Thursday, June 7, 2012

Jake's Dream

We went to an extended family get-together and our 2-year-old was enchanted by the sweet golden retriever.
 
I was sad to learn that the sweet dog’s days were numbered.  I offered to brush him and make a keepsake for the family, and they loved the idea. I brushed out some underfluff and also trimmed (ok, stole) his tail. I spun his underfluff into soft 2-ply thread on a spindle and knit some of it into a tiny sweater.
The tail hair was pretty coarse. I spun it into a thick yarn, also on a spindle, and I took my time deciding what to do with it and finally decided to do a dreamcatcher.  I used the thick tail yarn to wrap the brass circle, and I wove the web with the thread. Finally, I crocheted three motifs (a heart and a flower from the thread, and a flower from the thick yarn) and connected everything, using a short spiral friendship bracelet-type cord (knotted from the tail yarn) between the dreamcatcher and the large crocheted motif. The big circle is 8 inches in diameter.
 I am really happy with this piece, and I hope it brings some comfort to the dog's family.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Frond

Frond - noun
1. The leaf of a fern.
2. A large compound leaf of a palm.
3. A leaflike thallus, as of a seaweed or lichen. 
 
I dyed this BFL and needle felted the cut end together. I want to make a piece of jewelry out of it, but I haven't decided whether I want it to be a necklace (with the frond hanging down) or a bracelet or ring (with the frond pointing up). I love it already, though. :)