Back to the Butterfly Wing

I'm still working on the other wing but it's been a month since I posted.  I wanted to pop in and say Hi.  I thought you'd like to see the wing I've finished with the two parts together.  I've put it on the black background fabric for the photo.  It gives you a better idea of where I'm headed with this.  I'm almost done with the other wing after a time consuming big mistake I made and had to take out.  I also spent a bit of time on a RR square this month between all the May birthdays around here.  I find I spend more time trying to come up with ideas than I actually spend stitching.

Speaking of RR's, I read somewhere that when you do work on a square you should leave 1/2 " bead free along the edges that are going to be stitched to other squares or borders.  I've never done that and just use a zipper foot to stitch the fabrics together and think that a scant 1/8" is plenty of space to allow.  I think a 1/2" bead free area especially in a seam that goes out to the edge looks unfinished.  What do you do?  I guess you could enclose enough beads for the recipient to finish it off.

First Wing Finished

Here is the beaded upper right wing.  I won't be posting the left wing and you'll see the butterfly again later on down the road.  So that I have something to post I'll work on the background some and finish the left wing on the side.  I still haven't decided what to do about the body.  Any ideas will be considered!

Butterfly Wall Hanging

Time to get out the beads!

Butterfly Wall Hanging

Ready for embroidery.

Butterfly Wall Hanging

Here is the upper right wing for my Butterfly Wall Hanging.  I will use the colors, beads, etc. that I used in the lower part so it should move along a little quicker.

Butterfly Wall Hanging

Today I finished the lower right wing. I added another layer of silk ribbon to each of the petals of the flowers. They look so much better now. A few other simple embroideries and lots of beads have brought me to the point of "enough is enough!" Repeating this on the lower left shouldn't take as long as no thinking will be involved.

Butterfly Wall Hanging

This half of the lower right wing is not quite finished but I'll show you my progress.  Here are two designs I drew to fit into special areas on the wing.  As you can see, I use simple lazy daisy designs to place flowers and then use silk ribbon, beads etc. just using the design to guide me.  I may add to the silk ribbon flowers as they look a little weak to me.  Still thinking!!  I love lace so almost always include it in my projects - not to mention, it fills space without too much work!