WIP: Silver Bells (by Blue Bear Beads)
Today's WIP showcases yet another technique. It is Silver Bells, designed by Dawn Dalto of Blue Bear Beads.
Background: In 2001, I attended the now-defunct CATS (Creative Arts and Textiles Show) in Hershey, PA. While there, I took Dawn Dalto's White Christmas ornament class, and purchased the pattern for this ornament. The assembly for both is the same. I think I finished White Christmas that year, but I didn't start Silver Bells until over a year later, in 2003.
Why it's not done: Unfortunately, it was around 2003 when I started having flare-ups with a pinched nerve in my neck that caused numbness in my right hand whenever I did "in-hand" work. (Yup. Whenever I dropped my head and raised my shoulder, within a few minutes the first three fingers of my right hand would go numb. After consulting a neurologist and an MRI, I was given the brilliant conclusion of "it must just be positional", since they didn't see the pinch on the MRI. Umm... yeah. Hence, I don't do much in-hand work these days. My lap stand is used for everything.)
What's left to do: After the remaining four peaks are completed, I'll join the end of "Love" to the beginning of "Noel," then stitch the peaks together. The stuffing will be inserted before the last side is sewn shut. Then, I'll add the beaded cord. (Of course, I can only work on this if I haven't had a nerve flare-up in a while, and then it might only be for 30 minutes or so.)
