The team from Inspirations HQ recently went on a field trip to tour the newly refurbished Her Majesty’s Theatre in Adelaide. Originally built in 1913, the recent redevelopment sees only two of the original walls being preserved with everything else being newly installed.

However, the blend of elements between the original design and the state-of-the-art facilities have been done incredibly sympathetically as they meet the needs of the modern audience while still honouring the original building.

Original designs and photographs were pored over and three South Australian artisans were commissioned to produce the bespoke elements found throughout the theatre. Sweeping staircases, curved balcony fronts and many of the walls were clad in wood, the pressed metal ceiling reintroduces an original Edwardian element, and the elegantly upholstered velvet and leather seating found throughout the bars in the venue were all true labours of love.

And the results? Well, they’re simply breathtaking!

It’s a redevelopment that speaks to heritage, the work of talented artisans as well as giving a nod to the current, just like much of the work produced with needle and thread.

We’re not sure if it was the ‘trained’ stitcher in each of us, but it was the attention to detail and craftmanship in each of the hand-crafted elements that struck a chord. From the vast wooden panels that saw countless thousands of holes drilled by hand, to the segmented seat backs that were each upholstered individually before being brought together in perfect formation, we found ourselves truly appreciating the number of painstaking hours that were poured into each element. The architects and artisans should be proud of the work they’ve produced and know their attention to detail and craftmanship was anything but lost on not only the Inspirations Team, but no doubt, all who will step foot into this iconic theatre in years to come.

If you’d like to see the years of work poured into the redevelopment of Her Majesty’s Theatre unfold before your eyes in but a few short minutes, you can do so HERE.

A monogrammed shirt or handkerchief nowadays might be regarded as the height of elegance or simply as a historical curiosity. But monograms in all their forms have been around for a very long time. Written, carved, minted or embroidered, the tradition of creating monograms goes back centuries and can be seen as one of the earliest forms of branding, acting as the precursor to the millions of logos we are all so familiar with today.

What is a monogram? Interestingly, the casual use of the term seems to include all representations of initials, whether ornate or simple, singular or with multiple characters. However, technically, only groups of letters which are a combination, entwined or joined together in some way, should be referred to as a monogram.

A series of separated initials is actually a cypher, although in modern parlance, the term monogram tends to be used generically. Monograms were initially used on coins minted in Ancient Greece. The letter combinations represented specific towns or localities or indicated the domain of certain dignitaries.

As time passed, the monogram became a signature, used especially by people such as Charlemagne, Emperor of the Carolingian Empire in the 8th century who, it is suggested, couldn’t write and so needed a dignified way to sign his name.

From there, monogram use was adopted by artists and craftsmen to mark their work or claim authorship. This was particularly important during the height of the guild system in the late Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, when there were strict enforcement measures against unauthorised participation in the trades.

Throughout the period, royalty frequently adopted ornate monograms or cyphers. Used to indicate status, ownership and power, royal monograms appeared in many places, including embroidered onto linens, clothing and textiles.

Like many things, when the royal family did it, everyone who wanted to boost their own status did it too and embroidered monograms became more and more popular. They had started as simple laundry marks, stitched onto bed linen and clothing which were destined for the communal laundries of large estates or villages.

However, the art of the embroidered monogram grew more detailed and ornate, raising it from a laundry mark to a status mark, something which hit a peak during Victorian times.

During the Victorian era, little girls started to learn how to embroider around 5 or 6 years old, and by the time they were 14, they were already skilfully embroidering their trousseau. This usually consisted of working a single letter onto all of the linens which they would take with them into their marriage. Of course, space would be left for the unknown husband’s initial to be added at the appropriate time.

Surprisingly, the etiquette of which order the initials appear in and which initial is the most prominent varies greatly from place to place. What is acceptable in Britain may not be ideal on the Continent. In modern times, people devising a monogram may vary from traditional etiquette, depending on what the combination of letters spells out.

