Bee's Hive

My Work

2011-05-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

Crafthaus is a great place for amazing work. Check out my page!!!

Check out my website!

2011-02-17T17:32:00.000-08:00

beatricemcclelland.com

Guess where I went?

2010-12-05T17:40:00.001-08:00

Don't miss the show!

2010-11-02T18:45:00.000-07:00

Come to my show!!!! Friday, November 19th

2010-10-19T16:34:00.000-07:00

I have been very busy preparing for a show at Pyramid Studios that will be part of FAD on Friday, November 19th. The FAD art district is located in the Falls area in Miami, Florida. The galleries and studios are open from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm. FAD is an old art community that has become the newest community in Miami to open it's studios doors for gallery night. Artists open their studios for the

Rice

2010-08-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

I am not a poet but I have been inspired by a posting a friend has made... a poem about rice. Really very beautiful. Check it out http://rosydelights.blogspot.com/Here is my very quick and heart felt "poem" about Rice. White rice White rice in fields of daisies. Still Still Still, I think that I will eat from the field. Dark Dark Dark comes the night and shadows

Patched Star

2010-07-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

Peach Onion Tree

2010-07-05T18:15:00.001-07:00

Next step

2010-07-04T05:16:00.000-07:00

Road to the Mushroom

2010-04-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

NC Mountains

2010-03-26T15:56:00.000-07:00

Traveler's Map

2010-03-19T03:25:00.000-07:00

Two Places

2010-03-14T06:36:00.000-07:00

Nailed

2010-03-02T18:22:00.001-08:00

Natural bleeding

2010-02-18T17:49:00.000-08:00

BLUE

2010-02-07T05:58:00.001-08:00

Blue...such small things make me happy.

Natural thoughts

2010-01-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

This image reminds me of O'Keeffe's Green Lines and Pink (below). Strange thing is that the lines are blue. O' Keeffe always mixing the color of ground and sky... I guess green is in the eye of the beholder.

More Florida color!

2010-01-04T04:46:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!New Years resolution...do things for myself. If you know me you know this is not selfish. The photo is from the walks I am taking with my daughter. Hope you like it... more to come. Oh yes and one more resolution is to be happy... it's harder than you think.

Florida Color

2009-12-29T04:40:00.000-08:00

It has taken me a long time to feel that I am part of the true nature of what makes Florida, Florida. It is a beautiful place with its green and lush surroundings and its never ending sunny days. I guess for most people it would be utopia, it wasn't for me for a very long time. I missed the type of green that turns different colors, colors like burnt umber and orcha. I miss the type of light you

North Carolina Day Dream

2009-12-28T05:56:00.000-08:00

I miss North Carolina. I never really lived there but I own a piece of property that is truly a piece of heaven, which I go to when ever I can. High in the Blue Ridge Mountains when the clouds are low it's as if you are floating on a cloud. All you see is white and I can feel the wetness on my cheeks. Water falls and streams run along the property and I have my secret spot which I sit and

Images of Inspiration

2009-12-27T09:23:00.000-08:00

My two favorite gifts I received for Christmas are a camera and a book, Georgia O'Keeffe An American Perspective. I have been reading the book and I am falling in love with both Georgia and her work, what an amazing woman. I thought it was ironic that I got both the book and the camera at the same time since Georgia was basically discovered by the amazing photographer Alfred Stieglitz. The image

Broaching My World

2009-11-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

ShatteredThe Hole TruthDay DreamPussy in the WoodsHere is the first of a series of brooches I have designed using found objects. I work in two studios, one, a small space I have in my bedroom and the other, a space I share with my husband. He has the downstairs and I have the upstairs. I love wandering around in his shop, finding objects that have fallen to the floor after he has ground a piece

The moment I knew

2009-10-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

I remember the moment I decided to become an artist. I was between the ages of seven and nine years old. My mother would receive letters from my grandfather once or twice a month from Cuba. As a kid, reading the letters wasn't the fun part, it was the drawings and paintings. What really amazed me was how he was able to show me what he could see around him in Cuba, how he could do it through the

On The Fringe Part 2

2009-10-21T03:18:00.000-07:00

This piece was inspired by wanting a scarf that felt heavy, that dripped with beads and that created movement. I posted this scarf before and I just wanted to let you all know that it sold today. Thank you for all of your support out there... I do read every post.

