For saras_girl: Helix embroidery

[birdsofshore]

Happy New Year, everybody! I've been in a bit of a funny mood, so I haven't been around much, but things are definitely getting better. I want to post some recs and stuff later, and hope to be commenting a bit more and generally right in your face again.

However, I read and loved saras_girl's amazing advent fic, Helix. If you haven't caught up with this, it's an utter treat and full of SG's usual lovely mix of humour, hope, heart and hotness. Plus, SNAILS. Harry and Draco have to work together (love that trope) to protect the endangered frost snails, which can breed at Hogwarts only under very delicate conditions. The snails themselves are utterly gorgeous and inspired me to commit embroidery. I started this for SG's birthday, so you can see how long it took me *head desk*. I failed to make the snails as sparkly and magical as SG describes, and it turned out to be beyond my skills to photograph the glitteriness anyway, but I enjoyed taking a break from the kerfuffle of Christmas to try.

Dear saras_girl, thank you for another beautiful advent story. Reading each installment of your fic in bed was sometimes the only calm moment in a rather long day, and I fell for your snails hard. I do hope you like this! I'll send it off to you as soon as I get to the post office. ♥

Grateful thanks to raitala who is my sewing guru!

Comments

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow! How utterly beautiful! Against the black background, they do look utterly magical.

My MIL used to do this kind of work, and I have several of her pieces. I love this kind of delicate work - it's something an instant gratification kind of gal like myself has no business trying, but I do admire it so. I think this is simply gorgeous!

[birdsofshore]

Thank you! I really enjoyed working against the black - it showed off all of the shiny fabrics and threads so nicely. Showed up my mistakes, too, but we won't mention that :D

My grandmother was a talented embroiderer and I wish I had half her skills. I wouldn't call mine very delicate but it was fun to do, and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. Thank you so much for your encouragement.