As a reminder, these natural, hand-faceted, rondelle gemstones in small (around 400), medium (around 100), and large (24) in each of these colors: Royal Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald were obtained at the Bead Expo in 2011. It took me awhile to find a bead cord that would work with them.
The teardrop ones I made (https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/jewelry/gemstone-earrings/) used about 140 small gemstones (5 columns), these used about 100 (4 rows), and there are still about 70 left! And, I haven’t used the medium or large ones yet at all although I have experimented with some options!
This pair of earrings used the Royal Blue Sapphire beads on Perlseide blue #2 bead cord (natural silk thread with a needle attached from Blue Santa Beads) on a silver round bead frame (from Michael’s).
These were my hand made gift to Linda for Christmas. She was very happy with them.
And, I am thrilled with the ByAnnie Travel Essentials Organizer in a fabric that matches the Bowl Me Over Bag from 2023 that Linda made for me.
It’s great and is perfect for storing my cords and fabrics for finishing. The A Place for Everything ByAnnie bag was filled to the max! So, now I have them in here with the duplicate cords in the other bag. I love it!
I enjoyed getting organized since I have several pieces to finish – hopefully, I can find time this weekend or next week.
I pulled out my Beeswax following a suggestion to possibly use it to prevent the silk thread from snagging while working on Nautilus.
The first thing I noticed is how much red thread got left in the wax from a previous project. So, I cleaned it up by scraping off the top layer. I also see in the photo that this only cost $4.40. So, getting a new one wouldn’t break the bank but I like the heart shape! This looks better.
Before I did use it though, I decided to research the issue on Mary Corbett’s website (On Thread Conditioning & Beeswax for Embroidery – NeedlenThread.com https://share.google/oEKTD6N6ppVkR75pm).
She says in part: If you coat your threads with beeswax (or anything, really) it changes the look (darkens) and performance of the thread (won’t spread or reflect light as well).
So, I searched her website again and found her post with lots of great suggestions in Working with Soie de Paris (& Other Filament Silk) at NeedlenThread.com https://share.google/8Z1Z6onu77qKHBRZ1 .
Thanks to Mary, I’m less afraid of starting back on Nautilus now! Mary is on vacation and taking a well-deserved break from posting. Her website is such a great resource. If you haven’t checked it out you’re missing out!
Filed under: General comments, Radiance Metallics by The Meredith Collection, Threads
I had plenty of Radiance left from Nights in White Satin by Jennifer Riefenberg so I cut one length. It was more difficult to get the first strand out and each one got easier to remove. I needed to gently massage small bits at a time but I got it separated. Then I tested three strands unironed and ironed. The strands did get smoother with ironing.
It’s like stitching with Accentuate which I find difficult to handle. Ironing improved my ability to get the strands to lay nicely. The ironed strands are used in the stitches on the left. As you would expect, longer stitches reflect more light and are shinier than shorter ones. They would make great snowflakes or window panes (Scotch Stitches).
So, you could separate this thread into strands, iron or not, and you could also couch with it.
Overall it’s a nice thread and I would use it again. It really sparkles in person and does in close up photos too.
The American Tapestry is telling stories from the Revolution to commemorate the 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. There are thirteen stories. Read all about them at https://www.americastapestry.com/about
Thanks to Amy and Becky who are leading the Delaware efforts. I joined them at The Chester County History Center in West Chester, PA today.
I worked on Delaware’s panel
https://www.americastapestry.com/tapestries/delaware
Yes, the panels are all that big! The ground is 32-count Belfast Linen backed with muslin.
Gretchen from Oklahoma stopped by after enjoying the samplers on display in the museum. She was in town visiting her sister and just happened to stop in the museum and was so excited to be able to contribute to the work. She and I worked on 4 x 4 cross stitches for the sky (they are small and tougher to count on linen). Gretch is in ANG too. Then, Marnie joined us. I enjoyed it.
To find where and when you can stitch on the Delaware panel in PA and/or Delaware, follow along at https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1JAADnKEG4/ I’ll join them again at some point.
I’m case you’re wondering, I heard about this through my EGA Brandywine chapter. The members of Brandywine are contributing as well. Karen S is stitching the sails for the British warship at home using silk threads with eventual plans for the sails to be applied to the panel. Tom is working on the main body of the ship using crewel yarn and Patrick is designing a British flag for the ship.
Pennsylvania has a panel too (https://share.google/qduFTN3S4sThOvcJj).
The PA panel is available to work on every Thursday from 5pm – 9pm and every Sunday 12pm – 5pm at The Glenshaw Public Library (1504 Butler Plank Road in Glenshaw, PA).
I hope these all get displayed nearby eventually. That will be impressive.
Maybe it’s too well known that I was looking for Rhapsody! But, thanks to Kristen and the great Ebay deal she found that I couldn’t pass up, I now have enough Rhapsody to keep making another set of these ornaments in a variety of colorways!
