Ok well since embroidery takes such a long time it's nice to be able to embroider a few small things, just to check technique. Usually small motifs like flowers are used, but I find eyes much more interesting and expressive - the iris also gives you the chance to try out many variations of colour. 

These are embroidered on a yellow plastic bag from a CD retailer, couched with a post it note.

It wasn't actually too difficult to embroider on this surface, although fabric would have been easier.

The stitches in this eye are scroll stitch for the yellow at the top of the eye, buttonhole stitch (which I now love) for the iris and lower eyelid, split stitch for the pupil, running stitch for the pink area and feather stitch and chain stitch for the other stuff. I tried to do french knots and turk's head knots but I can't do knots without them knotting in the WRONG place and getting a huge mess.

Much the same stitches used in these, with the addition of an open chain stitch for the lower lid. Embroidery is smashing! And since I'll probably be doing a huge project or two in textiles based JUST around eyes..I expect you'll see a lot of this sort of thing in the future.