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

[divertazsc.livejournal.com]

Nat is a lucky lady, those are so cool.

[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!

[nia_kantorka]

I'm waiting til Nat's and Marie's Advent fics are on AO3 (can't read so much on the screen) and am sure they are both wonderful, but I love snails and yours are just beautiful.

Hope you are well, Birds?! Happy belatet New Year!

[pauraque]

Ooh, fan-embroidery. Cool!

[lq-traintracks.livejournal.com]

I love what you did! I haven't read the story, but this is so pretty, and what a lovely tribute to the fic. <3

[dannyfranx.livejournal.com]

this is so beautiful! they are very sparkly indeed!

[omi-ohmy.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, those snails are gorgeous! I love how you've done their shells, so delicately. And the sparkly trails! <3

I haven't finished reading Helix yet, but I've read enough to think that you have captured their sparkly magic. Just lovely, and lucky Nat. :)

[piratesmile331.livejournal.com]

That is unbelievably gorgeous!

[khalulu]

Oh, with their sparkly frost trails and their waving eyestalks! Lovely, and endearing just like the frost snails themselves and their story. POP! POP!

Happy New Year to you too.

[gracerene]

Aww, that's so lovely! I agree for sure on Helix, such a wonderful read!

[veritas03.livejournal.com]

How cool! And beautiful - and definitely sparkly. What a lovely gift! ♥

[firethesound]

This is so pretty! You do really lovely needlework. <3

[birdsofshore]

Aw, thanks, glad you like them!

[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.

[birdsofshore]

Hi, Nia! I'm doing OK. Happy New Year to you as well. I'm sure you'll love this fic when you get to it. The snails are kind of heart-stealing.

[birdsofshore]

Thanks, dear!

[birdsofshore]

I have a little tradition emerging of making embroidery for saras_girl's stories. She does create such wonderful creatures. Glad you liked it!

[birdsofshore]

Thank you! I really tried to make it as pretty as the snails are in the fic. I'm a sucker for anything sparkly, to be honest ;)

[birdsofshore]

\o/ Yay! I'm so glad you like them! I ran riot trying to find things that were sparkly enough. For future reference, in general, sparkly things are NO GOOD FOR EMBROIDERING WITH, but I just steamed ahead and did it anyway ;)

[birdsofshore]

Thank you so much! You'll love it when you get to finish it, I am sure. I started on this as soon as I read the first scene with the snails in, but Christmas totally got in the way and I kept trying to source SPARKLIER and SPARKLIER things to make it with :D

[birdsofshore]

Thank you very much indeed. The description of the snails was so lovely in the fic, I couldn't resist trying.

[birdsofshore]

Ah, glad you like them! I was really happy with the eyestalks - I did french knots and got all proud of myself :D

I'm glad you find them endearing - the originals are, so much <3

[birdsofshore]

Thank you, grace! What a lovely advent fic it was.

[birdsofshore]

I'm happy you like it! I got a bit carried away with the sparkliness, but I was enjoying it too much.

[birdsofshore]

Aw, thanks, my dear. It's very basic but the snails sort of speak for themselves. Every time I do embroidery I resolve to do more as it is so enjoyable. Beware or you may get a bad embroidery of a fic of yours ;)