This small circular design is an ideal introduction to stumpwork embroidery. Worked on a background of ivory satin, this project features a bright yellow Californian Poppy, Eschscholzia californica, with detached petals, a tightly-curled raised flower bud, a padded seed case, and leaves in surface embroidery, and an Early Bumble-Bee, with detached gauzy wings and red-tipped abdomen worked in Turkey knots. The finished embroidery may be framed or inserted into the base of a small glass paper-weight.

The embroidery kit contains all materials required to work this project.  Instructions are not included in the kit, but can be found in Inspirations magazine, issue 77.

If you placed an order while Jane was away, it should be well on its way to you by now, so please let us know if you're still waiting for a delivery.

Thank you for your patience!

You are still welcome to place orders, and you my be assured that we will attend to them as soon as Jane returns.

The office of Jane Nicholas Embroidery will continue to be staffed during Jane's absence, so please feel free to contact us via the website Contact Us page, or email admin@janenicholas.com.

Thank you for your patience,

This design was originally published in Jane's book The Stumpwork, Goldwork and Surface Embroidery Beetle Collection, and features a pomegranate tree, outlined in gold thread, raised and beaded pomegranates and leaves, a padded snail worked in buttonhole stitch, and a gold beetle worked in leather, beads and gilt smooth purl.

If you would like to work this design, the instructions can be found either in the book or in issue 73 of Inspirations magazine, and the kit is listed on our website under its original name Pomegranates, Snail and Gold Beetle.

Each book contains step-by-step instructions, and is supported by a range of kits containing the materials you need to complete one of these beautiful projects.

Don't forget that Jane is happy to personally dedicate your book at no extra cost when you buy online - just choose from the dedication options at checkout.

	Book 1: Stumpwork Embroidery - A Collection of Fruits, Flowers and Insects for Contemporary Raised Embroidery This book explains, in a clear and comprehensive manner, how to work traditional stumpwork techniques including wired, detached, embroidered shapes and padded appliqué. It provides full instructions and step-by-step illustrations for working over forty flowers, fruits and insects, and 18 projects featuring these motifs. View Book 1 Kits
	Book 2: Stumpwork Embroidery - Designs and Projects A sequel to Book 1, this volume introduces 28 new motifs and 19 projects which depict field flowers, pansies, roundels with scrolling floral designs, animals including a deer, and a collection of needlework accessories. Detailed instructions and by step-by-step illustrations show the individual motifs with great clarity. View Book 2 Kits
	Book 3: Stumpwork Dragonflies Learn how to create these beautiful, delicate creatures in stumpwork embroidery using a variety of materials and techniques. There are comprehensive instructions and step-by-step illustrations for working a stumpwork dragonfly, three dragonfly projects and a specimen box of nine dragonflies and damselflies. View Book 3 Kits
	Book 4: The Stumpwork, Goldwork and Surface Embroidery Beetle Collection Lavishly illustrated in colour, this book, with detailed step-by-step instructions accompanied by numerous explanatory diagrams, explains how to create beautiful beetle-themed designs and projects in stumpwork, goldwork, beading, appliqué and surface embroidery, using a variety of threads and materials (including beetle wings). View Book 4 Kits

FANTASY Exhibition

24 June - 20 July 2011

Featuring works by Jane Nicholas, Alexia Sinclair, Russell Johnson, Judith Bradhurst and Fiona Hammond

A fantasy can take us on a journey to magical places and imagined scenarios, to an other mythical world.  A fantasy, unlike a dream, is something we can return to again and again, but is it always the same?  A fantasy evolves and takes on new guises.  The works in this exhibition echo a fantasy and allow us to delve into five very different imagined worlds created by the artists.  They allow us to return again and again, always seeing and seeking something new.

LADYBIRD & BOYSENBERRIES Stumpwork Masterclass

Friday 15 July 2011, 10am—3pm

Worked on ivory satin, this design features a branch of raised, beaded boysenberries, and a tiny ladybird with detached wings.  The finished embroidery may be framed, mounted into the lid of an oval porcelain bowl, or inserted into half a walnut shell to make a small pincushion. This class is an ideal introduction to stumpwork embroidery.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Small, sharp-pointed embroidery scissors
• Old scissors or small wire cutters
• Fine blunt-nosed tweezers (for shaping wire)
• Notebook and fine (0.5mm) HB lead pencil (a clutch /mechanical pencil works well)
• Magnifier (if required)

Where: Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, NSW

When: Friday 15 July 2011, 10am—3pm
Cost: $63 includes tuition and kit with full instructions
Bring along your lunch!
Bookings essential - 02 4823 4442

Happily, we have now resolved the problem with the silk manufacturer's colour changes, and these popular kits are in stock once more.

This matching pair of mirror frames, which adorn the front and back covers of Jane's first book, were inspired by 16th century Elizabethan embroidery.  Their margins are filled with all manner of flowers and insects amid twining foliage.

If you look closely you'll find an anemone, aubergine, butterfly, carnation, cricket, currants, fennel, grapes, hover-fly, ladybird, peas, poppy and poppy bud, snail, tulip, spider web, tiny spider, hedgehog, bees and beehive, owl, strawberries, pansies, dragonfly and fig, all surrounded by a scrolling vine and leaves.

Jane has two Medieval Mirror Frame Workshops scheduled in Australia in 2011.  If you are interested in attending, please contact the relevant organiser, whose details are listed on the 2011 Classes page of our website.

Jane teaches many classes and workshops in Bowral, as well as at shops, Embroidery Guilds, and conferences both in Australia and overseas.  Brief details of each class are shown on the website: for more information or to make booking enquiries, please use the contact details provided.

To celebrate the festive season,
we are offering a 20% discount on our Christmas kits
Christmas Rose and Dragonfly and Christmas Brooches

Just enter the coupon code 'HOLLY' at checkout
(before 25 December)

It's been a busy year here at Jane Nicholas Embroidery:

• we've launched our new website
• my seventh book Stumpwork & Goldwork Embroidery, inspired by Turkish, Syrian and Persian Tiles has been published
• I have spent an enormous amount of time on the road and in the air presenting workshops across Australia and the USA

Now it's time to get everything organised for next year, so we'll soon be updating the website with the 2011 workshop schedule.

If you'd like to be among the first to know all the latest news, just fill in the form below, and we'll send you updates by email!

The option to request a book to be signed has been switched back on in the website, so you can easily order a signed copy of any of Jane's seven books for yourself or your favourite embroiderer.  Just choose whether you'd prefer a simple signature, or a personalised dedication.

We are happy to send books anywhere in the world, so please let us know if you'd like us to airmail a signed copy directly to someone overseas.  The website will calculate the shipping costs for you, and if the delivery address is outside Australia no GST will be charged!

For an extra special gift, why not add a kit of one of the designs from the book?  Together the book and kit will generally provide all the instructions and materials needed to complete a design*.  For Jane's latest book, Stumpwork & Goldwork Embroidery, inspired by Turkish, Syrian and Persian Tiles [Book 7&91; the website even lists any equipment you'll need, right down to the size of the needles!

* (Occasionally the DMC threads are not provided - please check the detailed description of the kit contents.)