Wow! Another Lavender & Lace fan!! I love all of the L&L designs and have many angels, Santas, etc. in my stash for the future!! I am currently working on Celtic Spring which also has beadwork. I have been stitching for a very long time....but have never done beadwork. My friends in this chat room have given me great advice. The first is.....complete the entire picture first. Then, apply the beads. You definitely do not want to put a hoop over beadwork. Some stitchers do use a frame and gently roll the fabric in which would not damage the beads. (I think I am too squeamish for that!!) There are different schools of thought on the method to attach the beads. I believe at one point I went to you tube and watched someone do it. I bought the pattern and materials from my favorite shop in Cape May, NJ. The lady who sold it to me also told me complete the picture first...then apply the beads. She suggested using either a long single thread similar in color to the area you are stitching, or, you can use something like a fine "clear" thread to apply all of the beads. That is what I am going to use. She also said it is best to use a long thread, and apply as many beads as possible so that you don't have to re-start your threading as often. For your beading: If you bring up your needle up in the "southwest" corner of the stitch, string the bead on and go down in the "northeast" corner of the stitch, the bead will lay slightly to a right angle. (Some stitchers here, go through the bead twice at that angle to make sure the bead is really secure) If you do not like that....you can go through the bead twice as you would a cross stitch and it will stand more straight. Hope this helps you. The beading will be the frosting on the cake. There are stitchers in this chat room who are "veterans" at beading. I am hoping you hear from them as well as they know FAR more than I do. Best of luck to you!

jersey, I envy you. I am working on this goofy thing for my daughter and want to finish it so I can get on with the Celtic girls. It's more than I thought. I go through this every time, I think to myself how easy and quick it will be and end up with a difficult and lengthy project. I'm tired of over dyes.
I am wondering about the beading on the Celtics. I had to place two beads the other day and did them the regular cross stitch way. I like the look of it. Like you said they stand up so nice and straight. In the past I did the bottom stitch first and then attached the bead with the top stitch. Mine turned out a bit wobbly. Then I went through the bead twice - better. I had to use a smaller needle to be able to get through the beads. I wish that the holes were more uniform.
I wish that I could visit your shop in Cape May. It sounds lovely.
Where is Merry/Mary Lee these days?

Texas, You have me thinking about something. When we complete a cross stitch the final (top) stitch leans from right to left. If you are applying a bead, and you do the "bottom" portion of the stitch first and THEN apply the bead when you come up in the "southeast" corner of the stitch and go down in the "northwest" corner, this would make the bead lay in the same direction as the normal top stitch would lay. Right?? You said yours turned out a little wobbly. Would going through the bead twice anchor it better? The beads are small, will they "accept" having thread run through them twice? You see, I know enough to be confused!!! I do wish you could see this stitch shop in Cape May. At times when I have been there, they have shown me the different L&L designs that are framed and beaded. Of course, I didn't know enough to ask questions!! The next time I am down there, probably by the end of this week, I will "pester" them with a whole bunch of questions. I must say they don't flinch at the word "beading"!!

P.S. I'll have the check on Merry Lee in the morning. Someone is now answering her twitter messages. Example: from Staten Island.."Merry Lee do you want to stop in for a night cap? You are right at my back door!" Merry Lee: "No thanks, at this point I would just settle for an ice pack for my dorsal fin!"

Hi lafviper - welcome to the "world of beading". I use them all the time on almost everything I make. Be it birds eyes, flower centers, or just wherever they add some dimension to my project. I think my first experience with beads was when I did "Celtic Christmas" by L&L. There are over 1,000 beads on that piece and I loved every one of them. I did become frustrated when it came to threading the eye of the beading needle as the eye is about the size of a gnat. We were talking about beading needles just the other day on this chat room and someone mentioned Nordic Needle as having some user friendly ones with an elongated eye. I found one that looked good so ordered it and it should be here sometime next week. On my last project someone on the chat room mentioned Nyma Thread. I ordered some from Stoney Creek and tried it and it is wonderful - much nicer than just plain thread. When I bead I use a single strand of thread and run it 3 or 4 times through each bead rather than just once with a double strand. It seems to hold the beads more secure and they don't get wobbly. I have been with this chat room for about 6 months and stitching for over 25 years and I can't tell you how much I have learned from these great stitchers. They are always willing to give advice and support whenever needed. So good luck with your beading and keep us posted on how you are doing.
cheryl

Cheryl, Thanks for your post! I am going to check out this Nyma Thread. Celtic Spring doesn't have anywhere near 1,000 beads. It must be rewarding if you did not tire of it!! You are a good inspiration my friend!

Ladies - Thank you all so much for your help with my concerns about beading! I will definitely take your advice - and practice BEFORE I attempt the actual project. I have had this L&L pattern for too long and decided it was time to take the plunge. I ordered fabric here at Everything CrossStitch and was referred to the "Chit Chat" aspect of their site for answers to my questions. Bless his heart for that advice! I hope you will share your finished projects so I might marvel at all your talents! Thank you again and I will be sure to let you all know how I progress with my angel.

I agree with these posts. Make an x through the bead. Use a color close to the bead or the surrounding thread color, or clear. Your choice.

It's quite lovely... the dress reminds me of a Klimt painting!

Cheryl, thanks for your post. I know there are "beaders" out there who have said they go through the bead more than one time. I didn't remember if that was with a regular floss, one ply, two ply...or a synthetic thread of some type. I have looked at the beads for Celtic Spring...they are surely small. Good thing I just had my eye exam!! I haven't actually tried to run thread through the beads. These are Mill Hill beads. As far as I know, they have a good reputation for uniformity. I also recently bought the bead threading needles that have the "huge" eye in them. Hopefully, that will be much easier to thread than what you described as something "the size of a gnat"!!!!

P.S. The shop in Cape May that I love has racks of these beads. If you never thought about beading you surely would after a visit there! I have a friend who stitched an angel who was mostly in white. It was the "side" view of the angel. She was holding a bouquet of flowers that had several shades of mauve/burgundy,gold, etc. The bottom of the angels dress had huge "folds" of material which was also in white with a little gold. She "embellished" that design and bought Mill Hill beads in "iridescent" pink/mauve/burgundy, etc. and worked them in around the bottom of the dress. It turned out just beautiful. What a great idea!! If anyone has not seen the bead colors available these days, you can access the Mill Hill Bead website....it is just amazing!!

I have several L&L patterns in my stash that call for beading and hope to start one soon. Just curious about how you go about pressing your completed project after you've added all the beadwork. Also, can they be washed same as any other project.

Kids, I am working on my first beaded project on a dark linen....5 1/2" x 5 1/2". You have my utmost respect and admiration!!! :)