NeedleCraft Plus/needlecraftplusvolume1.iso/misc/inspirma/inspire

Text File | 1994-05-26 | 4KB | 78 lines

By: Vikki Clayton

 Australian embroidery magazines


I mentioned "Inspirations" embroidery magazine yesterday,
here is the info: (can this be added to the FAQ? thanks!)

"Inspirations" is published 4 times per year, and includes
several fold out patterns as well as extremely detailed
and clear instructions, with step-by-step photos, for
every stitch. Excellent for ambitious beginners, but it
also contains many advanced projects for more experienced
stitchers. The magazine includes iron-on patterns for some
of the embroidery designs, don't you wish American magazines
would do this? And the photography is so far superior to any
other needlework magazine, it is far above the rest. (I really
loved one article where they showed a "rejected" photo they
decided not to use, where the photographer had used the BACK
side of an antique needlepoint piece as the background for
the project. All those lose threads, tangles, etc-- a great
contrast for the "real" perfectly stitched item on display.

The latest issue #3, March 1994) includes a wonderful,
clever "Knot Garden Footstool" (with much of the embroidery
done with knot stitches of course!), an adult beret embroidered
with silk ribbon, a wool blanket embroidered with bunnies,
heirloom sewing patterns for dolls, a silk sewing bag, a
goldwork pincushion done with couching, embroidered knit
babies' clothing, and a woolen tea cosy. Many of these items
are sold as kits, the tea cosy kit is just A$20.00, the knot
garden footstool is A$130.00 (the wooden footstool itself is
A$140.00), plus shipping, you buy these directly from the publisher.

Subscriptions are $30 Australian, but are $62A for overseas--
luckily the exchange rate works in "our" (U.S. :-) favor
so it is actually around $40 a year (correct me on this, I'm
taking a rather wild guess!) Individual copies of this magazine
usually sell for about $15 US in shops, so you'll actually save
a few dollars per issue if you subscribe. (not to mention the
fact that not too many shops sell this magazine in the US).

You can pay by VISA card. Send your account number and expiration
date and your signature to:

Inspirations magazine
Country Bumpkin Publications
Box 194, Kent Town, South Australia 5071

phone [phone]
fax [phone]

This same publisher also offers a wonderful magazine devoted to
smocking (far better than Sew Beautiful!) It is called
"Australian Smocking and Embroidery" and costs $34A for 4
issues per year. It also has some full-size pull out patterns
and the most wonderful photography you have ever seen.
They have at least one adult size pattern in each issue,
but the focus is mainly on dresses and things for children.
The Australian designers tend to use more embroidery on their
smocking than ours do, so if you love embroidery, you probably
NEED to get this magazine also. (Same address and phone
as above.)

Finally, I can highly recommend the books put out by this
same publisher: "Special Gifts" (A$9.95), which has a collection of
wonderful smocked and embroidered items, from baby shoes
to sewing kits. "The Best of Australian Smocking and Embroidery"
(A$19.95) is a good way to catch up on some of the great patterns you
have missed in back issues. In addition to 34 breathtaking smocked
dresses, it also has an excellent article on how to design your
own smocking color schemes, several designers show how they
chose the colors and even alternate color choices for the patterns
in the book. I found this discussion fascinating. I actually found
that ordering this book from Australia was cheaper than the price
it was selling for in a local shop. (your mileage may vary :-)