Delicate Butterfly Wings

In May following the Cutwork Folios (see posts here and here) we had a member led workshop on Cutwork where we made a delicate 3D Butterfly.
Here is the 'Teacher's Desk' out front.

Everything was prepared for us, the butterfly already marked out in Frixion pen, even a Worksheet - all we needed was our basic sewing kit and a 6 inch hoop.
First, taking 2 strands of embroidery floss, our task was to sew Double Running stitches around the red lines, stopping at a certain point marked on our Worksheet, to take 3 bars across and work Button Hole stitch over them.

Once the three bars were secured then buttonhole stitch was worked over them and the double running stitch all around the shape, as in the example, worked in white thread below.

All four of the large red shapes were worked this way taking care to make sure that the buttonhole loops were worked in the same direction. The small shapes did not need any bars.
Below, is the detailed sample showing the direction to work in and points to stop and make bars. It was really helpful that this had been photocopied onto our detailed work sheet as well.

As our butterflies were to be 3D, starting at the butterfly head, we Couched white cake wire down around each wing, pausing at the body to take the wire down through the fabric to come up at the wing on the other side. 
The wire was then covered with buttonhole stitch making sure that the loops faced outwards away from the wing.
A line of double running stitch was worked between the wings and also covered with buttonhole stitch.
After carefully cutting out the butterfly, it was attached to ready prepared fabric that had been fixed onto heavy weight iron-on vilene and cut to a size to fit a box frame.
Double running stitch attached the body to the background fabric and random stitches padded it out before Satin Stitch was worked over it and antennae stitched on.
The wings could be bent up slightly before placing in the frame.
Here is the finished Butterfly, in its frame, made by our workshop leader and teacher SB. 

The batik background fabric goes very well with the variegated embroidery thread and the white box frame is the perfect setting for the butterfly.
As our workshop leader always tells me, choosing the right frame for you work is important. You do not want the frame to clash or clamour for attention with your carefully sewn piece. The same goes for any work be it embroidered, painted or drawn.
A big thank you to SB for her hard work both creating the Cutwork Butterfly and preparing all the samples, marked designs and very detailed work sheets.
When a workshop goes so smoothly it is always due to months of preparation. We certainly appreciate the effort that goes into our enjoyable evenings. Thank you ladies.