Monday, April 22, 2013

The Wizard's Magic Talisman

Painting of Chinese Pots with The Chinese Pot Tapestry in Background

Kay Fassett is having a pretty big year.   His autobiography, Dreaming in Colour, is out...
http://whipup.net/2012/10/03/book-kaffe-fassett-dreaming-in-color-an-autobiography/

... and the London's Fashion and Textile Museum has a large exhibit of his work (quilts, needlepoint, mosaic, and quilting) on display starting today, April 22.
http://ftmlondon.org/ftm-exhibitions/kaffe-fassett/

Ehrman Tapestry has commissioned a series of short films about his work.  You can see two of them on the Ehrman website and more should appear there over the next year.
http://www.ehrmantapestry.com/videos/story/Kaffe-Fassett-on-his-needlepont.aspx?page=1

No one understands color the way Kaffe Fassett does.  No one.
http://fullofsoup.com/2010/04/18/kaffe-fassett-workshop-2/

http://pinterest.com/chrisiskitsch/designer-kaffe-fassett/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Swarovski Flat Back Crystal Sequins

The Collection has added Swarovski flat back crystal sequins to their line of embellishments for needlepointers.   Pocket Full of Stitches has posted photographs of a few colors on their blog.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2013/04/jp-needlepoint-swarovski-crystals.html

So far only the 5mm size is on The Collection's website but these are available in the 3mm size as well. Sometimes you can get the same color in both sizes and sometimes you can't.  Some of the colors are only available in one of the sizes right now.  That may change as this is a very new product.
http://www.allaboutstitching.com/swarovski-flat-back-sew-on-crystals.html

I'm using these on the models I'm stitching for the Dallas and Columbus trade shows.  I can't show progress photos but I can tell you that although you can attach the 5mm size crystal sequins using a bead in the middle hole, the 3mm sequins are too small to be attached this way.  Even a tiny size 14 or 15 bead covers most of a 3mm sequin.  Instead I had to hold the 3mm sequins on with 2-3 tiny straight stitches that cover from the middle hole to an edge.  Try to find a matching colored thread.  A contrasting color may not show up unless it is a shiny metallic on this tiny crystal.

Here is how to attach sequins of any type, including the crystal sequins.  The small the sequin, the fewer threads you need to attach it as you don't want to hide the sparkle under too many holding threads.



























In the diagram the turquoise lines are thread.  The turquoise diamond shape is a bead over the sequin hole.  Come up in the hole, add a bead to your needle, go down in the hole again.  This will secure the sequin in position.  You can choose a bead or thread that is the same color as the sequin or look for a contrasting color, depending on the effect you want.  


They are gorgeous, by the way.  You add a lot of sparkle to your canvas using these flat back sew on crystals!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

What Do You Think?

You may not be aware how many shops really don't like those who sell via eBay.  A brick-and-mortar shop has expenses that an Internet only business does not.  (On the other hand, many brick-and-mortar shops don't have the high costs of a website to set up and maintain, not to mention the daily upkeep, security and financial backend, posting of photographs of new stock, etc.)
http://www.shakespearespeddler.com

Theresa has had a long time Internet presence, as well as a physical shop.  She also has run an eBay store for several years.  Her life has changed and her shop in Mississippi is now open only by appointment and her main store will now be the eBay one.  This has provoked some complaints from a distributor and shops apparently.
http://shakespearespeddler.blogspot.com/2013/04/kerfluffle.html

The business model in the counted thread world from all that I can tell is a chart is designed and sold to a distributor who sells it to a shop who sells it to you.  Each time there is a slight markup to cover the costs and ensure a slight profit to each person in the chain of a sale.  Some chart designers sell directly to the public but not often.  Anyone who is more familiar with this process please correct my mistakes!

The business model in the painted canvas world is similar.  The designer creates a design.  Some designers sell directly to the public (although this is frowned on since it cuts out the shops).  Most either sell directly to a shop or have a representative that does this for them (or both).  Some painted canvas designers have distributors who cover the costs of painting multiple canvases plus take a cut of the profits.  Some designers paint their own canvases or have them done.  Either way, the shop buys the painted canvases at wholesale cost, then sells them to stitchers at retail price (wholesale price plus shop expenses plus a profit so the shop owner can eat) who are also likely to want to buy threads, beads, books and stitching tools which the shop also supplies.

If you were a designer, what sale route would you take?  If you were a shop, would you see Internet sales as a threat?  Personally, I find Internet-only shops very rare but I certainly am not aware of every needlework shop there is.

I hope this is thought-provoking and helps you appreciate shop owners more, whether they are the shop down the street or the Internet store front you buy from that has a shop in another state.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Laura Perin Cyberclass Starts in June

Fans of Laura Perin, counted canvaswork, or just folks who want to try working from a chart will be glad to hear Laura J. Perin is repeating her "Corsage" cyberclass in June.  This small geometric piece offers color choices and also your choice of central flower.  Laura says this isn't that hard a piece, either.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2013/04/calling-all-flower-lovers.html

Check her website for details.
http://www.laurajperindesigns.net/ljp-cyber-classes.html

By the way, fans of Laura or folks who just are interested in how color impacts design will be fascinated with what Jan's done with one of Laura's little ornaments.
http://threadmedley.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/laura-perins-holiday-ornaments-2-second-finish/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.