A lavender pillow for Mother's Day.

I've been meaning to combine a photo with embroidery for a while. We have quite a few of my husband's photos on our walls at home and walking past them regularly has meant I've been adding embroidery to them in my mind. But, like a lot of ideas, they've not moved far enough up the 'to do' list to be started. However, I did need something for my Mum on Mother's Day and I used the opportunity to have a go at combining a photo with embroidery.

The photo is one of my Mum with her's and I printed it onto a piece of vintage linen that had a flowery transfer on it. (A couple of years ago I picked up 4 or 5 linen tablecloths and each one had the same flowery transfer, unworked on them, this piece is from one of those.) I printed the image so it appeared in the middle of the design and then I embroidered the design over the top of it using a mixture of chain, running and stem stitches and french knots. The back is from a piece of linen in my stash. I stuffed the inside with dried lavender and stuffing.

I think it turned out rather well, and my Mum thinks so too. Once my work in progress pile has shrunk a little, I plan to do another photo/embroidery combo, though this time I'll use my own embroidery design.

TTFN
Louise