Ear wraps and project planning for ruanas

I've been having fun making more of the ear wraps. I made this one for my daughter, and she loves it. It is just like the one the other day, but instead of making a spiral on both top and bottom, I squiggled the bottom wire down to where she wore her post earrings, and made a loop there for the post to go through. That seems to anchor the ear wrap nicely in place. She says it is not that comfortable to sleep in, but otherwise she forgets she has it on. If I think of it, I'll make a tutorial on how to make these, but there are several good ones scattered around the net already.

In other news, I've been pondering where I want to take my art work next. What really inspires me are pictures of fantastic wearable art pieces. I think perhaps I should head in that direction. I love the nuno felted scarves, and I might try those. I also really enjoy wearing the ruana that I wove awhile ago, and loved the warp painted shawls I did. I'm thinking I ought to combine those two projects, and do a sample warp painted ruana and see how that goes. To that end, I bought some 3/2 white cotton. That should be a nice weight to wear, and should weave up relatively quickly. I bought enough for one ruana, just to try out. Well, I tried to buy it. It is currently on back order.

I'm thinking that two over sized hand painted silk scarves could also make an awesome vest/ruana if I sewed them together halfway up their length for a back seam. I might or might not want to also sew the sides together, to make arm holes and to keep the silk from flying around too much. So I also ordered 4 22"x72" habotai silk scarves from Dharma Trading Company tonight. If I paint two scarves with the same color scheme, it ought to work out well. I think I can see it in my head, but I need to experiment. If it turns out like I envision, I'll want a couple for myself, and then several for the shop to try out and see if they would go. It should be an elegant and whimsical dash of color to wear, particularly as summer wear. And the silk ruanas would be quicker (and so less expensive) to produce than the warmer and heavier hand woven ones.

The ideas are bubbling around my brain. Time to make some pretty things!

Felt covered stress rocks

I was experimenting tonight, and came up with these palm sized felt-covered river rocks. Everyone at the shows I do loves to pet the large door-stop sized felt rocks that I use as table weights, so when I had a request for palm sized ones I thought it was a great idea. The person who suggested these wants them as as fidget or stress relief stones for the work place. I think they'd also make great napkin and/or paper plate weights for picnics. What do you think you'd use them for? (They will be $3.50 each, or a set of 6 for $20.)

Brain Storming

Well, the White Scarves are finally off the loom, and in the washing machine. Tomorrow I'll cut them apart and do the hemming, so they should be up in the Etsy shop by Wednesday. It feels so good to finish a larger project!

Now, I'm figuring out what to tackle next. I have several ideas:

-Another triloom shawl. I picked up some more of the Lion brand Homespun yarn, this time in autumn colors. This is my current front runner.

-Time to dig into my supply of gourds. I know it is hot now, but I'd like to have a batch made up and in the shop by the time that things start to cool off.

-I need a couple of more items for the steamer, but I want to experiment with silk scarf painting again. I love playing in the colors, and they work up fairly quickly.

-I've got the one felt cell phone holder that I'm going to put in the shop. It would be good to add to that. Maybe camera cases, instead. I know I have used mine for a couple of years now, and it wears like iron in the pocket. Hmmm...

-More yarn! I have some white that I could spin up, and then maybe space dye. And I have some silk roving I wanted to try.

-I've got a bead necklace that is about half done. I'm stalled on it though, because the different sized beads were creating different widths in the band. Maybe ditch that, and start a free form peyote necklace with the beads instead? Keep the color progression, but change the texture...

-I could sew up some basic Medieval tunics.

-My husband said the strip of White Scarves reminded him of a liturgical stole. Maybe I should pick up that book on liturgical weaving after all.

-I'd like to try the skip hole card weaving technique again. That worked well when I played with it the first time. Time to try some other color combinations.


.....Any other ideas?