Stitching Spotlight - Helen Hipgrave & Tracey Hipgrave

Helen is rarely seen without an Elizabeth Bradley piece in her hand.  She first connected with the brand many years ago when she spotted The Cyclamen at her local needlework shop.  Since then, Helen has completed well over a hundred designs and doesn't plan to slow down anytime soon!  

This passion for all-things-Elizabeth-Bradley must be genetic because Helen's daughter, Tracey, caught on at an early age.  Throughout each of her pregnancies Tracey would relax with her Mum as they stitched together by the fire.  She jokes that her children were born to the sound of a needle going through the canvas!

Helen does most of her stitching from the Elizabeth Bradley books.  Her favourite design is the Marmalade Cat from the Needlework Animals Book which she has stitched over four times!  She offers the following tips to make stitching from a chart more enjoyable:  

• Preparation is key.  Helen hems her canvas and marks the centre point and outer points on each piece.
• Helen only uses the Elizabeth Bradley Blue line canvas and Elizabeth Bradley wool.  It makes a difference in the quality of the finished design.
• Use Elizabeth Bradley books as inspiration! 

Here are a few of Helen's beautiful creations: