New Bright Sunny Fine Crochet Art Piece

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Get My Handmade Designs on Artfire or Bonanza or Privately

I love working in COLORS in my Crochet - actually Multiple Colors - and this newly finished piece, ORANGE AND YELLOW 21 INCH ROUND DECORATIVE TABLE MAT, is an example of what I mean!

The 30+ Rounds of this Hand-Crocheted piece are done in 3 Colors, with contrasting colors in different sections -- and if you sort of step back and look at it -- it gives off the Bright Colors of a SUNBURST!!

It is done in:

 -- Sunset Ombre (Yellow, Orange, White Variegated)

 -- Bright Orange

 -- Banana Yellow!

Some call this "COLORWORK CROCHET", because it has different rounds or sections arranged in different colors!!

It will really add some Sunny brightness to whatever Space it is in, which is the whole idea!!

For other Crocheters, the pattern came from an out-of-print Magic Crochet Magazine I bought used online.

For Spring - Clovers (Shamrocks), Flowers, Animals

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE 


SPRING is just around the corner and I am glad -- though I appreciate all the Seasons, the cold of winter is always a little discouraging - even though here in the High Desert of Southern California it doesn't get as cold as in other places.  But it still gets below freezing and some plants don't grow then -- though my Rosemary plant (several years old now) is still blooming with the little light blue flowers like I crocheted in this small crochet design!!

Rosemary Bloom Coaster Doily - Floral Crocheted Lace

But today is the First Day of March and in a few days it will officially be Spring according to the calendar (though last June we still had a frost here - you go figure!) -- and I am looking forward to all the Spring Flowers and Growth - like the 3-Leaf Clovers I crocheted in these two pieces!

3-LEAF CLOVERS INSIDE A BRUGES LACE OVAL

Round Doily Featuring 3-Leaf Clovers and Yellow Flowers

And then - there are these 4-Leaf Clover Coaster-Size Squares - the 4-Leaf Clovers are supposed to be LUCKY -- and really do exist, though rarely according to what I have read.

4-LEAF CLOVER SQUARE COASTER SET OF 2

 --  And, FLOWERS -- I do a lot of them in my Designs In Fiber -- but here are two that are particularly for SPRING!

Yellow Flowers in Green Lace - Crocheted Lace Doily

GARDEN HANGING - CELTIC WOVEN CROCHET FLOWERS

 -- And, soon, we will have Baby Rabbits and other small wildlife (like California Ground Squirrels) running around the fields here in the High Desert - I see them all over - even in the cities - they are often either under bushes or running through them!

FILET CROCHET COTTONTAIL RABBIT IN A BUSH

So-o-o -- Now you have seen my little "Gallery" of Designs In Fiber --My CELEBRATION OF SPRING this year -- but, as always, more DESIGNS INSPIRED BY NATURE will be showing up in my Shops and here on my Blog.  I have four FLOWER Projects and one BIRD Project that are "Works In Progress" (These are for SPRING and SUMMER) -but depending on what Custom Orders I get, I will get to them as I can!!

  

I always seem to have more "designs in my head" than I can get done each Season!

HEARTS and FLOWERS Make For Romantic Table Decor - For Valentine's Day?

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Get My Handmade Designs on Bonanza -- or Privately

This HEARTS and FLOWERS Table Runner has gotten around quite a bit these last few weeks!!

It took it out of this pattern I have of a Tablecloth --a section of it -- I thought that this idea of Flowers  on each side of Hearts made a nice theme - Romantic!

Of course, I did it in a somewhat brighter color palette of Wild Rose and Garnet Red (rather than the typical White and/or Pale Pink)!  I tend to like brighter Table Decor Accessories!!

I thought ..... well, maybe someone would like it for a Romantic Dinner, whether it was for  a specific occasion or not -- or someone might want it for a Valentine's Day Table -- or a Wedding!!

Possibly this Coaster and Napkin Ring Set would go with it:

Multi-Layer Roses on Napkin Rings and Coasters

Or this Irish Crochet Heart with Three Roses inside it - crocheted in the exact same threads as the "Hearts and Flowers Table Runner"!!

I am actually a hopeless Romantic -- and I love making Flowers and Hearts!!

Having a Happy - Handmade - Holiday!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Get My Handmade Designs on Bonanza --- or Privately

-- Some Handmade Holiday Items I have made --

This time of year has a lot of Holidays in it -- of a lot of "persuasions" or religions.

So, there has always been a lot of Holiday things going on in December all my life!

 ~~ And, not surprising to those who have known me -- most of them have something HANDMADE in them!!

I have always made things myself -- so many things, I can barely remember!  My parents saved the Hand-drawn cards I use to make them for different occasions.  I also use to make some Gifts -- or buy Handmade -- like things made in Wood or Pottery or Glass.

It seems, Happily, that HANDMADE had always been a part of my life!!!

No great surprise either, that I am not involved in Communities of people who do HANDMADE!! 

By this time in December, either people are doing rushed last-minute shopping or are making their last-minute preparations for their Holiday celebrations.

