After Lori, from my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, taught us how to make a bracelet in 2011, I made the mistake of going to a Bead Expo. I bought 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 to make the bracelet in all these wonderful colors for Christmas presents. The gemstones did not work like the beads Lori supplied. So, they all went in a box and have been waiting for me to figure out what to do with them!
I tried using the gemstones on the earrings that I sent to NAN’s exhibit, but they didn’t work in that design either because none of my beading needles once threaded would fit through the small gemstones. So, I used regular seed beads in the NAN earrings. When I was in the jewelry aisle of Michael’s buying the lever-backs earring hook findings for the NAN earrings, these bead frames appeared to be something that I could work with. I just needed to string the gemstones.
Around this same time, I went to Blue Santa Beads for something and was looking around and found Griffin Bead Cord Perlseide Natural Silk. It’s thread with a needle attached. The needle is more of a wire (as long as it works, I don’t care what it’s called). The thread is 2 meters long. It comes in 4 weights, and I bought one card of the thinnest thread to test it. I did find out that the thread needs to be stretched before you use it. I must have stretched it too much because when I tied a knot in the middle of making the first earring, the thread broke, but not where the needle was connected. My knots were large, and the color of the thread didn’t match the beads, but I went ahead with the second earring, and it went better, but it just didn’t seem secure. So, I put the gemstones aside again until I could get back to Blue Santa Beads to buy the colors I needed to match the gemstones and one card of the larger sizes for the larger gemstones.
Fortunately, their bead teacher/jewelry designer was there, and Bill got talking with her. Next thing I know, she and he are going looking for something. Come to find out, he’s gotten her to make him a simple leather bracelet with a magnetic closure. We discussed the glue she used to connect the closure to the leather. She doesn’t like E6000 because it cracks over time. She uses “Super NEW GLUE” by Euro Tool in all her jewelry and it dries clear. I explained my issues, and she said to reinforce the knots with the glue. So, I bought one bottle. It’s in a dropper bottle. I use a toothpick to get even less of a drop. She also suggested lightly wetting the thread to stretch it and letting it dry before using it. You use the whole length from the non-needle end until you use it up. I don’t know how the thread is attached to the wire but it is.
This time, I successfully made the pair using about 140 of the small gemstones. It’s a start on using up those gemstones!
Old camera.
New camera.
I am surprised that about 70 of the small gemstones won’t fit onto the smallest bead cord. Yes, I tested all of them. That’s about 20% of what I purchased of the small blue sapphires.
Lesson 1: Don’t go crazy over something after just one class!
Lesson 2: Don’t give up! I am so happy with these earrings. Using these beads is actually what Goal #13 for 2025 was meant to accomplish. I’ve got more lots more beading to do.
Filed under: All That Simmers by Sundance Beads, ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter
I finished this in 2024 but never posted about the last area, the red poppy, in All That Shimmers. This was a painted canvas with a stitch guide by Sundance Beads done with my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter.
Kristen’s tip to place the running stitch along both sides of the red ribbon before gathering was very sensible. Doing the second edge after the bottom is gathered and in place has to be next to impossible. The red ribbon is called Christmas Red by BE Ribbons and appears to be available only at Sundance Beads (sundancedesignsonline). It comes in great colors. The green leaves are also BE Ribbons, Retro Ribbon Avocado. They are clearly different materials, but the website doesn’t provide details. I guess I would have to email them if I had questions about buying more ribbon.
The center was too large and I had to cinch it smaller so that the center of the flower didn’t disappear. The first three beads slipped through the metallic center, so I used 5-7 beads to show through. Thanks again to Kristen for leading us through this project and to Sundance Beads for making a stitch guide available.
This needed a deep box, but not really knowing where I’d put it, I didn’t take it to a framer. But, since I had such great results with Treasures of the Great Lakes, I decided to give this a go, too. There is a difference in that this is on monocanvas and slightly larger than 5″ x 7″. I found 6″ x 8″ is also a standard frame size in shadow boxes for medals (at Michael’s). That required additional borders (5 and 7 canvas threads wider) to be stitched. I used the Woven stitch in the four colors matching the original tent stitch outer borders with the same Kreinik #12 Braid. I found them in my stash and even had enough!
Then, I added a row of buttonhole over 2 canvas threads so that I could cut it exactly to fit the frame opening. Because I stitch on Evertites, it was exactly square when I took it off the bars.
And, it fit liked a charm. I did lace it to the interior back board provided just so it wouldn’t shift when it gets moved about. But, it doesn’t photograph well because of glare. In person, it looks really good. It’s standing upright as Sundance apparently intended it to be displayed. But, which way do you like it?
New camera in the Samsung S25 Ultra is making a big difference.
