Handmade For Valentine's Day By RSS Designs In Fiber

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Get My Handmade in my Etsy Shop -- or Privately

I've been crocheting for Valentine's Day since I started doing Thread and Yarn Crochet and Knitting to Sell - about 17-18 years ago - like the Fiesta Red Irish Crochet Heart with White Pearls - a Beaded Crochet Heart - that is in my Etsy Shop!

But this Year I was inspired to do more by Cathy Morgan of Crafting Memories when she sponsored a "Valentine Crochet Along or Knitting Along" on her Blog!  

~~~ I made 3 new projects!  All in my RSS Designs In Fiber Etsy Shop! ~~~

1. Hearts Cluny Crochet Lace Doily

2. Red and Pink Ladies Hat For Winter - Nice Valentine Hat!

3. Handmade Reusable Cotton Red and White Cup Cozies

Thank You to Cathy Morgan of Crafting Memories for the inspiration to get these Red and Pink / Red and White Handmade pieces done - nice for Valentine's Day - or when Red with either Pink or White is the right Handmade for you!

The 3 projects above are in the "Crafting Memories KAL / CAL" Link Up!  #cmkalcal2020

~~~ For more Valentine-themed Handmade, see my "Hearts and Romance" Section of my Etsy Shop!

Happy Thanksgiving 2019 - Thankful for the Rain and Snow in Southern California Today!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Get My Handmade in my Etsy Shop -- or Privately

This Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, 2019 was a little different in the High Desert of Southern California where I live!  I woke up to a lawn and yard covered in that white stuff - SNOW!!!

Actually, I was thrilled!  

We need precipitation in Southern California - the forecast was for rain, but I had heard on the news Tuesday night that the snow level could drop to the 2000 foot level in Southern California -- and according to the NOAA, where I live in Quartz Hill is at the Elevation of 2513 ft.! ~~~ I figure that if we are getting this much snow, that the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Bernadino Mountains of Southern California will have 1-2 feet of snow -- and snowpack this winter --- and also that the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, which is a major indicator for the whole state of California will have some feet of snow -- and good snowpack for this winter, which makes me shout WooHoo!!!

It is about 8 PM -- and my yard is still white - covered with snow - and can't but wonder how long it will last.  The NOAA forecast for my location tonight is for a low of 32 - with Wind Chill Factor Factors at 20 - so I expect I will wake up to some snow Friday Morning with the Wind Chill Factor below freezing until 11AM or Noon - but with a high of 44, it may all be melted by Friday afternoon.

Decided I had to take some pictures of my yard - front and back - so, here they are!

This is my Back Yard today -- Behind my building where I live is a little Urban Forest that I love!

-- And I took a closeup of the tree in the right of the above photo to clearly show the snow on the branches:

My building (not the one showing in the photo - it is the building to the right) has an Apple Tree (where I picked Apples this late Summer/Fall) - and here it is covered with Snow!!!

And here is the Pine Tree right in front of my apartment - with snow on it:

And -- it snowed on my Rosemary Plant in my little container garden in my assigned Flower bed outside my apartment!!!  Got this photo, but it is a little blurry -- I did not want to go out waking in the snow, so I took the picture through my apartment window (the grid showing over the photo I think is the window glass registering on my photo).  I think the snow is very good for it, as it is an Evergreen Leaf Plant -- and it is a Mediterranean climate plant - and that climate has wet winters - so  this snow is good for the ecosystem I live in - including for the Biodiversity here!!!  (Forests here in California are in the California Floristic Province, a Biodiversity Hotspot !)

So, I am very Happy this Thanksgiving - I'm enjoying staying home and watching the snow - and snow fall outside my apartment!!!

Fall Leaves TableTop Decor - Handmade By RSS Designs In Fiber

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Get My Handmade in my Etsy Shop -- or Privately

My Whole Life I have loved Nature -- and some of the most beautiful are the turning Leaves in Fall in a riot of colors: Golden Yellow and Orange and Orange Reds and Coppery Reds and Browns.  Growing up in the Midwest USA, I loved seeing all the lovely colors in the Trees every Fall Season!

So-o-o, it is not surprising that Leaves in colors they turn in Fall ended up in my Handmade Crochet!

My newest Crochet Creation is this Table Runner with a Square Center with Irish Crochet Leaves in Fall Colors - Border with a Dark Brown - with Crocheted Chevrons on 2 sides echoing the colors in the Square .... 20 Inches Long by 9 Inches Wide:

Here is a matching set of Crochet Coasters (or small decorative Coasters) - with 2 shaped as Maple Leaves and 2 shaped as Oak Leaves .....

