Iris: Elaine’s Botanicals

Dionne    Embroidery and Crewel     double running stitch, Elaine's botanicals, embroidery, french knots, iris, pistol stitch, stem stitch

This lovely flower has grown so prolifically in the raised garden beds at our house.  Craig is planning to divide (split, … whatever word you use …) them and put some in Victoria House gardens in Autumn.  It even looks like he has the same one Elaine’s Botanicals depicts here.  The stitches used are french knots, pistol stitch, double running stitch and stem stitch.  Iris is a very pretty embroidery design and good starting point for a novice stitcher.

Hydrangea: Elaine’s Botanicals

Dionne    Embroidery and Crewel     chain stitch, double running stitch, Elaine's botanicals, embroidery, french knots, stem stitch

Hydrangea is another of the more challenging of Elaine’s Botanicals.  There is a chain stitch that is distinctive in its minute size and requires a steady, even hand and eye for a uniform finish.  Other embroidery stitches include french knots, of course, and double running stitch and stem stitch.

Of all the colours that could have chosen to represent the Hydrangea, blue has the most significance to me.  My appearance as a bridesmaid at the wedding of my oldest friend saw me carrying these in a bouquet and wearing a dress about this exact colour.

Great thing about being the only bridesmaid is you get to have a bit of input into the style and exact shades of your outfit.  Lucky for me I liked both the colour and style, long fitted sleeveless sheath dress and a Chanel style jacket with self colour trim, and at the risk of sounding like a complete dork I did actually wear both pieces again!  Generally as separates.  So if anyone suspected it was a former bridesmaid outfit, they were far too polite to say.

Horse chestnut: Elaine’s Botanicals

Dionne    Embroidery and Crewel     double running stitch, Elaine's botanicals, embroidery, french knots, pistol stitch, stem stitch

Another of the more subtle designs from Elaine’s Botanicals, but also one of the designs more suited to the more experienced embroidery stitcher.  Stem stitch, french knots, double running stitch and pistol stitch are all featured in the Horse chestnut design.  There is a layering to the application of the stitches that looks deceptively easy.

Up until the purchase of Victoria House Needlecraft, my most enduring memory of the Horse chestnut tree was a saucy reference to its aroma in a passage of text from that notorious literary bad boy, The Marquis de Sade.

There is also, as I look at the green spikey casings, a very vague (maybe I was about 6 years old) recollection of making a swan (I think it was a swan) from the casing.  The spikey bi-valve casing formed the wings of the swan.  Does anyone else remember anything like that?

The garden at Victoria House has a very old tree that fruits prolifically every year.  Luckily it is a beautiful looking tree with lovely flowers.  Last year after watching Jamie Oliver cook chestnuts in a billy can over an open fire, Craig and I tried out his recipe.  It had orange peel, a bay leaf and a few other herbs and spices.  They were horrible!  They were also horrible when we tried roasting them in the oven.  Not sure what we are doing wrong, got any suggestions?

Honeysuckle: Elaine’s Botanicals

Dionne    Embroidery and Crewel     double running stitch, Elaine's botanicals, embroidery, pistol stitch, satin stitch, stem stitch, stumpwork

While Camellia may have been the taster that reeled us in, Honeysuckle has been one of my favourites of the Elaine’s Botanicals range right from the moment they arrived in store at Victoria House Needlecraft.

I cannot say whether it is the faithful rendering of the delicacy of the flowers or the whimsy of the ladybird.  I just love it, and you will too.

It is a little more complicated than the flowers from the last couple of months posts, so would probably be a stretch for a novice.  The embroidery design features pistol stitch, double running stitch, stem stitch, satin stitch and some beginner stumpwork for the working on the ladybird.  This design is well worth the effort and is truly beautiful.

Made in France: Blackwork; Our December Book of the Month

Dionne    Blackwork, Book of the Month, Embroidery and Crewel, What's New     Blackwork, book of the month, lucano, made in france

Made in France: Blackwork is truly a beautiful book, I bought it for the shop on the strength of the previous titles in this series Made in France and Made in France: Linen and Thread.  We had to wait a couple of months, I am not disappointed.  If ever there was a book that made needlework sexy, this is it.  This is beautiful.  Clear, crisp images in black and white.  Coco Chanel would swoon!  Where do I start?

Of course there are the homewares projects, embellishment of towels for every room of the house, an apron that is not twee, it is smart and crisp and elegant.  An afghan and a sampler have given me some fantastic ideas for a class next year.  Even your “too cool” teenager will be impressed with the personalisation of the canvas satchel for school stuff or a computer bag.

As for garments and embellishment, I have never been one for embroidered shirts but examples here are stylish.  I really love the flower motif on the pants waist band.   I now understand why it took off in Tudor England after the arrival of Katherine of Aragon.  Made in France: Blackwork also has an incredible reference catalogue of motifs to create interest, variety and shading in your work.

Oh yes, … this is a very sexy book indeed!  It can be yours for $34.95 online or instore now.