Columbine

Nearly two months ago I tweeted a picture of the sketch of a new project, columbine, tonight I finally unpinned it from my interlocking frame and washed it. It felt like there should be some sort of ceremony, a celebration, but in actual fact I was far too busy doing ten things at once. I did allow myself a quiet 'woohoo'!

This was the first time I have used an interlocking embroidery frame and I was a little worried it wouldn't hold tight, but once I had pinned it I got that nice drum sound when tapped.

I was also concerned about the lines in the fabric created by the drawing pins but these should come out when I wash and stretch it later.

I thought this might take me a couple of weeks but as soon as I started the stem I knew I was in for the long haul.

So, I drew on my direction lines then started with the furthest petal away. With a little guidance from Trish Burr's book on long and short stitch embroidery I ploughed on.

Each stitch is so tiny I can't do it without my magnifying lamp, even with it I have had to start wearing my glasses more often. Does anyone else get crazy shaky eyes when they are tired?

As I said, I finally finished it today, and with this I am launching my own website, my own little domain. Please do visit and if you are able to leave a comment I would love some feedback: www.loveinidlenessart.co.uk

Columbine, Aquilegia vulgaris, a tall, branching plant with large, distinctive flowers, usually blue or violet-blue. It is widespread across Britain although truly wild columbine have become uncommon due to the spread of the garden plant. Wild columbine is a typical cottage garden plant and seeds freely in the right environment.
The petals, when looked at from the base, are said to look like five doves sat in a ring and the name columbine actually derives from 'columba' meaning 'dove'. As such, it was a popular choice to put in church carvings.
In medieval times, columbine was apparently thought to be eaten by lions - rubbing the flower on your hands thus gave you a lion's courage.
Source: http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/columbine/