Table of contents for Inspirations issue 96 in Inspirations

One of the magical things about embroidery is that there always seems to be something new – a new stitch, a new technique, a new way of doing something or a new fabric or thread and in this issue we have five new contributors! A new contributor is always exciting as they bring fresh designs, new techniques and ideas and, best of all, they add their skills and experience to our embroidery community, broadening our knowledge and opening new doors. Do you know what cartonnage is? Historically it is the material that Egyptian mummy cases were constructed from but what does it have to do with embroidery? Do you know how to stitch a strawberry? How do you create something plump and luscious that looks good enough to eat with…

It started as a hobby. Needlework and embroidery is often driven by hobbyists turned professionals; those everyday people whose diligent and sustained work transformed them into experts. James Carter is no different. After nearly ten years of wood turning and five years of selling his handmade pieces to family and friends, James and his wife Tawney began transforming their hobby into a small, but growing business called Stitch-In-Turn. An award winning embroiderer in her own right, Tawney grew frustrated with her inability to keep all her tools in one place. Finish with a laying tool and then you can’t find your scissors. Set down the scissors and then you are wondering where your needle disappeared to. So she put in a request that James create a wood block where…

This enchanting collection of a glittering snowflake, cute Christmas tree, creamy poinsettia and fun berry garland are sure to become family favourites and have pride of place every year. Stitched with stranded cotton, silk and metallic threads the decorations are worked with raised and surface embroidery techniques and each one hangs from a beaded loop. REQUIREMENTS SNOWFLAKE Fabric 15cm x 30cm wide (6" x 12") piece of natural cotton/linen blend Supplies 10cm x 20cm wide (4" x 8") piece of white felt 2 x 8cm (3 3/8") firm card discs 10cm (4") embroidery hoop White beading thread Matching sewing thread Fine black pen Tracing paper Heat-soluble fabric marker Needles No. 8 sharp (2) Threads & Beads Au Papillon metallic thread A = lt silver Cascade House blending filament B =…

If you are just beginning your stitching journey then these two colourful embroideries are a fabulous introduction as they are fun to stitch and are mainly worked with the most basic of all stitches – straight stitch. Not only is straight stitch the easiest and simplest to work, it is also the foundation for numerous other stitches such as satin, running, seed, back, cross, herringbone, stem, outline – the list is endless! THE SIMPLE: The Early Bird by Jenny McWhinney, issue 75 | THE COMPLEX: Abbi by Cayce Zavaglia, issue 73 www.caycezavaglia.com In its simplest form straight stitch is one of a small group where the individual stitches are created without crossing, looping or knotting the thread. It is an incredibly versatile stitch as it can be used to create…

CLASSES / TOURS ALPINE EXPERIENCE Dundee, United Kingdom Tel: 0033 450 580 184 Tel INT: +44 7907 695 009 info@the-alpine-experience.com www.the-alpine-experience.com AMERICAN NEEDLEPOINT GUILD Wisconsin, USA Tel: 608 443 2476 Tel INT: +1 608 443 2476 membership@needlepoint.org \ www.needlepoint.org INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR TEXTILE ARTS Am Bahnhof 8 Tel: 08 5519 141 480 Tel INT: +49 8 5519 141 480 hota@house-of-textile-arts.eu www.textile-arts-international.com NEEDLEWORK TOURS Victoria, Australia Tel: 1300 385 080 Tel INT: +61 3 9021 8192 enquiries@needleworktours.com.au www.needleworktours.com.au ROYAL SCHOOL OF NEEDLEWORK Surrey, United Kingdom Tel: 020 3166 6932 Tel INT: +44 20 3166 6932 enquiries@royal-needlework.org.uk www.royal-needlework.org.uk SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOL OF NEEDLEWORK AND DESIGN (SFSNAD) 360 Post Street, Suite 604 San Francisco, CA 94108 Tel: (415) 604 1104 Tel: +1 415 604 1104 info@sfsnad.org www.sfneedleworkanddesign.org THE CREWEL WORK COMPANY Cumbria, England…

 TILLEKE IS A DUTCH ARTIST with a special affinity for cats, textiles and words, in no particular order. Most of her work includes all three of these elements, and a whole lot more. “I am inspired and influenced by American pop art, Dutch traditional samplers, daily life, cats, flowers, mass media, the FLUXUS art movement, poetry, and the oddities of life. Actually, anything that moves intrigues me.” “I LOVE POETRY AND RELATE TO IT, NOT BY QUOTING LINES INMY WORK, BUT THROUGH THE INSPIRATION THAT IS OFFERED BYTHE FREE SPIRIT OF POETS.” Tilleke creates embroidered works of art which grow over the few months it takes her to complete a piece. Her work is a conglomeration of images, words, ideas, doodles and stories collected from the media, nature, art, and...…

