Another True Confession

So here's the story. Last winter, I was contacted by folks from VOGUE Knitting in response to seeing my crocheted silk beaded cuffs in my Etsy studio. They wanted me to make a custom sample and write a pattern for my design, and then they sent me materials that they selected for this sample. Here are my photos of 3 pieces I ended up making for them last January-- the top row is the one with their materials, and the middle and lower rows with my materials, created as variations on their theme.


You might recognize these pieces, if you look at my blog or WillOaks Studio on Etsy, but I never listed this set in my Etsy studio.

Well, they can finally be seen in the finished published (paper) form, because Crochet Special Collector's Issue 2012 Fashion Preview hit the newsstands today!

Some early snippets from this publication can be previewed here. I don't think I've ever seen crocheted pieces created or displayed in such an elegant and high fashion manner....now, look closely at the wrists in the photos under "A Fine Romance" section, especially the top couple of rows? Notice anything?

OK, so squint a little if needed. Those are my cuffs! And in the magazine version, there are additional photos plus patterns available for all the DIY fiber folks. In fact, there are patterns for ALL the amazing pieces in this issue. I will have more to say about this shortly, but for now, a few photos are in order!!

The publishers sent me these early photos featuring my cuffs, with photo credits as noted below each.

Vogue Knitting Crochet 2012, photo by Rose Callahan

Vogue Knitting Crochet 2012, photo by Rose Callahan

Vogue Knitting Crochet 2012, photo by Rose Callahan

You know, I never said a word about this because I wanted to be very sure, first, that my work would even make their final cut. And then, to see how the whole project would come together, being a total neophyte to this and all. Oh, and superstitious too, I guess, like I mentioned earlier in my other big secret winter project--buying my new place. I just didn't want to jinx it!

And now that it's all public, I can say that I think it is one of the most beautiful publications I have ever seen that's devoted to the humble craft of crochet. Crochet elevated to an art form with amazing designs and constructions, and all so beautifully styled and photographed. And even though my pieces are only a little teeny part of it, I'm so delighted and honored to be included.

In fact, it inspired my NEXT secret project that is now in progress.....more about this a little later because actually? I've got to get back to packing my studio for my move!!

Thanks for dropping by all--now go buy the magazine!! Even if you don't crochet? You can tell your friends and family that one of your blogger buddies has work in it!

Crocheted Cuff Crazy

red cotton and smoked natural bone beads

Blog Buddies--A loud call for feedback on a new idea!!

It's all just a wonderful experiment--I added some cotton to my crochet palette this winter (to join silk and linen) and from there, I've just mixed it up. Sometimes it's wondering what certain colors & materials might look like; other times, it's trying new structures out. A couple of the ones here can be found in my Bracelets and Cuffs section and others are still trying to happen.

So I've got a new idea and would love some feedback from all my blog buddies (and any other interested readers, of course!) I was thinking that maybe some of my crocheted cuffs could be sold as KITS that include the fiber, clasp, beads, and instructions etc. to then be crocheted and assembled by the buyer? Below & above are examples of some simple designs that could work this way for beginners.

brown cotton and "mustang magnesite" beads

gray cotton with metallic thread plus Czech fire polished crystal beads and larger seed beads

black silk, white bone beads and black "cat's eye" glass beads

I could sell these for half, or even less than half, of what the finished ones cost. Finished ones can take two or three hours to make, and so this time and labor, of course, shows up in my final prices. But I practiced putting a couple of "kits" together this weekend (I was clueless so just had to try it and see what it looked like!) and it wasn't too bad!! In fact, they can be kind of cute.....

So later, more advanced structures I have in progress are below. These require a little more experience in crochet, but may not be super difficult....

silk and mixed beads with my original ceramic heart and copper clasp
I like the way these heart designs can be worn with the clasp up or down

Silk with amazing Czech glass extra large seed beads in a metallic finish
I have not figured out how to write this pattern in words quite yet--it was kind of difficult but looks cool!

silk with mixed beads including glass, coral and copper with my original ceramic and copper clasp
(similar to the one above.)

I tried some (re)searching on Etsy for DIY, crochet kits, jewelry kits, etc. just to see what was already out there. Check it yourself--offers are all over the map and I was a bit overwhelmed as it was too much to take in all at once. Since I haven't quite seen anything like mine yet, not sure if there's any kind of interest? Besides being my own designs, part of the "pitch" could be to just compare pricing on the kit vs the finished piece?? Of course, that is based on the assumption that folks want to own these cuffs for a cheaper price.....hmmmm......

