Tuesday, August 31, 2010

SUMMERTIME LIVING!! My last Summer Flower for this season - in Fibers!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers


SUMMERTIME .... and they say the Livin' is easy!!

Well - I am not always so sure, but the Flowers and the Fresh Herbs and Fruit are the best part of SUMMERTIME for me -- and they do make the Livin' easier!!




Big, Bright, Yellow SUNFLOWERS certainly do brighten up one's yard or orchard -- I see them around occasionally!

So I crocheted the one pictured above - I call it HUNGARIAN SUNFLOWER - Hungarian because the original pattern came from a book of Hungarian Thread Crochet I have (I did make a few changes in it [of course!]).

One nice thing about this crocheted SUNFLOWER - it won't wilt away as Summer Fades Away now!!

(CLICK HERE to see my Guide to MY FLOWER DESIGNS IN THREADS!)

Thursday, August 26, 2010

"For The Joy Of The Harvest" -- Handmade Home Decor from Design Style Guide

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers




DESIGN STYLE GUIDE, whom I have mentioned before, is a website of Handmade Home Decor.

I am often surprised when I look through it or search under certain themes.

I have always liked the Harvest Season, so I decided to put together a Treasury on Design Style Guide, "For The Joy Of The Harvest" - some beautiful Handmade Decor depicting the fruits or scenes of the Harvest!!

You can also find Handmade Home Decor by Design Style Guide Artisans on Etsy by searching "designstyleguide".

(The photo above is clickable and goes to this Treasury, which is Temporary - through 08/31/2010. There are always various Treasuries on Design Style Guide!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Something A Little New in FALL COLORS!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers






This is a Trinket in Thread Crochet I worked up - Leaves in Sunset Ombre Thread with Fudge Brown for the edging.

Another "Inspired by Nature" piece.

A whole set to be coming up for sale this Fall!!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

New Piece of FLORAL HANDMADE HOME DECOR - in Celtic Woven Crochet

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers


One of my favorite techniques to Crochet in is Celtic Woven Crochet.

Here is a new piece of Handmade Home Decor made with this technique:




Having studied and done a fair amount of Irish Crochet, which is a type of Celtic art and/or craft, I feel that I can say that this Celtic Woven Crochet is exactly as the name says -- it is Celtic Crochet, or what is most commonly known as Irish Crochet style or method, pieces that are then woven together as layers to create a design -- and these designs I have are reversible!

It is a little more complicated than your average Crochet -- but I think it is a lot of fun and I like doing it all kinds of Colors - Contrasting and Complimentary!

This piece is done in 2 shades of Green (representing the plant and stems) -- and Bright Pink and Purple for the Flower petals! Quite colorful - typical in some Celtic art!!

Crocheted onto an Embriodery Hoop with a Crocheted Braid Loop, it is all ready for hanging, as shown in this photo in a small tree in my front yard:






Another Celtic Woven Crochet design - this time with a Star is here:



(Click on the pictures to go to my Etsy Shop listings for these items!!)

-- And Thansk to Annie's Attic for their books on Celtic Woven Crochet!!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

ARTISAN FEATURE: TURQUOISE AND WHITE WREATH from RHODY on Etsy

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers




Featured: A Hand-Crocheted Wreath by RHODY on Etsy!




This is a short Feature of a piece of Handmade Home Decor that I have been admiring for some time!!

Jan of RHODY on Etsy has been making these wreaths - they are Hand-Crocheted with large 3-dimensional Roses and other decorations!

This one caught my eye because the color is so "Summer-y" -- and I love the little bird nests!!

You can find a whole collection of these Wreaths in the Crochet Wreaths Section of Rhody's Etsy shop!!

Enjoy!

Monday, August 9, 2010

The WILD FIELDS of the east Antelope Valley

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers


Looking SOUTH, to the San Gabriel Mountains, this is a view you will see between 123rd East and 126th East - in the Antelope Valley!




On the edge of the desert, in the Foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, this is the Southeast Corner of this rather large valley as you will see it in the Summer!!

Driving East on some of the major roads in the Southeast, such as Pearblossom Highway or Avenue T, you will see a lot of Wild Fields such as in the above photo!! This particular view is what I call a "lucky" view -- here you will find only a sprinkling of houses in Wild Fields - between the spot where I stood and the San Gabriels Mountains!!


Following is a series of closeups of some of the Wild Flowers you find in these Wild Fields - after we get some rain!!

And, sometimes, as I walk along, I will see a Road Runner, a white-tailed Rabbit -- or a Squirrel --- or looking up, a cawing Raven or a circling Hawk or Eagle (I can't tell down from down on Earth)!










Yes - I am lucky, I feel -- for right in my little town, I can go for walks amongst still wild lands, even if they are only fragments - they are still wild - and I Love It!! I always love to quote Aldo Leopold -- from his book, A Sand County Almanac, "There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot. These essays are the delights and dilemmas of one who cannot."

Though my blog cannot compare to Aldo Leopold's writings, same for me and my blog!! I cannot live without wild things!!!

(One of these days some of these views are going to end up in my Designs In Fiber -- I just know it -- my contribution to "Nature In Art"!)

New Feature on My Blog -- GUIDES TO MY HANDMADE FINISHED PRODUCTS

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers





I do "HANDMADE" - for a variety of reasons!!

