Joan Elliott

Fairy Enchantment: Thoughts on Beads

05 Dec 2011 12 Comments

by joanelliott in What's new Tags: Fairy Enchantment Bead Ideas, Joan Elliott Cross Stitch. Fairy Beads

Before I get to the beads, please note that on The Fairy’s Garden design, you may find working with the #8 Braid 070 listed in the key too heavy on the design. Please change this to Kreinik #4 Braid 015.

As many of you may already know, only one of the designs, Once Upon A Time, in my new book Fairy Enchantment, was allowed beads. All of the designs already sparkle with  beautiful Kreinik  threads but for everyone that has asked about  adding some of the extra ‘bling’ that beading brings, I have made up a list of possible bead substitutions for the single stitches and French knots I  used in the book. I’ll leave it to all of you to decide whether to bead or not. Feel free to use some of these, or all, choose your own colors, or make no changes at all. It’s entirely up to you and your personal taste as the stitched designs  become an expression of your own creativity. I know whatever you choose to do will be perfect for you!

PS: You may want to do the French knots using Mill Hill Petite Beads since they will be smaller and more like the french knots. Petite color codes are in the parentheses. Please go to the Mill Hill website to see their full selection.

BUTTERFLY FAIRY:

For the swirling single stitches in the background Kreinik 045 :  Mill Hill 02047

For French knots in her headdress Kreinik 5982 : Mill Hill 00332 (Petite 40332)

For French knots twining her arm and legs Kreinik 5008 : Mill Hill 03034 (Petite 40374)

ONCE UPON A TIME:

Use the beads listed and

For white dots on the child’s outfit DMC 1 : Mill Hill 03021

For French knots on child’s boots Kreinik 028 : Mill Hill 02011 (Petite 42011)

THE FAIRY QUEEN:

For single stitches in background and French knots on bodice Kreinik 028 : Mill Hill 00557 (Petite 40557)

For single stitches on skirt hem Kreinik 3260 : Mill Hill 02031

For single stitches at the edge of her shawl and along the neckline Kreinik 015 : Mill Hill 00167

For single stitches in her necklace  Kreinik 5003 : Mill Hill 03047

For the white centers in the pink flowers in her skirt DMC 1 : Mill Hill 03021

THE FAIRY & THE DRAGON:

For the single green stitches on the tendrils in her hair Kreinik 015 : Mill Hill 02031

For the gold French knots in her necklace Kreinik 028 : Mill Hill 00557 (Petite 40557)

A FAIRY’S GARDEN:

For the white single stitches in the mushrooms DMC 1 : Mill Hill 03021

For green stitches in her skirt Kreinik 070 : Mill Hill 02031

For French knots in flower centers DMC 986 : Mill Hill 03031 (Petite 40332)

For white french knots on her bodice DMC 1 : Mill Hill 02010 (Petite 42010)

CHILDHOOD MAGIC (All four designs):

For French knots  around the border Kreinik 028 : Mill Hill 00557 (Petite 40557)

For French knots  on butterflies and hat DMC 938 : Mill Hill 03034 (Petite 40374)

For border flower centers DMC 743 : Mill Hill 02047