Fuchsia: Elaine’s Botanicals

Dionne    Embroidery and Crewel     double running stitch, Elaine's botanicals, embroidery, fuchsia, satin stitch

Ahem! Confession time, I have been dodging this post and the next post on the Gardenia will not be much prettier!! I have killed these, lots of them. I think these are amongst the few plants I really don’t like. Harsh, unkind, uncalled for and unfair, … yes I know, I am a horrible person, what on earth has the poor Fuchsia done do me?
Nothing!
There were 5 in the garden bed at the front of the house when I moved in back in December 2001. I had pulled them out within a month. No other reason than I didn’t want them there, or anywhere in my garden. Cannot say what has triggered this immense dislike, no horrible memories, just the absolute certainty that I do not want them.

Elaine Lye’s embroidery rendering of the Fuchsia is in double running stitch and satin stitch and makes me feel mildly guilty, but not enough to plant them.  Maybe I might have a crack at stitching one … or not!

Stumpwork & Goldwork Embroidery: Our September Book of the Month

Dionne    Book of the Month, Embroidery and Crewel, What's New     goldwork, goldwork embroidery, jane nicholas, stumpwork

Jane Nicholas‘ Stumpwork & Goldwork Embroidery Inspired by Turkish, Syrian & Persian Tiles is a visual feast!  We love stocking Australian designs and designers, it is especially exciting to be able to promote someone who lives in the Southern Highlands of NSW.  Vicki is our shop stumpworker and has done a number of Jane’s classes over the years, and loved them.  Her classes have brought many visitors to the Southern Highlands and our store too.

The book is well photographed and the clear, easy to follow instructions give even the non-stumpworker like me the courage to want to attempt these designs.  My favourites are the Persian Peony Tile and the Mughal Grapevine Tile.  I have always loved purple and red together, and Persian Peony has a deep teal in it as well.  The symmetry of Mughal Grapevine is soothing, and the little grape bead clusters look so luscious and juicy.  Aahhhh, … more stuff to add to the “Bucket List”! 

Instructions are provided for each design to be used in a range of applications; including book covers, brooches and incredibly elegant pictures for your walls.  This beautiful book evokes memories of my travels to the Middle East a lifetime ago. 

This could be a beautiful coffee table book for a non-stitcher.  For the novice stitcher attempting stumpwork for the first time, this will probably be too daunting.  An experienced stitcher in other needlework disciplines would find this an enjoyable challenge.  Jane’s devotees will be delighted with her latest offering.  Available now online and in store for $50.00.

Frangipani: Elaine’s Botanicals

Dionne    Embroidery and Crewel     Elaine's botanicals, embroidery, long and short satin stitch, satin stitch, stem stitch

Colours are limited only by your imagination

I have lived my life in temperate and cold climates with big winds blowing for a significant part of the year.  The Frangipani has very few associations for me.  One memory that does stand out is my cousins wedding in Railay Beach, Thailand.  The frangipani there were a deeper pink than I have ever seen before or since.

Elaine’s Botanicals provide a reliable template for embroidery design, while her representation is a soft white frangipani, there is nothing stopping you from choosing your own colours to stitch this simple flower in stem stitch and long and short satin stitch.