Current project

Here's an update on the current project. The outer petals, and leaves are done.

Tonight I'll be setting up for the inner petals. I'll be working those over wire, using detached buttonhole, and gold thread.

Have fun, and I'll post again tomorrow.


Going Dotty

I'm having a ball with these little things. here's another one. 

 
Here's the front.My tribute to the Matrix.... Dot Matrix.

 
And the back...

 
And the whole happy set!

Recycling!

I've been enjoying myself with some basic notebook making.
 
I know it doesn't look like a notebook. In fact, it *is* an old cigarette pack that I sanded, gessoed, painted and varnished. I'm happy with how it turned out. 

Except...the case looked a little full...

*Blargleblelble!*

See, there they go, all better now.

What I've been working on.

 This is the current art project, it's about 18 inches by 30 inches. I'm working on paper that I've treated heavily with gesso. The first layer of text is done with graphite (a no-wood pencil) then I hit it up with matte medium to give it a look similar to ivory and the white layer of text is gesso because I love the effect it has in the light.
 Here's a closeup, if you're curious. Oh the text is the Psalms, in Latin.
 
 I'm also working on a bead-embroidered bracelet. 


As always, click on the pictures for enlargements.


Time to restart the blog. expect more updates.
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Here's the latest finished project, it only took 60 hours, which is a lot faster than usual.

The white material is glow in the dark embroidery floss, and sewing thread. I'm still trying to photograph that well, so it's visible. (I think it has something to do with exposure settings, but I'm not that good at this stuff)

Okay, here's more of my trying to blog more regularly.
This is the most recent finished project. I'll have pictures of the next one in a few days.

This one is worked over wire, like the last one. The stitches are buttonhole, chain, french knots and woven picots around the center.

The back is worked in detached buttonhole with stem stitch worked on top. Also the base is edged in detached buttonhole. My next one will be more finished looking, if I can figure it out.
And the back of the small petals was a lot of fun to work. I picked up some of the gold silk twist, that they're using on the Plimoth Plantation project. And added some delicas to make the little flowers.

Until next time...Happy creating!

Long time no post....
"Let me 'splain... No, there's too much. Let me sum up."

The reason for the break in posts, from last year, is that we moved. I no longer have the craft area that I had at the old apartment. But I'm still crafting. It's been an interesting year, and I'm now able to get out, and have been going to the local library (it's a 5 minute walk) to work on my embroidery.

This is some of what I've been working on...



This is worked in buttonhole stitch, detached buttonhole, woven picots, french knots, couching, lots of split stitch, and seed stitch.

Here's a close up of the split stitch petals and pearls.



You can also see the medium sized petals, that I worked in couching and seed stitch. I wanted to thank Mary Corbet for reminding me about seed stitch. It's a useful filling stitch.

Here's the back...


yup, all the backs are worked in detached buttonhole. I think it makes for a better look when the backs are embroidered as well as the fronts.

I'll be posting more frequently now that I've been able to get the pictures uploaded from my camera.

Happy crafting, you all.



Moving the desk to the front was a good idea. I'm able to fit a rug (just picked it up Saturday at IKEA) and the round worktable back there. It's starting to look a lot better. The unfinished state of the walls and floor is an annoyance, but I can live with it.

I like the flow of the space better now too. I think it'll be much more functional once it's finished.



This is the jewelry storage, it took almost a week of sorting to get it all together. Now I've got a much better idea of what I have and what I can work with. It's a marvelous thing.

More to do,
Happy crafting to you all.



I've moved the desk to the front of the room. I think that'll work better, and maybe improve the wireless internet connection out there. (not so many walls, pipes, and stuff)



And moving the desk has given me a dance floor in the rest of the room. It's a good space for a table and chairs, and laying out sewing.



I've still got to work on the above-shelf storage. I'm not entirely sure how to set it up, but I'll get it figured out.



And that is a finished organized shelf. I'm absolutely thrilled with the results. If all goes well, I'll have this finished in a few more days.

Happy crafting to you all!

Organization, part two....and an experiment.

First, the experiment. I don't know why my pictures format the way they do, and that I can't get them in line with the text. Hopefully I'll figure it out in this post
edited to add: It's figured out! Woot! (and I figured out, more or less, how to fix the previous post

On to the organization



This is the "Clean Sweep" staging area for sorting stuff, it's not bad, it's in the garage and is a good way to lay everything out to actually see what's cluttering things up. I'm still trying to figure out a storage solution for the various bags I have, but that'll come. And I'm still trying to determine if I'll make baskets again, or if I should find a new home for the reeds. (So far I'm coming down on the side of yes, I will make baskets again)



And another picture of the staging area.

More will come as more is done.

Fear me, I'm violating a law of thermodynamics by reducing disorder! Woot!



