Another Of The Grandmother's Fans

I have to tell you I began to run out of ideas by the time I'd finished the fans. You'd think I might have gone to the many, many books I have for inspiration, but I got a bit stuck in a rut and repeated the same borders in various combinations. Ish.
The butterfly border is pretty, done in hand spun linen and Hollyhocks are always good. I'm not sure if I've ever put a link to making Maltese Cross's before, but here is one on Bhavani's blog.
HI BHAVANI!!! Your blog is terrific!

Have I Put This In Before? Is Anybody Out There?

Let's see... the heavy outline is in Roumanian Couching, a very useful stitch and deliciously strong. My use differs in that I have worked it straight rather than on an angle as in the diagram. I discovered it first in a reproduction (book) of DMC designs... I'll look it up (it's in the other room and that's way too far away tonight)... the design in the book is THIS design and I did the Monogram later. The 'M' is an upside down 'W' from an old Illumination.

Inside the main trunk of the 'M' is Detached Buttonhole, obviously, with silk I dyed myself in a moment of rare experimentation. I don't like to dye thread, or rather, I don't trust it... all those hours stitching and then it runs or fades... s'pose 11 years later and it's still colourful.

So that's about it, with a little Padded Satin stitch and some straight 'fill' stitches. Easy Peasy.

The stems and leaves are with, is it Kookanda or something? Fine wool. Absolutely beautiful to use. The dappled colours give a subtle shift in hue or shade that works well anyplace.

Just to give you an idea, the tan 'satin-backed-shantung' is the actual colour of the quilt background. $4 at St. Andrews market and exactly perfect.