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The first test (with the too-glittery beads) is behind the current effort. I did the background and the tree without any drawing or plan; I learned quite a bit and would definitely do a few things differently next time. I think I was a little too restrained with the "shading" darker atmospheric blue. It might have been a little more interesting if I threw it around more liberally as the flat background is pretty... but also pretty flat looking.
Another key learning: floss color matters. You don't need the floss to exactly match the canvas but you can't switch floss mid-project when you use semi-translucent beads and expect it to blend. It won't, even if it's a shade or two off the original floss color. Buy several DMC skeins of the chosen color to make sure you have enough to work with.
... so that happened! My first attempt went well and although I won't be rushing out to frame my test sample, I did learn a few key things in figuring out the process.
- 14 count canvas is needed to accommodate size 10 seed beads, 18 count canvas for size 15 (Japanese) beads.
- Rochelle and generic seed beads look fairly similar (Rochelle's centers are lined with metallic to give them a different "glow"), but the differences become really apparent when they are planted next to each other in a design. Try to avoid it, unless it's an intentional facet of the design.
- As tiny as the design is I'll need to rethink some elements I tried to make what I want to convey more obvious. Example: a clear white bead worked OK for the ears but needed a strong outline to set it off. Without the outline the delicate ears just sort of faded.
This might just work...
I schlepped all over central Singapore today at lunchtime collecting beads and canvas to play with. There is something so satisfying about buying new supplies! I did really good though: instead of buying the über nice imported German seed beads I opted for the discount versions at almost 1/5 the price and had a slightly better selection of colors to choose from (although you could definitely see the quality of the pricey beads - so, so lovely).
Update: the double strand of embroidery floss worked, one of the packages of needles worked, and I think even small, the designs will work. What didn't work was my canvas: neither 28-, 22-, or 18- count canvas worked with my size 10 seed beads. (Unfortunately all the goods came from two different stores so mixing and matching on the fly was a little challenging). I'll need to get a little bigger canvas size tomorrow to try again.
Yes, it's that time of year and I am jonesing for some projects again.
First up: I am going to work out a border for the bluework piece I did last December/January. My Mom-in-Law sent some photocopies of some border designs but I'll have to do a bit of math to work out how to adjust them to fit around what I've already done so it'll be a while before I can actually get stitching.
The scarier second project: I want to attempt some Peranakan bead work in honor of my current host country. It is, needless to say, a daunting project even for the rather tiny designs I had in mind. Weirdly, as an art it jibes well with the equally insane miniature tapestry work I did in college: delicate, covet-able, meticulous. I find it's tiny preciousness so compelling for some reason.
I scored a page of stunning 2002 stamp designs of local animals from the Philatelic Museum and think I might be able to draft some patterns from it. I've never tried working with seed beads before. I might be in store for a sincerely humbling experience.
I confess, I make my own hot pads. I like mine just the size of a hand and not too thick and making them is the only way to get them. I should have taken a photo of the ten year old ones I threw out, but they were just so ... so... sad. Worn and torn and stained with holes worn through the middle. It was time for new ones.
My quickie End-Of-Year project becomes my New-Year's Project:
I thought with a bit of work I could knock the entire thing out in the week I was in Savannah, maybe even including an extra border on it to make it more substantial. Ha! It's taking a tad longer to finish than I initally estimated. I'm fast, but working on it at 4-5am every morning (when I'm up, due to jet lag) isn't helping; pulling out mistakes due to tired fingers and counting errors is getting tiresome.
I'm not sure if myself or a framer has to block and steam it to frame? As soon as I finish my pieces I usually hand them over to my Mom to wrangle. Maybe this year I'll grow up and figure out how to do finish the while process myself.
This is driving me nuts. For the last couple of seasons I keep seeing these adorable crochet lace jackets for tots and little girls, but I can't find a pattern anywhere. Last year I tried to copy a crochet top bubble jumper that I saw and ended up with something that will fit V *this* summer, when she'll probably want to potty train. Duh! So I'd really rather make a jacket from a pattern than try to figure it out for myself. Why aren't the designers up on this?
