Signature Ornate Crochet Hooks

Greetings everyone! I've just posted six new crochet hooks yesterday and five more today on eBay! Check them out!

I wanted to tell you a little about what goes into my Signature Ornate Crochet Hooks -- a very special segment of the fiber arts tools I create.

Each is different, often inspired by my own life, what is happening around me, the seasons, etc.



Even before turning begins, I specifically choose each piece of wood to become one of my special hooks. As I turn, I carefully measure to make sure that the area of design is out of range of hand holding. (There's nothing worse than using an uncomfortable tool!) All of my hooks are designed to be extremely comfortable and delightful to work with.

After finishing the crochet hook on the lathe, then carefully carving and hand-polishing the hook, I take in the character of the wood -- what does it want to be? I then drill a carefully-sized hole where I would like the gemstone to sit, then walk inside to the studio...

Once comfortable, with bright lamps turned on, I look at the hook again, and start doing the hand-carving. I accomplish the wonderful texture in the carving by using a pyrography tool. (No, it's not a dirty word! pyro- = fire, -graphy = drawing/writing.) I literally burn the design into the wood. This has the advantage of burning off the finish (allows the paint to stick), and also creating a wonderful dappled texture, like beaten gold, or copper.

I do all of my pyrography work freehand, without a template. Natural woods are much more conducive to pyrography than the Dyed Hardwoods I sometimes use. (And smell MUCH better!) After burning, I then take up my paintbrush and go to it!

I like to use metallic acrylic paints because they shine, have a little bit of sparkle, and add extra visual texture to the already-stippled "canvas." I add between 3 and 10 layers of paint, different colors, in order to give the hook a more jewel-like appearance.


After all the paint has dried, I then set the gemstone into a Sterling Silver or 14k Gold setting. Remember the hole I drilled earlier? The setting fits EXACTLY into this hole, and besides having this tight jam fit, I also secure it with epoxy. This allows the stone to have a proper countersink with which to sparkle beautifully! (I wish I could capture the sparkle better in my photos!)

After the hook is completed, I then sign it with my artist's mark, a double-K/snowflake symbol.

When posting them on eBay, or Etsy, I also try to include a story about the piece, what inspired it, or a story that the hook itself inspired.

These hooks represent a huge amount of time and effort to create a piece that is truly special, and something I hope their owners will cherish through generations to come.

Posting Day and Airbrush Class

New, new, new! Four brand new hooks on eBay today! (And some fancy ones tomorrow!)

Greetings everyone, last Tuesday I had the incredible privilege of taking an airbrush class from world-renowned artist David Nittmann! All I can say is "Wow!"

"Sweet Surrender" by David Nittmann Used with permission

Seeing his breath-taking artwork, I've always thought of David as an incredible artist, almost in a different world than us mere mortals. However, David is a very down-to-earth person, and a fantastic teacher! With his years of expertise in woodturning and painting and dyeing wood, every morsel of information he passes on is an absolute jewel! (It is impossible to overstate how much wonderful knowledge I gained from his class -- there's nothing like learning from a Master!)

We began the class by learning every piece and parcel of the airbrush, including the all-important cleaning process. Then after discovering how to hold the tool properly, and working some beginning exercises, David moved on to mixing colors.

This might seem fairly self-explanatory, right? Red + Blue = Purple, maybe.... It's more difficult if you have to match a color on a magazine photograph. Red is not merely red any more... it's the color of candied apples, or a Russian lacquered box... a color not found straight from the bottle. To achieve that precise match requires much skill in observation, and good guesswork about how much of a particular color to add to the mix.

David took time to give me his expert advice on achieving the colors I needed, and now I'm home, happily mixing and painting away -- the perfect colors in hand! (And with the knowledge to create ANY color I need!)

