Heart My Beading - 2/24/26

February 24, 2026--Here's another beautiful design by Nancy Cucci called My Beading Heart.  The instructions were printed in the January/February 2010 issue of Needlepoint Now Magazine and were very easy to follow.  I did have some problems sourcing the Mill Hill Treasure flat margarita beads #13005 since that color has been discontinued.  The color I found is a bit "pale", but I used them anyway.   I also had problems with DMC Red #321 thread from my stash--it bled into the white sections.  I've never seen that happen before but have read that it does occur occasionally.  So, I switched to RG Splendor #820 Ruby Red--perfect.   

The beads give lots of dimension and shine.

My Beading Heart Completed

My Beading Heart Side View

I did have fun learning how to color in the red sections using acrylic paint.  I first had to mix up a batch of Flow Aid Solution by diluting it with water, then mix some of that up with Gesso to prepare the canvas, then mix up some of the diluted Flow Aid Solution with the red acrylic paint (almost a 50/50 mix).  I used a thin, flat brush to spread the paint into the red areas and a dry flat brush to open any holes that got blocked.  It turned out to be a very easy project, and I look forward to using this technique whenever I want to use dark thread on white canvas--no more "show through".  

My Beading Heart Painted

Valentine Heart - Updated 7/28/19

July 28, 2019--Finished this heart into an ornament today.  Like the results, but ask you overlook the crooked initials and year on the back.   Someday I'll remember to draw an erasable line on the fabric before doing the sewing.

The cord used for the bow is thinner than the one going around the heart.  When I first made it, I realized the heart needed a more substantial cord going around it, so saved the thinner one for a different use--like the bow,

Without further fanfare, here it is:

Heart Valentine Finished

Heart Valentine Finished Back

July 9, 2019--Completed the stitching on this cute heart.  It was a lot of fun and the 50 blocks worked up fast.  Will make the cording and find backing fabric from my stash today.  Looking forward to hanging this in my dressing closet where I have most of my other non-holiday ornaments.

Valentine Heart Completed

July 4, 2019--Happy Independence Day.  My stitching, not having anything to do with the holiday, does at least have the color red in it.

My ANG chapter, Delaware's Seashore Chapter, had a class called Valentine Heart led by one of our members, Roseanne J.  The project, published in the January, 2017 issue of ANG NeedlePointers Magazine, is from Wiehenberg Designs and has 50 blocks of different stitch combinations.  A challenge for even the most experienced needlepointer especially since the diagrams are not numbered as to how to execute the stitch.

So far I've completed 19 blocks using 5 different threads.   Not only did I chose different, but similar colors, I chose different textures as well.  It's interesting, to say the least (IMHO).  Here's a photo of my progress to date.

Valentine Heart through Block 19

Imperial Rubies Heart - Updated 4/30/18

April 30, 2018--Finished!  Again, this is "do it yourself" finishing and continues to be a learning process.  Love the hearts designed by Gay Ann Rogers.   The cording around the heart was made using my kumihimo disk.

Imperial Rubies Heart Finished Front

Imperial Rubies Heart Finished Back

December 21, 2015-- Was so eager to complete this beautiful heart that I sat down and worked all the beading yesterday.   The side views show the dimensions and beauty of the beadwork.

Almost couldn't finish--discovered I didn't have a needle small enough to fit through the tiny pearl beads, and there were 22 of them on the two necklaces.  Fortunately I remembered purchasing a new type of beading thread from Louise's Needlework shop in Ohio while there for a class last April.  It's a very fine, strong braid and stiff enough to manually thread through the itty, bitty, teeny, tiny pearls. They are so small that I couldn't hold them with my fingers--had to use a pair of tweezers.   Of course, I had to continuously thread up and unthread the needle to pick up the crystal beads.  Took a bit longer than anticipated, but now that it's done, I'm very pleased.

Imperial Rubies Heart Completed

Left Side View

Right Side View

Beading Thread - Braided and Strong

Manually inserting Thread into Pearl Bead (no needle)

December 20, 2015--All the stitching has been done and ready for beading.

Progress through 12-20-15

November 24, 2015--This is my work so far on this lovely heart.  Almost finished with the needlepointing.  The beading will add the beautiful dimensions.   See the In Process Tab above for a project photograph.

Stitching through 11/24/2015

October 17, 2015--For the very first time, I participated in Gay Ann Rogers' sale of her royal hearts and was able to purchase the Imperial Rubies Heart.   Looking forward to getting the kit in the mail--these hearts are so beautiful.

Kiss 3/11/15

March 11, 2015--Completed the stitching of this little piece and will now finish it by turning it into a "candy kiss".  I decided to bead the lips instead of using a tent stitch--like how they came out.

Kiss Completed Side View

Kiss Completed

March 7, 2015--My local ANG chapter, Delaware's Seashore Chapter, is stitching Kisses by Barbara Bergsten Designs, led by one of our talented stitchers at the March meeting.   There were so many to choose from and I decided to work on the one called "Kiss".   They are all so adorable and very easy to stitch.  When sewn together, it will be shaped like a Hershey Candy Kiss.  Here's mine so far:

Center Completed

Sweet Valentine Hearts (Two)

February, 2013--This delightful pair of sweet valentines designed by Laura J. Perin,  instructions printed in the Needlepointers May, 2010 magazine, were a Seashore Chapter led class.  I mounted them in clear acrylic trivets.

PS...The trivets were very difficult to find or very expensive.  Found mine at Allstitch.com.  Best price and didn't gouge me for shipping (no affiliation).