Tweedy Warmth

So. I'm feeling mighty victorious. I've conquered a hurdle. It was a really small hurdle, but gosh darn it. It's conquered!

That's right! I finished a birthday present in LESS THAN A WEEK after the actual BIRTHDAY! Oh yay! Oh Happy Dance! (I'm actually sneaking some birthday cake in as we speak. Or type. Yes. type.)

My father is one of those gentlemen, that when walking around Galway in Ireland will get stopped and asked for directions. He's that old school looking. He's the "Irish wool cap and wool sweater with tie" kinda guy. And that's what I started with in my search for a perfect scarf for him.

I wanted something warm and cable-y that would loop around him a few times, while still looking distinguished. So I did just that. I've 2 small cables and one larger in the middle. Very simple, but with very (for me!) tiny yarn.

Doesn't it look just snuggy! I love the way it turned out, and my old man looks just charming in it. Now if I can get the ol' bugger to stand still for a minute, I'll post his mug wearing it. Stay tuned.....

Winter Schminter

In the past month we have had more snow than I can remember in all of my childhood years added up.
This may, or may not, be an exaggeration.
We get about 6 inches of snow, and then a few days later, get another 6 inches. It's hard to say how much is out there now as it keeps compacting and staying the same height, but for the mail box. That's almost a hole in a snowbank...... Did we get the paper today? Hmm.....

Yesterday, on a sunny Saturday morning, I took the two furry ones out for a walk in the snow. We had rain, then snow, then freeze, so 3 days later, all the world was still held captive in the icy blanket. Perfect for some lovely snow photos!

I could hear my 6th grade teacher, leading us in Robert Frost's "Stopping By Wood On a Snowy Evening" as I walked through the snow, exploring with the dogs. So quiet, still and perfect. Just the quiet moment I needed after another hellish week on my "Day Job".That was until my companions decided to cause a ruckus, while still attached to my wrist.

This is Bessie,  the Basset princess, who is giving us her best "Who me?" expression. The picture of innocence is she.

The remainder of my weekend has been dedicated to buckling down and finishing my father's birthday scarf in a lovely green tweedy wool. I've got about 3 feet down, and about 3 to go before it's complete. Hopefully I can knock it off my list of "Incomplete Projects Plaguing My Brain" before long. * sigh *
Hopefully.

Hand-Tying Ribbon - A Wedding!

My good friends got married last weekend, and I was given a great responsibility.
I was asked to do a reading at their ceremony, which was very nerve-wracking, but even more so, I was asked to create the ribbon tie that they would use in their hand-tying ceremony.

As I'd never done, nor heard of, this ceremony, I spent much time pulling out my hair, followed by much time researching on the computer in which I found there are many cultures that use this in their ceremonies, both in past and present. This is mainly the visual of  the phrase "to tie the knot". In earlier Scottish tradition, if the bride and groom could not afford a church wedding, they would have a ceremony in the village square in which their hands were tied together.

The bride and groom share many cultures within their families and in their travels. It was a daunting task to find a way to bring it all together. I tried to take what I learned about each culture's traditions, the personalities of the intendeds and a big heap 'o randomness and came up with the below:

I used 6 separate ribbons of varying colors. The number 6 was meant to signify 2 intendeds + 2 sets of parents, showing that the families were united as well as the couple. The ribbons chosen were their favorite colors, mixed with their wedding colors.

Lastly, I attached a series of silver charms, that signified a certain event, step, or sentiment in their journey forward. The ribbons start with 2 charms, with one initial on each. Two separate ribbons. The ribbon ends with 1 charm with both of their initials intertwined. I used a simple engraving pencil to carve out their letters.

In the middle of the rope is a Celtic symbol which I meant to show their lives becoming united. The separate ribbons passing through this never-ending symbol, shows that the couple have united as one.

I then typed up a, rather long, explanation of my sentiments that I wished for them on their special day and presented it to them at their rehearsal the night before. I'm not going to say I didn't share a tear in reading it.

I hope to kidnap it for a few moments in the coming days to get a better photo. (I hadn't finished it until late the night before, so perfect lighting was not available.)   :) 

The Beginning of a New Year..... and New Projects!

I've been a busy creative bee these past few months. I've been knitting, designing and metaling to my heart's content.

This beaded necklace was completed this summer out of shell beads, man-made seaglass, some metallic-painted beads and a few hematite thrown in for good measure. A light, summery design.

This little pumpkin hat includes my first foray into felting. I had joined a knitting group last year and got a little taste of  it when I decided to play around at home. These pumpkin leaves were the perfect fit for a great fall hat. Now to see the little guy grow into the size I made for him!

I posted the baby Wonder Woman hat earlier and will post an update once I take a better photo. The hat is darling, but the crown is a bit long. I need to re-work and re-photograph. Stay tuned.....

This past December I participated in my first craft fair, joining fellow students in a group show in Cambridge, MA where we work in studio. It was great fun to see such amazing work from my peers. To see how we all learned the same basic skills and have all gone in completely different directions is again an amazement to me!

The above is my setup at the show, and a close up of a pair of earrings offered. I loved the "tweedy" look of the cross-hatch markings.

I can't move on without pointing out the packaging and logo. Having worked in packaging for 4 years now, I couldn't just through my gems into a plain generic box and call it a day. I'd been mulling over names for a very long time, and have been playing with logos just as long. One day it all sort of came together, and followed by one intense evening of shouting at both the printer and Word, I walked out of the house with some snazzy cards and stickers to use. I am very happy with the result.

I've been planning out new knitting projects and, in a rotating basis, have completed a few as well. (Rare, I know.) Even better, I've just posted LOTS of new photos of my work to my Flickr account. (under "GatelyGirl")

In this new year, I hope to better my metalsmithing skills in creating more rock and seaglass pendants, as well as branch out more into stamped metal designs. Who knows? Maybe I'll get more tricky in my sawing skills! One can hope.

I've also got plans to complete more stuffed animals and toys.

I like looking at patterns as reference, but then going out on my own tangent to find something new. (I hope to learn how to actually follow a pattern and finish a project ON TIME as well!) The owl above has a body completed, but is in need of wings to fly, etc., etc. Let's hope the little guy it's intended for does not finish college before the owl is complete. (You can see the body in the background photo. The shapes on the photo are there to serve as reference for me while I make up a pattern to achieve that look.)

This is myself and my dad toasting the new year after an exhausting volunteer effort in helping with the First Night Boston parade. It was a great event and the weather was really accommodating. This beer and the one that followed were well-earned.

The grey wool cap I'm wearing is one I've completed using a reference pattern and going a little by the wayside. (Meaning, it was meant for a toddler and ended up for me. It's ok, I love it.)

I do hope your new year is off to a great start with grand ambitions as well! I'll be posting my progresses and my lack-there-ofs as I go. Hope to see you soon!