2010 Necklace Project

2010-12-31T07:33:00.000-08:00

Well, the last one. The ceramic centerpiece is a gift from a friend, the lace is also a gift from my mom. I guess this particular project ( meaning the whole blog) became all about making things with what you have or find, though I didn't plan it that way in the beginning. I think I'll wait a week before I write about what I've taken away from this experience just to let things settle. Anyway, here's wishing you a happy, healthy and abundant New Year, and a special thanks to all of you out there who stopped by to take a peek at this strange endeavor, especially those of you who have taken the time to comment. It's always nice to get a holler back on your work. See you next week!
Materials: recovered lace, ceramic head, glass beads, linen thread, rayon ribbon.

2010-12-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

Down to one more necklace to go. Getting ready to go out with a you know what.
Materials:novelty gun, rayon ribbon.

2010-12-29T10:13:00.000-08:00

Another treasure beads craftacular. I turned the wood for the toggled and the rest of the work is crochet, tatting and macrame. Both the Buddha and mysterious hand bead I found in the old 26th street flea markets in New York olden days.
Materials: cotton and silk blend threads, hand turned wood toggle, glass beads, chain, coral and carved amber or resin not sure which.

2010-12-28T07:03:00.000-08:00

An early experiment in carving from a scrap of some kind of exotic hardwood, I can't remember what kind. Anyway, it's good to put it to use finally.
Materials: hand carved wood, rayon cord, linen cord.

2010-12-27T08:55:00.000-08:00

This little lady has been lying around in my brass needle box for long times now. She used to be held together with a twisted rusty wire. I think she looks happier strung on the pearls.
Materials: porcelain doll, freshwater pearl, silk thread, linen thread, brass closure.

2010-12-26T12:15:00.000-08:00

I went into my "best" beads for this one. I've been carrying around this little guy for many many years now. Must have picked him up at some trade show back in my olden costume jewelry days. I think someone told me once that he's the man that carries the seven Chinese gods on his back if I remember correctly. I like his expression, he looks easy to get along with.
Materials: coral, lava, and glass beads, Chinese god bead, cotton thread, hand turned wooden toggle.

2010-12-25T07:12:00.000-08:00

I's a white Christmas here in Asheville. I managed to get some bird tracks in the picture, I love finding all those random, calligraphic marks in the morning when it snows. Today I made something with a ribbon found on the street. It turns out it's a pretty good cat toy as well.
Materials:Found ribbon, scrap yarn, acrlic cord.

2010-12-24T07:15:00.000-08:00

Desk clean up yesterday. Unearthed this remnant from an abandoned macrame project and decided to press it into service. It's funny, I don't seem to macrame so much out of all the string related things I do these days. Just about a week to go now....
Materials: glass beads, linen threads, rayon ribbon.

2010-12-23T05:48:00.000-08:00

A big experiment from last night, I usually try to start fresh in the morning for spontaneity, but once I started this I got sucked in. These are leftover threads from all the tatting and crocheting I've been doing. I wanted to use them in some way, and I got the idea of massing them all together and ironing the whole works flat. Then, I dug out my neck form for a support and brushed a whole lot of matte medium on it to fuse it together. Then a little loose embroidery with the ribbon and done. I don't know about it's looks, but I had a lot of fun making it.
Materials:recycled threads, rayon ribbon, linen thread

2010-12-22T05:55:00.000-08:00

I found this little fortune on the street yesterday. I hope it's a good omen for the coming year. For you too, of course.
Materials: found fortune, acrylic cord.

2010-12-21T06:45:00.000-08:00

The fuzzy part here is some tinsely trim I found in the flower district back in New York long, long times ago. the center piece is a scrap I've salvaged from a silk embroidered shawl that's literally disintegrating like so many snowflakes in the wind. Still pretty in it's decay though.
Materials: tinsel trim, salvaged silk shawl, soutache.

2010-12-20T06:46:00.000-08:00

A little lump of pyrite that I've had for a while now. Very sparkly and pretty. I like it's alias too, fool's gold. It's little name that says a whole lot.
Materials: pyrite, acrylic cord.

2010-12-19T07:32:00.000-08:00

I buy scrap leather from the Earthguild craft store here in Asheville, the cut on the entire right side of this piece is how it came to me. Maybe it was used for shoes? I'm not sure. Anyway, I like these little crochet buttons I'm making, they remind me of the tight, dense kind of embroidery you find on a Spanish shawl.
Materials: scrap leather, silk blend and cotton threads, rayon ribbon.

2010-12-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

I practiced making doilies a lot when I was recovering earlier this fall, maybe my instinct was to knit myself back up. They remind me of snowflakes now that the cold is here.
Materials:cotton thread, linen thread, rayon ribbon.