Here are the before pictures of the craft space. The first picture is of the main bookcases and storage in there. I've let it get entirely too cluttered and hard to find things, this winter. The craft space is relatively unheated so it's hard to work in there.



The second picture is towards the desk area. I didn't take a picture of the table in front of it, since there wasn't room to stand. (Yes, this is a problem.) Those cabinets at the window have never been as useful as I thought they'd be. They're too tall to work on sewing, or calligraphy. And too short to work standing up. and the storage in the cabinets is too narrow to hold my sewing machine and serger. They seemed like a good idea at the time. But, they'll get a good home at my brother's place.



The third picture is just to the left of the desk, and would be the spot I'd set up a table to do calligraphy. A casual glance will give you the impression that it's slightly cluttered. A closer examination, however, will reveal the truth...it's very cluttered.




The fourth picture is of the desktop itself (minus the computer which is currently in the living room, until it warms up out there some more)

Organization.....or the woes of a long winter.

It has finally happened, I couldn't stand my craft space any longer. I couldn't find my tailors' awl, my large format bristol paper...or the floor.

Coming up will be pictures of the mostly before state (I took the pictures after already clearing it out a bit, so I'd have somewhere to stand. I'll also post pictures of the reorganization.

I'm already about half done so these aren't exactly "In progress" pics, they're more "This was the progress" pics. And I'm reorganizing the way I set it up for work.

Now if only I could get my computer to hook up to the internet in there, we'd be golden. (It's a problem with the wireless thingie, I'll figure it out eventually)


An update on the new rug...and it's an experiment with using my camera and trying to figure out GIMP to modify images. (so far, trying to fiddle with 'level's' and 'histogram' have been an utter bust)

If the sun is out tomorrow, I've got some jewelry to photograph.

For those that are interested, punch hooking is a marvelous way to make one of a kind rugs, and use up those yarn scraps that seem to accumulate everywhere. I use basic acrylic knitting yarns for this one. I think it's easier to run through the washer and dryer, there's no danger of felting with acrylic. It does pill a little, but a beard or sweater trimmer takes care of that nicely.

The technique is simple enough once you've done a few. Depending on your backing it can be really fast, or just fairly fast. I've done rugs on burlap, and that moves very quickly, but I find that burlap just isn't as rugged as I'd like, and can tear out before it's finished. So, this one is on cotton monks cloth. It's rugged, holds the yarn loops nicely, but it can be rough on the wrists and takes a bit longer.

If you're interested in it for yourself, Halcyon Yarns has the tools and supplies. I use the Oxford Plain punch needle for my work.

Have fun with whatever you're creating today.

I've finally got the banner and front page of my shop at Etsy set up! Woot!

In other news, I'm getting the camera figured out. Still nothing worth posting, but that'll change once I figure out the timer option thingie (I don't do well taking pictures when I have to press the button, my hand still tremors too much)

Also, the kitchen is clean, the living room is tidier, and the rug is coming along. It finally looks like something I'd admit to making. (I took out the vibrant lime green and replaced it with red. This doesn't make any sense, I know, but when I have a picture you'll understand ...I think)

If all goes well, I'll have a large batch of earrings listed on Etsy this week, and maybe an ACEO or two (calligraphy from Genesis, Chapter 1)

I still need to work on my profile there, but I'll get it figured out.
Hope your day has been good.


Here's that scroll that I was mentioning.

And I got the computer working...YAY!

And (again) I did get the rug started, I'm calling this one stained glass flowers. I should have pictures next week or so, and I'll have it posted on Etsy as well.

Here are some useful documents for any craftsman or artist, from the Society of North American Goldsmiths (wonderful folks!)
http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/Publications/Professional_Guidelines/
it's a collection of pdf's and well worth browsing.

Notes for today:
  • finish the scroll for the East Kingdom (a Terpsichore, picture to be posted after Saturday)
  • laundry
  • try to fix desktop computer so I can get the scanner working again.
today should be a productive craft day. If I still have the energy, I'll strip the rug frame and stretch a new rug backing.

YAY!! I finally got this damned thing to work again! WooHOOO!

It's been a while since I've updated. So here we go.....

Projects that I'm currently working on: A luxurious velvet pieced throw with embroidered vines and flowers over it. The current colors are Red, Purple, Moss Green and a buttery brown color. It's more than a little decadent, and I love it :) I'm thinking instead of standard tufting, I'll over stuff it, and use buttons for the tie downs, of course covering the buttons with more velvet, and possibly embroidering them.

I really should write a little essay on the care and feeding of demanding muses. Mine just won't let me alone. I've also been working on a silk/linen pouch, in German counted satin stitch and it's coming along, though slowly. Also a fast embroidery piece, on cheap printed cotton, with DMC (love that green color they came out with this year). Oh, and a tunic collar, and a pair or three of viking pants, and let's not forget the doublet....sigh, I hate the muse, she's so demanding.