Viscountess Gwenyth's Snowflake Pouch

 

A little over a year ago, my Pelican asked me to come up with a service project for the Principality. Some people serve by being an officer or the perpetual autocrat. And there’s nothing wrong with that. However, I like to serve through arts. Right now, I’m concentrating on embroidery.

Anyway, we discussed the service project idea with several people, and also looked into what other Western Principalities have for embroidered service projects.

In the West, when the Queen steps down, she is presented with an embroidered pouch that bears the Royal Rose. In other Principalities, the Princess also receives an embroidered token at the end of Her Reign. Up here in Oertha, our Princess doesn’t have a Royal Rose. She is, however, referred to as the Lady of the Snows, and is often symbolized by the snowflake.

So, in July, I presented Princess Gwenyth with the first Snowflake Pouch.

I decided to do blackwork for the pouch, since Gwenyth was the one to introduce me to the joys of blackwork many years ago.  I started to design my own snowflake, but then received the picture of this snowflake in an email from Nordic Needle.  This pattern was precisely what I had in mind for the pouch, so I bought the pattern.  I did the piece on 28-count white linen, using Blue Kreinik Soie d'Alger, and working with a locking hoop.

Once I completed the embroidery, I lined the pouch, and added cords.  I was going to add tassels to the bag, but it detracted from the simple elegance of the piece.