Welcome

Welcome to Briarly Hill!

These are the musings and ponderings of the Artist from Briarly Designs, an online store of unique, handmade, sterling silver jewelry. I invite you to check out some of the pieces I've made and let me know what you think. Go to: www.briarlydesigns.com

Enjoy!

P.S. - A lot of people come here looking for the whimsical "Shipping & Returns" policy my husband wrote. If you don't see it below, you'll find it in the archives under July 5, 2007.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Blog moving

Due to my web host vanishing and leaving me "high and dry" last fall I am moving my blog to my new website at:

www.briarlyhill.com

Thank you! Hope to see you there. Koni

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

My sheltered children

Tonight, I ventured into cuisineland and served my family homemade French Onion soup. A recipe I snatched from Susie at Juniper Moon Farm. (I left out the wine and the cognac.) The comments ranged from A.) son C- " What's in it?" Me - " onions" (duh!) C- "nothing else?" "what am I supposed to eat?" He was frantic! funniest thing ever! B.) daughter D- "This isn't soup" Dad... "why not, it looks like soup." D- "no, soup is water, seasoning and chunkies" I give up. It was delish and I was pleased with how it turned out. Try it if you're up for a yummy soup!

Friday, January 20, 2012

What I did this week

What i did this week...


Took some very old and sticky black wool yarn and put it on my loom...

In a twill pattern...six yards of it...

Put together a Valentine swap package...with pink

hearts...

and buttons...

I put away more Christmas...


and saved the day, by turning failed pumpkin sludge (ie fudge) into a very yummy pound cake.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Remember the "Push me, Pull me" from Dr. Dolittle? Well, that's kind of how i have felt lately.
Torn between, designing jewelry and my fiber addiction. I have a wonderful opportunity to be in on the "grassroots" development of an art venue in Dayton, Virginia. I love the fact that it is outdoors in a beautiful park-like atmosphere. Probably will regret that when the elements torment me, but for now it seems ideallic. Sigh, I really want my muse to hit me on the head with a 2 x 4. ummm, maybe not. Theoretically, at least. Do I do both? Tell me what you think.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Lichen

Back in December, (it sounds so long ago) I entered a naming contest for Cladia's hand-panted yarns . Low and behold I won! Their new color-way will be called "Lichen".
Over the holidays i knitted and knitted, completing my first lace knitting project since learning to knit in April. Thought i would share a few pics graciously modeled by my gorgeous red-haired daughter.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Dare

I dare you to try something out your comfort zone.
Recently, whilst slogging through the blogging world came upon the cheery blog of Flaming Nora. A Brit and a avid sewer/crafter I took her up on reducing her "scrap heap"dilemma and added to mine. Now I am an avid sewer and crafter, but my challenge was the color of the scraps. I love color! but when i sew, knit, spin or weave I am a very neutral/ fall colorway type person. WOW!


Talk about bright colors and all of them taffeta and duponi? silk? What to do? Luckily the shape and texture of the black saved my day.


I'm thinking Moroccan lights similar to this one. A purse perhaps? I have started and hope to finish before Christmas takes over my life. Try something out of your comfort zone!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Rust

mmmm, how I love rust!
From rusty bolts,


to the color of my youngest daughters hair.

spin it,

Weave it, dye it!

Love it!