While I love to sew and bead, sometimes a commercially done piece is more effective than what I could accomplish. Such is the case of much of what is sold at Heritage Trading Company on eBay. Based in Los Angeles, California, they import beautifully crafted pieces from workers in India. Here’s an example of 4 appliques I bought awhile back, not knowing what I do with them. However, I had to have them, as they’re so beautiful. Each one is about 2.5″ or 6.5 cm in each direction. The bullion thread in the leaves is expertly crafted. Bullion thread is very fine wire wrapped tightly around a tube and then cut into the needed lengths, a bit like bugle beads, only stretchier. About the only place that you still see bullion thread extensively used here in the States is on military uniform insignia.
Here are some more examples of beaded appliques that I have in my stash from Heritage Trading. The two trefoils are about 3″ (7.5cm) T x 2.25″ (5.5cm) W. They’re done in large olive green glass perls with a central crystal. The square is about 2″sq (5cm sq) again with a central crystal in the middle. It’s covered with flat gold, embroidery thread with some of the red fabric showing through and will give a really lush look to some future art quilt.
This pic shows some of the trim that is sewn in lengths. This particular one is of grape clusters made of sequins, with the leaves done in beading. Heritage Trading has extensive offerings of trims. Usually what I’m looking for are individual pieces that can be easily cut apart and scattered around on the surface of an art quilt. So, I count the number of motifs that show up in a yard (meter) and divide that into the price of what’s being asked before I bid on eBay to see if it’s relatively cost effective.
Photo supplied by Heritage Trading Company
It turns out that much of the embroidery is done by men. Here is a photo of some of the workers sitting at a long frame of fabric. You can see how many smaller pieces are stitched on to the larger length of darker fabric, so I imagine that they’ll all be cut off once the darker fabric has been filled. The frame is pretty sturdy looking from the end that shows closest to the camera, and I imagine that’s so it can take the weight of the men as they lean into their work. The whole frame looks as if it’s been adjusted to be about chest high and so that forearms can rest on the sides of the frame. I think of my little bitty folding table that I work on, and having the luxury of such a large frame that I could leave up all the time appeals to me.
Do check out Heritage Trading Company on eBay, but remember to set limits for yourself as to how much you’ll spend, as I am not responsible for your bank account. The company’s description talks about the traditions of the East India Trading Company and conjures up images of exotic places. Their items are so beautiful that it’s easy to be seduced by the lovely things. However, you don’t have to wait for a ship to arrive from the Far East, as their delivery is very quick!
What materials have you bought just because you had to have them. C’mon and ‘fess up! You know you have!
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