Saturday, March 26, 2011

A basket (house), wind chimes, a monolith and a chain ladder

You are probably wondering what all these images have to do with each other. The answer is they are the inspiration of my newest jewelry which you can see below...wind chimes necklace, basket bib, chain ladder, ball locket and monolith necklace.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Hair Glasses Beard



 I'm starting to make a pattern, Last year for our anniversary I gave my husband an embroidered portrait of us this year I made my husband this (embroidered portrait of us). I wonder what (embroidered portrait) I will make him next year.
You can order your own hair portrait in my etsy shop.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Winter Tams




I lost my favorite beret on the day before thanksgiving so I decided to make a new favorite. I spent my winter making them, I made three in total. Above are the last two I made, the first isn't here because I didn't like the way it turned out so I unraveled it. Here they are, right before Spring. The first one is a Dandelion Yellow Bobble Tam and looks like it was made to match that sweater (but it was just a coincidence). The second is a Papaya and Pumpkin Cable Tam, made out of the same home spun yarn as the Papaya Shrug I'm wearing. Also in that photo, I'm wearing the Brass Jungle Gym Locket.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The IL GATTO SELVATICO Key Chain

This was my weekend/day off project, making all of these. I will be giving them away as gifts for people who spend $75 or more. Want it? Start shopping? Just kidding, you can also buy them for $12.

Monday, March 14, 2011

A Wall Hanging Has Finally Been Made

I have been meaning to make wall hanging versions of my map necklaces for a while now. I thought they would be good for men and people who don't like loud jewelry.
I have finally made the first one. It is a map of Switzerland. I have made it as a gift for my grandmother and also as part of the "who do you think you are" challenge of the Indie Free Spirits Team.

Friday, March 4, 2011

New Jewelry




This is some of the new jewelry in my shop or coming soon. Feathers and arrows and one more map necklace.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

El Anatsui





I found the work of El Anatsui in the Met in the African art section and in the contemporary American art wing. I was captivated by it both times. The use of hard, unconventional materials to make woven like tapestries really intrigued me. El Anatsui is a Ghanaian artist who has worked mostly in Nigeria.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Feline Cutaneous Asthenia






















This amazing embroidered wall hanging is by Jaclyn Rose of holidaytart. She free handed this on the sewing machine, amazing! This piece is called Feline Cutaneous Asthenia which means winged cat, it's a real thing. Here are some photos of cats with wings.




















I put two flying cats in one of my paintings before I knew it was possible for cats to have wings.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

My Work Space


Here is my desk where I keep all my tools and materials for jewelry and clothing and accessory making. I work here, but also I do a fair amount of work on my bed or couch too. I guess I'm just a couch potato.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Recent Favorites

Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi Lower Dens Twin Hand Movement Raymond Carver Short Cuts








Twin Hand Movement by Lower Dens was the last really good album I listened to. It's Jana Hunters new project and it is really good, just like her other stuff! Here is one of the songs from the album, Rosie, preformed live.



Short Cuts by Raymond Carver was the last really good book I read. Robert Altman also made it into a film in 1993, also called Short Cuts, I can't wait to see it (it's in my Netflix Queue). There's an amazing cast including Tom Waits, Julianne Moore, Robert Downey Jr. and more.

Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi was the last really good film I saw. It's like a happy Isreali vision of Good Will Hunting, it's about a math wiz Isreali high school kid (Shlomi) who everyone (including his family) thinks is dumb until his teacher and principal discover him. Watch the trailer



Tell me what your recent favorites are, this way we can share suggestions!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Map Mountains

















You know me! I love me some good map art! These are Map Mountains by Louis Reith. Found at Miss Moss.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Unconventional Jewelry




















All of these colorful geometric necklaces are made of unconventional i.e. non metal jewelry materials. The are made of paper, wood, polymer clay and fabric. From top left going around clockwise: 1. Stack of Cubes by spinthread (embroidered with embroidery floss and backed with lace) 2. Play Ground Twist by riasioux (made of polymer clay), 3. Geometric Triangle Necklace Bluegreen by spoonfulofmint (made of hand painted wood), 4. Color Coding Necklace by jewiseha (made of folded paper).

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day


















I made this for my husband. It's quirky, I know. I used passport photos of us that we had to take over and over again last year to go through the green card process for him. (My husband is Italian and we currently live in America).

Friday, February 11, 2011

I need 36 hours in each day!






















I've put this scarf by Franki Morello here to me is a reminder that I want to make cabled and fair isle knitted, woven looking black and white and colorful infinity scarfs for next winter. I have too many arts and crafts project ideas and not enough time to execute them. Sound familiar?

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Lt Camus






























































I love this soviet army inspired jewelry from the Marquis and Camus Collection, this particular line is called Lt. Camus. It's very Doctor Zhivago. This first necklace is truly amazing, it's huge! It comes across the bust and sits on the hips like a Miss America pageant sash! It even has a monocle attached to it! via accessories

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Free Shipping Thank you Coupon

ilgattoselvatico embroidered leather and metal jewelry free shipping coupon













I'm offering FREE SHIPPING to all you blog readers and followers as a way to say thank you! Use this code at checkout SCLNTWRKFREESHIPPING. You can you this for ANY item in my shop and it is good for the entire purchase. You may use this coupon as many times as you like.
offer will expire on March 9.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

I need a new backpack

Korean Bag by Hang Loose





















I found this backpack from hang loose
today on a blog called accessories (all about accessories obviously). This company is from Korea and the website is in Korean and has a picture of Bob Dylan in the top right corner of the banner.
They also have some amazing woven scarfs.

































































pendleton for nike
















Pendleton has also made woven nike sneakers which look pretty cool but unfortunately I don't support nike.
via accessories.

Miharayasuhiro FW11 Knit bag






















I love this! It inspires me to knit one too! via accessories.