2010-12-17T08:01:00.000-08:00

Just so you know, there is no way to do a quick tatting. I thought I would make fast work of this, but no. Maybe I'll improve with practice.
Materials: cotton thread, freshwater pearl, acrylic cord.

2010-12-16T07:21:00.000-08:00

I had a very courtly porcelain gentleman who lost his arm, the poor thing. I don't know where he is right now but the arm has been floating around my desk for a long time now. I like the tiny offering in his hand.
Materials: leather, porcelain, glass bead, cotton thread, rayon ribbon.

2010-12-15T12:48:00.000-08:00

I had these grand plans for mixing crochet and tatting technique in one piece, but of course the end product is a lot different than what was in my head. Ah well, back to the old drawing board.
Materials: cotton thread, glass beads, acrylic cord.

2010-12-14T06:44:00.000-08:00

Here's today's necklace. I was just thinking about the fragility of things, watching the birds flock to the feeder in this terrible weather. The wind was strong enough to blow the poor little things around the yard yesterday. Hope it settles down soon.
Materials: found tinsel, freshwater pearl, steel wire.

2010-12-14T06:37:00.000-08:00

This is actually yesterday's necklace. I couldn't post yesterday on account of a wicked snow/wind storm cutting our power. It's still plenty nasty out so I'm typing with crossed fingers. Hope old man winter just shot the works already for this season.....
Materials: rayon yarn, freshwater pearl, metallic lace.

2010-12-12T06:36:00.000-08:00

Nothing says the party's over like strands of used up tinsel on the side of the road. Still pretty enough to make a necklace for the old blog though....
Materials: found tinsel, acrylic cord.

2010-12-11T07:23:00.000-08:00

My attempt at Irish crochet lace. Normally you make several solid motifs using a method of crocheting around a cord, then they're suspended in an open work netting which I haven't done here. A little wonky but it's my first go anyway.
Materials: cotton thread, glass bead, acrylic cord.

2010-12-10T06:16:00.000-08:00

I've saved bits of practice tatting. They look nice all hitched together, especially with a pretty pink pearl.
Materials cotton thread, freshwater pearl, steel wire, rayon ribbon.

2010-12-09T06:37:00.000-08:00

I don't know. I'm getting a little happy with the old trim box and this strange creature is the result. I like my creatures though....
Materials: rayon ribbon, lace, drilled rock.

2010-12-08T06:36:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I'm down to just a few weeks. Here I go. Today I made a little lace wreath.
Materials: lace, rayon ribbons.

2010-12-07T06:39:00.000-08:00

Found a nice bit of tinsely trim in the studio last night, and this is the season to trim things up all pretty. I'm all about that. I like the pretty.
Materials: metal lace trim, glass beads, rayon ribbon.

2010-12-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

A gift from Phillips de Pury in the Style section on the New York Times yesterday. I don't think there's anything I can do to this to make it any prettier.....
Materials: newspaper.

2010-12-05T06:56:00.000-08:00

Another strange thing from the morning hours. I made a pom pom for my new hat I crocheted and was left with all these tiny bits of lovely merino wool. So I broke out some paper and some spray glue and here we are. I like all those colors together...
Materials: wool, paper, spray glue, rayon ribbon.

2010-12-04T06:08:00.000-08:00

This may look a little strange, but it did make sense once in the wee fuzzy early morning hours. Well, that's the muse for you, sometimes she works and sometimes she doesn't. You just have to keep pitching that's all.
Materials:yarn, found metal, rayon ribbon.

2010-12-03T05:50:00.000-08:00

My mom went on a round the world trip and brought me back some coconut oil with some classy packaging. Had a bit of sarong wrapped around the bottle, pretty enough to reuse here...
Materials: fabric, acrylic cord, glass bead.

2010-12-02T05:54:00.000-08:00

Mornings like this (cold, as in bitter cold) all I want to make is something cozy. Last month month on this blog might have a lot of warm and fuzzy things.
Materials: cotton yarn, glass bead, rayon ribbon.

2010-12-01T07:09:00.000-08:00

Scrap string and a twig, I think the wool gives it a festive touch.
Materials: twig, wool, acrylic cord.

2010-11-30T05:57:00.000-08:00

Well that's November for you all over. A stiff freezing rain and all the trees are stripped bare. Time to hibernate.....
Materials: grape vine.

2010-11-29T06:17:00.000-08:00

Found this sliver of mirror digging in the garden to put in the bulbs. It's kind of a shiny treasury find there in the November earth. I read somewhere that the seven tears bad luck superstition came from how long it took to acquire another mirror back in the olden days. Very precious material back then.
Materials: found mirror, linen, acrylic cord.

