Resources To Make Beads and Bullions Easier

I'm attaching a lot of beads to Luna and I'm also thinking about using bullions for her fingers and fingernails.  Lots of folks hate making bullions but there are resources online to help you conquer them as well as explain how to best attach beads to needlepoint.

Let's talk bullions first.  Once you read what Kathy Fenchel says about bullion knots I think they will be less intimidating.
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2006/may.php

I've mentioned before Gay Ann Roger has a four part technique series on making beautiful bullions on her website.  Start reading the tips here.
http://www.gayannrogers.com/site_2/Techniques_1.html

A great many folks recommend the lasso technique to attach scattered beads on your NP canvas.  Needlepoint Now has a great diagram on their website that shows just how to do it.
http://www.needlepointnow.com/video_instruction_so.html#b_tabasco

If you are packing an area full of beads, try the beaded brick stitch which Robin King explains brilliantly here.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2010/04/beading-pumpkin-balloon.html

There are many other ways of attaching beads but these two techniques will get you through most beading situations.

Now I'm headed back to my beading and basketweaving!

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

Today Only - 25% Off In Stock Items

Sorry, with the time difference I didn't know abou this sale until the day was almost over.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/11/today-only.html

UPDATE:  The sale is over.  Sorry!

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

No Beads & Basketweave Today

I'm sure by now you are very tired of photos of beads and basketweave on Luna's gown.  It takes a lot of work to look good!  But getting there makes for boring blog entries.   Let's go look at some other fabulous things, shall we?

French Knot has their latest newsletter out and in it they mention all the fabulous Halloween pieces on their website that come with stitch guides.  I've added a brief article about this on the CH Stitch Guides blog.  With Halloween in our rear window, now's the time to start on next year's fun.  Luna's going to need friends, after all!  (Do vampires have friends?)
http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com/2010/11/french-knot-does-halloween.html

LizArt has two new charts available.  You can see them (and the link to the purchase site) here.
http://lizartblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-designs-on-website.html

Personally, I am holding out for Liz Morrow's newest piece, Vegas Nights.  The chart for it isn't ready yet as she just finished stitching it, but I think it is worth waiting for!   Hurry Liz.
http://lizartblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/vegas-nights-finished.html

Lots of folks are interested in finding a sorority- or fraternity-themed painted canvas.  Betsy B's got you covered.  Pocket Full of Stitches shows off some of the avaialble pieces on their website.  There are some new charts in stock there, too.  See?  I don't totally ignore the counted canvaswork lovers!
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/10/fraternity-boys.html

http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/10/chart-books-and-betsy-b.html

Finally, I have something beautiful and inspirational for you to see--the NeedleArtNut's Lacquered Leaves piece (designer, Betty Chen Louis) which is magnificent.  If you want to watch this unfold, click on "Lacquered Leaves" in the right hand column and work from the bottom up.  It's worth following. Betty Chen Louis is a fabulously creative designer.  It's not often I see things I've never seen before on the Internet but this is one of those times.  Great work, Pat!
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2010/10/lacquered-leaves-is-finished.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2010/10/better-photo.html

NeedleArtNut also runs the Stitching Destashing Blog.  She happens to have some great books for sale at very good prices, including a copy of Pageant of Pattern for $6 plus shipping.  Move fast, though.  She had two copies for sale last night....
http://stitchingdestashing.blogspot.com/

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

A Third Color of Bead

I've added a third color of bead-a transparent gray-silver Delica that I think is size 14 (but the label doesn't say).  It provides a highlight at the hem and really looks good in person.  The Delica crystal beads are slightly larger than the rounded black and gunmetal beads but not noticeably so since I am not using many of them.

The photo doesn't show the gleam, but they add a bit of life to the hem.

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

You Know the Drill (With Judy's Beading Tips)

Last night I (you guessed it) continued beading and basketweaving Luna's gown.  It's slow going.  I've been alternating colors and also switching between basketweaving and beading sections.

Yesterday I had a visit in the Comments from the designer and writer Judy Harper who suggested my beading would go easier if I did a sort of skip basketweave after using a pen to dot the intersections where I want beads to go with a touch of white.  Judy says that is the easiest way to bead a canvas and the white will make the beads stand out a bit more.  Sadly, I can't take up her suggestion of using skip basketweave for the beading background as I want the beads clustered here and there, not spread out in a regular fashion.  However, later today I'm going to use one of my pens to dot the areas where I want beads to go, then basketweave the area, skipping only the dotted intersections.  This should help me spot empty intersections once the basketweaveing is done.  THANK YOU, JUDY!  By the way, Judy's e-Book on beading needlepoint canvas is on sale at her website.  She beads a lot and has many ideas about how to utilized beads to enhance your canvas, whether you want a shimmer of beads or just a touch of sparkle.  She didn't ask me to mention this (she doesn't even know I am doing so) but a sale on beading needlepoint information is too good to miss.
http://fairy-crafts.blogspot.com/2010/10/moving-along-with-shamrocks.html

In other news, Ruth Schmuff has finished her latest mystery class.  It's a little girl in her Halloween costume and it is darling.  Wait'll you see the background stitch Ruth chose!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2010/10/happy-halloween-from-our-girl-hermina.html

Patt and Lee Designs has premiered one of their new products for the January trade show on their blog.  It's a slide top Shaker style box for your stitching supplies.  If you have a pet who likes to stick their nose in where it doesn't belong, this might be something you'll want.
http://pattandleedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/10/lees-shaker-box.html

In the "I Laughed Until I Cried" category, I offer you Franklin's take on knitting someone a Christmas present.  Or not.
http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/2010/11/animated-discussion.html

Jane, exits laughing

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