Ahhhh – the Twelfth Day of Christmas! The series comes to an end!
Are you sighing with relief? Or holding your breath in anticipation?
Well, here is the final gift:
Inspiration.
And I mean that figuratively and literally.
Inspirations Magazine is really just what Country Bumpkin Publications claims it to be: It is the world’s most beautiful embroidery book. See, it’s more than just a magazine.
Published quarterly, each issue of Inspirations is like receiving a new embroidery book in the mail. Each issue contains numerous beautiful embroidery projects that range in levels of complexity (some are easy, some are intermediate, some are more challenging), and along with each project presented in the issue are all the the instructions to complete the project, including lift-out patterns, stitch diagrams, finishing instructions, supply lists – everything you would expect in a really good embroidery kit, except the actual stitching materials.
Inspirations Magazine features all types of embroidery: goldwork; crewel embroidery; free-style surface work; ribbon embroidery; redwork; whitework; blackwork; silk shading & long and short stitch needle painting; regional and ethnic embroidery; bead embroidery; tambour work; embroidered boxes; embroidered accessories, needlebooks, and so forth; embroidered clothing; embroidered blankets and household linens and baby goods. All of these categories and more have been featured in Inspirations.
The projects are conceived and executed by designers from around the world, and the variety of needlework projects within the pages of Inspirations is practically endless.
In addition to needlework projects, the magazine also contains plenty of good reading, all needlework-related. There are human interest stories, reader contributions, book and product reviews.
The Intangible
Those are the “tangible” things in Inspirations. but there is something else every issue offers that can’t be measured, touched, or necessarily seen. And that something is Inspiration.
My relationship with Inspirations Magazine started with their first issue. I was home for a break from college and visiting my sister. She had bought the first issue at a sewing store, and had subsequently subscribed to the magazine. Being broke and being in college, I couldn’t afford the magazine, but that didn’t keep me from “acquiring” it.
I just pinched my sister’s copies!
Up to that point, my relationship with embroidery was more or less as a dabbler. I had seen very little needlework commonly available in America beyond counted cross stitch and a little heirloom sewing and smocking. But I yearned to learn the surface embroidery techniques that I saw on pieces in museums, in art books, in publications. When I came into contact with Inspirations Magazine, it was the first time I had been exposed to the whole gamut of surface embroidery techniques. Within the pages of Inspirations, I found just what the title promised: inspiration.
The Give-Away
I love Inspirations – and I wanted you to have an opportunity to love it, too. So I approached the folks at Country Bumpkin, and I asked them if they wished to contribute to the 12 Days of Christmas series here, by contributing a year’s subscription to Inspirations to the series.
They said Yes! But instead of one yearly subscription, they’d contribute two one-year subscriptions.
This means two of you have the opportunity to win a free one-year subscription to Inspirations Magazine. If you already subscribe to the magazine and you win, that’s ok! They’ll add the free year to your current subscription.
Something for Everyone
But they also wanted to offer something for everyone. And so, through the end of January, 2012, Country Bumpkin is offering a special discount rate to Needle ‘n Thread readers – 20% off subscriptions to Inspirations Magazine.
To take advantage of the 20% subscription discount, click through to the Country Bumpkin website using the ad in the left column here on Needle ‘n Thread. It looks like this (and you can click on this one, too):
Then you just follow the prompts on the Country Bumpkin website, entering the code “MaryCorbet” where they ask you to, and voilá! That’s all there is to it!
This offer is for new and current subscribers to Inspirations. If you’re already a subscriber, this is a great way to extend your subscription at a discount.
If you can, it’s definitely worth giving yourself the gift of needlework inspiration, through Inspirations Magazine. For me, it’s a regular part of my needlework budget each year. Its value is not just in the material possession of each beautiful issue, but also in the way each issue opens up some aspect of the world of needlework for the reader.
Give-Away Instructions
Today’s two Twelfth Day of Christmas give-away winners will each receive one free year’s subscription to Inspirations Magazine, courtesy of Country Bumpkin. To be eligible, please follow these instructions:
1. Leave a comment at the end of today’s article. If you click on this link, it will take you directly to the comment area, so that there are no mishaps! Comments delivered via e-mail or on other articles will not be included in the give-away.
2. In your comment, answer the following question:
Where do you find inspiration for your needlework?
3. Make sure you leave a recognizable name either in the body of your comment, or on the “name” line above the comment box.
4. Leave your comment before January 9th, 2012, at 5:00 am Central Standard Time (Kansas, USA!). All winners for this series will be selected on January 9th, and announced that day here on Needle ‘n Thread. You’ll have to check back on January 9th to see if you’ve won, because the winners will need to contact me within 3 days to claim their prizes. The Give-Away is Now Closed. Thanks for your interest!
Merry Twelfth (and Last) Day of Christmas!
Remember that all comments must be in by this coming Monday, January 9th, at 5:00 am CST. That means that you only have a few days to enter for the free subscription to Inspirations, as well as to catch up on the other 12 Days of Christmas give-aways and leave your comments! Tomorrow, I’ll recap the series and tie it up with some additional information.
Please do not panic if your comment does not show up immediately. All comments are moderated in the order in which they come in, and they will eventually be posted. Sometimes, this takes a little while because I am not able to moderate comments around the clock. If you are looking for your comment, please use the “older comments” and “newer comments” links at the top of the comments section. These will take you through all the comments pages, from newest to oldest.
A recent Inspirations is how I found this blog! I have two projects picked out from that magazine I have been wanting to try and am resolved to do this year–one a stumpwork project and one wool. Besides Inspirations, however, I get inspiration from my Brazillian embroidery guild. Although we always do projects together. People change colors or blocks, or put new elements into our projects and it gives me a lot of ideas. Our last project was a Brazillian embroidery crazy quilt pillow. So much fun!
I am drooling! I want that issue, and am already picturing all the projects I could make
I have found inspiration in so many different places and ways – from “classic” embroidery books like “Crewel Embroidery in England by Joan Edwards (and too many others to list!), to websites and blogs maintained by dedicated embroiderers who generously share their ideas, projects, and teaching, as well as Inspirations (a really “complete” embroidery publication), the Internet Archives compilation of out of print, late 19th and early 20th century books and pamphlets and finally, to my own imagination and of course, Nature herself!
I find inspiration everywhere. The colours of my chickens’ feathers inspire me to do some blackwork, the carved arches in the Chapel at the Cloisters Museum in New York look like perfect border patterns, Table Mountain at dawn would make an amazing shaded silk portrait, the flowers of Namaqualand would look great in French knots and wheat stitch. My current project is taken from a Pictish stone at Aberlemno in Scotland.
I think inspiration is where you find it. Embroidery really is like painting, you can take almost any image (or feeling, or texture) and translate it with needle and thread
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I find Inspiration in the magazine, Inspirations, and with my EGA Guild. My Guild is a bunch of wonderful ladies who do some of the loveliest needlework.
I also have quite a few books and I can always find inspiration on the web on several websites.
I find my inspiration everywhere. In books, movies, my surroundings, online, everywhere I go. My mind is always busy, I’m always thinking about projects (the ones I’m doing, the new ones and the ones that I someday would like to do). I even find inspiration in my dreams and when I wake up I make sure to remember what I came up with.
The magazine looks really great! I would like to thank you and everyone else involved in the 12days giveaway, even if I don’t win anything you already gave me enough ideas and it was a lot of fun!
Hoping your eyes are not overtired with all the reading you had to do…
Greetings,
Sabrina
I find inspiration everywhere – while I’m out for my daily walk, magazines, books, other blogs.
The 12 days of Christmas has been truly fun… sorry it has to end.
I find my inspiration for needlework in nature, and on the internet. I always google for ideas before making a final design. Recently I found a pair of shadow work scissors. What a GREAT idea! Now I’ll either mimic the idea, or do something similar, using my own antique scissor design. And mother nature, well, you can’t beat that for finding wonderful patterns and colors! There are also wonderful blogs out there, as we all know, but this is hands down, the best one ever. Thank you for a fun 12 Days of Christmas, Mary. Happy New Year to all!