2010-11-28T08:09:00.000-08:00

Found what must have been an old elastic waistband on the street yesterday. The color gives it a real regal look. I especially like how saturated it feels with all the pleating.
Materials: found elastic, thread, glass beads, acrylic cord.

2010-11-27T07:14:00.000-08:00

A little preview of what the front yard will look like this spring. The Ingles supermarket was selling boxes of bulbs for 99 cents each. Just managed to get them in the ground in time as it's become awfully cold all of a sudden.
Materials: bulb boxes, acrylic cord.

2010-11-26T07:11:00.000-08:00

Found this on the street a few weeks ago. I like how expressive that eye and a half are.
Materials: doll shard, cotton thread, rayon ribbon.

2010-11-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

Another sidewalk find. I'm thankful for all the bounty that the sidewalk provides for me on this blog.....
Materials: comb, acrylic cord, angora yarn.

2010-11-24T06:02:00.000-08:00

It's a pea soup foggy morning, you can't even see the town to the west or the hills to the east. Everything is just softly enveloped. Found this polishing cloth the other day. The color really stood out in the brown dead leaves.

2010-11-23T05:55:00.000-08:00

Not exactly sure how this one came all together the way it did, but this is what happened and here it is. Another mystery found object, but since it says "made in Germany" on the side I know where it came from at least.
Materials: found object, wool, acrylic cord.

2010-11-22T06:02:00.000-08:00

Somebody offered the old expression of " sleep knits the raveled sleeve of care", at least I think that's how it goes. Anyway, I feel it to be true this morning. Found this purple ribbon on the street, it's a good quality one too.
Materials: found ribbon, scrap silk.

2010-11-21T07:15:00.000-08:00

I made this in a dream last night, but it didn't quite come out like this, the paper in dream land was more pliable and silky. Oh well.
Materials: newspaper, rayon cord.

2010-11-20T07:07:00.000-08:00

Something to keep you warm now that the days are getting shorter and shorter. I actually got this idea from the dottie angel blog. I always enjoy the colors there whenever I visit.
Materials: wool, rayon ribbon.

2010-11-19T07:18:00.000-08:00

Time for some paper cutting. I've always liked that ultra graphic look you get from this technique.
Materials: newspaper.

2010-11-18T08:22:00.000-08:00

Found piece again. The colors remind me of a Raggedy Anne. You don't see those so often these days....
Materials: found metal, silk blend thread, rayon ribbon.

2010-11-17T06:53:00.000-08:00

More found objects. I love the colors of the string. There's something very festive about them, all that's needed is a balloon.
Materials: found string, found barrette, rayon ribbon.

2010-11-16T05:46:00.000-08:00

I think someone met up with some kind of unpleasantness. I found lots of tiny little feathers all over the road on a walk yesterday.
Materials: feathers, linen cord.

2010-11-15T06:22:00.000-08:00

M0re interpretive than decorative today. I wanted to make something that looked like what a shred of hope feels like.
Materials: acrylic cord, fabric scrap.

2010-11-14T06:56:00.000-08:00

An old polyester resin piece that I cast myself many years ago. After working with metal and wood so closely, I'm starting to rediscover plastic. I can see why it was invented and what an exciting material it must have been when it first came out.
Materials: hand cast plastic, rayon ribbon.

2010-11-13T05:21:00.000-08:00

Lots of sanding in my life lately. This is the 80 grit. I wrap it around a pencil to get into the wee corners.
Materials: sand paper, rayon ribbon.

2010-11-12T05:45:00.000-08:00

This is inspired by some kind of Japanese shrine token, a gift from a dear friend. I used a scrap of cedar for the base and added a drop or cedar oil besides so it smells quite nice as well.
Materials: cedar, sari scrap, rayon rope, cedar oil, thread.

2010-11-11T05:46:00.000-08:00

I've had some kudzu leaves hanging around my work table for ages now. Why? Good question. I decided either I use them today, or out they go. I like the color they kept despite being dried.
Materials: kudzu leaves, masking tape, rayon ribbon.

2010-11-10T05:36:00.000-08:00

The tatting part is salvage from another project. It didn't quite hit the mark as far as fitting into a piece I was making it for, so it lands up here. I don't know if anyone could actually wear this, but this seems to be the way it wanted to be made.
Materials: silk blend yarn, rayon ribbon, acrylic cord, fabric.

2010-11-09T05:46:00.000-08:00

Nice thing about plastic is you can work with shards like these and not get all cut up as with glass.
Materials: acrylic mirror, rayon ribbon, thread.

