I almost didn’t do this block because I was intimidated by the embroidery, but I couldn’t resist the ladybugs. So I got out my book of embroidery stitches, watched some YouTube tutorials, and queued up Pride and Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, featuring six hours of young women for whom embroidery was all in a day’s work). It’s not as elegant as some, perhaps, but I did it! For the background, I chose a nice piece of gold-patterned fabric that I’d been saving for something special.

I barely quilted this block because I didn’t want to interfere with the embroidery. Small continuous curves in the borders, larger ones in the corners, and it was done.

And how cute are those ladybugs?

Nature’s Walk is block 20 of the first Splendid Sampler and was designed by Vicki Tucek.