Celebrating 100 Issues

This week it’s Fiona Freund’s inspirational story of her journey with Inspirations that is helping us to celebrate 100 issues of Inspirations Magazine…

‘I am very proud to say that I am the owner of the entire collection of Inspirations Magazines and almost all the other books you have published, including the A-Z Series. I first got my love for embroidery from watching my grandmother spend every spare minute either knitting or embroidery in various styles. It fascinated me as a small child how a handful of beautifully coloured threads could be turned into a piece of art or a unique usable item. I now have several of her works and treasure them dearly.

After getting married, my husband and I struggled to fall pregnant and a doctor suggested I take up an interest to help relax me, so I turned to embroidery. Looking for inspiration for a project to start, I came across a copy of an Inspirations Magazine in an embroidery shop, Lyn’s Fine Needlework. From that day I was hooked on embroidery of all styles! I fell in love with all the gorgeous, lush, colourful threads as I found they warmed my soul.’

‘From then on, I waited excitedly as every three months would tick by for my next issue of the magazine to arrive. I also decided to seek after old editions, so I rang the Inspirations office in Adelaide to try and get my hands on the missing copies that I had yet to find. Luckily there were some editions they still had, but they could not supply me with all the copies I was missing. Nevertheless, I ordered and paid for the magazines they did have and was grateful that my collection was growing, yet a little disappointed that it was not yet complete. One day at work, maybe a month or so after I received my back issues from Adelaide, a young man rang me and said that he was from Inspirations and that he had been doing a clean out in a storeroom and had come across a pile of back issues and was wondering if I was still interested in buying these past issues. I know this may sound silly but that was a very exciting call and a day I still look fondly back on, especially while I am thumbing through my collection looking for a new project!

While trying to fall pregnant I joined a class at my local store. I loved the common interest we all shared and the warmth of the group. I was in my late twenties while most in the group were retired. Embroidery and my fellow classmates were a huge support and distractor for me while I undertook years of IVF and endured many miscarriages. Back then, I loved embroidering baby blankets as they gave me a sense of hope. My favourite was The Woolly Sheep from Inspirations issue #18.

Now, to my delight, my ten-year-old daughter, my second born who was conceived naturally, loves embroidering too. I cherish the time we sit sewing together.

Congratulations on your 100th Issue and I look forward to 100 more!’

Sitting and stitching with your daughter must be a beautiful full circle moment Fiona! We’re honoured that Inspirations has been part of your stitching journey and love that stitching became a companion and support through a difficult time. We appreciate you taking the time to share your story which reminds each us to take refuge with needle and thread though the difficult seasons in life.