Mossy Bark

A few months ago when we were going through rather windy wintery days this bit of bark with a rather interesting moss patch fell right in front of me... Was it the contrast in the green and brown colours, was it the shape or was it the coincidence of this 'object' falling in front of me that made me stop and/in wonder?

To cut the story short, I took a quick shot and continued on my way when struggling with the cold and windy January day. Later on, as I tend to do, I processed the image in my head, reached for some yarn and started on my first trial...

...shown here are three stages; the base, the yellow bit and the green bit on top. To explain more, I decided to incorporate the background of the pavement in my sample which is what helped shape the outcome of my project...

I also realised how free my hand can be to produce what I had in mind when translating the bark and moss into the design. So I went for it...

When translating this to its wire variation, I simply watched the work grow right under my fingers...

What started as a little piece or bark with some moss on it ended as a cuff/bracelet that I am looking forward to wearing.

K-)

Floating Leaves A - LilacBlue

I was given a chrochet hook of 0.nothing size just before Christmas (2018 we are talking about). The hooks I used previously were already tiny enough so I wondered if and how I would be able to use this size...

I picked two colour wires associating each with a hook of a certain size and started crocheting my 'leaves/pigeons' (by that stage I refered to the samples as 'leaves' only but was still keeping in mind the idea or pigeons).

How interesting to see the difference in size when for both hooks the initial chain is of the same amount of stithes...

After having made a few leaves, I assembled them into a pendant visible in the intro picture. All I had to do at this stage was to add or create a chain (in this case I crocheted it hence this is a completely handmade piece) and voila! I am presenting you with 'Floating Leaves - LilacBlue' necklace piece, a fun to make and to observe its process.

 I do like when a piece emerges by itself, without much or my interference.


This is also when my initial idea of pigeons comes back in. Seen here in line, separate or in clusters, they also translate in a similar way to my jewellery.

In 'LilacBlue' it is in a cluster of thee smaller and in line of five.






K-)

 

Floating Leaves B

This project emerged form my 'Lined up & Scattered' post inspired by these two photographs. And what a journey it was. To recap, I based this project on two photographs of pigeons on railings I observe everytime I go past. They seem to be both lined up on the railings and to be scattered all around depending on any given circumstances. And that was what caught my attention.

As I progressed through the initial stages, I found it difficult to find the right title for this project.

It was not until I photographed few samples on a glass table that an idea of a title and the direction of the entire project started to take shape.

The samples seem to flow in the air (as pigeons would do) & I also observed the shadows of leaves on the wall that are in fact the table's decoration...

To fast forward, two outcomes started to unfold. One of a jewellery piece ('Floating leaves A' that I wrote about in my previous post) when the other would decorate and add to a wall deco. And of course it would not be me if there was not an offshoot to the project.

When crocheting for 'Floating leaves A' I decided to change colour. My immediate choice was red (to go in line with the autumn season). Red is quite a dominant colour in the picture on the left, a picture I took some years ago so why not start there...


As I progressed, I decided to put a golden streak in one of the leaves since it is autumn (as partially seen in the picture on the right).


You might have noticed that I do not show many sketches. The reason is that I do not sketch on a piece of paper. It all happens in my mind and then in making. But in this case I actually reached for a piece of paper and some colour pencils to clear the next step in my mind.


Or so I thought...


After joining my leaves to make a pendant and after making a short chain on each side I changed my mind. I decided to turn it into a brooch.

Leaving the unfinished 2 end chains hanging loosely down are reminiscent of branches of a tree, don't you think?

Here is the piece in action...

Being either a brooch or a pin for a scarf it can be used in whichever way the user wishes. What I also like about this design is the fact that because it is a crochet piece the user can decide where the pin goes through the piece and so attach it in any way.

And so let me introduce to you a brooch, the 'Floating leaves B'.

K-)

Floating Leaves A

This project emerged form my 'Lined up & Scattered' post inspired by these two photographs. And what a journey it was. To recap, I based this project on two photographs of pigeons on railings I observe everytime I go past. They seem to be both lined up on the railings and to be scattered all around depending on any given circumstances. And that was what caught my attention.

As I progressed through the initial stages, I found it difficult to find the right title for this project.

It was not until I photographed few samples on a glass table that an idea of a title and the direction of the entire project started to take shape.

The samples seem to flow in the air (as pigeons would do) & I also observed the shadows of leaves on the wall that are in fact the table's decoration...

To fast forward, two outcomes started to unfold. One of a jewellery piece when the other would decorate and add to a wall deco. I am dedicating this post to the jewellery piece, a pendant on a chain I call 'Floating Leaves A'.

Since I photographed these few samples together in such an alighment, a vision of a pendant would not leave my mind. So I made another couple of leaves/pigeons, this time in different colour, connecting them into one piece, a pendant (right).


As if there were lined up... In a curve but still lined up...







Thinking of a chain, I went on making my own. Remembering the railings, I made two rows of stitches that I folded in half giving myself a comfortable width for my chain.

 

 The next step was to centre and join the chain and pendant together and here we are...

This was quite a journey. Oh, how much do I enjoy cracking a 'nut'. And now, off to 'Floating leaves  B'...

K-)

Continuum

Continuing on a colour variation of 'Blackfriars columns' project, a new project began to be in making. First, I cut of two pieces of the chain for a pair of earrings with turquoise beads... (hence the colour variation of the previous project).

Since I had more beads threaded on the wire I decided to continue with 'french knitting'. I wanted to see where and how far this will take me...

