I went on to make several more of these key fobs. Several in silver, one in purple,
one in green,
The next two came out better. This one is called Mushrooms On The Forest Floor.
Showing posts with label hand made. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hand made. Show all posts
Thursday, October 29, 2015
All Keyed Up
I've been on a key fob jag lately. It started with a few dragon claw key fobs.
I posted them on Face Book and sold them quickly, even before I got a chance to list them in my Art Fire shop, Wyvern Designs.
I went on to make several more of these key fobs. Several in silver, one in purple,
one in green,
and one that's a bit macabre.
I've been playing with polymer clay and alcohol inks, lately, so I decided to use up some blank pendants I made some time ago. It was so much fun dripping the inks onto the blanks then manipulating it by tilting the pendant or using canned air to blow and blend the inks. After they dried, I starting seeing shapes in the swirls and smears, or maybe it was only my demented mind but I saw them none the less. This is my first attempt. I loved the look but realized that the clay was split along the side and would be useless as a key fob.
The next two came out better. This one is called Mushrooms On The Forest Floor.
And this one is called Wild Flower.
I have several more in the works and I seem to be addicted to finding shapes in the inks. I just hope that I don't get lost in the images in my key fobs. You might never hear from me again!
I went on to make several more of these key fobs. Several in silver, one in purple,
one in green,
The next two came out better. This one is called Mushrooms On The Forest Floor.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Woodland Elf Tasseled Knitted Shawl
This lovely little shawl is from my "alter ego's" shop. I am listing all my fiber related items there. I'm Tiny Weasel Fiber Arts over there and I have knit items baskets, and wool felted items. I, also, have a few amulet pouches there as well.
Here is my Woodland Elf Tasseled Shawl
As you can see in the last photo, it can also be worn as a scarf.
Here is my Woodland Elf Tasseled Shawl
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Beware The Old Yarn Stash
I have a huge stash of yarn in my basement. I don't know where it came from, maybe it crawled in one day when I was inattentive and left the cellar door open, I've had that happen with snakes and toads and maybe that's what happened with the yarn.
However it happened, I have skeins and skeins of yarn! The colors are not very attractive and the texture of most of it is questionable. Why some company produced yarn that feels like kitchen scrubbing pads is beyond me but it's there in my basement, lying in wait for me every time I go down there.
It usually looks accusingly at me, as if to say, "Why do you hate me and never let me see the light of day?" I've tried to ignore it, but it's getting harder and harder. I feel bad for the poor stuff, even though it's ugly and scratchy and no one in a million years would want to wear anything made from it.
And I was successful in ignoring it until a couple of months ago. That was when I came up with the brilliant idea to try and design a shrug pattern. Most of the shrug patterns I've seen are simply rectangles of knitting with parts stitched up for the arms. Is that the route I took when designing my pattern? Oh no, not me! I had to have one with fluted cuffs and different stitches to give it texture and a nice big ruffle around the neck line!
So down to the basement, where the yarn is kept contained in plastic tubs. I did that so the yarn doesn't get out and try to strangle me when I go down to do laundry and so far it's worked! Anyway, I pulled the tubs down and cautiously opened them.
All the yarn started clamoring for my attention. "Pick me,pick me!" they all shouted.
After doing battle with some of the more unruly skeins, I headed upstairs with my choices. I picked a florescent orange, don't ask why, I don't know, maybe it yelled louder than all the rest, a variegated yarn with the appealing name of Chili, a raspberry colored yarn and a large skein of Christmas red. Then I started knitting. I won't bore you with the details but it took me quite a while to finish this piece and I did so in the middle of July so I can't even wear my creation for months, but oh well, I will get to wear it eventually.
And now, what you've all been waiting for (if you've had the courage and stamina to read this far), here is my shrug in all its glory!
Note the bright orange ruffle that encircles the whole thing. I wanted it to mimic the cuffs with a knit 4, purl 4 ribbing but I ran out of room on my circular needles because I had about a gajillion stitches on the needle but I was too cheap to go out and buy a larger set.
However it happened, I have skeins and skeins of yarn! The colors are not very attractive and the texture of most of it is questionable. Why some company produced yarn that feels like kitchen scrubbing pads is beyond me but it's there in my basement, lying in wait for me every time I go down there.