"Mandarine" by David Nittmann Used with permission

Another very cool thing I learned is that David has spent countless hours, days, months, experimenting with and researching the very best paints and dyes to use on wood. Not your standard buy-at-craft-store-paints, David carries E'tac brand, which are the most light- and color-fast available today. They work especially well on wood because they are slightly stretchy, and won't "break" if the wood moves, (as it always does... even slightly). They're archival quality -- for the finest art pieces.

David Nittmann is an absolute treasure! I would encourage EVERYONE to take his classes -- he's a wonderfully creative and inspiring teacher, with a huge amount of knowledge to share. Thank you David for the very valuable and personalized instruction!

Now I get to practice painting with this fabulously fun tool. (I can't wait to take more advanced classes!)

On a very personal and professional note: I absolutely believe in taking classes from Masters of their art/craft. You can learn more in a single moment with a Master than in days with a someone who only practices their craft as a hobby. Masters use and improve their skills every working hour of the day -- there's NO substitute for their expertise. David Nittmann is one of the finest of these professionals.

Posting Day!

Greetings! Yes, indeed, it's another posting day, and I have some beauties for you! Check out five new crochet hooks posted on eBay today!

Here's a small preview:



Two fantastic new materials -- Pasta and Acorns! Each is embedded within coordinating acrylics! Very very cool stuff! Both are listed up on eBay!

In other news, I have been working on some other VERY cool projects lately... having a lot of fun in the shop and learning many new techniques! Back to work for me!

Working with New Materials

Happy New Year! I wish everyone the best in this bright and promising new year!

I've just posted five gorgeous new crochet hooks, (including the two mentioned below), on eBay, and two gorgeous new nostepindes on Etsy! Please check them out!

Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments about my Photography Tutorial posted last week!

I was so inspired this past week, I wanted to share my experiences with you about new materials.

Whether it be yarn, fabric, wood, metal, plastic, clay, or even new plants for your garden, new materials can rekindle passion and provide inspiration for ongoing projects. Take the two hooks below:



I was privileged to win a wonderful handmade pen from Syzygy Pens in a Christmas contest. I asked about the material from which it was made and was sent to a web site that was completely new to me! Inside I found some marvelously magical materials, and my thoughts began to fly!

Last week I received my order, and oh what inspiration took hold! I made a profusion of new designs inspired by these phantasmagorical acrylics!

I own literally hundreds of miles of yarn, hundreds of yards of fabric, and hundreds of board-feet of wood, and while it may seem that I clearly have enough... sometimes it is beneficial to buy that sparkling something that winks at you in the store... that material that combines real coffee beans with acrylic and smells delicious... and that rosewood that can't help but jump in the car and excitedly ask "are we home yet?"

I try to be on-top of new technologies, especially where tools are concerned -- I use only the best. Keeping on top of materials technology is important too -- new materials can take your work to the height of excitement!

Adding an eyelash yarn to plain knit transforms "mundane" into "pizazz." Using exotic burls instead of straight-grained wood adds texture and life to a piece. The second hook from the top has a finial made of burl wood combined with acrylic material, allowing the plastic to flow into every nook and cranny. When turned, it produced a fantastic "river" that flows all the way to the top of the hook!

Keep looking for the newest, the most interesting. Remember the Free Form Fiber Artist's Credo: "You only need one skein." (Or one block of wood). Visit new web sites, explore the marvelous global community of the Internet, and search for what excites your imagination!

Photographing Your Work Tutorial

Merry Christmas! I just posted four gorgeous new beauties on eBay! Check them out!

Notice something different? Yep, I've been experimenting with photography recently. My friend, Cindy Drozda inspired me to try some new things! (BTW, check out her brand new Etsy shop!)

So, while I'm here and writing, I figured I'd compose a short tutorial on photographing your work -- it's an essential skill, especially if you sell (or want to sell) online, and also gives you a record of your work. Too often, I've seen photos that are poorly lit, have distracting backgrounds, or simply don't show the piece to full advantage. While I trust a professional photographer to do promotional work, being able to take good photographs gives me a lot of flexibility.

