Needlework WiP: "VS 4 Elements: Fire" - Band 5

This band of the Victoria Sampler "Four Elements: Crimson Fire" has a couple of different sections to it. 


First you do a border of partial large Diamond Eyelet stitches:

Then the center diamonds are filled in with Rhodes Hearts.   These are Rhodes Diamonds with the top section modified to make the 'humps' of the heart shape.  I love doing Rhodes stitches.  As you can see, they build up in long stitches, so at the end they are quite dimensional.   That metal object is my stiletto/laying tool.  Used to keep the two threads of silk laying parallel and also useful to keep the eyelets open wide enough for all the stitches to fit.   And the over-dyed silk is so luxurious to work with.  A favorite fiber, to be sure.

And finally there are some straight stitches in metallic gold and some beads to provide some 'bling'.