It usually looks accusingly at me, as if to say, "Why do you hate me and never let me see the light of day?" I've tried to ignore it, but it's getting harder and harder. I feel bad for the poor stuff, even though it's ugly and scratchy and no one in a million years would want to wear anything made from it.
And I was successful in ignoring it until a couple of months ago. That was when I came up with the brilliant idea to try and design a shrug pattern. Most of the shrug patterns I've seen are simply rectangles of knitting with parts stitched up for the arms. Is that the route I took when designing my pattern? Oh no, not me! I had to have one with fluted cuffs and different stitches to give it texture and a nice big ruffle around the neck line!
So down to the basement, where the yarn is kept contained in plastic tubs. I did that so the yarn doesn't get out and try to strangle me when I go down to do laundry and so far it's worked! Anyway, I pulled the tubs down and cautiously opened them.
All the yarn started clamoring for my attention. "Pick me,pick me!" they all shouted.
After doing battle with some of the more unruly skeins, I headed upstairs with my choices. I picked a florescent orange, don't ask why, I don't know, maybe it yelled louder than all the rest, a variegated yarn with the appealing name of Chili, a raspberry colored yarn and a large skein of Christmas red. Then I started knitting. I won't bore you with the details but it took me quite a while to finish this piece and I did so in the middle of July so I can't even wear my creation for months, but oh well, I will get to wear it eventually.
And now, what you've all been waiting for (if you've had the courage and stamina to read this far), here is my shrug in all its glory!
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Truly Handmade
It's getting harder and harder to find truly hand made items. Okay, I know technically, anything you put together by hand qualifies as handmade but, maybe I'm a hand made snob, because I think that at least some of the material included in a hand made piece should be, well, hand made. I know I'll probably get some hate mail for saying that , but, so be it!
I'm not saying that those jewelry designers who use their eye for design and color and string together purchased beads and/or stones are not artists. But I always like to see something that was actually formed by their own hands included, as well. I'm in awe of those who can wire wrap a bead or stone and not have it look like a three year old did it. (My wire wrapping skills are on par with said three year old).
I like hand drawn, hand painted, hand sculpted. Most likely, that's why I like to work with polymer clay. I've chosen a few truly hand made items from the Art Fire Bloggers Guild for this post.
Polymer Clay Bracelet byCraftsOfThePast Polly Creamica Designer
Dolphins by KanweieneaKreations
Terracotta Lampwork Earrings by ShadowdogDesigns
3-D Daffodill Wall Hanging by CouchBeeCreations
Blue/Pink Cotton Summer Shawl by AndreaDsigns
And I'm not above adding one of my own pieces to the mix!
Bohemian Beaded Batick Bracelet by WyvernDesigns
I'm not saying that those jewelry designers who use their eye for design and color and string together purchased beads and/or stones are not artists. But I always like to see something that was actually formed by their own hands included, as well. I'm in awe of those who can wire wrap a bead or stone and not have it look like a three year old did it. (My wire wrapping skills are on par with said three year old).
I like hand drawn, hand painted, hand sculpted. Most likely, that's why I like to work with polymer clay. I've chosen a few truly hand made items from the Art Fire Bloggers Guild for this post.
Polymer Clay Bracelet byCraftsOfThePast Polly Creamica Designer
Terracotta Lampwork Earrings by ShadowdogDesigns
3-D Daffodill Wall Hanging by CouchBeeCreations
Blue/Pink Cotton Summer Shawl by AndreaDsigns
And I'm not above adding one of my own pieces to the mix!
Bohemian Beaded Batick Bracelet by WyvernDesigns
Monday, January 13, 2014
Crazy Train Collections
I'm starting a new feature where I'm posting the Art Fire Crazy Train Collections on my blog to show off the talented artists of the Crazy Train Guild. These are wonderful artisans with fabulous hand made products to sell.
In my opinion, it is always better dealing with an the creator of a product than with a big company. I urge everyone to visit the handmade site of your choice to see the well made and interesting products there
The Crazy Train Rider for today is Christies Cottage. Check her out!
This collection is from Troche Wood Designs Check out this shop for beautiful creations in wood.
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