A Summer Christmas by Ana Mallah

When you come from ‘a land down under’ there are certain times of the year that help you understand why Australia is given that name.

Take for example Christmas. A celebration synonymous with winter and dashing through the snow, thanks to the fact that over 85% of the world’s population live in the northern hemisphere. If someone, therefore, starts telling you about spending Christmas day having a BBQ at the beach, it all sounds very different and a little upside down compared to what most people are accustomed to.

Australian needlework designer and teacher, Ana Mallah knows a thing or two about living in a land down under. Ana lives in Melbourne, a city awarded as one of the most liveable in the world and a fabulous melting pot of different cultures, styles and ambitions with a topography and a climate that offers a little something for everyone.

It is also a city that, as Ana says, is ‘known for four seasons in one day, so we are equally as likely to have Christmas by the beach or by a fireplace. One can never quite tell what we’ll get!’

When it came time for Ana to encapsulate what Christmas means to her as an Aussie, she created

A Summer Christmas.

This delicate floral wreath from our latest book, The Design Collective | Christmas, combines two floras: a hydrangea representing summer and a fruiting snow berry as a nod to the winter Christmas experience.

As Ana mentioned, in Melbourne you’re just as likely to have either hemisphere represented on Christmas Day, so her project A Summer Christmas successfully caters for both possibilities!

Gorgeous stumpwork petals finished in beautifully soft hues sit atop a surface embroidered wreath, complete with a dimensional stem and wrapped beads for the berries.

‘For me, these colours remind me of our Christmas here in Australia.’

Whether you are looking for a nod to Christmas that represents both halves of the world in one design, or a simply stunning piece that can be on display all year round, A Summer Christmas is all that and more.

Make Your Own | A Summer Christmas

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

A Summer Christmas by Ana Mallah is a wreath with softly shaded hydrangeas and berries.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for A Summer Christmas includes everything* you need to re-create this delicate garland: Fabrics (unprinted), wires, wool felt balls, embroidery threads, beads and needle.