the publishing world right now (don’t know what we’re talking about?  Read this… Click here)

The very clever skill of Susan’s we’re talking about is hand drawn illustrations.  Over the past few weeks Susan has been working feverishly with colour pencils in hand, drawing the most amazing diagram illustrations for the magazine.

Issue #88 calls for over 60 hand drawn illustrations to detail the intricacies of some of the amazing projects, featured, so Susan’s Derwent pencils have been working overtime! 

If you call our office and hear someone say ‘oh Susan’s very busy colouring in again this explains why!


INSPIRATIONS EVENTS

Mekong Bookings Closing Soon!

Dates for the cruise are September 20th through to 27th 2015.

For more details about the trip including itineraries and prices, check out our website by clicking here.

To book online click here or contact Penny Furseman:
Email: bookings@pennyfursemantravel.co.uk
Phone +44 1271 373724

WHAT ARE YOU STITCHING?

Dorothy Shim from Kuching, Sarawak in Malaysia had a special request for her daughter’s upcoming birthday… she wanted a Disney Frozen party.  So Dorothy created this gorgeous smocked dress for the occasion.  Super cute dress for a super cute daughter!

Carmo Afonso from Mangerton in NSW Australia has just finished this blanket which she created after winning a copy of the book ‘More Beautiful Embroidery Blankets’. Carmo is going to generously donate the blanket as a raffle prize for a cancer group she belongs to… with the hours or work involved in these type of projects, the value is priceless so it’s great to be going to such a good cause. 

Mary Anne Richardson from Lindsay in Ontario Canada has two projects to share this week:

“I've made several hussifs, using my own design, and this is one of my latest ones.  It seems that every member of my family is going to end up owning one!  I myself own three (and what woman NEEDS three hussifs??).  This one was done using a rose theme and probably will never get actually used...it's more of a heirloom piece.” 

“I love crazy quilting and have been involved in the art since approximately 1999.  It has become the culmination of so many different creative things I've done over the years and can encompass things like crochet, tatting, embroidery, and beading.  Even better, is that so many embellishments that I use are recycled (broken jewellery, for example).”

Kaye Frost-Smith is a member of the East Maitland Embroiderer’s Inc. in NSW Australia, and she has just completed the project, “Nature’s Bounty” from Inspirations issue 75

“I saw this project in the magazine, and loved the three-dimensional piece.  I enjoyed making the leaves... stump work has been a long time passion of mine. I found this project a challenge, and when completely assembled pretty chuffed with the result!”

And finally for this week a big shout out of CONGRATULATIONS to Charmaine Goodman from East Doncaster in Victoria Australia for finally completing her project which has been 21 years in the making!  Charmaine explains…:

“Here is my finished UFO. Started in 1994 when I broke a bone in my foot. Foot mended, work put in cupboard.  Found it and finished earlier this year. Very pleased with myself.”

We are super pleased as well Charmaine, not just because of your beautiful tablecloth, but because of your persistence and determination to not give up and still finish stitching after starting all those years ago!

What are you stitching? 

Send us your photos, details about your project, where you live and a little about yourself to: embroiderynews@inspirationsmagazine.com.au

INSPIRATIONS MAGAZINE

 

Issue #86 - KITS UPDATE

Are you enjoying Issue #86? 

Based on recent  kit sales information,  here are the bestselling projects from Issue #86 to date:

EIDELWEISS by Deborah Love - seems you can’t get enough of this Schwalm embroidery project.  ‘Stylish in the simplicity of its monochromatic palette, Schwalm Embroidery effectively utilises the varying textures created by a range of techniques to produce a richly ornamented surface.’

DELICATE TOUCH by Victoria Laine‘Blackwork holds a special appeal for embroiderers, the delicate tracery of thread on fabric, the clever illusion of form created by varying the thread and stitch density, and the infinite number of intricate patterns used.’

TURKISH DELIGHT by Elena Dickson has been a runaway hit with all our readers.  The Bibila technique itself is so unique that our editorial team took lessons from Elena herself to perfect their skills before creating the step by steps for this stand out Muslin Scarf. 

Kits for all Issue #86 projects are still available, but are selling fast.  Purchase yours today to avoid disappointment: Click here

Issue #86 – DON’T MISS OUT

Is you haven’t purchased a copy of Issue #86 yet, here is some motivation for you from Sheila Zielonka in the UK:

‘Hello to all of you wonderful people,

I have just received my latest issue (86) and I just HAD to write to you.  I am a passionate fan of embroidery of all kinds....but...am not that good at it but I try. I have been getting this magazine from the outset and have all the magazines on a shelf in my craft room so that I can DROOL over them periodically. 

 

I have done a fair few projects and I also practice a lot of the stiches demonstrated in the magazines, very handy. At the moment I am trying my hand at the Corded Brussels stitch, the effect is lovely.

