What's In the Frostings Box?

Glossy box - the same size as a US Priority small mailer

The shipment of the first box in the Frostings Club went out before Christmas and I was excited to get it out there.  Because it was so close to Christmas - everyone instinctively realized that they should keep the contents of the box secret - me included - so as many people as possible could fully enjoy the experience of getting the surprise and opening it to find out what was inside.

This first shipment was exciting as I had a custom storage box made for the club and I bet most people thought the contents would just show up in a plastic bag.  Nope!  We all deserve something a bit special to keep our threads in.  The glossy box is covered in motifs from the 17th century and is magnetically closed so it will be useful long after the threads are gone.

Inside of Frostings Kit 1

Once opened, the box is full of 34 threads!  These have been curated to be useful for 17th century embroidery styles.  That isn't to say they aren't fun and can't be used elsewhere - but the idea was to increase the choices for all our embroidered cabinets, mirrors and the like.  Things I have seen under the microscope and had manufactured special or that aren't easily found in your embroidery stores.

I am not going to review all the threads in this blog as those who will sign up for the club (there are spots and boxes left) need a bit of surprise when they open it!  But let me show a few of them right now and explain what can be done with them.

Blue and Cream lacet braid

The first thing encountered is a packet of 13 different lacet braids in one yard quantities.  The top one is a multicolored braid made of cream and blue.  These little braids are really functional and once you start looking for them - you find them everywhere!  Not only can they be used as small drawstrings in tiny purses, but they are often seen as small ribbons attached to stumpwork figures.  Looped they embellish shoes, boots, collars, and the bottoms of breeches.  Look closely on the horses and camels and you will see all the bridles being made from these braids.

Pansy Posey Instructions are Free on my site.  The braids
are included in the Frostings Kit

Then, if they are placed edge to edge, you can whip stitch between two pieces and fold them back upon themselves while stitching.  This can make long loops to invent fabrics for use on figures, dogs ears, or even full posies of flowers.  Many little gathering of flowers made from these braids show up in casket drawers in collections.  I have already introduced a strawberry flower kit based on these braids and now the FREE instructions for a pansy made from the braids in the Frostings kit.  The 13 colors include many that haven't been seen yet in anything I have published.  I don't want to do too big of a spoiler... but next week there just might be a contest announced using these braids for Frostings Club members.

The next items you find are a set of three silk

Grey and white gimps to extend the Silk Gimp range of threads

gimps shading from dark grey to white.  These are needed colors to allow animals, including unicorns, and buildings to be better worked with couched gimps or gimps worked in needlelace stitches.  The white will also allow really lovely or nue skirts to be worked for stumpwork ladies by substituting the gold or silver thread with the white gimp instead.

Serpentine Silk Trim

A really special thread found in the box is a very, very limited edition trim (1 meter) that is all silk.  This trim is in a light gold/pink coloration and blends really lovely with samplers and our 17th century embroidery alike.  The trim is from passamentry and is not even 1/4" in height.  In stumpwork, trims like this were often used on clothes of the figures as well as on the edge of canopies and curtains.  I
also want to use this trim on the edge of sampler ornaments too.  I just wish I could get more of this!  There is a very thin silk covered wire inside that helps the trim hold its shape.  Easily couched down, the more you play with the trim, the more ideas for its use pop into your head.

Thick Striped Gimps

The last set of items I will show is a family of SEVEN thick silk gimps that are striped.  This type of gimp was found all over the grottos in 17th century pictures, mirrors and caskets.  They were couched down to fill the rock shapes and the stripe would give the impression of granite.  I love these gimps as trims to outline as well.  The colors range through a series of neutrals and other rock like colors that cross over into being appropriate for stems and flowers or even animals.  Once you start using them couched down around a figure - you will find them indispensable as they are weighty yet interesting at the same time.  Next week, a set of instructions for a really lovely project will be released to use one of these striped gimps as well as the threads in the box I am not talking about this week.  (a teaser...)

The last teaser is the other set of Free instructions you will find on my site for some of the contents of this Frostings Box.  A blackwork rose based on a drawing in Thomas Trevelyan's manuscript of embroidery patterns is now up for your enjoyment.  If you have the Frostings box - all you will need
is a piece of linen, a spool of Soie Paris in black (noir) and a needle!

Instructions for this design are available on my website

If you aren't a member of the Frostings Club - you can still join for this box and the next in the series.   There are about 100 left before they are gone!

Tricia