Hi there!
Welcome back. It’s always nice to have you here with me. Things are hopping in the studio this week. I’m putting the finishing touches on the cutie-pie canvas that Diane (from Pepperberry Designs) created especially for my Jingle in July retreat. I’ll share a picture with you next week. I don’t want to spoil the surprise for the stitchers who’ll be joining me, but I can tell you that the frothy Arctic Rays whipped cream on top of Jingle’s steaming mug of hot chocolate looks reeeallly yummy!
Do you know about Arctic Rays?
It’s a terrific novelty thread by our friends at Rainbow Gallery. It’s 100% nylon and it’s made in Italy. Each card holds 8 yards. You can use it for all kinds of design components – not just whipped cream! It’s available in 24 fabulous colors and lots of needlework shops carry it. If you don’t have a local shop, click here to let me know and I’ll do my best to help you find a source for Arctic Rays.
Arctic Rays works best with long stitches on 14 – 18 mesh canvas. It’s a whimsical thread that Rainbow Gallery describes as a “wispy fringe”. You really do want to make sure that you use it for long stitches because the little fringes get stuck in the canvas if your stitches are too short. It makes the cutest French knots, too!
Here’s another tip for using Arctic Rays…
Use the stabbing method when stitching. Never heard of the stabbing method?
No worries – it’s really easy. Let me explain.
First, bring your needle straight up through the canvas from the back side – where you want to begin your stitch. (Keep your needle in the upright position because if you pull it through at an angle, you can damage the thread if you drag it across the canvas.)
After your needle is to the front of your work, find the place where you want to end your stitch. Then, insert your needle straight down into the canvas and pull it through, again taking care not to pull at an angle. And voilá! Your stitch is in place and your thread is intact.
Wondering what else you can use Arctic Rays for?
I thought you might be. 😉
Here are just a few ideas…
- witch’s hair
- foaming waves
- Christmas greenery
- snow
- baby ducks
- grass
- hay
- spiders and other creepy crawlies
- trees
- flower centers
Of course, your imagination is your only limitation. Let yours run wild and I’ll bet you’ll come up with oodles more ways you can use Arctic Rays to embellish your painted canvases.
Have you used Arctic Rays on a project? I’d love to hear about it. Hop down to the comments box below and tell me more.
Until next time, happy stitching! 🙂
XOXO!