Filed under: ANG Seminar 2024, Treasures from the Great Lakes - Dawn Donnelly
I was worried about asking a framer to handle this, and so I contacted Meghan from my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter, who is a professional framer and now also a teacher. She gave me great guidance discussing lacing and pinning to foam board.
This shadow box frame was perfect at 11″ x 8.5″ and grey to pick up the color of the stones. Once it arrived (from Amazon in 2 days), I only had one option. There was no way to fit a second foam board in the frame or another layer of anything because the back is a foam board with a soft white felt back attached to the back. So, I attached the needlepoint to the foam board with small nails every 1/4″ piercing Congress Cloth threads as much as possible around each inner edge. I used three white pearl push pins they sent to hold it in place after I centered it. I was tempted to leave one in place near the large stone so it wouldn’t sag from the weight of the stone but I think the weight of the stone is dispersed across enough of the Congress Cloth that it won’t be an issue.
Then, I cut the Congress Cloth at the outer edge, which is about 2-3 threads from the nails. The pressure of the fasteners on each side is applying pressure as well.
The shadow box came with tempered glass which does have some glare depending on the lighting. Meghan did suggest that I could get a framer to order museum glass to fit this frame. But, where I have it hanging, there is no glare and I even got a decent photo.
Thanks, Meghan. I am thrilled with how it turned out!
Filed under: ANG Seminar 2024, Treasures from the Great Lakes - Dawn Donnelly
One of Dawn Donnelly’s comments in her Treasures of the Great Lakes class was, “know when to say when with embellishments.”
I have enough stones, seaglass, driftwood, and shells to make another one!
But, this one has enough treasures. I did use all the beads. Each of the 7 threads was used as well. It only took about 4 more hours to add the finishing touches (the rest of the beads, long armed French knots, French knots, and feather stitches), and yet it’s kind of hard to tell the difference from the last photo.
It measures 8.5″ x 5.5″. I was asked if it needs to be finished flat. No. I can turn it over, and nothing falls. During the stitching, a couple came loose, and I had to reinforce them. I don’t plan on shaking it, though.
Goal #6 for 2025 is complete! That’s the third and final ANG Seminar class from September 2024. Yeah!! I’m very happy. I sent a photo to Dawn, who appreciated seeing it.
It was fun, I love it, and I am glad I did it, but I am looking forward to my counted pieces. The ort boxes need my attention. And, I haven’t touched the two pieces from National Academy of Needlearts.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I returned to the Treasures of the Great Lakes by Dawn Donnelly, one of my ANG 2024 Seminar classes, a challenging piece.
First up was adding buttonhole rings made from the Watercolours. They were fun once I got the hang of it.
One is scrunched in between the seaglass and a stone. The large one is above that in the sea bubbles. Two small ones are in the upper right area.
The seashells are added, some small beads, the driftwood is attached. I stitched buttonhole wheels, eyelets, ribbed spider, lazy daisy, twisted dribble, feather stitch, long stem French Knots, and French Knots.
I still have a few more finishing touches to go.
Filed under: ANG Central Jersey Chapter, ANG Chapter Book Projects, ANG CyberPointer's Chapter, ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Orchid Lady by Mary Knapp, Starburst by Patricia Hartman, Summer Fireworks by Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes
I realize I never posted Starburst by Patricia Hartman (from the 2013 Chapter Project Book that was an ANG Main Line Stitchers project) or Orchid Lady by Mary Knapp (an ANG Cyberpointers project from 2021) after they were framed at Repenning Fine Arts.
Both are counted projects completed with the same thread line called Beautiful Stitches from Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes in Australia.
The ANG Central Jersey Chapter is doing Summer Fireworks by Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes this year as one project, and I had enough threads left to complete it and match these other 2 pieces.
I didn’t use museum glass, and that makes photos difficult. Both were stitched on a black Congress Cloth and have a light gray frame.
Summer Fireworks by Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes was done on white Congress Cloth and placed in a 5″ x 11″ black frame (by me). I laced it to magazine board. Foam core would have been too thick. It came with plexiglass. I used it and still got a decent photo. The stitches are slightly raised but don’t look like they are getting squished.
Since the photos are not showing the color on the first 2 as well, here they are before framing. Stitching on black makes a totally different look.
Goal #10 for 2025 is completed and framed.
I have a recent EGA Brandywine Guild project that is easy, portable, and would be perfect for the leftover threads! Ann-Marie also has a companion piece, Autumn Fireworks (also free instructions). That sounds like I am adding another project to the 2025 goals which is something that I was trying to avoid. We’ll see what happens.
Filed under: ANG Central Jersey Chapter, Summer Fireworks by Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes
I finished the top square and the center square crescents while enjoying a pre-meeting stitching session with Sue and Rosie.