Fortunately, there are no hard and fast rules anymore. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine were probably pleased about that when they realised the traditional combination of their initials – WC – was an abbreviation for Water Closet otherwise known as the toilet!

Luckily, what we have gained from the tradition is the pleasure of embroidering ornate and beautiful letters, but we’re able to combine it with the plethora of fonts, colours, styles, combinations and patterns which we enjoy as embroiderers in the 21st Century.

We have the fortune to draw inspiration from the iconic monograms of some of the best-known brands in the world just as much as we do from a simple, white-on-white monogram that adorns a treasured wedding handkerchief embroidered by a great-grandmother.

When you look around, you’ll see monograms everywhere. But the ones that really excite us are the ones which are lovingly worked with needle and thread, either on existing items or as a focus in themselves. How lucky we are that we can draw on the past to create something endlessly beautiful for today and for the future.

Retail therapy is a welcome pastime for many of us, but to really experience the ultimate retail extravaganza, go with a stitcher stitching shopping – there is no holding us back!

And for the ultimate online stitcher’s stitching shopping experience, you simply must visit our website.

What you may not know is that we add new products to our online shop most weeks. But unlike many places, often we only get limited stock in of some items which means once they’re gone, well, they really are gone.

Recent popular items, including the Bohin needle packs and one particular colour of the Cohana mini scissors sold out so quickly even we were surprised! For those who missed out, a new range of Bohin needle packs are on the way and the Cohana mini scissors are still available in Pink and Yellow.

Speaking of missing out, if you suffer from FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) be sure to keep an eye on the wares category on our website and be the first to know when the next must-have embroidery item comes in.

For those who missed out on ordering a turtle or a hummingbird last week we bring good news! (And no, we have not suddenly become a pet shop!)

After selling out in the first 24 hours of all our ‘Jewel of the Sea’ turtle kits and all three colours of the Hummingbird Needle Threaders we featured in All Stitched Up! last week, our team scrambled into action over the weekend to save the day.

Both products are now available to backorder, so click below and let the shopping frenzy resume.

If you’re inspired by the idea of monograms, we have something special for you. The new book by Di van Niekerk, Monograms and Words in Ribbon Embroidery, is filled with stunning letters embroidered in a style unlike any other.

Each letter is formed using a gorgeous combination of surface and ribbon embroidery, with ornate floral detail, delicious pastel tones and a glorious use of watercolour paint to add that extra special touch.

Combine the letters to make words or use them individually to decorate just about anything, from baby clothes to boxes, embroidered cards to linens and so much more.

If you’ve never tried ribbon embroidery before, or if you’ve been looking for new inspiration for your ribbon collection, then this book is ideal. You’ll be hunting for excuses to use letters anywhere and everywhere you can.

Willing Hands by Betsy Morgan has been one of our most popular new titles to date. Between re-printing the book and re-kitting almost every featured project many times over, it seems everything we do for this book goes out the door faster than we can get it in!

For anyone who has missed out on buying your favourite Willing Hands kit, this week we’re thrilled to announce the release of more stock available for pre-order.

These kits won’t last long, so if you’ve ever wanted to put together one of Betsy’s signature etuis, or stitch one of her beautiful accessories, then be sure to get your pre-order in now.

There are some works of art which will be guaranteed to make you look twice. This was precisely what we did when we saw the latest piece by Faig Ahmed, a textile artist based in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Entitled ‘Doubts’, this amazing carpet was created to express the uncertainty which has arisen out of the global pandemic of 2020. It starts clearly, then appears to melt into something unpredictable and uncontrolled.

Throughout Ahmed’s artistic career, he has melded the tradition of carpet making with the innovative and avant-garde, producing a fascinating body of work which defies expectation.

To see more of Faig Ahmed’s work, there are plenty of images at My Modern Met, or you can find out more about him at his website.

Technology can be overwhelming at times – boy do we know it! But did you know that we’re constantly working to make things as easy as possible for you?

We know that we can’t always put every bit of information about an item or a pattern into our newsletter, so we’re making sure that you can easily find out more.

Also, there’s nothing more frustrating than knowing you’ve read something in All Stitched Up!, but not being able to find it at a later date in your email inbox. So, did you know that all of our past newsletters are available to read on the website?

You can even do a search for that important article and there it will be, all ready to read as many times as you want.

The term ‘Sen’nohana’ means ‘a thousand flowers’ in Japanese. It seems apt that the Japanese would have such a succinct and beautiful term, as flowers have always been an important part of Japanese tradition. They are steeped in meaning and highly valued as gifts, particularly due to the strong symbolism associated with different blooms.

Just as in Western culture, the Japanese have a ‘language of flowers’, called Hanakotoba. Each flower holds a meaning, and the combination of flowers can deliver complex messages provided both the sender and the recipient understand the language being spoken.

This then means that the Japanese art of flower arranging, Ikebana, has always gone far beyond simple aesthetic considerations.

From cherry blossoms to chrysanthemums, the presence of flowers in Japanese art and life is all encompassing. There are literally thousands of flower images and symbols to be seen throughout the culture. This extends then into the traditional Japanese styles of embroidery and beading, which Margaret Lee has so expertly captured in her project Sen’nohana from our new book A Passion for Needlework | Blakiston Creamery.

Worked in traditional Japanese beading technique, Sen’nohana is truly a breathtaking project. The front of this hard-shell bag or purse is festooned with curling stems, sparkling leaves and brilliantly coloured flowers, all carefully worked in tiny Japanese seed beads. Each flower is exquisitely designed, making full use of the glorious colour which emerges when the light hits each perfectly positioned bead.

The design is worked using the traditional, two needle technique. One needle is threaded with a double thread to lay the beads and the other is then used to couch the bead down and ensure it is secure.

Changes in tension are used to create a raised effect on some of the blooms and, when all of the flowers are complete, the whole piece is finished off by filling the background in a scatter pattern using striking dark amethyst beads. The result is both stunning and dramatic.

The perfection of this project comes from the careful placement of the beads which can take some time. Because of this, the completed evening bag is single sided, with the intricate design on display on the front and subtle brown taffeta fabric covering the back.

Margaret did acknowledge, however, that some stitchers will enjoy the beading process so much that they will want to create their project two sided. In order to satisfy everyone, extension packs to complete the second side of the bag are available for purchase as an optional extra.

Although Sen’nohana might not be decorated with exactly a thousand flowers, there are more than enough to ensure total pleasure in completing this project. What there might be are a thousand beads, each laid down and secured with care. And what there is guaranteed to be is a thousand moments of sheer pleasure whenever you or anyone else sees this exquisite project. We feel that the subtle message of love, patience and devotion will be clear for everyone to read.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Sen’nohana by Margaret Lee from the book A Passion for Needlework | Blakiston Creamery is an elegant hard-shell bag richly embellished with Japanese-style bead embroidery.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Sen’nohana includes everything* you need to re-create this enchanting bag: Fabrics (pre-printed), fusible wadding, fusible interfacing, hard shell bag frame, embroidery threads, beads and needles.

Step 3 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit | Bead Pack

In addition to the full kit above, an extension pack is available to complete the second side of the bag.

*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 book.

Sakura by Margaret Lee from Inspirations issue #105 is a delightful, beaded purse featuring a cherry blossom.

Hanabatake by Margaret Lee from Inspirations issue #95 is a dazzling zipped case with Japanese-style bead embroidery.

Hana by Merrilyn Whittle from Inspirations issue #91 is a delightful scissor fob embellished with Japanese bead embroidery.

Who can resist the alluring sparkle and infinite palette of beautiful beads, artfully worked to create truly spectacular results? Discover a whole new world of beading through the pages of this superb book by Margaret Lee which includes detailed step-by-step diagrams, full descriptions of the techniques involved and fabulous photography.

A little while back, a reader mused whether the shape of the frame you were stitching on affected how you thought about your stitching. In particular, she wondered whether using a round hoop caused you to think in curves and circles. It seems that our contributors this week all provide evidence that thinking in circles is very fruitful, as these designs attest.

