Talisman Bead Embroidery Kit on Art Canvas "Home Prayer (Russian text)"

“Home Prayer” shows the Mother of God of the Seven Swords, framed in red and gold beadwork.

What the picture shows

The Mother of God is shown half-length in a deep red veil with a thin border and a blue garment beneath it; seven swords point towards her breast, four on one side and three on the other. Her hands are folded, her eyes lowered, the ground is pale ochre and the halo wide and plain. The image is printed on the canvas and is not beaded. The border is what gets stitched: a solid field of red beads with white and gold diamonds worked at the top and bottom and a gold edge along the sides. The prayer on the back of the banner is printed in Russian; a Ukrainian text is available as a separate article. The border does not repeat the ornament of the icon; it simply holds it like a setting.

What is in the kit

• Art canvas with the full-colour pattern printed on it — no chart to follow on screen
• Czech Preciosa beads, 4 colours
• Bead embroidery needles
• Thread for bead embroidery
• Decorative cord
• Instructions

Specifications

• Finished size: 50×100 mm (2.1×7.88 in)
• Beads: approx. 688
• Bead colours: 4
• Difficulty: simple
• Base: art canvas

Four bead colours are enough to make the border look complete, and the red field echoes the veil of the Mother of God. The frame and braid in the photo are not in the kit; a finishing guide for the banner is.