.... And here is a 14 Inch Square with Solid Orange Irish Crochet Leaves - 8 of them - "Openwork Crochet", where your furniture or table cloths show through.

These are 2 Crochet Designs that I sold in my Etsy Shop with Crocheted Fall Leaves ... email me if you would like to request them in a Custom Order.

Fall Colors Handmade Decor - with Orange In It - By RSS Designs In Fiber

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Get My Handmade in my Etsy Shop -- or Privately

Handmade I've Made At RSS Designs In Fiber That Has Orange In It!

This is a Made-To-Order Etsy Listing for this Set of 5 Pumpkin Coasters - You can also email me to get a different set of these Pumpkin Coasters

This is a Made-To-Order Etsy Listing for this Set of 2 Orange and Cream Tweed Potholders - For a Set of more of these Potholders, email me for a Custom Order.

Orange and Browns Potholder Set of 2 - Handmade By Ruth Sandra Sperling at RSS Designs In Fiber

Yellow and Orange Lace Art Mug --
With Photo of Lace by RuthSandraSperling

Wishing For Peace On Another Time I Will Never Forget

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber

Wishing For Peace Always!!!

Ever since I was a little girl, growing up in a Family that did not believe in violence as a solution for anything - there were always times in our lives when I was taught "Never Forget".

And throughout my life - more times to "Never Forget" got added.  They were always times of some kind of violence and destruction and incredible sadness.

And for me - Always times to Wish For Peace !!

Above is a Photo of a Crocheted Picture of a Dove carrying an Olive Branch - traditionally a "Bird of Peace" - that I made.

So, today - on 9/11/2019 - I have decided to again speak out for Peace !!

On Nov. 25, 2011, I wrote a blog post:

" THANKS - And A Voice For Peace", where I quoted a song written by Singer / Songwriter, Dan Fogelberg -- and here is just a few lines from the chorus of that song, "A Voice For Peace":

"Let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace

Oh let mime (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace

Let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace

Let it start here with me

Oh let mine be a voice for peace"

So-o-o, let me say on this day, 9/11/2019, another day to "Never Forget" --

Never, Never Forget to Wish, Voice and Act for Peace!!!

My Handmade That Sparkles - With Beads or Metallic Fibers

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Get My Handmade in my Etsy Shop -- or Privately

Since the mid-2000's I've been doing Artistic Fine Thread Crochet -- and somewhere along the way I discovered a way to add accents to this crochet by crocheting in different kinds of Beads and Metallic Fibers!!  

There are both Decor pieces - and Personal Accessories - some could be either!

Nice for Holidays -- or just for personal celebrations - the Sparkle from Beads or Metallic Threads add something special to these Handmade items!

Here they ones available in  my RSS Designs In Fiber Etsy Shop as of today.

The First Section is the Beaded Ones.

This is my most recent completed project - a White Irish Crochet Heart made with DMC Pearl Cotton and Small White Pearl Beads:

--- And matches this White 3D Rose Doily with Pearl Beads inside each 3D Rose:

A Bright Fiesta Red Irish Crochet Heart with White Pearl Beads:

A Deep Garnet Red Irish Crochet Heart with Red Beads:

A Purple 3D Irish Crochet Flower Pin or Brooch - or Applique - with Lavender Glass Seed Beads:

Necklace and Earrings Set with Aqua Blue Glass Beads and Pendant:

The Second Section has the Ones with Metallic Fibers - Silver, Gold or Bronze

Sparkling Table Runner crocheted with a Sparkling Metallic White Crochet Thread:

Sparkling 3D Flowers on Tan Lace Table Topper - with Gold Filament:

--- and in this Closeup you can see the Gold Blending Filament on the Thread including the 3D Flower of the above Table Topper:

Set of 2 Red Rose Doilies with Gold Metallic Accents:

--- and here is a closeup where the Gold Metallic shows clearly on the edging of the Red Rose Doily!

A Pictorial Filet Crochet Doily of a Couple Dancing - with Silver Accents on White:

So here are my Handmade pieces with Sparkle!  I did my best to show each piece well in each photo - for a couple of them with Metallic Fibers - I included Closeups that show the Metallic Accents! ~~~ Ruth Sandra Sperling of RSS Designs In Fiber