Friday, 13 November 2015

Crystals and Sparkle

Internet is down. Someone dug through a cable and we've been without internet for two days. That's when you realise how much you rely on it!  I really hope they fix it soon. I've been unable to list new items in my shop and even regular correspondence is very slow going having to type on my phone!

Still, grateful for my phone as I am making this blogpost from it - only for the second time ever.  Ah! Technology!

I received the new crystals I wanted to try for the star centre in Bentley. These are transparent but with AB coating. I love them.  Just the right look for an icy lacy snowflake. 


And I have an update on sparkly threads. I was so delighted to find DMC 4300... but when I tried to order some more, I was told that this thread has been discontinued!  Drats!  I managed to nab the last five reels that the shop had but that's it.  All is not lost though; with that order I also got a reel of Kreinik Metallics Blending Filament in shade 5760 (called "Marshmallow)... and found to my delight that this is incredibly similar to DMC 4300! Not quite the same texture - Kreinik is actually smoother and maybe a tiny bit finer - but it does give the same subtle iridescent effect when tatted up.  Kreinik was a bit less expensive for me to buy than DMC Metallic but it comes in a 50m spool whereas DMC is a 100m spool.  I'm waiting for another colour to arrive in the post (9032 - Easter Grass) and I will report on that when I have received and tested it.



Again, sparkle is really hard to capture on camera but I hope you can see it a bit in the photo above.

I don't know how easily available Kreinik is but they have a wide selection of colours in their "blending filament" range. I also have their silver which looks nice too but has that slightly "greying" effect which I don't like as much. Kreinik is made in the USA so should at least be easily available to my American friends. Please let me know!

I now have the pattern for Bentley written up but currently unable to send it to my testers... due to having no internet!  Really really hope they fix it soon.  Keep your fingers crossed for me please!

When I have it ready, I will make a draw for free Bentley patterns from comments in this blogpost.  So please leave a comment if you'd like to be entered!

Best wishes,
Frivole
Posted by Frivole at 08:34

47 comments:

  1. Jane McLellan13 November 2015 at 10:15

    It's so disappointing when you find just the right product and then find it's been discontinued! I'm glad you found a substitute so you can continue to sparkle.

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  2. Bev13 November 2015 at 10:31

    Yes please. How can I resist another opportunity for one of your beautiful patterns.

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  3. Michelle13 November 2015 at 12:05

    I'm off to find that blending filament color. We have kreinik in the local shop so hopefully they'll have that color. My sister does a lot of beading and recently at a beading workshop, the presenter told everyone the way to make beads really shine is by dipping them in " Mop n'Glow", it will last forever apparently.
    Please enter me for Bentley, I do so love those lock chains,

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    Replies
    1. Frivole14 November 2015 at 17:01

      Just looked it up… you don't mean… the floor cleaner??

      Delete
  4. Frivole13 November 2015 at 12:15

    Ooh, Mop n' Glow, never heard of it… shall do some research. They have many colours in Kreinik filament and I'm sure others would do the trick too. I've ordered another colour called "Easter Grass" which is supposed to be even sparklier but I've not received it yet to report on it. Let me know what you find!

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  5. Maria13 November 2015 at 12:24

    I love your patterns,
    thank you for the opportunity to win this beautiful one!

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  6. Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane13 November 2015 at 12:40

    I will have to look for the Kreinik thread. It sounds like it would be a good substitute. Now, about that snowflake shuttle... any chance I can purchase one? I LOVE it!

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    Replies
    1. Frivole14 November 2015 at 17:03

      I'm sure I could work something out for you Diane… :-)

      Delete
    2. Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane17 November 2015 at 02:10

      :-)

      I found the Kreinik thread! It should be here this week! Thanks for letting us know about it!

      Delete
  7. Fox13 November 2015 at 13:33

    I love the effect with the new crystals

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  8. Margarets designer cards13 November 2015 at 14:21

    Hope your internet goes back on soon, I love those crystals they are gorgeous, when I go to my local shop I will see if they have the blending filament thread, it looks lovely on your snowflake, I am at present making your snowdrop which is working up beautifully. Love your snowflake shuttle.
    I would love a copy of your new pattern Bentley.
    Margaret

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  9. God's Kid13 November 2015 at 15:14

    That looks awesome and I can see the sparkles!!! :)

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  10. Happy Dogma13 November 2015 at 16:16

    As always, your work and your patterns are beautiful!!

