Tabla de contenidos para Inspirations issue 95 en Inspirations

On a recent flight from Melbourne, faithful companions emerged from my handbag – a small piece of embroidery and the implements needed to complete the project. In these current times of airport security, I am generally very careful in my selection of sewing accoutrements. Hence, when approached by a flight attendant and asked about my stitching, I wondered whether I had actually managed to contravene security. Rather, he was fascinated by the process of my stitching. Did I breathe with each stitch? Did I examine the work after each stitch and what were my associated thoughts? Did this process allow me to stay connected with the present? Fortunately, I work as a psychologist and apart from my own little anxiety-related quirks, there are few questions or comments from others that…

A palette of soft greens and berry pinks plus a bounty of exquisite details make this sewing necessaire an essential for every needleworker. Natural coloured fabric provides a gentle background for the curving stems, carnation and lily blooms and luscious beaded strawberries. When opened the necessaire contains pockets for essentials plus a pincushion, needle pages and thread rings and it closes with a Dorset button and strawberry cord. The upper edge of each heart is finished with a beaded edge and a tassel of strawberry emery, pinwheel and thimble holder swings from the lower tips. REQUIREMENTS Fabric 50cm x 140cm wide (20" x 55") natural cotton/linen blend 50cm x 140cm wide (20" x 55") fine quilter’s muslin 10cm (4") square of terracotta velveteen 9cm x 15cm wide (3 1/2" x…

IN 1861, SHORTLY BEFORE MAY’S BIRTH, Morris and a group of his pre-Raphaelite companions established a small decorative arts firm (the precursor to Morris & Co.) using traditional methods to produce items for ecclesiastical and domestic use, including embroidered textiles worked by female friends and relatives. May and her elder sister, Jenny, learned to stitch from an early age, making pen wipes and kettle holders in the company of their mother, Jane Morris ( fig. 1) , and their aunt, Elizabeth Burden. Destined for a career in the decorative arts, May joined the National Art Training School in 1878, specialising in embroidery. The course was largely practical, but included historical study and training in design. The School’s close proximity to the South Kensington Museum (renamed the Victoria and Albert Museum…

QUEENSLAND The Embroiderers’ Guild of Queensland Toowoomba Branch is holding its biennial exhibition, Toowoomba in Stitch , at St Ursula’s College dining room and chapel, cnr. Warra and Taylor streets, Toowoomba from September 22–23, 2017. The exhibition coincides with the city’s Carnival of Flowers and the Choice Challenge is inspired by the beautiful city’s floral heritage. Opening hours are 10am–3pm and admission is $5.00 and includes tea/ coffee and light refreshments. There will be a raffle and quality hand-worked items for sale. Further information is available from Cheryl Ph: 0427 328 685 or email cannek113@gmail.com The Guild is also participating in the Quilts, Stitches and Textiles Trail during the city’s Spring garden celebrations. See www.facebook.com/Quilts Stitches and Textiles Trail for more information The original artworks from Jeannie Baker’s latest book,…

WALKING THE DOGS OR GOING FOR A RUN IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE near her home in Oxford provides Chloe with inspiration for her drawings. Birds, rabbits, deer and other creatures of nature cross her path every day. “I draw things that are familiar to me and that I grew up with. I am interested and touched by the fragility of our wildlife, especially birds and small animals, and it does reflect in my work.” A degree in illustration from the University of the West of England meant Chloe worked mostly in pencil and oil paints where she took a very formal approach to learning skills and techniques. This all changed when she discovered Michel Gondry’s film The Science of Sleep during her last year of study. This film features soft…

EMBROIDERY Refer to the close-up photographs for colour placement. All embroidery is worked in a hoop. ORDER OF WORK Background design Bunny Outline the ears with solid and broken lines of split stitch using T for the dark lines and U for the light. Fill the lower area of the inner ears with long and short stitch beginning at the base with a few stitches using Z , shading through AK and V and keeping the outer edge of the stitching irregular (fig 1). Working from the base to the tip, embroider a row of angled straight stitches along the inner edge of the inner ear using AG , spacing them as indicated (fig 2). Work a second row with the same thread, placing the stitches between those of the…

Margaret learnt and practised Chinese embroidery from a young age in the traditional Chinese way. Embroidery became a passion and remained a deeply ingrained interest throughout her student years and professional career. Following her graduation from the University of Adelaide with a degree in Economics, Margaret embarked on a banking career and was a senior banker in Singapore until her move to Adelaide in the mid nineties, when she devoted time to her teenage children and enjoyed more time for embroidery. During this time she discovered and took up Traditional Japanese Silk Embroidery where her background with Chinese embroidery greatly helped in her pursuit of excellence in the art. She pursued it with a passion and gained international teacher accreditation from the Japanese Embroidery Centre, (the international arm of Kurenai-Kai…

As many people do, I learned to embroider at the knee of my grandmother. We did “fancy work” – preprinted linen doilies with pictures of pansies or crinoline ladies. As far as my grandmother was concerned there were only three stitches: back, stem and satin. No other stitches were allowed, no matter how enticing or exotic they seemed, and one was not permitted to deviate from the colours stated in the embroidery instructions. As a seven year old I found this somewhat restrictive, but was enthralled by the lacy crocheted variegated edges that my grandmother added to the simple embroidery. My mother and I also embroidered together. In the early 1990’s we discovered the beautiful Inspirations magazine, and spent hours pouring over the wondrous projects. We expanded our stitch range…

CLASSES / TOURS 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 Tel: 017 6835 3683 Tel INT: +44 (0) 1768 353 683 admin@crewelwork.com www.crewelwork.com DESIGNERS ALISON COLE EMBROIDERY Victoria, Australia…

ENCHANTED FOREST Page 18. Whimsical stumpwork embroidery Kit contains: Fabrics, felt, fusible webbing, wire, beads, embroidery threads and needles SUBSCRIBER PRICE $82.45 REGULAR PRICE $97.00 SAVANNA GLORY Page 28. Stunning threadpainted African bird Kit contains: Fabric, embroidery threads and needles SUBSCRIBER PRICE $118.15 REGULAR PRICE $139.00 HANABATAKE Page 36. Accessories case with Japanese-style bead embroidery Kit contains: Fabric, interfacing, wadding, elastic, zip, white and black sewing thread, beads and needles SUBSCRIBER PRICE $136.00 REGULAR PRICE $160.00 STRAWBERRY FAYRE Page 46. Heart-shaped necessaire with surface embroidery and beading Kit contains: Fabrics, felt, synthetic suede, ribbon, fusible webbing, interfacings, waddings, plastic ring, template plastic, acetate, emery powder, ribbon, mother of pearl button, thread rings and ruler, beads, scissor and ruler bead requirements, clear nylon thread, embroidery threads and needles SUBSCRIBER PRICE $216.75…

WE ARE ALL MAKERS AND CREATORS HERE. We embroider (this is the most beautiful embroidery magazine in the world, after all) but we probably also knit, crochet, sew, quilt and do other handcrafts. We all have our own reasons why we love to create, but here’s a few general trends: We make gifts. From items for new babies to weddings and other significant celebrations, we love to show our love with something we made by hand. We create with love, and we give with love. We (sometimes) make for ourselves. A piece of clothing, a bag, maybe a blanket or a throw. But it is telling how often we can’t show anything we’ve made because we’ve given most of it away. Do you own and use anything you’ve made? We…