Lavender & Seaside Daisies by Ana Mallah

When done well, an embroidered image has the magical ability to transport you away to another time and place.

Today we’re going to propose that the design Lavender & Seaside Daisies by Ana Mallah from her book In Bloom, does exactly that and we’re going to reveal a couple of special tricks Ana uses to help make it happen.

If ever there were two flowers that embody the simple joys of summer, the lavender and seaside daisies would surely be among them.

One brings with it a calm, fragrant elegance, while the other bursts with cheerful freshness - together they form the perfect pairing of rustic charm and breezy delight.

Lavender & Seaside Daisies captures this harmony in stitch, transforming the essence of a wildflower bouquet into an embroidery that you can enjoy all year round.

Thanks to the clever use of soft pastel hues to set the overall tone, this provides the perfect foundation to host bursts of bold colour that allow the floral blooms to pop.

Then, to add intensity to the depth and texture of the piece, subtle dimensional elements are incorporated in such a harmonious way that you barely notice them yet totally notice them all at once. Just like a magic trick.

To achieve this, take the lavender for example, the buds are worked primarily with surface embroidery with the open flowers stitched onto silk organza, then cut out and delicately applied to the background fabric in an ever so slightly elevated position. It’s stumpwork, but approached in a softer, more restrained way.

Another example of achieving this yet using a completely different technique is how Ana deploys needlewoven bars to create the lavender leaves in soft shades of grey-green for added dimension.

These techniques may not be new, but the delicacy and precision of Ana’s execution changes the way you experience the piece.

These subtleties have brought the project to life in a way not possible solely using surface embroidery.

The other beauty of this project is its accessibility. While we’re waxing lyrical about the clever execution, Ana has achieved all of this using techniques and stitches we’re all very familiar with like stem, straight, and detached chain stitch along with French knots.

Thanks to the use of these popular stitches, Ana has made this project achievable for stitchers of every level, while still offering something new to discover.

Adding to its appeal, Lavender & Seaside Daisies is a natural companion to the piece Chives & Chamomile, also from In Bloom.

Together, they create a delightful pair with glimpses into a stitched herb and flower garden that can be displayed side by side or worked individually, depending on your stitching journey.

With its summery palette, thoughtful technical details, and charming connection to its sister piece, Lavender & Seaside Daisies is a project that invites you to pause, breathe, and stitch a little of nature’s fleeting beauty into your home.