Brown metal frame, no mat, deep spacers to keep the glass (actually acrylic) off the beetles. Ground fabric is dupioni silk, on cotton substrate. I was initially worried about the light fabrics not being able to support the metal threads; it turned out ok.
Really happy that I didn't buy any supplies - though at time tempted! The last beetle was the most difficult, partly because I don't have the correct weight threads.
Contemplating frame now...
I was almost ready to order the kit from Jane Nicholas before I realized that the instructions and templates are in my beetle book, and the kit only has supplies. I had the brilliant idea of using my stash, making substitutions for the metal threads that I don't have. I'll see.
I printed the templates onto tracing paper and basted it on the fabric. I've been using this technique for a while; it takes more effort, but the basting thread can be removed in the end with no design lines left behind. I use 100 weight fine silk thread for the basting.
I've finished two beetles, the second one is quite difficult to do, and substitutions made it twice as hard!
Debated between a gold second mat or the blue one; settled on the blue. My framer would cut the mats with reverse bevels, so there is no distracting white edge around the mats. I picked a frosted gold metal frame.
Finished and waiting for my ordered frame. I thought this would be more difficult than Poppy, but surprisingly it was not as hard. Made a couple of changes: one of the petals was stitched with long-and-short stitch silk, instead of chain stitch with passing thread. More significant change was using DMC's metal mesh. It really turned out well; I finally had a use of the DMC mesh that I ordered when it first came out years ago. Next project is Jane Nicholas's Beetle Sampler.
Thought this would be an easy one - wrong! Finally finished. I used koma to help stitch the filigree leaves. I also simplified the main flower stem by using grecian twist instead of laying on cut purls, so much easier. I used thinner edging for the flower petals - same gold thread as the leaves; using pearl purl per instruction was too harsh.
Next project is Shades of Blue.
