Wyncia

Shards of Japanese pottery from Kauai: wire wrapped pendants

Here's the collection completed this week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With aventurine and handmade fiber beads. About 2" square. Sold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 With copper wire and hanging brass bird charm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 With seed beads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 With hanging silver spiral.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Made in Japan with glass bead tail. (Sold)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are available at the Muse Gallery in Longmont, CO. Please email me at wynclute@gmail.com for more info.

Butterfly Greeting Cards: Multi-Media

Watercolor lessons and experiments produce plenty of colorful practice sheets. This season I have been creating butterflies for greeting cards. I paint a background onnto the cardstock. The butterflies and catipillars are cut from the practice watercolor sheets. The figures are mounted on vellum that is mounted on the card stock. The muted background set off the insects.

Bwyneth Pocket Scarves

"The indispensable summer accessory..." A scarf, shawl, pocketed thing from colorful up-cycled fabrics. The wearable accessory to have on hand (that means in the car, or back pack) to comfort you when the evening chills, the sun burns, the wind, rios, or the air conditioning at work is freezing.

Sold yet? See Dolly displaying the comforts of the Bwyneth Pocket Scarf.

     

     
That Dolly may be a dummy, but she sure knows how to accessorize. Wasn't it Jackie K (pre-O) who described eternal good taste in dress as, "basic black and Bwyneth Pocket Scarf."

Maker as Model with the muslim of India print, winter 2011.

Need one, for wind, or rain, or fire(as an all purpose accessory for your fire evac to go bag?). Ask me or the illusive Bwyneth at www.bwyneth.com

Braggadocio, I can't help myself!

Hurray! Bwyneth Fiber Arts new product is Love Notes. these are palm sized hearts of felted wool sweaters, each with an embellished slot for love notes of little gifts. Thank you Beth for a lovable design! They made it on the website of Baby Doe's shop.  Take a look!

Friday night out!!!

Well, I am continuing to work on UN, at UN, and for UN...including a new newsletter which you can see here. 

Top sellers of mine this season has been knitted fingerfree gloves. I  leave the palm completely open, so I can pull my thumb out and wash my hands!

My beloved Art Bags, made with layered fabric and papers, have not sold as quickly as I hoped. I have priced these higher than my average about $35 - 40 given that the fabric is created by hand.

 

 Each of these bags has a story poem with it. The one on the right is "Colors of the lake at dusk unlock the secret of sacred being." The blue pinks of the fabric are the shades reflected in a lake as the sun sets. On the front hangs a key and a scarab, sacred being. Too much for a simple bag?

Silk Hanging Honoring the Elements

Earth, Air, Fire, Water...the primary elements of living and being as we know it. 

The Earth - rock, soil, that which is under our feet - grounding.

The Air - breathe, wind, mystical ether of spirit - soaring.

The Fire - flame, heat, passion, destruction - cleansing.

The Water - life-giving, flow, ocean, lake - quenching.

Earth and water - mud and Golem.  Fire and air - consuming sensual passion and stardust. Fire and air - steam and force. Earth, air, fire, and water - Home.

Here is a banner with the Kanji symbols for water (blue), earth (sienna), air (purple, and fire (orange).  The backing material is handmade silk paper.  The symbols are waxed silk fabric. The hanger is beetle chewed pine. 

Earth
 

Air

 

Fire

Water

Namaste, fellow Earthings.

Holiday Fairy Story Ornaments

Truth is fairies like to be a bit illusive.  Oft times I have nearly walked right by Hollia Flower Hands because she-he was hidden in the snowy holly.

 

Hollie Berry shows up where the doves coo. As Rene Marie sang, "When you're feelin' like a cooing dove, ain't nothin' but love."

 

Lady Red Skirt may be hiding in the winter poinsettias. boosting their rouge with her own.

 

Her sister, Prius Fairie, plays at being a hybrid, waving white blossoms around her red skirts. A shade shifter, she may change her colors on a white snowy night.

Autumn leaves provided good hiding spots for Fairy Berry Face.  But he burrows in with Momma Bear when the snow falls.  When she gets up from a winter's nap for a stretch, Berry Face protects her wee cubs who, about as big as he is, are blind and  toothless! 

Flower Face is all ablush with embarrassment when spotted by one of us wingless big folk, but what can he expect being so mixed up: spring flower face, summer leafy cloak, autumn colored wings, and winter berries.  He blends into no season at all.

 

Spruce Berry is an angel.  Really!  If you are very quiet you can hear their singing chorus. Hark!

 

This wee chubby Snow Elf waves from the cross sticks.

 

All the way, way to the south, Madame Sunnia Floress enjoys a summery holiday among the palms and the bananas!

 

Look real close, out doors and in.  Listen with your heart, and I promise you will see a fairy this holiday season!  Namaste, Wyncia

Uniquely Natural Holiday Make-over

It seems like forever since I shared my creations with you. While some folks are busy dreaming up scheme for reality tv - think Balloon Boy and White House Party Crashers - I have been busy with reality!

Really...I was at Sue Lion's Home Show Last weekend and spent much of the week helping with the makeover at Uniquely Natural, the cute and spirited little shop of healing arts and gifts in Lafayette Colorado.

Here's the shop:

 

That's me with the holiday decorations.  I dressed to match the shutters (accidentally) that are left over from when the location was a fly fishing store!

Here are some of the displays.  A new branch (tee hee) is open.  It provides a place for hanging ornaments, medicine bags and such.

Step back and you can see Lelija's tiny canvases to wear or display.  Anyone who loves miniature displays or doll houses would love authentic landscapes to scale!  And Kerry's Bee Works skin care and candles are on the shelves along the walls.

Here is Shaman Soapworks new display.  They are making a nice bar shampoo to help make plastic bottles a thing of the past.  Fill-it-yourself gift baskets are on top and reuseable gift bags at bottom.  To the top right are colorful Pulse Warmers.

 

From crow to wearable art cards to yoga bags, Larry the photographer featured my display.

 

Hand to Hand bags for cell, IPod, keys and means are to the left here.  To the right are Teresa Dunwell's remarkable spirit paintings with prints available below.

 

All in all I would say the shop is looking good and I am finding some time to write again!  Namaste in all seasons and to all beings, Wyncia

Rock Art: Cairnes

Cairns of Hanakapai Beach on Kauai are wafting through my memory as we prepare for a winter storm at my home studio.  I did miss the first big snow storm on the Front Range because I was hiking to this beach.  But that does not mean I am ready for snow! 

Here is the welcome at the trail head. I spotted the sign on my return!

 

Maybe the cairns are thanks to the gods that the builders made it this far.  Though really, the gratitude is for the amazing beauty of the spot.

 

And some cairns...

 

 

 

And the raw materials

Thanks for joining me in reverence. Namaste.
 

Fiber and Color in Kauai

Hey there.  Just a few shots of finished medicine bags and beautiful colors and patterns around the National Tropical Botanical Gardens.

Purples

Reds

Green

White

Orange

Blue

Enjo sacred sight and please send healing energy to Rhonda as she begins a journey of recovery. Namaste.  Wyncia

Aloha Fiber Work and Beaches

I did a bit of sea inspired fiber work.  This medicine bag awaits a sea glass button and a few tiny ocean charms

 

And then we went to a swimable beach.

Seen through a mother tree

From whence hung our hammock

Where rested my tired cliff climbing legs!

Here a plumeria blossom fades away in a lovely pattern

Grandmother Island says some patterns need to be broken, some simply fade away, most hold beauty that is with just for the moment.  Namaste, Wyncia

Twisted (cord)

I am engaged in a never ending search for the perfect cording for my smaller bags.  Colorful parachute cord works well for the straight forward, informal bags.  I want something else for others: more fun for whimsical bags; fancier for dressy bags; and just different for truly boring bags.  This morning I twirled up some yarns and thread to make my own twisted cords.  I started with these

Tied the threads to a chair

 

And began the twisting

Here are some results

 

We all need something different now and then, like the rock and roll song says:

You know you’re a twisty little girl,
You know you twist so fine.

So, shake it up, baby, now,
Twist and shout.
Cmon, cmon, cmon, cmon, baby, now,
Come on and work it on out. 

Recorded by Topnotes, Beatles, Mamas and Papas, and others.

Elephant are Beautiful

Elephants are known for there memory, enduring emotional attachments (we humans call that love), and nurturing motherhood.  These huge creatures are so like us.  They are at times gentle, caring, angry, rampaging, playful, and sad.  Sounds like the average day to me!

The elephant in art is beautiful.  When I dyed and embellished fabrics at Gail Denton's natural dying studio, I chose the elephant stamp for a final flourish on one piece.

Here is a recent secret pocket bag from the fabric. (Sorry, I have already passed ownership to another.)

See how to open the bag.

 

More details

 

And it has a place for your ear phone to exit, if you are packing an ipod!

 

Not too bad, eh?

 

The materials used: hand dyed and printed rayon, cotton print, metallic scarf, handmade fabric beads, bone beads, gold paint and pigment, gold filigree ornament, cotton braid, and waxed fiber cording.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you soon!

 

Stone Button Bag Completed

Here is the final result.  What do you think?

And from same fabric in a lavender color way with fabric barrel beads...

Thanks for stopping by!  Namaste, Wyncia

Hand Made Stone Buttons

Crossing through the Great Lakes region last summer, we stopped along Lake Erie for a night's rest.  Larry skipped stones into the water, while I collected rounded smooth stones for buttons. 

This week these stones became buttons to embellish a fabric bag.  First I made the button shanks or hasps from common fencing wire. 

Then I attached these to the stones with epoxy putty.  I think it helped that there was putty in which to bury the base of the hasp. 

The buttons are a bit thicker than I want, because of the extra putty, but they will work.

I also used an irregular shaped flat stone from the main closure of the bag.  I found my chosen piece to be a bit fragile.  I reinforced it with a net woven of copper wire.

I added some interesting paper to the back to cover the messy confluence of wires.  (I really do need to take a quick class in wire work!)

Here's the layout on the bag, waiting to be sewn.

 

Notice the handmade fabric beads, too.  Finished bag will soon be revealed so stay tuned!  Namaste, Wyncia

Snowy Day with Library Books

Happy Equinox!  September 21st and the night is equal in length to the day.  Autumn is official; we are headed into winter. Our days are going to get shorter and shorter for a while.  As we get ready to bundle up in our winter adobes, we were urged on by the first snow fall of the season!

Thankfully, I stopped by the library yesterday and came home with a marvelous load of fiber and bag books.  Little did I know today would be perfect for curling up by the fire to be inspired!  (Larry was especially wise to bring in wood last night, but neither of us has been chilly enough to start a fire yet.  Oh. well!)

Here is my picture post for the first snow:

 

Not a good day for breakfast al fresco

Pooh and I rescued the geraniums before they froze

The trellis is lonely in the snow

The books of inspiration await me

This is the one I find most fascinating!

I hope this first day of autumn find you enjoying the balancing of the seasons! This is the time when Mother Earth's fruits have ripened and she anticipates the quiet, introspective time ahead.  Look west toward the setting sun.  Let wisdom deepen.  And good reading!

Namaste, Wyncia

Alma Mater Boarding School Beads: Pure Kitsch

Here is what you have been waiting for, maybe.  These are individually hand-rolled paper beads made from the fall Choate Rosemary Hall alum bulletin. They are about 1/4 inch in radius (remember your geometry!) and up to 1 1/4 inch long!

You can see pictures of people from the schools' history and text on the beads.  They are really sort of fun.

   

Colors of the rainbow

 

The fund raising drive

Vintage sports...rah, rah team!

 

If we could save time in a bottle....and we can

You can even buy the beads at my etsy store  And make your own earrings, bracelets and necklaces.  Wow!

Now that this obsession is over, I can see if I remember how to make bags!  Namaste.

Bubbles, Bangles and Fabric Beads

Recently I have been fascinated with turning bits and scraps of fabric into beads.  Here are some of the supplies.  I used the top to a fruit box to create a workspace, but the work sprawled all over the table anyway.

  

My first attempts have involved rolling pieces of fabric and fiber scraps around a waxed string.  Like this: 

 

After the rolls are dry I have finished them with several coats either oil based (messy) or acrylic based polyurethane.

