Look what Brown can do for me!

It will be lovely. IIRC you also embroidered dragonflies on her wedding dress. She'll be thrilled. Juno

I'd love to take credit, but the dragonflies on her wedding gown were purchased appliqués:

swoon and sigh over the wedding dress!

I seem to have very little luck with metallics and my embroidery machine...any tips??? I'm interested to hear your experiences....

betsey

Thanks! It was DD's design, all I did was run fabric through the SM. :->

I have used metallic threadss a few times, and fought the thread-breaking monster. The Madeira site advises a size 14 needles (I usually use a 9 or 11 for most projects), so I'm going to give that a shot. I'll be using the metallics for "vein" outlines on the wings and maybe some other details after I lay down the first color(s). I'll let you know how it goes, that project starts next week.

What a great idea. If I may build on it?

Have you ever seen tiger beetles? They are little beasties, about 1/2 to 1 inch, and totally harmless except to their prey. But: they carry the most intense metallic colors and would serve well as highlights on floral prints in the manner of ladybugs. They are also predatory, as are ladybugs. They are typically found in sandy areas, so would be totally in place on a beach scene.

Alex

Thanks for the suggestion. The thing is, my DD loathes and despises most insects/bugs/spiders. She just happens to like dragonflies, so I'll stick with them for her gift. But I'll keep Tiger Beetles in mind if ever I find someone else who wants one embroidered. They certainly are shiny little beasties.

We don't have them out here, but in the eastern U.S. there are Japanese beetles. I think they may have originated in Japan and were brought in, much like other pernicious pests have been. They are a terrible nuisance. But they are really beautiful. They are like little jewels, all iridescent greens and bronzes.

You speak the sooth. As a wee bairn, I was paid a penny for each JBeetle I could pick off the roses (their favorite food, IIRC). BUt it's true that beetles have some of the most iridescent coloring, and lend themselves well to embroidery. Maybe with metallic threads?

Alex

They would! Cactus Punch agrees.

Japanese beetles crawling on wild morning glories would be a lovely design. Or Canada thistle blossoms.

Oooooooooooh!! Pretty!!!! She will be so tickled, I bet! :) I thought of you the other day. It's been very humid here (I know everyone is shocked by that!! lol) The other morning the back yard was FULL of dragonflies. There had to be better than 3 dozen of them. They were zipping around all over. I was too busy gawking to go grab the camera. But I will keep my eyes peeled. If they swarm like that again, I will try to get some shots.

Sharon

They almost killed my green beans this year. I have about 1/10th the plants that I started with in the spring. The only way I would embroider them is as squished ones. ;)

Sharon

What luck, they are so amazing!

DD and DSIL came over Monday and took me out to lunch at Bob's Red Mill

Those are gorgeous colors, Beverly. I love butterflies and had planned to embroidery some pillowcases for one of my DS, her BD is this week. I've spent the last week having my heart tested, and haven't toucked the SM. So far, all tests have come back negative; and with no more doctor visits for a while, I will have time to sew now.

Emily

They don't photograph well, but they really are fantastic!

I'm very happy for you that the tests are negative, and you'll have some time now to sew!

Thanks for the good wishes, Beverly. . Today, I'm am feeling better than in a week or so, thank goodness.

-- Emily