Project: Tear of Joy
Loretta Spears' Needle Adventures
Christmas Heirlooms Collection
October 1993
Name of designer: Loretta Spears
Type of needlework: Needlepoint
Photos: 4
Comments: I love stitching designs from Loretta Spears. This one is an unpretentious little Christmas designs that Loretta included in her Neelde Adventures, Christmas Heirlooms Collection and I am glad that she did.
There are only two threads used in 'Tear of Joy", Waterlilies and Sarah Bennett Specialties Opalescent threads together with some beads.
As for the finishing of Tear of Joy, it always depends a bit on what I have at home at the time. I try as much as I can to use what I already have. I had some Dupioni fabric which was a similar color and found some lovely already made cording that was just perfect for it. Perhaps, a little too perfect as it blended totally with the ornament, contrary to how Loretta Spears finished hers using a much darker color. I have also put some gold lame just under the canvas as the canvas is only partially stitched. This way there are gold sparkles coming from here and there when looking at the ornament.
I also managed to find in my stash some lovely velvet ribbons of a color that went very well with the colors already used in the stitching and finishing of the ornament so I added that for the final touches. Since the design pattern is exactly the same all over the ornament, I don't think that it really matters that much if part of it is hidden by the velvet ribbon.
You can see previous Loretta Spears projects that I have stitched so far here.
(Close-up photo)
This photo shows how Loretta finished hers
and the top and bottom part of mine before putting them together.
This photo shows the two parts together before
the cording had been added together with the finishing touches.
