And the winner is....

When I asked my lovely blog-readers last week to send me a picture of my embroidered fox attending Beating around the Bush in Adelaide, I just wanted to know if foxy was having fun down-under. Was he not too home-sick? Had he made friends with other embroideries? Did he behave himself? On the first picture I kindly received from Gayle, he seemed to be having a blast!

Attending 'Beating around the Bush' my embroidered version of Millie Marotta's fox

And then a second picture came, kindly taken by Denise. And it made me scream like a little girl. My poor husband almost freaked out.

Attending 'Beating around the Bush' my embroidered version of Millie Marotta's fox

My embroidered fox, after Millie Marotta's wonderful drawing, won me first prize in the coulouring-in category of the Inspiration's 'Stitch your Heart out' competition. I still have a broad smile on my face.

This is what the lovely people of Inspiration's had to say about my entry:

'We loved your superbly embroidered fox based on the fox from Animal Kingdom by Millie Marotta, your fabulous combination of surface and raised embroidery techniques, the placement of the colours and the subtle use of metallic thread. The background fabric, the patterned silk damask, is so complimentary to your fox – a thoughtful choice which was much commented on during the display of competition entries at our international needlework convention, Beating Around the Bush.'

It is with much gratitude that I challenge you all to participate in the next competition in two years' time. And by the way: Denise won the counted/cut/drawn category with her clever three-dimensional strawberries!