2010-11-08T05:52:00.000-08:00

A project I saw on Poppytalk. Didn't turn out the way I thought it would, but what does....
Materials: paper, acrylic cord.

2010-11-07T07:36:00.000-08:00

A little more recycling with the mirror scraps. Inspired by all the frost this morning, I had to use some cold colors.
Materials: acrylic mirror, cotton thread, rayon ribbon.

2010-11-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

Cold morning frost. turned the last of the knockout roses to paper. Even got a little snow this morning. there's something a little sad about all the leaves falling when the sun doesn't manage to come out.
Materials: leaves, silk blend and cotton yarns.

2010-11-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

Tendrils from a dried out grape vine. Surprisingly strong yet brittle.
Materials: grapevine, acrylic cord.

2010-11-04T06:44:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about my need for reinvention. This reminded me about all the change that happens naturally and effortlessly.
Materials: print, acrylic cord.

2010-11-03T07:16:00.000-07:00

A couple of things found on the street this morning. I thought the poor girl was a nut for many weeks until my sister finally picked it up today.
Materials: found items, acrylic cord.

2010-11-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of acrylic mirror scraps from recent projects so they might as well get used....
Materials: acrylic mirror, cotton thread, silk, glass bead.

2010-11-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

Some metal bits found on the street. I love the color of the metal bar.
Materials: found metal, stick, acrylic cord, rayon ribbon.

2010-10-31T07:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! It's ugly, but appropriately so.
Materials: candy, cotton thread.

2010-10-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

Got into the Halloween candy last night. Terrible. I like those graphic eyeballs though.
Materials: candy wrappers, acrylic cord.

2010-10-29T06:53:00.000-07:00

So I passed the 300 mark yesterday. That means it's all downhill from here. Am I getting tired of this project? Yes. Yes I am. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel as well as the benefits of a daily practice.
Materials: acrylic mirror, tatting thread, rayon ribbon.

2010-10-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

Just like spring flowers, I can't resist these beautiful fall leaves. Nature is the best designer.
Materials: leaves, steel wire, acrylic cord.

2010-10-27T06:33:00.000-07:00

This is inspired by a dress worn by Ann Margaret at the end of "The Pleasure Seekers". A little black number with some kind of heavy gold doily type fob at the throat. It's the right shape, but I ended up using differently colored beads....
Materials: silk blend yarn, glass beads, acrylic cord.

2010-10-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

Found a leaf that has almost every fall color you can think of. I especially like the little bug egg bumps that contrast so prettily.
Materials:leaves, silk blend yarn, glass beads, acrylic cord.

2010-10-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

Another tatting adventure. I like the idea of making tatted parts at night and assembling them the next day.
Materials: silk blend yarn, glass beads, rayon ribbon.

2010-10-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

Like I said, the leaves are really turning now, and the sky in North Carolina seems to have an extra drop of blue so it's really pretty out there.
Materials: leaf, cotton tatting thread, acrylic cord.

2010-10-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

The leaves are changing here, this reminds me of some nice fall colors. I'm really enjoying the tatting as you can see. I'd like to try something more freestyle once I get a better handle on it. I like the idea of making a more deconstructed busted down looking kind of lace.
Materials: cotton tatting thread, freshwater pearl, acrylic cord.

2010-10-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

Went into town yesterday and got some proper tatting thread in colors. Here's a few flowers I did, learned something along the way too.
Materials: cotton tatting thread, acrylic cord, button, glass bead.

2010-10-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

A couple of tatting projects that didn't turn out right. Figured out how to hitch the two together. I'm enjoying tatting in the evening, at least I get something out of my TV watching...
Materials: silk / rayon blend yarns, rayon ribbon.

2010-10-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

This is a second go at a pattern I was trying to do from a book. I still didn't get it quite right, but I finished it anyway. I like the salmon-y color of this yarn, it's like old fashioned lingerie.
Materials:rayon yarn, recycled sari.

2010-10-19T06:56:00.000-07:00

So this is the closest I've come to that necklace in my dream. Still not exactly it though. I have to say I'm enjoying tatting with the thicker gauge yarn.
Materials: silk blend yarn, glass beads, rayon ribbon.

2010-10-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

More work with the acrylic sheet. Kind of reminds me of sunglasses in some way, maybe it's the weight of the plastic.
Materials: acrylic sheet, silk, linen.

2010-10-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

Finally got back to the saw yesterday and cut some acrylic sheet I've been wanting to work with. Still playing with crochet and tatting as well.
Materials: acrylic sheet, cotton and linen thread, rayon ribbon.