Go see this site!

2009-10-07T18:10:00.000-07:00

Click here! See anyone you know? Thank you so much for your wonderful comments Polly. Love your blog, "My Second-Hand Life" Blog rocks!

On the fringe

2009-09-15T19:01:00.001-07:00

Fringe, beads and colorful yarn... POW!!!! Fun to wear and makes any outfit unique. Wrap it up around your neck as many times as you want since it measures 64 inches long and is one big circle.

Popcorn Trails

2009-09-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

Oh so natural... 100% wool and Aloo Himalayan Nettle Plant Yarn. Wrap it around your neck you have plenty of this lush scarf at 73 inches long. Aloo Himalayan Nettle Plant Yarn: You can't get much more earth-friendly and fair-trade than "Aloo" from Himalaya Yarn, a natural fiber handspun by families in Nepal through a cottage industry. The Himalayan Giant Nettle plant grows perennially, resists

Lace and Bones

2009-08-29T19:06:00.000-07:00

This piece started with a dried palm frond. I wove antique lace and fabric into the frond. Glass beads and bone where then sewn into the fabric. The blue smaller beads sparkle and give elegance to the piece. Copper chains drape around the neck and is intertwined in the antique fabric. A wonderful piece that turns even the simplest top into something unique.

Linen & Beads

2009-08-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh… image transfer...fun stuff. This top started with the images on the antique heavy linen, then the leather rope and silk yarn from Nepal. Stories of a queen's lover being beheaded went rambling around my head as I put this piece together, The back of the top reminds me of a medieval gown, soft, airy and transparent. My princes is the model but this can fit the queen as well. : )

African Colors

2009-08-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

These beads are made of wood and carved by hand in Africa, the yarn is 100% cotton. I wanted to make a neck piece that reflected the African sky and soil of Africa... as I see it of cource.

Patchwork Mini Dress

2009-08-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

Here is a fun dress I made from recycled materials. The blue fabric that makes up the top part was hand dyed. The lace trim which goes around the chest area is a wonderful antique trim my mother in law gave me. The trim has red velvet weaved into the lace... really great. This top is for a teen sized young lady, like my daughter, but I can fit in it too.

Etsy Treasury

2009-08-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

I see I'm not the only person that loves seed pods. Check out the lower left hand corner...A Lotus pod... absolutely beautiful! go check out the link your self and explore.

Bubbles and Lace

2009-08-09T20:20:00.001-07:00

Here is my first try at making something "simple" and fast. Thanks to the economy I am trying to produce pieces like this, so I can have a wider range of price listing on my Etsy site. More to come.

Charlie Brown's Pumpkin Bracelet

2009-08-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

This started as an experiment. This is what is left of my Halloween pumpkin which I came across in the back yarn. I had to see what would happen if I cleaned it out and dry it. Would it become hard enough to curve into a bracelet without it cracking????? YES, with a little help of fiber glass.

Lotus Seeds Playing in My Garden

2009-08-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

I wanted Lotus seeds for the longest time, if you look back at my entries you will see my homage to it's beauty. I couldn't find any, until I walked in one day to the gift shop at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. As always I want nature to continue being beautiful, so I gave these seeds a second life. I crocheted these pods into my own big pod, hope you can see how they are so wonderful and

Raspberry Dream Brooch

2009-08-09T19:34:00.000-07:00

This brooch is a mix of felted raspberries, antique fabric, African metal beads and what ever else I thought was needed to create my own raspberry fields. I like raspberries better than strawberries, if you know what I mean.

Great blog! Go check it out,

2009-07-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

http://ennuideux.blogspot.com/

Japan in the Twenties

2009-07-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

This amazing 1920's montage of fabrics and patterns create a modern day mix of magic. The detailed brooch has real seed pods, felt and beading which makes the dress organic and modern all at the same time. All the materials used have been previously owned which makes the piece have a very preloved feel to it. Not perfect by any means, but full of tons of timeless marks of distinction.

You have to see this... just lovely, don't miss out.

2009-06-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?

“Let the beauty you love, be what you do.” -Rumi

2009-06-28T18:25:00.001-07:00

My Inspirational Home in North Carolina

2009-06-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

This place so inspires me!!!! and yes, I am a country girl at heart. This first photo is a shot of the thick forest that is on part of the twenty acres in Little Switzerland, North Carolina. I spent an entire two weeks in the small cottage on the property, wandering around open artist studios, attending a lecture at Appalachian State University and looking for salamanders. All in all a very

I know it's strange, but...

