So much has changed for so many of us and in such a short space of time, there are days we’re finding it difficult to keep up with our new normal!

Then just when it feels like it might all be getting to be too much, something catches our attention and somehow seems to ground us again.

We’re not sure about you, but for us, those somethings seem to be the familiar.

It might be the smell of a home cooked meal simmering on the stove, the taste of a long-forgotten home-baked treat, penned words from a book or song we’re well acquainted with, the changing of the seasons that go on regardless of what we’re walking through or the familiar push and pull of needle and thread through fabric, each of them brings with it a sense of comfort as we relish something we’ve always known.

As we continue to walk through this season of uncertainty, we’re now looking for the familiar more than ever as we appreciate the power of comfort in the well-known.

We’d love to hear about what familiar ‘somethings’ are grounding you through this ever-changing season. Email us at news@inspirationsstudios.com

During a time when the circumstances around us give rise to reflecting on who we are, what’s important and how the people around us are all coping, it is appropriate that our discussion about journaling in All Stitched Up! issue #225 caused so many of you to write in.

Now more than ever, a journal is a wonderful way to record, reflect and preserve this moment. Hopefully after reading these stories, you too will be inspired to start a journal.

‘Regarding your suggestions about a stitching journal. I try to remember to take a photograph or scan of each stitching piece I finish, whether it be framed or a pillow etc.

I started this habit a couple of years back. Just viewing the digital images brings back memories of what I was doing, who received the stitched item, and the enjoyment of each adventure!’

A photograph is a perfect way of recording your work Stephanie, and as most of us carry cameras with us all of the time, thanks to our smartphones, it makes this even easier. There are also places where those photographs can be stored online and shared so other people can enjoy your achievements or be preserved for posterity.

Of course, it is also great to go the old-fashioned route and print the photographs out to keep in a book or an album. We know of one stitcher who has been doing this for several decades. Most of her work has been gifted or given away, but she always keeps the memories of her many hours of stitching.

‘When I was a young mother and wanted an up-to-date sewing machine (one with zig zag features) I felt I had to justify this expensive purchase. As a result, I have therefore kept a diary note of everything I have ever used that machine for. I even carried the habit on for its successor!

My daughters have followed this foible of mine. Although, I wish I had the memory to go with the diary. Now, what was that quilt stitched in Dec ‘70?!’

Thank you, Mary, it sure is difficult to know now what details you might wish you had kept many years into the future. At the time, it probably seemed like you’d never forget that particular quilt, but time has a habit of erasing things.

‘I have tried keeping a journal of each day’s stitching efforts. It only lasted a little while since I would rather spend the effort stitching.’

This is indeed a problem Roberta! With a finite number of stitching hours in a day, why would you sacrifice a single one? We find that journals don’t need to be a missive as such, nor completed in full every day, instead jotting a few notes while you’re waiting at the doctor’s surgery or scribbling down an idea while the kettle is boiling can be all one needs.

We’d love to hear more from you about journaling – whether you do it, how you do it or if you have perhaps started recently while we are spending more time in our homes.

In particular as these strange days blend into one another, it’s nice to see reflected through our journals each little bit of progress we achieve and each tiny step we take which leads us towards a better future.

This week we’re continuing to celebrate our favourite season – spring! Recently we discovered some misplaced stock of this gorgeous ladybird enamel pin, the design of which was adapted from Susan O’Connor’s exquisite project Poppies and Peas, which she taught at Beating Around the Bush in 2018.

The Ladybird enamel pin is now available for purchase from our website and to help complete the spring ensemble, there are also limited quantities of the Apple, Butterfly and Primavera Bird enamel pins still available.

What a lovely way to celebrate spring together!

At last, the wait is over. Ever since we saw some of the early designs for Hazel’s new book at Beating Around the Bush in 2018, we’ve been eager for its release. Today we’re pleased to announce that we now have stock of ‘Crewel Birds’ by Hazel Blomkamp.

