The Ladder Technique

I thought it was time to try out some new wire techniques, so I bought the book Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders by Irina Miech. In this book, I learned the ladder technique, which involves securing to pieces of chain to a clasp, and then wiring beads between the chains. This creates a ladder effect because the beads are stacked next to one another creating the rungs between the chain.

I thought I'd try my hand at the ladder technique using some beautiful czech glass beads I bought from BrookO's shop on etsy.

I'm still working on it, but here's a sneak peek at my efforts.

Stay turned for more craft adventures!

West of Stepford waxes philosophical

When I was growing up, my mom participated in an annual craft sale.  All year long she would work in the den getting ready for the sale, frequently trying to rope my sister and I into helping her, which we never did.  She never made much money from the sale, but I think it gave her an opportunity to have a creative outlet.  My sister and I swore we would never do crafts, in part because it seemed like my mom was always stressed out about her show, and we thought she might have been happier doing something else.

Flash forward twenty years, and I here I am in craft bliss.  I just finished my MA in English, and when people ask me what I want to do with it, I want to yell out, "make jewelry and knit."  But the times have changed for chronic crafters.  Even though the economy is tough, it seems like more and more women (and men) are able to sustain themselves by selling their art full time.  Maybe that was always the case and my mom just never knew. 

There's been a lot of talk lately that women selling crafts full time is a regression into a past time when we were pigeon holed into the "domestic arts".  But through sites like etsy, I think women have more and more amazing opportunities to become small business owners while doing something that they love.  What could be more feminist than that?

And now I word from my sponsor - check out my yart sale.  10% off everything in my shop, plus free worldwide shipping.

Today's featured item is a heart necklace.

Russian Nesting Doll Earrings

I found these adorable Russian nesting doll beads and turned them into earrings - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26358787

Check out my yart sale (yard + art = yart) on etsy www.westofstepford.etsy.com - 10% off everything in my store, plus free shipping.

This summer I'm working on adding knit and crochet accessories to my shop.  Look for bags, scarves, and coin purses coming soon!

Summer Stash Cleaning

For once I decided to knit a few projects using the some of yarn I've acquired over the years with every intention of making a project, but somehow never getting around to it (I have this same problem with books - buying them but never reading them. But that's really a subject for a different blog). Fortunately, all the yarn I've accumulated can fit into plastic tub.

Over the weekend, while camped out in front my TV watching the Olympics, I finished making this scarf from Brown Sheep Bulky I bought nearly three years ago.

I still need to weave in the ends.

After I finished that project I finally starting knitting "Go Everywhere Go with Everything" cardigan from the first Stitch n' Bitch book.  I've logged so many hours in front of the TV this weekend, I'm almost finished with the back.

Runway Knits

This is my favorite new pattern book.  The designs in it are so cool!  I liked it so much that I bought I copy for myself and a copy for my sister for her birthday.  I ordered my copy from knitpicks.  They are having a sale on all books in stock.  40% off everything in stock through August 8th!

April 2, 2008

Ta-da. My first finished project for this blog.

This is an adaption from a blanket from Kristin Spurkland's book Knits from the Heart. It is knit in strips and then sewn together. I increased the number stitches per strip because I wanted a bigger blanket, and I reorganized the color scheme of the blocks.

I used Caron Simply Soft yarn which is one of my favorite economy yarns. It's about $2.50 per skein at Joann's or Michael's. Here in Portland, I find that Michael's has a better color selection than Jo-ann's. I've made several blankets using this yarn. To totally complete this blanket I bought some cute flannel to use as backing. I still need to sew it on.