Yarn Art with MeeksSandyGirl

 

MeeksSandyGirl

Eco-friendly materials for jewelry abound if you are open to the unconventional. A renewed interest in the old textile crafts like crochet and lace has percolated into other unrelated crafts including jewelry. Some amazing work has been done 'recycling' the old time crafts into something novel!

I'm happy to feature Sandy Meeks of meekssandygirl on Etsy, who has that rare combination of skill, talent and creativity to make something truly unique. I was astounded at the amazing work when I first visited her shop and later thrilled to learn that her cashmere yarn comes from upcycled sweaters!

She makes a variety of items including necklaces, bracelets and brooches as well as non-jewelry items like hair clips, corsages, scarfs, hats and mittens. Remember the bacon and eggs baby mittens from my last post?

Here's what she had to say:
I was an art major in college when I met my husband in 1992 in our painting class (he too is an artist). We have 2 children, ages 14 and 3. We reside in Hot Springs National Park Arkansas.

What are you most proud about and why?
Of all my pieces I have made, I really enjoy the sculptures, where I can put as much tiny details as I can!

What is your favorite piece?
It would be hard to choose between my heart mansion, and my Beatles inspired sculpture of "The Fool On The Hill"

Amigurumi Heart Mansion

The Fool on The Hill

Many of your flower pieces are based on real flowers with their accurate names - am I right in assuming you have a passion for plants/flowers?
:) It is not me that has the passion for flowers, that would be my late Grandmother, who had about a hundred green thumbs LOL!"

And yet look how true to their names these flowers are!

Dianthus Necklace

Pink Fuchsia Necklace

What inspires you?
I love Art Nouveau, the shapes, the curved lines, the botanical nature about it, Mucha is my favorite artist of that era.

Why have you chosen to use recycled yarn?
When I first started to recycle yarn (about 12 years ago) it was because I craved nicer quality yarn but did not have access to it in my hometown.

What do you hope to accomplish in the new year?
I really need to get more organized LOL!

I love how each piece has a pattern developed for it's unique design needs.

Lavender necklace

White orchid necklace

She really had an eye for design and color:

Cherry Blossom Necklace

Yet another style of crochet is used for these next pieces:

Cherry Necklace

 Lemon Necklace

South West Necklace

More of her incredible yarn sculptures including my favorite: an underwater scenery complete with a tropical fish dangling from a coral via fishing wire!

 

The Beatles themed sculptures!

Strawberry Fields Forever

 

For the Benefit of Mr Kite

 

Octopus's Garden

Notice the octopus' little watering can:)

Visit her shop meekssandygirl for more one-of-a-kind eco-friendly yarn art!

Thanks for reading!