Silk Yoyo Brooch

I love mixing textiles with jewelry, and this project is an easy way to do just that. You could experiment with different kinds of fabric and ribbon, or incorporate dyed corks, charms, or beads.

You will need:

* Dupioni silk, 4" round piece

* Needle and thread, doubled and knotted at the end

* Wine cork with cool graphics

* Coping saw

* Sandpaper

* E6000 glue

* 1 (3") piece of (1.5"-wide) grosgrain ribbon

* Regular scissors

* 1 (11⁄4") pin back

  1. Make the yoyo by folding the outside edge of the silk under 1⁄4" and sewing a running stitch close to the edge, as shown in the illustration.

  2. Gently gather the fabric by pulling on the thread to close the hole almost all the way. Knot and trim the thread. You want the folded-under edge to be on the inside of the brooch.
  3. Cut the cork in half lengthwise with a coping saw, and trim from the sides any unprinted or undesired cork. Sand gently and brush off dust.
  4. Smear some glue on the back of the cork and press into place in the center of the yoyo. Let dry.
  5. Fold the ribbon lengthwise and cut at an angle, as shown in the illustration. Fold over the uncut end about 1⁄2" and sew or glue to center back of the yoyo. (This ensures that ribbon doesn’t unravel.)

  6. Glue the pin back in place on the back of the yoyo, on top of the folded-over ribbon. Let dry.

Wine-Making in New York

New York is the third largest wine-producing state in the United States after California and Washington, but it often gets overlooked in the mind of the public. Until 1960, New York wines came from native American varieties such as Concord, Catawba, Niagara, and Delaware and hybrid grapes such as Seyval Blanc and Baco Noir. The hybrids, in particular, are still produced, but the more popular Vitis vinifera wines have usurped their position. Given New York’s rank among wine-producing states, the state is perhaps better known for its grape juice. Welch’s grape juice is made from the Concord grape, which flourishes in New York. In fact, about 50 percent of New York’s grapes become grape juice.