Friday, July 25, 2014

Holiday Red Flower Thread Crochet Centerpiece Completed to 21 Inches!

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


Holiday Red Flower Thread Crochet Centerpiece

Well - it has been a bit of a project for me - I originally blogged about my project to "Make It Bigger" - I took a finely crocheted 12 Inch piece, tripled the number of flowers in it and added more outer rounds - with a finished piece of 21 Inches in diameter!!

Made 100% with lustrous DMC Pearl Cotton Thread - and I used very fine Size 12 Pearl Cotton - with a small steel crochet hook to get a finely detailed, tightly crocheted piece with rounds arranged in contrasting colors, as well as different stitches, to bring out a beautiful design!!

I did complete the ring of 32 flowers on the outer ring (which I had added and figured out) - bringing the total number of flowers in this piece to 48!

With other Handmade projects to do - and I always have more ideas or designs or projects in my head than I have time for it seems - and complete - it has been a bit of a journey to complete this and get it up for all to see!

I love the way the design is with different rounds - or sections of rounds - in the contrasting Red, Green and White!

Enjoy!!

Monday, July 7, 2014

Fond Summer Memories -- "Let It Shine!" - Sharing "Greetings From The West" Dan Fogelberg Live

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


Other than times spent in the Wild or Nature Parks or Under Trees, some of my fondest Summer Memories are of the Music Concerts I went to - and some of my favorites were of Solo Artists I liked, like DAN FOGELBERG.

Why focus on DAN FOGELBERG?  Well, if DAN FOGELBERG's music is the kind you like, then you might think I am somewhat a lucky one.  It was the night before classes started our Freshman year (yes -our - he and I were both Freshman Sept. 1969) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign that I first heard him sing at the Red Herring Coffee House with a friend of his - it was lots of fun and very funny and I never forgot it for some reason - I guess it was the vocals, his and his friend's voices - and their camaraderie between them and the folks there - little did I know that it was the very start of wonderful times to last until -- well, even now in some ways!

It was a year later - September 1970 - that the Red Herring Coffee House became the "heart" of my social life at the U of I - where I made friendships that have lasted to this day.

Part of those days at the Red Herring was listening to the live music of the variety of musicians who played and sang there - some were songwriters and sang their own songs - some sang various different songs.  I loved it - it was a time of exploration in different way for many of us - and watching some of the musicians write and figure out their songs and music was special.

And one of those musicians starting to write - and sing their own songs - was, yes, DAN FOGELBERG.  (He mentions those days in Interviews - and they are mentioned in his FULL BIOGRAPHY.)

So-o-o, I've been listening to his music since those days when he first started writing - and I have to say - it is his own music and his own singing that I enjoyed - then - and in a number of the Summer Concerts that he did over the years and I went to - and still enjoy now!

One of the Concerts I went to was the Concert that was recorded for his Live DVD, "Greetings From The West" - though I went to the one in Los Angeles, CA (The Greek Theatre - outdoors - and I still remember it!).

Maybe you have some of DAN FOGELBERG's albums?  Or you heard songs of his that you liked on the radio - or somewhere?  But if you want to really hear DAN FOGELBERG - and also hear what he himself has to say about some things in life - and how he felt - watch:

DAN FOGELBERG LIVE



He ends this Concert on the DVD (which he himself was involved in producing) - with his song, "There's A Place In The World For a Gambler" from his second album, "Souvenirs".

Like he sings:

"There's a light in the depths of your darkness 
There's a calm at the eye of every storm 
There's a light in the depths of your darkness 
Let it shine...oh, let it shine 
Let it shine...oh, let it shine 
Let it shine...oh, let it shine 
Let it shine ...."

Quoting DAN FOGELBERG from the DVD Album Cover:
"Every song that I write comes from my own personal experience.  I believe the role of an artist is to interpret reality through a system of beliefs and a long-term seeking of truth, in your own life and in the world at large.  To be entertaining and continue to write good music over a lifetime and sustain an audience that still comes to hear not just the old but the new ... that's what keeps me going."

.... And I, for one, kept listening!!

Well --  Have a great summer!  Find some things to Enjoy .....  Maybe some Music??!!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

New Design for Handmade Hanging Pot Holder - with Tunisian Crochet

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


Kitchen Hanging Potholders in Berry Colors


I learned how to do the Basic Tunisian Crochet - and when I did it with an Ombre (or Variegated) Yarn, I found out the beautiful look that resulted - Abstract, but I loved it!

So-o-o, I decided to use it to make some Centers for Pot Holders and other Decor - and the set above was my first project that I did and listed online.

Below is a Closeup of the Tunisian Crochet Center for the Pot Holder on the right in the Above Photo!

Closeup of Tunisian Crochet Center for Hanging Pot Holder in Berry Colors
Around the Tunisian Crochet Center are rounds in Colors that fit:  Mauve Purple and the Winterberry Ombre and White.

Tunisian Crochet Basic, done tightly, with an Afghan Crochet Hook that makes tight stitches with the Yarn or Thread you are working with, results in a rather dense, tight Solid Fabric.  I crocheted it that way intentionally - I wanted a Tight, Dense fabric that would result in a fabric thick enough to be Protective for picking up Hot Pots or Dishes!

