But what you need to know, is that what I’m about to show you will knock your socks off and you must check our Lashell’s Etsy store to fall in love some more: http://www.etsy.com/shop/designtalentedone

Check out this hat that was made with our very own Desert Caravan Recycled Silk Sari Ribbon Click to check it out

As Erin so beautifully described herself: I hand-knit scarves, hats, and other items, and upcycle old clothing into bags. I try to live my life in a simple, peaceful, and environmentally conscious way, and my craft reflects that way of life. I call my work “environmentally conscious” because I try to keep the environment in mind when making my work. Sometimes that means using all-natural materials or buying materials from local sellers. Other times it means saving materials from becoming trash by reusing, recycling, or upcycling, whichever you prefer to call it. Like I say on my site, I believe that with a little creativity, you can find a use for almost anything.

I personally find that refreshing and on the cutting edge. It’s motivation to where we should all strive to be on our crafting adventures.

Check out some of the items in her etsy store! Again, here’s that link! erinmapes.etsy.com

Well, this post (forgive me Erin) was inspired by our own Erin Mapes. You know her! She’s one of our very talented featured artists and you should go and visit her etsy store: erinmapes.etsy.com

Instead of me re-telling you the story, read about the touching project Erin did:

I used some of your recycled sari silk in an art project with one of my classes earlier this year (I’m an art teacher here in DC). One of their classmates was shot and killed one weekend, and we wanted to do a project in his memory. So I created a mobile structure out of bent wire hangers that I wrapped in sari silk, and I gave them each a long piece. They had to cut a shape out of stiff paper and write a wish or thought for this boy, Oscar, then attach it to the string and hang it from the mobile. We put it up in the room as a memorial, and it’s still hanging there now. I attached a picture of it below. The light’s not that great, so it doesn’t look like anything spectacular, but the kids really enjoyed making it, and they LOVED the yarn. They thought it was the coolest thing in the world and were all asking to take pieces home with them, lol. So thanks for having such a shiny, colorful yarn to brighten up my students’ day. ~Erin

And here is a picture. It’s fantastic that all of the students could come together and create something so beautiful and touching for such a difficult subject.

I came up with a super quick no knit, no crochet Cowl/Scarf. This quick craft project is also easy and fun to do with a child as it requires just the skill of braiding and having fun with the textures.  I find there is such beauty in yarns that it’s sometimes nice to just display that fact on it’s own and that’s where the inspiration came from for this scarf. All you need are three lengths of about 5 feet of Recycled Silk Sari Ribbon . I used my arms length to measure this. You may want more or less depending on how many loops you’d like around your neck or how long you’d like it to drape.

I first knotted the three ends together. I then loosely braided the Recycled Silk Sari Ribbon together for about 7 inches, then knotted it off. I then jumped about 4 inches and put another knot in the ribbon, braided the remainder and tied to the end to make a loop. You don’t have to loop it. You can just knot both ends and where it as a long slinky scarf that’s perfect for summer. And that’s it! This yarn is so darn rustic and funky and artsy, I wanted to make a simple items that shows it off and I think this does a lovely job doing it.

A variation I did with the ribbon was cut my favorite sections from the Recycled Silk Sari Ribbon and then tie them back together so that way I could make sure I got all of my favorite colors in the piece. I can’t wait to wear it out! you Buy the Sari Ribbon By Clicking HERE!

What do you think?

Check out our collection of Whimsical Notions by clicking on the picture below:

Look at what she’s been doing with our Recycled Silk Sari Yarn

Mudhound Studios Click Here to Visit the Blog!

The creativity of Darn Good Yarn’s Etsy Shop owners is so inspiring, isn’t it? Well, I had to introduce you to Lisa. Lisa’s blog profile describes here the best: Mixed media artist with hunter-gatherer tendencies whose work is characterized by rust, layers, found objects, depth, texture, tone on tone, vintage textiles, nature, antique finds, details, metal, wire, manipulation and continual inspiration

Read about her visually stunning adventures in crafting on her blog: http://mudhoundprimitives.blogspot.com/

But of course mon petit chou chou, you can visit Lisa’s Etsy store: http://www.jmozart.etsy.com

Lisa’s favorite Darn Good Yarn? Well, she loves picking from our Dessert Menu of Solid Colored Recycled Silk Sari Ribbon

Just look at some of the wonderful items you can purchase there:

love notes fabric collage click to check it out!

Sun Maiden Click to check it out

The Dessert Menu: Solid Recycled Silk Sari Ribbon Yarn

“Our nomadic spirits wander Anatolia and beyond to Central Asia to find the elements to make treasures we love, from the best semi-precious stones to beautiful vintage handwoven textiles. Many items we offer are made by myself, my husband or other local artisans here in Western Turkey, using time honored traditions. Our suzanis come from the Central Asian countries of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.”

Oh I’m intrigued! Are you?

Check out the mixing of hemp with Sifa in these washcloths and read more about the Sifa and Hemp Washcloth here (taken from http://www.etsy.com/listing/48943965/sifa-yasmin-and-hemp-face-cloth):

“Sifa” cotton is produced in the Northern Western Marmara region of Turkey by The Knit Box http://theknitbox.com. Naturally grown Turkish fibers are treated with the metal silver to give them healing and soothing properties. This traditional process leaves a linen-like look and a crisp hand for cleaning softly and naturally.

We’ve added a hemp yarn to these cloths to give them an extra scrubbable surface, if our Sifa Jasmin cloth is too soft.

Darn Good Yarn's Hemp used in Sifa Yasmin and Hemp WashCloth Made by Etsy's bazaarbayar Click to Visit the Store

Darn Good Yarn's Hemp used in Sifa Yasmin and Hemp WashCloth Made by Etsy's bazaarbayar Click to Visit the Store

Get Your Hemp and Nettle by Clicking The Ball of Hemp

Fantastic Feats of Yarn

Wow!

Sometimes, you run across fiber artists that blow your socks off and I have the privilege of supplying yarn to this type of artist, meet Nancy of Nancyyule.com! Please take a moment and poke around (and buy!) http://www.nancyyule.com

It will inspire and amaze you. I bet you never thought fiber could loop and turn and suspend the way Nancy makes it. I didn’t either until I saw the pictures! Feel free to click on any of the pictures below and it will take you over to her site!

Thank you for inspiring all of us Nancy!

Nancy in Action

Glorious Purses Made by Nancy

Write your dreams in this fiber laced notebook!