Inspirations

Referred to by readers as 'the World's most beautiful embroidery magazine', Inspirations is where you find the best classic hand embroidery by leading embroiderers throughout the world. Complemented with superbly styled photography and captivating stories, each issue brings a diverse collection of timeless projects from home wares and bags to gifts and accessories. A wide variety of embroidery techniques is presented with detailed and easy to follow instructions, step-by-step tutorials and full size patterns, making each issue a valuable resource for people new to embroidery and seasoned needleworkers alike.

FROM THE EDITOR

Errata • Please make a note of the following correction and insert into the respective magazine

Exuberance • An Embroiderer’s Perspective

Fields of Flowers • “Letting go of the rigidity of rules has been liberating. It is something that disappeared over time while working, teaching, raising children, and just living life. It allowed me to look at the world and express what I see my way. In my stitching, there are no exact replicas of a particular flower, but rather a gathering of stitches that might look like a flower. When stitched en masse, they become fields of flowers.”

A Colourful Path • “I THROW MYSELF INTO EVERYTHING WITH GUSTO. I SEE THE WORLD IN A VERY POSITIVE LIGHT, AND I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN COMMUNITY AND THE STRENGTH OF PEOPLE TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. THE WORLD IS FULL OF VIBRANCY. IT IS JOYFUL. IT IS FULL OF SO MUCH WONDER. I AM FOREVER ASTOUNDED BY WHAT HUMANS HAVE CREATED OVER THE MANY, MANY, MANY, THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF EXISTENCE, AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS COMING NEXT. I CAN’T QUITE PINPOINT IT, OR PUT IT INTO WORDS, BUT SOMETHING IN ME MAKES ME INNATELY POSITIVE AND ENTHUSIASTIC.”

Secret Spaces • “When I’m looking for ideas for work, I usually start by going for a walk. I look for interesting plants, flowers, and trees. I have always loved the cemetery at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park in Sydney, and this spot became increasingly important to me during long periods of lockdown. During my many walks there, I was particularly taken by the way the plants pushed through the man-made structures, as if nature were taking back control over an urban environment.”

BETWEEN THE COVERS

Forest Fungi • Deep in the dark, damp, forest these graceful fungi grow, breaking through the soft covering of fallen leaves to emerge into the filtered light, their luminous caps hovering above slender stems.

Papilio Zalmoxis • Shimmering wings of turquoise, seafoam and meadow green make the giant blue swallowtail (papilio zalmoxis) a magnificent addition to the butterfly family.

Tulip & Sunflowers

Strawberry Delight • Luscious strawberries are fun to eat but even more fun to have by your side as your favourite sewing accessories!

Meadowsong • Thick cotton threads and smooth cotton jean fabric are the basic requirements for Mountmellick embroidery but it is the plants and flowers that were found around this Irish town in the early 19th century that provided inspiration for the delightful stitching that originated there.

Bon Voyage • No matter how far you are going, travel in style with this fabulous needlework tote, trimmed with a glorious, floral Liberty print, pretty embroidered flowers and a monogram.

Ribbons & Roses • Stitching a delicate wreath of softly coloured flowers is the perfect way to brighten up even the dullest day.

Richelieu Butterfly • Richelieu embroidery is a beautiful form of whitework and is named after Cardinal Richelieu, a 17th century French statesman and clergyman.

Inspirations

LOOSE THREADS • Welcome to Loose Threads. Join Ansie every issue as she shares inspirational stories about all things needle and thread.