Layers and Layers

 I've spent the morning working on the layers on my blossom for the Tudor project.

I've also stabbed myself repeatedly with the sharp needle.

And the carpet is now adorned with a multitude of tiny metal chips. 

The center of the flower is made by cutting gold check purl (it's a metal thread) into teeny short pieces, then treating them like little beads and stitching them randomly in the specified location. I had cut a bunch of chips because no matter how many you think you've cut, you always need more.

I was setting the velvet board that held the chips on the edge of the frame so it would be easy to access. With my usual grace, somehow I flipped the edge of the velvet board, which landed top down on the carpet after sending a cascade of chips into the air. As it is almost impossible to pick the chips up, I cut more and stitched them in the center.

After all this, I think I should do something else for awhile. I had hoped to stitch the metal edging to outline the petals before I stopped, but I do not believe that would be wise.