Thursday, September 19, 2013

New Finishing Kits from Marlene's UPDATED

According to Old World Designs' Facebook page, Marlene has a new finishing option--a new company called Marlene Makes It Fun.  The company will offer small canvases with a self-finishing pillow that coordinates with the design.  Marlene will demonstrate the product at Old World Designs October 5.  Hope someone can attend and report back!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=724743080884508&set=a.256479901044164.85922.254980691194085&type=1&theater

UPDATE:  The Needlepointer also posted photos of Marlene's pillow kits.
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=2b1a4dafdf1ba6e29e773aa79&id=08b3bcaad5&e=73961ee0ea

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.

River Silks Ribbon Ideas

I've been thinking about silk ribbon lately because I just used it on a project and it turned out great.  My ribbon of choice for 18 count canvas is the 4mm width from River Silks.  Here's their website if you aren't familiar with the company.  By the way, this is a very durable ribbon.  It won't mind if you pierce it doing Japanese ribbon stitch or drag it through tiny holes.  I have to say short of setting fire to it, this ribbon is pretty near indestructible.  The color range is wide and it also comes in three widths if you need something wide or want different widths for layering.
http://www.riversilks.com

Back to my project--I just stitched this Leigh Designs piece for the St. Charles trade show.  See the horizontal purple line right under the two skulls in the upper left quadrant?
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Sgl5167.html

I stitched that in straight vertical satin stitches with 4mm River Silks ribbon.  Because this canvas is 18 count, the ribbon was a little too close together, so it scrunched up and looked gathered.  This was a very easy way to have a great effect.  I will use this again.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Mdl5167.html

Any ribbon brand or flat ribbon-like thread (such as Flair, Neon Rays, Kreinik's 1/16th ribbon, etc.) can be used the same way, depending on the effect you want.

I've been thinking that a flat ribbon held down by a series of cross stitches would be very pretty.

You can also lay a ribbon flat and stitch right down the middle with straight back stitches to hold it in place.  Use a contrasting thread and you'll have a very pretty effect.  I learned that from SharonG who used the effect for the grass in her Stitch of the Month design for ANG several years back.
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2005/december/directions.php

Several folks have stretched Flair and tacked it down on the sides for their projects.  Silk ribbon won't stretch but there's no reason you couldn't use little tacking stitches on either side to hold it in place.  

Silk ribbons make interesting bullions and French knots, too.

So what clever ideas for silk ribbon have you come up with?  Comment below or email me at chilly hollow at hot maildotcom and I'll post them for you.

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.

How to Make Japanese Kanzashi Fabric Flowers UPDATED

This is something quite different--how to make fabric flowers the Japanese Kanzashi Fabric way.
http://www.fabrics-store.com/blog/2011/07/21/tutorial-japanese-kanzashi-fabric-flower/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Subscribers&utm_content=01&utm_campaign=KanzashiFlowers

The technique is simple but note that the fabric used is linen, which means a fabric with some weight and body to it.  I think a thin fabric would not work as well, but I haven't tried it.

Still, for the right canvas this might be a lovely accessory.

UPDATE:  You can see the flowers used on Peggi's Sugar Skull mask.  Told you they'd be perfect on the right design!
http://tapestryfair.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-holiday-finish.html

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.