The complete one and the side view are both Sarah's models, mine is at the stage in the middle picture - all the padding, a bit of outline and a bit of chipping. No idea when it's going to be finished, no rush! DH, when he saw my photograph of the design drawn on the fabric, said "but the drawing is asymmetrical, you dodn't stand a chance!"
I don't actually like the hoop-on-a-stick ones, I find them difficult to get the fabric in. I much prefer my table clamp and floor stands that i can clamp any of my wide collection of hoops in - much more versatile.
you don't - you just start somewhere and keep going, making it as random as possible. I actually added more silver than there is in the original; like all good teachers Sarah encouraged us to make the thing our own!
A little bit more work on the fleur de lis, completed the pear purl outline of the rather complicated bottom part. Again, not very symmetrical, but my main aim was pointiness, as the picture on the kit box shows the outline rather rounded and I didn't like that effect. But I should have got the two sides a little bit more alike....
Ha, I know! I even considered unpicking and redoing with some pearl purl of my own, but I have decided against it and to leave it as a salutary reminder that we can be too fussy