For Crying Out Loud

This summer, the Cicada's summer serenade has penetrated my awareness. They're probably annual cicadas*—not the 13 or 17 year variety—but they're certainly doing a good impersonation, if decibel level is an indication. When something seems to be increasing, I often wonder if the numbers are really on the rise, or just my awareness.

I don't remember the annual cicadas so overpowering their summer companions before—the katydids, crickets and other UCIs (unidentified chirping insects). I've seen more abandoned exoskeletons gripping the screen on my porch as well.

This summer, the prolonged heat has prompted a first for me—running the AC at night. Feeling guilty for this energy extravagance hasn't stopped me from cracking the window a bit so that I can hear the Cidadas' song.

How does this relate to necklaces? Scarab beetles (another visually interesting insect) have been depicted in jewelry, why not Cicadas? I've added this to my list of get-around-to-it-someday projects. A needlewoven Cicada (necklace or pin). Not sure how I'll do the wings, but the eyes are bugging begging to be represented by beads.

I'm often torn between accuracy, at the field guide level, and allowing artistic ideas to dominate. When (if) I make a necklace or pin representing a Cicada, I hope it will be recognizable, yet quirky. I'm not sure if this reveals my Gemininess or my indecisiveness.

*We used to call them locusts.

Making a Mini Tapestry

Yesterday I attended the first half of a two-part mini-tapestry workshop at Yarns Unlimited, a local treasure on the square in Bloomington Indiana. Surrounded by beautiful fibers and examples of completed projects was a bit distracting, as beautiful items caught my eye—but so inspiring!

The course description sounded much like needleweaving, so I signed up, hoping to learn more about weaving and pick up some tips on instruction. I wasn't disappointed.

Suzanne Halvorson's informal and informative teaching style put everyone at ease, and convinced us that we would all end up with a nice little tapestry—eventually. Patience is required, but the process somehow restores those reserves of patience.

While the weaving itself was familiar, the loom set up was not. This photo shows the start of my little tapestry next to a warped necklace I'm using in a Needleweaving Tutorial. My method strings the warp on the face of the board, using pins to hold the thread.

Here's how the thread is wrapped around a Foam-Core board for the tapestry warp.

The new method has some advantages. No pins to catch the weaving fibers (or prick from the underside), and finer detail is possible. Needleweaving uses one warp thread per quarter inch; the mini tapestry uses three. The result in scale is like the difference between needlepoint and petitpoint. Strangely, it doesn't seem take three times longer to weave.

Despite the pins, my usual technique has a few plusses. It's fun to incorporate beads, different shapes can be created and beating the fibers tight is easier. So I won't abandon my old ways, but will likely weave a few new ideas and methods into my future work.

At the end of the two-hour session, our warps were strung and we'd all begun weaving. We'd learned how to add and end threads, change colors, and create some different effects. I relearned how fun it is to be with others who share my interest in weaving. The completed Mini Tapestry will be the bonus.

August Needleweaving Workshop!

On August 21, I'll be leading a Beginning Needleweaving Workshop. The day long class will include basic needleweaving techniques, color theory and loom set-up. Leave with a one-of-a-kind necklace and a new skill.

The Traditional Arts Building at 46 E. Gould Street in Nashville, Indiana will be the location of the workshop. The class will last 7 hours, from 10am til 5 pm with a one hour break for lunch.

The fee is $55, with all materials (but not meals) included. For more information, or to register for the workshop, email: info@dayidadesigns.com.

Fashion v.s. Style: The Statement Necklace—an oxymoron?

Free-form macremé (statement) necklace

So that’s what they are! I’ve been making necklaces for a few years and just learned that in the fashion world, they're known as Statement Necklaces. Names and labels can affect our perceptions, even about things we’re already familiar with.

These thoughts came to mind when I realized my handmade jewelry fell into a category I’d never heard of. What if I marketed them as statement necklaces? Would that alone create demand? Would I feel I was conforming to a fashion trend rather than setting one? Would it matter?

I puzzled a bit about fashion and its relationship with style. Fashion is something you pay attention to as you are still developing your own style. Its what you spend money on hoping to be an early adopter of what later becomes standard before quickly becoming obsolete. Style has more staying power.

What is the statement that a Statement Necklace makes? A personal one, in that people choose jewelry that appeals to them, saying, “This is Me—the individual.”  But there’s a statement of conformity too—wearing bold jewelry that draws attention is currently trendy. Now the message becomes, “I belong—and identify with a larger group.”

I like to think that my days of following fashion trends are over (but I also have a clear memory of being absolutely certain I’d never wear a skirt that fell below the knees).
I’m reminded of a song by the Austin Lounge Lizards describing someone who became a non-conformist, because all his friends were non-conformists too.

Wanting to belong to a group, yet hoping to feel unique isn’t as much a struggle as a balancing act. Mood, age, experience, exposure to new ideas, art and yes, fashion can shift this balance. We settle back to our baseline, then lean out of our comfort zones—whether to cause a stir, or conform. 

Perhaps the statement necklace isn’t an oxymoron after all. Maybe it’s versatile enough to be both trendy and unique. I’m not sure I want to conform to the trend and use the term statement necklace. I’ll let the work speak to the wearer, since in life and art, the message given and the one perceived are rarely the same.

My necklaces may send mixed messages, but usually they create more conversation than confusion. Perhaps statement necklace is simply a new way of saying conversation piece.