Little Studio Jewels: featured etsian

Through the last few months months since I began operating my etsy shop, there have been several etsians that have encouraged me to persevere. One that stands out is Meghann of Little Studio Jewels. One of my blog followers, Meghann is always ready with an encouraging comment and insight.

Meghann's estsy shop at www.LittleStudioJewels.etsy.com/ is where you will find her beautiful jewellery and photography.

"My jewellery inspirations come to me at the oddest times. I live in a forest and the forests, nature, seasons, animals all inspire me. Currently I am working on a new collection "Neo Amour". It is based on powerful women of the past, but redesigned for the women of today. I researched the most amazing women: "Marie Antoinette" (horribly misunderstood), "Elizabeth" (so determined), Boudicca the Celtic Warrior Queen (talk about triumph in the face of adversity) and many more". (The photographs that accomany this blog show three examples from this Neo Amour collection.)

Meghann's story is itself one of courage overcoming adversity. She had to leave college "after I got sick with fibromyalgia." She could not work outside the home and so decided to turn her passions, jewellery making and photography, into a full-time business.

In writing to me for this feature she concludes:

"If you have a dream, make it happen in little steps. Take a night course, read a book, talk to someone doing what you want to do and make it happen. Life is far too short .... You can do what you want to do or be the person you want to be. The only thing holding you back is YOU. Just remember to give back as soon as you are able."

Meghann's etsy shop announcement lives her philosophy as it lists to whom she gives back. Visit her shop and enjoy. Her blog at http://www.meglittlestudio.blogspot.com is the place to learn more about Meghann, her jewellery and photographs, her adventurous dog, and her triumph in the face of adversity.

Christmas Star: improving, but not yet acceptable

It took me many hours, but I completed a Christmas Star made from cane. For the last three or so hours, I was able to work outside on my deck which covers the car port.

The lower photo shows the assembled materials, the partially completed star, and the model from which I am working. As you will see, the model features pointed star segments while my star has rounded segments. Next time I will figure out how to get the segments pointed.

The middle photo shows me at work using crazy glue, with latex gloves on, to join two of the 56 ends of the cane together. Patience!

The upper photo shows the finished star with its rounded segments.

(The Canadian Flag in the background is in preparation for Canada Day, July 1st.)

The book that started it all.

(This is the first in a intermittant series of articles on basket-making books.)

There is a story I have told many times of how I began my basket-making journey. It begins over a half-century ago in arts and crafts classes in an elementary school in the little English village of Cheddleton (near Leek, Staffordshire). There, at the age of nine or ten, the class was introduced to basket-making. My twin brother, Frank, and I, as competative as ever tried to outdo each other in making the biggest and best basket. Soon the school's supply of basket-making materials was threatened with exhaustion. My elder sister, Mary, was the recipient of a large sewing basket (which she has no recollection of receiving!)

Many years later, I recalled this episode of basket-making in conversation with my wife, Anne, as we talked about what we could do after I retired. "Perhaps I should do more than golf and garden?" That Christmas the book shown here appeared as a Christmas gift under the tree. That is the book that rekindled my interest in basket-making and put me on the present path of being a basket-maker.

The book, Basket Making, by Olivia Elton Barratt, was published in 1990 by Charles Letts and Co. Ltd , London, England. It is a broad introduction to a variety of basket-making styles: cane basket making, willow basket making, straw boater making etc. It is filled with examples of the basket maker's craft and is a good book for inspiration.

BOGO

BOGO: Buy One Get One of equal or lower value at 50% off.


Select from the many items in my etsy store one item and then select a second item of equal or lower price and I will refund you, via PayPal, 50% of the price of that second item.

This offer is valid from today until July 31st. So act now to take advantage of the wide selection.

For example, you could select for $70.00 US the "Handy Basket for Shopping" shown here and then add the rib basket for $22.50 US, not $45 US.

Catherine Gutsche: artist.

From July 1st (Canada Day) to August 2nd, Catherine Gutsche, artist, will be one of the artists featured at the CUBE GALLERY in Ottawa. The Gallery is featuring an Homage to Canadian Artists. You can see examples of Catherine's work at her etsy shop by clicking on one of her pictures displayed at the side of this blog.

