In May I went bicycling around Sicily with my friends Susan and Matt. The wildflowers were blooming and the countryside was just gorgeous. The fennel was particularly impressive, with flowerheads as big as dinner plates, and Susan kept stopping by the side of the road to photograph the prettiest fennel yet. So for Susan and Matt’s Christmas present, I embroidered this linen table runner with fennel flowers in one corner and fennel leaves opposite. The flowers are in three shades of yellow and brown: light yellow french knots for the buds, a yellow-brown for the stalks, and a dark brown shadow along the main stalk. The leaves are done in green, with a brown shadow on the central stalk. I wish I’d ironed it before taking photos.