So everyone, voice your opinions: is this a good idea or not? Who has sold kits before? Who has purchased kits to make something special? I'm very curious about this.....

OK! Everybody YELL at once!! THANKS a million XXOO!

Hiding in My Studio

Bamboo Silk Cuff Bracelet with Brown Bamboo Coral

Crochet Stone and Silk Cuff in Sea Green Jade

Gray Silk Crocheted Cuff Wide and Thick with Mother of Pearl Beads

Crochet Silk Cuff in Chartreuse with Peridot Jasper Beads

Nougat Silk Cuff with Firebrick Red Glass and Bone Beads

It's a sad 10 year anniversary today in the USA. I carry my own heavy memories of that fateful day but cannot dwell there now as I'm clawing my way back up to some happier level these 10 years later. Instead, I'm posting some new work that has made it's way into my Etsy shop this weekend. All are imagined for Fall and Winter use, all are made of this wonderful artisan dyed pure heavy silk fiber crocheted to capture beads and bits, and all close with a silver plated slide clasp.

Influenced by nature: shrubs, trees, budding plants and other wild tangles. Distinctive statement cuffs that are also so comfortable to wear, it's easy to forget they are on your wrist. Easy to wash and dry. Easy to order for a custom fit (see details in the studio listings!)

Have a peaceful, gentle day, whatever your memories hold. Remember to embrace the present moment--it becomes the past all too quickly! Namaste'

Grab Bag for a Cold Winter's Day

Yesterday, the weather here preempted everything else--whether fun, or sort of important. Time to play catch up because there were some very lovely things that were happening for WillOaks Studio on other sites and I want to be sure to share them here.

The new exclusive piece I designed for "Yoga With Style" made its debut and I'm happy to share here that it is just the first of several pieces of my work that will be available at this very nice retail site for yoga aficionados. Meanwhile, I include one image of this piece here, but do take a look at Jennifer's whole site, with many wonderful categories of things for the yoga life style.

My readers here will recognize this as a new version of my ongoing "Made With Silk" series, which just keeps on growing!! Truly, I just keep finding new ideas, new treasures to incorporate, new color themes...and they become richer and more complex as the continue to evolve! And yes, they sell out because they are still made in small editions with neat things that I find in small batches.

My blog and Etsy buddy and fellow artist, Nancy, featured my work in her article on the "a little etsy love" blog here, and it includes a chance to win a gift certificate to use in my Etsy shop. The drawing on 2-9 is open to all who make the effort to enter!!

I really do like the way Nancy (her own blog is here) wrote up my work and hope you'll take a look (always nice to hear things from another perspective than mine...I'm the artist, after all, so am far from objective!!)



And finally, when I was making photos of the big snow drifts and after effects of our blizzard yesterday, I happened to notice and capture an image from the landscape that now I can see was a direct influence on the new pieces I've been working on and began to share here a few days ago. Well, I've done a few more versions of these since that post (see below) and can now juxtapose these with the "original source material." I love then this happens because when I wrote the descriptions of where this idea came from and what these pieces are meant to reference, I only had the image in my imagination....this photo from the Magnolia tree in the front yard here is definitely one of those photos "worth a thousand words. In fact, I'm just beginning to add it to the listings for these new pieces!


Thanks for dropping by....and if you happen to be in one of the sub-zero zones today, like I am....keep warm!!

Something from Nothing

I've had this bracelet or cuff structure in my head, but just out of reach, for nearly 2 years now. I've tried a few "false starts" but it just wouldn't come together for me so I kept putting the idea away for "later." Meanwhile, when I would spot "stone tubes" or "cylinders" I'd buy them and add them to my cache because I truly believed I could eventually solve this puzzle.

amazonite, silk, leather, button

Well, I can hardly believe it, but a couple of weeks ago, I finally began to make more serious progress towards bringing this idea from inside my mind out into the "real world"....one of my definitions of making something from nothing.

adventurine, linen, leather, button

moss agate, sterling silver, silk, leather, button

I don't usually complain when in the throes of creation...but I must confess: these are pretty difficult to make so far. I love the way they look, the way they are coming together, how tough and sturdy they are. They definitely pass the comfort test as I think they wear like a wrist watch. With the stash of "tubes" & cool buttons I've collected, there are a lot of variations in pattern and color waiting in the wings.

pietersite, linen, leather, button

But I'm becoming resigned to the fact that there just aren't any easy short cuts to pull them together as they use a bit of sewing, weaving and crochet and incorporate stone tubes, maybe some metal beads, hefty round leather, and silk or linen, plus a button. And there are quite a number of steps. I guess I've made about 10 different ones by now, each time trying to get a little smoother at it, maybe a little faster, but I guess I'm not a machine or a factory so stitch by stitch, and stone by stone, they are brought into the world.

