News from the Bead Industry

Susan Johnson of SJ Designs has published a new e-newsletter that talks about the changes in the bead industry.  To sum up, Swarovski has stopped selling their crystals and beads to the craft industry and now Precosia is no longer making most pearl colors and styles.  So Susan is looking for replacements in Europe.

https://mailchi.mp/149bfd86c3cb/aug-20-2025?fbclid=IwY2xjawMVUVtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF6dlJFeEc2dU05OEo5QWZqAR7SOu2xGGNM1jjBPoWXK7ba4Mx26G6QB-mHmrVmUjG6brM35f-LGuYQWL1wBg_aem_oCLJ7VuaW0m85Y4FWy-t7A

SJ Designs is one of my Go To places to shop for beads, pearls and metal findings.  If you'd like to browse, here is her website.

https://sj-designs.net/shop/beads-pearls-sew-ons/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 22, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

For Your Inner Darth Vador

Just in case you need these-
http://www.rings-things.com/Products/Swarovski-Crystal-Flatback-Skull-2856/

Two caveats:  these have to be glued or wired or somehow bound onto the surface, and these are pre-orders.  Apparently these are brand new and not available yet.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 1, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Twirling With and Without Threads

Ruth Schmuff is known to always add bling and to prefer light coverage stitching, both of which are in full play on her latest mystery class, "Twirl" from Amy Bruecken/Ruth Schmuff.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2015/03/and-twirling-we-will-go.html

If you want to try light coverage stitches yourself, you need to be aware that there are things you'll have to do differently.  I summarized the challenges of tying off stitches on the back when you are using light coverage here.  Ruth dodged the entire issue herself by not stitching most of her background but since I know a lot of people feel uncomfortable with that option, so here are my tips if you are a "Kate" instead of a "Ruth."
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/05/cat-topiary-garden-and-light-coverage.html

Regardless of what sort of stitcher you are, it doesn't hurt to try new things occasionally.

UPDATE:  Here is Twirl all finished as a standup and also framed, by the way.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/02/its-time-to-twirl.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 10, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Shopping for Swarovski?

If you happen to be in the market for crystals, you'll be glad to hear Susan Johnson has added six styles of Swarovski brand crystals to her website.  Not all the colors SJ Designs has available are up on the website yet, but I hope by the time this publishes more will be pictured.
http://www.sj-designs.com/category_108/SWAROWSKI-CRYSTALS.htm

I have ordered from Susan several times before and always am very happy with my purchases and her customer service, so this site is Chilly Hollow certified!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 13, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Newest Beads and Crystals from The Collection

I was lucky enough to be gifted with quite a few of the latest beads and crystals from The Collection.  What you see in the photo is straight from Destination Dallas.  Crystal sequins are in the packages but I opened the small bead tubes and laid out a few for you to see better.

On the right is a packet of 6 mm square crystal sequins which are very shiny.  There are only four to a package but these are quite expensive.  I have a small hoard from The Sweetheart Tree which were quite expensive even on sale about 8 years ago when I bought them.  The other package is 8mm red flower crystals which are not as sparkly.  These are called marguerites among beaders.  These have eight in the package.

The beads are described from the top down:

Black bugle beads, 3mm long and VERY shiny, don't know if there are other colors available- number is BGL1-401 Black

Leaves -- 10mm and brand new -- I also have solid copper and silver leaves - the clear green in the photo are labeled 101-105-5050 Peridot

Hearts - also new - The ones in the photo are harvest yellow and labeled VLH-13/LK080 Captured Sunset - I also have orange-coral hearts and a green-gray set with streaks in them.  All three colors are labeled hurricane glass (whatever that is).  These glass hearts are 6mm.  They are not sparkly but are semi-transparent.

Clear silver lined Japanese Delicas in size 10/0 (i.e., slightly smaller than the normal 11/0 beads) - These are rounded tubes that look like a giant piece of spaghetti sliced into sections. They are labeled DBM0041 S/L Crystal.

Miyuki size 10/0 triangle beads in matte black - These look like they are cut from a long triangular tube - These are labeled STR10-401F Matte Black.  I also have very shiny gunmetal black, too.

Drop beads in irridescent blue - 3.4 mm - These are labeled DP-261 Tr Sapphire AB. They are very pretty. I only have this color.

More triangle beads - these are not labeled Miyuki but I have a ton of colors. The ones in the photo are a very sparkly blue-teal and are labeled TG-11-7BD Capri Blue. I also have Bronze, silver lined Lime, transparent flesh colored pink, clear with a white lining, and yellow. All are very sparkly!

Your shop can order these for you from The Collection.  See their website for more photos.  The crystals, size 10/0 beads and triangle beads aren't there yet that I see but you should be able to see everything else.

http://www.allaboutstitching.com/embellishments.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.

Swarovski Flat Back Crystal Sequins

The Collection has added Swarovski flat back crystal sequins to their line of embellishments for needlepointers.   Pocket Full of Stitches has posted photographs of a few colors on their blog.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2013/04/jp-needlepoint-swarovski-crystals.html

So far only the 5mm size is on The Collection's website but these are available in the 3mm size as well. Sometimes you can get the same color in both sizes and sometimes you can't.  Some of the colors are only available in one of the sizes right now.  That may change as this is a very new product.
http://www.allaboutstitching.com/swarovski-flat-back-sew-on-crystals.html

I'm using these on the models I'm stitching for the Dallas and Columbus trade shows.  I can't show progress photos but I can tell you that although you can attach the 5mm size crystal sequins using a bead in the middle hole, the 3mm sequins are too small to be attached this way.  Even a tiny size 14 or 15 bead covers most of a 3mm sequin.  Instead I had to hold the 3mm sequins on with 2-3 tiny straight stitches that cover from the middle hole to an edge.  Try to find a matching colored thread.  A contrasting color may not show up unless it is a shiny metallic on this tiny crystal.

Here is how to attach sequins of any type, including the crystal sequins.  The small the sequin, the fewer threads you need to attach it as you don't want to hide the sparkle under too many holding threads.

In the diagram the turquoise lines are thread.  The turquoise diamond shape is a bead over the sequin hole.  Come up in the hole, add a bead to your needle, go down in the hole again.  This will secure the sequin in position.  You can choose a bead or thread that is the same color as the sequin or look for a contrasting color, depending on the effect you want.  


They are gorgeous, by the way.  You add a lot of sparkle to your canvas using these flat back sew on crystals!

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.