Fiber Arts at Smithsonian American Art Museum: Mariska Karasz

I don't fall in love easily these days, but it would be wrong of me not to share these beautiful works of fiber art by Mariska Karasz.

I adore the following 2 pieces, and you can see more on  SAAM by clicking the artists name above.

I tend to strive for perfection when I use string to create works of art. So afraid a string or knot or weave will be out of line or out of place etc.  I believe it is one of the things that holds me back from truly expressing myself using this medium.

These breath-taking pieces help me see what is possible when you just let go and do what you love to do.

Nothing less than amazing and the thing that makes it so perfect... is imperfection.

Skeins | Smithsonian American Art Museum

Mariska Karasz, Skeins, ca. 1950, linen, cotton, and wool, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Renwick Alliance and museum purchase through the Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program, 1992.117, © 1952, F. Schumacher and Co.

Procession | Smithsonian American Art Museum

Mariska Karasz, Procession, ca. 1955, embroidered wool and cotton, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Solveig Cox and Rosamond Berg Bassett in memory of their mother, Mariska Karasz, 1991.132.4

Pattern Share for Friendship Bracelet / Micro Macrame Projects!

Hello everybody! Happy July! It's hard to believe that summer is here. My apologies for not being very active on this blog lately. I do have plans to bring you more updates, including tutorials, shares, freebies and more. 

I even created a new logo (see header) to get things heated up.  For now, check out some beautiful patterns I found over at Friendship-Bracelet.net. 

I will see you all very soon. Happy a very happy 4th of July!

-Jennifer

Bringing the pink to life...

It's been a while so I thought I would post an update. I took an extended break after the holidays, but I have started some new designs and hope to have some great things to post in the future.

Remember the pink haired gal I created before Mr. Freeman? I am finally bringing her to life. I don't know if any of you knotted her to fruition... but I can't wait to see her and share her with you when she is done. Here is my progress so far -

Morgan Freeman Tapestry - Free Chart

Mr. Freeman was the first man I ever hand knotted. It was a request by Christopher, but we both truly love the work of Mr. Freeman... so it was an easy request to fill.

I am offering the chart I created to make it - free to other fans that may want to use it. The chart can be used to make a tapestry, a blanket... whatever craft you are doing that involves a charted design. Enjoy

If you are a fan of Morgan Freeman, a couple a movies (off the beaten path) that you may not have seen, are 10 Items or Less (2006) - IMDb and 5 Flights Up (2014) - IMDb - I just love them both.

If you are looking for more things that are free - check out my other website - Creative Public - it is a compendium of resources to all kinds of things in the public domain.

Pretty In Pink! - Free Chart!

I am proud to offer this chart free for your crafting pleasure. She'd make a lovely cross stitch piece, or a mini tapestry via hand-knotting as I've begun to do.  Feel free to shake it up - change the color scheme etc.  Enjoy and please share your finished pieces if you want. I'd love to see what you can do!

A free charted design created by Jennifer at JenifersKnotHome.com

15 Floral Watercolor Designs in the Public Domain

This is such a fun collection. 

Publication date 1890 - 15 sheets, size varies. Some stamped New York School of Applied Design. A number signed A.H. Smith, on front or back, 1906 & 1907, done in watercolor. One floral rug design, marked circa 1890 - Forms part of the Mary Ann Beinecke Decorative Art Collection (Internet Archive)

Album Delle Signore - Vintage Cross Stitch Charts in Color!

A special thank you to the AntiquePatternLibrary.org for making this, and many other wonderful vintage books available.

Great Books at The Met: Beaded Handbags

I was just checking out the rare books section at The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries and found this gem of a book. Check it out. It is free to read online or you can even download your own personal copy. Beautiful!

[Beaded work] :: Rare Books in The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries

Rare Books in The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries

More beautiful girls - one original design

I finished this beauty from a pattern I found at BraceletBook.com here

This crying girl kiss pattern was also found at BraceletBook.com - here

This red headed beauty was a pattern created by me from artwork found on the net. I make no claims to the ownership of this design. I only converted the image so that I could knot her up.

Below is the chart I created. Please feel free to use it. I would love to see your finished work... especially if you change up the colors etc. Enjoy

Plus Size Fashions - Affordable and sometimes... Free!

The above shirt is one that I got from TwinkleDeals.com. I joined the site after my sister got me a dress there. At first, I wasn't even aware that you could earn and win free clothes. It was a bonus when I was offered the above shirt for free. I pin all of the clothes I want to buy from TwinkleDeals.com on Pinterest anyway... so why not earn clothes! I've also earned a free dress, and plan to buy from this site frequently. A few things to keep in mind about the site. Orders are coming from the Orient... so it could take a long time to get your order... but it will come. The sizes are much smaller than you would normally find. For example a 7x might only be a size 18 US. Be sure to check the measurements. Each item has measurements listed on the sale page.

I don't buy into gimmicks and promotion sites. I wasn't looking for this... it kind of found me. I am posting about it on my blog to share the love with you, and also to show off the great plus size fashions I find while shopping there.

If this offends you...

I love her. 78 strings. She is my biggest piece to date. All hand knotted using this pattern found at BraceletBook.com

Lichtenstein in knots

Here is my completed Lichtenstein pop art micro macrame piece. You can find the pattern here at bracelet-book.net

Hand Knotted Pop Art Girl

I finished knotting this female pop art piece yesterday. To date, it is my largest piece completed at 56 strings. It is big enough to be a coin purse, which I am considering, but still have lots of back-work to clean up and knot etc etc. You can get or see this pattern here at BraceletBook.com

Sugar Skull Hand Knotted micro macrame

Sugar Skull 

I finished this one. It's one of my favorites. I made a few mistakes, but that's what makes it special. It's from a pattern found here at BraceletBook.com. I changed up the colors a bit.

My sister, capturing the beauty of her life... and fall in NY

"We lose ourselves in the things we love, we find ourselves there too". #saturday #saturdayrun #running #morningrun #runner #fall #fallrunning #training

A photo posted by Vanessa Chiera (@piecesofher_12) on Oct 15, 2016 at 7:12am PDT

Creative Weaving Ideas

The Dollar Tree, portable, weaving loom idea for the creative soul on the go :)

I am always looking out for different objects to weave on. I don't know why I started doing this, but it is so much fun for me, and it will make me really happy to share my ideas with you so that you can try them too!

1. Warp it 2. Weave it 3. Love it

This first weaving loom idea can be started with a quick trip to a Dollar Tree store to pick up one of these handy dandy plastic bins. If you are like me, you already have at leave a hundred. I use them to sort floss, pens, markers, and other craft related items for me and my 3 year old daughter. They are very useful. I even use them in the kitchen for organizing snacks in the cabinets and in the utensil drawer. 

I tested the process going completely around the bin with the warp string, and through the existing holes. For me, the holes worked much better.  

Next, I just wanted to see what was possible... so I did a few different test squares for fun.  I did a combination of both hand knotting techniques and weaving techniques. I think some of the combinations looks beautiful together and will make lovely pieces of hand made, hand woven, hand knotted jewelry.

Top square: hand knotting technique - alpha style knotting

The best part about this particular loom idea is that you can toss all of your supplies into the bin, warped and all... and take it in the car, on vacation, to the doctors office... wherever you go, you can have a loom with you so you never have to stop creating. 

If you give this idea a try... I would love to see what you have come up with.  Enjoy!