wire ... metal ... fibre .... unique handcrafted jewelry and accessories for men and women

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

almost there and perseverance

Next project for my portable polishing kit (well, when I can put down the ever so portable knitting that is - it's socks now as I've finished my quota of scarves) is the ring on the left.

It's a kind of swiss cheese of a ring in copper. The holes need some filing with my needle files and then the whole thing needs a few rough edges removing so it will fit onto a finger without lacerating the flesh.

And finally a trip to the tumbler for a date with some stainless steel shot, just the like the ring on the right (isn't it shiny?).

Sunday, October 19, 2008

portable crafting knit style

I think I must have some kind of attention-deficit problem as I can't just keep one knit/crochet project on the go at one time. My problem was therefore that my various knittings were getting left all over the place or worse, that my scissors (and I have an extremely cute small pair just for yarn snipping) and tape measure were always with another project. It took an age to get out of the house with a suitable crafty occupation to pack in my bag.

Problem solved with a visit to IKEA for some gorgeous nesting baskets. I now have a little more order in my studio AND my knit/crochet has a home to live in while I'm busy on othr things (gasp! like housework boo).

My portable-ness is instantly solved by keeping the tape, scissors and stitch markers in my adorable meringue wristlet so I truly can grab and go.

PS: I find that keeping a notebook and pen in the fibre basket means that I'm more likely to note down yarn/needle size/pattern details rather than relying on memory.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

burning the (almost) midnight oil

catching a few moments to paint on some more ACS (art clay silver) slip onto a batch of leaves collected yesterday.

eventually they'll look like this fall front

not quite portable crafting, more like crafting to stay sane in, around and in spite of the family!

Monday, October 13, 2008

gigantic guinea pigs


gigantic guinea pigs, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Congratulations to the more astute among you - this is not a picture of Portable Crafting (unless the capybara are doing something artistic with their toes).

.... but this is the view I had yesterday when I took my knitting out and about for a family expedition around the zoo (also saw lions and tigers and bears but these guys were my favourites).

Just see what you can do when you get out and about to craft!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

nothing new here ......

.... but something useful here, thanks to a very worthwhile blog post.


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"skookumchuk" - miniature flotsam art brooch in wire, glass, freshwater pearls and fibre
available here

Monday, October 6, 2008

wavy shell crochet neckwarmer

The ultimate in portable fibre projects - crochet.

Only one hook to carry, only one stitch to pick up and if you're fast enough, a neck warmer to wear while out and about!

This is a really simple shell crochet pattern, comprising (and I'm speaking UK crochet stitchology here) trebles and doubles in an easy to comprehend pattern.

This scarf is crocheted in bamboo and silk.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

ready to assemble


ready to assemble, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Well ......... the soldering certainly isn't portable but the next stages in the assembly of this ring most definitely have potential for completion on the run (unless you are averse to having grubby fingers).

The soldered bezel needs some more filing to shape it for a close fit onto the ring for the last soldering step. I have some cute and portable needle files for this job.

.... and the body of the ring could do with a preliminary tidy up by rasping the sharp edges.

Both jobs can be accomplished anywhere as long as I grab my portable polishing kit portable polishing kit before heading out (click on the photograph to see the labels).

Sanity is restored while on the move!

 
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