Hooray Beret!!

Just finished a crocheted beret in purely grape cotton. The lace was actually finished months ago after a month of hooking, but I decided to use up some beads since I have one or two, and the beret was just sitting there. Still. Not moving or trying to get away. So I attacked. I started with a tight spiral and loosened up a bit as I worked towards the brim.

Used at least a hank of Czech beads in every shade of purple and shape and style of bead and finish you can imagine and every cut a small bead comes in. Used one whole strand of copper lined sapphire charlottes to bind the edge in a scallop.

And what do you do with the little umbilical cord that hangs out after you've netted your last stitch? Why, you bead that too! I used a Swarovski pear drop and a cobalt and silver barrel bead along with other bicones and vintage beads in a bullion button so this hat has its own jewelry. Will be very cheeky hanging in front of a shell shaped ear! And I bet that whoever this belongs to will HAVE to try it with the drop hanging on the center of their forehead at least once!

All my head mannequins have gone out the door with various elaborate head dresses or hats. The beret is being modeled with an iron sculpture that my friend Carol bought for me when she was at an art show. She said attitude and pose, it just yelled my name!

It's for sale in my Etsy shop.

Beret and a Geode

I finished Sheree Rensel's glorious little summer beret! Her request was that it be light and airy. I 'wore' it on my knee for about 40 minutes this afternoon in a room without AC. This is the most scientific experiment that I could muster. But. No sweat. And best of all, no weight. As she is just a tiny little sprite of 4'8", she needs nothing to make her more dear to the Goddess Gaia than she already is.

This has always been my theory on small beings and animals. The more the Earth loves you, the smaller and closer you get to be, ergo, closer to Her. Diminutive people have always had something of the Fey in them to me. I've never known one to be totally world bound. Instead, they always seem to be a little bit in a place none of the rest of us can go.

I used to sew for a tiny woman named Sherry Lucas. You only just needed to see her to know that you were in the presence of faery folk. When Sherry smiled, Ireland would light up. When she frowned, it would rain. The Goddess blesses little beings of all ilk.

So. Sheree's beret is done. I adore the pin that I made out of scraps for her. There are glitzes and blings and sighs of yarn. The hat and pin look like they're made of moth butts and butterfly haloes. You can't see how airy it is. The pictures are courtesy of Windows without any editing so the color isn't true either.

I'm happy. I feel complete with it. I hope she does as well. Or. I'll be making another one more to her taste.

Yes

Geode 1 Mixed Media Fiber, Gems, Silver 20" X 7"

I'm here. Still arguing with my computer about settings, malware, cat hair, etcetera. If not a total win, I'll persevere so that I can at least use it efficiently.

I have pictures to share which I will as soon as I find the software for Corel to reload or learn to use Photoshop Elements, whichever occurs first. I've taken pictures of the first Good Earth Works piece I've started. Hard to photograph because of all the sparkle. Here are two unedited views I took about a week ago. The ground is 20" X 7". I'm almost finished covering the entire canvas now but am a bit stuck.

I have one area that I don't know whether to cover with brocade and stones or leave blank. It's the bottom left on the whole view canvas above. This is where I suppose an art course or two would have helped with design principles. So I'm sitting on it for a bit to work on something totally different.

Almost finished a summer beret for artist Sheree Rensel and wanted you all to see that before I give it to her. Just working on a chapeau pin for decoration and then I'm done. Very pleased with it. Sherree chose the yarn in the bottom right corner - a multi stranded, very light weight and airy blend in 'amethyst' called Moda Dea Gleam.

It has a bit of sparkle to it, weighs next to nothing and I used a size "N" aluminum hook for a lacy and open fabric. I think she'll be pleased with it. I'm told Sheree has a reputation for eclectic and artsy dressing. If so, this will be an anchor piece for her wardrobe. I'm calling it "Summer Beret With Wild Hair".

I'm all for kissing the toes of Josie and Arpatx Latorre for their wonderful gift! The Ott-Lite magnifying glass has been used daily and extensively as I've sewn on beads, set gemstones and unraveled fuzzy yarns! Thank you both once again!!

I'll make a stab of putting up some photos without the tweaking.