Darwin Sampler Progress

I've finished the centre piece of the sampler, the tree , cursive copperplate handwriting doesn't translate so well onto square bases Aida, but it still looks OK.

I have now started on the top line of the sampler, the doves, these are based on the traditional pigeon on page 35 of Lesley Wilkins' 'Beginners Guide to Blackwork' .

WIP Marbella Stars

I found this pattern in a photograph taken by Sir Cam on Flickr and converted it to back stitch.

From Briar Rose

It's actually a window screen in the Spanish resort of Marbella, so either its a sign of the Moorish influence on Spain or this shop is Middle Eastern.


I have worked it in blue and gold toned DMC cotton. There is a mistake in it, but I corrected it by making the same mistake again so its still symmetrical.

Darwin Sampler

As this year is Darwin's 200th birthday and 150 years since the Origin of Species was published, I decided I would celebrate with a sampler.
I have chosen blackwork as not only does it have the stark simplicity of a scientific engraving it has tradionally been used to depict flowers and and other natural objects, plus blackwork is my favourite embroidery medium :D

I am going to use 'The Tree of Life' as a centrepiece and I will surround it with bands make up of stylised versions of the plants and animals he worked with while forming his theory.

I have chosen barnacles, finches, passion flowers, orchids and domestic pigeons to use in the bands and I will be designing all of them myself.