Detail from my beautiful bedspread I found at the lovely Gilded Lily Totnes, Devon.

I went to Budapest recently for a friend's Hen do, which got me thinking on more traditional folk style motifs.

I've really enjoyed using my Blackbird and the Owl pouch, so triangles seem an inviting shape at the moment. Plus the sunny weather London's been having has made stitching in my spare time all the more enjoyable.

New purchase from Blackbird and the Owl at Souvenir

Getting bored of these simple block geometric patterns I've been stitching.  So in a bid to investigate some more decorative embroidery techniques, I reminded myself of Australian textile artist Sera Waters use of blackwork.

 

The Evil Banana 2008

Blockage 2008 

Naughty Neighbour 2008

So I had a look on the Royal School of Needlework's website for starter courses. 

Blackwork by Jessica Grimm

found this. loved it. and it has got the ball rolling...

liberty lobsters.