Cameo Christmas

The cameo ornament is done!  Truthfully it would have been done one day sooner if I hadn't spent several hours cleaning the stove and oven and my hands still smelled like oven cleaner despite the rubber gloves I wore.  So I skipped stitching night before last and waited to assemble the ornament last night.  It's gorgeous, by the way!

The knots in the cording are to shorten it slightly as it was a bit longer than I like.  The assembly instructions were clear and the process easy and I am very happy with this.  Many thanks to Gay Ann Rogers for rushing the instructions out to me so I could have it finished in plenty of time for Thanksgiving delivery.

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

Sundance Beads

Today I have beads for you to drool over.  A friend managed to get samples of the newest beads from Sundance Designs at the trade show this summer and sent me some.

Yesterday I laid my loot out on the dining room table and took a photograph so you could see some of the newest styles and packaging of their beads as well as relative sizes.  On the right side are what is called Color Inspiration Collections.  These are sets of beads (they appear to be size 11 although I did not open the packaging to compare the beads with those I know are size 11) in coordinated colors.  This is perfect for folks who want a few beads for a project in several colors but don't want to buy full tubes from Sundance.  The Chili Peppers set looks to be perfect for Christmas or for red and yellow flowers on a canvas, while the Shell set would have looked great on my Cameo Ornament if I hadn't already put silver beads on it.  I think these will be a big hit since a selection of small amounts of beads in seven coordinating colors is something a lot of folks can use.

The left side shows tubes of beads arranged by size and turned so you can see the colors.  Color Inspiration Collections aren't the extent of the new things at Sundance this year.  They have a new bead style called drop beads.  Drop beads are slightly oval beads with their hole up at the top, not at the center.  I drew a shape next to the drop bead tubes so you could get an idea of what these beads are like.  These are large beads, perfect for a 13 count canvas where you want a droplet shape in the background or to highlight something on the design.  They would also make very pretty trim. (You know how I like to bead the edges of my ornaments!)  The colors I was sent include very pretty white pearls, an iridescent reddish purple, a two-toned blue and green bead, and a tube of beads that vary in shade from turquoise to copper to gold, but all with copper undertones.  I understand the pearl beads are new.

My selection includes two tubes of size 8 beads, one sparkling clear with silver lining and one of clear iridescent finish beads.  These beads are highly faceted and shine like the dickens in light.  These are perfect to scatter over the background of a 13 count canvas.  They are pretty large, probably too large for solid beading, but for a few beads here and there to indicate dewdrops or rain, they would be lovely.

My single tube of size 11 beads (perfect for 18 count canvas holes) is a very pretty sea green.  These beads are rounded, not faceted, and have a bit of depth to the color, probably because they are glass.  Sundance offers not only a large range of bead colors and sizes, the styles of beads differ.  You can get beads with their holes lined in silver or unlined, round beads, faceted beads, pearl beads, frosted beads, etc.  Something for every canvas, in fact.

The last two tubes are size 14 beads.  Size 14s (sometimes you'll see the size written 14/0) also work on 18 count canvas, particularly if you need a smaller bead to cluster or to solidly bead an area.  One tube is silver in color and the other is pewter.  These are new beads and non-tarnish.  They are very pretty and dainty.

If you are curious about Sundance's beads, you can browse their website.  They distribute needlepoint canvases and also have a great little booklet about stitching with beads.  Just click on Catalogue and then choose the right drop down menu items to see what you are interested in.
http://www.sundancedesignsonline.com/

Meanwhile I'm going to go stare at the pretty beads some more!

Many thanks to Sundance for giving my friend extra samples for me to review here for you.

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

WARNING: Copyright Thieves Active on Ebay

Tuesday's email was enlivened by a note from a friend about an eBay seller (apparently a Chinese company) selling copies of Peter Ashe, Danji and Leigh needlepoint canvases.  This is the seller in question in the link below.  The designs that I saw yesterday that were clear knockoffs are gone.  I imagine eBay is pretty proactive when they get complaints about copyright violation and the pieces in question are quickly pulled.
http://stores.ebay.com/18thcenturytapestriesdotcom

This isn't the first time I've seen cheap knockoffs of painted designs and it won't be the last.  If you look the seller up, they have mostly positive feedback.  But if I'd been quick enough to post this and you could have looked at the enlarged versions of the canvases in question, you would have seen how crudely they were painted.  The bottom line is, buyer beware.  Study the photographs and the descriptions very carefully and if you are at all uneasy for any reason, don't bid no matter how great the deal seems.

After all, I think copying of charts is partly responsible for the demise of Teresa Wentzler's cross stitch company which closed this week.
http://www.twdesignworks.com/xs.html

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

Cameo Ornament: Assembly Required

Just a week after I started stitching this Gay Ann Rogers design, I have completed and cut out all three pieces, put the front flap on the front of the ornament (it lifts up to remove the cameo if required), and have made my tassels and cording to hang the ornament.  All that remains is to put it together.

Here's a photo of the flap before I cut it out and attached the cameo button.  If you have a piece of jewelry to remove, the ornament is pretty enough to hang on its own until you put the broach back.

I hope to have it finished by tomorrow.

I did want to mention a few things about the silk ribbon roses and French knots that decorate this piece.  The instructions say to do all the roses first, then all the French knots, and I discovered this makes a lot of sense.  It is easier to do all the roses and then add French knots at the end.  Your needle doesn't snag as much.  You still need to be careful, however.  There's a lot packed into a small space.

In making silk ribbon embroidery roses, you start with a star shape, and then weave the ribbon over and under the star's legs.  Like this-
http://www.embroidery-methods.com/ribbon-rose.html

Things that helped me make nice roses is to always start with a star that has an odd number of legs (3, 5, or 7 are typical for small, medium or large roses) and make sure that the legs are all the same length.  You don't want to have a longer leg peeking out when you have completely covered all the others.

I like to wind the center tightly and then wind slightly less tightly as the rose grows.  Note that the ribbon can and should twist as you wind.  That makes the "petals" fold back a bit to reveal the center.

If you discover a ribbon sticks up more than it should, don't unwind the rose.  A tiny stitch will pull it back down into position and if you are careful, will be invisible.

Use a sharp needle with a big eye, like a crewel needle, whenever possible.  I stuck with my John James #24 gold tapestry needle for my ribbon roses but a sharp needle would have pierced the ribbon on the back side easier when I accidentally sewed through some of the ribbon on the back.

French knots in ribbon are stitched the same way they are with any thread.  They look like tiny rose buds, too!

This is a very pretty project.  I am almost tempted to stitch it again in gold and red on black 18 count canvas to have a place to display a gorgeous costume jewelry ruby broach that belonged to my cousin.

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

Squiggles, Ribbon Roses and French Knots

The Cameo Ornament is finally starting to assume the final shape.  I've added squiggles for the vines and started the ribbon roses and clusters of French knots that decorate the front.  And I added the date and more squiggles on the back side.

As I work, I am wondering whether it would look nice to add a few crystal beads on the piece.  I may do that as I anticipate my mother will hang this in her living room and the extra sparkle will help a small ornament (the diamond shapes are roughly 4 inches high) stand out among everything else.

I think I can finish the ribbon roses tonight.  After that, I need to add some straight lines for "leaves" and decide about the beads.

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