‘I have just finished a fun project I am calling Amethyst Hearts.’

‘The pattern is by Mary Corbet of Needle 'n Thread. I loved the design and was inspired to do it in February. The purples make me think of February's birthstone, the amethyst.’

It is a lovely design and a fantastic colour palette, Sue. It would be perfectly suited as a February birthday gift.

‘When I finish an embroidery, the question ‘what are you going to do with it?’ frequently comes up. Excellent question as I have no wall space left to hang any more framed items.’

‘I bought Hazel Blomkamp’s Mandala kit at the last Beating Around the Bush. It sat completed on the dining room table for months until I had a eureka moment – make it into a bag! Fortunately, Hazel had supplied enough fabric in the kit for the front and I then matched the black linen for the back of the bag. It is lined with white fabric with a small black spot.’

Wow, the result is very elegant, Nicole we love it! Who knew that Hazel’s design would be so perfectly suited to an evening bag? Well done.

‘I thought you might like to see these mandalas which I made for my daughter.’

Thank you for sharing these Jenny, they are fabulous and look so good framed in their circular hoops.

‘Our family loves the Junee Railway Roundhouse Museum (located in NSW, Australia), as well as all things related to trains and rail travel, so our daughter suggested to mount an exhibition to mark that.

She is a printmaker, my husband is an artist, our son is a musician and I am a lover of cross stitch.’

‘The exhibition was titled ‘Rhythm and Rust’ and was in the E3 Art Space in Wagga Wagga, NSW in 2013.’

‘On our visits to the roundhouse we sought out various aspects of light and colour, shapes, shadows, and sound. I focussed on the myriad circular motifs I found on, in and around the engines and rolling stock stored there.

Although, I hadn’t appreciated the complexities involved in representing round objects with a square stitch, so the first pieces I produced were a bit wobbly. My technique improved as I progressed and my design processes became more stylised and appropriate to the stitch.’

‘I found that using the descriptors ‘rhythm, regularity and speed’ in association with my stitching, I managed to enhance the history and romance of train travel throughout Australia.’

Thank you for the wonderful story and the fascinating interpretation you made of your beloved place with needle and thread, Josie. You are very lucky to have such an artistic family, and to be able to come together to express a shared passion.

Do you love the regularity of circles, or do you prefer the geometry of squares? Or are you more interested in fluid, random shapes which defy definition? Whatever shape you prefer to stitch, we’d love to see your work. Please send us pictures as well as a brief note about the project and your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com.au

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Jewel of the Sea by Georgina Bellamy from the book A Passion for Needlework | Blakiston Creamery is a stunning three-dimensional goldwork turtle.

The Beating Around the Bush 2021 catalogue is now available.

To download the catalogue, click on the link below and add the digital PDF file to your shopping cart on our website and after completing the checkout process (no payment required) you will receive a link on your screen under the word DOWNLOAD which you can click to access the file.

However, if you’d prefer to be able to leaf through your catalogue, marking your favourite tutors with post-it notes, then you can also order a printed copy of the catalogue today.

These adorable needle threaders are small enough to use even on the finest of needles, robust enough that they’ll last the distance, and gorgeous enough that one will simply not be enough.

The hummingbird needle threaders come in blue, pink and teal and have a hole in the wing so they can be hung on a chatelaine, keyring or attached to a handmade fob so you’ll always have one to hand.

Under the Sea by Jenny McWhinney from Inspirations issue #63 is a unique and stylish evening bag featuring two seahorses.

Flowers of the Sea by Helen M. Stevens from Inspirations issue #89 is a vibrant underwater scene portrayed in filament silk and metallic threads.

The Tooth Fairy by Betsy Morgan from Inspirations issue #99 is two adorable counted work boxes for special tooth fairy deliveries – one adorned with a seaside theme and all manner of sea creatures.

~ Spencer W Kimball ~

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.