New ribbons and fibers and yarn, OH MY!

Getting new supplies to work with is always so exciting!

This is recycled sari silk fiber yarn.

I plan to use it to create a cute little owl.

This sweet silvery blue yarn is banana fiber.

It's soft to the touch yet strong.

 Love the colors of this sari silk ribbon.

You can find all of these HERE.

Have a lovely day.

karen

Crewel Folder

So, I decided to go ahead and use those crewel samples this morning rather than hoarding them away.

In my last post I mentioned that they were very dusty, so after I laundered them and they were dry, I cut out my favorite parts and pieces and machine stitched them in a random pattern onto some reclaimed muslin. (2 rectangles of the same size)

I added some machine stitched text, 

 and some vintage buttons.

After I had all the crewel and embellishments stitched onto the muslin, I then stitched the crewel covered muslin panels to a larger piece of purple linen from my fabric stash. One to the left and the other to the right on the purple linen, creating a front and a back to the folder.( so the panels are side by side on the purple linen)

 I made a little flap and added a super sized snap.

 Next I cut a piece of quilt batting and another piece of muslin the same size as the purple linen. I sandwiched the batting between the linen and the muslin and layered on a smaller piece of muslin for pockets before stitching them all together.

There it is. A completed folder.

 It's just right for holding my reclaimed packing paper that I've been using for my doodles.

Here it is all loaded with paper and snapped shut.

All finished and no hoarding of materials.

karen

Vintage Crewel Samples

I've never tried crewel myself, but like the pretty patterns in these vintage samples. I purchased a small bundle of them from a little fabric shop that had recently gone out of business. 

 They were extremely dusty and even had some water damage on some of the edges,

 but I see potential in these squares of stitching.

 I cut them into pieces and soaked and washed them in lots of warm soapy water.

 I have a project in mind for these, so they'll be showing up here again in a different form.
Reborn into something brand new and one of a kind.
Just a little "Random Salvage".

karen

Crocheted Cone Tutorial

I've had several requests lately to share some tutorials for some of my projects, so I thought I would start out with this simple crocheted cone.

Enjoy!

karen

Beautiful Mud

Well, maybe it's not beautiful, but I'm so happy to have some.

It means the snow is melting, if only for a day or so.

 The past couple of days it's been above freezing during the daylight hours.

 I was busy doing laundry and I noticed Jack looking out the window at the sunshine.

 He hasn't had many walks recently and I know he doesn't mind the mud.

 So, off we went. Walking in the mud under the pretty blue sky.

 Saw some fungi lying on the ice. Most things are still buried under snow.

 Even though this is a weed of some sort, it gave me hope that Spring will be here soon.

 This piece of fungus was our found treasure for todays walk.

 Once it's dry I'll tuck it into my journal.

I hope you had some sunshine and warmer temps wherever you are today.

karen

Simple and Bright

Some time ago I piddled around, covering little empty wooden spools with some reclaimed scraps of wool felt and random stitches. I had no idea what I was going to do with them, so I put them in a jar and they ended up on a shelf in my studio.

 I came across them recently while doing a little organizing.

 I paired them up with some large resin beads, some small bone beads and a couple of square ceramic ones. They are simply strung on a piece of turquoise leather.

I also came across some old memory wire, left over from my very first jewelry making attempt.

(I've been trying to use up some of the supplies that I've hoarded over the years.)

I wrapped sections of the memory wire with strips of old hippy textiles, also from my hoard of supplies.

I may add some beads and charms to these, but I kinda like them just the way they are, so maybe not.

Anyway, I hope I inspire someone out there in blog land to use up some of their hoarded supplies.

Have a great weekend!

karen

Just Jewelry

Practicing my jewelry making.

 Just keeping busy and trying to get through the winter.

Cabin fever is creeping in on me.

karen

Fiber and Crystals

Playing with a mix of hemp, sari silk and crystals.

 A necklace of crocheted hemp pods filled with crystals and wraps of sari silk around crocheted hemp chain.

 Random freeform crochet around crystals.

karen

Across The Miles

A package came today from way down South where they have sunshine and warmth (except for recently).  It was a package filled with love from a friend. 

 A sweet Valentine unlike any I've ever seen.

 A beautiful pocket made from a bit of an antique quilt.

 Wrapped so carefully.

 So pretty.

 Perfect details.

Fragile antique lace and delicate pressed flowers.

Thank you so much my dear friend, Marcie.

Happy Valentine's Day

karen

Paper Hearts

For Valentine's Day

Love

karen

Enough

This is a photo from last weekend.

My husband had to plow the lane twice Saturday.

Enough already!

karen

Happy Heart

Sometimes when I create something people ask me, "what inspired you to make that".

Sometimes it's hard to explain.

Especially if it's a mood or a feeling that was my inspiration.

Or maybe it was an experience and it was a personal thing.

Anyway...I felt like I needed some bright happy colors.

There it is.
I needed something bright and happy.

 I used an enameled copper charm that I've had for years.

 The glass lamp work beads were made by my stepdaughter, Janice.

 Janice also made most of the beads in this bracelet.

 Bright

 Happy

 Bone and Glass

What inspires you?

karen