So I started making buttons to match...
I can see this being a great addition to a sweater or a neckwarmer...more to come!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Button, Button, Who's Got The Button??
Well, with my new fibre addiction I decided to start making glass lampwork buttons again. I've made them over the years, but I have so many beautiful colours of roving and yarn now I just had to see what I could come up with to coordinate with them.
So I started making buttons to match...
So I started making buttons to match...
Friday, February 15, 2013
Discovering the Joy of Fibre
I've done a bit of needlefelting over the past couple of years, mostly round beads to incorporate into jewellery, and so I've accumulated a stash of small balls of brightly coloured roving (combed sheep's wool).
Just before Christmas I purchased a drop spindle to try spinning some of this roving into yarn. My family and I went on a fabulous trip to Peru over the holidays and the Andean women are expert spinners and weavers. I was hooked! I bought a whole lot of alpaca fleece to comb and spin into yarn.
This is one of the Peruvian women in our hotel, with her lamb...that's milk in the Coke bottle.
This is a display of some of the plants and insects that the natural dyes are made from.
I also purchased some natural Corriedale roving from an Etsy friend, Uli of KnittersNook, and spun my first roving into a chunky yarn single. Using the Andean method I plied it back onto the spindle..woohoo!!
Well, excited as I was, this little bit only measured 16 yards...not enough for knitting anything yet. So....spin, spin, spin.
I bought some acid dyes from Dharma Trading Company and dyed my natural yarn to a rich brick red.
Finally, I knit a simple hat using a free pattern from Ravelry, crocheted a scalloped edge around the brim, made a chainstitch flower and a matching handmade lampwork glass button, and voila! ....my first, handspun, handyed project was complete.
Just before Christmas I purchased a drop spindle to try spinning some of this roving into yarn. My family and I went on a fabulous trip to Peru over the holidays and the Andean women are expert spinners and weavers. I was hooked! I bought a whole lot of alpaca fleece to comb and spin into yarn.
I also purchased some natural Corriedale roving from an Etsy friend, Uli of KnittersNook, and spun my first roving into a chunky yarn single. Using the Andean method I plied it back onto the spindle..woohoo!!
I bought some acid dyes from Dharma Trading Company and dyed my natural yarn to a rich brick red.
Finally, I knit a simple hat using a free pattern from Ravelry, crocheted a scalloped edge around the brim, made a chainstitch flower and a matching handmade lampwork glass button, and voila! ....my first, handspun, handyed project was complete.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Love is in the Air....Valentine's Day
I have to admit that I always forget about Valentine's Day until the last minute. It's not that I don't want to do something special for my wonderful husband, but we do loving little things all year long for each other.
For example, I'm really not "gaga" over chocolate or roses, I'm much more of a practical gal. I make my own jewellery so he doesn't buy it for me. A new, cool tool, or a wedge of really nice cheese is more up my alley.
I like to make red jewellery but I don't really want it to scream "Valentine's Day", I want it to be worn year 'round.
Here are some pieces I currently have made up...see what you think.
For example, I'm really not "gaga" over chocolate or roses, I'm much more of a practical gal. I make my own jewellery so he doesn't buy it for me. A new, cool tool, or a wedge of really nice cheese is more up my alley.
I like to make red jewellery but I don't really want it to scream "Valentine's Day", I want it to be worn year 'round.
Here are some pieces I currently have made up...see what you think.
Friday, February 8, 2013
I'm a Little Batty I Think
I don't do a lot of sculptural lampwork but when a customer asked me to make some "ghoulish" beads for a Goth friend of hers I thought I'd give it a try.
Here's a set which is destined to be a necklace, maybe with a pair of earrings.
The bat is designed to hang upside down (like bats do) from her red toes...and the black spacers have raised red dots that are "blood droplets".
Now, I know it's February, the time of Valentine's Day...not even close to Hallowe'en, but I hope she'll enjoy her "spooky" necklace all the year 'round!
Here's a set which is destined to be a necklace, maybe with a pair of earrings.
The bat is designed to hang upside down (like bats do) from her red toes...and the black spacers have raised red dots that are "blood droplets".
Now, I know it's February, the time of Valentine's Day...not even close to Hallowe'en, but I hope she'll enjoy her "spooky" necklace all the year 'round!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Big Hole Beads...The Trend Continues
The fashion trend using glass beads with large holes continues....wear them on European-style bracelets and necklaces, put them on a thick leather cord, string them one at a time or in groups on an existing chain you own, mix and match and change things up to suit your mood or your outfit today!
The holes on these big hole beads measure 4.2mm in diameter so they are very versatile and even slide over a small clasp or jumpring to make changing them easy.
Here's a selection of big hole beads that I made recently, shown on a Pandora-sized bracelet.
The holes on these big hole beads measure 4.2mm in diameter so they are very versatile and even slide over a small clasp or jumpring to make changing them easy.
Here's a selection of big hole beads that I made recently, shown on a Pandora-sized bracelet.
These big hole beads are great for designing jewelry with, or as an accent on an existing bracelet or chain. They make wonderful gifts.
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