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The Leopard

Hello from my corner of sunny West Yorkshire where we still - still! - don't have any rain.  I mean, the sun's gorgeous, but my plants are thirsty and the allotment soil is dry as a bone.  I'd better head down there in a while and tip cans of water over the squash, at least.  

The photo above shows the Alice Hoffman book I've recently finished - terrific - and the novel I'm reading at the moment, Andrew Taylor's 'The Shadows of London'.  It's set in London 1671, and is clearly written by an author who knows that period inside out. The historical details are fascinating, while the murky murders and court intrigue make for a gripping tale. 

Apart from catching up on my reading, I've also had a go at making a leopard head brooch ... as you do ...  I'd seen a fantastic embroidered brooch by an Instagramer called 'ievate' and loved it, so had a try at my own version. 

It's a simplified effort.  The original had a plain fabric for the animal's fur, and the black spots were embroidered on like French knots.  The nose and eyes were stitched, but I did applique instead.  

I love the patterned fabric i chose.  The scale of the black spots is perfect, and it was pure chance I had the fabric in my stash.  Serendipity, I think that's what you'd call it.  Now, what animal can I make next?  

 

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