update and news!

purple-footprints · Post by **purple-footprints** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:39 pm

Hi all,
I wasnt sure where to put this, so just started a new thread!

I wanted to say thanks to you all, I successfully stitched my seed beads onto my latest design!! Im so pleased, it was my first time with beads.

The want to ask something. My beads were 'ice' colour, so almost transparent. the fabric was white, and the surrounding stitches (on the bit i did) was black. I used white thread, coz of the fabric and bead colours, and I used the method you all spoke of, which was like they suggest in the mags. When i did the 2nd half of the stitch where you separate the two strands to go either side of the bead to secure it, you can slightly see the thread. this is a bit of a shame as the thread is white and is against black stitches. do you think i should have done the 2nd half stitch in black, or would this have been too much fidling around, or even then shown through the bead.

Overall Im very pleased, as you cant see it too much and it was my first time. The rest of the beads will be against lighter stitches, so this wont be a problem on the next part.

Thanks for all you help.

Also some more news I want to share. some of you may remember from past threads that I mentioned i was doing a degree with the open university, and that I am also busy studying this year. I got my first assignment back this weekend for the course Im doing called biological psycology, which is mostly about the brain, the course at the equivalent level to 2nd or 3rd year at convensional universities. I got 85%. Im very pleased with that grade!

StitchingAgain · Post by **StitchingAgain** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:44 pm

Well done! Both with the beads and the 85%! *congratulations hugs*

mauveme · Post by **mauveme** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:50 pm

Congrats on the 85%, very well done. Good going with the beads, i would love to try something with beads but I have very poor small motor skills with my hands, both my thumbs dont work and I have no feeling in some of my fingers, so handling something as small as beads would be an incredible chore. I could probably do something with charms, be easier to handle. I will add that to my very long todo list hehe. Linda

Serinde · Post by **Serinde** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:56 pm

85% isn't just good. It's an alpha by anyone's standards.

You are right to be proud. Your tutors must be very pleased. Well done.

lindagibb · Post by **lindagibb** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:58 pm

Well done on both accounts. I know I would be chuffed to bits if I got 85%. I know there is a lot of hard work ahead of you, but when you get results like that, it makes it all worthwhile. I did two years of an OU course but stopped after that as I wasn't able to give it the time it deserved due to commitments with the kids. Ended up doing an HNC in Legal Studies on day release through my work before I came out to Saudi.

purple-footprints · Post by **purple-footprints** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:14 pm

Thanks everyone.

mauveme - I dont know if it will help you with beads, but I used a bead nabble. Its a little bit like a thimble you can put on, but its plastic and go go on any finger. It has a sticky velcro like pad (which is changable when it wears out), the beads stick to it, and you can thread them onto the needle from there with out pricking yourself. Basically you dont have to handle the beads at all. It only cost about Â£1.50 and I have to say I found it fantastic!

mauveme · Post by **mauveme** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:53 pm

Thanks for the tip, I have always wanted to try putting beeds in something, I have seen the "thimble" thingie, looks worth a try Linda

Becca · Post by **Becca** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:40 am

Sounds like everything is going really well for you, that's great

How do the beads stick to this thimble thing exactly?

purple-footprints · Post by **purple-footprints** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:43 pm

Thanks becca.

The bead nabble is a funnt little thing, it is like a sticky velcro, thats the best as i can explain it. So the beads stick, and the velcro prongy bits hold them still from wobbling. Then you can just stick the needle through the hole and its on - simple as that. The nabber isnt so sticky that its hard to detatch them, it just sticky enough to stop them falling if you put your finger upside down, and of course it protects your finger from pricking yourself if you miss the hole!

When the pads loose their stickness you can rip them off the nabbler and replace with a new pad. The nabble cost Â£.50, and the replacement pads Â£2.25 for a pack of 7.

Checkthem out at sew and so webiste which shows both the nabber and the replacement pads, items 1 and 6 on the page given,plus it has all sorts of other accessories. http://www.sewandso.co.uk/ran752-0.html

It works just like in the picture!!!

Becca · Post by **Becca** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:45 pm

Ooh that's really cool, maybe i'll have to get one of them

purple-footprints · Post by **purple-footprints** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:54 pm

Yep, thats exactly what I thought and how I ended up getting one, I figureed if it fifnt work or if i didnt get on with it Id not lost out on alot of money.... But it did work and i did get on with it