lampworked glass beads

I actually found time to wire-wrap them into rings.

Blue Glass Ring

The blue one goes with nearly my entire wardrobe and I have already worn it several times.

Spring Glass Ring

The yellow one is sooo spring like I find wearing it just makes me feel happy  I’m sure it’s the reason for our lovely sunny weather and days in the 50’s over the weekend. Sooooo untypical of a Michigan March. I’m reveling in it 

Key to the Universe

And of course, having a willing torch wielder at my disposal, I talked him into trying his hand at melting glass onto some old skeleton keys I’ve been collecting (for who knows what) over the last several years.

Key to my heart

I just knew they would be really cool for something one day!

Key to my Zen place

And he had to do one in my favorite color (this week), aqua!

These are just waiting to be used in something really wonderful. I’ll let you know what it is as soon as I find out.

Deb H

Detail - Zig-Zag Bag before felting

Another finished project and some knitting that was just plain fun! There is something thoroughly satisfying about knitting with really big needles on occasion. Especially if your usual bent is sock yarn on size (US) 1’s or 0’s.

Baby Zig Bag, before felting

My Niece had a birthday recently and I wanted to make something for her that was fun, even quirky, and practical too. This little felted bag (pattern by LynnH of ColorJoy!) seemed the ideal project. Made with a lovely teal color of Shepherd’s Wool Worsted and a skein of hand dyed (by me, of course!) Cascade 220, it felted consistently and without an excess of fuzz.  I failed to include anything in the above photo to show scale but the bag, before felting measured about 21″ wide.

Teal Felted Baby Zig Bag

After all the knitting comes the brave bit. I tossed it into the washer and dryer. Since I have a front loader it took three times but the end result was a fabulous sized small purse. I photographed it with my wallet, phone, and iTouch for scale. They all fit perfectly and now I want one of these bags too. It’s a good thing I have more yarn, yes?

the perfect little felted bag

I hope she likes it as much as I did making it 

On another subject, for those who have wondered… Yes, I’m still using my AeroGardens constantly. One is always herbs

Herbs in the AeroGarden

and one is always salad stuff. I like having fresh salad greens I pick myself when the ground is covered in snow!

Salad greens in my AeroGarden

I think salad is on the menu for tonight!

Deb H

Tofutsie Fairy Sock

I had included a free pattern for my easy Fairy Sock in the December 2009 PHAT Fibers box with a note that for more detailed instructions, they were to go to a certain web page. To all the PHAT Fiber box recipients who tried this, I apologize profusely!!! I could not figure out how to make a private page. I have published it here, under my “Free Patterns” section (see side bar) and made it accessible to all my Blog readers instead.

Enjoy!!

Deb H

PS – I’ve got the whole private page thing figured out now (I think), but hugs to everyone anyway 

Blue Flying Saucer Bead

And even though “lolli-gag” mode feels like unproductive time spending to me because I’m spending more time playing with stuff than doing anything in the way of serious work, I’ve not been doing “nut’n”.

Aside to my daughter, the writer and English major -> I could hear you groan at that last sentence 2500 miles away – chill, girl!

I have played a little with wire and even coerced DH to heat up his torch! Top photo is a blue flying saucer bead that looks like it will grow up to be a ring to me  ;o)

Glass Bead - Spring!

The next bead is so bright and cheerful I must make a ring to help me think “spring”! But, that’s for the next time I dig out the wire.

The "Turtle Moves" earrings

This time I just whipped up some cute little earrings for my DD (you know, the one who is forever correcting my grammar  ;o) because I had these adorable silver charms in my box and thought she needed some just for FUN. She also is a huge Terry Pratchett fan and loved the whole “the Turtle Moves”  thing. I only had one turtle so she also got a frog – she’ll adjust.

Drama Queen earrings

And because life is not all silliness, she got some simple wire and glass bead earrings in black and red for a more dramatic mood. Appropriate for a Playwright.

