(Crossposted from my blogger blog.)

Amazingly I was able to make something this week, pulled muscles and all. :) I made this pair of Saint Patrick's Day dreadfalls:



You can find them here in my Etsy shop and here on Artfire. They're made from all sorts of green, white, and orange yarn and ribbons including handspun yarn (some I got off Etsy, some is my own). When I first learned how to spin I could do thick-and-thin yarn that works great for dreadfalls, but as I've gotten better at it, I've forgotten how to make it anything but fairly thin. Now that the weather is getting warmer and I can spin outside again (can't use my spindles indoors because of the puppies), I'll have to see if I can learn how to make yarn thick again. That'll be my task for later this month when my side muscles heal up. :)


Anyway, the dreadfalls are on tan elastic ponytail holders so they'd probably work best in long hair that you can put in a ponytail or bun, but they also work on short hair like my mannequin's; I just attached hair clips to the elastic hair ties and they stay in fine (the kind of hairclip I used was the one you can see in the hair on this listing).


And hey, hooray for sunny weather that's warm enough for me to get outdoor photos! Boo on nothing blooming yet so the pictures look blah (I like to take my photos outdoors against the trees and grass, but I haven't been able to do that since October). Ah well, it's March; things will start blooming soon enough. :)


I'm going to try to work on some horns this week since I can't crochet or do chainmaille right now, and I have a custom cartilage earring to work on today. I'll blog pictures of those things once they're done, I promise.

(Crossposted from my blogger blog.)


I know I've been missing these weekly posts- sorry about that, guys! Today's interview is with one of my good Plurk friends, Robyn of JewelledTrellis. Robyn is a super-sweet person (I'm so glad to have her as a friend!) and she's also a very talented jewelry artist.


What's your name?
Robyn Selk

Where can you be found on the internet? (Website, Twitter, shops, blog, etc)
www.jewelledtrellis.artfire.com, www.twitter.com/jewelledtrellis, www.facebook.com/jewelledtrellis, www.jewelledtrellis.zibbet.com, www.jewelledtrellis.etsy.com, www.jewelledtrellis.blogspot.com

Describe yourself in five words.
Loyal, Fierce, Shy, Empathetic, Tenacious

If you were a color, what would you be?
The dark indigo that is found streaking the sky after the sun has dropped beyond the horizon and night is descending.

If you were a "Dungeons and Dragons"/fantasy character or creature, what would you be? (Can be a specific character, or something general like "elven bard", "centaur", etc).
I would be a Silver Dragon or an elf. I love both dragons and elves. Ironically my nickname in high school was Dragon lady not because of a collection of dragons or the like but because I was a formidable debater. My husband still claims he can’t win an argument to this day.

If you could live anywhere (or anywhen), where/when would it be?
It would be the wilds of Ireland in an charming drafty castle around 1200’s.

What was your very first piece of art? How long have you been an artist?
My first piece of art would have been a cross stitch when I was ten. I stitched a pillow for my bed. I still love to cross stitch especially if it is on a celtic or art nouveau style. I love to dabble in all kinds of artistic expression. I did learn over the years that I do not sculpt well or excel in watercolors. I was an abysmal failure at both of those.

If you sell your art, how did you get started?
I started 2 1/2 years ago selling my painted candles, cross stitch, some beaded jewellery and ornaments

Pick your favorite project/artwork- what is it and what inspired you on it? If you'd like to share, tell a little about the process you used from inspiration to completion of that project.
I have deep Celtic roots and have been fascinated by family history since I was very little. Family crests, Coat of Arms and crest style jewellery is probably my favorite type of piece to create. My favorite piece would have to be this crest piece.

I think there are those of us who seek out our roots because of a longing to belong to something that endures and lasts. Something with deep history and long standing family tradition. That desire drives me as well every time I work on a crest or coat of arms style piece.

What kind of advice would you give to other artists?
Surround yourself in the art that inspires you. If you wake in the morning with visions of a project or design than that is what you should be engaged in doing. Make what you love your obsession and you will find success.

What is your favorite:
Color? Rich deep royal purple
Quote? All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible. - Thomas Edward Lawrence
Book? I can’t pick just one. There is only one thing that surpasses my collection of crafting and jewellery supplies and that is my book collection. It has grown to the point that my husband has created a library for me. I have a rather eclectic reading collection but I unwind with a good fantasy novel. My copies of Lord of the Rings are falling apart. I admit to enjoying Jane Austen’s works and the lighter writings of Lynn Kurland when I need to relax and unwind.
Character? (book or whatever) I admire the tenacity and shrewdness of Catherine the Great, Czarina of all the Russias.
TV show and/or movie? Stargate is my favorite series but I adore old movies from the 1920’s-1950’s as well.
Season? Spring with all the wild thunderstorms and the fresh new green of life returning after the bitter cold.
Food? Atlantic Lobster and fresh mussels steamed and served in a tin pail at dusk while sitting on the porch of my Aunt and Uncles cottage.
Animal? Hammerhead shark
Art medium and/or supply? I currently adore vintage glass cabochons and unusual gemstones. I tend to dabble in multiple mediums and have loved each in turn.

