Blackwork Hearts and Flowers - Ta da!

It's finished, done, complete.  I will miss the slow pace of the work, the richness of the gold and black, that wonderful experience of doing something new for the first time.

However...

Ta Da!

(imagine trumpets playing a fanfare here...)

Here's a close up of the wrapped pearl purl and the milliary wire. Milliary wire is a bit like already stretched pearl purl with a thin piece of gold passing thread attached along the bottom. You attach it to the fabric with small couching stitches every 4 or 5 valleys (just like pearl purl). For a good photo of milliary wire, look here on the Berlin Embroidery web site.Here's a photo of blackwork, paillettes, couched passing thread, chain stitch with black silk, stretched and wrapped pearl purl and milliary wire.I am so happy to have found the wonderful web site String or Nothing and all of her fabulous blackwork filling patterns. Thank you for providing us all with such a great resource!The texture and richness of this piece is so beautiful. I never imagined it would look this good. Sometimes when I look at it I wonder to myself "Did I do that?"To all of you who supported and encouraged me as I worked, thank you!If you're looking for the pattern I designed for this piece, click on this link and you will find it. IndiaPattern_2-Square-1.