One of my favourite trees in the garden is my magnolia stellata, it’s dainty white flowers brave the early spring weather to put on an amazing display and their scent is beautiful too.
When I started my garden textile book it was inevitable that one of the first little embroideries I did was of my magnolia…
I’m mounting these smaller embroideries in a sort of crazy patchwork background to make a page for the book. The last one I did for geraniums ended up quite bright but this one wanted a quieter feel to it. I found some soft green/grey fabrics that blended nicely with it. I also found in my box of linens a little scrap of vintage linen, I trimmed it a little and used a Frixion pen to write the words, it’s to be hoped this book doesn’t get cold as it took about three attempts before I was happy with the letters, so they might all reappear !!! I chose a range of threads which I thought would work, the butterfly is cut from some leftover apron fabric, it just worked colourwise.
I started by stitching the white linen in place with a simple running stitch. This held it nice and secure for stitching the letters in back-stitch. Whilst I was stitching the butterfly motif on I was mulling over different ideas for the border embroidery. I decided I wanted something to bring out the white of the embroidered flowers.
I started by embroidering a branch which curled round the sides. I then started embroidering magnolia flowers in the basic white DMC thread. To start with they were actually half the size, but I felt they needed to be bigger and more dainty too, so I stitched another layer of petals, curving some outwards, using the B5200 DMC thread, which I don’t often use as it has a different feel to it somehow and usually looks too white, but it was just right for this.
I felt it needed a little something on the righthand side. I remembered my idea to put a liberal sprinkling of bees through this book so I embroidered a little be and it’s flight path.
Another page stitched, I’ve probably got about three more of these mixed pages to do, I need to prepare one ready to have as my handbag stitching project.
thecraftycreek 
your choice of fabrics and the extra stitching around is beautiful
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Thanks Claire, I’m pleased with it
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Such a beautiful page! Even looking at photos and not the real thing, one can feel the joy and satisfaction that went into your design choices. After loving all your garden photos of your real flowers and plants, I’m really enjoying seeing your garden come to life on fabric.
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Thank you, I am really enjoying this garden book, even though it’s grown into a much bigger and longer project than I anticipated – that’s gardening for you š
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So beautiful, Margaret! I’ve tried a couple of times to grow magnolia, but it seems the deer are quite fond of them. I have to be content to admire them in other lovely gardens, such as yours’. š
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I think it might be worth seeing deer regularly over a magnolia, would they come near to the house?
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They absolutely do! š
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Beautiful stitching! There are a few of these magnolias near us and they always look so pretty when theyāre out in the spring
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They’re gorgeous trees, the mature ones are quite magnificent in full bloom
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Love this!
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Thank you
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I do love magnolias and yours is lovely. Having grown up on the very acidic New Forest Iām now on chalk! I have a struggling Stellata in a bed we iron feed and have ericaceous compost. It struggles.
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Hi, we’re on heavy clay which is on the acidic side so their pretty happy, is it worth just keeping it in a big pot instead?
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We have just dug out three huge pots from unused areas and are going to wait for the Rhodies and Azaleas to come out in the nurseries for them. Hadnāt thought of a magnolia too. š¤
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I love your garden book. Itās really inspiring ā¤ļø
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Thankyou, it’s starting to come together.
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Thanks Debbie, I’m pretty pleased with it,
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Oh my, I love how you enhanced the Magnolia page. That tree really shines!
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Thanks Cathie, I’m pleased how it’s worked out
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This looks great!
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Your magnolia stitching is gorgeous. I love the added stitching on the side.
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