Ruth Schmuff's blog announced her new monthly club yesterday--a selection of Halloween canvases from A Collection of Designs combined with Ruth's over-the-top embellishments and stitch ideas.
Now you see why I was so frantic to have my blog list link to Ruth's blog work correctly! I still can't link to it directly on the blog list but you can view the finished ornaments here. Hint: Put on your sunglasses. :)
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2010/03/bedecked-and-beadazzled-bewitching-boo.html
Pricing and all the sign up details are on Ruth's shop website.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/details.php?pid=11565
I think it was Chottie Aldersen who said if it's not fun, it isn't needlepoint. By that definition this is NeEDlePoInT!
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Beads, Beautiful Beads
Labels:
beads,
candy cane dog stocking,
kirk and hamilton
All the beads and crystals are attached to the Candy Cane Dog stocking now. The first thing I added were six ruby Swarkovski crystals to the centers of the large snowflakes on the top and toe of the stocking. (By the way, I used a doubled ply of red DMC cotton to attach the crystals firmly.) I choose the 4mm bicone shaped beads for this. Swarkovski has a lot of colors, shapes and sizes of glass faceted beads and findings to choose from as you can see here.
http://www.artbeads.com/swarovski-crystal-beads.html
Then I had to decide whether to use pearls or diamonds for the other beads on this piece. I had two sizes of fake pearls which were lovely and three sizes of iridescent faceted crystal beads (hex or cubes) to choose from, all from Sundance Designs. I finally went with the crystal beads since I had three sizes (both #11 and #14 hex beads and 8 mm cubes). That would allow me to use the larger #11 hex beads at the top of the stocking and the smaller #14 on the toe and for the tiny stars behind the dog. (Both are color 250 although the larger size 11 beads are labeled H250.) Then I could use the cubes as trim in the finishing. So that's what I did.
In the photo the larger #11 beads are attached in the stocking top using doubled white DMC cotton floss. The rest of the stocking uses the smaller #14 beads. For the stars in the sky behind the dog, I used blue doubled DMC cotton floss. For the small crosses in the toe of the stocking, I used white DMC cotton floss again. Changing the colors of the attaching thread in these crystals changes the bead color slightly, making the stars somewhat blue and the crosses white. In the photo you see some of the light reflection from the Sundance beads. The red Swarkovski bicone beads aren't as flashy as I assumed they would be. The whole stocking looks rather elegant--if you ignore Elmer!
I have a few finishing touches for the stocking and I need to start assembling my finishing materials: sewing thread, embroidery needles, choose a trim, pick lining and backing fabric, etc. It may take me several nights to get the stocking put together so I guess I'd better get started!
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow
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