I did that leaf in fishbone stitch, then tried a coral knot vein. The vein didn’t work because the knots were pulling at the laid fishbone stitches.

I did (what is the opposite of stem stitch called?) and wasn’t happy with the short stitches.

I’ve redone it with longer stitches

Instead, to ‘tick off the usage of coral knot stitch’ I did a blossom, filled with coral knot stiches :

He’s the one with the blue stripe, fawn and ecru.

I was going to do a loop of purl there, with a hoop of a different purl “holding it down” at the top. Oh well – it was the perfect shape and size for this.

Borage

I have already done one motif from this cushion :

Pillow for a cross with depiction of stylized vegetal ornamentation

Late 16th – Early 17th century

Germany

Ground of silk material; embroidery with gold, silver and silk threads, silver and gold purl; pearls; sequins applied in couched stitch and in relief technique. Trimmed with metallic lacework and tassels of gold thread

Here’s the flower

: (look familiar at all?)

and here’s the bud

I was going to do the bud as per the cushion, when I was distracted and inspired by

from A-Z Goldwork pg 108. Look at that tail! It’s called “fish scales filling for sequins”.

The wing looks to have loops of purl between each sequin and at the breast the sequins are almost vertical, with loops of bright purl between them.

So, I fishscaled my bud :

I ran out of sequins before I finished. They are the smallest size you can get. I just love the effect. The ones at the top look loose coz they haven’t got any other sequins over the top of them yet.

And an outline in Pearl Purl, same as the Peacock’s tail.

Blue Leaf

I am currently doing a leaf based on this one :

http://www.artsmia.org/viewer/detail.php?v=12&id=4797

Note it has a plain ground outlined in black, and then the raised layer over the top.

I’m doing a satin stitch ground

a) because I like these leaves done with satin stitch grounds, and

b) there are all those pen markings from when I drew the leaf

That’s the bottom layer.

I’m working on the top layer in a small frame.