Step 1: Begin with a Light Tent & Lights
The biggest problem that we photographic amateurs face is direct light, which creates hard shadows, glare, and too much shine. A light tent, made from light-diffusing material, is the easiest way to overcome this difficulty. The fabric on the tent panels breaks up the light rays, sending them off into all different directions, which has the effect of softening the beam.

You should use several lights -- I use the overhead fluorescent (on the ceiling in my photo room), a second overhead light (the "white-light" type that are sold for illuminating detail work), and two tiny directional lights that can be easily moved around the item.

You can buy ready-made tents, or make your own. Check out photography supply stores to buy materials.

Step 2: The Background
Choose a background that lets your item shine! In your light tent, spread fabric or use paper as a backdrop: something without wild patterns: plain, nothing distracting. IRON fabric if you use it! (There's nothing that looks worse than crinkled fabric, and it says "sloppy" to a potential judge or buyer). Recently, I've discovered that using a medium color background reduces contrast, allows the grain of the wood to show much more beautifully, and colors appear more substantial as well.


Large pieces of paper (11x11), in a wide variety of colors, can be found at craft supply or stationary stores; places that sell scrapbooking materials. Choose a median color and something that will represent your "brand." Color/background consistency helps your clients identify you and your product.

Step 3: The Camera
Digital pictures are very valuable media these days -- if you don't have a digital camera, BUY ONE! They come in all shapes and sizes and every price range. I recommend something at least one or two steps above the cheapest... but even those can work magic with experimentation. (A cell phone camera won't work -- the images are too poor quality to use online).


Step 4: Setting it all up
Most of my work (fiber arts tools & small spindles) must lie on the table to be photographed, which means I take pictures from above. Use a tripod if you possibly can -- it will help the sharpness of the image. I set up my lights to illuminate every part of my piece, watching for hard shadows, correcting them when possible.

Crochet hooks, being round, have the most curious tendency to roll around on the paper. I stick them down with "adhesive putty" purchased at an office supply store. (It's removable, non-staining, and works perfectly for sticking small pieces like crochet hooks and pens, allowing you to photograph the side you want). (When you go out to buy it, tell the clerk that it's normally used for sticking posters to walls). Best of all, it's almost infinitely reusable -- I've had the package in the photo for over 2 1/2 years!

Posing:
Make sure you take at least one photograph of the "best" side of your piece. Often, a side that shows contrasting color, or has "exciting" grain changes will be the best candidate for the "power shot." (A "power shot" is the photo you use for the first picture in the online listing, as well as the "thumbnail." Multicolor often gets a better click rate than the more subtle side of a piece).

Remember -- the general public sees things slightly differently than woodturners do. While turners thrill to the undulations of crotch curliness, the public often doesn't know to look for this type of figuring, and a sapwood/heartwood contrast is much more eye-catching, especially on a casual-look basis. By all means, show the subtleties... just use the most "clickable" pictures up front.

Camera Settings:
Setting up the camera, I use Vivid, (so that the colors appear true-to-life), the Macro/Close-Up setting (represented by the flower in the flowerpot), and adjust the White Balance to match the background. You *will* have to experiment with your settings -- your lighting and camera settings will never be the same as another person's. I advise taking several pictures in a session and comparing them. For example, to find the best White Balance, I set up the studio, and take 1 picture at every other level: 0 clicks, 2 clicks, 4, and 6 clicks. (On my camera: 0, 2/3, 1 1/3, 2) This way, they can be easily labelled on the computer.

Taking pictures at intervals also lets me do half the work... when I observe the resultant photos, I can estimate what the best setting would be, and if I need to take an in-between picture. Repeat this process for each color of background that you choose -- the settings will be different.

The Computer Bit:
Hopefully, your pictures will have turned out well enough to require no editing at all, except for maybe cropping out a bit of the background. (Choose an attractive margin around your piece -- it helps the work stand out.) If necessary, "sharpen" the image slightly in Photoshop (or other capable graphics editing program), but note that it won't make too much difference in a very blurry photograph -- much better to re-take the picture.

