Last time I mentioned my little embroidered Tudor rose in silk and real metal threads, it was almost finished. “Almost” when working on something like this doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be finished “shortly.” Taking the rose from the almost finished state to complete took several hours. But at long last, it was finished, and here it is:

Goldwork embroidery is great fun, but it’s a time-consuming type of hand embroidery. It’s not something that can be rushed. And when you’re feeling your way through an embroidery design – not quite sure what thread will look just right – there’s bound to be some trial and error.

The last couple days, I’ve been working out the details for the small rose motif that’s repeated on the current ecclesiastical embroidery project I’m working on.

And really, when I say the last couple days, I mean just that – two days. Two! Sure, we’re not talking about stitching 24 hours a day, but all my stitching time has been devoted to this one thing for two days, and – woe is me! – I haven’t even finished the thing!