EMBELLISHMENT THREADS

I am sure you have heard similar stories from other teachers/designers before, so you probably won't be surprised to hear I am having problems with obtaining supplies for Tropical Jazz.  It is a design that has been around for almost 5 years and is still requested a lot, but I am now having trouble getting the original embellishments. The stitching threads are all still available, but not the trims and some of the beads.  Among other things the design started with a flat braid with attached sequins and it was available in several different colors.  When they were discontinued I bought up any supplies I could find, but now..... all gone.  Here are several threads and a trim I have found to use instead.  Painter's Thread Ric Rac Can you see where they will be used?  The Ric Rac can be couched down in place of the sequined braid.  The Silk Boucle can be used instead of the Rayon 3-ply thread that as been ruched.  And, the Metallic Braid can be couched as is, or stranded, as you can see below and used added to other threads.

     Painter's Thread metallic braid               Stef Francis silk boucle 

Now the final item that is no longer available, that I am able to determine, are the resin beads used in two areas in the original design.  I am now preparing for two February workshops that will use up final supply of these resin beads. So after these are finished, I will no longer be offering complete thread kits.  Beginning March 1st, marked canvases, instruction books, and the basic thread kits will be available here......just no beads or embellishment kits. If I have any embellishment kits remaining after these last two workshops I will post them on the Tropical Jazz page here. 

It is interesting when one looks at the evolution of a design and it does seem that 5 years is about the average for availability of materials if anything other than our group of "core" threads is used.  Of course, other new things come along.....as is evidenced by the new threads shown above, so we must learn to be flexible and just think of designs as "Revisited".

CASBAH REVISITED

The original Casbah was designed back in 2005. (Shown at right) It was stitched with dark, rich colors and was 5-1/2" square. Immediately below right is the original. I taught it at ANG Tucson 2006, as a one-day class, but that is all. Generally groups do not select a one-day class, choosing to do a two or three-day workshop.  I felt like this design has something to offer and, that combined with the fact I am now working with different colors, I decided to revisit the deisg.  In addition to changing the colors, I enlarged the design to 7" square, added another interesting wide band around the outside and made a few other small changes.

And, here is the new rendition of Casbah Revisited. The pilot will be taught in January in San Bernardino and I will be proposing it for future seminars.  

I would love to hear stitcher comments.

Terry

Summertime Stitching

Recently I was teaching at the EGA GPR seminar in Reno and a student brought her finished Shorebird Avocet project for me to see.  She had finished it to hang from a pretty twisted cord and it was so cute!  Lots of us have someplace in our homes with a seashore theme (a seashell collection?).  Easy to take on a trip.  Here is a picture of the kit choices and a link to the page:  

Update:  The new colorway of Casbah is coming along and a photo should be available no later than August 15th.  The design is also being enlarged and is growing from 5-1/2" square to 7" square.  

The second in the mini geometric series has been delayed, but I am working on it and photo of it should be available by October 15th.  

We have been spending lots of time adding complete - ready to go- kits of many retired designs.  I am happy to say they are popular and we are slowly building up the availability.  I just added an update under each "Design and Kits for Sale" column the number of kits available.  If there is no number listed and you want one of those kits, please send me an email.

Happy stitching.