I think I find inspiration everywhere, magazines, pictures, paintings, children drawings, books, blogs, and of course,you MARY CORBET – I’m pretty sure if i haven’t find you around 2006/2007 I would never embroider nothing at all – you were my great inspiration to begin embroidering. Can you realize how grateful to you I am for that???
I find my inspirations mostly in nature since my favorite things to stitch are flowers and birds. I love all the colors that Mother Nature presents to us. My library is also overflowing with books that I buy just for the lovely pictures in them, ranging from stitching books to how to paint books.
I would love to add Inspiration Magazine to my collections.
Lee C.
I find inspiration everywhere. I live by the woods, and there are animals, birds and green things just everywhere and the inspiration is endless. I also inherited all of my mother’s books, patterns and fabric and there is no end of projects waiting for me. But, like all of us, I still look for more!!
My inspiration comes from you, Mary, as well as my grandmother’s embroidery diary. I would absolutely love to receive today’s gift. The twenty percent off offered by Country Bumpkin brought tears to my eyes. Thank you, Mary and Country Bumpkin for offering this gift.
Inspiration for my needlework has come from many sources and those sources have changed and evolved over the years. Sure, originally it was from patterns and kits found in hobby and craft stores. Then, it became more sophisticated patterns found in needlework stores. A few times a numbers of years back, I was able to attend a needlework event, not being able to afford classes, but going to shop in the retail market area. Those experiences really gave me a better view of the variety of what was out there to create with fabric and needle and thread.
Nowadays, I tend to design more of my own things than use commercial patterns and my inspirations come from so many places – a tile on a wall, a painting in a museum, a piece of lace, a quilt exhibit. I find myself more and more going between art and/or craft forms – my current projects write now include a needlework piece that was inspired by a quilt exhibit and a bobbin lace piece inspired by a collection of heart shaped buttons.
Oh, I could go on and on about this subject and I look forward to checking back to this page later today to read the comments – I think you can find inspiration from others inspirations!
Thank you so very much, Mary, for how much you contribute to this needlework world of ours.
arlene c in NJ
I mostly find inspiration online by visiting blogs and websites. I also enjoy paging through my magazine collection.
Hello Mary,
Where do I find my inspirations ? FROM YOU in your newsletters Needle’n thread
I am sure that I will find some in “Inspirations Magasine”.
WOW one year , that would be great.
Thank you and Country Bumpkin.
My inspiration comes largely from a variety of blogs and books. Local bookstores (small town) do not carry any needlework magazines, so a subscription to Inspirations would be a delight!
I get my ideas from all over but they don’t always
turn into a project
I usually find my inspirations by going through embroidery/cross stitch magazines or books from he library. I love the floral themes especially.
Anything and everything is an inspiration for my needlework, everything I see makes me wonder if it could be translated into stitch. If I was to picj one thing it may be the borders of medieval manuscripts, so beautiful and so detailed and enchanting. Thanks for the opportunity.
For the last year or so, YOU have provided the inspiration and INSTRUCTION on so very many occasions. I love getting your email every morning. It is like a present in itself. Today’s giveaway is a year long gift. I hawk the shelf of the local book seller hoping they have copies for purchase. Again I thank you. This has been so very much fun. What a great way to celebrate my birthday too. I wish all the entries lots of luck and hope they enjoy their prizes. I do hope you post the results of the booty. Chris Beresford from Michigan
Needle’nThread!!!
Thank you Mary…for a wonderful website/ blog, your instructions, time, guidance, designs…everything.
I’m now looking forward to seeing your Medallion project.
Thank you for a lovely 12 days of Christmas.
melanie
What a fantastic giveaway – I usually get my inspiration from what others are working on. Usually it’s just to overwhelming – I love the look of the smaller projects in this magazine, doable. Will definitely follow the links and take advantage of the 20% off. But will await the results – who know I could be lucky
Most of my inspiration comes from necessity. Usually a baby shower gift or pillow cases. I am not a designer by any means. I’m more of a follower than a leader. But with these tools you have given me through your website, I am more confident in trying new things.
I find inspirations in magazines, on the internet and different books. I would love to win one of these subscriptions. Thank you for having the giveaway.
OMG!!!!! I sowowowo love Inspirations magazines. That is what I use my 40% off coupon at JoAnns for. I run home with it and lock myself up in my room and salivate over each page. My head whirls with inspirations of projects ahead. I have my little colored post it notes to mark the wonderful projects that one day I will make. I get inspirations for needlework everywhere. I have made a few projects from your website, Mary. So you have inspired me also. The magazine Inspirations is by far the best needlework magazine by far.
My embroidery inspirations come from the natural world. I live on the edge of the Okavango Delta in Botswana and am surrounded by fabulous fauna and flora; and then there’s the wildlife!
For me inspiration comes from a number of sources but mostly from nature. For example, we moved to bungalow last year – it needed lots of hard work and I was not able to find the time for embroidery whilst the work was being tackled – every evening we were stripping wallpaper, painting, knocking down walls or building them, but we have a lovely well established garden here, and it was full of flowers and insects. I have watched the bees over the last year and I am now really keen to translate them into stitchery! I have embroidered some bumblebees onto pillowcases so far, and am raring to go with more projects.
The Inspirations magazine looks perfect – it would help me to translate my ideas in actual projects.
Hi Mary
Inspiration comes from everywhere! Of course the “Inspirations” magazine is a fine source, but so are other embroiderers, books, old pieces of embroideries and the flowers, plants and natural environment. It is all around!
Thankyou for organising the 12 days of Christmas competition. It has been a lot of fun.
Jenny
I find inspiration in the internet, watching the beautiful work of many people, especially you.
I embroidered a little when I was a child, but needle’n'thread (you) made me want to do it again, thank you so much for that!
Regards from Argentina
Oh I covet the footstool shown in the third photo. It is heavenly!!! I have purchased the odd copy of Inspirations for specific projects when I became aware of it. But a whole year?!!! Oh bliss.
As to where I find inspiration, this web site is a BIG source. Even if it’s not for a project you are doing, it gets me back to one I already have in the works and may have put down. Friends who are stitchers and online sources, books I have, and many others are also sources. But Needle-n-Thread must be #1.
I find inspiration in all the new places I see and people I talk to. Living in a different country every two or three years gives me plenty of inspiration … from the low, rolling plains and beaches of Uruguay to the Turkish-influenced architecture of Kosovo to the hot plains of Texas, there’s always something that makes me itch to capture it in embroidery. Now, I’m in Moldova, and the half-finished look of everything here reminds me I have a lot left to do!
My next two projects are from Just Cross Stitch magazine that I really look forward to receiving. That’s been by latest inspiration. I would like to receive Inspirations for new ideas and to acquire new skills.
Hi Mary,
This is a great source of projects. I used to look for ideas at a Spanish magazine called Labores, but lately I found wonderful things just navegating on internet. I would love to win one of this subscriptions… and if not I might try the generous offer the are giving us.
Salvador from Costa Rica
I find inspiration in almost everything I see, from the birds at the feeder to my horses in the pasture. The engravings on my husband’s antique guns beckon to me. Paper doilies cry out “whitework”! The colors offered up in thread displays say “pick me, pick me!” Flowers in my gardens demand ribbon emboidery. Pictures on ethnic costumes ask “want to try this?”
And, of course, there is the internet, where I can literally spend hours exploring what is offered up for embroidery techniques. The history and enthusiasm for handwork is a treasure. When I am too old to do more than walk to the mailbox I plan on spending my hours with needlework. A subscription like “Inspirations” will keep me busy as long as I live.
Thank you, Mary, for these “12 Days of Christmas”. It has been great fun exploring why I want each of the gifts, and I have so enjoyed reading the comments, all of them!
Regards,
Doreen B.
