Heirloom Embroideries Warning

As you know, the only designer I have a problem with business-wise is Carol Tinson. She did a flit on her mystery group for several months and did not communicate in any way that she would be gone and expected us to all be best buds or something after treating her customers so shoddily. If you want to read about the problems, you can search my blog for previous entries under the tag "Mystery Huswif". They're documented there.

Anyway, a warning. She is starting a different way to market her mysteries and such to stitchers - via yahoogroups. She has started a new group, the Heirloom Embroidery News Group, and expects to run the same kind of scam, I would expect. If you go to her current forums, you can see people complaining about her being AWOL. I just don't want people going to her as customers and actually expecting service. Yes, she does make lovely designs. It's why I signed up for her class. Unfortunately, her sense of responsibility to her customers is nonexistent.

Huswif Finished

I added the beads around the edge today, so I can call this -officially- finished. I think the beads look good for this. It counts toward my project challenge and now I am done, done, done with that designer.

It's Almost Done

My husband went a little crazy with the Huswif pictures this week. I think he thinks it's done. I still need to add edging to it, though. All the sewings complete, and you can see here how it's put together. I'll be putting the beads I bought at Seminar on it probably tomorrow, after I finish the seashell for the round robin. Then it'll be done. I couldn't do as the instructions said for edging because there wasn't enough silk of any color left to make cording.

Huswif Horrors

Those of you who have been reading my blog for the last two months know that I've been really disappointed with Carol Tinson of Heirloom Embroideries because of her Mystery Huswif. She provided all the materials and the directions, supposedly over a period from February to June. Not one of the scheduled mailing dates was met. The last one, June's, was mailed in the middle of July. She didn't even bother to inform us that there would be a delay on any of it. In fact, she didn't answer email or forum questions for over two months during this.

So, I opened my last packet this week, the one for the lining. On the outside, folded into a little 3x4 inch rectangle, it looked fine. When I unfolded it, the blotched piece you see in the top picture is what I got. The second picture is color skewed for better contrast. I tried folding the fabric in the manner suggested to see if i could hide the spots, but I couldn't. The fabric is a total loss. Make your own judgment on whether she's worth buying from. I was fooled once, but I will not be again. I will never buy from Carol Tinson again. Also, in her directions for putting cording around the edges of the huswif when it's finished, she says to use three meters of floss. Problem is, there isn't enough of any of the colors left to have three meters. She provided us with only five meter skeins.

This third picture is the piece of fabric I pulled from my quilting stash to substitute. It's cotton, so it won't be as glitzy, but I like it. I did the marbling on it several years ago, so all the pattern is mine.

And here is the huswif all cut out and ready to stitch to the lining. All the beads are on now.

Huswif Stitched

This week I finished the actual stitching on the huswif. I started putting beads on it today and will be doing extra work on it this week so it's done as soon as possible. I'm finding the bead placement instructions problematic, but after everything else, I'm not surprised. Oh, and I get to add two more bands between places in there. They weren't in the original part and only show up with the beading. I'll get this done, I swear.

Nearly There

Since taking this picture, I've completed all the bands for the piece. Now I just have to attach the beads and finish it. Unfortunately for me, the design makes me angry whenever I work on it because of the problems with the designer's unprofessional behavior. I definitely will order no more things from Carol Tinson. Looks like, instead of this being a keeper piece for me, I'm going to give it away because I can't stand looking at it for long.

Red Squares

I finished off the diamond row with Algerian eyes in the middle. They came out pretty well, and now I'm in the process of doing the red square satin stitches on the penultimate row. Once I'm done with the stitching, there are beads to add and then I'll need to put it together, like I did the purse. I think it's coming along pretty well.

Another Band Started

I started and am almost done with the band I started this week. All I have to do is add three eyelet stitches. I'll be doing that today and then starting the next band. I've got maybe two or three bands to go and then add the beads before making it up into the huswif. It'll get there. This is probably the next non-round robin piece I'll get done.