I so look forward to receiving my magazine through the letter box, and when it does arrive I have to read from cover to cover over a cuppa.  I look, with absolute amazement, and sometimes jealousy, at the things that these embroiderers come up with....for example, Michele Carragher (Game Of Thrones article) ...dimensional moths, collars ...they are just exquisite and I so wish that I could create and produce something so beautiful, but I am not that talented...I wish.....!!!

I think I am going to have a go at the crazy quilting though (Jennifer Clouston), it looks like it will be fun to do, and also the Blackwork, which I have not done  for some years.

This wonderful magazine is the ONLY magazine that I subscribe to at the moment, I cannot think of enough words to describe how much I relish and enjoy this magazine....just keep them coming. My admiration goes to ALL of the designers that you feature and the BEAUTIFUL things that they produce....and...thanks to all the wonderful people that put the magazine together for us.

Many thanks and regards from a HUGE UK fan
Sheila'

SUBSCRIBER NEWS

Our Mission – To Find The Lost!

We’re looking for our lost subscribers.  If you have not received a magazine in the past three months your subscription is no longer current!

UNSURE IF YOUR SUBSCRIPTION IS CURRENT?

If you do not have issue #86 which features strawberries on the front or are unsure about your current subscription status, please fill in this form here and we’ll get back to you ASAP 

RENEW TODAY - Renewing your subscription is easy

 > Option 1 - RENEW ONLINE
Simply fill in our secure online form with your updated details.  It’s so easy and quick, you’ll be done in 5 mins!  Click Here

> Option 2 – RENEW BY PHONE
Renew your subscription over the phone by calling us within Australia on 08 8293 8600 or from outside Australia +61 8 8293 8600.  You can call us anytime, if the office is unattended, please leave a message and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

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

THIS WEEK ON FACEBOOK

A work in progress
VIEW HERE

 

Just amazing work
VIEW HERE

 

Mind blowing!
VIEW HERE


NEEDLEWORK NEWS

This week we highlight the work of the Smocking Arts Guild of NSW, Australia.

The Smocking Arts Guild of NSW has all the usual member benefits one would expect when joining a guild, but this guild in particular has a special heart for the community which gives their passion for the stitch an extra special purpose.

Based in Epping New South Wales, the group meets monthly at Epping Craft Centre which is around 35 minutes north west of the Sydney CBD.  Their mandate is to ‘preserve and foster the art of smocking and related needlework for future generations through education, communication and quality workmanship.’

To do this members are encouraged to bring along any completed and current projects for their "Show and Share" segment with other activities including discussing problems with garments, mini workshops and introducing guest speakers to members.

However it’s their community activities that provide members with a fantastic motivation to ‘Keep On Stitching’.

Sandra Tedesco explains:  “Our community programme for the Guild currently supplies gowns plus other items for premature and stillborn babies to 24 Sydney hospitals.  Although we are only a small guild, last year we donated 600 gowns with accompanying bonnets and bootees, plus blankets and quilts.  We even created hospital gowns which are used for babies with drips, which are sleeveless A line dresses in two sizes which do up on the shoulders.  All our garments are distributed twice yearly to all the hospitals and we’re always looking for more people to get involved and help in any way you can.”

With country groups in Newcastle, Muswellbrook and the Illawarra area, as well as the main group in Epping, The Smocking Arts Guild of NSW is a terrific way to both get involved in a stitching group and help out those within the community in need at the same time.

For more information you can check out their Facebook page here

or email Sandra direct on
stedesco147@gmail.com

Check out our What’s On section below for details relating to their Annual Open Day on Sunday 26th July. 

 



QUOTE:

"Her needlework both plain & ornamental was excellent, & she might have put a sewing machine to shame."
~ about Jane Austen by her nephew, James Edward Austen-Leigh ~


WHAT'S ON

What: Exquisite Threads English Embroidery 1600s to 1900s
Where: The National Gallery of Victoria International (168 St Kilda Road) Australia
When: to 12 July
Details: Click Here

What: Elaborate Embroidery; Fabrics for Menswear Before 1815
Where: The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York USA
When: to 19 July
Details: Click Here

What: 20 Year Celebration Embroidery Display - Sunshine Coast Embroiderers’ Guild
Where: CWA Hall Memorial Avenue, Maroochydore Australia
When: Tuesday, July 14th, 10.00 am to 3.00 pm
Details: Call Diane Lazarus on 07 5443 1104

What: Smocking Arts Guild of NSW OPEN DAY
Where: Epping Leisure and Learning Centre, 1 Chambers Court, off Pembroke Street Epping NSW
When: Sunday 26th July, 2015 at from 10am to 2pm
Details:  This day is for learning to smock basic stitches and you will be given a sampler to work on plus needle and threads.  Cost of the day will be $10 which also includes a Learn to Smock booklet and morning tea.  Please bring along your mug or cup and your lunch and come and enjoy the day with us.  For more information email Sandra Tedesco: stedesco147@gmail.com

-

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