Hello again sweet Mary,
I find my embroidery inspiration everywhere, literally. But I’m also happy with kits and patterns from others, while the design process is rewarding sometimes I don’t want to think, I just want to dive into stitching. I LOVE Inspirations magazine and subscribe whenever I can afford it
I’m so excited to see the winners of this wonderful, fun adventure these past 12 days with you. Thanks so much for all your efforts, we love you!
Vickie
I find my inspiration for my Needlework by all the things around me. nature is one of my best inspirations. I also get inspirations from books,magazines and beautiful pictures. Life is inspirational.
Beryl B
I find my inspiration in others. I love looking at everyone’s work – in person or on the web. At one time I did have a subscription to this beautiful magazine, but couldn’t afford to keep up the subscription, so a chance to win a subscription would be great. Thank you.
my grandmother and mother is my first inspirations. they were not fancy but they added special meaning and touches to the plain.
I find inspirations in magazines, websites like yours and books.
Joanie M in W. TN
I love looking at stitchy websites. They show me other’s beautiful stitching. Web stores also show me what is new to stitch. Inspirations Magazine is the most fabulous magazine and has wonderful directions and diagrams.
The greatest source of inspiration is nature – God’s perfect inspiration. However, since I’m a better copyist than original designer I find inspiration in the work of others, magazine and book illustrations, online sites. A friend and I recently went to the local cemetery to take rubbings of the decorative elements on gravestones. Once you start noticing it is everywhere. “Inspirations” is a lovely magazine and I have bought copies when I can find them. Wouldn’t a subscription be wonderful?! Your giveaway has been a delightful way to start the past 12 mornings. Thanks, Mary.
Hi Mary,
This is an awesome giveaway!!! I have always been awed by the Inspirations magazine.. once I saw it with a friend of mine and was completely floored.. Only that couldnt afford to subscribe for the same.. I am just crossing my fingers..hope I turn lucky this time..
Btw,generally I find inspirations for needlework from books/magazines.. and nature is a great inspiration as well.. for colour combination, I guess thats the best inspiration one could find!!
Thank you so much for the discount on Inspirations Magazine. I am going to take advantage of it.
Where do I get my inspiration for my embroidery. Everywhere! Especially from nature, the classes I take, and the magazines I read.
Lately I have been finding inspiration on your website! There is so much good information here and good ideas. I recently started my own spot sampler just for fun!
Inspirations is one of my biggest inspiration. I look forward to that magazine and it’s one of the only one’s I’ve kept getting. I ran across the magazine in a book store and was like Wow! I’ve been a subscriber ever since.
Morning Mary
Ohhh the last day! I hate to see this come to and end. It has been fun and informative at the same time. I have also saved a few web sites in my faviorts, so thank you for that. My inspiration comes from everywhere. Books, web sites, greeting cards,bible verses, just what ever catches my eye. I would love to have inspiration magazine, I can see myself spending hours just looking through the pages. Looking forward to seeing what you have planned for 2012.
Praying your year will be outstanding!
My inspiration comes from Mary Corbet! I’ve learned so much at Needle ‘n Thread. Thank you for all you do for your readers.
Oh, my! Now that magizine looks like inspiration alone. I’ve never seen this magazine before and is not available anyplace where I live. Other publications, websites, friend’s patterns are usually where I find inspiration.
I find inspirationfor my needlwork from websites, such as yoursas well as vintage pattern books, vintage needlwork books and vintage needlework itself. I love all types of needlework and love to look at it all and try the different technique though i’m not a master of any certain one yet I’m having fun learning!
Mary,
Inspiration for my needlework has come from mainly from the projects I’ve seen. It can be the design, the colors, the techniques I want to learn. It can be for a special occasion such as a wedding or a birth. Because of difficulty finding “just what the designer listed”, I’ve become somewhat more adventurous in choosing different fabric and threads/colors. That can take time, but I consider it part of the project, too.
I keep hearing about Inspirations magazine, but have not seen it. A year’s subscription would be a wonderful introduction – might get me hooked, too.
Wow, a subscription to Inspirations would be terrific. I get inspiration from the EGA magazine, online crazy quilt groups, needlework friends, and books (even some books on subjects other than needlework such as the Tattoo Sourcebook I bought recently.)
I get mine mostely from online
ooh! I’m excited about this one! Most of my embroidery inspiration comes from online blogs or etsy, as well as ideas from coloring pages and technical diagrams, like anatomical charts. Fun!
current suscriber, wonderful magazine.the best in the world. For sure I would like to extend my subscription. Have a good day
I find inspiration all around me in nature, in other women like you Mary and in my family. I love to look at what others have made and get not only inspired but encouraged to try different techniques. This magazine will definitely do that. Thank you again Mary for this very special 12 Days of Christmas! Even if I don’t win anything I have enjoyed reading others comments and I really enjoy your website.
I find inspiration at my local needlework shop, and browsing various online shops and blogs. I’m so glad to have found your site! I get some magazines for counted cross-stitch, and crochet. I would enjoy receiving inspirations
wow!!! what a fantastic prize today!
where I take inspirations for my needleworks? mostly in nature. lines of trees, grass. and other way – the ancient motives. I like that works, what did women in 18-19th century… it’s very beautiful….
Thank you, Mary!
Masha
Hi Mary,
What a beautiful Christmas! This has been a wonderful expression of gratitude all the way around!
Like you, I get my inspiration from the older classic pieces as will as paintings. I would like to transfer Iconic art to needle work.
I would really appreciate the gift of this subscription but if I don’t win the full subscription, I will happily accept the 20% off gift.
Thank you for all you do!
Sharon C. Bethel,CT
I LOVE Inspirations magazine! In fact, I have found a lot of inspiration in previous copies of this magazine! My inspirations come from unexpected places a lot of times…from a pretty piece of wrapping paper, a flower or particular tree I come across when we are camping, a scene in a movie, patterns on tiles or wallpaper. I am often surprised at the places my inspiration comes from! There is inspiration all around us!
Wow! I didn’t know such a magazine existed. I find inspiration all around me-on the internet, books, friends, mother nature etc.
Happy Twelfth Day, Mary.
WOW … you have not disappointed me! Each of the past eleven days’ offerings have obviously been leading up to a wonderful finale and I think today’s gift is exactly that. I have seen this publication and have always been inspired by its contents.
Therefore, to answer your question, Mary … I find inspiration in the many publications available to stitchers. But that’s not the only source – I find inspiration in the colors in nature, in the joy my family expresses when they receive something I’ve made especially for them, in the wonderful postings of your blog each day, and in the phenomenal work of my sister EGA chapter members. I simply cannot imagine my life without a needle and thread!
I feel as though I already receive a gift from you every day … the enjoyment I have in reading your blog as well as inspiration from being exposed to your amazing talent. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mary!
I find inspiration especially from your blog, magazines like Inspiration, my embroidery books, websites like the Japanese Embroidery Center and from my fellow stitchers. Just not enough time in the day to stitch what I want to do. Thanks so much for all of your eye candy!!
I am still hoping to find the “just right” inspiration to design and embroider a chapel veil for my inherited chalice. My uncle, Father Edward Hartmann was a chaplain in England during WWII and this chalice was presented to him from King George VI on behalf of the people of England for his service to the pilots who led the bombing raids across the English Chanel.
Is it too broad to say “everywhere”? I find inspiration in wallpaper and rug designs, screen prints, photos – you name it. I have a notebook in my Evernote account called “Visual inspiration,” and I stick images there as I find them.
Inspiration comes from the internet, specifically sites like Needlenthread. Love Australian magazines and would be thrilled with a subscription to Inspiration.
I get my inspiration from all over. I am quite good at taking a project from a website or magazine and changing it a little into something a bit different.
Wow..I would love to receive a subscription to Inspirations. Most of the inspirations that I get are from online or from pictures in books.
I get inspiration from greeting cards or gift wrap, and also from nature. Also from projects other people have done. Thanks!
Jen L. from Ypsilanti
Magazines and books inspire my embroidery. And, of course, lately, from Mary’s site.
Thank you, Mary, for being here and making my learning so much easier.