Deb H

Ocean Sock

I’ve been trying to get myself out of the Holiday “lolli-gag” mode and back to productive time spending 

As such, I have succumbed to the cracking of the whip and scheduled classes to teach at Heritage Spinning & Weaving. You can also see my class schedule on my “I Teach” page.

Want to learn to knit socks?

Being married to an engineer has it’s benefits and it’s entertaining moments. This is totally not fiber related but I felt compelled to share.

“So”, says I, “we need a way to protect the small willow tree from the wild bunnies (we have hoards of them) and the snow this winter, can you think of something, Honey?” DH decides a wire fence and a plastic garbage bag will do the job. It sounds simple and I let him go to it.

T-pee for a willow tree

This is what I got. The wood framework is to keep the weight of the snow from smooshing the tree down. A good idea, but did it really need to be so fancy? It’s even been sanded smooth, I guess the bunnies won’t get splinters when they find their way in. I love it, don’t get me wrong. It will do the job very well, but it still makes me chuckle.

On the other hand, I thought the overhang at the end of the kitchen counter and the breakfast bar was an ideal place for cookbook shelves. I figured he could cut up some plywood, paint it to match the cabinets and viola!

Well utilized space!

White maple and rosewood – they are soooo beautiful that I won’t want to leave them behind when we eventually sell the house!

Even a drawer for my stamps and such!

I’m not poking fun at him for these – I love them!

matches the tile nicely

Don’t they look nice with the tile trim on the counter?

fully loaded

And almost all of my cookbooks fit – well… three quarters.

But when we needed a solution to the sun coming in the sliding glass door ruining the flooring, he solved the problem very well with a bit of slate tile.

slate tile to stand up to the sun damage

This also has become a favorite photo backdrop for many of my Etsy product shots!

On the other hand, when I make and Art Quilt – comments about my lines “aren’t straight” or my angles “aren’t square” will not be warmly received 

I love you , Honey!

Deb H

Come Join Us @ The Flint Holiday Craft Market!

We have been busy, busy, busy! We will have a table set-up at the Flint Holiday Craft Market in Downtown Flint, Michigan on December 5th (2009) from 10 am to 4 pm. We will be vending our wares of hand dyed yarns, fabrics, fused glass buttons, and a few other scrumptious goodies. I haven’t vended a show in quite  a while and even longer if you consider one where I sell my own creations. This one sounded like a good oportunity to get my feet wet again. It’s an intimate sized gatheringof about 60 crafters and artisans that are juried in by the art group Flint Handmade. Tables will be set up in 4 businesses, all in a close (walking) proximatey to each other. The main “entrance” is at

The Lunch Studio
444 S Saginaw St.
Flint, MI 48502

Our table will be #19 (towards the back) of the Crim Fitness Foundation. Many of our fellow Micers – Michigan Indie Crafters of Etsy – will be there as well. Come visit us and lend us some moral support.

If you need a great Art Show to visit this holiday weekend, go to the Running With Scissors Holiday Bazaar…  Borrowed from Lynn’s Blog – If  you’re in the area, here’s the info for it:

Running with Scissors Holiday Art Bazaar
Saturday November 28, 2009
10am-4pm
Berkley Knights of Columbus
2299 Twelve Mile Road
Berkley, MI 48072

Have a hand made Holiday!   )

Deb H

Updated 11/25/09 – sorry about the huge graphic on the top poster – it’s been fixed and will no longer take 9 years to load – oops!

Rivendell Sock

Being crazy busy does not rule out all knitting. It just means I’m teetering on the brink of crazy. But that’s not news to my inner circle – busy or not. So I’ve still managed to finish a pair of socks and aren’t they just tooo lovely?

Rivendell - cuff

When The Eclectic Sole by Janel Laidman came into the shop (had to have been last spring?) I could not stop looking at it.

The Eclectic Sole by Janel Laidman

The cover was tantalizing, the title  a tease, and the patterns are an adventurous delight (anybody want to hire me to write Ad Copy? 