-- I like making the things I make - right now Crocheted and Knitted - all kind sof things!!

Most of my items are One-of-A-Kind!!

They can't be any other way, because even if I do a pattern or design a second or third time, I can't guarantee that I will have the exact same materials -- or that after I have made it, it will come out exactly the same size! Just a factor in "Hand-making"!! At least in Crocheting and Knitting, though I can do a Custom Order to specifications!

-- Besides, I like to do different patterns and designs -- for variety - for the challenge of trying something new - for the pure joy of figuring out a new design or color patterns!!

So, I decided, in the interest of making my HANDMADE Items more readily availabe to look at or find on the Internet --

-- I have now put a Link Box with the Blog Posts of "GUIDES TO MY HANDMADE FINISHED PRODUCTS" in the right-hand sidebar - the second Box.

These Guides will be current to within a couple of days. New items for a GUIDE will be added -- Items that have been Sold or Removed from an Online Shop will be taken out.

Please Remember -- if you see something and would like it done in a different Color or Size or Fiber --- or would like something similar, but somehow different, Contact Me - either PRIVATELY or through my Etsy Shop.

-- And Thank You to all my Customers of my HANDMADE items over the years!! You are appreciated -- and I aim to please and make what Customers need and want!!

Sunday, August 8, 2010

GUIDE to My FLOWER DESIGNS in THREADS

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Designs on ARTFIRE and ETSY


It has been about 7 years now since I started Crocheting with different Threads -- and some of my favorite designs to Crochet have been of FLOWERS!!

I like all Nature themes -- but colorful FLOWERS are just about my favorite to do -- and others seem to like them a lot, too!!

Here is a Video of My FLOWER DESIGNS in THREADS!!








Some of these Designs have Sold -- Some listed below are available for Sale in my Etsy Shop and Artfire Studio now!! I also do Special Requests or Custom Orders, either Privately - or through my Etsy Shop or Artfire Studio .

1. 3D WATER LILY ON GREEN DOILY
2. RED FLOWERS IN GREEN AND WHITE HOLIDAY DECOR
3. 3D PINK ROSES IN WHITE IRISH LACE
4. GARNET FLOWERS IN EVERGREEN DOILY OR CENTERPIECE
5. PURPLE PANSY FINE ART DOILY
6. 3D ORANGE YELLOW FLOWERS in TAN LACE Centerpiece
7. 3D ROSES and SHAMROCKS Doily
8. FLORAL ROUND on WHITE LACE Doily
9. Ornate Lily Flower Bloom - Vintage Style Filet Crochet Art
10. Filet Crochet Art - FLOWER - Evening Primrose
11. Yellow FLOWERS in GREEN Beaded Trinkets
12. GREEN LEAVES Beaded Trinkets
13. YELLOW FLOWERS in GREEN Doily or Centerpiece
14. Pink FLOWERS in BRUGES LACE Oval Trinket
15. CELTIC GARDEN Wall Decor, Ornament or Suncatcher
16. HUNGARIAN SUNFLOWER DOILY OR CENTERPIECE
17. BLUE ROSEMARY HERB BLOOM COASTERS OR TRINKET DOILIES
18. VALENTINE HEARTS AND FLOWERS TABLE RUNNER
19. WOVEN CELTIC PURPLE FLOWER DOILY
20. Yellow and Red 3D Autumn Flower Doily - Fiber Art Crochet
21. Irish Crochet Red Roses and Green Leaves Keychain


ALSO - see My FLOWER DESIGNS in THREADS that have SOLD!!

AND - for an even greater variety of MY FLOWER DESIGNS in THREADS - See My Public Photo Gallery of 3D FLOWER THREAD CROCHET!!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

VIDEO - GUIDE TO MY ECO-FRIENDLY HANDMADE BAGS AND BASKETS

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





I Crochet and Knit Handmade BAGS and BASKETS -- here is a Video of them!

All One-of-A-Kind!!

You can find some I made and sold in my Etsy Shop -- or Email me about a request for a Custom Order Privately Here .


Here is a List of the Handmade Bags and Baskets I have made ---


BAGS:
1. Red and White SHOULDER BAG or TOTE
2. Multi-Color Shell SHOULDER BAG
3. POINSETTIA FLOWER Small TOTE BAG
4. Crocheted White Lace BAG with Silver Accents
5. AMERICANA Pouch
6. Christmas Berry POUCH or BAG
7. Blue Striped Drawstring POUCH or BAG
8. LIGHT BLUE TWEED DOUBLE-THICK LAPTOP SOCK OR SLEEVE


BASKETS:
1. Blue and White Hand-Crocheted Lace BASKET or BOWL
3. Bands of Fall Colors MINI-BASKET
4. Woven Blues BASKET SET
5. Red Gingham POTHOLDER and BASKET SET
6. Red and Green Graphic BASKET SET
7. Fall Color Basket in Wavy Woven Crochet - Primitive Style

Here are a few Photos:



Crocheted Blue Striped Pouch


Cotton Yarn Basket in Fall Colors: Orange, Sage Green, Tan, Ecru

Emerald Green and Burgundy Red Basket - Crocheted in Geometric Spike Stitch

YES!!  ALL HANDMADE BY RSS DESIGNS IN FIBER !!!