Finally the embroidery is finished

 I have been working away on the embroidery of the coat, sitting by the fire in my lounge, cold and wintry outside with the rain falling.  This has been a healing time for me, and often I have not felt well, but the embroidery has lifted my spirits and helped me to stay in a positive space.  There is something about being creative that stops me from getting depressed.  I think some of us need it, and if we get caught up in lives where we are not doing anything creative, we start to become depressed.  It took me a while to recognise this in my own life, and it was a valuable lesson.  

It is important to find the things in your life that light the fire for you, whatever those things may be, and make space in your life for them.

 So here it is the back of the coat completed.  I am happy with it and I think Trixie is too.  The entire embroidery is done in a simple stem stitch.  I wanted it to have an Art Nouveau, kind of Japanese feel to it, and I think I have achieved that, what do you think?

 The front is also completed.  This is the right side of the coat, and if you look carefully you can also see a line that marks where the pocket will be.  That is the next step, the pockets and I will be showing you how to make a welt pocket.

I have decided on the lining, it is rather extravagant, but it is perfect.  It is a Thai silk, I purchased in Bangkok years ago.  Isn't it funny how fabric can sit in your stash for years, and with this piece I actually didn't like it for a long time.  But now that I have decided to use it for this coat, I love it, because it will set the coat off so well.

The gold print is luxurious and will add to that feeling of the Belle Epoch that I hope to capture.

So now finally it is time to start the construction and I am looking forward to seeing it come together.