Everywhere! I’m inspired by magazines (Inspiration is the best of course), patterns, other’s work, nature, colors, fashion, just so many things! I have no difficulty being inspired to stitch…what I lack is time and skill! Working on both however. Thanks or such a great 12-Days Mary…it has been so much fun!
Kathy
I currently subscribe to AS&E but not Inspirations. I do own a few copies but never find it on our bookstands…I look wherever I go. I suppose now that you have given us a discount, I will have to get my own subscription. I typically get my inspiration from publications and web site….such as yours. I can spend hours drooling over a project. Thanks for doing this give away…hopefully, it will be my lucky day and I will win one of them.
Bonjour Mary,
Many years ago, I got interested in crochet then cross-stitch and quilting and all from magazine.
Being in the Cdn Forces, we were always away from our families so crafts were the best thing from going crazy. Then, I discovered your site and I was hooked and wanted to learn other type of embroidery, so Yes, magazine are great to learn and now, the internet.
Thanks a million for everything you do for us.
France from Canada.
Most of my inspiration comes from thumbing through books, or browsing websites (and your blog has been invaluable in pointing out new sites!). Henna designs, Eastern textiles, architecture, nature, museum pieces and coloring books also pull at my imagination.
wow…inspirations magazine…i think i have to win this. thank you mary for the oppurtunity.
I get my inspiration for needlework from anything i come in contact with….sometimes plants around me…motifs i see..carvings or even a print on some fabric…list goes on…
I have always enjoyed Inspiration but generally have brought issues at discount sales or specific issues when someone has told me about a project in one of them that I wanted to see. It would be so nice to get each issue as they are printed.
I subscribe to several e-newsletters, magazines and belong to 2 ANG chapters, 2 EGA chapters and a Sampler Guild. Seeing work at the meetings and on line inspires me. I don’t have a local shop but when I travel I stop at stores, when it’s a driving vacation needlework stores are so wonderful, a great place for a break and each shop tends to be slightly different.
Violet in NH
I LOVE this magazine and use it as some of my inspiration to do needlework, magazines and pieces that people have done are my main source of inspiration and now your wonderful daily newsletter inspires me everyday to pick up the needle & thread, thank you Mary for your daily inspiration and keeping something I am passionite about alive and forefront in peoples daily lives – happy 12th day of Christmas – may everyone have more stitching time in 2012!!
It would be lovely to win an extension of my subscription to Inspirations.
I do find inspiration from this publication, from articles in what I am able to find on the internet including Mary Corbett ( especially from Mary ) Whenever there is a challenge I like to apply my mind to the subject of the challenge in needlework and I cannot resist any new embroidery book as it appears.
I enjoy so much the daily contributions via internet to my embroidery interest – you might say to my world – keeps my mind working and my fingers busy. These are my inspiration.
Inspiration. It’s what we all need to breathe joy into our lives. Where do i get my needlework inspiration? From magazines and books that open new possibilities or solve problems. Inspiration also comes in the shower. I don’t know how this works–i know it has something to do with the flow of hot water. It may release chi or inspiration may simply flow directly with the water from some additional pipe. However it happens, i sometimes am startled by wonderful ideas in the shower. With this magazine subscription AND a daily shower, who knows what i may accomplish!
I get most of my inspiration from your blog! You’ve taught me everything I know! A couple of years ago wham my daughter was making her First Holy Communion, I looked at an embroidered prayer book cover someone had given me and thought that it would be very nice to make something like it for my daughter. I learned many other types of sewing growing up, but not embroidery. So, I decided to go online to see if I could find info on how to make a simple project. Your blog came up and I found the pattern for the prayer book cover you had once made. I used your pattern and made a cover for my daughter and she loves it. I know it’s not great work, but it’s not bad for a first timer! From reading your blog I’ve learned to look around me to see embroidery that I never noticed before!
I have back issues that I would never part with because the stitching is so beautiful. It’s great to see a quality magazine and worth the cost.
Hi Mary, This magazine is just beautiful and I can’t imagine anything being more inspiring that this.
I get most of my inspiration from your website and this magazine subscription would just put me over the top.
Thanks for the beautiful give-aways you offer your subscribers an opportunity to win. Sooooo much fun.
Sherry F.
Wow! That is a superb prize! What inspiration is to be found within the pages of this magazine. It would be superb to find this dropping through my letter box 4 times a year. My ispiration comes from magazines, blogs, my surroundings – anything, really, that catches my eye I save – pictures, postcards. All give inspiration for a project or colours to use.
I discovered Inspirations magazine a couple of years ago in a blog I was reading, I had a hard time finding a copy of the magazine, but finally did at a quilt shop. I get inspiration from reading your daily Tips and Tricks.
It has been a great 12 days of reading your news and finding many items that I had never seen. Thanks so much and have a grand 2012.
Sarma
my inspiration often comes from old illustrations such as Illuminated manuscripts found in books and museums.
Definitely get inspiration for my needlework from my family- watching your children grow into adults you really like- instead of just love!- and marking all their milestones with pieces of art- I love how personal needlework is!
I’ve never seen this magazine but it would be a welcome addition to my reading stack. My drawings for projects are usually inspired by nature, starting with the colors of the seasons or a walk in the woods. But then again, I can find inspiration by just handling an old embroidered towel and the color choices made by that person. So bottom line, I guess I’m inspired by the color wheel and creating the pallette.
I try to keep and record everything appeals me: it could be an old embroidery photo on the net, or a drawing, or a printed commercial… but I especially like to take pictures of architectural details, like arches, capitals, main doors, windows, tiles… very often they give me good ideas for embroidery projects.
Most of my inspiration comes from vintage photos and vintage things I have – I’m particularly interested in needlework, fabric designs and artwork from the 1920s to the early 1950s.
Hello Mary, Apart from your brilliant blogs, I find inspiration from everywhere; books, photos, greetings cards, the internet but mainly from nature – birds, flowers and insects are my favourite embroidery subjects.
May I take this opportunity, to thank you and all your generous contributers for the chance to win some delightful embroidery ‘stuff’. Keeping my fingers crossed…:-)
Sadly, I usually embroider from patterns I am not secure enough to design my own pieces. I envy your ability and knowledge to do so. There are some beautiful designers out there and my stash has “wanna do” enough projects for the rest of my life. But, as you know there’s always room for more. Either way, win or wish list, I will hopefully be reading this Publication soon! Thank you Mary for the 12 Days series, your kindness, generosity and knowledge of needlework is an inspiration to many.
My inspiration for stitching is usually initiated by seeing something in nature that has luscious and beautiful colors. My mind then wanders to how I could capture that in threads! Such fun!!
Dear Mary, I find inspiration from needlework blogs, on line needlework shops catalogs, outside my window, needlework magazines (Yes I DROOL over Inspirations and their other magazine Embroidery), and various needlework books I have collected over the years (and yes, a large number of them after your reviews!!) Inspiration can come from anywhere as long as you open your eyes and mind and heart!! Linda in Central NC and loving it!!!
I usually find my inspiration on the Internet at wonderful blogs like yours!
Hi Mary it has been a wonderful 12 days, thank you. I own 2 copies of Inspiration magazine that I won on EGA and they are wonderful magazines. I find inspiration thru a few CQ groups primarily plus here and I love color. When I am looking for a certain thing I generally come to the internet and some times I find what I need but you are so right this magazine is awesome…..thank you for being an inspiration for those of us that do not get the magazine……Have a wonderful 2012.
I love Inspirations magazine. I can honestly say that it provides all kinds of inspiration for me. Even if I never made a single project from its pages, I would still enjoy looking at the pages.
Wow, this is a true winner. I pay almost twenty dollars a copy to get mine sent to me, but would say it is the best investment I have ever made. It is the one magazine that I could not part with. I wish I had the back copies of the one’s I am missing, but way above my budger. I find inspiration in Inspirations and in particular on your website Mary. Thank-you for all that you give so willingly both of talent and product.
