This month I am proud to announce the launch of my first embroidery kit subscription offer -
It's a limited edition, 6-month, artisan embroidery kit subscription. Subscribers will receive a new Seed Pod Kit each month containing 4 beautiful, hand printed templates and all the materials and instructions needed to complete the templates as show above. The first month is The Poppy Seed Kit.
This is for you if:
You love hand stitching projects but you just don’t have the time to think about what to make or where to start.
You love to know there's something new and exciting arriving in the post each month for you to get started on.
You're looking for something you can put your own stamp on as well as have a bit of guidance.
You'd like to have a stylish, hand-stitching project at hand that you can pick up and put down easily.
And the good news is that you don’t need to be an expert embroiderer to enjoy the benefits of this subscription, each kit comes with a step by step guide and illustrated stitch instructions making it ideal for beginners or people in need of some encouragement to pick up a needle for the first time.
I find that life always feels better when I have a hand stitching project on the go. I love projects that I can pick up and put down easily, take with me wherever I go and work on in whenever I have a spare moment so I designed this subscription offer specifically to meet these needs.
I've been testing the kits out on my friends and family over the past few months and this is what they said:
“It’s ideal because it fits nicely in my handbag allowing me to stitch on the go - I actually look forward to my commute time now!”
“It’s fantastic - I now spend less of my time wistfully looking at other people’s creations on Instagram and more time making my own!”
“It’s the perfect excuse to just sit and be still for five minutes. I find it so relaxing just having a bit of quiet time to sit and stitch, it’s like my meditation, it’s a really mindful activity and it helps to soothe away my worries and anxiety.”
“I’m actually making something I love for my home and I’m really proud of it. It doesn’t feel too overwhelming because the designs only take a few hours to complete. I love the process and the designs are like works of art in themselves - I can’t wait for the next one to arrive!”
"I've really enjoyed sewing my beautiful seed pod piece! Only recently started embroidery and i Found this really easy to follow and the colours are gorgeous. It looks great and I can't wait to do more!"
All subscriptions need to be made by Tuesday 30th April 12pm GMT. If you subscribe in April you'll receive your first kit at the end of May. The kits are hand made to order and there will be a limited amount available each month to avoid wasted materials. If you're keen to subscribe, all the details can be found on my website here > Seed Pod Subscription Offer.
My new online course, The Artist's Way also launched at the beginning of April.
It is truly an honour to be facilitating such a fantastic group of women through their unique processes of recovering and discovering their creative selves. I'm humbled by their willingness to surrender and open to the process of inner transformation and giddy with the acceleration of their personal journeys towards living the lives of their dreams. This is a process that has been used by thousands across the world for over 25 years and it really does seem to work magic on those who undertake the journey. We're in week 3 of the 12 week course so bookings are now closed but if you're keen to take part in the next course click here to register your interest.
But it hasn't all been work this month, in fact it feels quite the opposite believe it or not! In January I recognised how nourished I feel when I spend time by the sea and living in East London, I made a commitment to spend more time by the sea in 2019. I realise that this month I've quite coincidentally, spent three amazing weekends by the sea - lapping it up quite literally. Here are a few snippets from my weekends in Cornwall (Croyde for a self styled surfing and yoga retreat with friends and Rinsey Head for an old school friend's 40th birthday party) and St David's in Pembrokeshire, Wales for the Easter weekend with my family. I really feel my eyes and soul truly open when I'm by the sea and I always return to London full of renewed enthusiasm and overflowing with creative ideas and inspiration.
What other news to speak of?
I've been running a regular Beginners Embroidery Workshop in Hackney Downs Studios, London. I must say I've loved teaching adults, it's been an absolute hoot, a great excuse to bake a Victoria sponge and wonderful meeting new people and making new friends. If you are interested in joining a workshop in the future, all the details and dates can be found on my website here.
Oh- and I'm also planning to spread my wings and run a weekend workshop in Whitstable in June (yes - more sea!) and a week's residential retreat in the hills of Umbria in Italy in September! Spaces will be limited so if you'd like to be the first to know about either of these events, register your interest here.
To return to the subject of inspiration, I've been trying to work out what it actually means. I realise that when I feel inspired, I experience a particular physical feeling - it's similar to excitement but it stirs deeper than that, I feel a sense of expansion of being bigger and more capable than what my mind tells me I am, but there is also a feeling of responsibility that comes with it, as well as a sense of urgency, a fear that it may evapourate and disappear and be lost forever. I read this quote in The Artist's Way which resonated with my personal experience of inspiration:
" There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist though any other medium and will be lost." MARTHA GRAHAM