Five bells and sprigs of holly form the design and utilise decorative filling stitches and the typical outlines of chain and coral stitch. Counted thread bands edge the cuff and the owner’s name is worked in cross stitch with stranded cotton and the added sparkle of metallic thread. Backed with cream fabric, the stocking is trimmed with cord and hangs from a ribbon loop. REQUIREMENTS Fabric 30cm x 50cm wide (12" x 20") piece of pale cream 32-count linen 30cm x 40cm wide (12" x 15 3/4") piece of cream furnishing fabric 30cm x 80cm wide (12" x 32") piece of gold lining fabric Supplies 25cm x 38cm wide (10" x 15") piece of medium weight fusible interfacing 15cm x 15mm wide (6" x 5/8") cream grosgrain ribbon 1.1m x…

I’VE ALWAYS LOVED MAKING THINGS; my Mum is an artist so I grew up in a very creative household! I’ve dabbled in all sorts of things over the years; wire work, making things from wood, playing around with clay (my Mum was a ceramacist before turning to textile work) and of course all of the usual drawing and painting. At college I studied art and photography A levels, and always thought I would go into photography. I really wanted to be an equestrian sport photographer but when I started my art foundation course after college, I found myself drawn towards textiles, the medium my Mum now works with too. I started to make textile pieces along with fabric decorations, selling them online, entering open exhibitions and attending craft fairs. I…

THE BOBBIN TREE Page 16 . Stitching themed project bag with matching drawstring bobbin pouch This kit is available from www.thebobbintree.com.au FESTIVE FRUIT Page 24 . Pulled thread strawberries Kit contains: Fabric, ground walnut shells, embroidery threads and needle SUBSCRIBER PRICE $34.00 REGULAR PRICE $40.00 SEASON’S GREETINGS Page 30 . Christmas ornaments with surface and stumpwork embroidery Snowflake kit contains: Fabric, felt, embroidery thread, beading thread, beads and needles SUBSCRIBER PRICE $36.55 REGULAR PRICE $43.00 Berry wreath kit contains: Fabrics, felt, beading wire, embroidery threads, beading thread, beads and needles SUBSCRIBER PRICE $38.25 REGULAR PRICE $45.00 Poinsettia kit contains: Fabrics, felt, embroidery threads, beading wire, beading thread, beads and needles SUBSCRIBER PRICE $51.00 REGULAR PRICE $60.00 Christmas Tree kit contains: Fabrics, felt, metallic cord, embroidery threads, beading wire, beading thread,…

NEW SOUTH WALES The Australian National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray Street Darling Harbour has recently unveiled a stunning large-scale embroidered work by Melbourne textile artist Melinda Piesse that illustrates the tragic story of the wreck of the Dutch East India Company flagship Batavia in 1629 and will be on display until October 29, 2017. Further information is available from anmm.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/the-batavia-tapestry/ Museum opening hours and information can be found at www.anmm.gov.au/ QUEENSLAND The original artworks from Jeannie Baker’s latest book, Circle, will be the subject of an exhibition at the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, Brisbane from December 11–February 25, 2018. Illustrated with beautifully detailed and textured collages, the book follows the 11,000 km migration of the Bar-tailed Godwit from Australia through Southeast Asia to its breeding grounds in Alaska and back…

Who can resist a plump, sweet strawberry, glowing ruby red with a crown of fresh emerald green sepals? These luscious berries are worked using a selection of pulled thread stitches that create a variety of subtle textures on the red linen. Using vibrant shades of cotton perlé, fill a complete berry with one pattern or try several together. Tumble them into a bowl or add a sparkling ribbon loop and hang them from your Christmas tree. REQUIREMENTS Fabric 30cm x 35cm wide (12" x 13 3/8") piece of 32-count red linen (six strawberries) Supplies 12.5cm (5") embroidery hoop Ground walnut shells Long pin Matching sewing thread 10cm (4") square of light card Tracing paper Fine black pen Heat-soluble fabric marker Needle No. 22 tapestry Threads DMC no. 8 perlé cotton…

I was born Barbara May Hepworth in Yorkshire and raised in Lancashire, England. I married Alan Kershaw in 1968 and two weeks later sailed for Canada. We settled into our new life in Ontario, raising two children, Paul and Elizabeth. As with most parents we were very involved in our children’s activities, attending swim meets, hockey games and working with Brownies and Scouts. In the winter of 1987, Paul totalled my car but luckily he was not hurt. Now house bound and uninterested in soap operas, I found a magazine with a picture of a beautiful navy and white snowflake done in cross stitch. Having done some cross stitch and embroidery in junior school back home, I decided to attempt the project. A trip to the local shop resulted in…

MY DAUGHTER’S YEAR TWO CLASS starts every morning with an hour of embroidery. It is the highlight of her day – no more hanging around the school yard until the bell goes. As soon as we say goodbye she heads straight to class to start stitching. Some of the kids are on their third project for the year already. They all started out with making an embroidered cushion cover picking their own designs and colour schemes. We have a fire-spewing dragon in shades of blue and purple. The year started slowly – just getting the thread through the needle, and keeping it there, was a challenge. Learning back stitch, and keeping the stitches even, was the next challenge. Mrs M has high standards, and the kids became familiar with unpicking…