Eventually, I will need more cabochons. I bought more rimsets because some were bent. The 10 mm (also sized 45 ss whatever that means) pointed rimsets in silver were not available so I got them in 40 ss hoping they would work but they do not. So, I will have to find slightly smaller cabochons. But, that should be easier than finding Rhapsody or rimsets!
Luckily, I was able to unbend the existing silver rimsets and got extra gold 10 mm rimsets. I remembered seeing a jewelry tool for enlarging rings and found a pen to substitute allowing me to reshape to round with a little the help of jewelry pliers.
It’s funny that as much as I love overdyed threads I know one woman in my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter who hates them! On which side of the thread aisle do you gravitate towards? Overdyed or not and can you explain why? I’m intrigued by the combination of colors and seeing how the color shifts.
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Embroidery Guild of America, General comments, Needles, Tools, Zokins
Lots to share about my EGA Brandywine Guild meeting earlier this week!
Kathy A and Karen S had prepared pieces of blue cloth and scraps of various fabrics for us to select. The right side of photo are the pieces I took. There were 12 of us. There could have 12 more and still had fabric left over! They also purchased a Clover adjustable ring thimble with plate for everyone. A new tool. It feels comfortable. Looking forward to trying it.
You stitch boro like you stitch Sashiko. So, I can use my Sashiko needles! I have a 2 pack. They have large eye for easy threading. The shorter (almost 1″) needles are for smaller, decorative designs while the longer needles (a little over 1.5″) are for straight stitches and basting. So, I will use the long one.
And, we got to share in the two opportunity baskets that Sue S, our Chapter’s MAR Rep won at the EGA-MAR Regional Seminar in Gettysburg! One of the baskets was from the EGA Molly Pitcher Stitchers Chapter in Carlisle, PA who are celebrating their 40th anniversary as a chapter. Congratulations and thank you for your generous contribution – it was a huge basket! Between the two baskets everyone got multiple gems. Not pictured are three red kitchen towels that I took.
I wanted and needed the project bag for the blue fabrics since I had intended to work with my fabrics and still will. Karen R from Molly Pitcher Stitchers stitched a lovely design and finished in coordinating colors. The Mollies have stitched two of my designs, Overdyed Spools and A Spring Sampler. I visited them after Overdyed Spools was posted as a Petite Project. So, I really appreciate having something of theirs. The counting pins are cute and came from them too! These will be perfect to carry in my travel tool bag.
Here’s the arrangement of my fabrics ready to stitch into place. I used all the straight pins I own!
We have until September to stitch the small pieces onto the larger ones when we finish them into a cloth booklet (back to back with pages).
There may be alot of controversy over AI (Google in Chrome browser) but it’s sure easy and quick to get answers!
While handling Soie d’Alger right after Splendor in a project, I realized that Soie d’Alger is softer. They are both 100% silk. So, why the difference? Here’s what AI Overview provided:
The perception of Soie d’Alger being softer than Splendor is mainly due to differences in their manufacturing processes and fiber characteristics.
Soie d’Alger
Spun Silk: Soie d’Alger is a stranded spun silk made from “strusas,” a high-quality spun silk.
7 Plies: It is composed of seven easily divisible plies.
Softer Twist: Soie d’Alger has a slightly softer twist compared to cotton, which gives it a better “spread” when stitched and makes it feel softer.
Natural Sheen: It possesses a natural, soft sheen, unlike the chemically produced sheen of mercerized cotton.
Versatile: It’s suitable for various embroidery stitches and is known for its beautiful satin stitch and long and short stitch.
Splendor
Spun Silk: Splendor is also a spun silk, with 12 plies, according to Rainbow Gallery.
Tighter Twist: The twist of each individual strand in Splendor is tighter than many other silks, making it easier to handle and potentially less prone to snagging.
Handles like Cotton Floss: Due to its tighter twist, it handles more like cotton floss, which some stitchers find easier to work with.
In essence, Soie d’Alger’s softer twist and inherent softness contribute to its luxurious feel, making it particularly appealing for needlework where a delicate and elegant finish is desired. Splendor, while still a high-quality silk, has a tighter twist that can make it feel slightly firmer to some users.
Very interesting and it called for a test.
Using 4 strands of each, I stitched diagonal stitches over 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 canvas threads. Coverage is excellent for both but it did seem like Soie d’alger (tan) was more difficult to lay the threads and have them stay there. They have some loft to them that Splendor (blue) does not. Splendor held snug to the canvas with each stitch.
Using 3 strands of each, I found the Soie d’Alger easier to lay, stayed flatter than 4 strands, and coverage was still fantastic. It was a little harder to get the 3 strands of Splendor to cover but I did. The 3 strands of Soie d’Alger laid like 4 strands of Splendor.
Very interesting indeed!
