Lucet Braiding ideas

I've been wondering what a lucet tool does exactly, so I picked one up at Maryland Sheep and Wool this year and figured it out with a book. After I made a few inches of cording, it started to give me an idea to use it as sort of a soutache cord. So I played around with the shape and some beads and made a couple necklaces. I'll be trying earrings next. 

Reeling Silk

 I just joined my guild's weaving study group and at a recent meeting, one member gave us a demo on silk reeling. She brought some silkworm cocoons and equipment showed us how the silk strands can be pulled off the cocoon and made into fiber. 

 First, the cocoons are warming in water in a crock pot and the micro strands are loosened with the help of a fork.

 You can't even see them !

 Then they are joined up in a bundle of about 10-12 strands and held in place with a metal loop, then looped around the reel. 

 The reel then goes round and round, taking up the bundle of silk strands. You just keep going until your little cocoons are completely unwound, leaving the poor naked, dead worm ! The fibers still have a coating on them so need to be cleaned or de-glazed if you want to spin them into a soft silk yarn, otherwise they will be rather stiff. This fiber is what it s used for silk organza fabric.

 You can also take the cocoon and pull in underwater into a silk "napkin" to be used into felting or other process. 

 For photos of a factory experience, look for my Flickr album of my visit to the silk factory in China or search my blog for "silk factory."

Sprang Technique Conquered

At last I've conquered this elusive technique. It took a class with Linda Hurt at the Art League to figure it out. She presented it in a clear manner and waited patiently as we struggled to get the threads in the right order and then having to work backwards to start over and over. The trick to getting it is using two colors of yarn. Then you. Match the colors and it's much more obvious how it functions. Here are a couple pics of my bag from class, then another bag I made in Hufflepuff colors. My goal is to make more in Harry Potter house colors! And check me out at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter back in January! 

Green Droplets Tatted Necklace

Green Droplets Tatted Necklace, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

My Mom's birthday was this week so I decided to try a pattern that was in my head to make a necklace for her in her favorite colors. After some tweaking of the stitch count, I got it to shape around the neck nicely, and used exactly the number of fringe beads I had on hand. This pattern was so successful, I think I will make a video tutorial when I'm in the mood.

Happy the Lovebird crochet

Happy the Lovebird crochet, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

I custom ordered a replica of my violet-masked lovebird, Happy from one of my students. I think she did an amazing job copying his feather colors and shape. She creates her own patterns.

Well, it's official...I'm 50

Birthday dinner 4/23/11, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

Looking forward to crafting, beading, thrifting, drumming, dancing, singing and playing my way through the next 50 ;-)

Orenburg Lace Knitting

This video came through my Facebook news feed and I wanted to share. I attempted lace knitting over a year ago, and failed miserably...no matter how closely I followed the patterns I liked, I could never get past the first set of repeated rows...there was always something wrong on the next row, and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. OK, I tried and succeeded at "feather and fan" pattern, but it just wasn't interesting enough...the ones I liked in my little "Field Guide to Knitting" just never worked :-(

Time to vote on "Fashion Through the Ages"

Etsy Beadweavers Blog

There is still time left to vote for your favorite beadwoven creation in the Etsy Beadweavers' monthly challenge. This month's challenge was selected by our previous winner, Patrizia of Triz Designs. Patrizia has challenged our members to "Choose a fashion style from any period of fashion and design a piece to fit that chosen style/period." We do this for fun and to show the world the extent of our creativity...the prize is just the honor of selecting the next month's challenge. Please take a minute or two to look at all the wonderful designs, created entirely by hand and with original designs (using patterns from other designers is not allowed), and vote for your favorite. This month I entered a piece (#32) entitled "Metropolis", which plays on some of the design elements popular during the Art Deco period.

Backstrap Weaving Report (a year late !)

Well, a year ago, folks, I tried some backstrap weaving, but just now am getting around to writing a post about it...have I actually finished the weaving itself ??? NOOOOO, but at least I'm finally posting about the effort ! My bad :-[

Anyway, over a year ago, during the second East Coast blizzard, otherwise known as "snowpocalypse", I decided to try Travis Meinolf's (AKA "Actionweaver")Pocket Weaver he had posted on his blog. I have a photo series of my effort. I also took a class a month later with Laverne Waddington, the master of Andean backstrap weaving. Have I finished that project either ??? NOOO again, and now I'm wondering how much of it I can remember ! Too many projects, too much procrastination !

Collecting/Re-using Wool Sweaters

I am a super lucky thrifter because in my neighborhood, there are two thrift stores that regularly sell items for only 10 cents apiece in their bins. Every Wednesday, I hit the one with the largest bins, and battle the crowds to claim my prizes...a pile of usually 20-30 items for under $3 total. Since I began losing weight over a year ago, I kept going for personal items in smaller and smaller sizes...I have way too many shirts, skirts and pants now, so I'm focusing on pieces to cut up and re-use, plus I'm collecting silk pieces for a fellow artist who does nuno felting .

