Maybe I'm being too hard on myself, but the new scarf is a disappointment thus far.

It took 3 tries to get something other than burnt orange, and it's still not a deep red like I wanted, but is more of a scarlet red with darker areas and lighter areas.

I've just started pulling the strings out, only one Kumo design is showing up so far, clearly, the other few are so faint as to be almost nonexistant.

Not happy with it.

Maybe it'll get better when I get it all pulled out and wash it again. Maybe the design will show up better. Who knows.

But right now, I'm not happy with it.

And it was supposed to be a wedding gift. Now, I don't have the time to do another.}:(

I ... just dunno.

From this, the one on the right is the finished scarf. The one on the left is being worked on now...



To this... Scarf was 14"x72" by the way...



To THIS... hard to believe that large of a scarf tied down into something less than a foot long and 3 inches wide...

To soaked in soda ash solution, then dunked in blue Procion MX dyes, allowed to dry, then rinsed and allowed to dry again...



To pulling out the strings, two days later...



To washing again and ironing it flat (this was wet)...



To the finished product. This is Kumo Shibori. This is awesomeness.}:P And makes 5 types of Shibori I have attempted and succeeded in varying degrees.

As yet unnamed, so as yet unlisted.

I dyed 3 silk scarves 2 days ago, 2 Habotai and 1 Crepe De Chine. I was trying for a nice rich golden ecru color. Well, only one of the three came close. This isn't that one. Heh.

One the dyehard email list, they were discussing Shibori and the 'Kumo' or spiderweb method that someone else had a specialized tool for creating this style with. So we were brainstorming how to do this method without that tool.



Yesterday, I asked Mark to stop by the store and pick me up some string on his way home. All he could find was Jute twine. So that's what I'm attempting on one scarf to see if it'll work.



It's a slow process, and I've already given myself a blister. Add to this, the silk is 14" wide and 72" long. This is going to take awhile.



Hopefully it'll all be worth it.

Sneak preview of 2 new silk scarves- one in crepe de chine, the other habotai. Hope to have them listed for sale by Monday.

Witching Hour by *WolfSilverOak on deviantART

'Witching Hour'
100%Habotai Silk Scarf
8"x56" flat, 6"x56" pleated


Third in my new Dark Series, 'Witching Hour' is an Arashi Shibori, OOAK hand dyed silk scarf, with hand beaded points, using sterling silver seed beads, Fire polished Austrian crystals, silver-grey rounds and silver tone, heavy skull and crossbones charms.

Black as the deepest hour of night, with hints of deep blue and silver from Pearl Ex powder suspended in fabric medium, then dry brushed on and thoroughly steam ironed for durability, this unique piece is perfect for wearing as a neck wrap or even a stylish belt.

Available Here




Northern Lights Silk Scarf by *WolfSilverOak on deviantART

'Northern Lights'
100% Habotai Silk
8"x54" flat, 6"x54" pleated

Hand dyed using Procion MX dyes, this gorgeous, OOAK silk scarf was Arashi shibori wrapped, then discharged, then over dyed again, giving it a myriad of depths to the colors.

Within one scarf, you'll see deep navy, blacks, indigos, violets, silvery whites, even pale blues and lavenders in the folds.


Available Here

And finally, the Hand Dyed 100% Cotton Bandanas-


Akita Rescue Bandanas by *WolfSilverOak on deviantART

100% Cotton, Hand dyed Banadanas
32" on long side, 21" on short sides
To be hand stenciled with Akita Stencil at ' point', in choice of Silver, or Gold.

These cotton bandanas are lightweight, hand dyed and easy to wear. Perfect length for not only wearing wrapped around your hair, but also as a neck kerchief.

Dyed using Procion MX dyes, and to be hand stenciled day of purchase in your choice of either Silver or Gold.

100% of the proceeds from each bandana sold goes to benefit Akita Rescue.

Your choice of colors-

A- Firey Oranges
B- Bronze and Loden
C- Cinnamon and Clove
D- Vanilla and Plum
E- Turbulant Ocean
F- Oak and Nutmeg

Available Here

more coming soon.

The general misconception that simply because some of the supplies can be cheap, the finished product needs to be as well.

How do I put this...

I do this for a living, or try to. I KNOW what they cost. I also know exactly how much certain fiber reactive dyed for use with those scarves cost, what it takes in terms of my time and my energy to create ONE of my scarves. I also know how much it costs to simply list a scarf and sell it (20 cents to list, 3.5% of the sale, on Etsy), as well as how much it cost for packaging that I use and what it costs to ship.