My Recommendation -- put something HANDMADE IN YOUR HOLIDAYS -- you might be surprised at the Joy and Fun of it!!

Check some of the Blogs in my Blog Roll (lower right sidebar) for some ideas from some of my Art & Crafts friends!!

Or Check Out These Sites!!

It's Better Handmade

The Handmade Place

It'a A Handmade World

Bella Crochet (patterns)

Design Style Guide Community

In Any Case -- have a very enjoyable Holiday Season -- whatever you are Celebrating!!

THANKS - And A Voice For Peace

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

Bird of Peace Hoop Pendant Necklace by RSS Designs In Fiber

As I was out doing some things this week - before Thanksgiving Day -- and hearing and seeing the news about some happenings in the world, I was thinking.

I have a lot to be thankful for -- throughout my life -- so many things and quite a variety -- that I won't be listing them all.

The one thing that was on my mind a lot was:  PEACE.

Yes, for me -- but much more than that, for all the world.

I feel the need for it -- and I am sorry for the lack of it in some places.

So, the above piece of Fiber Art - with the Bird of Peace - A Bird Flying With An Olive Branch - a long-time traditional Symbol of Peace and Well-Being In the World -- is a way I find to express my feelings.

But sometimes in your life, you find others - A Personal Friend, A Writer, An Artist who expresses how you feel deeply - most likely better than you ever would in the same way.

Well, I "stumbled upon" one -- a long time ago -- he was another College student at the University of Illinois in 1969 through 1971 -- but while I listened in the audience or at friendly gatherings, he sang and played.  Time showed that somehow his writing - both the music and the songs - would continue over the years to sometimes so exactly express my own feelings on things, that it was a little uncanny at times.  We had each gone on with our own lives, but I knew how he felt about Peace back then, so when I heard this song off his album, "River of Souls" - I was not surprised and, again, felt like he expressed with words, music and emotion - how I felt.

"A Voice For Peace" by Dan Fogelberg, copyright 1993 Sacred Circle Music 

You know that everybody has a voice

And how they use it is their own free choice

But in your glory I will not rejoice

If you choose the way of war

If you choose the way of war

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust

My country 'tis of thee; in God we trust

But how much longer will he shelter us

While we choose the ways of war

While the winds of war range on

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

The good book tells us thou shalt not kill

The truth came shining and it's shining still

But how much blood upon this earth must spill

Before we lay our weapons down

Let us lay our weapons down

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

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

And in the face of the beast

Oh let mine be a voice

Until the breaths in me cease

Oh let mine be a voice for peace

Raise your voice up

Raise your voice up

Raise your voice up and sing for the promise of peace...

You can buy this song and listen to it HERE.

On his 4-CD Set, PORTRAIT, in the notes for this song, Dan Fogelberg is quoted:  "A very authentic song written after the Gulf War broke out.  As I stated on the 'River of Souls' album, there will always be better ways than destruction to settle our differences."

This is really not political for me -- this is about LIFE -- and how I feel about it for all of us!!

So, this Thanksgiving - I Give Thanks - and - I Raise My Voice For The Promise of PEACE !!

Updated Oct. 22, 2015 With a New Bird of Peace Hanging online - my sentiments remain the same now as they were when I wrote this!!  Ruth Sandra Sperling

Beads Making The Design in Thread Crochet

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

Incorporating beads - actually Crocheting them in - is one of the ways I add some Color and Sparkle or Light to some of my Thread Crochet.

In a few cases - like this one I am working on now -- and one I did several years ago -- crocheting beads in the center part of the Thread Crochet, as well as in the Crochet Stitches to add sparkle, is part of actually making the Design in the piece.

Above is a closeup of the current piece I am working on (a Work-In-Progress) - yes, there is a design formed by different stitches - and some open stitches and tight closer stitches - but the Green Beads on the Garnet Red Thread stand out as the main design.

With the stitches - open lace areas and more solid tightly stitched areas -- and the Green Beads actually in spaces inside the stitches - you get the "picture" of a Red "Flower" with Red and Green "Leaves" around it -- of course, when you see the final piece with more Green Beads around the edge -- some actually in the shape of leaves -- the whole idea comes together (finished full piece soon to come).

This pattern - which is a type of Beaded Crochet - came from a magazine I have (no specific designer named) -- but it has given me some ideas for some other pieces to do with Beads.

Having had a few inquiries and requests about Beaded Crochet pieces, I will be spending a bit more time making some now - using them both on the edges and in the pieces as part of the design.

Here are Photos of a piece I made several years ago and Sold - both a Closeup and a Full Photo.  It has darker Navy Blue Beads crocheted into the design in the Pure White Thread Doily - as well as more Beads on the edge. 

I think overall that contrasting colored Beads inside a crocheted piece create a nice more Graphic and somewhat Textured effect.  

I do try to leave the very center flat, without Beads, though, because even though I consider this Crochet Art or Fiber Art --- many people, if they use such a piece on a Table, will want to be able to put Vases or Bowls or Figurines on them!

This is different from the way I have usually put Beads on my Thread Crochet - as I discussed in this blog post from December 2009:  "Adding SPARKLE with GLASS BEADS" !