Just out of curiosity, is there really any difference between using the upright spool holder on the machine (Bernina) and a separate thread stand sitting behind the machine? I don't use cones, so I haven't seen any need for a stand, but may reconsider if there's some real advantage to it. Thanks for any info.

Okay - metallic thread gets warm feeding through all the places it goes on the machine and then it stretches and breaks. So I've been told to keep the spool of thread in a coffee mug a bit behind the machine. Make sure you are using a metallic thread needle and go slow. Also, if your thread is old it might break more easily. Hope this helps.

If the thread is not cross wound, you should not be putting it on a thread stand or in a coffee mug behind the machine. Stack wound threads need to feed off the side of the spool to keep them from twisting. A metallic needle helps a whole bunch too.

What I found works best for ME with metallic thread is slowing the machine
speed down as much as you can, and using a SHARP large eye needle.

The large eye needles have a deeper "groove" for the metallic thread "glide"
through. At least this is what I have recently learned from watching a Quilting
Arts program on PBS and it was Libby Lehman who discussed the different
needles and machine feet etc.

I have also heard that putting the metallic thread in the freezer for about 15
minutes helps, but I have not tried this yet.

The other needle that works well with metallic thread is a top stitching needle. It has a longer eye and a longer grove. Whenever I use metallic thread in my embroidery machine I use a top stitching needle now - works great.

Only place to buy in town is WalMart and they didn't have any top stitching or metalic needles. I bought a pkg of titanium needles, cause it said they help with thread breakage. It took longer to break!! But it still broke :( So maybe the heat thing IS part of the problem. Maybe an auxiliary cooling system on the thread path? LOL I am going to keep working on it. I usually give up by now. NOT THIS TIME. Thank you for all the great tips.

A Topstitch needle is pretty much the same thing as a Sharp Large Eye needle.

I usually buying Organ needles from Allstitch.net because I can get them in bulk
(by the 100).

I ALMOST only use a sharp large eye needle or the titanium sharp large eye.
For me I have found that this is a good needle and I have far less issues with
them than I do any other style of needle.

Just my personal preferences though. I know some people may not agree with
me, but this is what I found with all my trial and errors and 6 years of working
with my home embroidery machines.

Thank you so much for all the help. I finished my thread painting, and it came out nice. I found that the titanium needle, very loose top tension, and a s l o w speed helped a lot. For some reason, the blue, which was also the first color I chose to do, was the worst. The gold and the red went quite smoothly, with the above suggestions. I am going to continue to work on this art and see if I can't master it. LOL Thank you so much for all the assistance. I knew I could count on you guys!!