Holiday at Home

This year Mr. Cha Cha and I have stayed home for the holidays instead of traveling. It's a rainy day here in Portland after a month of really dry weather.

Our living room feels like Christmas all year round. I love the deep green walls and the wonderful rug we found that was originally in a lodge on the Oregon coast. It's easy to decorate this room for the holidays by adding some pretty flowering plants. Our nearby dining room is red and it also feels so perfect for this time of year.

I have been mostly making hats lately, but it feels like time to use my spinning wheel again. See--it's beckoning over there across the room. Spinning definitely needs to be on the agenda for tomorrow.

Even one tiny spot in my totally chaotic studio has a bit of Christmas cheer:

All the best to you on this special day. May your loved ones be close in spirit even when there is distance between you, and may your most desired dreams come true in the new year! Much love, Sharon

Holiday Lace

Some pretty things to wear or dream of wearing in your decorated holiday home. Or perhaps there's a party in your future:

Designer Crochet Lace Dress "Irish Roses" by Ruchki & Kruchkl

Green and Pink Mohair Flower Shawl by Starknitting

Holiday Red Lace Fingerless Gloves by vivyrok

Vintage Style Bracelet with Beads Stitched to a Ribbon Lace by Mintook

Raspberry Coffee Liqueur Crochet Empire Waist Gown by TranscendentBird

Ruffle Lace Scarf by knittingFashion

Pretty Holiday Home Accessories

Some lovelies to cheer your holiday home:

Baby Girl Pink Hand-painted Christmas Ornament by Pearle's Pretty Pieces

Scented Silk Flowers - Rose Anemone Hydrangea Berries by Melrose Fields

Merlot Hearts Gift Set Soap Favors by BUBBLECITYSOAP

Pysanka Batik Hand-painted Egg Ornaments by ukrainianeastereggs

Single Red and Pink Bud Vase by cynthiavardhan

10 Beautiful Shabby Chic Pink Rose Victorian Light Covers by Shabby Sweets

From the Winter Garden

It lifts my spirit to see some of the lovely creations that people have made. Take a look at these and see if they cheer you:

Winter Love--Pressed Flower Glass Pendant by giftforallseasons

Bridal Lace Clutch by ANGEEW

Crochet Flower Earrings by seragun

Wings of Iris-Organza Necklace by jewelra

Felt brooch Chrysanthemum by jooruma

You can see more of this collection here. It's a very dreamy one to get us all in the mood for winter.

He Has Left Us

No one can prepare you for a beloved parent's passing. Even when you know it is inevitable, you are not prepared for the grief that you will feel, and no one can convey the depth of it to you in advance.

My father passed away on 11/11/11, Veteran's Day and also the Canadian Day of Remembrance. It felt like he slipped out through a tear in the space-time continuum.

My family entered a fugue state. We all could help take care of arrangements, but at the same time each of us felt a sense of unreality cloak our world. The words surreal and unimaginable took up a predominant place in our vocabulary during the week after his passing.

The sense of surreality is but slowly fading as memories of my father grow stronger each day.  Shared stories of times with him has made us all smile through our daily tears.

I will forever feel his presence inside me when I make decisions, hug a loved one, or observe the unbounded sky overhead. I will miss him immensely.

The Traveling Victorian Family

A little holiday gift collection inspired by a Victorian family that travelled throughout Europe by rail. Click on the image to go to the collection and find out more about these treasures.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Crochet Jewelry: Linen Inspiration

It is so inspiring to see what others are creating in beads and fiber. Any of these crocheted jewelry pieces would make beautiful gifts for a loved one (or yourself).

Some pieces combine elegance with a rustic sensibility, like this beautiful crocheted necklace:

Coral Red Flowers - Linen Necklace by GreyHeart of Stone

See more more linen jewelry by this wonderful shop here.

There is pure romance and grace in this lovely necklace crocheted in cotton of a linen color:

Free form flower crochet necklace by FIBreRomance

If you are not looking for flowers, but still want an organic form, how about this spectacular red coral crochet necklace:

Exotic Red Coral Art Scarf Statement Necklace by kanokwalee

And for simplicity of design, don't you love this next necklace and the way it combines the crocheted piece with chain?