Published by Rustling Leaf Press, it has 96 pages of full color, very well photographed socks, techniques, color charts, and discussions of swatching , yarns, WPI (bravo Janel!), color, needles, and some basics. In the back are some photos and instructions for the cast-ons and stitches she uses in her patterns. All very clear and understandable. What I like about her book is that she did not spend a lot of her precious book pages on these things by going into a lot of detail. She used the bulk of the pages on her great patterns. So, while I would not recomend it to a brand new knitter, or maybe even a first time sock knitter, I don’t believe that is her target. Janel has found the happy medium; these are fresh, beautiful and interesting, with opportunities to learn for the sock knitter who is bored with “basic” but not as mind-bending as Cat Bordhi’s New Pathways.

Since I wear Burkies, I ribbed all the way to the tip of the toe.

Back to the socks… I sucumbed and the book followed me home. It stayed in the kennel (book shelf with all my other “pet” books) until late summer when I could not ignore it’s soft mewling anymore. I took it off the shelf and it popped open to the sock that had to be made first. I confess, as geeky as this is, I’m a Lord of the Rings fan, have been since Jr. High. The first socks from this book had to be Rivendell.

Graceful blending from the ornate rib to the leaf pattern

I had yarn in my stash from the sale bin in almost the same colorway as the socks in the book; a soft blend of pastels – appropriate for an Elvish design. The pattern was just challenging enough to keep me interested and excited. It would have been perfect except for the yarn. I used Maizy from Crystal Palace Yarns and I have to say, it’s not my cup o’ tea. 82% corn fiber and 18% elastic, it was too stretchy and too wimpy. I usually knit socks on a size “0″ or “1″ needle to get gauge but had to use a size “3″ with this stuff that was like knitting with limp rubber bands. I like the finished product but it was less than ideal to knit with. I also learned, the hard way, that you do not steam socks with elastic in them – it melts! The socks are fine, undamaged and look great but if you rub your hand over the surface (outside only, thank goodness), it has a scratchy feel that the melted elastic gives it. Yes, I should have known better – I guess I was on automatic pilot when I blocked these. Oy!

The cuff again

For the next pair, I will return to my beloved wool sock yarn.

But which pair next, Nordic Lights or Migration? Decisions, decisions…

As always, you can see more of my favorite books, that I highly recommend, by visiting My Book Store (there is a link in the sidebar under Pages). This is an aStore or Amazon store that only lists books I choose.

Deb H

Glass buttons ready for the kiln

I have always loved glass buttons. Ever since I first saw a fused glass button at a craft fair I have been in love with the way the glossy smooth surface of the bright and sparkly glass contrasts with the soft, matte surface of fiber. My darling hubby Jack, does hot glass. “Honey!” says I, “how about making some buttons”? He mostly grumbled and thought it a good idea but he has things he wants to do too and only so many hours – we all know how that feels. Well, if you have been reading here for long, you know he talked me into taking a fusing glass class with him (like I need another craft – oy)!

Pea green with envy

I’m hooked.

Toffee Delight!

So he helped me to start making buttons. This has turned into a totally joint effort and he is as hooked as I am. We design together, he cuts, I assemble, we both run the kiln, he does the shanks and I do the packaging and listing. I’ve been loading our glass buttons in my (ours, now) Etsy Shop and I could not be happier with them. I’ve started putting glass buttons on everything!

Iceberg ahead

The colors are so addictive.

My heart is black and blue over you!

I just had to share the joy of making these wonderful little jewels.

Subtle Elegance

Enjoy!

Golden Dragon's Eye, cabochon - just for fun!

Deb H

Jena from Oma's Patch

A Blog I read called Oma’s Patch by Kate Lebowsky was having a giveaway/drawing to increase traffic to her Oma’s Patch Etsy Shop. I posted a comment on the appropriate Blog post and won (it was a random number drawing). It made my whole week! Jena arrived only days after the drawing and has followed me all over the house since.

My Oma Doll, Jena

She is cute, cuddly, comforting, and I love her.

Thanks Kate!!!!  

Deb H