I moved on to my next project using Tunisian Crochet to make Pot Holders with a Yarn in different shades of one Color - Yellow - mixed in with White -- it is called "Daisy Ombre" by Peaches and Creme (though it is a discontinued Color now).

Yellow Hanging Pot Holder Set with Tunisian Crochet Center

It is a little different with this kind of Colored Ombre Yarn, as the Colors are really Analogous, making a more Monochromatic Color Theme - but enough of a difference from the White to the Darker Yellow to create a design.  I really like this one, too!

Here is the Closeup of the Tunisian Crochet Center for this Pot Holder design:

Closeup of Tunisian Crochet Center of Yellow Daisy Ombre Yarn Hanging Pot Holder

I thought that these Yellow "Daisy Ombre" Pot Holders would fit well in a Kitchen where Yellow is either a Main Color in the decorating theme - or an Accent Color.  From what I have heard from different people - Yellow is often a color in Kitchens (I think)!

A New Crochet Technique incorporated into making my Handmade Decor to add more variety to what I make - I like the "Abstract Design" that results!

There is one thing, though - Tunisian Crochet does not look the same on the back - so I've included a picture below of the BACK of the Yellow Daisy Ombre Pot Holders - the back of the Closeup above, so you can see how it looks - which I also like!

Back of Yellow Daisy Ombre Pot Holder with Tunisian Crochet Center






My Artfire Collection for Four-Footed Friends

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


I don't know about you, but I've had a lot of "Four-Footed Friends" in my life - here's my Tribute to them with Arts and Crafts picturing a variety of them!!




DOGS, CATS FOR SURE! - BUT ALSO:  HORSES, BEARS, RACCOON, RABBIT, MOOSE!!

Tame Pets -- and some from the Wild, which I just love seeing!!


Friday, June 6, 2014

What Are You Doing For Good Summer Days??

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on Artfire and Etsy and Bonanza


Well, It Is Almost SUMMER!  For most School-age Kids, it is a time of more Fun and, possibly, more Freedom than when in School - for many Adults, it is a time for outside Family Fun or Warm-Weather Vacations!!

Here is a "2014 Summer Fun-zine From Our Hands To Yours" published by Blue Morning Expressions (a friend, Julie Cleveland) - with a Selection of Handmade - including Summer Recipes - From Independent Artists, Designers and Vintage Sellers!




I , as RSS Designs In Fiber, am in this on Page 20 with a few pieces of Handmade I am selling (see below too) - along with a Recipe for my favorite Summer Salad!

You might have a fun time looking through this zine - seeing what the 34 Artisans contributed!

Here is some of my own "Summer Fun" Handmade - the first 3 are featured in the above "Summer Fun-zine" ~~~

Decor For Some July 4th Fun!!

Symbolizing Beach or Ocean Fun - "Diving Dolphin"

In A Mixture of Greens - A Set of Cotton Pot Holders To Keep Your Summer Fun Safe!

A Bright Red and White All Cotton Sun Hat and Tote For Summer Fun Outings!

Americana Design Lace Bag To Use On July 4th - Or Whenever You Want To Look Patriotic

I have fond memories of a lot of the SUMMERS in my life - and HANDMADE had been a part of those memories going back almost as far as I can remember.

I wish All Real "Summer Fun" - maybe they do their own HANDMADE, maybe they like and get some of the HANDMADE that I - or other Artisans - make and sell --- which ever you choose - maybe the Creativity in HANDMADE can make your life BETTER!

Friday, May 23, 2014

Time to Gradually Re-Open My Etsy Shop

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on Bonanza and ETSY and On Fire For Handmade Gift Guide - or Email for a Private Order


Lace Pink Round Coaster Set of 2 with 3D Burgundy Red Crocheted Rose
Pink and Burgundy Red Napkin Rings with 3D Burgundy Red Rose

For those of you who have been reading this blog of mine, they may remember the days when I was selling on Etsy!

Went through some Life Changes in 2012 - and everything I had to sell online was in my Artfire Studio for some time - but now it is finally time to re-join some of my friends on Etsy - including the Interior Design Style people (in an Etsy Team) - and other Handmade Artisans that I have networked with for years!

The first 4 listings that I have started the Re-opening with include the Coaster and Napkin Ring set pictured above - and the other photos below - both in Thread Crochet and Yarn.

All Online Venues for Selling - including Handmade - go through changes - and Etsy has gone through its share of changes since my Etsy Shop was active, including an About Page, which I did for my Etsy Shop!

Over the next few days, I will be adding MORE listings, so I actually have a Shop there again!!

Ah-h-h - the Changes of Life, but I am looking forward to interacting and networking with some of my Handmade friends on Etsy - including some amazing Artisans of Decor from Interior Design Style (formerly Design Style Guide) - and a number of Crochet Artists who I am still friends with on Facebook!!

So, if you're looking for something you've seen that I've made - look on ETSY - or Bonanza - or for links on this blog - to see where it is!




Double Ruffle Yellow and Orange Field of Flowers Thread Crochet Art Doily



Purple and Black Flower Crochet Brooch or Applique with Lavender Beading



Desert Sands Basket and Mat Decor Set