2010-10-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

Once again I set out to tat the necklace in my dream a few nights back, and something else entirely came out. This time I added beads for a bit of color.
Materials: glass beads, silk blend yarn, acrylic cord.

2010-10-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

I still haven't made the necklace in my dream, I started yesterday, but ended up following an old pattern instead.
Materials: silk bled yarn, rayon ribbon.

2010-10-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

I had a dream and all I could remember from it was a necklace made by needle tatting. I set out to make it but this came out instead. Maybe I'll get it tomorrow.
Materials: silk blend yarn, rayon ribbon.

2010-10-13T07:51:00.000-07:00

Another piano part. I like the Rube Goldberg quality these things have.
Materials: piano part, rayon rope, quartz, wooden bead, linen yarn.

2010-10-12T06:39:00.000-07:00

This is a piece of a piano I found at the salvage store. Wonderful place. I was just fascinated with the piano parts, it's amazing how many cut and carved and shaped little pieces of wood and felt go into the making of one.
Materials: piano part, copper wire, acrylic cord.

2010-10-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

Another needle tatting experiment. Having some sort of plan might be a good idea for next time. Practice is a good thing though.
Materials:cotton thread, rayon ribbon.

2010-10-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

This is the results of my first foray into needle tatting, which is kind of a cross between macramé and crochet using a long, long needle. Another way to pass the time when you're not up to snuff.
Materials: cotton thread, rayon ribbon.

2010-10-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

This is for Fire. I found the lottery card already torn up on the street a while ago. It's hard to get those things burning on a breezy chilly morning. Thought of making a necklace mostly out of matches before settling on the ticket, and I can now see how that would have caught fire a lot faster.
Materials: found lottery card, matches, cotton thread.

2010-10-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

This is for the element of Water. I didn't get it to drape quite right, but if I made another I'd know what to do better this time.
Materials: water, rayon ribbon.

2010-10-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

Well, this is earth. We won't discuss what this actually looks like. Just think about you would do if you had to design something with dirt.
Materials: dirt, acrylic cord.

2010-10-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about doing something to represent the elements for a while now. This one is for Air.
Materials: rubber glove, acrylic cord, rayon ribbon.

2010-10-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

A very nice and quiet birthday yesterday. Many thanks to all my well wishers!
Materials: cork, candle, acrylic cord.

2010-10-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

Scraps from the old work table. A little under the weather.
Materials: amber beads, silk yarn, acrylic cord.

2010-10-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

Found this jackknife about a month ago. I also found scissors and another knife at that time. Don't know if that was a signpost for the upcoming surgery. I did find another pair of scissors last week, but left them to the side of the sidewalk this time.
Materials: found jackknife, silk, acrylic cord.

2010-10-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

Another mystery plant from the mountains of North Carolina. At least it's a mystery to me. The color was just heartbreaking-ly lovely on an overcast day. A very ripe deep raspberry pink.
Materials:mystery bush, brass wire.

2010-10-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

Back in the seventies red white and blue was a big color combination in design what with the centennial and all. I remember a certain favorite dress with those colors, very mod with side cutouts a la Paco Rabanne. I still like these colors together, it looks very crisp and clean.
Materials: cotton thread, rayon ribbon.

2010-09-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

More granny wheels.
Materials:cotton thread, silk.

2010-09-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

All I seem to be able to do now is work on my granny skills. So be it. This is half a doily pattern. I'm actually learning how to read those old patterns, so that's something I'm getting out of this.
Materials:cotton thread, acrylic cord.

2010-09-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

I'm still sewing things together. Sitting and tatting is about all I'm up to .
Materials:silk,cotton thread.

2010-09-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

I guess it's all about sewing things together right now. That's my main job right now.
Materials:recycled sari, cotton yarn.

2010-09-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

Not up to my usual self yet. I feel like I have to keep knitting myself back together for now.
Materials: paper, string.

2010-09-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

I missed s day yesterday. I had to have an emergency appendectomy. Feeling not so great right now, but a whole lot better than I did with a bum appendix acting up that's for sure. Anyway, I managed to to reuse my bracelet....
Materials: hospital bracelet, acrylic cord.

2010-09-23T07:28:00.000-07:00

My figs came in this container. I had a cynical moment thinking there was no way the container itself could be made in the USA , but no, there was some fine print on the side indicating that is was made in the US. Nice surprise.
Materials: recycled produce container, acrylic cord.

2010-09-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

Remnants from another life. I've been collecting bits and pieces of trash/treasure (trashure?) for as long as I can remember. Now I just want to pass it all along to somewhere else. I like the color of that game piece though.
Materials: glass bead, carnelian tusk, wooden game piece, enameled bead, acrylic cord, amber beads.