Hi Mary. As a relative newbie to needlework, I’ve been finding inspiration online, at NeedlenThread, and other blogs. Nature always inspires me. I’ve never seen ‘Inspirations’ before, but it looks to be a fabulous mag, and I’d love to win a subscription. Thank you so much for the 12 days of Christmas, and for inspiring me.
I generally get it from photo’s I’ve taken or seen.
SuzyRed
I got inspired from websites, books and ofcourse nature.
raji from India
I’d like to respond to Nan Martino’s comment (#62). I recently embroidered an altar cloth in honor of my parents 65th anniversary. I designed my own, with symbols pertinent to my parents, their church, and location. I suggest you do the same. Names and dates, the king’s monogram or seal, something symbolic of your uncle, maybe a simple outline of England . . . As you think, more ideas will come. It is a unique and honored gift; your needlework should be the same. Good luck!
Oh Mary, the 12 Days of Christmas!
is gone after today. Do that mean that I have to take my Christmas tree down? I am enjoying it so much, but I guess if I leave it up much longer the needls will be on the floor.
Mary I get my inspiration from the things that I surround myself with in life… My family, friends,God’s great outdoors, books/magazines. And you Mary, these 12 days of Christmas have been such an inspiration. Sure I would love to win but if I don’t you have aready bless me. I look forward to your inspiration in the new year, in your daily emails.
Thank you Mary, and thanks to Country Bumpkin. I will be checking out their Inspirations Magazine. God bless and Happy New Year to all.
I find most of my inspiration thru my magazines, I’m always finding something I want to try or try a variation of.
Inspiration usually follows need for me…but this gorgeous magazine would certainly be inspiring!
My inspiration from embroidery came drom people in the family who embroidered, but now I use your blog Mary plus a few others, historical embroideeries, nature and of course inspirations! I would love to add a years subscription for I have been a member since the very first magazine coma out. Of course being in Adelaide is an advantage as i can attend activities and classes.
I would like to thank you Mary for the wonderful inspirational idea od the gifts for the 12 days of Christmas.
I would like to thank everyone who has written in for the prizes , for even thought I probably wont win one, I have had fun reading the varied comments.
Oh, my favorite magazine! And a definite source of inspiration! Inspiration also comes from all around, esp. from nature – my garden, lacy leaves, colorful blossoms, insects & birds.
My grandmother made the most beautifully embroidered pillowcases for me when I was young. Her artistry helped me to fall asleep at night. Tracing the stitches calmed me. I thought everyone embroidered.
I grew up on a farm in western maryland and in the winter there was alot of time. I believe that is my original inspiration..and now, I believe it is your incredible way of capturing the most detailed solution and teaching it…only since coming upon your teachings that I look at things with new eyes. This book seems like one of the most accurately named publications…just the few peeks here inspires me. Would love to have a subscription. Please enter me for the drawing contest.
Best regards, Charlotte
Blog like this one inspire me! And kits. I am early enough in my journey that I like having detailed instructions and a project already planned out. This magazine sounds like it would provide the type of guidance I need!
Inspirations magazine is truly inspirational! It would be lovely to receive a subscription to this motivating magazine.
Thank you Mary,
Claudia
Living in Kenya we are surrounded by inspirations from the multi racial community – rich saris, colourful khangas and kikois worn by the Kenyans, rich old, but often frayed and faded, English and European fabrics in curtins and furnishings as well as the carved furniture and doors which have filted down from the Middle East. The problem really is to focus on something and attempt to apply it somehow – and that is where Inspirations would help as the only copy of the magazine I have seen was filled with techniques. Sadly the magazine itself is no longer available in the bookshops nor newstands. I will order anyway and if lucky be able to add a year! Thank you again.
wow – this is a great giveaway – a whole year of a very well-named embroidery magazine!
i find inspiration in almost everything – books, magazines, walking in the woods, seeing someone else’s work, etc. You just never know what will click and give you an idea.
Wow, that would certainly be an exquistie magazine to receive. It would be an excellent give for inspiration….
My inspiration is very much from the natural world…my garden, our farm, my dogs, horses and other pets but most recently my sheep! I saw a lovely piece of embroidery on etsy, using drizzle stitch to stitch a sheep design and decided to have a go. From there I ended up making a picture for my neighbours to hang on their nursery wall in celebration of the birth of their daughter, using some of our sheep as the inspiration. They drive past them each time they leave their house and I liked the idea of their daughter growing up with a few friendly sheep watching over her as she slept.
I’d have to say my inspiration comes first, through your daily newsletter and secondly, through watching Regency era films (Jane Austin mostly). I’ll seek out the embroidered items and pause the show and really study the techniques. Museums are another great inspiration for me…especially ecclesiastical.
Every day I thought, my golly, it can’t be better, Mary has topped it today ….and then there’s another surprise ! These were the best 12 days, even if i dont win anything, it was just so exciting to see what was next. For that, I thank you for the excitement. I find my inspiration from books, internet and wonderful websites like yours. The magazine is out of my reach but i can look through the copies at my local needlework store…and drool. All the best for 2012.
I found Inspirations for five to six weeks then they stopped supplying to UK newsagents!
I would just LOVE a subscription – great give away Mary!! My inspiration comes from all the media but I love looking round Museum pieces when I can….Sue – Good Old Blighty
I had previously found inspiration when researching medieval artwork – but didn’t have the skill set to complete anything I began. Now, after having found your website and learning more stitches I find lots of inspiration in your posts. The piece I’m working on right now is one of your Jacobean patterns for a medieval pouch, and it’s almost half done in only a few months. Thank you for being such a source of education and inspiration, and for the chance to win your giveaways!
Hi Mary,
I am finding my needlework inspiration right here on this website/blog! I use to stitch a lot twenty years ago, but then found it difficult to find any embroidery designs other than pillowcases and baby quilt tops at craft stores. I stopped doing embroidery and moved on to other things. I was missing embroidery and spent some time one evening a few months ago “googling” around looking for patterns/kits when I ended up here. I have been a faithful reader ever since and I would love to get the lovely magazine!
I actually found my inspiration when I was five years old. My Grandmother loved to do her embroidery on the front porch as we rocked on her glider.. She worked with me until I got a stitch, and stitch by stitch she made sure I learned. and as far as the magazine I LOVE this magazine, BUT Barnes and Noble only gets a few copies at a time and I only got a couple. So now you know what I would give for this magazine.
Thank You
Cheryl H.
Dear Mary, I own a few copies of Inspirations and I agree with you it is a magnificent publication. If I win it would be like getting a Christmas present every three months. Thank you for your interesting 12 days of Christmas. Love Elza Bester Cape Town xx
My original inspiration came from my grandmother’s handwork. Over the years inspiration has come from my friends’ and coworkers needlework and magazines. Now in this new time of blogs and such, the inspiration is boundless “on-line” and I am thankful for people like you Mary, who share with the whole world! The “12 Days” giveaway has been fabulous, just reading so many peoples’ thoughts!
Thank you!
Sandy O in WA State
I have once found and purchased a copy on Inspirations–and have a Hardanger piece I discovered in the magazine in progress. It’s a magazine I enjoy looking over time and again–and when I bring it along to my stitching group, others ask to look through it as well. I need to check into subscribing to it. Thank you for this post and reminding me…
Hi
I get from your website because yours was the first I found when I decided to start embroidering again after many years of not stitching. I also get inspiration from other blogs. Flickr site. Brazilian embroidery site.
Nora D
I find inspiration in the world around me, but most often, I find it in the work of other people. I have found I am greatly challenged at turning what I see into a design that can be stitched.
This is without a doubt the best needlework magazine. Love, love, love it!
Inspirations? Museum collections, online classes, EGA, my local sampler guild, magazines like Inspirations, looking out my window, fondling threads and fabrics–but, basically, paying attention to what’s around me!
Inspiration: Mine mostly comes from museums, both in person and the wonderful and in-depth on line collections that many are now posting. Problem is, I now have a mental list of projects that is so long … and always growing … that I’ll never do them all. Planning and dreaming are all part of the creative process, though, right?
