Well, it seems that holiday elves have invaded our house...and my art studio, so holiday fun and creativity is bursting out all over...
For awhile--several years in fact--I was obsessed with bead crochet and during that time I made numerous beaded crochet bracelets and necklaces...I haven't made any of these in awhile--right now I seem to be on a knitting spree, but here is some of the JEWELRY I made then...
My fine art and crafting have always sustained me through any big transition or crisis in my life. Currently I am in a major transition, and once again I am finding myself--and taking back parts of myself I gave away--by meditatively, quietly, calmly stringing tiny beads in intricate patterns.
Every night, I sit and string up new bead patterns, exploring different color palettes, and the feeling of being adrift---which has been with me since I was forced to move out of my home of 6 years--melts away and a feeling of well being grows as the string of beads grows longer.
I am stringing the seed beads on thread to crochet into bracelets---and after I have strung enough beads for a bracelet (about 40 inches), then I crochet a few inches to see how the pattern and colors I chose looks.
Like knitting, stringing the beads and crocheting the bracelets is a repetitive act---with a rhythm all its own, which puts me into a meditative state---the healing creative zone--is how I term it. Transitional states are always painful for me--and this one is especially painful and chaotic---but while I am stringing beads nothing else matters---just the beads and the pattern that is growing beneath my fingers. As I do this I meditate on letting go, and on some level I am putting all that I am letting go of---into each bracelet. For me, the process of creating something has always been more important and more satisfying than the end result.
I think this quote from a book I have been reading lately----THE KNITTING SUTRA Craft as a Spiritual Practice by Susan Gordon Lydon--- sums it all up nicely:
"...the purpose of craft is not so much to make beautiful things as it is to become beautiful inside while you are making those things."
Beadwork on fabric on vintage hankerchief, mounted on stretched canvas. No title yet--any suggestions?
Four Inchies + mounted on a fabric covered stretched canvas. Working title : "Four-squared Flowers" and yes, they are re-purposed postage stamps, plus beads & other bits. I was aiming for a botanical theme on this one.
So here is my last 2 days of the CREATIVE EVERY DAY challenge.
This small "quilt" is titled HOMAGE TO TREES and is part of a series of small mixed media (fabric and paper) quilts I am making on the theme of the Earth and the Environmental Crisis. This is a creative work in progress or WIP.
I started with a vintage deck of Tree Spotter cards
---stitched some cards together, added batting and a fabric backing--and now I'm working on embellishing with buttons, beads and embroidery. I will use the green leaf fabric as a border---and plan to hand quilt the borders....
"I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do." --Willa Cather
Only 28 days (yikes!) until that BIG HOLIDAY. Here are some books I think would make great gifts for most Crafters/Artists (most of these are on my wish list):
Kristin Knits by Kristin Nicholas.
Ah! Color for knitters! Noted knitwear designer and color connoisseur Kristin Nicholas encourages knitters to conquer their color inhibitions, learn a little basic color theory, and create personally satisfying fiber palettes. Kristin has created 25 designs for hats, mittens, scarves, socks, and sweaters in sumptious Nashua Handknits Julia Yarn. This book is eye candy I can't wait to own!
Heirloom Buttons to Make: A gallery of decorative fabric, needle-lace, crochet, and ribbon and braid closures you can create by Nancy Nehring. The subtitle says it all here. To quote one Amazon customer review : "If you knit, crochet, or sew and like to give your garments a little extra, this book will give you lots of new ideas."
Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave by Ann Budd (Editor), Anne Merrow (Editor). These 25 sock patterns are taken from various issues of Interweave Press magazines such as "Interweave Knits" and "Piecework" and "Spin-Off." Many of the original issues of Interweave Knits have gone out of print and Favorite Socks ensures these patterns are accessible for a new generation of knitters. Besides providing many classic patterns, this collection also includes a helpful tutorial on knitting socks on two circular needles, and instructions for both toe-up and top-down knitted socks.. However, I think this sock knitting book is not for the novice sock knitter---but aimed at more veteran sock knitters--if you have never knit socks, or never used 4 double pointed knitting needles you may want to watch a video or take a class to learn to knit a basic sock.
Crochet Jewelry: 40 Beautiful and Unique Designs by Waejong Kim and Anna Pulvermakher. The 40 crochet projects range from easy to complicated. The instructions at the beginning of the book are quite thorough and cover some unusual techniques not usually found in a crochet book such as hairpin crochet and cable techniques. "Featured projects include multicolored bead and crochet necklaces, lacy spider web chokers, delicate yarn and wire bracelets, lively cherry earrings, mohair flower pins, and pretty cocktail rings embellished with beads and stones." I am an avid bead crocheter, so I am quite intrigued by this book of unusual crochet jewelry.
I have just started working in a bookstore again! so I will be blogging about the store and more crafty books soon--now back to knitting those holiday gifts.....
What can I say? I just keep making them....these are fun to fabricate because each one is a miniature work of art. These are plus size inchies--each one measures about 1.5" x 1.5". Again these have become pins/brooches for sale in my Etsy shop, Borealis Beads.
These are "+ inchies or plus size inchies" since they are 1.5" x 1.5" in size. Sewn with fabrics and laces all layered, then embellished with buttons, beads, stamps---whatever I have that strikes my fancy.
These are so much fun to make, once I get going, I just can't stop! I love making these little miniature works of art---they are fairly quick to make, so I can make about a dozen in a few hours. I have sewn pinbacks onto them, and they are will soon be for sale on my Etsy shop--so if you like any of them, check there! They make lovely pins or brooches to enliven a hat, sweater, or winter coat.
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