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Casalguidi Flower by Becky Quine, Embroidery Guild of America, Finishing, General comments
A lovely white lacquered tissue box from The Container Store is perfect for Casalguidi Flower by Becky Quine.
I posted about this design previously at https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/07/25/roman-ruins-by-joan-rinehart-and-casalguidi-flower-by-becky-quine-for-ega-brandywine-chapter/
Since I have enough coasters, I thought about a tissue box for small designs/stitch samples. I initially bought a clear acrylic one but the tissue box didn’t fit. Crazy! Then, I decided clear wasn’t a good idea anyway. This one is white and 5″ wide x 6″ high, it fits a box of tissues, perfect size for small stitched pieces/samples, and is functional.
I finished it as a flat ornament wrapping the excess fabric on the back over a piece of magazine board and piece of wool felt. It is attached to the box with sticky back velcro.
It’s near other yellow decorations in our bedroom. Love it!!
There are 3 more sides that can be decorated. And, I bought 3 more tissue boxes. Eventually, one will be in our bathroom (blues), extra bedroom (purples), and the other in the living room (whatever goes with brown/beige).
Filed under: General comments, House of Embroidery (H of E), Needlepoint Shops, Radiance Metallics by The Meredith Collection, Threads, Threads Too Needlepoint
Bill and I met Linda P and Cynthia S from ANG New Jersey Needle Artists at Threads Too Needlepoint in Fair Haven, NJ to get books for redistribution from Nanette Costa’s library. Over half of the 60+ books have been claimed by either members of my EGA Brandywine Guild or ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter. I will take the rest as an opportunity to visit a couple of other nearby chapters!
Threads Too Needlepoint is a bright colorful store with lots of canvases, finishing accessories, and a variety of threads including couple of unique threads: an overdyed Perle cotton #5 by House of Embroidery (H of E) and Radiance Metallics by The Meredith Collection. I resisted both not having a specific project for them.
It was a HOT day in Philadelphia and a tad cooler at the shore especially in the shade sitting at a favorite Seaside Park bar in the breeze sipping on a cool refreshment (Bill and I). Crabs at our favorite restaurant, Bum Rogers, capped off a lovely day.
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 
Filed under: General comments
It’s that time of year to review what I accomplished over the year and reflect on what’s lies ahead in my needlepoint journey. This year I am thanking you for being one of the 11,300 interested visitors of my blog. That’s quite a jump from previous years.
Last year I wrote about my 2025 goals and that is where I will start my review of this year. Happily, I accomplished most of them. I won’t repeat all that here but I did update last year’s post with links to those goals that were completed. Check them out at https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/01/01/2024-year-in-review-a-look-forward/
The 30th goal was not to get any more goals which was/is/will always be impossible. But, of the 29 doable ones, I only did not do:
Only Project Runway is important to me at this point and I have made good progress. That will be my January priority since it must be done by March.
There are a few projects that I will be doing/want to do in 2026 including Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz which our chapter starts in March, Florentine Fancywork by Toni McKelley, Golden Candles by Toni Gerdes, and the rest of the Cabochons.
I’m also planning to go to 3 seminars (NAN, ANG, and EGA). I know I have 2 classes at NAN (National Academy of Needlearts): Exploring Needlelace with Diane Clark and Magical Color with Jennifer Riefenberg in Warm and Cool colorways. At EGA, I hope to get in Laura Smith’s Going Places: Hands-On Design and Color. I’m waiting to see the Jan/Feb issue of ANG Needle Pointer’s to decide on those classes.
The ribbon class at Fireside Stitchery in April with Tamara Abdee should be interesting. She does lovely work and am curious about her and learning her techniques.
Ideally, I would like to finish a few of my oldest unfinished counted projects begun in a class setting:
There is no way that I’ll say all those are goals! They are options. Paths along my journey. Along with some finishing, it’ll be a busy 2026.
But, I haven’t finished reviewing 2025 yet. I addition to the goals I did accomplish, I also led/spoke about:
Other projects that I hadn’t plan on but stitched included:
I visited two needlepoint stores new to me:
I was busy participating in my EGA chapter projects including a cross stitch needle book, Zokin, porcupine quill, chatelaine, and pin cushion.
The Needlework and Fiber Guild of Media covered a variety of topics but the icicles were the most fun.
I used a few stitched designs to adorn tissue boxes this year. In the September-October 2022 issue of Needle Pointers, I stitched two Bargello Samplers designed by Gail Stafford once in stranded threads and again in sparkly threads. I added a binding stitch border as I attached a black felt backing (with a piece of magazine board for stiffness) and attached it with strips of a double stick archival tape. It went as a 2-sided tissue box for a Christmas gift for my brother John and sister-in-law Sher. Eventually, they may get something in browns and golds for the other two sides so they can rotate it periodically.
I think that about covers the highlights of 2026 and shares most of what’s ahead in 2026.
What’s ahead for you?
Happy New Year and enjoy your stitching time!