All That Glitters

With Hedgehog Needleworks closing so the owner can retire, goldwork stitchers need places to buy goldwork threads and supplies.  Golden Hinde Goldwork, an English company, is ready to fill that gap.  Since I think of New Year's as a time of sparkle and glitter, it seems appropriate to visit their online shop and learn a bit about goldwork today.
https://golden-hinde.co.uk/a-history/

Once you read the history, click on Shop to see the wonders the shop sells.  Don't miss 3 Ply Twists in the Threads section.  These are tiny metallic braids, very beautiful as a special touch on your embroidery. Couch them around an angel's halo, use them as Santa's coat trim, or decorate a Christmas tree or swag with these beauties.

Happy New Year!  Here's to many beautiful threads in our future!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 28, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Little More Santa, Coloured Twist

Last night I found another cut thread on Surfin Santa so out came the glue again.  About 1/6 of his edging is hand sewn on. I'll try to get a lot more of it done today and probably tomorrow.  The weather report says we are going to get 2-4 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow morning, so I'll probably be at home, stitching and wondering why I didn't move to the Bahamas then.

So out came the laying tool case and I worked on the background and another flower stem.  I hope you can see the cashmere squares that I added to the background at the upper and lower left corners of the front of the laying tool case.  They look very pretty with the gold flecked canvas.

I also couched a piece of twist as the last flower stem on the right.  It has a curve that will eventually surround a flower bud of beads.  Twist is a British metallic thread, often used in military braid and very elaborate court costumes.  It's gorgeous stuff and I have a little stash of it that I got from Michele Roberts.  I think stitchers can usually find it at ANG and EGA Seminars and at Callaway in the stores set up for the events.  Twist comes in solid colors and in barber pole stripes that mix two colors.  I choose a copper and gold mix that looks brown and gold when added to the laying tool case.  It's lovely stuff and adds great elegance to any design.  I hope I have enough left for the back side as my strand was only about 9 inches but I can always improvise and use another thread if necessary.

By the way, I couched my twist with DMC's three ply thin metallic that comes on a spool.  My color is Or Clair or light gold. It holds the twist almost invisibly and is a strong thread, well able to tie down the twist on the back side.

All of the front side of the laying tool case is finished except for the beads that I'll add at the end.  Now I can turn my attention to the back side, which has a more elaborate leaf and flower stem design on it.

Once I get the trim attached to Surfin Santa, that is!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow