Yarn Time

When the cold weather sets in and the holiday season pumps up I turn my creative energy to other outlets. Yarn projects become my focus for a few months. I taught myself to knit when I was 10. Somewhere along the way I also picked up crochet.  I still have trial and error sessions with yarn. If I don't like the way a pattern is turning out, I have not regrets to roll the yarn back up into a ball.  In the spirit of my yarn time, I created these pins this weekend. Some of my motivation came from selling one of my favorite pins to a buyer in Australia. I think the one below is now my favorite!

This pin is made with 18 gauge copper and measures about 3-1/4 inches long . The center bead is a gorgeous sangria red. It happen to be the last bead from a supply I bought on Ebay. What a great home for this beauty. When I make these pins I like to add the copper spacers for detail. I have enough of them in stock that I am always looking for ways to use them up.

This next pin became a combination of these pretty tubular lampwork beads, brass filigree caps and pale blue beaded bead. I wanted to be free myself of perfection on this design. I just let it flow and quite frankly, I am pleased with this eclectic design.

This last design is a basic wire bend and hammer design. It fairly small in size intentionally because I wanted it to be perfect for the collar of a turtleneck or oversized sweater collar.  This is 14 gauge copper that takes a lot of gentle and even hammering to avoid dings.  I gave it a patina soak, rubbed it down with fine wool and then gave it a wax polish bath.  It's basic, but very cute.

This is a headband I crocheted for a friend.  See how nice it looks as a minature pin against yarn!

That's all for now.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.