Adorn by Susan Casson

Isn’t she a stunner?

There is so much mystique, elegance, and intrigue associated with this project that it’s been quite the talking point.

Everyone who sees it is instantly drawn closer to admire the incredible intricacy of the design, and after a long, intent gaze they inevitable say the same thing - This is incredible. What is it?

With so much to unpack about this remarkable piece, it’s hard to believe it measures just 11cm x 4.5cm (4 ⅜" x 1 ¾").

We are, of course, talking about Adorn by Susan Casson from Inspirations magazine issue #128, a three-dimensional ornament worked in the vibrant colours of Christmas.

Projects like this are great conversation starters.Projects like this are great conversation starters.

By the time you’ve stitched your own, and a visitor finds it hanging in your home, you can expect the questions to begin:

‘Oh my gosh, this is beautiful. Did you make this? How did you do it? Who came up with the design?’

And here’s how you might respond:

‘It is, isn’t it? I sure did. Clever, aren’t I? Just wait till you hear the story…’

Now at this point, anyone would think that Susan Casson flexed her formidable imagination to conjure the design from scratch. And while her brilliant creativity is most certainly evident in so many facets of this design, believe it or not, her inspiration comes from an actual flower that closely resembles this stitched marvel.

So now we have two marvels in one - a Mother Nature marvel and a Susan Casson marvel. How’s that for good value?

Let’s first talk about Mother Nature’s marvel - the flower in question is the Chinese lantern, or red abutilon.

Its vibrant petals hang like delicate skirts beneath a bell-shaped calyx, almost concealing the cluster of stamens at the centre.

The resemblance to a glowing lantern has made this plant a favourite for gardeners and artists alike, and in Susan’s hands, it has been transformed into a needlework ornament that radiates both realism and festivity.

For Susan’s embroidered marvel, five petals are stitched with padded floral emblems, outlined with precision, and finished with a sparkling touch of gold beads at the centre.

Sitting above them are five sepals, providing structure and definition while enhancing the lantern-like silhouette.

A tassel of soft threads cascades beneath, adding movement and charm, while a cluster of bead-tipped stamens nestles inside the petals - a hidden detail that rewards closer inspection.

The final assembly brings everything together with a stem wrapped neatly and fashioned with a hook, making it easy to hang and, true to its name, adorn any festive display.

This is a truly innovative project that, as we’ve already mentioned, attracts a lot of attention.This is a truly innovative project that, as we’ve already mentioned, attracts a lot of attention.

You can imagine how spectacular Adorn will look hanging on a Christmas Tree, yet due to its whimsical nature, it will also look equally as fabulous decorating your home year round.

Adorn is a conversation starter, a botanical wonder, and a celebration of embroidery’s power to transform nature into art.

Adorn Ready-to-Stitch kits are now available, and just a reminder you’ll need a copy of Inspirations magazine issue #128 for the instructions if you don’t already have one, or the Adorn digital pattern.