Then I pulled out the core, leaving a hole, and cut the rolls into beads.  These are then finished by treating the bead ends with varnish, paint, or lacquer.

 

The results are interesting, but not quite what I want yet.  I am looking for a slightly larger hole.  The beads do not drill out well because fibers twist onto the drill.  I also want a harder substrate and finish that is more like typical beads.

What I like is the primitive look of the beads.  Slight differences an the size and shape of the beads is natural.  I think they will combine nicely with glass, wood, and metal beads for a gypsy-esque look.

 

 

Doll Repair at my Dining Table, Mountain Style

At the Boulder Farmer's Market last month a customer bought a Gemini doll based on a stump doll pattern from Frowning Francis. The doll is made of  Japanese style quilting cotton treated with transparent gesso, then highlighted in acrylic.  Her arms are hand dyed and stamped.  At her heart center window hangs origami peace crane.

Later the customer called to say that she discovered a crack in the hollow wooden base of the figure which may or may not have been there when she purchased it.  This crack was at eye-level for the purchaser when she places the doll on her shelf.

Hard to see the crack, but it needed to be repaired.  She also said that she wanted the figure to "lean forward a bit more" to look better on the chosen shelf. So I gathered the necessary supplies for evening doll base repair. The lovely dark beer is Pearl Street Porter created by Twisted Pine Brewing Company for the 150th birthday of Boulder Colorado, the town down the hill from my studio. 

Wood putty was colored with a jar of mixed paint that had been used on the base.  (Tofutti sour cream is great stuff, but it will not fix a crack in wood.) It was  not the exact same, because I paint by mixing acrylics on palette (usually a pie pan or something like that).  I squirt out colors, dab a bit of each, and go at it for many layers.  But this jar of left over paint was close.  Mixed unevenly with the putty it made a gooey, spreadable mix.

I urged the stuff into the crack and painted it over the rest of the stand.

In the back I urged some of the goo between the base and the stump bottom.

Then I leaned the doll forward, balanced on a couple of paint tubes in hopes she will lean more forward as the customer requested.

She looks okay on my shelf, an old piano that doesn't get played much anymore. 

 

I hope the customer is pleased with the results.

Sharing Artist Stories: Mimi Kirchner

One of my favorite doll artist has made a video of her life as a doll maker.  I am sharing it with you here

My favorite work of hers are the swaddled babies with embroidered gardens.  They are a wonderful combination of simplicity and elegance.  You will see them in the video.

By the way, the little girl pictures of Mimi look a lot like me at a tender age.

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Blog-cation

The recent weeks turned into an unintended blog-cation.  This is unlike the newly popular stay-cation when people stay at home during time off from work.  Stay-cation is distinguished from the recent lay offs when people struggle to stay in their homes because they are out of work.

No the blog-cation is a pause in blog writing brought on my too much life-action living (LAL) to have time to write. 

Here is an LAL summary:

The "old" computer died...some say five years out of a lap top is good, I say there are villages in Europe with 600 year old buildings.  We need to do better with the longevity of technology by making it with up-datable components and repairable elements!

The new computer arrived. That meant transferring data, upgrading programs, learning new software, catching up on ancient email.  Eventually deciding to run two computers for different jobs to avoid purchasing new soft ware that I cannot come close to affording this week because by the time the new computer got Microsofted the cost was not so reasonable!

Then there was what I am loath to call "real work."  Working on automated insulating shutters at the Synergistic Building Technology shop.

 

At at homein the room formerly called the dining room.

 

Here's me and, next Larry applying a high tech radiant barrier ...aluminum foil...to a shutter's innards!

I hate to call the shutter building "real" work because I really intend studio fiber and fabric work to be real enough to satisfy the Horatio Alger part of me.  To  struggle successfully in the face of adversity (or at least my barely sufficient amount of skill,  creativity, and contemporary stylishness) to gain both wealth and honor, ultimately realizing the American Dream through art and craft! 

But then there is an even greater struggle on Larry's part to achieve the American Dream by getting energy efficiency to appeal to the American public.  And so 'round and 'round we go in existential circles!

More to follow about July's blog-cation.  Stay tuned, please!

Summer time design

Wow!  Look at this new design.  It is summer all over!  Yummy!

Let's see what I have made the is summery too.
    

Large bag as wall hanging: Spring Palace        Skies of summer origami bag

      

Earth Momma Summer garb        Ballerina summer dance

      

Michelle's summer dream                        Summer rising yogina

More soon.  Namaste, Wyncia

Time for Bags and Blogging

The process…sticking with it!  The days rush by.  It’s spring.  It’s summer!

write,sew,design. plan

The garden planted, sort of, though the tomatoes look sickly and the hail did not help.  The seeds were dated 2005 so sprouting is spotty.

write, sew, design, plan

Penny and Eric’s marriage was celebrated in fine and joyful style with the help of friends, family and scores of mosquitoes.  We loved the beauty and the bite of the beautiful Lone Hawk Farm, the yummy local foods with Spice of Life’s special touches and the bright faces of good friends lit up with love, hope, and contentment.  Bee keepers, gardeners, advocates for the environment and sane politics, these two are a mighty team and wonderful souls!

write, sew,design, plan

Van crashed Bicycle brought one daughter down for a week, and had us shaking in our proverbial boots while phone calls about her condition sped over the air waves.  Back biking, we are relieved.  Meanwhile lovely daughters and son spread from Hawaii to upstate New York sometimes leaves me feeling that my arms are not long enough to share the hugs, cups of tea, and laughter we want together.

write,sew,design,plan

Barny the computer only works when it chooses.  The cost of diagnosis, let alone treating the disorder is too hefty compared to the sleek new models.  Such a deal, right there on the screen (crash) back on the screen. No, it is not the machine that costs a fortune, but the software that I depend on.  Back to the evils of consumer debt…now if I gave up the astronomical bill for health insurance that never covers what ails me, the computer would be paid for…is that mosquito bite infected?

write,sew,design,plan

Oh, it is summer!  Hot sun and cooling thunder storms. fresh veggies from Farmer Ann (I do not have to depend sickly tomatoes and spotty seedlings).  Life is good! Time is on our side.  It must be.  We are present!

write,sew,design,plan…this is an artisan blog!

May the warm time sun shine surround you you.  Wyncia

 

Gift Card? Card Gift? Pictorial

I make pins (broaches) of animals and characters from a material of layered fabric and paper.  These are a variation of doll pin inspired by Virginia Robert’s Floor Sweeping Pin Dolls Pattern .  In the last year I have been mounting the pins on to greeting card and selling them as “gift cards.” 

The design of the card for mounting is as much fun as making the pin in the first place!  The newest ones have an option as a fridge magnet with a magnetic strip attached inside the greeting card! This opens the audience for the creations to those non-pin-wearers!  And it provides an easy answer to shoppers who ask, “But would she wear it?”

Last week I dabbled in a bit of re-purposed silver jewelry - using a vintage concho belt to make earrings.  To keep these creations consistent with my collection (oh, my!  what a designer-like term!) I used the greeting card mounting approach, without the magnet strip.  I would ask, "Who wants to hang earrings on the refrigerator?"

Each pair is slightly different and there is one pendant shown in the picture above.  I have put four similar pairs on sale at ETSY in case you cannot resist.

So are they “gift cards” or “card gifts”?  Or is there another name all together?  Tell me, please!  Namaste, Wyncia    

Still Young and in love: Gypsy Chandelier a Creative Inspiration

Today is my 58th birthday!  Sill just a spring chicken.  And what does a spring chicken like me want for a gift on her birthday? Of course for all of you beloveds to have a marvelous year, full of joy and laughter, AND a multi-colored whimsical magic gypsy chandelier!  And who would be wise and generous in obtaining such an item?  Why my beloved partner in life Larry of course!

Feast your eyes! Tee hee!

This beauty will hang where I see it when I work in the studio, brightening the staircase with it’s wild, colors.  Eee haw, I am ready to go to work.  Look for the gypsy influence in my future creations!    Namaste, Wyncia

PS:  Thanks, Mom! Wish you could see us!

Name That Bag! A Story and a Contest

While at the Boulder Farmer's Market Craft Fair last week, Amy Stewart with Zimfest came running up to tell me that the Sunday Magazine Bag was not a magazine bag at all.

"it's a mbira bag!  there is no question.  You are making mbira bags and you don't even know it!"

"What's a mbira?" I asked.

"It's a Shona people's musical instrument.  A piece of wood with metal tabs that are tuned..."

"A thumb piano!"

"Yes," said Amy, "that is what these are.  Mbira bags.  Will you come sell them at the Boulder Zimbabwean Music Festival running June 25th through 28th?"  www.zimfest.org

        

     

I did not even know I had made a mbira bag!

Which gives me the idea this bag may be known by many names!

Please add a comment and give the bag another name.  I will give a freebie mbira bag to one entry at random!

Here are the details:  it is "green", the materials are four recycled samples of home decorator fabric per bag; the bags are about 11" X 14" in size; they are reversible; the handles are parachute cord; with handles doubled the top is open and the bag fits under the arm; with handle singled, the bag draws closed and it hangs at about the waist; the bag is sturdy; the bag folds flat for packing or storing; they are colorful and every one is different.

So name this bag and get a chance for a free one coming your way!!!!  Thanks! Wyncia

PS: Want to buy one?  Email me and I will tell you what color ways are available.  They cost $12 plus $4 shipping through the blog!

"Holy Blistering Dung Beetle, Batman!" Card Plus Art

Yikes!  Something got my funny bone today.  I have been madly working on doll pin cards for the last few days, in preparation for my first Boulder Farmer's Market Craft Fair on Saturday. It is 8:00 till 2:00 in Central Park.  Stop by if you are in town. 

I needed a way to package my beetle sun catcher/pendants to add them to the card display.  As I looked at the transfers mounted on clear plastic, a wee little voice kept chattering, "Dung happens!"

As they say, a picture (even a slightly blurry one) is worth 1000 words.

The front says, "Dung happens!"  The back identifies the Blistering Dung Beetle, an amazing Bug Art image by Christopher Marley, from a calender I got at SCRAP.

More images, then I have to get back to work!




 

And the card maker's signature line:

You Bet'cha

I am so easily entertained, and am still chuckling.

By the way, if you do not want to miss any of these scintillating posts, please subscribe!

There's a button in the upper left.  It is safe, and you don't have to read the posts when you get an email announcement!

Here's hoping no dung occurs in your blessed life today!   Wyncia

Hats for Summer

Although not my primary production, I do make hats.  The baseball cap is a perennial favorite, especially when made in unexpected fabrics and without a silly logo.

Here is a recent custom cap, for a baby who called for an unconventional Easter bonnet.

Not quite the size of my "Be Bear Aware" hat.

 

But that's okay, cause the baby will grow and meanwhile we had fun trying on the hat here. 

Larry is being cool with his hat on backwards!

Note the adjustable tie! 

The cap did not work much better for me or dog Pooh!

        

But a tad bit big for the intended, though it will keep the sun away from baby's eyes. 

This hat will keep everything away from baby's eyes.

I can make hats that fit for most folks...drop me an email (there's a link to the left) and tell me what you would like for your new summer cap!  I will sew it up for $20 (or more for special fabrics)!

Can't beat that bronze lady as a model...it is my mother as a young woman!  She sure can wear a hat!

Namaste.

Saturday Night Tag Design

It's Saturday night in the hills above Boulder Colorado.  It's April; its even after the dreaded tax day.  And what have we got?  Three feet of snow, that's what!  A great night to work on the design for new sales tags for my origami bags.

I worked with copyright free clip art and fonts available on the web. Even all that wet snow does not defeat the cable internet connection, although the land phone line is kafluie.

I worked in Word which was probably not the best choice, but after a while the challenge was to make it work without starting over in another program.  I now have the tags saved as .jpegs, too.  I think I could have done it easier in Paint Shop Pro.

I decided to make the tags with a place to put a list of materials.  This gives me a chance to credit some of the wonderful fabrics and designers I use!

So Saturday night tag...a design? a game?

Tags on Bags...

 

Tag One...

 

Tag Two...

 

More bags and tags...

 

A Bag...

TAG...You're it! 

So comment why don't you! ;-)