What is it about winter that makes me want to play with soft wool and yarns in bright colors and neglect the cold, hard, metal and beads for a while? My hands have been busy while I sit and watch a movie, or travel in the car, or listen to podcasts. I've been knitting some fun, colorful hats. See my beautiful DIL modeling one. (The photo modification was done by my 12 year old niece as well) :-) I've also been recycling wool sweaters and making small purses and necklaces and cuffs. I was inspired by Keri Smith's Living Our Loud- Activities To Fuel A Creative Life and I made some small, inspirational cards to go in and on the purses and cuffs. Some of the purses are small enough just to be a necklace and to put some small tokens in. Others are large enough for a phone or Ipod. These cuffs are made from recycled, embroidered sweaters with vintage buttons sewn on, along with the quotes printed on fabric. I'm getting ready for January's sale at Silo Studio coming up on January 21st. I'll keep you posted.
Winter is not my favorite time of year. All of the other seasons are more to my taste. Winter, however, does have its moments. The sunrises and sunsets rival any other season. The colors are so much more vibrant, and the silhouette of the bare trees makes a beautiful contrast. And then of course, there is the beautiful starkness of the snow. We have gotten to enjoy that view this winter way more than any year that I can recall. We may usually see one snowfall if we are lucky, but this year we have had at least three separate occasions of measurable snow. The schools have used up all of their snow days legitimately. That is a rarity here.
This has given me a good excuse to stay cozy in the house and stitch away at my little projects. I have created a couple of cuffs and necklaces to honor two famous artsy ladies. The first one needs no introduction. The second set is in honor of Frida Kahlo which inspired the bright colors. All of these are made from vintage and recycled fabrics and buttons.
I was recently inspired by the creations of Les Bijoux Dodette and decided that I would try my had at making appliqued and embellished fabric jewelry. Winter just seems like a time when it is comforting to sit in the evenings and stitch on something. I have really enjoyed working in this medium and have several more pieces that I haven't gotten to photograph yet. They are all sewn on a base of recycled sweater felt, with strips of fabric from vintage flour sacks, other vintage clothing, and old jewelry that I've taken apart and re purposed. It's fun to take a handful of bits and pieces and turn them into something interesting. They are kind of primitive and the stitching is uneven, but I kind of like it that way. I like art that shows the hand of the maker.
I've been doing a little drawing practice. Several years ago, I found an interesting way to help people who are not comfortable drawing faces. I've used this in my classes when I teach children and they sometimes amaze themselves, even if they thought they couldn't do it. Take a photo an cut it in half. Glue it to your paper and draw a mirror image of the other half of the face. I loved the expression on this woman's face. She was so fun to draw. Why don't you try it and post your results and let us see? Here also is a necklace that I just finished that kind of goes along with the African looking theme. It is copper, jade, and recycled magazine page beads.
I just added some new pieces to my Etsy shop. They are kind of all over the place when it comes to style and materials. I just do what strikes my fancy at the moment.
Flying Dog
Linked Hearts (Made from recycled electrical wire)
Vision (commission for Karen)
I also just discovered that Cynthia Korzekwa mentioned and linked to my Medals for Everyday People on her Art For Housewives blog. It is in her January 31 post. I think that she lives in Italy. Her site always has the most interesting plethora of links to art using recycled materials. I have been following her blog for several years. Thanks Cynthia!
Well the title isn't very inspired, but it pretty much says it all. Here are some of the new things that I made for the sale at Silo Studios. The photo above is a button maille bracelet that I got the idea for from a jewelry magazine that I flipped through at the craft store. I've always wanted to try chain maille but the directions seemed confusing. This looked simple enough, and it was fun.
A variety of earrings.
This is Prince Albert, made from a tobacco tin, a tin can lid, some resistors for his medals, and a vintage rhinestone button.
What is it about winter that makes me want to play with soft wool and yarns in bright colors and neglect the cold, hard, metal and beads for a while? My hands have been busy while I sit and watch a movie, or travel in the car, or listen to podcasts. I've been knitting some fun, colorful hats. See my beautiful DIL modeling one. (The photo modification was done by my 12 year old niece as well) :-)
I've also been recycling wool sweaters and making small purses and necklaces and cuffs. I was inspired by Keri Smith's Living Our Loud- Activities To Fuel A Creative Life and I made some small, inspirational cards to go in and on the purses and cuffs.
Some of the purses are small enough just to be a necklace and to put some small tokens in. Others are large enough for a phone or Ipod.
These cuffs are made from recycled, embroidered sweaters with vintage buttons sewn on, along with the quotes printed on fabric.
I'm getting ready for January's sale at Silo Studio coming up on January 21st. I'll keep you posted.
