Rose pink silk bird embroidered with honeysuckle

Turquoise silk brocade bird; black silk wing embroidered in feather stitch

Green-blue silk bird embroidered with flowers

Pink silk bird embroidered with honeysuckle; black silk brocade wing

Peach silk bird embroidered with honeysuckle

Turquoise silk brocade with pink wing embroidered with honeysuckle

I intended to post photos of these Christmas tree decorations before Christmas but, a full house of family (including a tiny visiting kitten and the cat of indeterminate age who adopted us a couple of Christmases ago), five church services and the sorting of an obscene amount of recycling, has meant it is now the 30th December… I would have shown our Christmas tree with the birds in place but such is the warmth of our vicarage (cavity wall insulation, double glazing, air source heat pump) that the tree is suddenly looking rather droopy. It is a shame because it was a lovely tree and much appreciated as it was the generous gift of our farmer church warden. He was also kind enough to provide trees for both the parish churches my husband oversees and these are still splendid, tall and elegant with minimal needle drop because of course, they are resident in what are probably the coldest roofed buildings in use in the villages.  

6 silk Christmas tree birds embroidered in silk

As well as silk birds with embroidery, I also made quite a few out of patterned cottons. All were filled with lavender from the garden so that when you brush past the tree you might get a hint of lavender floating over the top of pine.  In the past I used to give these lavender birds away as little Christmas presents –  hung on the tree over Christmas, they can then be put to good use on coat hangers for the rest of the year. Now I only have a few left and as I still have lots of lavender, I should make some more. 

Embroidered Christmas birds photographed in sunlight (and now there are 7)

So, save those lovely little bits of silk, grow lavender bushes, then bring the two together and put them to good use for Christmas.