At the end of the first online course, recorded around the e-book Daisies, I was confronted with the gratifying desire of the participants to continue with the course.

So I needed a project that included wrapped and knotted stitches, such as simple bullion stitch,  rose construction, and Palestrina stitch. I drew a heart and then… I got away with an alphabet!

I worked on it the whole summer, on and off. I remember coloring in the drawings while Anita was repeating history to me under graduation, and every now and then she casting her eyes over my colors and saying she would love to switch.

I always answered… I wouldn’t.

I still have nightmares about history questions and graduation.

I decided to color the designs to make the elements more recognizable, and it is a bit of a new that I hope will streamline the work and not create confusion with tracing.

I had finished an exaggerated sampler on the padded stitch, for the book that one day sooner or later will finally come out, and I needed something colorful, light and quick. I gathered the designs into an e-book, which comes out today, but will remain there, quiet and ready to satisfy the cravings of those who might want to dust off in the spring, when the first chill sweeps the scent of the last flowers.

Between the writings and the oral, I had convinced Anita to take a trip to the Lavandeto di Cà Mello (Lavanda Polesana) and I had taken my heart bag with me, just in case a photo ever escaped. I forced her to model for me while the bees buzzed around her juicy calves. I hadn’t asked her to wear a particular outfit, and as chance would have it. She was perfect!

Anyway… I finally graduated the first one.