OMGosh. I love this magazine. I have one copy that I got and B & N a few months ago. Inspiration is everywhere!! especially when you have the internet and so many artists willing to share their knowledge. You know,like you!!
Carol D.
From the internet, mostly. I browse cross stitch sites, and fall in love some new project.
My second inspiration source is my son, who wants something stitched.
It would be nice to receive Inspirations too.
I find most inspiration from my magazines, but some from right outside my door! I love all the birds that show up! This would be a wondeful prize to win! I have picked up this magazine a couple times because I can’t resist the cover! Thanks for the chance to win on the 12 th Day of Christmas!
Morning Mary!
My inspiration usually comes from things around me or from things I find on the internet. But, most of what I do is counted cross stitch. At the moment, I’m working on reproducing a 190 year old sampler located in one of the historical buildings in the small town that I live in. But I would love to be able to branch out into something other than just cross stitch and I believe this magazine would do that for me. I’ve gotten a lot of inspiration from your website, too!
My original inspiration was from my grandmother
….she did beautiful monograms on the napkins
that I use to this day. But Inspirations magazine has definitely my favorite needlework
magazine for several years. Also, the ladies
that I stitch with always inspire me with the
quality of work that they do.
What a terrific giveaway! Count me in! My inspirations come from the colors of the sky, the millwork of old houses, fashion magazine layouts, my husbands’ antique tool collection, needlework books, and occasionally from my dreams – I write down the color grouping or designs upon awakening.
Well, I find inspiration everywhere around me. I first starting sketching the pictures I would use in needlepoint of my family ,then my dogs, then plants, and so on. It’s actually harder to start with faces, I learned the hard way, because they are so difficult to capture. But the one thing I learned about my inspiration was that it was a two way street–doing needlework of bees, moths, then got me reading about them! So I grew in both ways–as someone practicing a craft and as person learning about the world.
One benefit I would see to owning Inspirations is that I could realize projects–looking at the small crewel box and the directions. I can needlepoint a piece, for example, but lately I have been pressed for using them for something else besides pillows and pictures–while nice, how many can and should a person have?
So, learning of how to fashion different uses for needlepoint, for example, in projects would be a great plus.
Nancy
My inspiration comes from my Grandmothers and my friends. Also from my heritage and a desire to do some ethnic projects. Thank you so much for the 12 Days giveaway it too has been an inspiration.
So many things inspire my needlework that the list would be very long. I come up with an idea and then I search around the web or magazines to find something that fits the bill. But Mary, since starting to receive your daily newsletters, my brain has been working overtime and you provide so many sources of information and links to great sites that I shall have to live for a couple of centuries to get everything accomplished.
oh my gosh, I have literally DROOLED over pictures i’ve seen on your blog from that magazine and a years subscription – I think I might fall dead over!!!!! You really did save the best for last!
Now I’ve forgotten what the question is lol Oh what inspires me! I have to say it’s the threads and fabrics themselves. I do love to see pictures of beautiful stitching, and that will inspire to get stitching again, but my true inspiration comes from the color or feel of a certain thread, or a piece of fabric I want to stitch on. Karen Gass
Thank you for this 12 days of Christmas – it has been an awesome thing to look forward to after the month of December with all it’s decorations and surprises. January is usually kind of blah, but not this time!
I find inspiration in my own front yard. Sometimes I just look out the window. I am always given “gifts from nature” when I step outside my door. My pockets are generally filled with dead bugs, feathers, acorns, leaves, and flowers. I should add lichen and mushrooms. I love to make gold stump work insects inspired from the ones I find outside.
I also like to look at old magazines. I am not familiar with this magazine. I like that it includes all types of needle crafts. That suits my personality–I switch from one to the other. It is how my brain is wired!
Oh Mary, be still my heart! I have asked for a subscription to this magazine for the past two Christmas’, but apparently Santa is jealous of “inspiration” from sources other than the devine forces….My early inspiration for embroidery was all the Erica Wilson books that my mother had on her shelves. Later Jane Nicholas’ Stumpwork Embroidery Collections of Fruits, Flowers and Insects for Contemporary Raised Embroidery were just awesome to me. I simply adapted the more 3 dimensional details to be more traditional looking. And lastly, any picture that I happen to see could be inspiration – sometimes I just see something and think “I’d like to do that in Embroidery”…I am particularly fond of flowers and love Pierre-Joseph Redoute’s botanical paintings of plants and flowers – adapted by Claire Bryant and conveniently offered in iron transfer books.
Thanks ever so much for these 12 days of gifts Mary!
Best,
Mary Ann
Beacon, New York
I find inspirations in everyday life. It comes from nature and the beauty of the seasons, the ocean, flowers, etc. I use photographs to try to capture this beauty and then develop designs from it.
I find inspiration in all kinds of places – the web, magazines, quilts, old tiles, japanese manhole covers, you name it! And I’d love to have a subscription to Inspirations – they are a definite inspiration.
I love “Inspirations” magazine , the projects, stories and the way the magazine is presented with beautiful photography it is all so inspiring, as well as the things in nature that draws a person in….whether its colours,shapes or cuteness.
Hi Mary, I would love to win a subscription! Being unemployed at the moment, my needlework budget has suffered, so I cannot afford to subscribe, even though I would love to.
My inspiration comes mostly from seeing wonderful embroideries on-line. Your work is beautiful, but I even love looking at pictures from shops. I love color!
Thank you for spending the 12 days of Christmas with us, and I hope you had a blessed holiday.
Jane
The Inspiration magazine is translated and published in France. So it arrives in Canada with an important delay. Nevertheless, it is worth waiting for and every number is a keepsake. I should add that you, Mary, are my mentor eversince I discovered your website. Thanks for your help. Too bad the 12-days come to an end but I will continue reading your morning newsletter every day with great pleasure.
What a way to end the 12 days of Christmas! My inspiration comes from everywhere. I have several older issues of this gorgeous magazine sent to me by an Aussie email stitching friend, but a year’s subscription would be like being in stitcher’s heaven.
Thank you Mary for these 12 wonderful days of opportunities of adding to our stitching stash.
I must admit I am an avid reader of needlework books and magazines and each time I turn a page I find something to admire and to love. My passion is historic treasures and have too little time to accomplish all. There are also so many talented people who are so creative around us……A new year and hundreds of new ideas. A subscription to such a magazine would be a wonderful gift. thanks
Hi Mary,
Lately, I have been doing a lot of ecclesiastical work, so mostly my inspiration has come from visiting the sacristies of local churches to view their altar hangings, and from taking as many old books out of the library that I can. I also love the designs that you have posted on your site and have used a few of them with some alterations.
Thanks for this event. It was fun to post and read others’ comments.
Karen
Hi
i inspire needlework from internet and the books i read from library.
I find inspiration in magazines and books particularly ‘Stitch’ magazine here in the UK. I like to adapt a pattern with my own colours but often will follow a pattern as the designer intended.
My late mom and her sisters embroidered when they were young. I still have a few of her dresser scarves. I have to admit, I keep them for sentimental reasons rather than beauty. I do not know anyone who embroiders and count on your blog and a few others for inspiration and instruction. I also find inspiration in nature and museums. I love floral and religious motifs. I am currently trying to work up the nerve to make an altar cloth for my daughter’s friend who is a college chaplain. I have been scouring all of your writings on church related sewing.
Thank you for the “Twelve Days of Christmas” postings and giveaways. It’s been great learning about new sources and revisiting some of your earlier postings.
Inspiration for needlework comes from needle arts magazines, books, and fabric. Now that I am retired, I can devote more time to my projects and learn some new techniques.
“Inspirations” is by far the best magazine for needlework that I´d come across. I usually find inspiration for my projects in nature or events of my life. However, before the designing stage I like to flick through books and magazines to get a better idea of which stitches and colours to use. “Inspirations” magazine with its painstaking description on how to execute the projects, the vast array of material choices and the beautiful illustrations comes in as an indispensable tool to the realization of my embroidery work.
