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.

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.

Gum: Elaine’s Botanicals

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

Well here we are again at Australian Flora, I quite like the Gum, but if I were to stitch this it would have to be done as a Blue Gum.   The Blue Gum is the Tasmanian State flower of Tasmania, growing up in a rural area, it was everywhere.  Somehow the red and pink fluffy fronds never seem quite right to me they should be blue!

It seems our customers like it too as it is one of the best sellers amongst Elaine’s Botanicals.  It is relatively easy with only two embroidery stitches, double running and pistol stitch.  I think I might even have a crack at this one.    It it does give me a great idea for a baby’s blanket with Australian Flora and Fauna.

Crabapple: Elaine’s Botanicals

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

Craig was unimpressed when I mentioned in passing I had forgotten to talk to Mum about the Crabapple for a little help with this post on Elaine’s Botanicals.  “What about telling your readers that when you met your husband, the house he lived in had the most beautiful Crabapple tree in the garden?”  I must have looked dubious and shrugged, “I remember biting into a crabapple in my teens”  … ?!

I don’t know why, …

does anyone know why teenagers do anything!?  He went on to inform me that the crabapple in the front yard of his house was the most beautiful he had ever seen, including in gardening books.  Unfortunately it is not quite the right time of year yet and we do not have a photo.  Will update when I can …  Between you and me I think he was a little disappointed that its beauty had not made an impression on me.  Sorry honey.  Will have to make a trip to photograph it for him to make up.  Elaine has completed her Crabapple in double running stitch, stem stitch, pistol stitch and french knots.  Its beauty is not seasonal.