2009-05-26T17:29:00.000-07:00

I swear I am working on some really cool jewelry. As a matter a fact I will be posting one of the projects I have been working on. I will be posting a new brooch in the up coming week, so please check back. But for now here is Mr. Franken Wiener, isn't he cute!!!??? His skeleton is made of a heavy weight wire, built up with polyfill, then felt is sculpted around the form. I used antique fabric

New pieces that premiered at the Gallery

2009-04-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

Here are all the new pieces I was working on for the "Organic Expressions" show, I hope you like them and send me a comment.Three Worlds of TatianaThis earth loving piece has two types of seed pods, glass beads, leather, wool, parts of a palm tree and blue yarn. When you place it around your neck you can hear the seeds that are locked inside the pods. Enjoy being part of nature when you wear this

Before and during the Organic Expressions show

2009-04-11T18:40:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at the show! Thanks to all of you who attended, it was great to see you all look into my world. I have to admit it, it was a bit surreal and I hope you enjoyed the visit. THANK YOU Paul for doing such an amazing job with the "organic mannequins", the shelving and the hanging system you came up with for my pieces. The show looked cohesive, warm and inviting... just perfect and

Getting ready for the show

2009-04-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

Here I am the day before the show putting the final touches on some of the show pieces. Do I look stressed or what?

Come to the show!

2009-03-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

Imagination of a Chinaman (bracelet)

2009-02-18T15:23:00.000-08:00

This bracelet has a stiff foundation due to it's welded mesh copper and brass rings. I began by adding an antique piece of fabric from China and that inspired an entire story.The china man is sitting at his table with his eyes closed envisioning the next sentence he will write in his story. He imagines trees that are coiled with green copper and a sky shimming with thousands of stars. A storm

Texture in my garden

2009-02-15T08:46:00.001-08:00

What a lovely day. Texture is all over my garden; so inspiring. I am working on five projects at a time and I don't like posting images of my progress, since the pieces evolve as I work on them as do these images as the day progresses. Soon enough I will be posting the finished products. This morning was foggy and I could see the air was full of mist. The light was hitting areas in the garden

Selvedge (UK)

2009-01-30T03:03:00.000-08:00

I gave in, I bought a subscription to Selvedge! I found out about this amazing magazine one day while looking for a "real" fiber magazine at my local Borders book store. One thing I do have to admit is, the subscription is not cheap but it's so well worth every penny. Here is a perfect description of what type of magazine Selvedge is, this one comes from the editor of Selvedge:"Open a copy of

My studio away from my studio

2009-01-21T19:06:00.000-08:00

My darling husband has made me the most perfect table, so I can work from home during the week when I arrive from my "day job". He will probably be upset that I didn't include (in the photo) the beautiful craftsmanship of the legs and the foot rest bar he designed for my lazy legs to rest on. But you can check out his site and get a closer look. I asked him to put a simpler top on the table top,

Hemp Roots from Nepal Necklace

2009-01-10T11:10:00.000-08:00

I finished the necklace!!!! I have combined aluminum cylinders, hemp yarn, recycled silk yarn from Nepal and hand dyed red wool. I drilled holes into the aluminum in order to be able to crochet and stitch through the metal and make the metal look like the "roots" have grown around the metal. I had so much fun making this piece it evolved so many times. It was as if the piece was guiding me to

Front page of Etsy!!!

2009-01-10T05:24:00.000-08:00

I finally saw one of my pieces on the front page of Etsy, can you see me? HINT: top row, second image. I really don't know how long it stays up before the items get changed , but I enjoyed the moment. All the items are related to felt and the color blue. Paul commented that it was 7:30 a.m. so who would be viewing the page so early. I comfort myself in knowing that Etsy is an international site,

Happy New Year!

