New Collection of Crochet Necklaces!

Fall is a great time for new projects and recently, I was inspired to create a collection of ready to wear necklaces for the museum shop for the Sadu House in Kuwait. My idea was to create mixed media/technique pendants with a Sadu theme.

I decided to use eWoodStory Modern Stitchable Pendant shapes, and reduce them in size to make mini versions! 

I painted some and stained some to coordinate with Sadu Colors, then got to work crocheting the backgrounds. Without having any set designs in mind, I stitched the backgrounds into the pendants, creating mini canvases. Each pendant is one of a kind and I don't usually plan them out before I start stitching. I have a page of sketches that I refer to for inspiration, then I begin embroidering, adding stitches here and there until I feel they are finished. The outcome of each finished pendant is really a surprise! I loved watching the collection build as the patterns and colors complement each other to create a tapestry of sorts. 

I really enjoyed working with a theme in mind, and I would love to create another collection based on a completely different theme!

These necklaces will be for sale soon in the Sadu House Shop!

Close-up of the detail in the pendants

Some of my favorites

Finished pendants waiting for chains

How to Use a Novelty Ladder Yarn!

Many of us have purchased these beautiful ladder yarns, not knowing how we would use them. I tried crocheting and knitting with them, and felt that the yarn lost its beauty in the process. The ladder yarn just sat in my stash for a few years... until recently when I was searching for yarns for a new weaving. This ladder yarn went so beautifully with the other yarns that I wanted to include. I wanted something thicker though, so I decided to take one of my bulky yarns and weave it through the ladder. This technique keeps the beauty and integrity of the yarn, so I was very pleased with the result! I ended up using it to make a long tassel for the weaving pictured below. I also plan to try weaving it in a future piece!

How do you use ladder yarns, I would love to hear your ideas!

Handy Crochet Hooks!

In my last post I talked about how handy I find crochet hooks, and that I am always finding new uses for them. It occurred to me how great it would be to have some on my keychain. Hoping that something like that existed, I did a quick online search and found these. I don't know if I was more excited that they actually exist and I could order them right now, or that there was someone out there who also thought this was a fantastic idea! So handy.  One more thing to add to my bag of tricks... I mean purse. :-) I'll be there whenever there is a sweater snagged near me!