Amberafternoon: Guest Etsian

As a "fibre artist" I am impressed by the work of other fibre artists. Wanda of Amber afternoon, is one such fibre artist. Here is a brief description of her work as written by Wanda. Enjoy:



I am an artist who works in many different mediums, genres, and styles. I not only produce Hand Embroidered Fiber Art, but also Oil and Watercolor Paintings, Clay and Metal Sculptures and multiple lines of Printmaking (Intaglio, Lithography, Serigraphy, and Relief Printmaking/ wood cuts ). However, I am best known as a Fiber Artist who makes paintings with thread. My hand-embroidered jewelry is Art that you can wear. I have created heirloom quality hand embroidered wedding ring pillows, drawstring bags and wall art containing your wedding date.

I've been hand embroidering items my entire life. I started by learning from the elder women in my family. My first projects were rag dolls, which I embroidered their faces.

I stumbled upon Etsy completely by accident. I am very please to be a part of such a talented group of artisans. There is a lot of diverse talent on Etsy.

My workday usually begins with blogging, tweeting, and trying to promote my works. Then the creative (and fun!) part of my day begins. I sit and sketch and, like all artists, I carefully choose which thread colors to use. The initial design conception may be time consuming, but I think it's worth it!

My short-term goal for my Etsy shop is to cater to Brides-to-be by creating custom ring pillows, drawstring bags, and wall art. My long-term goals are expanding my jewelry and wedding designs, adding new designs, and promoting myself professionally.

Two of my Favorite Etsy Shops are:

http://www.JohnToftBasketry.etsy.com

http://www.FreshlySkweezed.etsy.com


My Etsy Shop:

http://www.amberafternoon.etsy.com


My other Handmade Shops:

http://SunnyDay.dawanda.com

http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/Linkit2Trinket


My T-Shirts, Hoodies, Mugs, Postage Stamps, Bags, and more:

http://www.zazzle.com/amberafternoon

My Art Prints:

http://amberafternoon.redbubble.com

My Greeting Cards:

http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/hugnbugcards



My Blog:

http://amberafternoon.blogspot.com

http://www.plumdrop.com/members/imakestuff



My Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/amberafternoon

http://wwhttp://www.etsy.com/get_convo_image.php?convo_id=15310900&image_id=6933942&image_type=fullw.etsy.com/get_convo_image.php?convo_id=15310900&image_id=6933941&image_type=fullhttp://www.etsy.com/convo_view.php?convo_id=15310900

Sales of Vintage Flatware

Earlier this afternoon, I posted five vintage items of flatware on my etsy shop site. These were heirlooms from Anne's family, and each probably dated from the 1930s or earlier.

Each item takes from 15 minutes to a half hour to post. When I finished, I checked my etsy site to see how each looked. I was dismayed to see that only two of the five items were on display. I could not imagine what had happened. Had I broken one of etsy's rules?

I checked my emails, and found that three of the items were sold! These were now in the sold item section of my shop. Wow! Eight of my ten sales have been vintage items. If only my baskets sold as quickly!!!!!

Model Christmas Star: some success

Today I had some success in making a model of a Christmas Star from Bristol Board instead of cane.

First I cut the Bristol Board into 5" wide strips so I could feed them through my pasta cutter. I selected the cutter for 1/4" wide strips and fed the Bristol Board through the machine. It worked wonderfully. Nice, even width strips!

Then I wove two sets of seven strips through seven to form the top and bottom elements of the star. I placed the top element over the bottom on top of a spacer (my measuring tape) ensuring that the top element was at a 45 degree angle to the bottom as is shown in the photograph. I then glued the first point of the eight pointed star as shown in the next picture. I completed four of the star points before I turned the model over. It was at this point that I could remove the tape measure.

I formed the remaining four star points. The finished star is not to the standard to which I aspire. It is somewhat eccentric in shape. For a project like this ecccentricity is not desired.

It's so simple. You won't need instructions!

"It's so simple. You won't need instructions." With words such as these I was handed a Christmas Star made from cane. The idea was that I make many such stars and have them for sale on my etsy site and locally too.

Today I began to copy the model and began my first star. I measured one of the 28 pieces of cane that make the star, and cut 28 pieces of flat cane to that length. I wove two sides for the star, weaving a seven by seven interlocking central square for each. I placed one side on top of the other at a 45 degree angle. I then began to "Crazy Glue" segments together.

It was after I had glued the points together for the eight segments of the star (24 ends) that I realized the pieces had to be of differing lengths. Back to the design board.

I will try again on Monday. Trays are so much easier.

Tray Making Tutorial: Part 8: Trimming

Trim the ends that are on the inside of the tray so that each trimmed end rests on a stake.

Let the tray dry.

ENJOY.

Tray Making Tutorial: Part 7: Weaving the last row of the border.

