Wednesday 12 September 2012

Warning my friend in Latvia, I may mention snot...

Hiya ladies.  Wow, what a response I got to my last post, I'm so glad so many of you agree, I was a bit worried that I'd alienate the entire blogland and be a pariah, never spoken to again.  I haven't got round to replying to everyone, I'm not ignoring you, it will happen at some point.  And stop worrying about my foot.  If it is broken, it's fine, you can break your foot and just leave it, it's like a nose.  But without the snot.  I also got a comment on my Nesting Box post from the designer of the project, so exciting!

Now, back in November last year when I went to the craft show at the NEC I showed you some mesh tube made from very thin knitted wire and threatened to make something with it.  Clearly that didn't happen, until last weekend.  Sometimes I'm just so quick on the uptake, it's a wonder my feet don't leave the floor.


I'm not sure what came over me but I had the sudden urge to make these flowers, and then I couldn't stop.  I pretty much used up all the mesh tube I'd bought.  Want to see a close up?


I'm really pleased with how they turned out, so I made them into brooches in the hope that I might be able to sell some at the Craft Fair in December and maybe even in my online shop if I ever get a chance to upload them.


So, you'll be wondering what I made them with?  Well I'll show you, but first I have to apologise for the photo.  I can see you reeling with shock, I mean, my photos are always crap so why the apology for this one?


Well, it wasn't taken on a purple/white piece of wood for a start!  The photo was underexposed, or maybe over exposed, as were all the original photos I took of these flowers.  Instead of retaking this photo when I reshot the flowers in a different room, I just fiddled with this in my photo editing programme. Would you believe it originally looked worse than that??

Anyway, as you can see, it's a knitted mesh tube made from very fine wire.  It starts out shorter and wider and you have to pull it from each end to make it skinny and tight, you can then pull it out, shape it, twist it, turn it and play with it to make ... stuff.



I had enough tube for 2 or three from each colour, less from the ones I used to make leaves. I tried to vary them, some have 2 leaves, some have 1, some have none!

And some have an inner ring, between the central jewel/pearl and the main flower, I don't know if you can make it out in the photos above.


They were pretty easy to make, once I'd got into a rhythm of it.  The first few took ages to get right, but after that, some just worked straight away.


I've kept a couple back as I've got something else in mind for them.  I hope to show you soon, so make a note in your diary around July next year to come back and see if I've done it!  I've still got loads more stuff bought at the Craft Shows to work with, it's about time I got on with it!


P.S. what do you think of the photos?  Better?  I'm happier with them than my usual fare.  Feel free to be brutally honest, I can take it.

14 comments:

JoJo said...

Those are sooooo cool. I wish I had learned to crochet/knit. And photographing jewelry has got to be one of the hardest things to do! I think your pics came out fine. You know you can edit them though; cropping and changing brightness and contrast levels, even tinker with colour temp and saturation. You don't need a photo editing program for it; it comes with your computer.

Nicky said...

Your flowers are fantastic Wendy, so cool, I've never seen anything like this before. I really love the ones with the leaves....

crazydazy said...

these are very pretty...i think the photos are great,...plain background and you can see the detail, ali

Sandra :) said...

I thought there was going to be snot crafting ... I am disappoint :D

The photos are fine (I've never noticed anything not fine about your photos?) and those flowers - I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM! I've never seen that kind of craft supply before but you really NAILED the project - they're just so cool, especially with the bead bling - perfection!

Allie said...

Oh you brilliant girl, these are just lovely! You find the coolest stuff to play with! I would never have seen flowers in those tubes. Love the bling on the flowers. Your pics ARE better - good job. I love the close-ups.

Alison said...

They are gorgeous! I have never seen that mesh stuff before, who would have thought it could make such nice flowers!

Alison
x

Fiona said...

Those are so beautiful and delicate.... not sure why you don't like the pictures...
Hugz

Melody said...

Your brooches are gorgeous. I've not seen that material before. Clever you, to turn it into something so lovely.

Marilyn said...

That looks like interesting stuff to work with and makes cute flowers.

RobynLouise said...

Gorgeous flowers! They'd be lovely sewn onto headbands or with velcro tabs on the back to attach to headbands. Lol, about the photos, I've seen worse and probably posted worse myself. Ask DH to make you a little light box if it bothers you :).

Kim said...

These are beautiful! I have never seen this mesh tube - looks like it would be fun to work with - I love the flowers you made with it. Gorgeous colors too!
-Kim

Nancy Lee said...

These are beautiful! I think you are very, very clever, and I know they are going to sell really well! I think they would be awesome rings as well, if you can find those adjustable ring foundations.

Kara @ Petals to Picots Crochet said...

Very cute!

Celtic Thistle said...

Lovely flowers and a post that won't put me off my tea! I have just signed up for a Craftsy course on taking product photos in the hope that I will have less of the problems you have been having! It is currently on offer too :)