New bespoke range launched, Ring Pillows for that ultimate, personal wedding souvenir.

I am very pleased to be able to introduce my new line - bespoke, hand embroidered wedding ring pillows. A perfect souvenir of the big day for the couple who have a larger budget. Designed individually and made to order, especially for you. All the information about them is on my website http://www.indiagrace.co.uk/India%20Grace%20Designs%20-%20Ring%20Pillows.htm I offer a personalised design service, these three designs are just the first few ideas and you can mix and match to get the perfect design for you. If you have any friends that you think may be interested please share this.

Exciting New Range

I am really excited to be able to announce my new range of greetings cards. These cards feature four of my most popular designs


They are printed using high definition Giclée printing on high quality card.
Cards are 136mm x 136mm and come individually cello-wrapped with envelope.
Cards are blank for your own message.

I am selling them individually through the website but primarily this range is aimed at the wholesale market for independant card shops. If anyone knows of any suitable shops for me to approach please could you message me the details.

Website down

There has been a server failure at my webhosts so my website and email are currently down. Please try back later if you have had problems. They are hoping to have it all sorted within 24 hours.

A sneaky peek at my latest design

My latest piece (to be released as soon as I have written the instructions) I have called her Joy as she was such fun to stitch. She was created as a retirement present for my daughter's Headteacher. The Maltese Cross is part of their school logo so I took that as my starting point and it just grew from there. I really am pleased with this one, love the colours and the mix of styles.



New classes to explore your creativity coming in Kenilworth

India Grace Designs is going to be part of a new concept shop opening in Kenilworth next month. 'Sew Arty' of Station Road is hosting a variety of different classes in all sorts of mediums and I will be teaching some of them. My Hardanger and Speciality Stitch charts will be available to purchase at the shop as will a new range that I will be unveiling later this week.
I am planning a series of classes some aimed at children and some for adults teaching a variety of different hand embroidery styles with a beautiful finished product to treasure.

Future Classes sign up 'sheet'

As the classes are well underway now I decided it would be a good idea to create a sign up sheet just in case anyone is interested for the future. If you are local and would be interested in a 6 week course in Hardanger please leave a comment below stating what days and times would work best for you. If I can get 4 people (minimum) to agree on a timeslot then I will run the class again. When signing up, please say if you are male or female as it makes a difference to which venue I use. Please only sign up if you are genuinely interested.

Email malfunction

My apologies if anyone has been trying to contact me via the info @ indiagrace.co.uk email address. It only just occurred to me that it would have been messed up by the change of hosts. I think that I have got it working now. If it still plays up then please try vickim @ tiscali.co.uk

Website disruption 2

OK, the domain name isn't working right now (wish I knew more about this side of things) but the host of the original site is still fine so can be accessesd at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/indiagracedesigns . Hopefully I will figure out what is wrong soon.

Full info on the classes

As the website may be down I am putting the information here

A six week course running on

Saturday Mornings, 10.30-12.30

£8 per 2hr session

starting 21st January

at Curves Gym,

Talisman Square, Kenilworth.

This is a comprehensive couse designed for complete beginners or experienced embroiderers who want to learn a new art.

It is set over 6 weeks so that each element is taught thoroughly and can be revised in subsequent sessions. Once completed, this course should give you the confidence and skill to tackle any Hardanger based pattern that you come across.

The course is friendly and informal. You will need to be able to complete certain areas in between classes. This is so that the sampler is ready for you to move onto the next section the following week and also shows if you are happy with the stitches once on your own. We will go over any difficulties at the start of the next class.

You will need
28 count evenweave fabric 11.5" x 15" (30cm x 38cm)

1 ball size 8 perlé thread

1 ball size 12 or 16 perlé thread

size 26 or 28 round ended tapestry needles

these are available as a kit for £5.50

If you prefer a larger count of fabric the dimensions for 25 count would be 12"x16"

The kit is only for 28 count. If using your own fabric it is advisable to machine a zig zag stitch around the edge for stability.