2009-01-09T06:34:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I have been working on a necklace which I will finish and post this weekend... if I say it maybe it will happen. Mean while here is a skirt and a bag I quickly made, because the necklace was getting a bit too intense. The skirt is all recycled, the jeans where donated to me by my lovely husband. I sewed a vintage crochet piece to the front and the zodiac signs came from a 1950's

Feather top and coral cuff come out to play

2008-12-21T05:33:00.000-08:00

Well, well, well don't we look pretty? Christine Lyall had her art opening last night at Rex Art Framing. She looked great! She wore my feather top and coral cuff, she was a perfect model and received plenty of compliments on both her work and mine. Christine had my cards and booklet out for the taking, just incase anyone wanted to check out more of my work, thanks Christine. It was very strange

This is what I'm working on.

2008-12-17T06:01:00.000-08:00

Just kidding! My very fabulous mother in law has gifted this incredible 1950's "How to Crochet" book to me. Do you think she is trying to tell me something heheheh. The book is filled with amazing Vogue type shots of these starlet type women wearing these intricate patterned sweaters, hats, headbands, chokers and also has tons of doilies turned into table clothes and bed covers, really fun stuff!

AAAHHHHH joy!!!!

2008-12-16T06:51:00.000-08:00

Can't wait to go work in my studio!!!

My lovely tools

2008-12-14T05:30:00.000-08:00

This is what the top of the dining room table looks like. I got the ceramic "New York style" ceramic coffee cup from my office secret Santa, Christine. She is having an exhibit of her work on December 20th at Rex Art Framing, 3160 Coral Way, Coral Gables, go check it out... good stuff!!! Opening reception starts at 6-9 p.m.

I'm still here!

2008-12-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

Hi all. Sorry for the long void in communication. I was busy uploading a million pics to my new Etsy site. I have taken the plunge AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! I was really a bit torn about being part of Etsy. But now that I am part of this community of artist it's actually pretty cool. Artist that are part of Etsy I find to be extremely supportive and are very helpful. You have to check out rosetung she

Giving thanks to nature

2008-12-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

Ligma Blue Bracelet Alpacas Pure & Simple farmTreasures from: Really Knit StuffHi everyone! I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving. I had an interesting one since I spent it in Monticello, FL. I have never been and had lined up a couple of yarn store visits and a trip to an Alpaca farm. To my great happiness Really Knit Stuff yarn shop was having a 40% off sale on Saturday. The only catch was

I have been Buzzy

2008-11-23T04:40:00.000-08:00

SpringSummerWinterWinter's endFall LeavesSpring BeginsBell & Things BraceletLost & Found CuffI am sorry I haven't been putting up any posts lately, but I have been experimenting with copper mesh, banana leaves, wire, raw wool, recycled fabric, shells and any natural object that won't disintegrate. I'm trying to find a way to bring together the materials I love by experimenting with different

Brass mesh crochet necklace

2008-10-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

I could have spent all night in the studio working... but my beagles and turtles wouldn't have liked that very much. Today I worked on a smaller scale, using plenty of detail work. The piece you see above is crocheted onto a brass mesh, this keeps the piece stiff and I can also shape it into what ever shape I want. I think this method has endless possibilities. This is a test, and I'm not

My first show

2008-10-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I have to say I have discovered a few things about my self. A. I'm shy and I don't like approaching people... so I don't. B. I don't like snobs... but who does.Don't get me wrong, this was a great first time out. I loved hearing people's reactions and seeing what they were attracted to. I'm thinking I tend to design for a younger audience but it could have been the venue... a private yacht

NO WAR hat

2008-10-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

This is my last piece that I will have finished for the show on Saturday. My NO WAR hat is not a political statement about the current war. It is a statement about all wars. Any war is a bad war. I tried to make a hat that reflected the bits and pieces that are left after a battle has been fought. I have added glass bead skulls, stones, pieces of fabric that tell a tale of destruction. The

Fall Leaves Hat

2008-09-30T06:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo (very beginning stage) of my new project. I was thinking that folks like hats so instead of just having one I would be able to offer two. The show is getting closer, but I might be able to squeeze out a couple of more pieces. The show is giving me a deadline, which I have been so well trained to meet. Only this time around I'm really enjoying making these sweaters, hats, scarves,

Snow Fox Sweater completed!