    I would love to be a tester for your new Bentley pattern and/or be entered in your drawing for the pattern. Working on short motif tatting is perfect for long stressful periods while waiting for medical procedures! Hugs! -Marion

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  11. Sandy13 November 2015 at 16:18

    Please add me to the list for this pattern. I love the crystals!

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  12. Reading In The Violets13 November 2015 at 17:16

    Oooo...please enter me in your giveaway!! Love this pattern with the crystals!!!

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  13. Robin Perfetti13 November 2015 at 17:33

    Not sure what kind of phone you have, but if you can plug it into your computer to transfer the pattern, you might be able to email the PDF file through your phone. (On an iPhone this can be done through iBooks by opening the file, then clicking the little rectangle with arrow coming out the top).

    Anyhow, beautiful pattern, I would love to be entered into your giveaway!

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    Replies
    1. Frivole14 November 2015 at 17:03

      Thank you for that suggestion Robin. Luckily I think I'm back in business now - fingers crossed that it doesn't go off again! But I will look into that should I need it in future.

      Delete
  14. Jeff Hamilton13 November 2015 at 17:42

    Hopefully you get your internet up soon. Too bad that DMC thread is discontinued. The Kreinik thread sounds interesting but I'm not really a fan of using multiple strands of thread as one when tatting. I'd love to be entered into your draw for the Bentley Snowflake. Have I ever mentioned how much I love your snowflake patterns?

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  15. Jenn13 November 2015 at 20:55

    Gorgeous snowflake :). The crystals make the snowflake sparkle even more :).

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  16. Claire14 November 2015 at 06:48

    Same 'lost' feeling when we have a power outage... It's crazy how much we rely on electricity and technology.
    I like the effect of those new crystals. They really sparkle.
    I would love to be entered in the draw for your beautiful Bentley snowflake pattern please.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Martha14 November 2015 at 07:48

    Please enter me in the drawing. It's such a pretty snowflake.

    Tatting with blending filamets was quite a fad a few years back. Maybe you will be bringing it back in style :)

    Hope your internet gets fixed soon, so hard to live without it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Frivole15 November 2015 at 22:01

      Yes, thank you, it's Sunday now and we're back in business… phew!

      Delete
  18. SWtrompeter14 November 2015 at 16:01

    I forgot about the Kreinik threads - the blending filament works very well. As you said, it's only a 50-yard spool, and some of the others have much more thread on a spool. Still....it works well, just doesn't last long. The beads look perfect in that snowflake, and you *can* see the sparkle in with the tatted threads. Love the snowflake, it's gorgeous.
    Please add me to your drawing.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Emilie L.14 November 2015 at 17:45

    Quelle merveille... la délicatesse et l'éclat d'un vrai flocon ! J'adorerais m'y coller <3 Merci pour cette chance de le gagner, j'en suis ! ;-)

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  20. les Frivolités de Pandore14 November 2015 at 18:16

    Superbe ! Évidemment je participe. D'autant plus que j'ai fini Snowdrop. Merci ^_^

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  21. joyful tatter14 November 2015 at 22:32

    Your Bently snowflake is precious, and snowflakes are so inspiring in so many unique forms. I have used dmc metallic embroidery thread and separated the strands of their metallic embroidery floss as well.

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  22. panda_angel9915 November 2015 at 00:17

    The crystals are so beautiful in your tatting. Reletivly new to tatting, havnt tried adding beads yet, but its so pretty.

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  23. Helen15 November 2015 at 03:01

    Wow these crystals are gorgeous. Please enter me again for the pattern draw. Do you have access to Maderia threads? They make some really nice metallics.

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  24. bouchaxel15 November 2015 at 03:15

    Je trouve ce modèle super beau!!! avec un peu de chance...........
    bravo!!

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  25. Beth15 November 2015 at 04:09

    I would enjoy trying out your beautiful pattern!

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  26. Kathy Niklewicz15 November 2015 at 04:22

    I'm amazed you were able to do this post from your phone! It wasn't just a sentence or two, but several paragraphs - and photos!