I’m married to my high school sweetheart for 16 years now. I have 5 children, 3 girls and 2 boys who I home school. We live in a tiny town in the Northern part of Canada. I collect tapestries, craft supplies and old movies. I sing and dabble in playing the harp and piano. I studied in Sweden for a year and still dream in Swedish on occasion.


Thanks for letting me interview you, Robyn! :)

(Crossposted from my blogger blog.)

Sorry for the lack of updates recently. This has been an awful month between family issues (I lost both my grandfather and an aunt) and my health (stress making me sicker and I pulled muscles in my sides so I haven't been able to craft for over a week). I even had to stop doing the Ravelympics because I wasn't up to crocheting. :( Luckily I finished one event, but I haven't had a chance to start the doll I wanted to make or finish the laptop bag. Here's to hoping March is a much better month!


I did finish a few art things this month, though:

First up is this chainmaille circlet for the EarthPath Artisans "Midwinter" challenge (psst! You have another 12 hours to go vote on that!).


I tried to think of something besides snow and ice to use for "Midwinter", but since I live on the east coast and we've had snow on the ground for months, snow and ice is what it ended up as (amusingly enough, I needed an extension on this challenge because I was snowed in away from my supplies). The blue rings are for the sky and the silver ones represent snow and ice. The gold colored rings in the center and the yellow beads represent the sun, though, to show that the wheel of the year will turn and the days will start to lengthen. The sun always seems to be the brightest when the world is covered in snow.

This chainmaille circlet is made from bright aluminum (the silver color) and anodized aluminum rings in blue and yellow. Dangling from this circlet are five groups of beads (mostly acrylic, although the center one may be glass). This is here on Artfire.


I made this chainmaille anklet for the Artisan Beaders Street Team's "Look of Love" challenge (you can see what my teammates came up with here. This wasn't a voting challenge, just something to inspire us).


This anklet is made from bright aluminum (the silver color) and red and pink anodized aluminum rings, and closes with a lobster clasp. Dangling from each of the points are are small red and clear acrylic beads, and a larger pink (with black stripes) round acrylic bead. I really like this style, so I'll have to make more in other colors. It's here on Artfire.


Next are the bracers I made for the EtsyHookers "Variegated Yarn" challenge:

This pair of bracers are crocheted from camouflage tan/green/brown/black acrylic yarn and the lacing is a velvety olive green ribbon. These can be found here on Artfire.


The last thing I listed recently is this cartilage earring:

I actually made this a few months ago, but completely forgot that I hadn't listed it yet. It's here on Artfire.


And for a random piece of jewelry, I made this bracelet as a birthday present for my godmother:


It's glass and plastic beads on an elastic cord. It's so much prettier than it looks in that photo; I love those colors!

(Crossposted from my blogger blog.)

Yup, I'm in another challenge and we need votes. My "Midwinter Skies" circlet is in the EarthPath Artisans' "Midwinter" challenge.

It's this circlet:
I'll be blogging more about it a bit later in my next art update. Can you guys go to the EAST team blog here, look at the six pieces of art entered into the challenge, then go vote in the poll on the right hand side of the blog?

You don't have to vote for me, just your favorite. :) Thanks, guys!

(Crossposted from my blogger blog.)


I'm still upset (see previous post), but I'm trying to busy myself with normal things, so I'm still doing the Ravelympics. Unfortunately, my sides have been hurting (I think I pulled muscles while exercising), and crocheting is making that hurt more, so I'll likely not be doing much for the next few days. I'd get my personal mascot or my sidekick to help, but neither a stuffed raven or a cat have fingers. Alas! Next time I'll have to pick out more useful helpers. ;)


Day 4 (Part 2)
In the last Ravelympics post I shared the faun ears I made (those are the tan and brown things in the front/top), but I also finished another hexagon (the orange and green one) and started the 6th (the pink and blue one). I'm getting there!

As usual, my personal mascot Quoth looks on, but this time he's joined by my sidekick Clara, who couldn't resist all the dangling yarn ends.


And since I finished those ears for the Hat Halfpipe, that means I got a medal!

Day 5
Didn't get much done this day at all; I was too sore.
I only finished the pink and blue hexagon yesterday. ...Which came out smaller than the rest, for some reason; I may need to add an extra row later. Maybe the yarn is slightly thinner? It's all the same weight but I'm sure there's some variation there.