What Are You Stitching?

Carolyn Webb

‘I love the projects in Inspirations magazine. When my local guild wanted to do a goldwork project, I thought about Balthazar. It is a project that is just the right size so that members new to goldwork would not be overwhelmed – since several members had already done it.’

‘I decided to adapt it to create another bug – it is scarab beetle, so mine is called the Sacred Scarab Beetle. It has a lotus flower on the elytra.

It sounds like your guild has had quite the Balthazar production line going, Carolyn, which is not surprising as it has been an exceptionally popular project by Tania Cohen. We’re so thrilled to see your scarab beetle adaptation, it really is stunning. The lotus flower is so cleverly designed and the whole piece stitched to perfection, well done!

Rebecca Bren

‘Here are a few photographs of Arbor Vitae from A Passion for Needlework | The Whitehouse Daylesford.’

‘The full photo was made while the work was still in a rectangular hoop, looking its best, but some of the dust cover is visible around the edges. I haven’t had it framed yet, so this is the best view I have of the full piece.’

‘The 280mm Nurge No. 4 rectangular hoop was the perfect size for this large piece. With the layer of thin fabric (a fine stabilizer made for machine embroidery) around the edges, I could leave the work in the hoop for longer stretches of time without creating dirt lines or permanent creases.

I’ve included some detail shots, because Arbor Vitae is so rich with details! The individual flowers would make fabulous smaller projects on their own.’

‘I loved that Tania Cohen told us the names of the natural flora on which she based each of her fantasies. And because I live in the US, stitching Arbor Vitae gave me a delightful study of Australian flowers, including learning that the Sturt Desert Rose is a close relative of the Althea (Rose of Sharon) that grows just outside my door here in Tennessee.

It’s a small world, and stitching does bring us closer!’

Rebecca, we love that your stitching experience also included a lesson in Australian flora! You have recreated all the magnificent glory and detail of Arbor Vitae with superb stiches and no doubt, once framed, this piece will hang proudly in your home for all to admire. Thank you for sharing and for being a part of the global Inspirations and needlework family.

Have you adapted the Balthazar beetle brooch by Tania Cohen? Have you had a flora lesson from a project you have stitched? Or have you stitched your own Arbor Vitae?

Whatever you are stitching, we’d love to see it! Email photos of what you’ve created with needle and thread along with a few details about your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com