Stunning flower design needlepoints, almost better than the real thing!

19th C needlepoint and beadwork piece

This is the most delicious piece of work, the colours are riotous, and the beadwork on the Lily trumpet gives an almost 3-dimensional feel, especially with the deep black background, so typical of the Victorian era.

Then there is the royal red background of this beadwork piece below, adding a touch of class. 

Victorian beadwork on needlepoint

You could be forgiven for thinking that the flowers so beautifully worked by such skilled needlewomen look almost better than the real thing, but then... the bee knows that nature has the edge!

Acanthus flower with bee

And so does the humble hover-fly.

Exotic phormium flower attracting the interest of a hover-fly