As I assembled the two small Byzantine Icons into ornaments, I took careful notes and photographs so that I could explain how I finished them. It's not a hard process, just tedious and time-consuming. Let me start by listing all the stuff I needed to finish the ornaments. Things that are optional are noted.
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- Stitched needlepoint pieces
- Black and white xerox copy of my stitched icons
- Scissors (both good scissors for threads and fabric, and not-so-good ones to cut paper, NP canvas and finishing foam)
- 2 sheets of finishing foam, one for each ornament (may substitute 2-4 pieces of plastic canvas, you’ll need extra to put inside to stiffen the final ornament, or a piece of matte board)
- Tape (either Scotch tape or masking tape)
- Fabric glue if your finishing foam isn't self-stick (I generally use Aleene’s Easy Flow Tacky Glue)
- Felt (in a color that coordinates with your stitching)
- Sewing thread in a color that matches felt (may substitute one ply of DMC cotton floss)
- Sharp sewing needle (and thimble if you like)Trim or beads to cover edges of ornaments
- OPTIONAL: 6-10 Banker’s clips or clothes pins or straight pins to clamp ornament parts together
- OPTIONAL: Gold lame (to put behind the ornament)*
- OPTIONAL: Waxed paper to protect your working surface from glue
*Since I didn't stitch the gold background of my two icons, my gold lame fabric isn't really optional since I have to hide the innards of the ornaments with it. However, you may not need this to cover up or add sparkle to your design. Lame comes in many colors--I mostly use gold but I have some silver and some variagated blue that I use occasionally when gold's not the right color. Pick the color that works for your project.
Before I end for the day, I need to explain what finishing foam is. It is a slightly rubbery sheet used in kids' crafts that you can easily cut with scissors. Lightweight but rigid, I love using it in finishing. You can buy it at the big crafts stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby or at Joann's Fabrics. Look for something called "foam sheets." It comes in various colors and also in metallic sparkled sheets, you can buy it in archival quality, you can buy it with a peel off back that will self-stick to your fabric. It also comes in various thicknesses: Be sure you buy sheets of the same thicknesses if you plan to use it in finishing.
Here are some photos to help you find it. You can buy single sheets or a package of a dozen or more. I usually buy a big package with a 40% off coupon every other year. There are a lot of brands. As far as I can tell, they are all the same thing.
http://www.craftsetc.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=41880&dep=50&cat=4&subcat=5&Search=Y
http://www.craftsetc.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=44260&dep=50&cat=4&subcat=5&Search=Y
http://www.craftsetc.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=41884&dep=50&cat=4&subcat=5&Search=Y
My local stores carry a huge variety of this stuff in kits of cut out letters and shapes to be glued to plain sheets in contrasting colors for signs or to be glued to foam hats to personalize them. If you find packages like this one in the link below, that area will also have the plain sheets nearby.
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayProductPage?productNum=gc1394
Note that many folks like using matte board inside their ornaments. I personally find it hard to cut to anything but the most simple shapes in matte board but that's just me--not to be trusted with an Exacto knife! I've also used plastic canvas inside my ornaments. I find plastic canvas sometimes isn't rigid enough and I have to add an extra piece sandwiched in the middle of my ornament. I also sometimes think one can see the grid underneath the fabric backing so I have to put quilt batting around it. Also, plastic canvas is not as easy for me to cut with scissors as finishing foam. However, whatever material you use to make your ornaments rigid is up to you and depends on personal preference and what materials you can easily get in your area.
Tomorrow I'll start explaining how the Byzantine icons were assembled.
Jane/Chilly Hollow
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow
