The Mermaid's Sea Chest #000

The Mermaid's Sea Chest is the second design in an on-going series devoted to the sea.  The decoration embroidered on the outside of the chest is inspired, in part, by the heavily-embroidered doublet worn by Sir Walter Raleigh in a portrait bust (National Maritime Museum, London), and each side panel features a different miniature sea scene.  Unfastening the closures and lifting the lid reveals the rose-colored 'lining' which is filled with pockets and other secure places in which to house your treasured collection of needlework tools, as well as the Mermaid's scrimshaw comb and mirror.

The entire 'sea chest', inside and out, is embellished with real seed pearls, glass seed beads, brass 'findings', and tiny Hedebo rings.

Embroidery stitches used include running, rounded rhodes, stem, smyrna, satin, detached buttonhole, cross-stitch 'over one', 'over two', and 'over four', backstitch.  As always, complete finishing instructions are included.