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The stranding is subtle, but definitely there.

DH had a meeting last night so I took the opportunity to do some more stitching on this little project. I've decided to substitue a different pattern for one of the ones in Sarah's design as I don't like the look of the charted one - not in this flower anyway.

The petal in progress is one of the ones that was on a diagonal in the original, but I think it works better on a straight one. The lighter pattern was originally on a horizontal petal but it feels more like a diagonal pattern to me. Isn't it wonderful how you can make any project your own?

I've now done all the dark petals, next are the three medium ones, then the two light ones.

It is so fun making projects your own! This is looking very lovely

Tulip-stitch petal completed (there was an incorrect stitch in the previous picture - I'd got the pattern slightly wrong, but fortunately it wasn't too difficult to put right), started the diagonal diamond tile pattern.

Enjoying these develop. It's very effective even in this relatively small area, so I wonder if shading is more effective in a larger area?

Oh, it definitely would be - then you can work with perhaps four or five degrees of thread-weight, and also break up the pattern as you come to the lighter weights. I'm putting together a travel project for when we go to Spring Harvest next week which will have a little more scope I think; it will also look different because it will be on evenweave over two.

Progress on the blackwork daisy - I decided to fill the centre with stitching rather than gold kid leather as in the model, although I may still cover it up! Now just the gold outlines of the petals to do:

That is so beautiful. It’s like crossing needlework with rubber stamping.

Oh, what an interesting take on it - yes, I can see what you mean!

And finally the outline in gold check thread:

Love the way you’ve done the centre. The outlining of the petals is beautiful. I guess I thought you’d outline with the same gold thread from the centre.

The pattern in the centre is done in one colour, in squares, either empty or with a half stitch or with a full cross, which creates the shading. It's just stranded cotton, but it is a lovely shade of golden yellow! At first I didn't outline the centre, but as I'd finished the petals and not yet plunged the gold thread I decided it did need it, so i took the gold thread round it.

So beautiful, Mabel! The goldwork outline really adds the perfect finishing touch.

So beautiful.

During our holiday I mostly did a bit of playing-with-stitches rather than proper projects, but it was fun! A laundry-basket-inspired selection of blackwork patterns, trying to work out a detached popcorn lazy daisy, and a sort-of-chrysanthemum made up of rings of rosette chain stitch.

(more on FoF)

We've finally started on those church banners we were going to work on between Christmas and New Year....
and it's turning into rather more work than we thought (surprise surprise). Mr F helped a little too

More details on FoF.

At least you might be cool in the church?

Alas, no - this is not a centuries-old building with 3-foot thick walls. In fact at last night's church meeting we voted on air-conditioning for the hotter of the upstairs rooms. And the sewing happens upstairs (though not in that room).

DH gave me a two-day RSN class at Hampton Court Palace for my birthday, and I had a lovely time! Heather Lewis taught "Little Thatched Cottage", which has loads of different stitches and textures and interesting materials. These pics show a metallic mesh ribbon, a hill stitched in four different stitches, and the finished article.
As usual more details and pictures on FoF.

Enjoyed the process on FoF. Very clever design -- I really like her stuff.