At this point, I already decided to make a matching necklace for the earrings so I simply kept on working even when I ran out of the beads. I simply continued weaving with only wire (picture on the right)...

To make a straight forward necklace with beads in the middle seemed to be a bit late by then so I started to think of a way of joining the chain and still keep the beads in front...

...Also I had a 'faulty' initial chain that would not work for any earring so I reached for it at this stage. I made a hoop out of it hoping to make it into one joining end (left).

I also realised I might need a button in order to finalise the design. In the picture on the right is its trial version.

Unfortunately for the project, it got in the way of my holidays. Fortunately for me, I am on holidays...

'Continuum' project is at home on a table now patiently waiting for my return...


In the meantime, I am taking it easy letting the project mature (in my head)... Take it easy too.

K-)

Update: Sunday, 19 August 2018

Continuum

A few weeks on and after an afternoon spent on my 'Continuum' project, this is what I am left with. A chain that originated in a pair of earrings ('Blackfriars column') and continued into a necklace.

First I completed the button that I mentioned in my last post. I also made a hook at the other end of my chain, hook big enough to fit my button (seen in the picture above).

At this stage, the design starts to get slightly intricate...

...After placing the wire chain around the neck and placing the beaded end in front, one puts the wire hook through the beaded end returning back up towards the button to clasp the necklace at the back of a neck.

And here we go. My 'Continuum'...

K-)

Empty Café - 'Brickwork'

Last week, in my Empty Café - 'Stools' post I mentioned a second part of my investigation into a project based on an image of a café at Trafalgar Square that was completely empty in the middle of the day. After focusing on the stools, this post is about the brickwork on the plinth at the background.

The picture above reveals two samples; one made out of yarn and the other out of wire. It seems to be a tradition that my first trial
is with a yarn (to make sure) and then I reach for a wire.

On the left is my wire sample that I then joined into a cylindrical shape. Standing alone it actually looks already quite interesting but what is its purpose?

Well, I guess it is given by the shape. Therefore I put it on my finger and...

...yes, it is a ring but how to shape it? It is too long reaching over my knuckle and like this it is getting into the movement of the finger.

Luckily, the pattern of the brickwork allows certain flexibility. This is why I worked with this characteristic but first I had to decide on the face of the ring. The one on the left or the right...

...I decided for the right one. This is where I joined my sample and unwittingly created a decoration - rather rough but why not?

After shaping it around my finger I pinned it on the opposite side of the decoration to clear space for free movement of the finger and the whole palm.

I must say that even though it is quite chunky it is not in a way at all. Yes, it is quite fun to wear.

Looking back at my original picture of the plinth at the background of the empty café I simply could not ignore the row of red menus on the tables. Indeed, they found their way into this project.

I made another ring, this time without the joining 'decoration'. Instead I used small red beads to represent the menus.

The picture on the left shows the tube in the shape of my finger. (I shaped it by closely following/modelling around my finger).

As seen on the picture on the right, my fingers are bend aiming for making a fist.


What I like about the brickwork pattern is its flexibility. It does let you shape accordingly and the pattern allows free movement of the fingers. It stretches or squeezes the way one desires and is also incredibly light, the way a ring should be.

This was another journey from a photograph to a design piece, this time two rings. And again, what a fun that was.

K-)

Empty café - 'Stools'

Not that long ago I walked through Trafalgar Square and even though it was reasonably busy a café in the middle of the square was completely empty. Having taken a photograph, I left but could not stop thinking about it. The image of the empty café stuck so hard in my mind that I had to incorporate it into my creative existence and a few months later few projects came out of it...

First, I focused on the stools; their shape and colour. I must admit, I followed step-by-step instructions from Teri Howes' sheets to refresh my memory and see the possibilities it could offer.

Of course, later I realised that the hole in the middle was too wide but as a base of what I wanted to try it for it would do...

I also focused on the brickwork on the plinth at the background. Trafalgar Square has four of these, equestrian statue of George IV got into my view.

These two samples on the left were where I started...

Have you heard of a 'French knot'? I came across it when researching something I do not even remember now. French knot comes from embroidery and looks quite easy to make. It also looks rather striking and I hoped I could use it within my work...

...and that was when the yellow/golden disc proved to work quite well.

Quite early into my experiments with wire, I realised that wire on top of a crocheted wire disc will simply not work. It ended up as a tangled wire rather that something decorative.

At this stage, organza ribbon came to a rescue. I have two colours (yellow and grey) I used for my 'Geometry' project you might remember. Since the disc is already yellow, I used the grey one.

I also learnt that the French knot is not as easy at first but once you get the hang of it it is simple...

I am not sure why I used so much ribbon for only three knots. I had this number in my head looking at four stools per table. I took one stool away from the calculation as a symbol for 'empty'. 'Empty' meaning 'without' therefore 'without' (minus) one stool. At the end this worked out quite well since I can nicely place the disc and round the ribbon around my neck. Twice in this case. I also made two mini tubes out of the wire to tuck the two ends of the ribbon into and voila...

I asked my trusted friend Elena to pose again and...

What do you think? Doesn't she look lovely? K-)

Update: Sanday, 20 May 2018
Empty café - Stools  

A colour variation was the next step of 'Empty café - Stools' project. That is what you are looking at above.  It is up to you to pick your preference...

...and, of course, an offshoot that came out of it too ending on a choker necklace instead of a ribbon.

K-)