Colored Metal Threads/Buillions for Goldwork

[Anastasia169]

Hi:
I am new to Goldwork, but working up the confidence to try it thanks to Hazel Everett's book and the Goldwork book Mary currently has as a drawing. I was fascinated with the colored metal threads and their potential for interesting designs. However these are difficult to find.

Heritage Trading on ebay has a few colors and I have bought from them and their prices for non-precious metal threads are good and their selection of different bullions in golds, silvers, roses and bronzes are good, but they lack good blues, pinks and have only one green.

I corresponded with the manager of Heritage Trading and he says he will eventually put up more colors if there was interest. To order other colors separately I had to commit to an order of $100 per color, approximately 150 to 160 yards of each color. This seemed more than I could use in a lifetime not to mention I couldn't afford it.

The purpose of this message is twofold: 1. To ask if anyone else knows where I can get further colors of thread and 2. To tell others of a Heritage Trading which is a way to buy a few metal threads to try the technique without breaking the bank. Currently they sell metal threads in various colors and styles for $9.99 per 2.5 yards. No precious metals, but I didn't want to start experimenting with the expensive stuff. The cheap stuff is pricey enough.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has another source.
Anastasia

[MaryCorbet]

I've tried these "metal" threads (hard to call them metal - they feel more like plastic). Just a warning: They are generally quite inferior in quality. The whole feel of the threads and how they handle is completely different when compared to traditional real metal / goldwork threads, they are constructed differently, the sizes are completely different, the experience of working with them is not the same (so they aren't necessarily the best choice for practice), nor will the outcome of working with them be the same.

If you want to cut down on costs for practice threads, try working solely with gilt metal (goldwork) threads, made in Europe. The gilt threads handle the same, come in the same various sizes, are constructed the same way, etc., as the higher percentage goldwork threads. They're still somewhat expensive compared, say, to floss, but with goldwork threads, a little generally goes a pretty long way.

Just my two-cents' worth...

MC

[Anastasia169]

OK, I will try that. I have already learned a hard lesson on quality. I bought some of Kreinik's imitation Japan thread. Last night while playing with a crewel design from AU that I am turning into a rainbow of colors and threads I decided to try the couching and plunging I have seen you do in the goldwork project.

I don't know if it is me or the threads but couching and plunging with these is HARD. And this is an issue as I just printed out the Tudor Rose and intend to try it with the materials on hand just to get practice.

As for my Heritage threads, I will still use them but am now anxious to try a version of the real thing. Back to Hedgehog and Berlin Embroidery.

Do you know where I can get the colored bullions in the proper quality?

[Anastasia169]

It turns out that Tanja at Berlin Embroidery has a selection of metal threads in color, so that solves my problem. My heart sank to learn that the metal threads I have are hugely substandard, however, I still have plans for them in mixed media pieces.

I ordered a Goldwork kit from Tanja this morning so that I can compare and contrast the materials and so that I can get comfortable with the materials. I will still use the threads I already have, but will use them as accents in mixed technique pieces rather than in full goldwork. I want to work up to the precious metal threads and do something special for my church.

In the meantime, I did successfully use the bullions in a leaf shape, but was somewhat less successful with the couching and plunging of the Japan threads. It was the plunging that was so difficult. I am going to try again though and intend to do so following along with the Tudor Rose tutorial.