Hi <<First Name>>, Is it possible that we live in a particular time in history where needlework has never been so needed or as important as it is right now? Originally stitching was an essential life skill, to clothe and protect us from the elements.  Then it progressed to embellishment for regal purposes etc. and so on through to today where, for most of us, it’s a pursuit of passion. So while the practical needs that stitching once necessitated have been met through technological advances, it’s the mental, social and physical benefits that needlework provides, which we all need today, perhaps more than ever before. How does one stay sane and centred in the mad, mad world that surrounds us? Solution = Needlework! May this issue of Embroidery News give you the inspiration to pick up your needle and thread and exchange madness for the serenity of the stitch. Share your needlework journey with us at news@inspirationsstudios.com

‘The Embroidered Village Bag’
by Carolyn Pearce

Carolyn Pearce’s contribution to the world of needlework to date has been prolific.  With a celebrated career spanning decades, dozens of her stunning designs have graced the pages of Inspirations over the years (as far back as issue 3) with some of her more epic projects being published as standalone books.

‘Home Sweet Home’ the work box for example, has become its own phenomenon which has been well covered in previous issues of Embroidery News (Click HERE).

Today we wanted to announce another of her popular project books ‘The Embroidered Village Bag’ has just been released as a digital book and is now available for purchase.

Each of Carolyn’s projects feature her trademark meticulous needlework and enchanting designs, however The Embroidered Village Bag includes a few aspects that make this project unique.

The first is the vast number and variety of different stitches and techniques Carolyn uses to achieve this adorable bag.  She holds nothing back when it comes to adding the most wonderfully intricate and fun elements to the design. 

Rich in embellishment, the sides of the bag are decorated with country garden scenes including two charming cottages draped with wisteria and roses.  A flower girl with two flower baskets is featured on one end of the bag, while a large beehive and a delicate lavender bush appear on the other.  If you love the idea of getting lost in your own stitched village and meandering in a cottage garden, this is a project for you!

The second aspect to The Embroidered Village Bag that separates it from some of Carolyn’s other projects, is her intention for you, the stitcher, to gather up as many of your own fabrics, buttons, beads, threads etc. collected over time, and add them to the bag itself to create your own unique design.

With so many rich and varied design elements included in the book, you can either create your own tote bag per the book, or just use the ideas and instructions provided to add some magic and wonder to your own needlework masterpiece.

‘The Embroidered Village Bag’ Digital Book

Lose yourself in the secret delights of this whimsical tote bag by Carolyn Pearce.  ‘The Embroidered Village Bag’ is now available as a Digital Download.

> To purchase click HERE

LOOKING FOR MORE CAROLYN PEARCE?

‘Home Sweet Home’ by Carolyn Pearce

Discover the hidden secrets of this exquisite embroidered English cottage workbox.

> Purchase Printed Copies HERE

‘The Embroidered Patchwork Bear’ by Carolyn Pearce

Delight in this richly illustrated single project book, combining the crafts of embroidery, patchwork and bear making.

> Purchase Printed Copies HERE

Digital Patterns by Carolyn Pearce

A range of Carolyn’s projects are also available as Digital Patterns for your stitching pleasure. 

> Check Out Carolyn’s Digital Patterns HERE

The month of February is now upon us…
that means three things:

1/. – It’s time to change months on your Inspirations calendar and reveal the next stunning needlework project – ‘Love Letters’ by Elisabetta Sforza.

2/. – As promised, each project featured in the calendar will be available as a digital download, so Love Letters is now online.

‘Love Letters’ by Elisabetta Sforza from Inspirations #89 is the perfect project to personalise a special gift by adding a beautiful monogrammed floral initial.

> Purchase Digital Pattern HERE

3/. – This is the last week the 2017 Inspirations calendar will be available to purchase, so if you don’t already have one this is your FINAL CALL!

> Purchase the Inspirations 2017 Wall Calendar HERE.

Beautiful Needlework. Sold HERE. 

THE ‘LEARN’ BOOKLET SERIES - #2

Last week we re-released the extremely popular ‘Learn’ mini booklets as digital downloads, which first appeared as a bonus attachment on the covers of Inspirations issues #50 through #55. 