Ensure the cane remains damp and pliable. Working on the stakes on the inside of the tray, pick up three adjacent stakes on a non-handle side and then take the left-hand of these stakes over the two to its right and then down towards the tray's base. See the first photo. Pick up the next stake to the right bebeyond the stake that was bent down. Keep the bent down stake in place. Take the left hand stake of the three you are holding over the two to its right and down. See the next photo. Pick up the next stake and repeat the "over two and down" until two stakes remain. Take the left-hand of these stakes over its right-hand neighbour and over and down into the gap indicated. (You may have to use an awl, bodkin or screwdriver to open up the gap between its second and third neighbour to the right.) See the photos. Take the last stake over and down through the gap between its 2nd and 3rd neighbours to the right, as indicated in the last two photos. Tighten these last stakes.

Tray Making Tutorial: Part 6: Weaving the 2nd row of the border.

Ensure that the stakes are still damp and pliable.

Starting on a non-handle side, take a stake and insert it so it goes to the inside of the tray by placing it over the two stakes to the right and then in the gap between the 2nd and 3rd stake to the right. See the first photo.

Take the next stake to the right, take it over the next two to its right and then to the inside of the tray in the gap between the 2nd and 3rd stake. Repeat this "over two and in" pattern until two stakes are remaining on the outside of the tray as in the next photo.

Take the left-hand of these stakes over its neighbour to the right and into the inside of the tray in the gap between the 2nd and 3rd stake to its right. See the photo. Take the last stake and insert it in the gap between its 2nd and 3rd neighbours to its right as shown.

Tray Making Tutorial: Part 5: Weaving the first row of the border.

Before you begin weaving the border ensure that the stakes are wet by spraying them or dipping them in water.

Select a stake near the middle of a side without a handle area. Take this stake behind the two stakes to its right and out towards you between the 2nd and 3rd stake to the right. See the first photo.

Take the next stake to the right of the first, take it behind the two to its right, over the first stake, and out between its 2nd and 3rd neighbours to the right. See the second photo. Continue to the right with this "behind two and out" pattern until two stakes remain, as in the next photograph.

Take the left hand of these stakes behind the remaining stake and through the space indicated on the next photo. (That is through the gap between the 2nd and 3rd stakes to its right.) Take the last stake to the inside of the tray and out through the gap indicated in the photo, the gap between the 2nd and 3rd stakes to its right.

Tray Making Tutorial: Part 4: Placing the beads to make handle spaces

To make handle spaces, beads should be placed on the shorter sides of a tray base where there is an odd number of stakes.

Start by placing beads on the central stake of that side, e.g stake number 6 on a side with 11 stakes. Place three medium size beads on this stake. (Or the number described in the instructions.) Place three on the stakes adjacent to this central stake, two on the next stakes to their left and right, and one on the next stakes. See the photo.

Weave a row of twining around the whole tray and over the beads as in the photo.

Tray Making Tutorial: Part 3: Weaving with flat cane

To weave with flat cane, first of all soak it.

Flat cane is woven using one strand of cane at a time, not two strands as in twining.

Before you weave run your finger tips along both sides of the cane to identify which side is "smooth" and which is "rough." Place the smooth side facing out when weaving.

Place the first weaver so that its tip rests against a stake, and protudes a half-inch to wards you as in the first photo. Weave the cane behind one and in front of one around the tray circumference.

When you come to the stake from which you started, prepare to overlap as shown in the next photo. Overlap for about four stakes, and trim off any excess cane. The trimmed piece should rest behind a stake as shown.

Begin the next row of flat cane on the next side to the right, beginning in front of a stake the first flat cane weaver went behind. See the photo. Complete the row of weaving and repeat with more rows if desired.

Tray Making Tutorial: Part 2: Twining weave

Before you begin the twining weave, soak the weavers.

Take two weavers and place them adjacent to each other so that their ends are on the inside of the tray, protuding about a half-inch. See the first photo.

Hold these ends down with fingers from you left hand. Pick up the left-hand weaver, take it to the inside of the tray over the weaver to the right, behind two stakes, and then out towards you. See the next photo.

Take the 2nd weaver to the inside of the tray over the first, behind two stakes and out as in the next photo. Repeat this pattern of "behind two and out" until two stakes remain. See the next photo. Take the left-hand weaver in, over the end of the weaver that you began with, cut its end so that it overlaps that weaver and sits with a half-inch overlap on the inside of the tray. Repeat with the last weaver.

Begin a second row of twining on the next side to the right. Complete that row.