Knittings ~ Christmas gifts

I've had a very crafty Christmas this year,
which is one of the reasons I have not posted for a while.

I've been busy busy busy knitting, sewing, and beading gifts!

(I've also managed to complete coursework for my MA, 

but you know how pesky things like school and work get in the way of crafts)

My cousin's boyfriend is wearing a cozy hand-knit purple and red striped neck warmer.

Stitches ~ Smitten Mitten

A Smitten Mitten spun and knit (with my mother's help) for my uncle's wedding.  The caption reads: "In case of marital emergency, break glass and use smitten mitten".  

It took some work to find a frame and nice mat to complement to mitts, but I think it turned out well.

They seemed pleased.

Beadery ~ Photoshoot

Here's Beadin' Meetin', our weekly group that meets at the local coffee shop.  This week, we were joined by makeup artists Roselle Constantino and Alaina Reyes.  

My boyfriend Ryan Silke took the following images of these lovely ladies wearing my work.

Caroline was caught wearing my deer hide cuff.

Moonie is cuddling a 100% handspun dog fur mitten

Katharine is wearing my couched beadwork necklace

Seed bead Chroma Chrome series

Mayumi is wearing magnesite and peridot

Moonie is wearing paua shell and sterling silver earrings

Beadery ~ New wrap-around moccasins!

This is my third pair of moccasins completed in a year.  

I think this is the best pair yet!

They are being sent to Inuvik now to a lovely lady who lives in a greenhouse in the arctic during the summer, and teaches yoga in Mexico in the winter. 

I hope you always walk with all the luck and good wishes I send with the shoes!

Spinning ~ In the park

A spinning workshop I gave in the park.  

Many thanks to Caroline Blechert for your help (and for taking this photo!!!)

Gardening ~ Zucchini!!!

Look at this beautiful zucchini I JUST pulled from my backyard.  

IT'S A MIRACLE!

Especially because this is my garden:

Yup, I got containers from the dump and grow vegetables on rocks.

While I am bragging, this is my view from my front porch and kitchen/living room:

It is indeed Yellowknife Bay of Great Slave Lake.

Beadery ~ FotR

This very photogenic fellow artisan offered to model my pink necklace this weekend at 

Folk on the Rocks.

Caroline and I had a wonderful weekend chatting with people about beads and generally loving Yellowknife's community.

Thanks everyone for an awesome festival!

Spinning Tales

I finally learned to use a spinning wheel!  SOOOO much faster than a drop spindle!

The cockatiel's name in Vanilla, she was giving me lots of encouragement.

Thanks so much to Crystal for everything she has taught me!

Stitches ~ Swinging Singer

Spending the afternoon with Tom Waits and my swinging singer,

gearing up for Folk on the Rocks.

This is going to be great.

Beadery ~ Favourite new set

Extending the Chroma-Chrome Series

Beadery ~ Celebrating the Sun

         

Snapshot of what is to come

Beadery ~ Ptarmigan Tails

These are ptarmigan.  The ridiculous bird of the north.  They tickle me.

Here are earrings I made from their tail feathers

(which they shed in the spring... or when they die)

Beadery ~ iPhone case

I'm working on perfecting a beading pattern of a snowflake.

This one uses delica beads, and I think that may be the secret!

Stitches ~ Sharing the love of crafting

My boyfriend's niece Taryn slept over and we made this great bag!

It was lots of fun teaching her and her brother to sew on my old sewing machine.  They were both quick learners and we had it done in no time!

Beadery - Gifts

A good hunter, teacher, and friend, asked me to make him a bracelet.  

He loves caribou and mourns the loss of the Labrador herd.

He was fascinated by Caro's porcupine quill bracelet.

He wants me to visit Newfoundland to collect and tan all the moose hides that people leave to rot.

One day I will.  But until then, I will miss my dear friend.

This bracelet made out of the materials that he loves does not begin to express the gratitude for the many teachings and gifts he has brought to my life.

Stitches ~ Furry Uglies?

Bébé Cole loves my fox fur mittens (see below), and so I made him a furry ugly from the scraps of the pelt.  This is an incredibly soft, very strange beast that tickles just looking at it!  The face(?) and tentacles(?) are made out of a previously enjoyed silk sari that I ordered from India.

Beadery ~ Gifts

This cardholder is a small thank you to the gifts offered by a friend.

Beadery ~ Swarovski collection

Just one example of my new Swarovski Crystal designs sold at the Snow Castle this year.

This is a clasp-less sterling silver delicate necklace.

And no, this photo was not taken in the Snow Castle.  Brrrrr!

Beadery ~ Freezin' Beadin' in the Snow Castle

This year's Snow Castle on the ice of Great Slave Lake

Unfortunately my camera died from the cold!
Sorry I don't have any photos of the impressive inside!

My little table to sell beads in the castle.
I was frozen by the end of the day!!!
Overall it was a great day, and again,
I am so thankful for Yellowknife!

Beadery ~ Mittens

I finally finished my boyfriend Ryan's mittens.  As you can see, he loves them!  They are made with smoke-tanned deer hide and caribou fur.

Beadery ~ Mittens

Here are the mittens I made last year.  

The top and thumbs are incredibly soft fox fur and the palms are brain-tanned deer hide.  

They are lined with purple duffle, and they are incredibly warm.

Beadery ~ New and improved uppers!

These uppers are for a commissioned pair of wrap-around moccasins,
requested by a super cool gardening yoga instructor!

The design is based on my own pair (see October 15th 2011 post),
but the beadwork on these is much, much, much, nicer.

With every new project, my sewing and designs improve. Someday I will be REALLY good!

Will post pictures of the finished product (hopefully soon!) which will be sent to Mexico.

Beadery ~ Call me! iPhone holder

I love the challenge of creating original custom pieces that people will cherish.

This iPhone case was a commissioned work.  The lovely young lady asked for earthy colours, with burgundy, brown, and cream.  She has excellent taste as it proved to be a great combination!

The material is brain-tanned deer, seed beads, and a caribou antler button.