Having explored the beauty of Ribbon Embroidery last week, this week we’re checking out the second booklet in the series and getting up close and personal with the insect world.

A favourite subject matter for needleworkers to stitch, is all things flowers and gardens, and quite often we also include an element of realism (or just curiosity) by stitching in an insect or two… or four or many more!

Now we’re not talking about the ugly hairy, scary, big fangs and googly eyes type insects, we’re talking about the fun, friendly, good looking variety!  Some-one who knows a thing or two about creating good looking designs is Lesley Turpin-Delport, who in the booklet ‘Learn To Stitch Fabulous Insects’ has created a fascinating collection of tiny creatures for your stitching pleasure.

‘Learn To Stitch Fabulous Insects’ takes you step by step through the process of creating these quick to stitch motifs that can be used in a myriad of applications, including the embellishment of collars, cuffs, jeans, pillowslips, hand towels etc.

Featuring detailed step-by-step photographs and easy to follow instructions for the 7 stitches required to create all the insects featured, the booklet even includes the quintessetial Ghiordes Knot Stitch (also known as Turkey Stitch) which creates awesome plush pile that all well stitched bumble bees call for!

So why not release your inner entomologist and embrace the world of stitched insects… it can be a whole lot of fun!

‘LEARN TO STITCH FABULOUS INSECTS’
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

Learn the basics of creating insects using a needle and thread with this step-by-step guide, perfect for beginners. Includes a series of designer insects by Lesley Turpin-Delport.

> Purchase ‘Learn To Stitch Fabulous Insects’ HERE

> Browse Complete ‘Learn’ Collection HERE

LOOKING FOR MORE INSECTS?

Insects have been creeping, crawling and flying their way onto the pages of Inspirations since the very beginning. Here are some stunning insect projects to inspire you…

‘Butterfly’ by Catherine Laurençon from Inspirations #85 is a fabulous butterfly, thread-painted with vibrant stranded cotton threads.

> Purchase Digital Pattern HERE

‘Papillion’ by Rosemary Frezza from Inspirations #26 is a collection of six butterflies, elegantly recreated to mimic the popular decoupage paper butterflies of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

> Purchase Digital Pattern HERE

‘Beetlemania’ by Jane Nicholas from Inspirations #88 is a stunning goldwork diving beetle.

> Purchase Printed Copies Of Issue #88 HERE

We love seeing all the emails that come across our desk which highlight the work of everyone in the Embroidery News Community. Sometimes the projects are picture perfect renditions straight out of the pages of Inspirations Magazine, whilst others are entirely original works. Whatever the case may be, it’s the time, thought and care that goes into each project that never ceases to amaze us.  Each and every one of you is truly dedicated to the craft of the needle and thread and for that we applaud you!

This week’s ‘What Are You Stitching’ is no exception, so let’s start with Marie Jo Gravett:

‘I belong to an embroidery club in north-western France where we have 57 members and meet once a week all throughout the year.  I found this 'Jardin Anglais' (English Garden) in a back copy of 'Broderie Inspirations' (Inspirations French Edition) and took great pleasure in making it.

We have now started subscribing to the magazine and really enjoy reading it, although occasionally I have to translate it into French! We find the explanations particularly clear and easy to follow and appreciate the worldwide nature.’

Marie Jo, yours is one of the picture-perfect pieces we spoke of earlier - your work mimics that of Kris Richards just beautifully.  Surely you have the most envied needle case in your Embroidery Club!

If you’d like to create your own ‘A Cottage Garden’ by Kris Richards, you can purchase a printed copy of Inspirations Issue #53, or the Digital Pattern for this project is also available.

> Printed Copies of Issue #53 Available HERE
> Digital Pattern For ‘A Cottage Garden’ Available HERE

Next up is an ode to best friends by Heather Frizzell :

‘I’ve been a huge fan of Inspirations for as long as I can remember. I have had a love of thread painting for nearly 20 years now with constant inspiration from Inspirations Magazine. I do hope you enjoy one of my first pieces for this year, which will be part of a series called ‘Best Friends in Thread’.  Looking forward to a fun creative year.

