Inspirations Issue 85

I can hardly believe that we are in the second month of 2015 – I was just starting to settle comfortably into 2014 and it was over! The end of the year certainly went by in a rush as we had only just got over Beating Around the Bush then we were off on our Masterclass on the Mekong. Embroidery certainly takes us to some interesting places! Beating Around the Bush was fabulous and you can read all about the events and our competition winners in Cutting Edge. Julie Kniedl was the Grand Prize winner of our Stitch Your Heart Out competition and we couldn’t wait to share her fantastic entry, Succulent Spool, with you. Julie’s unique approach to embroidery and exceptional attention to detail made this a very worthy…

An altar frontal that was hand embroidered by 138 soldiers as they recovered from their injuries during World War I is back on display at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London for the first time in 70 years. Commonwealth soldiers from the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa convalescing at hospitals all over Britain contributed to the altarpiece, embroidering sections of five panels which were then stitched together by experts at the Royal School of Needlework. The final product is more than 3 metres (10 feet) wide and features intricate floral patterns alternating with two palm branches, signifying martyrdom’s spiritual victory over the flesh. The central panel is the chalice of the Eucharist, representing Christ’s suffering for the forgiveness of sin, above a floral field. The altar cloth was organized…

Our excellent tutors came from far and wide – Patricia Girolami from Italy, Jenny Adin-Christie and Nicola Jarvis from the UK, Betsy Morgan and Gail Doane from the US and Hazel Blomkamp, Lesley Turpin-Delport, Trish Burr and Di van Niekerk from South Africa. They joined Christine P Bishop, Gary Clarke, Alison Cole, Helen Eriksson, Julie Graue, Jan Kerton, Margaret Lee, Margaret Light, Deborah Love, Jenny McWhinney, Jane Nicholas, Susan O’Connor, Carolyn Pearce, Helan Pearce, Anna Scott, Yvette Stanton and Bev Tully from Australia to present one of the best embroidery teaching opportunities the world has to offer. Some of these tutors were old hands but for others it was their first time at BATB – and in Australia! We are privileged to welcome them to our talented friends list. Students chose…

Thank you so much to everyone who gave their time and effort to supporting our Stitch Your Heart Out challenge. GRAND PRIZE WINNER JULIE KNIEDL (Australia) stitched a fabulous arrangement of succulent plants using fine wools. We received a great variety of entries, each demonstrating excellence in stitching, giving us an insight into the huge range of embroidery enjoyed by Inspirations readers. From fine thread painting through to counted work, silk ribbon, metal thread, smocking and dimensional embroidery, passion for stitching was on display in every category. DESIGN DIVAS: FINE FIBRES We received such wonderful and varied entries for this category that we awarded two prizes. FIONA HIBBETT (Australia) stitched a magnificent stumpwork pineapple, based on a painting by naturalist and scientific illustrator Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 – 1717). VICTORIA LAINE (Australia) created an amazing tribute to…

QUEENSLAND THE QUEENSLAND GALLERY OF MODERN ART presents ‘Future Beauty: 30 years of Japanese Fashion’ until February 15, 2015. This exhibition explores the unique innovation of Japanese fashion designers from the early 1980s to the present, with nearly 100 garments featured. This will be a rare opportunity to view these unique creations first hand. The Gallery is located in Stanley Place, Cultural Precinct, South Bank, Brisbane and opening hours are 10.00am–5.00pm daily. Further information is available from www.qagoma.qld.gov.au The Brisbane Stitches and Craft Show will be held at the Brisbane Exhibition Centre from March 19–22, 2015. Opening hours are 10.00am–4.30pm each day. Further information is available from stitchesandcraft.net.au VICTORIA The Biennial Contemporary Art Quilt Exhibition, ‘Golden Textures’ will be held at the Central Goldfield Art Gallery, Maryborough from February 21–April 5, 2015. Entries will…

POCKETFUL OF POSIES: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes Salley Mavor | Houghton Mifflin 2010 | Hard Cover 72 pg ISBN 978-0-618-73740-6 | RRP US$21.99 Who doesn’t love a beautifully illustrated book of nursery rhymes? Salley Mavor’s enchanting Pocketful of Posies, filled with endlessly fascinating little details, is an outstanding example both of this genre and the creative possibilities of stitching. You may already be familiar with the fabulous work by Salley Mavor of Wee Folk Studio. She is the author of Felt Wee Folk: Enchanting Projects and created the masterful artwork Birds of Beebe Woods. Pocketful of Posies has been lovingly made in Salley’s signature, captivating style. There is a little world on each page, composed of a fabric relief sculpture. For each scene, Salley lays down a background with layers of wool felt…