You will also need
Sharp pointed Hardanger scissors

A frame or hoop large enough to hold it (unless you prefer to work without)

design size is 5.5" x 9" at 28 count

a highlighter pen and a pencil

A folder suitable for A4 handouts

Please email info 'at' indiagrace.co.uk to book a place.

As Curves is a women only gym, places are limited to women only.If any men are interested, please email me and I will arrange another class.

Website disruption

I am changing hosts for my website. This could cause disruption for up to 72 hours so please bear with me if you experience problems. If anyone needs an order urgently please message me and we can sort it out offsite.

Classes - the start date

OK I finally have set a start date for the classes. 21st January with a revised start time of 10.30 so that people from slightly further afield could consider coming. Please tell anyone you know in the Warwickshire W.Mids area of the UK

New prices

This is an advance warning. I shall soon be putting up the prices of charts and kits. I haven't raised the prices since I started the business 8 years ago and I haven't changed the postage in 4-5 years despite it nearly doubling in some cases. I just can't afford to continue with these prices so I hope that this won't put people off. It's still cheaper than a round of drinks in the pub! I'll leave it a week before I start making changes to give people a chance at the old prices.

This is a photo of the Hardanger sampler that I will be teaching at the classes in January. It's a pretty sampler using all the stitches that you need to feel confident tackling any other Hardanger based pattern that you come across. I won't be using black fabric in class as that's making life too difficult. In a few days I will post another version of it that has been sewn by a complete beginner during private classes.

Hardanger classes

The Hardanger classes are back on. I shall be running them in Curves Gym, Kenilworth from January. It will still be a 6 week course 2hrs per week. Probably running 10-12 on a Saturday morning. The cost of the course will be £8 per week plus a fabric and threads pack (should you need one) for £5.50. As Curves is a Women only Gym I have been asked to restrict the classes to women however if any men are interested please contact me and I will arrange another class, given sufficient interest. Please let me know if you would be interested so that I can start compiling a list.

New design onsale

Matilda is now available for sale via the website. I think that this is a lovely warm piece with just a hint of sparkle about it.

Twitter and an update

I have given in and decided to join Twitter with the business. It's on as IndiaGraceDsgns as they wouldn't let me have enough letters for the whole of Designs. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing yet but if anyone wants to follow I'd appreciate it.

In the meantime I am just finishing the 2nd in a series of 7 designs using Gentle Arts Sampler threads. These are part of a big challenge that I have set myself. I want to get all 7 designs published in Magazines and I am trying to find magazines in 7 different countries. If anyone has any suggestions I'd be really grateful. I can't post any photos yet but I am thrilled with the 2 that are complete and looking forward to sewing the other 5.

New US Distributor

Those of my customers stateside might be interested to know that 6 of my designs can now be purchased through Nordic Needle and their outlets. They are currently stocking Rosa, Marguerite, Madeleine, Grace, Aurora and Elfie. If those sell well they may be interested in expanding the range so please do check them out at http://www.nordicneedle.com/CTGY/000-00-00.html"

Latest New Release

Introducing Crystal. I have been working on this one for 2 years and am very pleased with it. The photo doesn't do it justice as it is a very sparkly piece in shades of peach and copper.

I am also putting Rosa onsale through my website as I was informed by the magazine editor yesterday that that particular issue of the magazine is already sold out.

Mackintosh Inspired Rose and Thistle Armorial

Not a new release as it has been on sale for several years but, as I designed it as a commission, I never sewed a model for it. I've been working on it as my 'in between projects' piece ever since so it deserves an outing!!

2 New Designs released

2 New Designs are now on the website, Seraphina and Elfie. Seraphina was designed with the idea of 'gift for a man' in mind and so is a subtle design in black and silver with smokey crystals. Elfie uses some gorgeous finca aqua colours with a hint of light effects threads and beads and crystals.

I have also released Flora and Hestia's Flame for sale. These two designs were originally published in Australian Magazines.