I don't do any color alteration, add special effects, or do anything to impinge the original character of the photograph. This is important! If you "retouch" your photos and your clients notice the discrepancy in the piece when they receive it, you'll likely get a return... and a VERY unhappy customer. Don't try to be a Photoshop wizard -- flaunt the features of your work -- show every crack and cranny, knots, finish, etc. Your clients will buy your work for what it is, not what it could be. Be honest and build trust with your clientele, and they will reward you with customer loyalty.

LABEL your photographs. How many pictures of nameless bowls are floating around the internet? What if a buyer sees one and wants to buy it -- who can even tell who the maker is? Keep your original photographs intact, but for pictures that you post online, I highly recommend labeling them with your name or web site address, somewhere in the corner of the photograph. Give your work the credit they deserve, and let potential buyers know where to find you.


Most of all, have fun, and experiment to your heart's delight! Play with the settings on your camera, adjust the color of the lights and their position. Find what works best for you. (And after some time, you'll get googly-eyed from staring at the computer screen -- ask a friend or spouse what they think about your pictures -- they'll come up with some good suggestions.)

And before I let you go... the resultant pictures: White background was my "old" standard, and the tan is the after new experimentation. The difference in the appearance of the wood grain and color is just staggering!

Finally, a Posting Day!

Brrrrrrr! The fall, (yes autumn, we're still not officially in "winter" yet!) has been freezing, and even more than that! Snow has fallen, and temps have been waaaayyyy below zero. My shop/studio has been too cold to work in... BUT, thanks to some westerly winds, the warmth is back! (And by warmth, we're talking 40'F! :-)

I am pleased to announce my posting of three crochet hooks on eBay and three more on Etsy! Hopefully the temps will hold, (and I can get a better heating system in the meantime!)

One other announcement: if you are looking for a VERY special gift item, please see my friend Cindy Drozda's web site and brand new Etsy shop! She makes the most exquisitely gorgeous work -- beautiful beyond belief! Truly wonderful art pieces that would make an incredible gift for a treasured person.


I absolutely LOVE candy canes... as a child I used to eat them all through the Christmas season, tasting their delightfully sweet peppermint flavor, reveling in every last bit! Nowadays it's the color that I find most appealing -- those simple red and white stripes that swirl upward with a prancing sort of happiness!

I couldn't help but make a "Candy Cane" crochet hook this Christmas -- the stripies were calling out to me! The red in the hook (pictured above) is naturally crimson Bloodwood, a hard, dense wood from South America that makes wonderful crochet hooks. I then carved and textured two stripes that swirl around the entire top of the hook, and painted them with metallic acrylics, adding little dots that seem to dance to the heavens!

For extra shine and sparkle, I then added a 3 mm brilliant-cut Cubic Zirconia gemstone, set in sterling silver... right in the middle of the larger stripe. The pictures don't show it well at all, but in the hand it sparkles like magic! (Check out my Candy Cane hook on eBay.)

The second hook in the photo is wonderfully special -- it's made with Olivewood... but not just any piece of Olivewood... this is a fantastically wonderful piece with beautifully curling swirling grain! Paired with the double purples, simply gorgeous! (I posted this lovely on Etsy.)

Posting Day!

Greetings everyone! I've just done a monster posting today, with items on both eBay and Etsy! Among those are crochet hooks, needle cases (which are also perfect for carrying toothpicks), and nostepindes! These all made fantastic gift items -- and they are hand-made by a real person, (me), a professional craftsman who takes pride in her work. Very special gifts indeed!

I am happy to make nostepindes/ball winders, and needle cases as custom orders for the Christmas season. If there's a colorway/wood/stone that you've been wanting, please e-mail me!

Below is a sampling of the lovely items I've put up today:


Check out the "Money" toothpick holders -- yes, made from REAL United States currency! I've got one on eBay and one on Etsy!