Here are 3 freeform crochet items that I hope you find interesting… An assortment of tassels attached to a long crochet chain… no 2 tassels are the same… & the assorted beads gives each necklace, lariat, belt beautiful drape.
Wear these fascinating pieces by draping them around your neck a few times to become necklaces… throw them diagonally across the beast & they become something else entirely… & then again, why not tie them around the waist & turn them into a glamorous belts
Some months ago I had a big spurt of making crochet flowers, felting & then hand-dying them at my kitchen sink. Heaps of fun & I ending up making quite a few, well.. actually, I made a lot.
But, since then they have been languishing in the cupboard with all the other ‘gonna do something with these one day’ items that we crafters seem to collect over time.
The light bulb moment came some weeks back when I was invited to do a local market/display/demonstration… out came the felted flowers, my collection of beads, needle & tread & I set to work beading these little beauties & turning them into pretty brooches that can be worn any-which-way – I’m rather pleased with the results…
A collection of these Beaded felted brooches are available in My Zibbet Shop
I often use felted beads in my freeform work incorporating them into the fabric or attaching them to tassels & what not but always have some left over & so a little stash grew – what to do with them? A friend suggested necklaces… hmmmm…. not really my thing… but I decided to give it a go anyway…. what fun & I think they look great, if I do say so myself
I originally created these polymer buttons/beads for my own use in conjunction with, & to be incorporated into, my freeform crochet work mainly because I couldn’t find what I wanted elsewhere – Over that last few months I’ve many enquires about them so have decided to offer some for sale in my Etsy shop
I love making these buttons/beads… it’s a lovely change from fibre… but you will notice that I do not disguise the handmade nature of these pieces & there are some anomalies such as: fingerprints, brush strokes, distress scars & many a wonky edge & of course, no two pieces are ever the same – & it’s these unique imperfections & differences that I love most, I never really know what I’m going to end up with – so very freeform… just wish the photos would do them justice – they look so much better in the flesh.
All my polymer buttons/beads are freeformed either by pinching the clay into shape or pressing it into one of my own handmade moulds. They are baked at the recommended temperature & roughly sanded. Depending on the effect I’m trying to achieve, each piece is hand-paint with a variety of acrylic/oil/metallic paints/powders then sealed with 2 coats of Polyurethane (indoor/outdoor) water based satin varnish & left to cure for at least 48 hours