Continuing in her fantastic and enormously popular style, affectionately known as crewel embroidery with a twist, Crewel Birds features six magnificent farm and game birds to stitch.

Choose from Nigel the Flamingo, Dick the Duck, Dave the Pheasant, Claude the Phoenix, Kevin the Fanciful Pheasant or our personal favourite, Colin the Rooster.

Just like Hazel’s other books, Crewel Birds is packed with detailed instructions and diagrams so that you’ll have everything you need to successfully complete one or all of the bird projects.

If you’ve ever worked Hazel’s designs before, you’ll know how innovative she is with her stitching. As a result, even the most passionate of Hazel followers are sure to find new stitches, stitch combinations and techniques in this book which they’ve never tried before.

At last, the avian world has been honoured by Hazel’s incredible hands. About the only thing you need to worry about is which one of these birds are you going to start with?

We were very excited to launch our new book ‘The Art of Chinese Embroidery 2 | Intermediate Level’ by Margaret Lee a few weeks ago in All Stitched Up! issue #230. And it seems our excitement was contagious.

Your reception to this stunning new publication was amazing and so too was the demand for our Ready-To-Stitch kits from the book.

While many designs sold out in the first few days, the good news is we are working on getting in more stock so you can still pre-order which ever kits you’ve fallen in love with, complete with all the silks you need and pre-printed background fabrics.

Click on the link below and let the shopping frenzy begin, or for some of you… continue!

There are only so many hours you can sit indoors and stitch. Perhaps, like us, you’re desperate to get outside more and do something in the open air rather than sitting in your house? How about giant cross stitch?

Portuguese textile artist, Aheneah, has reimagined traditional cross stitch into street art, maintaining the technique of crossing fibres while producing something magnificent.

Using nails and yarn rather than needle and thread, Aheneah has paid homage to her grandmother’s skill in a way that everyone can enjoy.

When next the sun is shining, why not grab some nails in the shed and yarn from your stash box and share your love of cross stitch with the rest of the world! To discover more about Aheneah’s amazing stitched street art, check out her website HERE.

When we first saw Renette Kumm’s Coquette in Inspirations issue #106, our first thought was that she had been somewhat fanciful with the colouring. The riot of rainbow colours makes for very enjoyable stitching, but surely no bird could have that kind of colour combination in real life?

How wrong we were. A quick search for the Tufted Coquette brought up image after image of this little bird with feathers of purple, gold, green and orange.

The Tufted Coquette, native to South America, really is tiny. A member of the hummingbird family, even amongst its relatives it is as diminutive as a button. Measuring just under 7cm, this tiny burst of brilliance would be breathtaking to watch as it darts from flower to flower.

Like most hummingbirds, the days of the Tufted Coquette are filled with feeding, as the metabolism of these little birds is so fast that they are always hungry. In fact, if they slept like normal animals, they would starve to death overnight.

The brilliant feathers of the coquette are common across both the male and female, although only the male has the magnificent orange crest and neck feathers. Rennette’s little fellow proudly splays his crest and glances coyly out of the frame. He’s clearly proud of the magnificent, shimmering colours which adorn his whole body.

We know that threadpainting is a firm favourite among all needlework fans, so to help you really achieve the results you’re after, there are detailed photographs of the colour changes and stitch placement provided. This allows you to follow along step-by-step, working from the tail feathers upwards.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of this project is being able to successfully work with the large number of colours required. Fortunately, there are clear, detailed photographs, and the instructions break the process down to clearly show where one colour moves on to the next.

Bring a splash of brilliance to your home by stitching this little coquette. Perhaps after falling in love with him, you’ll be able to view that gorgeous orange, green and purple kaftan that has been sitting in your wardrobe for years through different eyes. When it comes to colour combinations, maybe nature does know something after all?

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Coquette by Renette Kumm is an ornate hummingbird depicted in threadpainting.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Coquette includes everything* you need to re-create this brightly coloured hummingbird: Fabrics (unprinted), embroidery threads and needles.

*Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the magazine/digital pattern.

Sunbird by Renette Kumm from Inspirations issue #99 is a fabulous threadpainted orange-breasted sunbird.

Bee-Eaters by Renette Kumm from A Passion for Needlework | Factoria VII is a superb threadpainted study of European bee-eaters.

Savanna Glory by Renette Kumm from Inspirations issue #95 is a stunning threadpainted Lilac-breasted Roller.

Many stitchers are like magpies, being drawn endlessly to shiny things. This is perhaps one reason why goldwork is such a popular technique among our readers who can’t seem to get enough of glittery, metal threads. So, here is some sparkle for you to enjoy…

‘In 2016 I enrolled in a 3-year course based at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. The course was structured around 3 one-day workshops per year under the guidance of expert embroiderer and historian Tanya Bentham.’

‘The requirement was to design our own piece in the style of Opus Anglicanum using images suggested by Tanya and based on historical documents. I chose a 14th Century German manuscript known as the Codex Manesse. It contains illustrations of love poetry.’

‘The gold background has been worked in underside couching using a gold coloured passing thread, with a linen thread for the stitching. The remainder is in split stitch in varying numbers of strands of fine pure silk thread.

‘I completed two Jenny Adin-Christie designs. These had so many techniques and unique materials and her instructions are superb. It is exciting to have a challenge like this. My desire is to be able to attend one of her classes one day.’

‘I like to work with kits when they include specialty materials which are either unknown here in Canada or are difficult to acquire. But I constantly look for challenges and unique aspects in which to extend my skills.’

What we haven’t shown here is the wonderful variety of projects that Mavis has sent us. These are just a couple, so look out for more in upcoming issues of the newsletter!

‘I am in my seventies and have been sewing and embroidering all my life. I spent 20 years as a TV costume designer in the UK and then as a show house designer for a large building company. I also knit, quilt and collect and make doll’s houses, so I’m always busy!’

'This bird on grey Dupion is from a class I did with the embroiderer from Game of Thrones. This is her design.’

The bird is magnificent and what a treat to do a class with the embroiderer from Game of Thrones! Thank you so much for letting us show off your work, Anna.

‘After years of stitching tapestry cushions, I discovered cross stitch. Hurray! No more boring backgrounds to fill in. Hardanger was also calling me but after a couple of disasters I gave it up until Ilke Cochrane (aka Mabel Figworthy) did a beginners SAL back in 2013.’

‘Ilke is a brilliant and patient teacher and I was hooked. The current SAL is a crewelwork Tree of Life and one version includes goldwork. I researched more and found a beginner’s goldwork kit by Sarah Homfray.

Where I live in Ireland there are no groups to join within a reasonable distance of my home and none of my friends are interested. My stitching has seen me through some difficult times and I stitch every day, even if it is just for a few minutes.’

Louise you’ve made a beautiful start to what can be a difficult technique. We do hope you continue and please keep sharing with us your finishes.

Are you captivated by goldwork? Or have you completed any projects with a little bit of sparkle? We’d love to see your work, so email us at news@inspirationsstudios.com with photographs and a few words about your stitching journey.

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Pomegranate by Margaret Lee is an exquisite embroidered study.

Golden Needles by June Godwin from Inspirations issue #45 is a dainty pinwheel adorned with graceful Jacobean-style stems of pomegranate - the fruit of the goddess Persephone.

The Magical Pomegranate by Lesley Turpin-Delport from Inspirations issue #39 is a stunning botanical picture portraying the King of Fruits.

Punica Granatum by Jane Nicholas from Inspirations issue #73 is an elegant pomegranate tree and goldwork beetle personalised with the embroiderer's initial.

Pen to Paper by Kimberly Servello from Inspirations issue #81 is a superb paperweight featuring a lush silk and gold pomegranate.

~ Eucharista Ward ~

Stay informed of upcoming needlework events taking place all around the world in our new What’s On page on the Inspirations Studios Website HERE.