Question:
I'd like to open a discussion of embellishments. Does beading or ribbon
work add to or detract from your stitching? Do you think it will preserve
into the future as well as plain stitching? Do you think glitsy bobbles
take the place of poor designwork? Would you do a piece that costs a lot
more for the trinkets and looks lost without them? Do you know how to use
the flower ribbon? Do you like it? Does one or two sparklies look good
and add the "amen" to your work or do you prefer solid stitched designs?
I'm asking because there is a new line of lovely crystal shapes that would
be fun to sprinkle across a design but I hesitate because it feels like a
move away from the fabric and thread magic. Please let me know your
thoughts?
Answer:
I think a lot of the embellishments done on designs today are very
nice and really enhance many of the designs. I personally like the
specialty items available. (Just finished a crewel victorian winter scene
in which I replaced the white dmc snowflakes with beads, the yarn hair with
Whisper, the gold blgeth in the kit with Kreinik braid, and the snow/ice
white dmc with silver blending filament - it looks great to me).
But .... (there's always a but) I can afford to to this. Many people
who frequent the local x-stitch store I work in part-time can't. We are
often helping them to replace beads with floss and button are really hard.
Patterns often call for 1 of something that comes 4 in a pack. It is also
sometimes difficult for small shopowners to stock all of the notions
that are needed for all of the various designers.
My preference would be to have the design with the embellishments, but
also suggest alternatives for those who don't have sources or can't
afford the embellishments. Just my .02 (Ok, my 2.00 worths)
I for one prefer most of the designs witout the embelishments. That's not
to say they don't have their place, but I think there should be some
reserved for "just stitches". As another poster said, an alternative set
of instructions would be a good idea.
I think a lot of it depends on the design. I use beads sparing most of
the time, if at all. *BUT* I think they add a lot to designs like your
angels and plan on using them there as directed.
As for the issue of longevity, I think that some things with beads will
look tacky, as tacky as orange and brown owls, someday. Yet, there are
items that the beads just "fit" and those will probably always look
good. Like you, I feel the design will determine a lot of the style of
the piece and that a badly designed piece will show that, with or without
beads.
Cost isn't much of an issue with me, but I see the point of many people
on the ng. Adding brass buttons, crystal beads, silk threads, etc., all
add up to an expensive piece of work. Personally I don't like the look
of ribbon embroidery, so don't do it. If I get a pattern that has it
included, I'll either do french knots (yes MB I can do fk's just fine
thank you), or possibly substitute with beads.
I'm a dedicated stitch-aholic who goes only for the most challenging
projects. I love solid stitched areas and often buy patterns with *no*
white space! Beads are always an option with me, as are buttons,
crystals, etc. I know you've said that you like it when a stitcher
changes something and makes it their own. I'm one of those. I look on
the embellishments as optional, sometimes I use them, sometimes I don't.
If you like them, add them. We can always not put them on if we don't.
After all, you have such an artistic eye that it's hard to argue with you!
