Stitches and Threads for Faces

There are lots and lots of stitches useful for faces.  Besides tent stitches, consider Brick Stitch Over Two as seen here in my Pirate Cat from Patt and Lee...
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/09/pirate-cat-has-sweet-face-and-brocade.html

...Interlocking Gobelin works nicely for animal faces and long and short or split stitch is stunning as a face if you have the confidence to try.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2013/10/repairing-recreating-hand-embroidered-vestments.html

You can also use a different thread than the normal cotton or silk to get wonderful looks.  Flair is wonderful for faces, for example.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/05/snowmans-face-and-background.html

I used the clear Water N Ice for my Blue Russian's face.  Both turned out great!
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2013/12/blue-russian-santa-has-glass-face.html

Here's what Sue Dulle says about faces.
https://sudukc.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/torin-ailfred-opatrick-and-faces/

I hope all this gives you ideas for the next portrait in your stitching rotation.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 12, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Dealing with Water N Ice

Ann reminded me what I was basketweaving with Water N Ice that the thread frays badly at the ends. It didn't even occur to me that this might be an issue as I cut my Water N Ice with my Thread Zap 2.  This tool is battery operated.  You insert the AA battery, take off the tip cover, hold down the button and the tip heats up enough to burn right through the Water N Ice (or Flair).  The end is cut and sealed so it does not fray.
http://www.needlepointtooltime.com/product/7258

If the frayed ends bother you or you use a lot of Flair, this is a tool you might want to invest in.  I bought mine from Needlepoint Tool Time when it was on sale.  Tisha warned me if I wanted to ever replace my tip, to make sure I bought Thread Zap 2 tips as the original tool tips won't fit on the new, improved version.

This thing gets plenty hot, so be careful with it.  I store mine with the battery out and am careful to put the dogs in the kitchen before I plan to use it.  I've noticed my tip falls out if I don't hold it upright as well, but that might just be my particular Thread Zap.  It's not something to be careless with, but it works beautifully on Water N Ice.

Thanks for the reminder, Ann!

Questions?  Email me at chillyhollow@hotmail.com and I'll get back to you within a day or so.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

From Playing with Fire to Playing with Water N Ice

Cape Cod Dog's window has been completely covered with Water N Ice and I'm continuing work on the border. Didn't finish that last night but I was slightly distracted by testing some stitches for the South Seas: Fiji ornament. So today I'd like to talk about Water N Ice a bit more. I forgot to mention that when stitching the window view on Cape Cod Dogs, I used two colors of Water N Ice. I used the original clear WT1 (which looks like thick saran wrap cut into strips) in 90% of the window but at the bottom where the view was of the ocean, I switched to Water N Ice WT2, which is blue. I hoped to make the blue water even bluer than it was painted. The last 2-3 rows are all blue. If a row of stitches overlapped water and land, I used the clear Water N Ice as I thought blue land would look odd. I like how the use of both colors continued the glassy look but gave a boost of blue to the water seen through the window.

Water N Ice comes in many colors. Here are the online links at the Rainbow Gallery website I found--
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/detail.cfm?ID=939

http://www.rainbowgallery.com/detail.cfm?ID=1071

http://www.rainbowgallery.com/detail.cfm?id=1215

It also comes in Navy and in the original Clear but I didn't see those colors on the color card page. In the photo above you see (top row, left to right) the blue WT2 and the clear WT1 and (bottom row) the new Pearl Ice color WT12 which has a frosted look compared to the original Clear WT1. The new frosted Pearl Ice isn't as see-through as the original Clear and has some pink and green highlights. It resembles opalescent white metallic threads which often have the same highlights.

If you are stitching a margerita glass, you will want to use Pearl Ice. If you are stitching a water glass, use the original Clear. Long stitches work better to showcase this thread's glassy or wet look.

In other news, Gay Ann Rogers is experimenting with adding videos to her website. Her first short movie is an interview with the nicest and funniest NP teacher in captivity--Carole Lake. Catch it now. I don't think it will be left up on GAR's website long.
http://www.gayannrogers.com/site_2/Surprise_Video.html

Judy Soulitis has redone her website and announces her retirement from teaching except at Callaway and via the Internet in places like the Shining Needle Society. Be sure you look at the Sales section of her website to pick up a kit for a class you always wanted to take. Also, note that she has various section listed on the left side of the page and a slide show in the upper right hand corner. Don't want you to miss any of the eye candy because honey, she can stitch!
http://www.judysneedlework.com/

Barbara Elmore also has revamped her website and has added a blog. There is a lot to see as Barbara also makes jewelry, is a photographer and teaches.
http://www.barbaraelmoredesigns.com/Home/Godaddy.html

While you amuse yourselves I'm going to work on Cape Cod Dog's border. I've got the outside red padded edge to add on most of two sides and have the black background to tent stitch around one side still. I'm also working on the last side's red letters in cross stitch. To keep from dying of boredom, I cut a length of black Impressions and do the basketweave black background. When that runs out, I cut off a length of red Mandarin floss and cover the Very Velvet for the padded outside edge. Then I switch to a short piece of Hi-Lights to cross stitch another letter. It keeps me from being bored although progress on any of these three items of the border are slow this way.

Happy stitching!

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