Honeysuckle stumpwork

It always surprises me how different my embroidery looks once I get a picture of it up on the computer screen. Seeing the various options for finishing the stumpwork honeysuckle, made it really quite easy to decide what to do. I also really appreciate all the feedback I got - seems you were all as divided on what to do next as I was.

There is something about a 'blank canvas' behind my designs that really doesn't sit well with me. I am not sure why. I do like that a design stands out, but at the same time the fabric it is stitched on is such an important part of the whole thing that I like it when I can merge them a bit. 

The spangles were just too big. Even though those in the picture are only 2mm (1/16") in diameter, I still felt they looked much too heavy and they drowned out the delicate stamens on the flower. The specs of gold were kind of getting there, but still were not quite right.

So what did I do...?

Well I did work tiny specs of gold, but I scattered the stitches a lot more (why is random scattering so difficult to get to look good?) and instead of simple tiny straight stitches I worked them as minute upright crosses which gives each little stitch a bit of dimension. 

I am really happy with the result. Sitting it onto my original mood-board, it blends in nicely I think. 

Now the only thing that didn't go quite to plan was that I had hoped to mount the little piece into a paperweight...

Well both the wired leaf and the bee will get completely squashed if I do that. I have still laced it over a round disc and it could go onto the lid of a small pot. The project is destined for a class later in the year, so for now I will be popping it onto a frame so it can go on display.

It is nice to have the small version finished. You may remember that on my sketch pad was a much larger version of a honeysuckle, so guess what I am doing next...

I hope you too had a lovely weekend.

Anna x