Opals and the Internet

I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, as I finished the September "Crazy for Birthdays" last night - but this was exciting, so I want to go ahead and show it! I had been agonizing over creating "opals" in needlepoint for some time - researched on the internet, of course, and couldn't decide on colors, much less threads. My grandmother had opals, but they were light green with a bit of fire in them. Actually, they seem to be available in many different looks, depending on the part of the world in which they are found.

Part of my dilemma has been that opals glow rather than sparkle or shine, and this isn't easy to create with threads. I had whined a lot to my friend (again, internet) in Everett, Wa. at The Needlepointer, about this - so she sent me some possibilities, including petite Treasure Braid by Rainbow Gallery - which I had not seen. Then - moving along with this story - I was having my morning coffee chat with my friend Laurie (internet) in Los Angeles, who suggested threading a length of Flair with the Treasure Braid and a light turquoise of some sort for that bit of blue fire seen in the white opals. It really wasn't that difficult to do - I used two threads of the braid, and 2 ply of Splendor in a light turquoise - using a tapestry needle a bit larger than the one I use for stitching on coarse canvas. To avoid snagging the tip of the needle in the Flair, I pulled it through eye first. It wasn't as tedious as I thought it would be, but I won't make a habit of it. The stitch is simple Scotch stitch. Here is the result - OPALS!!!

And now I'll go put on a pot of fresh coffee and prepare to pontificate about my September Crazy Quilt heart with its fine little asters.