Easter Surprise by Ana Mallah

When choosing a project to stitch, we each have our own unique decision-making path that we travel along. If we were to map this journey, it would uncover the subconscious flow chart that we use to arrive at one of two outcomes - To Stitch or Not to Stitch.

Even now as you read these words and look at the images of this week’s feature project, you’re working your way through that flow chart.

Do I like the technique used, do I like the motifs, are the colours nice, what about the fabric, will I ever use it, who can I stitch it for, how long will it take me, do I have the skills required, how hard is the construction, would I buy the kit or use my stash, do I even know what’s in my stash… that reminds me I really must catalogue my stash… is it time for cake yet?

It all sounds exhausting yet consider this: on any given day we make between 35,000 to 70,000 decisions, which equate to around 2,000 decisions per hour or one decision every two seconds.

This means we can actually traverse our decision-making path and arrive at the end of our flow chart at lightning speed. Others, however, prefer a more meandering pace and are more contemplative.

We tell you all this because the project Easter Surprise is just that - quite the surprise - and once we’ve shared a bit more about it, it might just flip the script on your decision-making path!

Easter Surprise is a delightful gift box adorned with pretty flowers on each side. It’s been designed by the fabulous Ana Mallah and appears in Inspirations magazine issue #127.

Stitched onto natural linen blend and worked using stranded cotton threads, Ana has created two distinct panel designs each mirrored on opposite sides.

Within the Rose and Delphinium panel, our hero blooms are accompanied by apricot tulips and white daisies along with a busy buzzy bee.

The Allium and Daffodil panel is also paired with white daisies but this time with bright yellow daffodils and a curious butterfly.

A base of green grass and tiny flowers encircle the finished design with the triangular top sections that form a lid held together with a multi-coloured twisted cord.

If your decision-making flow chart usually rules out seasonal projects, you might consider the fact that by selecting such a design, it comes with a built-in deadline. Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day, and birthdays all have a fixed date to work toward, which for many of us creates the sense of urgency and impetus we need to finish.

If your decision-making flow chart also rules out box making due to the construction required, Easter Surprise is surprisingly easy to assemble thanks to its perfect size (5cm/2" square x 9.5cm/3 ¾" high), its symmetrical proportions and super easy to create lid.

Many of us are often looking for new, innovative and practical uses for our embroidery, and Easter Surprise offers us a clever and novel way to present the quintessential favourite treat - Easter eggs!

Not to mention that finding meaningful Easter gifts beyond sweets can often be challenging so we can only imagine the joy of gifting someone their very own lovingly handmade Easter Surprise.

All in all, we discovered plenty of wonderful surprises within this project so if you enjoy celebrating Easter, this is one of the most unique and fun pieces we’ve come across.

To help ensure next Easter doesn’t come as a surprise you can write down this date: Sunday 5th April 2026 - giving us just over 33 weeks to create our own Easter Surprise. The only surprise left then is deciding who will be the lucky recipient of this beautiful piece - maybe that’s best left for the Easter Bunny to decide!