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THE WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL EMBROIDERY MAGAZINETM

ISSUE 78, 2013

Embroidered Costumes

Behind the Scenes

ELEGANT stumpwork clematis by ALISON COLE

GLORIOUS beaded pomander by HAZEL BLOMKAMP

SILK RIBBON BLOOMS

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regular features4 Meet Our Contributors 5 Your Inspirations Letters and stories7 Noticeboard Stitching news8 Inspired by the needle An embroidery school in Paris10 Embroidery and beyond Behind the scenes – interview

with a costume embroiderer14 World of embroidery The embroidery of Skyros

projects16 Men of Skyros Colourful figures dance across

a director’s chair

24 Les Jardins Glorious floral wreath in silk ribbon

34 Little Bits Keep stitching supplies close at hand with these dainty crewel embroidered accessories

42 Sweet Savour Beautiful, beaded pomander with Jacobean inspired embroidery

48 In Good Time An elegant crewelwork cushion ideal for beginners

54 Clematis Magnificent stumpwork trailing blooms with goldwork stems and dragonflies

60 In Writing Flower for your thoughts? Make this pretty appliquéd journal cover in a weekend

64 Roses Delight Treat yourself to this cosy hot water bottle cover embellished with dimensional roses

70 Baby Bunting Irresistible and quick to make baby blanket with nursery motifs

76 Keep Calm A drawn thread band adds style to this unique tote bag, made using our printed tea towel

cutting edge83 Fabulous tips and ideas, exciting products,

book reviews, and what’s on

come shopping89 Needlecraft Directory

98 Kits, thread, fabrics – ready-to stitch kits for all the delightful projects in this issue and more

step-by-step instructions32 Bullion knot-detached chain combination, Palestrina knot33 Twisted chain stitch 40 Satin stitch leaf 41 Reverse chain stitch 46 Beaded Palestrina stitch 47 Woven trellis 53 Outline stitch 68 Cast on stitch, curved 69 Interlaced chain stitch 75 Stem stitch filling 80 Up and down blanket stitch 81 Chevron stitch

pattern downloads Men of Skyros | Les Jardins

Little Bits | Sweet Savour

In Good Time | Clematis

In Writing | Roses Delight

Baby Bunting | Keep Calm

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welcomeEMBROIDER AND KEEP CALM…

Is that why we stitch? For me it is certainly one of the reasons – just ask my

family what I am like when I haven’t had a needle in my hand for more than a

week. There is something immensely calming, almost meditative about pulling a

needle and thread through fabric and watching a pattern grow.

Jennifer Kennedy, a new contributor to Inspirations has taken

our printed linen tea towel, with its play on the original slogan, and turned it into a

fabulous and most practical tote bag. It is very cleverly done and I am sure you too

will love it - just have a look on page 76.

It is fun to see the many different projects that our contributors are applying their

embroidery skills to, such as the lovely little pomander ‘Sweet Savour’ on page 42

from Hazel Blomkamp. Another is the director’s chair covers, ‘Men of Skyros’ on page

16 by Alison Snepp. Alison has a real knack for investigating less known and unusual embroidery

techniques. This time she has looked into embroidery from the Greek island of Skyros and the

resulting project is truly stunning. I can already picture the seat part as a cushion on my couch.

That you can travel the world in search of embroidery is no surprise and after reading the stories about

Ecole Lesage in Paris (page 8) and the amazing work of Thomas Sjølander in Copenhagen on page 10,

I promptly added a couple more venues to my wish-list of places to visit. Perhaps the following news

will go on your list: BEATING AROUND THE BUSH,

2014 will be held in Adelaide from 27 September to

3 October, 2014. As I write, the many fabulous tutors

are preparing their projects for submission and from

what I have seen it is shaping up to be an even more

amazing event than the last.

Wherever your stitching may take you, ‘embroider

and keep calm’.

anna@countrybumpkin.com.au

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

to Ruth Irving at Al-Ru farm for her hospitality as we

turned her house and garden upside down.

I n d e xI s s u e s 1 – 7 6

The complete index for all issues of INSPIRATIONS, issues 1 – 76 including step-by-steps and all known errata.

RRP AUD$24.95 I n c l u d i n g G S T

ISBN 978-0980876758

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TH E WOR LD'S MOST B EAUTI FU L E M B ROI DE RY MAGAZ I N EINS

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Country B

umpkin P

ublications

I can usually remember what past projects

from Inspirations look like but am hopeless

at remembering titles

and issue numbers

(I know, I should,

being the editor

and all), so l am

loving our new fully

illustrated Index.

If you don’t want

the printed version,

it is also available

in digital format.

Just go to our website and follow the links

www.countrybumpkin.com.au

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