Fuchsias

This is another bit of tatting I found in my stash, just not finding enough time to sit down and do any new tatting at the moment. Actually I made this fuchsia spray from Rosemarie Peel's book Tatting for Pleasure a long time ago, and then wanted it to put on a card for someone last month, but lost it! Now that it is found I will stick it on a card ready to send when the need arises. The instructions on the pattern just say to tie a knot in the stamens, but I think adding beads makes them look more realistic. The other picture is the first fuchsias that have flowered in my garden, so there is only a small spray at the moment just about to tumble over the hanging basket. In fact I broke one the flowers whilst holding steady the basket in the wind to take the photograph! There is a sort of resemblance to the tatted fuchsias. The flower grows wild in Ireland and is so pretty in the hedgerows. I brought a cutting back last year and it is growing well in one of my tubs, but it hasn't flowered yet. I do like Rosemarie's patterns especially her celtic ones.