My other creative outlets
I am very excited to announce that you can now view my blog posts on my new Pinterest board named Cardinal Sewing Nest.
When you’ll visit my Pinterest account Cardinal Sewing Nest take the time to browse my boards all related to handmade crafts. I hope that they will inspire you to create your own art work.
Below you will see my 14 bespoke jewelry creations ……
My hubby and I love walking on beaches looking for rocks, sea shells or mermaid tears when we travel. We leave no stone unturned! I know, it really shows that we are tourists, but these treasures are really the best souvenirs!
When we went to the French Antilles Guadeloupe I found this interesting small white stone on the beach of Saint-Francois. The rock had a natural hole through it and the hole was well located in the stone making it perfect to be part of some alluring handmade jewelry.
I made a very simple pendant and earrings set pairing the beach stone with some blue turquoise semi-precious stones, royal blue Swarovski crystals and antique satin finish glass beads. The pendant is the focal point and hangs on a round maille chain to give a nautical vibe to the set. I build the jewelry using black metallic split rings, eye-pins, headpins and earring wires for a little a contrast. I like the summer feel of the ensemble. Do you?
We use to call it corking, or French knitting (in French a spool loom is called “tricotin“) what use to be a way to teach children how to knit has now become a trendy way for people of all ages to make cool stuff. From easy items like this scarf above made from the cord knitted with a spool loom, called I-cord, to eternity scarves knitted on round looms and afghans knitted on rake looms, the Web abounds with tutorials on how to knit just about anything in fancy and intricate stitches.
I was first attracted by spool knitting when I saw this image on Pinterest…
Continue reading “DIY spool loom cord knitted scarf crochet leaves”
I made this stained glass panel about 8 years ago, I used Youghiogheny Stipple glass for the sunset, Youghiogheny Mottled glass for her hair, Youghiogheny Oceana glass for the frame. These high quality glass render a fabulous 3D effect when illuminated with by the sun.
View the project prior to assembly.
I purchased this fused glass pendant from a stall selling local crafts in Oistins, Barbados, where tourists join in with locals at the Friday night Fish Fry and “lime” social gathering. I LOVE the colours and the bubbles in the glass.
I made the necklace and the earrings choosing beads matching the exact colours found in the fused pendant, and re-created an “Anthurium” flower found in Barbados, to complete the feel of the Caribbean.
Ahh…. I want to go back to Barbados.
I love spring flowers, especially lily of the valley’s fragrant tiny scalloped bells. I read that in the Language of flowers the Lily of the Valley flower means “the return of happiness”. And …Ah! do they ever bring happiness back for me! The elation to see greenery again after the sight of a colorless long winter. Spring flowers announce that spring is in full efflorescence, and when spring is in full gears it means that all is possible again.
This delicate flowers inspired me to craft this earring set that I will pair with a distinct Lily of the valley scent during this joyful energetic month of May.
What does spring make you feel like? Are you full of the joys of spring?
Ah! I cannot wait for the lilac trees to bloom.
How about you? Do you have a favorite spring flower?
Au revoir!
One of my hobbies is taking pictures, I especially enjoy taking macros of flowers. One day I was having fun taking pictures of a bouquet I had received from a friend the day before. Then I had an idea to stage the flowers with candies in search of interesting color combinations and visual interest. I went to the local grocery store, purchase LOTS of bags of goodies of all colours and shapes and for the next two days I took about one hundred pictures with different types of candies. Hum… I should of weighed myself before and after those two days of shooting,
View the other colour palettes part of this photography series.
Continue reading “Color palette: The “Sugar craving” series”
I went to Paris the first time for my 50 ieth birthday. I could talk for hours about this beautiful city and its neighborhoods. I was fascinated by the craftsmanship of the door knockers. Ah! the color of Parisian doors. Here’s a Photoshop collage (Post card/ travel art) of my favorite door knockers hope you enjoy them too!
À la prochaine!
After all we are now reading articles stating that the Millennial’s cannot sew and have stopped practicing this ancient skill (?!!). I also read that people are now born into houses that do not have a sewing machine for the past two generations. A phenomenon that I have also witnessed among my own family and friends. On the other hand, we are also reading encouraging articles saying that sewing is revived, that home sewing is a growing trend and that the crafts industry is enjoying a resurgence.