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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.