2008-09-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

I DID IT!!!!I finished the sweater, with sleeves and all. Can you believe it? The sleeves are even in length and width too!!! Yes, this is a big deal for me, the anti pattern textile artist. Oh my god I just called myself a textile artist, I think I'm getting ahead of myself. Paul did (AGAIN) an amazing job of photographing the sweater, he always brings out the best in both the model and the

Garment Labels

2008-09-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, I am so excited about my garment labels. I had surfed the net for possible vendors so I can have embroidered labels. To my dismay, I have to have a minimum made in order for the labels to be produced. Well, you all know what that means... big bucks. So I figured out a way to make them at a cost of practically nothing. I had bought a bunch of ribbon for a dollar a roll at Michael's,

Snow Fox Sweater update

2008-09-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

I haven't been writing any entries lately because I was at a stand still. I did finish the main torso part of the sweater. But as I wrote before, I have never attached any sleeves to any of my sweaters. So I approached the problem in a sculptural way. I looked all over my house for something cylindrical that was approximately the same diameter as I wanted the sleeve to be. Paul is the one that

Tibet Necklace

2008-09-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

I had purchased the black carved plastic necklace part you see in the photo, in a shop in Sanibel Island here in Florida around two years ago, and I had stopped using it. The necklace was very cool when I bought it, but I realized I am wanting more of a longer necklaces than the one I had. I also want a softer more organic feel. So this morning before taking T to the bus stop I crocheted around

Snow Fox Sweater

2008-09-17T06:19:00.000-07:00

I am 80% finished with this sweater. I am using an old 50's fox fur coat I cut up into long strips. I got the 100% wool from a woman in Ralvery, I'm glad I took the plunge and put out the cash. I might even add some sleeves on this one, wish me luck I've never made sleeves before. I wanted to make a big comfortable soft sweater and the wool is perfect for this. Because I crocheted the fur into

Photo Shoot

2008-09-07T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hi I'm back. Sorry I have taken so long to upload new images. I have been working on making new pieces for a show I'm having in October. I have to think not only about the pieces I'll be taking, but also how I'll design the actual display for the exhibition. I also have to design my business cards and have them printed. Oh yes, how about bags???? I am feeling much better now about what I will be

Tribal Top

2008-09-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

Just thought I should post something. I'm working on this at the moment. I'm adding some beads while I'm trying to figure out what to do next with the rest of it. I have finished two more pieces but I haven't gotten it together to photograph them since I have to wear it in order to have them shot. This top has quail feathers that my father in law gave me as a gift...thanks Richard! I'll post the

White Haze mail

2008-08-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

I'm getting the hang of finding the most incredible yarn on the "Ravelry" site. This is what I got in the mail today. I am so inspired. It's like getting a new Crayola crayon box for Christmas! The smell of the new colors was amazing, just like this wool. I never thought that sheep wool would make me feel the same way. The strange thing is that it has no color, or is it that it has all color

OH MY GOD!!! I got some great mail today!

2008-08-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

My friend Lynne has turned me onto a site called "Ravelry". "Ravelry" is a place where you can join forums or groups specific to what you are interested in. For example I joined a group called "Free Formation". This means crocheting free style without patterns! That's me!!!! The group member posts the work they have made and the work they have in progress. You can talk to any of them and they

My Blue Heaven

2008-08-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

I have started a new sweater. The color is what got me excited, it's the most amazing electric blue color. I started the same way I did "Pink Flake". I don't know what it's going to end up looking like but as I said before that's half the fun. I'll add different textures of yarn and mix them all up. It reminds me of the way I cook. I take what I like from a recipe and leave out the ingredients I

New Discovery

2008-08-14T08:02:00.001-07:00

Love this! This is Hand-tied twisted ramie made from the stalk of the ramie plant. The ends are twisted and connected by hand. Extremely labor intensive and is made in a small village in China. The vendor that makes it available is habu textiles in New York City. I called the store to get a feel for the pricing. The item comes only in 20.oz skeins which will cost $112.00. Ahhhh the price of love

"Pink Flake" Sweater Vest

2008-08-11T16:53:00.001-07:00

This is what I worked on this weekend. I don't believe in patterns, even if I used a basic pattern for this pullover sweater vest. If you scroll down on my entries you will see how I began. I call the style "free form crochet". I made a base piece (shown in previous entry, below) put it on my dress form and began adding different types of yarn while crocheting right onto the form. What really

Felting Natural Objects, My First Try… Lignum vitae

2008-08-11T16:03:00.000-07:00

Here you go Waywardinn525, here is a Lignum vitae that Paul and his sister salvaged in South Florida when they were children. Paul was turning a head piece for a tribal bench he was working on and one of the pieces that came off the large head piece was this beautiful shape. How can anyone let such a amazing natural object get thrown away? Well I didn't, I asked Paul to cut it into a curve, I

