Belts, Sashes, and Guitar Straps

 
Making pieces to order has always been challenging. They are not born out of my own inner feelings, but from a customer request. Requests can be very precise as well as quite vague as to what the finished piece will look like. Working to commission provides opportunities to push the technical and design boundaries, which in turn develops and stimulates my own work. The design process for the double braids with picked up patterns is intricate, requiring accurate pre-planning and single minded concentration while making. Though I have worked in wool fibres at a customer’s request, my own preference is to work in silk. Commissions are welcomed.

 

		Braid made to compliment Liberty of London 1912 silver and enameled buckle. Log Cabin design using fine pre-dyed kumihimo silk, braided on takadai.
		This dress belt was made to compliment the silver buckle that has inset moon stones and a water pearl attached to the chain. A Log Cabin design in five shades of light colours, the braid in the background is another Log cabin design both were made using fine pre-dyed kumihimo silk. Braided on takadai.
		The Navaho silver and turquoise pieces were provided with a request to attach them to a braid to be used as a belt. The belt was made on a marudai with 30/3 pre-dyed silk.
		This guitar strap was made from wool. Once the pick up design had been established, the wool (provided by the customer's sheep) was worsted spun, hand dyed using natural dyes, and braided. Then the specially designed silver buckle and the finished braid were sent to the saddle maker to attach non-leather guitar fittings.
		Guitar Strap with broken arrow pick up design made with worsted spun undyed wool yarns, with specially designed silver buckle inlaid with turquoise bead. Made on takadai.
		The colours and pick up design motives were specified and the turquoise beaded buckle provided. The motifs had to be positioned accurately along the belt length, and the blue edge was added as a design feature. The braid was made from 20/3 silk on a takadai.
		Three coloured belt for which the buckle was provided, the silver tang was designed to match the buckle. The pick up braid was made from 2 ply pre-dyed silk yarn. Braided on takadai.