The Allotment Basket by Nicola Jarvis

Anyone who has been reading this newsletter over the past few weeks will be familiar with our latest book release, Life in Seasons | Winter & Spring by Nicola Jarvis.

You will also be aware that one of the reasons this book is so impactful is due to the layers of art and storytelling that have been intertwined in and around the spectacular embroidery.

In fact, you don’t even need to take our word for it… in case you missed Mary Corbet’s review of Life in Seasons, you can check it out HERE and Gary and Beth from the famous podcast Fiber Talk interviewed Nicola to discuss her journey creating Life in Seasons, which you can listen to HERE.

The first is the majestic project The Allotment Basket and the second is Nicola’s poetry.

We’re not even going to tell you too much about The Allotment Basket, other than it centres around an abundant, home-grown harvest of flowers and berries filling a basket that is visited by a trio of stumpwork moths worked with metal threads, beads, and textured stitches.

It truly is one of the most stunning pieces featured in the book.

As for the poetry, well you may not have realised that throughout the book Nicola has written her own bespoke poems to help heighten the sentiment and emotion behind each piece. Nicola crafts superb imagery using words to complement her embroidery.

The Allotment Basket is quickly becoming one of the most popular projects from Life in Seasons, so it’s definitely worth considering when adding designs to your To Stitch List.

We’ll leave you now with the poem that Nicola wrote specifically to accompany The Allotment Basket:

Against the warm evening sky

Sweet pea tendrils tangle around the canes

And berries hang heavy on their stems.

I breathe in the scent of meadow grass,

Laced with the fragile perfume of briar rose

And old-fashioned fragrance of frilly pea flowers.

Around these heady blooms tiny wings flutter in the dimming light,

Subtle patterns of powdery moths sipping the nectar.

Velvet brocade marbled with umber and ivory.

A miniature Persian carpet woven with carmine and charcoal threads.

Pale iridescent wings shimmer

Against deep purple and scarlet sweet William flowers,

Here,

Then gone.

We have all the materials you need to re-create this project yourself, from easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions to a Ready-to-Stitch kit with everything sourced for you.

*A couple of tips when stitching The Allotment Basket:

Background – as this piece has been stitched on pre-printed fabric, to re-create it exactly as it appears in the book the kit comes with the pre-printed fabric included. Alternatively, use the pattern sheet from the Life in Seasons book to transfer the design and create your own background elements as desired.

Instructions – As this kit does not include instructions, for step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the book Life in Seasons, purchased separately.