Nature and Felt

2008-08-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

I received an email from my friend Pam. She just got back home from the Midwest Felting Symposium in Madison, WI. She is an amazing felter, when I say amazing it's because she is very creative and tries to push her limits to create something different and wonderful. She said that most of the folks that attended the classes at the symposium where people that got into it because they had sheep and

Interesting weekend

2008-08-04T08:55:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, August 2nd I cleaned out the two hallway closets and organized all the fitted, flat sheets and pillowcases for both T's bed and Paul's and mine. I did laundry, washed dishes and did all the stuff I can't get to all week. T was with her father while Paul was working at the studio with Marcus photographing Paul's work. We need professional images so I can start designing and mailing

Another Life for Garbage Bags

2008-07-28T09:21:00.000-07:00

You have got to see the Air Giraffe. You will find a whole lot of other air animals like the bears in the picture, but the Air Giraffe is my favorite. Only in New York! I think the artist is Jashua Allen Harris, not much is written about these amazing environmental sculptures. If you find any info write back and tell me what you found. I know it's silly stuff, but after living and working in New

Crazy Crochet

2008-07-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

Last night I started to crochet a scarf, in the most basic of patterns, but then I decided that I'm not one to follow patterns, I never have been. I had seen the most wonderful dress in VOGUE and thought how gutsy it was to have made this dress and even gutsier for VOGUE to call it high fashion. Hooray for nonconventional design. The trend of hand made items is getting bigger everyday, this is

Sometimes I like my job

2008-07-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

Well today I spent part of my day researching Marc Chagall for a Jewish project I have to complete at work. His work is difficult to categorize. He took inspiration from Belarusian folk-life, and portrayed many Biblical themes that reflected his Jewish heritage. Born in Belarus in 1887, at the time part of the Russian Empire, he lived to be 97. He mixed Cubism and Fauvism with strong symbolic

I had a great Bee Day!

2008-07-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

I had a great birthday yesterday, thanks to a whole lot of folks. I began my day with a showering of gifts from T and Paul. I got some cool tops, bright blue flip flops, Victoria Secret's underwear and Waffles. You can see him in the pic of the day shot on the right. T made him for me, isn't he cute? He is keeping me company at my office and reminding me that life shouldn't be taken that

Sailing skirt

2008-07-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

The center panel is my attempt at Nuno felting. I was trying to make a scarf but it came out too short and a bit too wide. So today I thought I would put my mistake into something useful. I was looking around my studio for a vibrant blue to match the blue circles I had felted into the silk. The only thing I could find was an old sail cover Paul had stuffed into a bag with his old sails. The

Revamped Leather Jacket

2008-07-19T16:40:00.000-07:00

This is what I did today. I had a leather jacket from the eighties that had really beautiful leather, it was very dated and not in a good way. I wanted a messenger style hobo bag, big enough to carry all my stuff plus lunch, for my daily metro trip to downtown Miami. The edges are crochet with two different fun yarns. I also lined the inside with black fabric. Hope you like it, leave a comment.

Fashion and art

2008-07-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Who influences and inspires fashion. Well in the case of Vera Wang, the artist Kees Van Dongen has for her Fall 2008 collection. You can see the influence your self by going to style.com Fall 2008 RTW and click on Vera Wang. Van Dongen's work is sexy, elegant and has an amazing sense of color. You immediately go back in time when you see one of his paintings. Have fun and look him up. Keep

I have discovered a wonderful poet...Rumi

2008-07-15T07:50:00.001-07:00

I was looking at my Yahoo sites that I have made my "favorites" and it lead me, after half a dozen clicks of the mouse to the poems of Rumi. Now for all you well read types I'm sorry for myself that I did not know of Rumi before and please forgive me of my ignorance. He has sold more than half a million volumes of his poetry-no small feat, considering that he lived in the 13th century. I have sat

A mosaic of who I am... or maybe not

2008-07-14T07:53:00.000-07:00

My friend Lynne had me do this mosaic. If you want to do your own here's how:A. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr SearchB. Using only the first page, pick an image.C. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Big Huge Labs Mosaic MakerQuestions: What is your first name?What is your favorite food?What high school did you go to?What is your favorite color?Who is

Now you can comment without having to sign up!

