A Stitched Project Finally Finished

I came across this stitch project in my sewing room as I was cleaning and sorting.

I must have started it about 3 years ago.

It was just the background which is my favorite part of the whole thing, but I felt like it needed to be finished, so here it is.

I suppose I was inspired by the Robin I saw last week and the promise of Spring.

My favorite way to create is to just do it without any real plan.

Just layering and adding things that I have on hand.

Finally finished.

Today I'll finish cleaning the kitchen and doing the laundry I think.

Not as fun as stitching, but still satisfying when it's done.

Karen

Easy Stringing

A few weeks ago I visited Allegory Gallery. It's a lovely little gallery, a sweet bead shop, and they have an Etsy shop too.

www.etsy.com/shop/AllegoryGallery

While I was there I purchased this sweet clay owl.
The plan was to use some copper and beads from my stash to make a necklace.

I guess I'm out of practice, because I couldn't get my fingers to do what my brain was thinking. I just could not get the copper wire to bend the right way.

So instead of doing the wire wrapping technique with beads on hand, I ordered some clay beads with larger holes from www.etsy.com/shop/AtHomeInTaos
Love their beads!

I strung everything on a leather cord. No wire required…

Keeping it simple.

Have an easy day!

Karen

Hanging On By A Thread

Six years ago I went through some major health issues and spent the better part of a year traveling back and forth to Cleveland Clinic. I had a tumor and a section of my left lung removed. While all this was going on, I was also diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease. They did a biopsy of my thyroid and was told that there was no cancer, so I didn't think much about it as the lung issue was priority at that time. Other than taking a pill each day to replace the hormones that my thyroid wasn't producing any more, it didn't seem like a big deal. Boy was I wrong! As time went on I developed more and more symptoms related to the Hashi's. Most days I can barely get out of bed. I live with constant pain and exhaustion, brain fog and head aches,weight gain and skin that looks like I'm 90 years old. I feel as though I am "hanging on by a thread".

Since I don't go out much these days and I have no energy, I spend a lot of time scrolling through Pinterest. I search for inspiration and hope each day that I have enough energy to be creative in some small way. The following are some photos of my latest attempt at creativity.

Hanging On By A Thread

Necklace made of gray linen thread crocheted over a string of colorful wool beads.

The thread (Wolverine 20/2) is from Belgium.

The beads I hand felted a few years ago during a visit by my friend Odile Gova or  Woolly Fabulous, as she goes by in the art world.

I'm very pleased with the end result and so excited that my spark for creating is returning little by little.

I hope to share more of my creative journey with you as I adapt to living with Hashi's.

Thanks for listening and best wishes as you battle your own struggles in life.

Keep hanging on!

Love

Karen

Textile Bracelet Tutorial

Just a quick how to:

You will need some...

memory wire

wire cutters

round nose pliers

scissors

fabric strips or ribbon (1/2 to 3/4 in. wide and 1 yd. long)

glue

embellishments

 Cut a piece of memory wire 2 inches more than the circumference of your wrist.

Using the round nose pliers, curl a loop onto each end of the wire.

 Place a dab of glue next to one of the loops and anchor the end of your ribbon.

Wrap wire tightly, overlapping as you go.

When you reach the other loop add another dab of glue and anchor your ribbon at this end too.

Wrap again in the opposite direction.

 When you reach the end or beginning, depending how you look at it...anchor with one final dab of glue. Trim off any excess ribbon. They should look like this.

You can either leave them like this

or add whatever  you like. I embellished mine with beads and wire.

 I apply a jump ring to each of the end loops to keep the charms and beads from sliding off.

Here are some made with torn strips of cotton textiles.

You can see I over wrapped some with flax, hemp, ribbon and wire.

Here you can see the jump rings and some beaded wire wrapping.

Another set with just bright copper wire wrapping and some simple silver beads.

If anyone decides to make some of these I would love to see them.

I think the possibilities are endless.

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

Simple Shabby Weekend

Mom is here visiting for a few days.

We did a little thrifting.

 And I was lucky enough to find this comfy cotton robe in perfect condition.

 We recycled some egg cartons into some fun mobiles.

 Used up some beads and ribbon scraps left over from another project.

Some salvaged old jewelry parts.

 A little paint as well.

Simple inexpensive fun and good memories.

karen 

Wood Scraps and Modpodge

A couple of months ago we had some construction going on here.

The man who was hanging the drywall had some scraps of wood left over and asked me if I would like to keep them for my outdoor fireplace. Being the hoarder that I am, I grabbed a few of them up for a future crafty project. Does hoarding count if you actually use the stuff you save? Just wondering because yesterday I got busy in the studio and actually used those wood scraps. I turned them into something much nicer than firewood I think.

 A little white paint dry brushed onto the front and edges after a light sanding.

Then some paper and modpodge.

 Once they were dry I got out my trusty old drill and drilled holes for wire hangers and some for adding beads to the bottoms. I used one of my hand stitched felt beads on one and a pretty stone bead on another.

 I'm dreaming up another crafty project for tomorrows blog post.

Hope you stop in to have a look!

Thanks for dropping by!!!

karen

Random Salvage Jewelry Spring 2013

It's been a while since I was here last.

I have a ton of catching up to do.

So many good blogs to visit.

There just aren't enough hours in a day.

In between the life happening thing, I've been trying to make a few new pieces of my Random Salvage Jewelry.

 Something new to wear for Spring.

I love these big green glass earrings.

Although, I wish I had nicer ear wires for them. 

They were vintage clip ons that I picked up for $2.

These bright colored ones are really simple and fun.

Random Salvage

Spring 2013

karen

Felt Love

Yesterday I visited a local sheep farm and was blown away by it all.

Harriet, the owner, took me on a tour of all the buildings where the wool is processed and I felt like I was in heaven. I'd never seen so much wool and so many colors to choose from. I am hoping to return there soon and will have photos to show you when I do. I can't wait to go back there!

Today, I would like to share a few photos of the felting that I've been working on.

Bright colored bangles.

A beautiful white scarf made of wool, silk and cotton.

A scarf with wool curls.

Lots of beads.

I think working with wool is like creating magic. The textures and colors are so inspiring and the possibilities are endless.

I hope you are creating a little magic where you are too.

Thanks for stopping by.

karen ann

Textile Beads

Hi everyone. I'm back to making jewelry today. I've made a lot of earrings in the past week and although my technique still needs improvement, I decided to try a little something different today. I want my jewelry to be more me, if that makes any sense. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I want as many of the parts and pieces that I use to be my own creations. Of course I'll still be using beads and vintage findings that I've purchased, but I want to incorporate more of my style into each piece. That being said, I will be adding textiles to my jewelry at times.

This idea isn't something new. I was gifted a beautiful necklace that has an amazing textile bead.

I started out trying to make these perfect and uniform, but after browsing through some of my jewelry books, I realized that the pieces I was drawn to the most, were the ones that had the most imperfections. You know, the things that look more handmade.

I suppose if I wanted perfect, uniform looking jewelry, I could go to the mall and buy the same old things that everyone else wears.

My goal is to create one of a kind wearable art.

I'll be back soon with a finished piece which includes these textile and copper beads.

Have a great day and create something that's all you.

Karen