Sip Tea and EPP Party is Coming Back!

It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since we said goodbye to the Sip Tea and EPP party. For six wonderful years, Thursday was our special day - a weekly gathering we looked forward to, a way to stay connected and inspired.

When life got busy, we had to step back, but we soon realised how much we missed our Thursdays and the sense of sewing together. Your kind messages made it clear Irina and I weren’t the only ones still thinking about the party.

We missed our crafty Thursdays, we missed our community, and we’re coming back with a fresh new Sip Tea and EPP party for you to join. Same Thursdays, same place, same atmosphere, and plenty of stitching together. We would love you to join us, just as before.

With love, Larisa @stitchingnotes and Irina @nordiccrafter 🤗❤️

Embroidered Gratitude

I started this small project a couple of years ago as a monthly marker for my Instagram - a little quote to stitch each month. It seemed like a fun idea, but after finishing only two (January and February), I tucked it away in a box with other unfinished projects and settled on drawing my Little Miss Mousy instead. That felt much easier to achieve.

Blending Ideas

I have always felt that a great craft book isn’t just about instructions, it is about connection. That is exactly what happened when I opened Kazuko Aoki’s "Garden Stitch Life". Rather than a step-by-step guide, it felt like a quiet invitation to reflect, remember, and create from the heart. As I browsed through the pages of the book, I found it hard to settle on just one project, mostly because I prefer to sew freely, following my own ideas rather than a set pattern. I was also drawn to so many lovely details throughout the pages and wanted to bring them into my work.

Slow Hand Sewing

I find slow hand sewing calming, soothing, and deeply rewarding. The pleasure of slow hand sewing is undeniable: piecing delicate fabrics together, listening to the thread pull through, and watching tiny scraps create an entirely new design held together with tiny stitches.

Embroidery Book "Garden Stitch Life" by Kazuko Aoiki

I cherish my small collection of embroidery books, most of which come from Japan. These books are filled with tiny, delightful motifs and creative designs - delicate florals, playful animals, and everyday objects all stitched with precision and charm.

Among my collection, Kazuko Aoki’s books stand out for their quiet elegance. Her designs capture nature’s subtle beauty - a single leaf, a bee suspended mid-flight, or the intricate structure of an open seed pod. What makes her work truly special is its deceptive simplicity: she transforms these ordinary natural moments into stitchable masterpieces. The clean lines and thoughtful compositions create patterns that are beginner-friendly, yet full of intricate details to challenge experienced embroiderers.

Sew-Along: Meditation Scroll

Welcome to our relaxed little sew-along! No stress, no rules - just a gentle, joyful time to slow down, play with fabric scraps and threads, and craft together. Don't forget to make yourself a cup of tea, switch on some soothing music or maybe a podcast you want to listen to and let's begin. 🤗 

Meditation Scroll - Let's Make One Together!

Where and how to start? Start by asking yourself: Why do I want to make a meditation scroll?