As I write this, they aren't quite in my Etsy shop yet (many other new bracelets have been listed the past few days!) I'm still giving careful thought to sizing although, since many of them are unisex, probably small, medium and large will be the solution to this. But I decided to share these thoughts because it's not often I am inclined to share a bit of the "struggle" behind a given piece or structure so I thought it might be interesting.

Keep cool and have a great weekend!!

Wow Necklaces! Artfire Blog Carnival

Welcome to my new contribution to the Blogfire Carnival: Necklaces. Since I've been pretty focused on my recent crochet approach to necklaces, I decided to search both Artfire and Etsy for examples of crochet neck pieces by other artists.

I chose 8 pieces to showcase here. The links to each item and the artist's shop are below each collage and are listed clockwise beginning with the upper left corner.


Summerdream flower scarf , neck decoration
Lovelycrochet traun, traun

Super Long Crocheted With Felted Multicolored Pieces and Beads
BigFrozenMelon, atlanta area

Freeform crochet necklace Fantaisie noire
FibreromanceT Orillia, Ontario

Yellow - green - olive 6 sea glasses necklace
astash, Blackpool, UK

Night and Day, flower cluster necklace
joyoustreasures, Duck River, Tennessee

GRASS GREEN BIB NECKLACE Statement piece for her
kirevi8, Istanbul

Cellular Biology ... Freeform Crochet Necklace
irregularexpressions

The happiness - Multicolor wool yarn - Crochet flowers and leaves lariat necklace, scarf
jennysunny, Tianjin, China

I must mention again that Eileen's blog - bluebirdluxe, has an incredible article on this topic (and was my inspiration for this post.) If you like statement neck pieces and crochet, drop by for a look at more possibilities! And while I'm on this topic, there is a drawing you can enter for a chance to win a wonderful new book to help inspire and guide your own crochet for wearables. The prize is a new publication by author Linda Permann called Crochet Adorned and it will be a beautiful addition to any crocheter or crafter's library. You may enter until 3-24-2010.


Finally, a reminder that you can enter to win your choice of one of my new crocheted (Silk and Pearl) necklaces to add to your own Spring wardrobe! There are different ways you may enter, for up to 3 entries per person! Hurry, entries are due by Saturday, March 19 and the winner will be announced on Sunday, March 20.

So how about that? Beautiful examples of crocheted necklaces, a chance to win a free book to help you make your own, and a chance to win one of my creations, all in one post that I've written for the Blogfire Carnival! (Artfire Bloggers.) I can't believe I was this organized around one topic! Now you can go see what the other Artfire bloggers are up to for this carnival. The full list of participants will be visible on Friday, March 19.

Those Darn Cats & Purty Pearls

OK, so I'm too cute by half, but I'll blame it on my boy cats here. They just do some of the goofiest things and most of the time, my camera is nowhere near. Well, I got a sequence today that taught me something, besides being very entertaining.

When Red Kitty drinks from the faucet (which he loves more that anything except eating food) he actually lets all that water just sort of run over his face before he actually puts his mouth into the act. I wondered if he was sort of feeling his way over to the right position, or if he's using this chance to sort of wash his face? Today I realized that cats actually don't mind water too much, on their own terms. I made some video clips of Purrmeister playing in a running faucet that was filling a watering can. I hope to edit and post it when I get a chance because he's very enthusiastic about playing with that stream of water.

Purrmeister's new napping spot--a metal basket used to store magazines and catalogs. It's my fault--I sometimes drape a sweatshirt or fleece over the edge and he turned it into a little nest.