    I did wonder how you obtained the DMC thread, as it didn't seem to be listed on their site. I'm disappointed to learn that it's been discontinued, but I'm glad you've already found a substitute. The centers are a lucky find, too!

    I appreciate your generous giveaway and the opportunity to win one of your patterns!

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  27. Astucieuse Mel15 November 2015 at 12:03

    j'adorerais l'avoir, le modèle est trop beau =)

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  28. Megan Mills15 November 2015 at 16:42

    Those crystals are just beautiful at the heart of the snowflake and I like how AB are associated with the North Pole (as is a certain famous Christmas character and, of course, a lot of snow!). You've got a wonderful talent for making your "inspired by" snowflakes look so much like what inspired them and I'm sure this is what gives them such wide appeal. I've not seen a single one I don't love. I'm grateful to the lovely person who sent you that book too because it looks like now we're all going to get not just "Frivole's Christmas snowflake pattern" most years but the occasional flurry too!

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  29. uoga15 November 2015 at 19:55

    I am using Swarovski crystals these things Snowflake (http://leblogdefrivole.blogspot.lt/search?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00Z&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00Z&max-results=50)It looks very nice on the trees when the light fell .Indeed dreamlike atmosphere.

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  30. Moopsee15 November 2015 at 21:42

    I had looked all over for the DMC thread. I'm glad that you found out why I couldn't find any!! I'll have to look up the Kreinik. You make lovely patterns! Snowflakes get me totally excited for Christmas!!!

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  31. KreinikGirl16 November 2015 at 15:38

    That's beautiful! I LOVE Kreinik marshmallow color. It is made with a soft material. Easter Grass is a flatter material, so it will look and may feel a bit differently, but still has a nice soft sparkle. I would avoid any Kreinik color with a "C" like 032C as those are "corded" colors and might be too stiff for tatting. The filament is great for carry-along, or use the Braids (like #8 Braid) by themselves. Have fun, love these snowflakes!

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    Replies
    1. Frivole16 November 2015 at 16:03

      Is that really your nickname? KreinikGirl? Does that mean you are a Kreinik expert? Marshmallow is a bit surprising as a name for that sparkly thread but yes, I agree and I like it a lot. Thanks for the tip on avoiding colours with a C in them. I look forward to trying Easter Grass but I'm pretty happy with Marshmallow. I have tried Braid #8 in a pale sparkly blue and it does look pretty tatted up but it may be a bit fragile for tatting as I broke it while pulling a ring closed. I would need to relax tension if tatting with the braid. Unfortunately there is only 10m on a spool which can make it a bit expensive for making lots of snowflakes. Nice range of colours though!

      Delete
    2. Frivole16 November 2015 at 16:06

      I feel silly now… I should have looked up your profile before answering! You are indeed linked to Kreinik. I'm glad I discovered your range of sparkly threads, it does make me happy to see that extra glittering for my snowflakes. :-)

      Delete
  32. KreinikGirl16 November 2015 at 16:04

    Yes it is my nickname and Twitter handle :) I have been working for Kreinik for 19 years, and using their threads for much longer - quilting, cross stitch, crochet, needlepoint etc. I have learned a lot so like to share when I can. Designs like yours just inspire me so much. I love creativity! Yes 10-meters is great for cross stitch but doesn't go very far in other techniques...I know Kreinik is working on adding cones to their website (previously cones were a special-order item you had to get through a shop).

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    Replies
    1. Frivole16 November 2015 at 16:08

      Thank you very much! I actually wish I could do your thread more justice with my photos. It's really hard to capture how pretty Marshmallow looks for the snowflakes.

      Delete
  33. Pop Lenuta Maria18 November 2015 at 10:42

    Beautiful! Must try Kreinik thread.

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  34. Randi20 November 2015 at 03:22

    Lovely! We can always enjoy another of your tatted snowflakes.

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  35. Bernice20 November 2015 at 20:13

    Lovely sparkly snowflake, please enter me in the draw.

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  36. Grace Atkinson20 November 2015 at 22:58

    Love to be entered but I'd also be glad to pay for it. Looks fairly easy and so beautiful! Want want want.

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  37. Frivole23 November 2015 at 22:14

    Thank you so much for your comments everyone!

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  38. Elizabeth24 November 2015 at 20:32

    Please enter my name if it is not to late.
    Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete

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