Later, during the ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter monthly meeting, I started on the bottom square. The following day, after I got home while watching the Phillies, I finished the bottom square.
The center Double Fan Doubled (DVD) looked tough, and it was. It was fully demonstrated in a video. There are detailed instructions and several diagrams. So, I needed quiet and concentration. The TV was off and it still took three tries over several hours, getting threads to lay flat, going under, over, under over. When I was done the first time, I realized one arm was off! Can you find it? It’s glaringly wrong to me. Oh, well. I cut it out in no time.
The second time was wrong after two rounds (no photo). The third time was the charm and a thing of beauty. The threads are laid flatter, too.
The last of the yellow in the center went in the next day because the DFD did me in!
Goal #10 for 2025 is completed.
My ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter is stitching the Folding Ort Box (OB) and the Ort Box with a Twist (OBT) both designed by Marilyn Owen. I stitched the Folding Ort Box years ago on 14 count interlock canvas and was never happy with it because it is too big and floppy. I was happy with the blackwork but that small area is about as much blackwork as I need in my life. The path needed to take is tricky – reminds me of organic chemistry in college – you have to see where you’re going too many steps in advance. I didn’t need organic chemistry in the pharmacy and I don’t need blackwork in my life!
I am stitching both now on 18 count interlock. Because I save everything, I have my extra detailed blackwork map that I created years ago. Maybe it’ll be easier this time.
There are 7 members stitching the OB and 6 stitching the OBT. I am leading both pieces. Last month we covered colorways and basting. It took me 3 tries to get the basting on the OBT and Patrick found a mistake on my OB basting but that was easily fixed.
The error in this photo is pretty evident (stop laughing MO!). You’d have to count to find the one error (56 basted but should have been 66) and the other is marking the inner area.
Finally, I got it correct. Had I drawn lines instead of basting, the canvas would have been a mess!
For both, I provided details as seen in this photo.
For this month, I am going to focus on the diagonal divider of the OB and the pockets of the OBT. The idea is to get less thread on the back in the dividing line. Marilyn figured out how to do that. I pretty much had to flip the canvas to catch the thread (left side of photo below) or else I wound up with a hot mess (right side of photo below).
The pockets will prevent the same type of folding on the OBT and what dividing lines there are, they are different (easier).
So, I need to finish these areas and get to next month’s areas.
Filed under: ANG Central Jersey Chapter, Summer Fireworks by Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes
After doing the rewarding but more difficult finishing recently, I pulled out Summer Fireworks by Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes. The Walnetto in the outer rectangles was the fun new stitch pattern for me. It was a tad challenging because it called for 2 strands, and getting them to lay flat was tricky.
It’s so light, and in this colorway, it looks more like a spring bouquet to me. So, working on it now is appropriate. We’re enjoying several spring bouquets, including a ribbonwork one, a painted one, and a fresh one.
I’m heading to NJ on Wednesday to return the 22 pieces submitted to Woodlawn Needlework Exhibit from other members from the ANG New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) Chapter. Jacqui C will be discussing beading as the program topic. And, I will take this to stitch on. Rosie offered to be my hostess for the trip. Looking forward to seeing everyone.
Summer Fireworks is an ANG Central Jersey Chapter project, but several members are in both chapters. The April CJC meeting was canceled due to Easter. I’ll see them in May and have been asked to demonstrate finishing a coaster. It’s so interesting to be in multiple chapters and see the differences between the chapters.
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Embroidery Guild of America, Strawberry Pincushion
Patrick and I volunteered to be co-Presidents for one quarter of our EGA Brandywine Chapter’s year of meetings.
For April, we had a Zoom speaker, Toni Gerdes, speak on Additions to Stitching. I heard it recently through the ANG San Bernadino Chapter and enjoyed it again. There are several threads that I haven’t seen anywhere and a couple of ideas that I will try.
We handed out the motif Patrick designed, and I diagrammed. Then, in May, we will lead people through its assembly into a strawberry pincushion. For June, we go to Blue Santa Beads to make a Chataline.
I had a piece of Lugana (28 count in an Angel Blush that is slightly pink) and stitched over one canvas thread for a small one (about 2 and 3/8″ x 2 and 3/4″). Patrick stitched over two canvas threads for a larger one (about 4″). My stash had Crescent Colours, Bing Cherry fot the motif, and I’ll use Sampler Threads from The Gentle Art, Porcelain for finishing.
It turned out great and was ready to show at my EGA Brandywine Guild Chapter Quarterly meeting yesterday.
Patrick, Karen, and I had plenty of ground fabrics in different counts (24 – 36) and colors for people to choose. People had fun selecting theirs. Tough choices!
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 