The Beaded Basket Contest

One of the classes Thistle Threads has done is on beaded baskets which have been found in those 17th Century embroidery and stump work caskets that are so amazing.  To raise funds for a museum, Tricia sponsored a contest on the best beaded basket creations.  Here are the winners--
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/beaded-basket-contest-announcing-winners.html

Honorable Mention--If these got Honorable ribbons, what must the first place winners be like?!!
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/honorable-mentions-beading-contest.html

Modern Interpretations--Interestingly, both winner here use water creatures.
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/modern-beaded-basket-category-winners.html

Multi-Media--
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/17th-century-beaded-basket-multi-media.html

Traditional--
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/winner-17th-century-traditional-category.html

Just WOW! Winners--these will knock your socks off!
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/just-wow-number-1.html

http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/just-wow-number-2.html

http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/just-wow-number-3.html

Runner Up--dazzling!
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-runner-up.html

The Grand Prize winner puts all the rest into the shade. You have to see this!
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-grand-prize-winner-mindblowing.html

If you want to read more about the grand prize winner, check out her blog here.
http://ladysrepositorymuseum.blogspot.com/search/label/17th%20c%20beaded%20baskets

To give you a sense of scale, here is the Thistle Threads posting about the basket kit.  These beauties can be held in one hand!
http://thistle-threads.com/teaching/projects/webprojects/nwn_082013_beadedbasket2.html

Thistle Threads is having a contest based on the Grand Prize winner.
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/how-did-rachael-do-that-contest.html

Here are the contest answers.
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/how-many-hours.html

The next time you are moaning that you have to add beads to your design, think about these lovelies and remember you are walking in the footsteps of giants and bringing a 17th Century heritage into the 21st Century.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Greetings from the 17th Century

If any stitch guide writer or needlepoint teacher is on your Christmas list, I know what to buy them.

If you have a lot of money to spend, enroll them in the Cabinet of Curiosities class from Thistle Threads so they can learn 17th Century needlelace and stumpwork techniques, all of which are totally new to me.
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2014/02/needlelace.html

Thistle Threads also has done a class on the tiny beaded baskets that often were made to go in those fabulous caskets.  Here is a taste of stumpwork for one of those baskets.
http://ladysrepositorymuseum.blogspot.com/2014/02/making-up-beaded-stumpwork-figure.html

http://ladysrepositorymuseum.blogspot.com/2014/02/beaded-stumpwork-angel-continued.html

If you have a limited budget, get this book from Jacqui Carey for them.  It covers stitches popular in the 16th and 17th Centuries.  It astounds me what our stitching ancestors have to teach us if we listen.
http://www.careycompany.com/elizabethan-stitches.html

Can you imagine what Tony Minieri would do if he got his hands on this stuff?!!?!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright Feb. 18, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.