May is Here

Spring is in the air in Kansas and tomorrow is May Day.  As a child I made May Baskets, (usually out of construction paper or old wrapping paper) filled them with flowering blooms and gave them to my grandmother who lived near us.  Of course she was thrilled.  When my children came home with May Baskets from school, they put little posies in them and gave them to our elderly next door neighbors.  (Their grandmas lived 500 miles away.)  The neighbors loved them.  What a neat tradition to let the elderly know they are still appreciated.

May basket are very easy to make.  My favorite designer, Elizabeth Ann White, has a free tutorial and pattern for making a very quick and easy may basket.

http://bellacrochet.blogspot.com/2009/04/grannys-may-day-basket.html

This is a very simple pattern and would work up rather quickly.  Her tutorial will guide you right through the process.  Who wouldn't love such a surprising and sweet gift.  It can be filled with flowers, soaps, dried flower arrangements or little treats to be hung on the door knob.  (My kids always rang the doorbell so that the neighbor knew there was a gift just for them)

Ann has so many wonderful patterns on her website.  Having bought from her I can say they are well written with lots of helpful hints and well worth the money.  Check out her wonderful doilies, baby designs, crochet accessories and even some free patterns at: http://bellacrochet.com/

Happy May Day to all and especially to the elderly in our communities.  What would life be like without their patience, wisdom and kindness.  Do you have any plans for surprising  someone tomorrow? 

A Fabulous Fiber Artist on Etsy

Etsy has so many wonderful fiber artist on it is hard to pick one to showcase.  I just came across Karine Aber's http://www.karart2010.etsy.com/.  It is a fantastic gallery of artwork.  In her Crochet Lace section she has these wall hangings.

She says, "A Crochet Lace Tapestry for a wall decoration, that I am making out of sewing threads #50 with 13/14-0.7mm steel hook. This kind of crocheted lace is very delicate, and is more akin to laces like bobbin lace, since the thread used is so tiny. I hope you like the tapestry with this type of fragile crochet work."

She also has a needle lace section with needle lace tapestries.  I have only seen this type of work in Antique stores and this is the first time I have come across a modern artist continueing this fine work on.

She says, "Needle lace also known as needlelace or needle-made lace is a type of lace.

In its purest form the only equipment and materials used are a needle, thread and scissors, to stitch up hundreds of small stitches to form the lace itself.This form of lace making originated in Armenia where there is evidence of a lace making tradition dating back to the pre-Christian era."

She has a section of wall tapesties called Drawn Thread work (or Hardanger Embroidery).

She says, "Drawn Thread Work is a form of counted-thread embroidery based on removing threads from the warp and the weft of a piece of weaved fabric. The remaining threads are grouped and bundled together into a variety of patterns."

Her shop has tapestries also in hand embroidery, macrame, tapestry and mixed media. Karine's work and attention to detail is truely amazing and each item is a one of a kind work of art.

Karine has a shop for gift items all made by her, if you are interested in buying a one of a kind gift.  That shop's name is http://www.createandenjoy.etsy.com/  It is full of her amazing fiber art work.

She says she was, "Born and grown up in Armenia. Moved to the United States in 2006.


Obtained a Bachelors Degree of the Miniature Painter in Art Education from Arts College of Erevan, Armenia, and a Master’s Degree of the Teacher of Arts and Crafts from The Department of Arts of State Pedagogical University of Erevan, Armenia. Has 25 years teaching experience in Arts and Crafts at the Secondary School and at the Department of Arts and Crafts in the State University of Armenia.

The arts works has been exhibited in Galleries.

Has created works of art for restaurants, hotels, professional offices and residences. The works are also in private collections throughout: Armenia, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Canada and in many states of United States of America.

In 2009, has opened own Arts and Crafts Studio "KARART" in Holiday, Florida, USA."

Check out her wonderful gallery of fiber art work http://www.etsy.com/shop/KarArt2010 or buy a gift from her gift shop at http://www.createandenjoy.etsy.com/.  Fiber Art will never die as long as we have artist's like Karine producing such amazing work.