Honeysuckle finished...

... or so I thought.

It was my intention to post on Saturday and show you the finished 'Sweet Honeysuckle' but things changed.
The vineyard called for spring attention, family visiting and a fabulous trip to the theatre to see this. It was my first ever opera and it was rather spectacular. So what made us go to the opera? Well, embroidery of course!
Last week when I was teaching, one of the girls in class was also the wardrobe mistress at the theatre. She brought in a sample of goldwork for one of the costumes - it was amazing!!!!!

La Forza del Destino, Adelaide Festival Theatre.

And this is it - 18kg of dress! Isn't it just spectacular? All those flowers... Those who have tried their hand at metal thread work and working with cut purls in particular, will possibly not be surprised when I tell you that according to Bronwyn it took a group of specialist embroiderers in India several months to complete - the workmanship is just exquisite! Did I get a look through the wardrobe? Sadly no.

Anyway, I am side tracking, but I simply had to show you. That was the highlight - the low-light (is there such a word?) and the main reason I didn't post was my rather 'bee-sastrous' Friday.

This is what my work table looked like on Saturday morning....
 

... doesn't look very much like delicate embroidery does it. It was time to finish the wired leaves and those tiny delicate wings for Miss-Bee.  

The leaves were a pleasure. At first glance they look similar, but look closely. Can you see the difference on the edge? The one to the left was done how I have always done it - outline with wire first and then fill in. The one on the right is done in the opposite order, something I picked up from Jenny Adin-Christie (one of the most talented embroiderers and the nicest person you could ever meet). The difference might be minimal, but it is there and I think it will be how I will be doing things in the future.

Next on to Miss-Bees' wings. 

Yes they are tiny, but really as long as you don't try and rush it they are ok (which is really hard when you are so, so close to finishing a project)... and yes, you have counted correctly, I did stitch six. It is so easy to accidentally cut a thread when you cut them out, so I will often stitch an extra fore- and hind wing, just in case... 

The middle picture also shows just one of the many reasons why magic tape is a permanent fixture on my work table. It is way too easy to get your thread snagged on all those wire tails and sticking them down like this fixes that little problem.

So, leaves done and cut out... lovely. Wings done and cut out (and I didn't mess any of them up)... fabulous. I attached everything, secured the wires (very thoroughly!) on the back and turned it over to admire the final project. - Ready to take photos and go - 'look it is done......'

- it looked odd...

- something wasn't right, but what...?

Oh noooooo... the wings....... 

In my eagerness to finish I had accidentally swapped the fore- and hind wings. Did I kick and scream and jump up and down? No, I very quietly and patiently unpicked the wires and as carefully as possible pulled the wings off without doing any damage to Miss-Bee. 

When I was certain she was ok, I got up, left the work table in a terrible mess (it hasn't changed since) and went to sow some veggies - then ending the day on a high note, taking in a spectacular sunset while enjoying a home-made drop of 'grape juice', just relieved that Miss-Bee and the Sweet Honeysuckle had survived the ordeal and confident that Miss-Bee will fly...

Have a fabulous week,

Anna X