Persian Bounty - Raised Embroidery Pomegranate

Oh my.....
I knew it had been a while since I last jotted down what I was up to - but this long??Seriously????!!!

I can't even say that I have been too distracted by spring to stitch or keep updates of what I have been up to. Until the past few days, it has been cold and miserable.. but it does seem as if (fingers crossed) spring is finally here.

I picked up the final proof for the instruction booklet for the Raised Embroidery Pomegranate I finished a little while back, this morning and am really happy with how it is looking.
I ended up naming this project Persian Bounty (Thank you to everyone who answered my 'little cry for help' and put up suggestions on Facebook - it was as always super helpful).

I confess that once I finish the stitching, getting a new project into some kind of 'shape' where others can stitch it also, is not my favourite part of the process. At the same time, it is always really nice and rewarding when it is done and it all comes together. Now I am just waiting on the silks to arrive so I can get kits in the shop.

Split pomegranate embroidered in Shaded Stem Stitch filling.

One of my favourite parts of this design is the split fruit. Of course the glittering seeds almost bursting out are fun, but what I am particularly happy with, is how the fruit 'peel' turned out.
It is embroidered in stem stitch. I know this is not a stitch often associated with filling stitches, but it makes such a beautiful filling that looks almost woven when the rows are worked closely side by side.

There is a little trick to the shading so I have added a mini tutorial below to explain how I do it to avoid getting it too stripy.

Happy Stitching,
Anna X