I can hardly believe that it is May in just a few days. Wasn’t it just Christmas the other day? The buckets of chrysanthemums outside every deli, supermarket and florist however, remind me Mother’s Day is only days away. Mother’s Day in May As I researched the origins of Mother’s Day I was cheered to […]
November 24, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Reasons to stitch: the joy of learning
There are many reasons to stitch and at different times in our lives we have all probably stitched for a range of reasons including: wanting to make something original making a gift enjoyment and relaxation and in days gone by, to save money. but recently I have added a fifth reason to my list and that is stitching to learn. […]
October 30, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Creatively crafting
The idea of creativity has been much in the news of late not least because Elizabeth Gilbert author of Eat, Pray Love and my favourite book of 2014 The Signature of all Things has just released a book about it called Big Magic. Gilbert suggests that ideas are “out there” we just need to be […]
April 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment
World War 1 Soldier’s needlepoint
Needlepoint and World War 1 history If I think of World War 1 soldiers I don’t immediately think of needlepoint and embroidery. I found this pair of Weldon’s Antique tapestry (needlepoint) magazines and as I read the brown and crumbling pages it took me a while to realise that the needlepoint featured had all been stitched by disabled British World War […]
April 2, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Mother’s Day Downunder
With buckets of chrysanthemums of all colours and sizes outside every deli, supermarket and florist, Mother’s Day can’t be too far away. Well, for those of us in Australia and the United States anyway. Did you know? I know Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days in different parts of the world but when researching the origins of […]
August 30, 2014 By Leave a Comment
#Needlepoint rescues
Rescuing old needlepoint from the bottom drawer I recently came across SPUN the #Society of the Prevention of Unfinished Needlepoint and got very excited! I have previously written about possible projects for recycled needlepoints and this approach adds yet another interesting perspective. SPUN was started by Mary Smell in 2009. It all began with the gift […]
July 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Making vintage #needlepoints new again
I know many of you enjoy shopping in charity shops and markets and like me I’m sure you have seen beautifully stitched old needlepoints abandoned there. I always think about all the hours spent stitching and wondered how they have ended up in there? I am often tempted to take these stitches treasures home then ask myself what would […]
June 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Meditating on needlepoint
Enjoying life, one stitch at a time I have always enjoyed those final minutes of yoga class when you go into a meditation. I have recently been reading more about meditation and was struck by how easy it would be to shift the process of “just” stitching to a needlepoint meditation. Here is my guide for a […]
June 13, 2014 By Leave a Comment
My Tasmanian textile trail-Part 2 Hobart Town
The drive from Bruny Island to Hobart was uneventful except for a very good meat pie in Margate. I’d visited Hobart on two previous occasions but never with a quest to find interesting textiles, whether, new, vintage or handmade and Hobart did not disappoint! I posted various finds on the studio stitches Facebook page but promised […]
May 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Exploring the personal touch in needlework
The face of the explorer Sir Douglas Mawson in his knitted balaclava is an iconic Australian image. Mawson, who was born in May 1882, is famous for his extraordinary exploration to Antarctica and for his lifelong contributions to science and education. Kristin Phillips, Principal Curator of Textiles from Artlab, the Adelaide based conservation and […]
