Visions are evolving things. As we journey through life we are drawn to things that interest us. I have often wondered about my vision in life because my view of anything in the future, other than children, has always been Continue reading “Bringing a Vision to Life — PARADISE!”
The last two scarves I had at The Arts Center in Corvallis sold! This one, a 4 way reversible wrap made of soft merino wool, baby camel, silk, and yak;
and this one, a reversible scarf made from soft merino wool, baby camel, and silk.
When a fiber is called “baby” it doesn’t mean the fiber is from a baby animal. The term baby is used to describe the softness.
Well, my daughter reminded me that I didn’t blog about my client’s reaction to the wall hanging I felted for her. Continue reading “My Client’s Reaction”
Well, my daughter reminded me that I didn’t blog about my client’s reaction to the wall hanging I felted for her. Continue reading “My Client's Reaction”
As Christmas approaches I find myself having a difficult time focusing my attention on the holiday season. I’ve started buying brooches to go with the scarves I make, hoping to sell some to my customers . . . making it easier for them to get gorgeous brooches and match them to the scarves they make at workshops, or to the scarves I make.
I’ve learned that there a lot of brooches that say “vintage” when they are simply new brooches that have a vintage look to them. Most of them have the crystals/rhinestones glued in rather than held in with prongs. Some of the glued ones are vintage too, but I figured out with my super smart brain that the ones that say 689 sold are not really vintage! The true vintage brooches say “only one available” and you know the sparkly treasure is something someone enjoyed years ago, coming around again for a new life with another precious woman who loves sparkle!
Rhinestones are my favorite. I guess I just love the way they glitter and shine. I picked up a signed Weiss rhinestone brooch and it arrived yesterday. It is my favorite so far, though there are many gorgeous brooches that have arrived already, with more to come. But this one in particular is just stunning! Not overly large, only an inch and a half, the clear, spiral flower shaped brooch has a presence about it that is almost magical! I may have to keep this one, it just speaks to me.
I’ve been going on eBay and bidding for some of them, which is kind of fun, to say the least! Sometimes I can purchase a brooch outright, but often they are up for auction. I only buy the ones that knock my socks off, whether they are true vintage and a little more money, or very inexpensive mass produced brooches. I am partial to the vintage brooches, however, they are so classy!! I am going to have to make a “light box” for photographing these to do them justice! I will also be selling these with my scarves on my Etsy store when I get it going.
As Christmas approaches I find myself having a difficult time focusing my attention on the holiday season. I’ve started buying brooches to go with the scarves I make, hoping to sell some to my customers . . . making it easier for them to get gorgeous brooches and match them to the scarves they make at workshops, or to the scarves I make.
I’ve learned that there a lot of brooches that say “vintage” when they are simply new brooches that have a vintage look to them. Most of them have the crystals/rhinestones glued in rather than held in with prongs. Some of the glued ones are vintage too, but I figured out with my super smart brain that the ones that say 689 sold are not really vintage! The true vintage brooches say “only one available” and you know the sparkly treasure is something someone enjoyed years ago, coming around again for a new life with another precious woman who loves sparkle!
Rhinestones are my favorite. I guess I just love the way they glitter and shine. I picked up a signed Weiss rhinestone brooch and it arrived yesterday. It is my favorite so far, though there are many gorgeous brooches that have arrived already, with more to come. But this one in particular is just stunning! Not overly large, only an inch and a half, the clear, spiral flower shaped brooch has a presence about it that is almost magical! I may have to keep this one, it just speaks to me.
I’ve been going on eBay and bidding for some of them, which is kind of fun, to say the least! Sometimes I can purchase a brooch outright, but often they are up for auction. I only buy the ones that knock my socks off, whether they are true vintage and a little more money, or very inexpensive mass produced brooches. I am partial to the vintage brooches, however, they are so classy!! I am going to have to make a “light box” for photographing these to do them justice! I will also be selling these with my scarves on my Etsy store when I get it going.
Making scarves is so much more fun now that I am making them reversible. I just made a couple mini scarves that have the reversible quality I find so exciting. Below is a slide show of the scarves and some of the looks that can be achieved with each.
First the fuchsia, garnet, lavender, and purple mini scarf. All these looks are created with one 4 way reversible scarf.
Next the aqua, blue, mint, and green mini 4 way reversible scarf.
I have to admit, too, I have sort of fallen in love with brooches since I have begun making mini scarves. I think it all started when friend asked me to make a smaller scarf for her, that would go well with an heirloom brooch she owned. I loved playing around with the colors to create something which would highlight the brooch as well as being beautiful itself.
These gorgeous and stylish mini scarves, made from the very soft merino wool and silk, will be selling for $95.00 each. I will be selling brooches as well. These will soon be on my Etsy site: micheleballantyne.etsy.com
Here is another many – way reversible wrap I finished on Saturday. It is at the Corvallis art center for $140. The following photos are all of the same scarf! It is so versatile!
Fine merino and silk in teal, brown, and gold with touches of tencel, baby camel and yak down.
This is a new pattern I worked out for an art scarf on the dress form with batting. Funny thing is when I unwrapped the batting pattern, it was almost the same shape as the shawl Cheryl made at my workshop! Ha ha!
I had a second long scarf sell at the art center yesterday for $150. It was the yak and silk 50/50 blend. The woman bought that particular scarf for it’s ultra softness. It is so exciting to be selling my work at the Art Center in Corvallis.
Last week while walking around running errands, I wore my colorful “Sunset” scarf and brought my color samples and was able to show my work to a few people. There were some very nice people who loved my scarf. That week, I got 5 orders for custom made scarves!!!! When I deliver the scarves my clients love them and I have even gotten a reorder from one happy customer. I am feeling very encouraged. I have ordered pretty bags and boxes and tissue paper to wrap the elegant scarves in when I present them, to match how amazing and precious they are!
While creating these colorful and cloud soft creations, my heart sings. I am blissing out as I work. This “work” feels like play! And, yes, I still need to be profitable, but I can enjoy it can’t I? Plus, the feeling I have making the scarves must also affect how the scarves feel to my client!
My daughter Melissa is helping me navigate my way through the technical side of blogging and so forth, though she is an artist herself. She has had a lot of experience in web design, as she used to be a professional wedding photographer, but now she is following her heart and has begin oil painting. I will benefit from her expertise, and soon she and I will produce something wonderful for my fledgling little business.
These photos are of some of the color combinations I base my designs on, and then I add in more of the individual colors in the blends to make the design my own. The white streaks are strands of silk that shine and make the whole scarf look so elegant. These are the colors mixes I am using as basis for the scarves, then we can add some specific matching colors to create something unique.
