Old Habits

Can’t control myself. As soon as I am home I head straight to Amazon…have a shortcut on my browser. Today goodies arrived.
Did you follow Maggie Maggio’s online color instructions? I tried. I have a binder filled with the downloads and it is on my to do list. I find using a lesson from the web a bit awkward….
Welllll…..not only is all that information here…..there is so much more. Lindly Haunani’s color sensibilities AND Maggie’s in one tome. I briefly paged thru (dear Cynthia Tinapple of PCD fame with her own fabulous color sense wrote the intro!)

My initial fear…a book on color would be full of illustrations and theory. Little applicable material. From my brief looksee that is certainly not so! Ladies you have hit just the right balance.
Tonight it is my reading material. And I am slipping it under my pillow…osmosis you know…..

n e x t . . . 
Along with polymer clay, I find bead weaving supremely rewarding. The only stitch to frustrate me has been RAW (right angle weave). Marcia DeCoster has authored one of Lark’s Masterclass Books on the subject.
I have already picked a project that looks classy, flashy, and relatively easy to start. As with all of Lark’s publications the layout is great. Marcia DeCoster has produced a fine work that will allow me to finally conquer this weave!


Yes there is more. For another day. I am busy mixing clay to match the colors of SoftFlex Trios Tranquility!

Valerie

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Yellow!

Somewhere recently I have read that the ‘new’ color is yellow. Generic yellow.

Imagine my delight. I am fond of those tiny Swarovski rounds and use them frequently in my designs. I recently received a tiny package from Artbeads.com. Pure joy! And timely. 3mm Swarovski rounds in sunny Jonquil with a flashy AB finish.

I have plans for these precious beauties that are patiently waiting while I play with Soft Flex Trios!

We are home. The yard is weeded. Unpacked and studio is demanding attention.

Hope everyone’s summer has been safe and we all return to work and studios refreshed with wonderful new projects to share!
Valerie

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Contests, contests

Seems there are contests everywhere you click on the world wide web. After my post of yesterday I followed a comment to see the author’s site and found a link to another contest. The deadline? Tomorrow. HouseofGems is hosting a very simple contest. Read the rules here and if you are the lucky winner we will discuss my portion privately….

The bit about being a featured designer on the HouseofGems site piqued my interest. The opportunity to design, what I enjoy doing best!

Valerie

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Muse II

 

 

 

The contest results are in, the winning entries in many categories are surprising. This stunning piece of work was not chosen. I am featuring it here, I think it is fabulous.

It is

"Oriental Blues in Pale" by Liudmyla Heggland of Rennesoy, Norway.

 

 

Beautiful carry thru of design elements from the Muse piece.




This entry also was not chosen for any of the winning categories, how  unique!

"Denim Pearls" by Doris Schenck of Oviedo, Florida

Doris’ masterful artwork complements and accents the Muse piece. The craftsmanship is precise and exquisitely executed.

These two pieces took the Muse piece, a carved/etched custom donut from Lillypilly Designs, and created elegant, wearable pieces of art.
Bravo!

My own entry:
 
I entered a lariat and bracelet set. The display is 12 inches high (to give a sense of proportion). As with all lariats it can be worn in a variety of ways. I like it with the pearls in the middle of the strand wrapped to the front and the ends hanging to the front. In this manner it gives a bit of a choker effect with those lovely pearls and crystals lying about the hollow of my neck…quite glam!
The large round bead is about 2 inches and hollow polymer, one of my Blown Polymer line, light as a feather. It is inlaid with Swarovskis.  And you may not be able to discern, the ropes have a spiral of Swarovski. Just enough to give it sparkle without that in-your-face CRYSTAL that seems to dominate currently.

This is the bracelet from the set that somehow did not make it to the gallery. I used the beads and ribbon included in the Muse II kit. The donut shapes I made from polymer clay to match the one in the kit (the Muse) which I used in the lariat.

The contest was sponsored by Artbeads.com and Rainbows of Light

.

 

Valerie

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knitting … HA!

I had in mind a simple pattern. Cast on several times and each time found each row to have varying amounts of stitches. Not at all what the pattern called for.
Decided I had better learn what a purl and yo meant. Went in search of an alternate pattern. Did not see anything I wanted to try. Cast on 60 stitches with lace weight on #7 needles. Four rows of straight knitting for a garter stitch start. Then knit one yo twice. Following row knit all the knit stitches letting the yo fall. Interesting. Did that for about 11 repeats. Felt I had a good handle on those stitches.
Time to try purl. Searched the web for a purl technique that made sense to me. Remember I am a crocheter since my teens (that is 5 decades Dad) and am used to holding my thread/yarn in my left hand for best tension. Found the ‘Norwegian’ purl. Yup…works for me and makes so much sense. I find purling this way easier that the knit stitch!
Added several sections of stockinet to the scarf. Oddly there are holes in the stockinet. I had decided unless I could determine a stitch is actually dropped…just go on. This project is to learn the mechanics of the stitch, not perfection.
Are you ready? Cast off…an even 100 stitches! (Looked back at those holes in the stockinet…actually increases!) Since I used such thin, fine yarn the irregularities are not really seen. And the piece does look lacy.

For an absolute novice I am pleased to have learned a couple of stitches, how to cast on (two needle) and how to cast off (I used a crochet hook).

I am now finishing a jacket I had put aside while waiting for the ‘BIG REVEAL’ of the Muse II.

  
 

 

Valerie (climbing the steep side of the learning curve)

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My First Shawl

I’ve wanted a shawl forever, seems like. Shawls are a popular and stylish sweater/jacket alternative in my community. They also happen to be costly. In the last issue of Interweave’s Crochet the Raindrops Lace Shawl caught my eye and I finished it Friday. I used 8 1/4 skeins of Cervinia Calzetteria and about 50 gm of beads. I changed the front edging a bit, wanted it more substantial. The beads along the lower border add wonderful body and just the right amount of weight to give a bit of flair.
I wore this Saturday here in camp (we are still getting rain and cool weather – no summer!) AND I LOVE IT!!! It is a fabulous pattern, drapes well and the entire project cost me less than $10.
Here is a close-up of the lower edge:
I think a scarf pin, long polymer taper, will add the finishing touch. Another project for when I return to my studio….

Valerie (who is currently working on a knitted scarf – never having knitted before!)

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