Seed Bead Fern

Remember the fern I started to stitch? I wasn't sure what it needed extra. In the end I decided less is best, and to add a sprinkle of seed beads. I'm happy, what do you think?

Disperse dyes day

On Saturday I went to a 'Transfer Magic' day course led by Maggie Murray, of the Scottish Embroidery Tutors. I have the enormously valuable Complex Cloth book by Jane Dunnewold, but I admit disperse dyes are something that I have never tried.
First things first, I soon discovered that the colour you paint on layout paper will become much brighter when it is ironed on to fabric! You can get 3-4 prints from each paint paper, though there are no guarantees that the results will be the same! Skeleton leaf resists produce beautiful, delicate patterns.
I also explored stencils, on plain and printed backgrounds.
It is interesting how the colours appear brighter on different synthetic fabrics.
By the time I came home on Saturday night, I was full on enthusiasm, and desperate to start stitching on my many samples!
I began by adding small stitches to a fern resist print on some acrylic felt. I think it still needs more; maybe beads or a felt flower?