Lace Snip Necklace by Nadene

For free form versatility, you can't beat this combination piece:

Handmade Crochet Necklace / Bracelet/ Ring by rRradlonica

This piece can be deconstructed to provide lots of separate jewelry pieces:

This is about the cleverest idea I have seen and a bargain to get so many pieces in one!

Fashion Tapas: Late 20's Style Cloche

Ms. Gish Crochet Cloche by KnotChaCha

It’s a cloche with a tiny flare at the bottom. Just enough of a flare to still call it a cloche. Anything less and you’d have to call it a beanie. The crown is a solid charcoal wool and as the hat swoops down toward the tiny flip of a brim charcoal and black wool alternate in a spiral stripe that ends in a black edge. A vertical row of simple buttons decorates one side.

With this low profile cloche you could picture yourself in the late 1920s, a time when in fashion and actions women had been making statements all decade about their independence and worth.

As the decade of the twenties wound to a close, "talkies" were replacing silent films and Ms. Gish’s acting career was slowing down. By 1929, the cloche hat had evolved so that it only had the tiniest of brims—similar to what you see on this hat. Ms. Gish did not appear on screen during that year. I’d like to think that while she was not working she might have crocheted a hat like this for herself or a friend.

Heaviness

My heart feels so heavy because it is inevitable that my elderly father, currently on hospice, will leave us.  Several times this past week it felt like his passing was imminent.  And then he would show resiliency. We all would embrace hope, only to have it dashed against the rocky shore of reality when he would decline once more.

This journey through hope and sorrow with my mom and my siblings has been so poignant and painful.

I haven't posted much lately and wanted to write something, but I cannot much think today of fashion accessories . . . so here are some of my sweet photo favorites and one sweet little dress from Etsy sellers whose shops I recommend when you are looking for the perfect holiday gift for someone you love.

Playful Red Fox in Winter by levimitchellphotos

Red Rose Photograph by FirstLightPhoto

Red Bike by Raceytay

Mississippi River Sunset by LaCanforaPhotos

Accidental Heart by RobinPanzer Art

Horse Photography by EyePoetryPhotography

Girls' Dress Vintage Inspired Jane Austen in Shabby Roses by vintageprecious

Time Flies While Working with Beads and Fiber

Well, actually I find that time flies even when I am not working with beads and fiber. Especially at  this time of year the days pass so quickly. My studio is filling up with hats at the moment. (There will be some more chapeau photos soon.)

Meanwhile, please enjoy some eye candy from some very talented fiber and bead artists. The palette of this collection recalls Spring, but each item could easily be worn year round:

Cavandoli Spring Pendant by JoanBabcockDesigns

Long Soutache Earrings by DILETTANTEsoutache

Crochet Organic Bracelet by Fillis Seitisleam

Wrapped Wool Necklace with Felted Balls by mellisam4715

Beaded Bracelet Set by TamaraScottDesigns

You can see some more wonderful work by bead and fiber artists in this collection I curated on Etsy.

Mrs. Chaplin's Cloche

Valerie is so excited to be back home modeling hats again, and loves to show off this new design of mine:

The classically-shaped two-color cloche has a brim that can be worn down or turned up on one side. A simple button-flower decorates one side:

This hat design will be produced in two sizes. The smaller size (women's Sm/Med) will work best for head circumferences 21-22 inches and the larger size (women's Med/Lg) for a 22-23 inch measurement. I'll be listing some in the shop by this weekend. Be sure to stop by and see some of the color combinations. The one featured here is in burnt orange and plum.

Midnight Girl 1880

In the mood for a little modern Victorian eye candy? Some lovely accessories, just perfect for the season:

Blue Wool Asymmetrical Three Snap Cape by milocreativestudios

Vintage Style Enameled Silver Brooch by splendent

Goth Style Lace Wedding Fan by kroowka

Midnight Ballet Velvet Tulle Cuffs by MySecretFace

Bolero by angelinadesign

Denim Jean Spats by Fabulize

Asymmetric Ruffle Bag by Stacy Leigh

Best Cookies by Portland Peeps!

I recently won a delicious giveaway on the Portland Peeps blog--these amazing chocolate and sea salt cookies:

Cindy, the genius cook, baker, and photographer who writes the blog has generously posted the recipe.

Go visit her blog and drool over her amazing photos of mouthwatering food. You might just want to follow her!