Adorably ridiculous.

Every once in a while I come across something that grabs my attention.  Sometimes it's useful, sometimes beautiful and creative, sometimes unique and sometimes just darn silly and adorable. Truth is, I tend to keep the silly and adorable to myself, these things don't necessarily show my more refined self.  

This time I'm sharing. I LOVE miniatures.  They appeal to me in a very strange and satisfying way. Couple that with anything that has to do with threads, stitching and organization? Fohget about it!

Here it is.  I found this on Etsy, it's a shop in China! This is all from the same store. What a mishmash!  

All of these DIY miniature kits, you build each on your own.

A floss organizer.  I've never seen anything like this and 

what are those symbols between the rows of thread? 

they come in lots of colors...

and more miniatures, this time vintage vehicles. How weird! 

How mesmerizing in a strange kind of way.

I wanted to give you the link to the shop, just in case you think it's adorable as well but I accidentally closed it down, so I went looking for it on Etsy. And to my surprise, it turns out there are many shops in the far east with this stuff.  WHO KNEW??

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2015 is the year of YES, I can!

Over the years I have taken jewelry making/ metalsmithing classes.  Starting back in my Michigan days, and then every time I visited Israel, I would treat myself to lessons and studio time.  Oh what fun I had, how fascinating and fulfilling the process was for me.  Still, it scared me.  I have never believed I could make metal jewelry, saw, solder, anneal and texturize on my own.  Since my first lesson, 18 years ago, I've never trusted my ability to create on my own.

Up until 2015.  I decided to give myself a New Year's gift, so I bought a jewelers bench, tools and accessories and set up a little corner in my studio, where I can go at it on my own.  I'm scared, intimidated, but adamant about succeeding!

My new setup...

Starting with butane torches, I'm a bit afraid of the "real" thing :)

Giving myself little refreshers on bezel mounting.

and on prong settings

and on ring making.

It's slow, but I'm loving it!!

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HANGING UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS - NEW KIT!!!

My book "My Point Exactly" has sold out.  Over 8000 copies are gone, ( just a few left for me). I hate to see the designs from the book go to needlepoint heaven not to be seen again, right?  Therefore...

The first of them, "FORTUNE" is back as a kit, or instruction booklet only, on my Etsy site.  It comes in three colorways and is perfect, just perfect, as a holiday project, a stitched piece for a dear friend, or a gift in the form of a kit, for a fellow stitcher.  

Sunshine

The instructions come with detailed stitching illustrations and charts as well as instructions for finishing the piece as shown in these photos.  The Ultrasuede backing, the beads and a template that aides in getting the attractive shape, all included.  Fibers, canvas are there as well.  

The kit includes all the goodies!!  Start with canvas, fibers, (silk overdyes, ribbon and metallics), glass beads, Ultrasuede for backing, (really yummy colors), and the lovely instructions. 

If you know anything about me, you know that one of my fetishes is presentation.  For this holiday season I had beautiful Adorn wrapping paper made in order to offer each item perfectly wrapped, ready to go!  If you'd like your purchase wrapped, just send us a note!

Is finishing not for you?  You can send it on over to us. We will be happy to finish it for you, we just can't promise it for the holidays, sorry...  ($40 for the finishing).  Send us a note for more information.

So, like I said...  right here on Etsy.  

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What will they think of next?

It is so cold!!  Even Esther can't wait to do her business and come running back inside, which makes me very happy!  

Before I start my day I had to share a creatively adorable site, Handimania! You too will find yourself glued to it, trying to tear yourself away...

 What I like about many of these clever ideas is that they really are doable. 

 

HANDIMANIA!

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New Series, New Kits, New Designs!

The timing couldn't be better!  We are all starting to have nightmares about holiday shopping. I know that when I find a great gift idea, one that can work for a bunch of friends and family and will fit my budget without looking cheap, I am delighted.  

Well, this time I am the bearer of this type of good news!  

Ann Pin/Brooch Kit

Seven new kits for wearable art, including everything you need at can't miss prices.  For example, the Ann Pin/Brooch kit has the canvas, the UltraSuede, the needle, the threads, the crystals and beads, the pin-back and a ribbon necklace and a complete instruction booklet, at a great price: $18

Elizabeth Holiday Brooch/Necklace

The Shimmering Jewels cuff kit shown below, which includes the canvas, UltraSuede, needle, threads, beads, copper wire and a complete instruction booklet... $25

HERE

Shimmering Jewels Cuff Kit

There are a total of seven such kits and whether you give them to stitching friends as kits, or stitch them up and present them to a loved one for the holidays, no matter which way you go, it will be received with great appreciation and happiness!

HERE

Shimmering Jewels Earrings

and the earring kit below?  

$13 including Sterling Silver earwires!

Pop on over to my Etsy site to see the entire series.  It's a must!


xo
Orna

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Ahhhh the Ribbon...

Glorious Ribbons

The Ribbon. A simple strip of fabric taking on it's own identity. We don't really think of it as a strip of fabric anymore-- it has removed itself, redefined itself as something a cut above.

The early value of ribbon to humanity was, actually, to redefine ourselves as something a cut above--a plain, poor garment could be brought up to snuff by a yard of fantastically woven ribbon placed on a sleeve or hem or bodice. This love of adornment escalated through the ages, to it's age of glory in the 17th century--ribbons appeared everywhere--bonnets, frills, rosettes, edging for linens, ruching and gift giving.

Ribbons continued on throughout the ages, coming into fashion in 1813, and throughout the Victorian age. In folkwear, many clans, villages and families created ribbons in colors and patterns that identified them as coming from one place or another.

Polish Folk Wear embellished with ribbons in the owners village colors 

Recently, ribbons have made a huge comeback, something we can start by attributing, most likely, to Martha (!), but also to the increasing numbers of DIY'ers and crafters. The options are endless! Woven, wired, velvet, washable, dry clean only.. you name it!

This brings me to the whole point of this blog, the wonderful website Rennaissance Ribbons.  

I discovered Renaissance Ribbons quite sometime ago and peruse the site on a regular basis. I have ordered beautiful woven ribbons to inspire me and amaze me. The store is an endless selection of the elegant, the sumptuous, the refined and simply, perfection! Some samples from textile artists such as Kaffe Fassett, Sue Spargo, Jennifer Jangles and more,  take a look:

Now go to Renaissance Ribbons and see what treasures you can find. 

Edith Minne, the owner, is a wealth of knowledge and a great help!

Check out their blog as well!

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