My 100% wool sweater collection has grown sizeable in just the last couple weeks, so it's time to start hacking them to pieces and restyle with my new serger my incredibly generous aunt bought for me two months ago. What should I make ? Well, fulled purses is my first thought, but tonight, I found this blog post in my google reader for glove construction . A-ha ! My soft and lovely 100% merino wool sweaters will make nice gloves ! I found my inspiration, so wish me luck !

Colors of the Oasis Exhibit

OK, I know I probably shouldn't have taken this pic, but I couldn't resist. I went to see the exhibit of Central Asian Ikats at the Textile Museum of DC last week, and was truly awestruck with the beauty on display. The range of color and pattern was immense, and there seemed to be no end to the creativity of the designers and weavers who produced these works of art. It's definitely an exhibit I would like to view again before it closes on March 13, 2011. And finally, after years of putting off joining the Textile Museum, I did it. I was still on the fence with the $60 membership, but in the museum shop, there was a sign with a special $50 rate for signing up on location. Hopefully, I'll find ways to take advantage of the membership...maybe a reception, curator talk or other event somewhere down the road.

New Blog for Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery

My co-op gallery just started a new blog after setting up a Facebook fan page a few months ago. More and more of our gallery members are on Facebook but still spend plenty of time at their looms, sewing machines, beading tables, knitting couches, etc. Our latest gallery theme was The Child Within and members produced some very colorful and whimsical fiber art creations.

Fiber Optic Weaving

Recently I helped fund an outdoor mural project through Kickstarter, and so I get updates about other Kickstarter projects. Here's a new one that certainly looks fascinating. It's woven panels made of fiber optic threads which will be linked to the internet and change warp and weft patterns based on Twitter feeds and airplane flight times.

Batala Rehearsal

DC100814-X4669CS--Batala, originally uploaded by Bill in DC.

When you play repique, you don't get a lot of photographic time. There were 58 shots of rehearsal last week and I could only one photo of me (in gray on the right). Every week, photographers and tourists take our pictures and I keep up a steady hunt for online images. Here's a recent video of a rehearsal.

Tatted Earrings with Beads

Tatted Earrings with Beads, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

Here I go with my needle tatting addiction. I came with a design for some earrings and they actually turned out rather nicely, so I documented the process and am working on a video tutorial. Also, set up a class at the bead store where I've taught before.

Batala @ World Cup Party 2010

Batala Banda de Percussao World Cup Party 2010, originally uploaded by ED́WW day_dae (esteemedhelga).

This past year, I had to take time off from the band because I got a teaching job at the same time as band practice. I was so happy when the academic year ended and I could rejoin.

Mural Painter Seeks Donors

UPDATE !!! Joel's project has been funded ! I'm looking forward to seeing his finished work and receiving my art print.
Through my Brazilian percussion band, Batala , I have connections to so many different people, events and projects. One of my Batala sisters passed on this plea for funds to help mural painter, Joel Bergner create a mural to raise awareness about domestic violence in our communities. I checked out his paintings and immediately fell in love with the bold colors and simplicity of line. I hope some of my friends will also appreciate his style and the seriousness of this issue and help see this project to its completion. If you would like to donate, please see the link in the upper corner of my blog and thanks so much !

Gallery Profile: Christine Sinclair

Felted Scottish Thistle
Christine Sinclair (on right)
Nuno Felted Scarf
Felted Fingerless Mittens


A few days ago, I was working the in-house jury process as scribe and one of my colleagues submitted this fantastic giant felted thistle. We were all amazed at her creativity and I decided to share it with the world here. She is from Scotland, so it was just a matter of time, I guess, for the idea to hit her ! Christine always produces gorgeous nuno felted scarves, bags, fingerless mittens and lovely flowers. There is alot of felt work in our gallery and hers always makes a fabulous impression. Felting is something I did once in a fiber arts class in college. I don't plan on doing it ever again for the main reason that I don't like to get my hands wet ! However, I do enjoy seeing the wonderful work of my fellow artists.

Mongolian Felt-making video brings a laugh

Going through the daily reading of crafty blogs on my Google Reader, I ran across this video posted on Craftster. It's a hilarious way to promote the Mongolian felt-making industry. Kind of a cross between old Monty Python animations and Sgt. Pepper. Enjoy !

Family weaving buddies

Family weaving buddies (PixUp), originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

My niece and nephew are learning how to weave on looms I gave them. My niece gave her first project to her Nana and is working on a second one for Grandma. My nephew is working on a cute little table loom I found at a thrift store for $10. He's making a scarf with colorful ribbon yarn. After he finishes we are going to watch a DVD on warping a loom and start another project.