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

Pods a Plenty

Old hippie pants never die.

These pants were just hideous, but they were comfy and soft and I love the colors and designs of the patches. I got tired of patching the patches though, so I bought a new pair and I'm turning these into something else.

They could be berries or buds.

Maybe I will glue them into a wooden frame to hang on the wall.

How about some type of textile jewelry?

I think there's enough fabric to do multiple projects, so for now I'll just keep making pods.

Thanks for having a look.

Karen

Textile Coins

I've had a love of textiles for as long as I can remember.  I started hand stitching when I was 6 years old, making primitive clothes for my dolls with left over scraps from my mother's sewing projects and before that playing with baskets full of rag balls that my grandmother used to weave her rugs. By the age of 12, I was making my own clothes, and still do from time to time. Currently my interest in textiles is for vintage and antique cloth. Old clothing that I dismantle for the fabric, vintage household linens and antique flour and grain sacks. Giving them a new purpose makes me happy.

Textile Coin Necklace

To make this necklace I traced a thread spool onto an antique grain sack and cut out circles.

I stitched the circles into lots of little yo-yos.

Each coin was made by placing two yo-yos together with the stitched sides facing, using a blanket stitch to assemble them.

The coins were then strung together onto some heavy cotton thread with a knot between each one.

Not very sparkly, but it's my kinda bling.

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

Crocheted Vessel

Autumn always sparks my desire to grab a hook and some of my hand spun wool and do something creative.

This was crocheted in a simple spiral pattern.

No counting stitches, just doing.

Enjoying the idea that I spin my own yarn.

Created my own beads by stitching some fabric scraps around some small wooden spools.

Vessel was made by doing a single crochet over hemp cord.

Karen

Simple Jute Cone

I had a request for one of my cones.

Karen

Imagine

My word for 2015 is IMAGINE.

 I never imagined I'd be spinning my own yarn.

Carded wool with bits of silk. 

 Imagining what I can create with this.

I imagined some beads made from Anita's pink hair.

 I will string them and hang them from her photo.

 A lid cover made from a my hand spun wool and silk yarn.

 I trimmed it in some really beautiful locks that I bought here.

www.hermanhillsfarm.etsy.com
Herman Hills Farm

Check out their fiber…it's gorgeous!

Imagination.

 Imagining.

Fiber

Thanks

Karen

Crafting For Christmas

Busy making little gifts for friends and family.

Repurposing a lot of things that I've collected over time.

 Upcycled wreaths and bird cages.

A crocheted nest made of jute resting upon a soft bed of mohair.

Thanks for stopping by.

Karen

The Super Chunky Scarf

I was browsing some of my favorite shops on Etsy recently and came across the biggest, snuggly, thick, scarf ever. The problem is I can never buy something for myself that I can make for myself.

So…I made one.

 It's about 8 feet long.

 I used SINCERELY CHUNKY, Purl Essence, Everyday yarn from JoAnn's.

Long, ribbed, rows of single crochet done with a size P hook.

 It took about 3 skeins.

Finished it just in time for the cold weather we are having already.

Winter is upon us.

karen

A New Shop Opening

Hi everyone!

I would like to announce the opening of my NEW SHOP.

Shabby Laundry Dry Goods

SHABBY CHIC, PRAIRIE, COTTAGE, and RUSTIC wares for you and your home.

I am planning to have it up and running November 1, 2014.

The shop will be filled with lots of vintage goodies and some handmade items as well.

Some of the things you will find there are vintage clothing like these:

Some for wearing and some for display.

Decorative Items

 

 Useful Items

 

 Crafting Supplies

 Handmade Gifts

These are just a few examples of the many handpicked and handmade items that will be available.

My goal is to keep the shop filled with interesting, reclaimed, vintage items at affordable prices.

I want folks to be able to have that Shabby Chic or Prairie Style look that you see in all the magazines, without having to spend a ton of money. 

Items listed in the shop will be featured HERE at

www.shabbylaundrydrygoods.blogspot.com, where you can view more photos of the items you find interesting and also gather ideas for using them in your own home.

A huge THANK YOU to all of my readers and followers.

Please take a moment to stop in at www.shabbylaundrydrygoods.blogspot.com and follow along for a chance to win a pretty lavender sachet. A winner will be chosen on November 1st. I hope you will join me there.

May you find peace in your day!

Karen Ann

Special Gifts

On Tuesday I received the most special gifts from my friend Marcie.

The package itself was so beautifully perfect that it seemed a shame to take it all apart.

Inside was this gorgeous handmade book

made of fabric, antique lace and

old buttons

The attention to detail

is over the top.

A stack of beautiful vintage embroidered Japanese pillows was in the box as well.

And I can't forget about this lovely trim wrapped around an embellished wooden spool.

So much thought, time and work went into all of this and I will treasure these forever.
Thank you so very much Dear Marcie!
Love and Hugs
karen ann