Bella Goulart
My inspiration comes mostly from historical pieces. Those that have withstood the test of time, and have been loved, valued, and preserved. I treasure the feeling of connection to history, and to needle-workers of past eras. The love and care they put into their pieces is evident and always inspires me to put heart and careful effort into whatever I do.
But I also must echo other comments: Mary Corbet’s Needle ‘N Thread is also a HUGE source of inspiration! Thank you, Mary.
Hooray! Yippeee! Here is a gift I wish everyone could have because my inspiration comes from the lovely ladies at Country Bumpkin. They work so hard. A simple gift of A-Z books so Lucy Green (USA) could teach women in India to embroider so they could earn money. There are 12 projects in Issue 72 featuring Trish Burr -thread painting a portrait two different ways. Helen M. Stevens luminous butterfly using ‘One simple Stitch’. A Deerfield design cushion, counted threadwork violet needlecase, a honey bee in goldwork and much more. Best wishes to the winners and be inspired with Inspiration – articles & reviews.
Wow snaps to you grabbing this wonderful magazine. My fingers crossed on this one!! Was wonderful of you to have this giveaway and even if I don’t win it was great reading about all the great finds. Look forward to “seeing” you everyday!!
I find inspiration from everywhere – what I see others stitching, what I see in a shop, ideas that I have, etc. I would really love to have a years subscription to this fantastic, inspiring magazine!
Well you have certainly offered a grand finally. Not to mention the Country Bumpkin’s generous offer.
It is certainly a wonderful magazine and offers many beautiful articles that can inspire a beginner to an expert.
At the moment I am inspired by family history and I have several items on the go. Distant relation’s coat of arms and a small sampler that we have a photo of but never seen.
After that who knows.. but I do know I would like to sew one of Trish Burr’s designs and finish off a couple of UFIs.
Isn’t life wonderful.
Good luck everyone.
I used to get inspiration from TV, books, magazines, etc. But, these days I get most of my inspiration from other people’s blogs and websites. So much eye candy out there on the Internet! Thanks for all the fun, Mary!
I find inspiration in books and magazines! I also search the internet. But there is nothing like a book or magazine to look at over and over again. I’ve seen this on the internet before and thought it was just beautiful. Thank you for the opportunity to win a subscription to Inspirations!!
Blessings,
Charlotte
I was holding my breath with anticipation…a subscription is very generous…the projects are to drool over!…thanks for this opportunity and a great 12 day give away…Dianne in Brockville ON
This is truely a wonderful way to end the 12 days of Christmas, I already have many copies of Inspirations magazine and cherish each one of them. The 12 days of Christmas has been a lot of fun and I enjoyed looking forward to what each days treasures would bring,thank you Mary.
Cheers Flora
I have been a subscriber to Inspiration for years. The magazine is so beautiful to look at even if I didn’t do the projects. I find my needlework inspiration from colors. Seeing a garden or even the rows of paint chips at the store will spark an idea.
I find my inspiration for designers’ patterns in newsletters that take me to websites. But when I design for myself, most of my inspiration comes in patterns I see in architecture, – small snippets of a building interior or exterior, things like Italian tiles, or cornices, or the way a shadow falls and makes a new color. Trying to figure out how to translate them to stitchery is a lot of fun. I am rarely successful but it doesn’t stop me from seeing beauty in little pieces of bigger things.
I find my inspiration …here! I need to remark on the footstool in the picture. There is no way I could put my feet on it! Thank you again, Mary for all your give aways. If I can I will patron all the vendors that have been generous through your site as well. May your new year be blessed!
Each of the 12 days has brought a treasure, but in my mind, Inspirations magazine is a case of leaving the best for last. This publication really opened my eyes to all the possibilities of needlework. I save every issue I acquire and check in whenever I’m ready to start something new. Big, personal moments in the lives of family and friends inspire my most original work as I try and make something to commemorate the moment that will resonate with the recipient.
I find inspiration in needlework of the past, and recreating it.
Oh and I find my inspiration usually looking thru sampler books and local needlework shops plus some online shops.
I embroidered from the time I was a child until the mid-’80s. Hadn’t done anything since until I ran across Trish Burr’s books earlie this year. Now I am eager to immerse myself in all things embroidery.
Without sounding like I’m kissing up, your blog has been my main source of inspiration. I look forward to starting anew this year.
marjimarks
I love Inspiration magazine! They quit carrying it here and I haven’t been able to get a subscription. I find things online to embroider, BOMs, sometimes Inspiration magazine and I also will buy a kit if I want to try a new technique.
I find a lot of my inspiration in Inspirations, which is why I would love to have a subscription.
I find inspiration for my work in my life. I do a lot of stitching for my family and try to make it personal for the person who will receive it. My niece turned 30 recently, and I had a large needlepointed (framed) heart for her, done in the colors of her living room. My grandchildren receive an ornament each Christmas. I try to make each ornament very personal, for instance, one grandson is on a swim team, so one year his ornament was similar to his teams patch, and another year, he had just gotten a new dog, so I stitched a dog with markings like his.
Inspirations is my favorite sewing magazine because it is so “inspirational”. I must confess to having a few kits that have not been completed in my stash.
Louise Brown
First let me say, “Thank You” for offering all of these wonderful opportunities to wind exquisite embroidery materials. What fun! As for inspiration, books and beautiful magazines like Inspirations are my favorite sources for ideas and motivation. I enjoy choosing a project from a publication and tackling it.
Wow! I thank you for the opportunity learn more about embroidery. I think my inspiration for MY work comes from looking at the work done in the past, historical peices and I am in awe at their ability to work an entire dress, panel, tapestry, bed cover…..I am still learning the basic stiches, having been taught simple stiches as a child (cross, outline) but never having someone to teach me the techniques to create the pieces that inspire me to learn more and create my own pieces. Right now my inspiration has been looking through the collections in my sisters library of books and looking through the pages of your website and others that are devoted to this craft. I would love to have the opportunity be one of the winners of this 12th Day giveaway, but am thankful that you have alot of inspiration here and others have worked to post/publish on the web inspiration for newbies so that this art continues. I have to say I am most inspired by my daughter (11 years old) working along side me trying to learn what I am doing,and if I don’t stich, she won’t learn. Inspiration……it’s all around us and thank you for inspiring me to keep the tradition going in my part of the world!
Wow Mary , this is so wonderful!
I have always coveted this magazine, I have one old copy and love it so.
I find inspiration from different websites ,yours and in the museums in the tristate area.
Thank you so much for putting this together!
Nora jg
What a wonderful way to end the Twelve Days of Christmas! I have actually been contemplating becoming a subscriber!
I am fairly new to embroidery, so I still look to established embroiderers for inspiration. However, as I start understand the technical aspect of things, I find myself noticing things in everyday life that would translate into embroidery somehow, such as dried winter weeds that would look great as a goldwork pattern.
Well, my inspiration started with your web. I wanted a nice tea cozy, decided I don’t see anything on market I liked and hence wanted to make one myself. From here comes idea of decorating it with embroidery. While looking for pattern on iternet I found your site. I got so much into embroidery now that I started to look around my house to find things I wanted to have but now can create myself. I found the various links you put on your blog and books reviews very very useful.I am sure that now I am going to look into this magazine as well.
What a beautiful gift! I love the piece on the cover! I find inspiration in nature, walking through parks and gardens. I also find inspiration by reading about embroidery and looking at other peoples embroidery on this site and others like it.
Mary,
The 12th day of give aways… I just want to say Thank You, even if I don’t win anything. It’s been an inspiration just looking at the stuff you are giving away. Thanks. I get inspiration from all over. Life, color, books, internet pages. Love flickr pages. Love your daily bit of inspiration.
Thanks,
Gail
I get inspired by a need or a purpose which requires puzzling out how it will be used in the end, and then follow the thread from there so that it will be most relevant to the end user.
If it’s a gift, I’ll try to find someway to make it personal that I know will reflect the person whom it is being made for.
If it’s for a design, then I look for ways to make it reflect the origin or nugget of the idea first. I’ve come to learn that I love the historical research aspect the most, and in fact that is informing my designing now more than it ever has.