Crocheted Brown Silk with Dark Ivory Pearls Bracelet or Long Necklace

Crocheted Blue Silk and Dainty Teal Pearls Long Necklace or Bracelet

Crocheted Purple Silk and Variegated Purple Pearls Long Necklace or Bracelet

I'm starting to post some of the new pieces with silk and pearls in my Etsy shop--I can't get over the colors I came up with and I still have nearly a dozen to post yet! These are just so much fun because they are so versatile. I also love how soft they are where the crocheted silk chain rests on the neck or is clustered around the wrist. You quickly forget you're even wearing them--so if you are into looking good AND being comfortable--give this little invention a try!

Bass Ackwards, Maybe

A clump of new silk and pearl necklaces
--do notice Purrmeister's little image reflected in the glass vase on the right....
he's always got to be in the thick of things.

I wasn't really watching the calendar, I guess. I totally forgot yesterday was Fat Tuesday until it was too late. I could have used today's post to celebrate Carnival and used yesterday's Haiti updates to begin Lent. I go into a zone sometimes and just kind of lose track of time: days, dates, even weeks-usually not seasons though, lol!

So this image is more new work in progress. After a long weekend, continuing to explore and test my new silk direction, I wanted to see what would happen if I kept a clump of really long necklaces all together. It's pretty bright, eh? I'm in the process of doing the photos one by one, of course. Each piece is about 56" long and closes with a springclasp. Later photos will show them as either necklaces or really nice bracelets. But I thought this photo "of the clump" really suggested Spring.

Uh, oh...I just realized it's Wednesday and I forgot that....more evidence of my tendency to zone out, I guess....

Treasury & Another New Silk Experiment

A new, lovely treasury featuring the "peach color" and including one of my signature pearl necklaces. It was curated by Kim whose shop, Queen Heron Creations, is great to visit. She creates beautiful and warm looking neck warmers and cowls in lovely colors and does felting pieces that are so natural and sweet--take a peek now!

And a quick peek at another of my ongoing explorations of crocheted silk. Of course I'm trying to figure out where pearls fit in--I adore pearls (it's my birthstone and was one of the first "precious jewels" I ever got as a kid) and after I try just a few more ideas in these direction, I hope to commit to some of these new structures to list in my Etsy shop soon. So it's a great time for feed back from everyone!!

Along these lines, I really appreciate all of your comments on these new silk crocheted pieces I've been dripping out here all week, and in case you missed any, here's Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - all different experiments with crocheted silk.

Antidote to Gray

Jumping the gun here? You betcha'! I've got Spring in my heart even if the only flowers blooming here are the orchids in pots in the studio (and the carved jade ones in these new pieces!) So crocheted silk with lots of goodies still has my attention and I'm waiting for an order with more colors of fiber. Meanwhile, I'm experimenting with what I happen to have on hand. I'm pretty sure I got this pale greenish yellow silk some years ago to coordinate with the same color in jade that I was (& am) crazy about---because it's that wonderful slightly greenish shade of yellow...I've mentioned how much I love this color before.

OK, so I'm reaching here for a palette that is maybe just a bit bright....and Springy!! An antidote to gray (and white and brown and yuk!) I'm almost ready to put a part of this new series up on my Etsy shop starting today, and intermittently through the weekend...

Hope everyone is getting dug out--if your temperatures are anything like here, all that white stuff is not going to melt for awhile!! Oh well, it actually IS still winter!

Cabin Fever? It Could Be Worse.....

It seems like it's snowing all over the place--and the blogsphere is loaded with snow photos, so, I had to add a visual from the WillOaks Farm. This was before we got 6 to 8 more inches early Wednesday morning AND the wind really picked up speed.

Green silk with olive jade, millefiori, glass, serpentine, green jade, yellow turquoise---
another in the "silk experiments series"....

.....all designed to be "multi-wrap" versatile.

Meanwhile, now it's Mariah's turn to teach Purrmeister how to
drink from the faucet, like Red Kitty taught her....

....and Purrmeister is a willing and able student.

And remember that "numbers thinking" I mentioned earlier? Well, this weekend, my shop on Etsy hit the 1111th "heart me" which was a good feeling, and as we have approached Valentine's Day, I took a few more orders. (I try to imagine what it would be like if every heart equaled a sale....not gonna' happen, but it's a cute fantasy.) Not to be ungrateful, it's neat to know WillOaks Studio has been "tagged" by both shoppers and other artists.

And while I still haven't quite reached my goal of raising $100 for Haiti relief and rebuilding, through my 10% donation from my sales on Etsy, but I did hit $93 as of Wednesday!
...and I'm keeping this up through 2-14-10, Valentine's Day.