Monday, August 11, 2014

Here Comes the Sun



The sun is another favorite image. I especially like it when it has a face. This is a T shirt for sunny days.
The image is from The Graphics Fairy.



Sunday, August 10, 2014

Let's go for a Ride


This picture makes me think of an earlier era of sophisticated ladies and gentlemen going for a merry ride in an automobile. The image is from The Graphics Fairy .





Friday, August 8, 2014

Elephant Tee


Just to give you an idea of the procrastinator that I am.  I planned these T shirts and bought them in spring 2013.  Just now getting them made in summer 2014.  This is a favorite image of mine and I have a friend that loves elephants.  Perfect match.  The image is from The Graphics Fairy.


Sunday, July 6, 2014

Newborn Onsie



First off, a warning.  I borrowed this idea from something I have seen for sale retail.  That may mean it  is a copy righted design. I am giving it as a gift, which is personal use.  You might have trouble if you use this design for sale.

I love the sentiment and the simplicity of this design.  It is just right for a new baby.




Saturday, July 5, 2014

Questionable Earrings




I sometimes like to put a little humor into the things I make. Then I always second guess myself and wonder if I have simply slipped into poor taste.  Either way, this is one of those occasions.  Perfect for a luau or perfectly awful.  These are hula girl earrings.



Thursday, July 3, 2014

Rooster Quilt Blocks


I made these blocks for a friendship quilt.  I thought the white-on-white fabric would add some interest. Boy did it. The roosters all look like they are wearing white tatoos.  I decided I  liked them that way.  The last guy looks off balance. I may need to make some alignment marks on the backs of the transfers.  See how much I'm learning ?

Love and hugs to Gwen.









Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Turquoise and Red Scarf


This is an infinity scarf.  Both colors of dye were used in the one dye bath. There will be more of these coming.


 

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Summer Necklace


I've had this nice turquoise wood focal for awhile. I wanted to put a red bead on it, but there just wasn't anything right in my stash. So instead it got a purple bead and a tassel.  The purple bead is "Mountain Jade" and the little turquoise ones are magnesite.


Sunday, June 22, 2014

Plum Blossom Hoody

I made this for my niece, the baby's mother.  I hope she likes it.


Saturday, June 21, 2014

Wasabi Romper



This is real, actual tie dye, at last.  I first dyed with the green (wasabi), then over dyed with teal and bound it with rubber bands. I wanted the green to predominate so binding before dyeing with the blue left a lot of the green showing.


This is an outfit for my great nephew who is just learning to walk. Won't he be cute ?






Oh, and a slightly larger T shirt for his adoring aunt.


Friday, June 20, 2014

Bud Ice Earrings



Just a tiny step aside to a beer can from a pop can.  This was easy as pie.  Just punch the circles, punch holes, and link together with an ear wire.  Just the thing for a trip to the bar.



Friday, June 6, 2014

Amethyst T Shirt



I've got a bunch of dyeables and a supply of dye so its dying time again.  This one is for me.

I mixed Plum Blossom and Amethyst in the same dye bath. The amethyst mostly took over and I'm happy  with the results. I'm using the low water immersion technique.  The variations are due to the t shirt being crumpled into a small container.
I have dyed spots on both arms and one colored finger.



Arizona Green Tea Necklace


This is the can that started me on the pop can series.  I love the graphics on it. The little blossoms against the blue-green background would make lovely art or a great wall paper.

This time I mounted the pop can pieces in bezels.  They look much more finished that way.
I got stuck on the larger bezels. The outside dimension is 3/4 inch. I thought 5/8 inches would work as the inner dimension. Nope. I had to cut them down by hand to make them fit.  I still have enough left from one can to make some more stuff.


Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Bamboo Tile Necklaces


You can find these bamboo tiles here and there. Mine are from a place mat where they were all strung together.  The tiles are about the same size as a domino and have two holes drilled top to bottom.
I decorated the tiles with paper or stickers and ran a narrow cord through the holes to make a pendant.  The only jewelry findings I needed were jump rings to hang the dangles.  Easy Peasy !










Monday, June 2, 2014

Matchbox Necklaces


I got this idea from a book quite awhile ago. Enhance a matchbox and wear it as a pendant.  An advantage is that a matchbox is soft cardboard that is easily manipulated with a paper punch or even a sewing needle.  To me, the most intriguing question is : what is in the matchbox ?  You can put in a special keepsake, image, or even a tiny booklet. Naturally, you don't wear it open, but the item is there, close to your heart.  I made one for myself with my Father's picture inside.








 

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Vernors Earrings



This is the second entry in the pop can series.  In case you are not from Detroit, Vernors is our native ginger ale. That is soda or pop, no kick except the ginger.  This little guy and the green and gold signs have been around town forever.


 

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Not Tied Dyed



Are you ready for something other than jewelry ?  This is my first go at Tumble Dyes.  They are so fast and so easy. My first reaction  was : I need more colors and more things to dye.These dyes are actually paints in a spray bottle. Scrunch up your fabric, spray, then heat set in the clothes dryer, or with an iron if you are using glitter.  Yep, glitter !  and it stays on, at least so far.


There are a couple of spots where I held the gold glitter spray close and got spots of gold.  Elsewhere I held it further back and got a light overall dusting of glitter.




This is a practice piece. I just wanted to see what I could do.  With a little something more, it would be a nice scarf.


Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Paper Beads Necklaces


I started this project way back here  with my paper bead tutorial.

Now I have completed necklaces to show you.  Because the beads have nice big holes I used mostly twine for stringing.









Monday, May 26, 2014

Orange Soda Necklace



This piece marks the start of a series for me. I have always been impressed when artists say something like that.  Now I got to say it. What a series means in this case is that I haven't done all the stuff I want to yet.


This is the pop can series.  I have been wanting to try metal work for awhile, but I'm reluctant to mess up the expensive  bits of metal that I bought. Instead I am going to experiment on the humble aluminum can and see what I can do.  It is also *way* more crafty to make something out of a pop can.





Cool, refreshing, bright, bubbly  and very very summer.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Spiky Necklace



Sometimes a project comes from within. Other times it is the material that calls out to me.   This is not my style at all, but these acrylic spikes just called my name.  I can see someone wearing these with a hot black dress while they are out clubbing.


The materials all come from Fire Mountain .





Saturday, May 24, 2014

Simple Flower Necklace



I bought the focal flower for this so long ago I don't even remember what it is made from.
Anyway I strung it up for my Mom and here it is.



Friday, May 23, 2014

Leather and Bead Bracelets


Oh, my goodness !  Its been two months since I've posted.   I have been making a few things, just not taking pictures. No pictures, nothing to post.  We'll see if I can do a little better for awhile.


The first one is another wrap bracelet.  I made this one for myself.  I just love the mix of seed beads that seem to be made to wear with denim.



This one is a few beads on a bolo cord.  You can just see at the right where I wrapped a little leather cord to stop the beads from sliding.  The multi colored beads are wooden and hand painted. ( No, not by me.)



The last one is an interesting metal focal on narrow leather that has been doubled.  This time I used wooden beads to keep the lacing together.  The copper cord ends add to the look.