Hello Mary! It’s my last “housework” in english, you know! I hope my langage was not too bad for you. I find my inspiration into your embroideries, and into other websites. I buy some embroidery magazines, as “Mains et merveilles” “Quiltmania” “Plaisir du fil”. And sometimes my granddaughters give me ideas…
Thank you for that great give-away, and English lessons for me!!!
I keep a journal of ideas that appeal to me. I find inspiration EVERYWHERE! In magazines, newspapers, on blogs, online, art shows, museums…When I start a project (the incubation period), I begin to gaather information from every sourse I have available to me: my journal, my fils, online, books, just looking around. Sometimes this incubation period takes mioths and years but oneday te project just all comes together and voila a new idea is born.
Thank you Mary, not only for this contest but for all the wonderful ideas and techniques you share with us. You are truely a gift to the needlework community. Thank you
I find inspiration for my embroidery from all sorts of places. I love your website and I think that it is the best for learning all sorts of embroidery related things. I look at magazines, not just needlework ones, but also others such as Victoria and Country Living. I once saw a room in a magazine that had some kind of tapestry hanging on the wall in one of the rooms. I was so inspired that I asked my son if he would draw it for me, since I can’t draw very well at all. He drew it and I interpreted it into a punch needle design and entered it in the state fair and I won a blue ribbon for it.
Sharon K
I find inspiration in many areas of my life. My husband and I do a lot of sailing in the Bahamas so I am drawn to the colors of the sea. I have been looking for something creative to do that does not require a lot of space. I think hand embroidery fits the bill. My sister has been my inspiration in getting started. She, turned me on to you Mary. You have really inspired me through your website, generously showing anyone with the interest in learning how to get started. I did cross-stick work in the past and have a lot of DMC floss for practicing but, not the quality materials you and my sister use. I hope to advance to the next stage watching your videos. I will subscribe to “Inspiration”. I hope they offer an app so I can read it on my iPad while sailing.
Regards,
Barbara Thomas
inspiration for me is from the outside around me birds and flowers and animals and from the pictures on your page and the pictures in magazines would love to subscribe to the magazine you are showing but my husband doesn’t let me order online since he retired
What inspires me and my sewing? You! You have shown us so many beautiful works of art, and how you get there is amazing. Also, I get my inspiration from nature. I travel the world from time to time, and have seen so many amazing things. I just want to thank you for doing the Twelfth Day of Christmas Giveaways. You have been very generous, with all the gifts that you are giving away.
YOU have saved one of the best for last. Inspirations is THE premier magazine in the world. The word, “covet,” comes to mind when thinking of a chance to win this gift! As you probably know, this magazine is no longer available at any newstand in the US. It’s not only the quality of the materials in the magazine (photos, instructions, projects), it’s the quality of their publishing materials as well. It’s just an unbelievable quality product put out by some equally amazing people!
Most of my inspiration starts right here on your blog! I have purchased a number of books that you have recommended that have helped a lot.
I find inspiration lots of places – especially on Pinterest! Lots of lovely how tos and simple shapes!
Hi Mary,
What wonderful “eye candy” to have for breakfast!
I think stitchers are a visual lot and I use my garden for inspiration. Winter seems to be here for sooooo long, tho I’m sure it really isn’t, and I miss my gardens so much that they’re the inspiration for my photography and stitching. It just reminds me that spring will eventually arrive.
Other inspirations for me are family and friends. I often make things for them, reflecting their interests and personalities. Just the other day I found out that my dearest friend’s daughter is expecting a baby girl. I’m already looking for a quilt pattern for her gift.
Mary, thanks so much for this wonderful give-away! What a fantastic variety of offers, and what a tremendous amount of work it must have been for you to put it all together! A labor of love for us, your devoted readers and fans!! Again, thank you!
My main source of inspiration is the wonderful wonderful designers who create the endless stream of stunning designs available for us. When I do venture into my own designs, it’s usually adaptations of historical patterns.
Inspirations IS the most fabulous magazine I have ever read. Each year someone in my family gives me a new subscription to it. I have made several things from many of the magazines. They are varied and as they say, “there is something for everyone”. I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw an issue for the first time. Quality of the pictures, the directions, lists of supplies, where to get them, etc., etc., etc. I could go on forever. Thank you, Mary for the wonderful 12 Days of Christmas and the fact that I now have a wonderful source to go to when I have a question or a problem. Happy New Year.
OH MY!!! What a dream come true this would be, this is the best of the best magazine for embroiders. I use to buy an issue each time they came out when I was teaching quilting at a cloth shop years ago. Now I am blessed if I ever find one here in western NC.
As to the questions, I tend to find my designs wherever I can, I would say from the hundreds of books I have collected down thru the years, but also a majority of them on the internet.
Right now I am working on 3 projects, a linen table cloth with teapots embroidered on the 4 corners and a small floral wreath in the center, these designs are from the internet, a twin quilt using various designs of victorian era hats that mostly came from an old magazine from back in the 50′s and then some from the internet, then an embroidered queen size quilt using various floral designs from a book I bought a few years ago. I have to say you chose to save the best for last, crossing my fingers and toes on this one. Barb
Oh, to win this subscription would be fabulous. I used to subscribe, but it got a little too expensive. I mostly get my ideas from old issues of Inspirations and old issues of Smocking and Embroidery Magazines and Sew Beautiful magazine. I also look online and your site. Thank you, Mary, for these generous giveaways. Ellen Johnson from Roanoke, VA
Most of my inspiration comes from my gardens – perrenial flower beds and vegetables. The colors that Mother Nature uniquely combines are fabulous. Additionally, I love looking for old and new sampler ideas in antique stores and gift shops.
Where do you find inspiration for your needlework?
I do mostly historic embroidery, so looking at paintings ang woodcuts from the period inspire me greatly. I also get much inspiration from nature, employing the motifs of the flora.
I tend to find my inspiration everywhere and at the oddest moments. Driving along and seeing a peculiar looking tree, watching my children at play, seeing other people’s works, and walking through a craft store are just a few ways I get inspired. I have never seen this magazine, but it sounds absolutely wonderful!
I have loved every moment of your 12 days of Christmas Mary, and my embroidery journey is fairly new, but it started a long time ago with my grandmother who taught me the usual stitches i.e.: stem stitch, chain stitch and lazy daisy. That was about it
Have always loved sewing, clothes for myself, my kids and friends, got a bit over that and in 2000 discovered quilting so did that for 10 years.
But a couple years ago I discovered Goldwork and tried that then found thread painting……….that is pretty special and then I discovered you.
I teach myself all the different stitches from your videos, and that is a joy.
But inspiration comes from anywhere and anything, Google images is a great place because the images are so varied on any subject. With this give away is another inspiration and I will check it out and subscribe, that is if I don’t win .
Thank you once again Mary………..you are an inspiration.
I find inspiration everywhere. Especially on blogs such as yours and the Antique Pattern Library. Thank you for all your enthusiasm and your wonderful contribution to the art of needlework!
I get inspiration from many sources. I look at art, at fabrics, at craft design books, at other people’s needlework, in catalogs, in craft books, in magazines,at antique furniture, and nature. Anything can be a source of inspiration if you learn to look at the world from that perspective.
I find inspiration from garage sale books and magazines, Handmade Magazine at Joann’s, Online, EGA Needle Arts and photos I can turn in to stitchery. My family buys CQ Embroidery Books, for seam treatments I use Kathy Shawl’s “Embellishing Crazy Quilts” because she gives the patterns to make plastic templates. The “Thread Garden, Bead Time” owners search for embroidery books for me (within my budget) quarterly. “Inspiration” has been on my wish list since Sept 2009.
Thank you Country Bumpkin and Mary Corbet. I hope I can win for I am a past subscriber and due to circumstances with finances I had to let it go. My inspirations come from many areas, pictures, books, nature, birds in my yard. In other words, almost anywhere I look is inspiration.
Jane
Georgia Gal