In the second issue of The Stitcher’s Journal we looked at the colour of bluebells and other blue spring flowers. It was fascinating to examine the flowers and petals under a magnifying glass, seeing the colour of a hyacinth petal change from bright sky blue at the base to inky violet at the tip.  It made me realise, not for the first time, that however stylised your embroidery might be, always start by looking at the real thing.