If ever there was proof that Inspirations magazine issue #124 is a gift that keeps on giving, for those of you who have a copy, turn to pages 54 & 55.

Hiding right there in the middle of the magazine is an adorable frog with gorgeous, huge eyes ready to greet you.

Rana, Spanish for frog, is the spectacular creation of Maria Clara Warschauer, better known as Clara, who is making her Inspirations magazine debut in issue #124. Welcome Clara!

Clara is an accomplished and highly skilled needlework designer and tutor who creates some of the most fantastic three-dimensional goldwork characters you have ever seen.

It’s fair to say that whenever we feature a frog in Inspirations, they tend to attract quite an audience, and Rana is no exception proving to be a very popular little guy already.

Frogs exist in a variety of habitats on every continent on earth except Antarctica and in many traditional cultures are regarded as important symbols of transformation, wealth and abundance.

Some Native American groups believe that the frog can prevent loss, making Rana the perfect project for a fob to hang from your precious embroidery scissors.

Worked with coloured purls, beads and gleaming gilt pearl purl over a felt base, this charming little fellow makes an endearing stitching companion suspended from a twisted cord.

Alternatively, you can attach a brooch finding to the back and pin Rana to your jacket or shirt pocket so he can accompany you wherever you go.

Clara has combined her superb design and technical skills beautifully here and we especially love the gold outline she’s used that draws the eye and helps give Rana that distinct frog shape. Her choice of colours is also superb with one of the metal threads called ‘parrot green’ and indeed it is vivid and striking to say the least.

If you are new to goldwork or three-dimensional embroidery this is the perfect piece to get you started thanks to its diminutive size. When finished Rana measures 37mm x 33mm wide (1 7⁄16" x 1 5⁄16"), omitting the hanging loop.

This also means the price for the Rana Ready-to-Stitch kit represents amazing value for money at AU$53.55 including the subscriber discount. So much so it’s tempting to buy two and make one Rana for yourself and the second as a gift.

Special thanks to Clara for providing all the step-by-step photographs which really help break down each part of the process for you.

If you’ve already placed an order for a Rana Ready-to-Stitch kit and are waiting for delivery, thank you for your patience. Goldwork materials are notoriously challenging to source and our kit team are just waiting on the final few metal threads for our next batch to be released.

For anyone yet to order a kit, may we suggest you do so now while they are on back order to avoid disappointment.

Make Your Own Rana

We have all the materials you need to re-create this project yourself, from easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions to a Ready-to-Stitch kit with everything sourced for you.

*Instructions – As this kit does not include instructions, for step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to Inspirations magazine issue 123 or the Rana digital pattern, both purchased separately.