Blue-tailed Whistler by Anna Scott

Let’s begin by acknowledging upfront that some of the things in the design you’re about to enjoy are real and some are not.

The question is - which is which?

The project Blue-tailed Whistler from The Handpicked Collection 6 is a beautiful piece of embroidery designed by Inspirations royalty Anna Scott.

It is so beautiful, in fact, you begin to wonder… is it based on a real-life bird?

The first clever element is the name - The Blue-tailed Whistler. It’s fabulous don’t you think?

It sounds like the kind of bird you want to know more about, and especially hear it whistle.

Then there is the amazing colour scheme the bird is adorned with - so vivid and bright.

Anna brings the plumage to life using a combination of stumpwork and surface embroidery, with detached elements carefully shaped and assembled to create dimension and movement.

Worked primarily in stranded silk threads, layers of carnation, violet and blue blend across our feathered friend, while needlelace and felt padding add texture to give the bird a lively presence.

Perhaps the most engaging element of the whole piece is the face.

Our Blue-tailed Whistler has a glint in her eye and cheeks that appear inflated, with beak poised ready to begin whistling. It’s a clever moment of anticipation.

Next, we move onto that gorgeous plant the whistler is standing on.

Slender stems sweep upward in an elegant curve, dotted with small, luminous berries that almost seem to glow against the background.

The stem creates a natural perch for the bird, balancing the composition while adding a quiet sense of movement. Two of the leaves are stitched as detached elements, carefully shaped and attached so they lift gently from the surface, adding dimension and a sense of life to the branch.

And now we arrive at the tricky bit - where you decide what is real and what is imagined.

Is the whistler a depiction of a real-life bird? Is the plant she’s standing on one you can grow at home? Does the whistler actually even whistle? Stay tuned next week, folks, as we reveal all this and more… only joking! We wouldn’t do that to you.

Here’s a clue - Anna refers to the plant as a snowberry bush.

All the botanists in the audience have now solved the riddle.

Yes indeed, you can grow the plant in this embroidery at home, because the snowberry bush is real.

It’s our blue-tailed whistling friend you won’t hear any time soon, because she is, indeed, a fantasy bird.

Congratulations to Anna for not only creating such an exquisite embroidery, but also for reminding us how beautifully imagination and nature can come together through needle and thread.

Kits for Blue-tailed Whistler are available using the link below. Instructions are sold separately and can be selected when placing your kit order, including the option to purchase The Handpicked Collection 6 book that contains instructions for every project in this release.

To see more of Anna’s fabulous work, check out her website HERE.