Another Band Done

I got another band done on this this week. And ... my husband brought me home the last installment of the mystery, how to make the huswif. Of course, it went to France AFTER I left. It was mailed after I left. Luckily he was still there and got it for me. I'm very disappointed with the customer service of Carol Tinson and will not order anything from Heirloom Embroideries again. She really needs to treat her business as a business instead of something to be pushed off until she feels like it. This is almost done and then I will not bother with her again!

Huswif- Part 3 Progress

Last week, I had finished part two of this sampler. This week, I finished the first band of part three and started the very large second band. It's packed now for the trip home on Wednesday, so I won't be working on it until close to the weekend. Maybe, when I get home, I'll -finally- have my last package from Heirloom Embroideries.

Huswif, Somewhat of a Rant

I finished the second of three parts of embroidery on this last week and started on the third and final part. It's coming along well, but I'm really displeased with the lack of customer service of Carol Tinson of Heirloom Embroideries. When we signed up for the class, we were told that we'd have her on a forum to help us and that each part would be mailed on the first of the month. The final part, the part that gives finishing instructions and materials, supposedly was mailed on Thursday instead of June first. There was no communication from Carol for six weeks. She's been pretty much absent during the whole mystery on the boards.

I can take neglect. I can even take delays in mailing. What I cannot take is a complete lack of communication as exhibited by this designer. Although I like the design, there are other mysteries out there by other designers who actually inform their customers of hiccups and delays. When she did get onto the boards on Thursday and told us that it was mailed out, her tone was not one of apology but of whining and "poor, pitiful me" type stuff. I don't buy from designers or sign up for classes to have designers treat their businesses as coffee klatches. Not interested, don't care. I will not be purchasing from this designer again.

The course, by the way, was prepaid and she was good about communication before it started. I counsel anyone who is interested in doing a course with this designer to think long and hard and know, going in, that there won't be much support and there will probably be delays and possibly even not finishing of the course.

Huswif Again

I'm almost done with the second part of the Huswif Mystery. There's a problem with Carol sending the last part, so I'm kind of catching up with everyone else. Since this picture, I finished the band that's half done and started another. Still liking this, but I'd like to know how to put it together!

Remember This?

It's been a while since I showed a picture, but this is the Huswif Mystery from Carol Tinson. It's getting there. I think the band I just finished is the last really large one. Maybe I can work on it more this week.

Huswif

Like everything else, I've had a slow down on this, too. I'm still on the big band with the carnations, but I'm almost done. Maybe I can squeeze some time before Saturday to work on it.

Still on Part Two

The band I'm working on now is rather big, but I'm finally almost done with. Part four came in the mail the other day. It adds beads and the fastener to the piece. I assume part five will be the backing and such. It at least gets prettier to me the more I work on it.

Huswif - Big Band

Still not waiting much for my kids, so not much done on this. The band I'm working on is rather big, and I did do some extra yesterday after this picture was taken. There's a big carnation in the middle in Hazelnut, and two on the sides in Burnished Gold. I'm still really enjoying the Vikki Clayton silks. They don't snag and they have a nice sheen.

Huswif

I didn't have much wait time last week. That's why there is so little progress on this. The band I just started is at least as big as the flower and square band, and my hope is to finish it this week. Time keeps getting more and more squished on me. Does it ever slow down and let you catch up on your stitching? I hope it will for me soon.

Huswif Part One Done

The Huswif's done through Part 1 (which ends just above the second line of letters) and I'm well on my way into Part 2. Part 4 comes out the first week of May, though, so I'll probably end up staying behind despite this being the carry-with project. The colors are growing on me and I'll make use of this when it's done.

Huswif Progress

I've made quite a bit of progress on this, mainly because it's become the piece I carry around while waiting for people to get done with things. The colors on the second picture are more true; it's hard to get a good picture because of the lack of contrast between the fabric and the floss. I still love the feel of Vikki Clayton's silks. After this picture was taken, I finished Part 1 and started Part 2. Part one ends at the bar below the frames. So now I'm only a month and a half behind.

Huswif Banding

I got through Band D done this week, and this morning, after last night's picture but before I posted, I managed to get a good dent in the rather large Band E. Maybe I'll catch up. One day. This picture is closer to the true colors and not as yellow as last week. So far, the stitching, when I've done it, has been pretty easy.