2008-07-13T13:51:00.000-07:00

Jitterbug Rainbow Scarf

2008-07-13T06:52:00.000-07:00

I started this scarf a couple of days ago. I'm using wool from a company called Colinette Jitter Bug. The wool is normally used for socks. I'm thinking this because I found the wool in the socks area at the yard store, but what do I know. I'm making it really long so it can be wrapped around the neck and still have a really long hang length. I'm planning to make some sort of dangly things,

Visit to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

2008-07-09T11:43:00.000-07:00

An amazing day at Fairchild! Who's brain child was it to combine art with nature???? Exhibiting at the garden, other than Mother Nature was, Roy Lichtenstien, Dale Chihuly (a small amount of donated pieces) and Fernando Botero! Absolutely amazing! Color was everywhere in nature and in art. My mother in law has been a volunteer at the garden for the last 25 years and is of the opinion that art and

It's a boy!!!!!!

2008-07-07T13:32:00.002-07:00

Here is my "new" nephew! Not out of the oven yet but baking quite nicely. Three sisters, the two oldest have girls and the youngest sis is having a boy! I am so excited to meet him!!! His name is Dylan Jax. Jax in honor of my dad who passed away. The origin is Spanish and is the masculine form of the Greek name Hyacinth. My dad's name was Jacinto, which is Hyacinth in Spanish. I think Jax should

Someone is trying to tell me something

2008-07-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I am so sorry I have not been updating my blog. I probably have lost all my readers. After my step son and wife's three week visit, it's been hard getting back in the groove of things. As you can see by the pic I had a small accident. This happened on the 5th of July. A metal framed door was the culprit. Last year at the same time I was in the hospital with T because of her appendix. I am

Scarf with balls is almost finished

2008-06-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

The left photo of the felted scarf with balls is basically done. I have used wool and machine thread to embroider the popped out circles which I stuffed with stuffing then pushed them back down and embroidered over them. This gives great dimension, really cool shapes and forms. You can see side two in the detail shots on the right. The scarf changes background color from dark blue to a lighter

Scarf with balls

2008-05-25T05:16:00.000-07:00

Here I went by the book... sort of. I followed the instructions on length and width but added some fun elements. I have silk, cotton and wool yarn trapped between the felt fiber. You can see in this shot, I poked some marbles on the opposite side of the felt and wrapped them with rubber bands. Then I free motion embroidered around each marble. I hope to post part two later today.

Nuno Felting Part 2

2008-05-25T05:08:00.001-07:00

Well I learned a lot! A. I have to start off with a longer set up, if I want a longer scarf, way longer. The felt shrinks down to almost 50%, taking the silk with it. B. Next time I think I'll add more felt, so less of the silk will show. I am still planing to free hand embroider into the piece. Stay tuned.

Work being done at the studio

2008-05-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit bumbed that I couldn't work in the studio last night. I get one night during the week to work on my felting, but last night Paul and I took all the time cleaning up the studio after the roof was worked on. Paul was so kind to cover my work so no damage was done to any of my pieces, but we had tar and small gravel stones come down between the ceilings beams. I hope to have more pics

My first try at nuno felting

2008-05-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

You are probably wondering what Nuno felting is. Here is a very short definition... Nuno: wool fiber forming a design and felted on to fabric. As the wool shrinks, it pulls the fabric with it and produces interesting gathered areas. You are looking at the laying out of the wool fiber before I get busy felting. I'll post an after shot so you can see the effect the wool has on this 100% white silk

Our very own Swallowtail Butterfly

2008-05-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

I really didn't think it was possible, to have a butterfly grow from a tiny caterpillar to a full blown Swallowtail butterfly inside Tupperware. Isn't Tupperware made for those 1950's moms that love to keep leftovers for as long as possible, you know just in case? My daughter T was given a Swallowtail caterpillar by our good friend Carol (thanks Carol!). T was given the mission... a mission

Sea Bird

2008-05-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

Here is another project that I'm working on. I began this project in my Arrowmont class. I started with the beaded piece and then the shell. The shell is felted in two different layers and hangs from a felted cord. The feathers are quail, I have a whole boa of the quail feathers, a gift from my father in law. Thanks Richard!