Beadery ~ Gifts

I made this bag for my maman with brain-tanned deer-hide, extra-tiny seed beads, and a sari.  

It is similar to the bag that I purchased from the Tlicho Online Store (check them out!) that she admired.  This was my most challenging sewing project to date, and I am pleased I could make it with love for someone I love so dearly.

Beadery ~ Catch your Dreams

This dreamcatcher was commissioned by a friend.

It is made with brain-tanned deer hide, real sinew, and snowy owl feathers.

Weird Woolies ~ My sheep

Here is one of the gentle giants who generously (read copiously) 

donates fur to be recycled into beautiful yarn.

Weird Woolies ~ BOOM mittens!

100% Moose hair, 100% recycled, 100% Yellowknife.

You're walking down the street

You see a hairy dog

What're you gonna do?

BOOM mittens!

A friend of mine has a giant Newfoundlander dog named Moose.  After she washes him, she combs out his long fur and gives it to me!  I spun his fur into the most lovely, soft, and slightly haloed yarn.  I then knit a super warm & wonderful pair of mittens
(and no, they don't smell like dog).

It takes a whole community to make art.

Thanks to:
Moose (for growing the fur), Tina (for doing all the grooming!),  Caroline (for teaching me to spin), Maman (for teaching me to knit), Ryan (for taking the photo),
and Pirjo (for wearing them!).

Beadery ~ Sparkly Ornament

Commissioned

100% Swarovski Crystal Ornament

Beadery ~ Deck the Halls!

NEW!  Beaded Christmas ornaments.

I'm getting in the spirit!

Weird Woolies ~ Clive, hairless. Sort of.

Um.... so this is what Clive looks like after she has shed most of her fur.  She kinda looks naked.  Not in a good way.  It sort of looks like she's wearing pants.  I know it looks like I shaved her, but I didn't.  Honest.  Who would shave a rabbit?  Well, who would comb a rabbit out to harvest her fur for that matter?  Oh wait, I would.

Beadery ~ Mocassins

My latest creation is a pair of moccasins commissioned by an admirer of my work.  It took me about a month to figure out how I wanted to design the beaded uppers.  Since the commissioner asked for purple, red and aqua, I settled on a fireweed design after a few false starts.  It has been a busy few months, but I began the final version of the beaded uppers in a couched technique in August, then sewed the uppers onto brain-tanned moose hide in September.  I sewed the rubber "crepe" to the bottom to keep the hide from wearing out two weeks ago.  With wear, even indoors, moose hide wears through the sole of the moccasin.  By applying this rubber, it will insure the moccasin lasts much longer.  They can also be worn outdoors.  I finally sewed the commercially tanned caribou fur on the trim in the past few days.  I debated several furs, but finally settled on the caribou, as I think it is representative of the Yellowknife area, but is also a non-traditional use of the fur.  Plus, it matched the design colours on the upper.

All stitching was done by hand.

I am now moving on to my second commissioned pair of wrap-around moccasins that will be sent to Mexico this winter.  My shoes get around more than I do!

I am happy to take orders for custom beadwork.  Moccasins start at about $350 and the cost depends on the quality and rarity of the materials used.  Brain-tanned hide is hard to come by!

Beadery ~ I made my own shoes!

After three months of hard work, I actually finished my wrap-around moccasins.  My grandmother loved pansies, and she was also an avid crafter.  She taught me many things.  In homage to her, I made these shoes, to remind me that she walks with me always.  The uppers are hand-beaded with seed beads in a couching technique.  The rest of the moccasin is made with brain-tanned moose hide.  It has a lovely smoky smell that reminds me of campfires, old stories and songs.

I hope grandma D would be proud of all the new crafts I have learned since moving to the Northwest Territories.

Weird Woolies ~ Spinning Dog Fur

My good friend Caroline taught me to use a drop spindle last spring.  This summer, thanks to Moose and Teddy, I've begun spinning dog fur.  It's really easy, and very fun!  It's also a great way to reuse what usually gets thrown in the garbage.  Newfoundlander fur looks and feels like Qiviut.  It's incredibly soft and warm.  My goal is to collect fur from all the different dog breeds, then knit models of each breed with their own fur.

(Please note the earrings I am wearing.  I traded a pair I made for these with my good friend Jasper/Juniper/Galloping Stallion ;)

Beadery ~ Into the Woods

$30

$25

This is my new wood collection, made of various pre-cut types of wood, with leather and surgical steel findings.  They are available for purchase at Down to Earth Gallery.
All wood earrings are $20 per pair.

Beadery - Chroma Chrome Series

$35 per pair

$40 per pair

I'm becoming increasingly interested in the interaction between colours and shades.  I take my inspiration from the relationships around me, such as the sun rising over Great Slave, and the colour of the snow at sunset.  I look forward to playing more with this concept this winter.

Although I try not to time myself, because I want to live outside the vulgar time of the watch, for those who are interested, it takes me approximately three hours to make the diamond shaped ones, and four to four and a half for the long ones, including the design time.  The beading technique is called "off-loom weaving".

The Chroma Chrome collection can be purchased at Down to Earth Gallery.

Weird Woolies - Clive

This is Clive with her full coat.  She gets fluffy like this about three to four times a year.  A spinner's dream!

Weird Woolies ~ Clive

This is Clive, my English Angora rabbit.  This photo was taken in August, shortly after bringing her home.  She is only two months old here.  I plan on spinning her fur!

Beginnings

My crafting interests change faster than the seasons, so I figured I'd make my own meteorological website so others can keep track.  Check out the various projects I'm working on, and send me your ideas!