Wow Heather – if this gorgeous cat is a sign of things to come, then you’ll have no problems making 2017 a fun creative year!  We eagerly await your next ‘Best Friends In Thread’ instalment, keep up the awesome stitching.

Speaking of having a fun and creative year, it seems Jane Page from Suffolk in the UK has been having quite a few of these of late and has this remarkable gallery to show us from her last two years of working away with her needle and thread:

‘At last I have finished stitching my seven pictures (a two year project). I bought the frames at a car boot sale and painted them and then the pictures evolved. 

Some took longer than others as I waited for inspiration. I now have so many ideas tumbling about in my brain as I want to embroider more pictures.

I included a few real feathers in one picture and some old man’s beard seed heads in another.’

Thank you Jane, we just love your vision for upcycling the old frames you found and admire the space you gave the creative process as you waited for inspiration for each one of these amazing pictures. The thought and time you’ve put into the project has been well rewarded with a truly original and unique collection.

Do you have a project to show us? Whether it’s an existing design or your own original piece, your needlework might just be the inspiration someone else needs, so we’d love to share it.

Email us at news@inspirationsstudios.com – we look forward to admiring your work as it arrives in our Inbox!

PRINT | For a print subscription fill in our secure online form with your details HERE.

DIGITAL | Digital subscriptions can be purchase 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 have any questions regarding an Inspirations subscription or just want to have a chat, 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 us anytime at subs@inspirationsstudios.com

NEW DIGITAL PATTERNS RECENTLY ADDED

The Golden Pomegranate

‘The Golden Pomegranate’ by Margaret Cobleigh from Inspirations #61 is a beautiful richly ornamented goldwork study of this popular fruit.

> Digital Pattern for ‘Golden Pomegranate’ available HERE
> Printed Copies of Issue #61 available HERE

If you’d like to stitch along with Mary and join her on the Modern Crewel project, you’ll need three things:

English Rose

The ‘English Rose Thimble Holder’ by Carolyn Pearce from Inspirations #76 is one of our most popular digital download to date.  Did you know that Inspirations #73 featured Carolyn’s matching English Rose Pin Cushion & Tape Measure Cover? 

The Pin Cushion and Tape Measure Cover project has just been added as a Digital Pattern, so now you can complete the set!

> Digital Pattern for ‘English Rose,
   Pincushion & Tape Measure Cover’ available HERE
> Printed Copies of Issue #73 available HERE
> Digital Pattern for ‘English Rose | Thimble Holder’ available HERE
> Printed Copies of Issue #76 available HERE

INSPIRATIONS ISSUE #92 KITS – FINAL STOCK

Planning on stitching a project from issue #92?  Need a kit?  With only limited stock remaining, get one today to avoid missing out.

> Browse our range of Inspirations Kits HERE

*Please note – quantities of kits available shown above only current at time of newsletter release.

HOLD THE DATE – October 3rd to 10th 2018

Save the date and invite your friends for a needlework experience like no other as Inspirations presents Beating Around The Bush 2018.

Join us from October 3rd to 10th 2018 in Adelaide, Australia and help us celebrate 10 years as the world’s most beautiful needlework convention.

Stay tuned to Embroidery News for more information about BATB 2018 coming soon.

What: Opus Anglicanum | Masterpieces of English Medieval Embroidery
Where: Room 38 | Victoria & Albert Museum
When: to 5 Feb
Details: Click HERE

What: Undressed | A Brief History of Underwear
Where: Room 40 | Victoria & Albert Museum
When: to 12 Mar
Details: Click HERE

What: 2017 Scarf Festival | Galaxies – A Textile Journey to Infinity & Beyond
Where: The National Wool Museum | 26 Moorabool Street Geelong, Victoria
When: Entries Close 30 Apr
Details: Click HERE & scarffestival@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

What: Jeanie Baker’s Circle Exhibition
Where: Royal Botanic Gardens | Domain House | Dallas Brooks Drive South Yarra Victoria
When: to 14 May
Details: edserve@rbg.vic.gov.au

What: RSN | Stories in Stitch Exhibition
Where: Hampton Court Palace
When: to Jul
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
news@inspirationsstudios.com

Happy Stitching
The Embroidery News Team