Now, given this is my JOB, if I don't pay myself, then, yes, I could probably sell a scarf for roughly 20.00 and make a profit. Especially if they or I don't donate anything.

But given that I value my time, my energy and my talent far more than that, and given the fact that I donate 50% of my proceeds from each sale, I simply cannot sell a scarf at bare bottom prices. Which is what a lot of people do.

Yes, Dharma is relatively cheap, IF you only buy the Habotai, IF you only use certain sizes. I don't just use Habotai, I don't just use the smaller sizes. I use Crepe De Chine, Stone washed Crepe De Chine, Habotai, Charmeuse, etc, etc... as well as a wider range of sizes.

That adds up.

Then you add in the cost of certain fiber reactive dyes, that I do not buy from Dharma, and in order to get any sort of profit from THOSE, you need to buy in large quantities, and for certain colors, THAT adds up.

Add in Soda Ash, Synthrapol, PVC pipe for Shibori if you decide to go that route, string for shibori, Thioxurea for discharging, beads, FireLine, charms, semi precious stones, whathaveyou if you decide to embellish them, whatever soap and fabric softener you prefer to hand wash your finished piece in after rinsing the excess dye out, your water bill, your electric bill, and gee, it's not simply 5.00 to create one scarf anymore.

But customers don't see that. They see a gorgeous scarf at a low price, and they see another gorgeous scarf at a higher price and automatically want the cheaper price. And expect that everyone should sell at the cheaper price.

That's where I'm coming from.

Yes, it is a nice thing they are doing, donating their profits, etc. But for them, this appears to be mostly a hobby.

I don't.

I do this as my job and people coming in saying, oh it only costs such and such amount to create one of these, is wrong. That would be like telling a famous painter that because their paints were so cheap, that their canvases were so cheap, they should sell their artwork cheap too. It doesn't work that way.

Heading to New Jersey with Caena, Mark, sister in law, the bro in law and niece tomorrow morning.

Going up to have an early Thanksgiving with the parents in law.

Kind of hoping they have snow, so I can get pics of Caena playing in it.

Should be interesting- 4 adults, a 7 yr old and a 5 month old puppy in a Chrysler Town & Country minivan (rental, my idea) for 8 hours...

Sooo I'll be back Monday.

Next week, I have 4, possibly 5 silk scarves to photograph and list, as well as the cotton bandannas. Thinking of running a End of year sale too, to try to clear out a bit of stock, so stay tuned for possible discounts on my silk scarves, chainmaille and beadwork.:)

Have a great weekend. Don't do anything I wouldn't do... which isn't much. Most of all, be safe out there.

Autumn Splendor by *WolfSilverOak on deviantART

This stunning silk scarf is the 1st of the Dante-Inu Commermorative Birth Day Scarves. Only one a year will be released, every November. No two will ever be alike, in coloring or style.


Autumn Splendor, close up by *WolfSilverOak on deviantART

Remember these scarves?





Well, if you really like them, now is your chance to buy tickets for the raffle in which they will be given away.

Akita Rescue of Western New York is holding it's Annual Akita Picnic/Fun Day on Sept 13, 2008. At this picnic, raffle drawings will be held for a wide variety of Akita related and non Akita related items.

My 2 scarves will be raffled off as a set. You can own these 2, OOAK , 100% Silk scarves, for mere dollars in the grand scheme of things.

So buy your raffle tickets now. Buy LOTS. all proceeds benefit Akita Rescue.}:)

We're buying a good amount and putting them towards the dog bed/toy basket.}:) Our next Akita won't want for toys if we win. Heh.


And remember, these scarves won't be offered up anywhere else. If you want a silk scarf, and want to help a good cause at the same time, there are still Dante-Inu Memorial Scarves available. 2 Silver and 11 Copper. 50% of each sale goes to Akita Rescue.

Winter Twilight by *WolfSilverOak on deviantART


Dreaming of Autumn by *WolfSilverOak on deviantART


Beneath a Blood Red Sky by *WolfSilverOak on deviantART

When I get the beads added to the 'points' of each of these, they will be listed for sale in my Etsy shop. Most likely Monday evening.


This next one IS NOT FOR SALE. Yesterday was my second niece's 16th Birth Day (16! Yikes!) and this is a part of her Birth Day gift.


Allison's Dream by *WolfSilverOak on deviantART

Ocean Dreams has been listed for sale.




I have 3 more in various stages, that should be ready by Friday(listed by Friday, photos as soon as Thursday afternoon), in 3 different color palates. So keep an eye out. First come, first serve. Remember, there is only ONE of each. Colors can be duplicated, but there will never be another one of the very first ones.