Crafters UNITE!

[1QuirkyKiwi]

These paper Roses were specially made for me.

[Medusa]

Ahhhh! A huge crafters sigh can be inserted >here<!

Jack put up a bunch of shelves in my office/craft room today and now I can dig out a bunch of stuff and organize it properly. Most of my craft stuff has been shoved in a huge closet in the office on floor to ceiling shelves that are very deep which means I have two layers of baskets and boxes full of craft supplies.

Projects that are either in progress or that I'm about to start on:

1. a huge canvas cover up self portrait
2. an elongated canvas with a mixed media ode to Mother Mary
3. a custom Tarot card painting for a friend
4. a custom sugar skull for a friend
5. a custom secret for Julie (that is like, a month overdue!)
6. an illustrated children's book that I wrote and intend to publish
7. a trashcan made of rolled paper strips
8. a custom triptych that was commisioned by my Brother (due in June!)
9. another custom piece that was commissioned by my girlfriend, JENNIFUUURRRRRR!
10. a giant paper mache medusa head


In other words, I am covered up with projects in various stages of completion but I like it because I can work on different things if I get bored.

What are you all working on?!

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Ahhhh! A huge crafters sigh can be inserted >here<!

Jack put up a bunch of shelves in my office/craft room today and now I can dig out a bunch of stuff and organize it properly. Most of my craft stuff has been shoved in a huge closet in the office on floor to ceiling shelves that are very deep which means I have two layers of baskets and boxes full of craft supplies.

Projects that are either in progress or that I'm about to start on:

1. a huge canvas cover up self portrait
2. an elongated canvas with a mixed media ode to Mother Mary
3. a custom Tarot card painting for a friend
4. a custom sugar skull for a friend
5. a custom secret for Julie (that is like, a month overdue!)
6. an illustrated children's book that I wrote and intend to publish
7. a trashcan made of rolled paper strips
8. a custom triptych that was commisioned by my Brother (due in June!)
9. another custom piece that was commissioned by my girlfriend, JENNIFUUURRRRRR!
10. a giant paper mache medusa head


In other words, I am covered up with projects in various stages of completion but I like it because I can work on different things if I get bored.

What are you all working on?!

Do you need more hours in the day?

Currently working on:-

Baby blankets for the Special Care Baby Unit (this is an ongoing project). The recent batch of blankets are hemmed and ready for hand Embroidering.

Three Sweaters to hand embroider; they have been sitting in my 'to do' pile since last Summer!

Four wall hangings each with different themes; Ummm....I started these sometie in 2009. They were 'put away' until I had time to do them. I got them out at the weekend in the hopes of doing them as 'inbetween' projects....not sure if that will ever happen, lol!

I have two bed blankets that I started to hand embroider around 2008....I need to focus on doing them at some point....

Two clocks to have the hands and mchanisms fitted.

I have a Blouse cut out ready for sewing (has been for....errr....ummm....).

I've got various clays sitting waiting to be used....

....HELP! LOL!

[The Oopster]

back when I was a kid eons ago I was in Brazil. I had some money to spend and I bought this collection of cut and uncut rocks. Always planned to do something with them and never did. Don't know how good they are and I can guarantee that they are probably no longer matched up with their correct names. (I have spilt the container several times.) However if someone would like them/use them I am willing to part with them. I rather give them to someone here rather then thrift shop them.

My camera battery is dead or I'd try posting a picture!

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by The Oopster

back when I was a kid eons ago I was in Brazil. I had some money to spend and I bought this collection of cut and uncut rocks. Always planned to do something with them and never did. Don't know how good they are and I can guarantee that they are probably no longer matched up with their correct names. (I have spilt the container several times.) However if someone would like them/use them I am willing to part with them. I rather give them to someone here rather then thrift shop them.

My camera battery is dead or I'd try posting a picture!

Hollylane makes beautiful jewelry.

[Novelafemme]

Quilting is something I've never quite mastered but would love to learn one day! I am constantly on the search for the perfect quilt...someday I'll make one.

[Medusa]

I am also really interested in quilting. All that cutting looks very cathartic but I am not allowing myself to get started on any more projects until I clear at least half of what is on my list

[Leigh]

I was looking and going through boxes of old things from my past, finding stuff from when I was a child and even from 6-7 years ago and then I came across a whole bunch of cross stitch books that I've been look for for ages now ~ two of them even have projects that I haven't finished yet! So I can now finish some projects that I never got to before

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by Medusa

I am also really interested in quilting. All that cutting looks very cathartic but I am not allowing myself to get started on any more projects until I clear at least half of what is on my list

What about trying hand quilting when your other projects are finished?

I enjoy hand Quilting a lot; also doing Sashiko (Japanese hand Quilting). I can sit for hours stitching by hand, yet, I've never been mad keen on sitting for hours using my sewing machines....for me they're a means to an end.

I greatly admire people who can do Patchwork Quilting....my mant attempts have failed miserably! *Sighs*

Hand Quilting....

[1QuirkyKiwi]

A couple of years ago, a friend gave me 6 canvas Teddy bears and asked if there was anything I could do with them; if not she was going to throw them out. After some thought, I hand embroidered all 6 with different flowers and stuffed them with herbs. There was a Red Rose bear; a Pink Rose bear, A Lavender bear, a Lily bear, an Iris bear and a Garden flower bear. All got raffled off to charity, lol!



I hand made these kittens and hand embroider them with various flowers and colours; the most popular is the ‘Heirloom’ kitten with the pastel colours.



When I lived in Japan I was given some fabrics that sat for years and then I decided to make Lampshade covers out of them. My Lampshades needed replacing and I couldn’t find anything I liked, lol!



This is soon to be another clock; it was commissioned by someone who had the design as a Tattoo (I traced it off their back), but, then decided they no longer wanted it. If it doesn’t find a home, I’m giving it to a charity raffle, lol!



I’ve been asked by the SCBU Manager if I can do more of these blankets for the Summer and Christmas fetes (as many as I can she said, lol!). I love thread painting and will do another Bunny, a Kitten, a Puppy and….not sure what else yet, lol!



If anyone has some hours in the day to spare, can they please offer them up here in this thread; please and thank you!

[1QuirkyKiwi]

I made these tea-light holders today from glass jars I keep for storage, copper wire and trimmings from my stash….I....err....got a little carried away….I made 21 in total! Some with tribal trimmings, others with dangly beads.

[genghisfawn]

So... I'm talking to a friend, deciding what to knit, and I suddenly thought of knitting undahpants. You know. Not sexy ones, but lingerie style.

I don't have anyone to show right now, but hey. One never knows.

So she double-dared me, and I'll have to free-hand it. I'm excited about my knitted gotch, so I'll post back when I have something.

Yes, there will be pics, but not of me modelling.

[girl_dee]

Originally Posted by genghisfawn

So... I'm talking to a friend, deciding what to knit, and I suddenly thought of knitting undahpants. You know. Not sexy ones, but lingerie style.

I don't have anyone to show right now, but hey. One never knows.

So she double-dared me, and I'll have to free-hand it. I'm excited about my knitted gotch, so I'll post back when I have something.

Yes, there will be pics, but not of me modelling.

There is a *Kinky Yarn * thread on Fetlife that would LOVE to see this!

[girl_dee]

on my second granny square blanket made from scraps for the Women's shelter.

Using black border this time with colors that POP.

[Medusa]

I crocheted a "wiener blanket" for a bachelorette party one time.

It consisted of a long tube crocheted into a cylinder with two hanging "ball scarfs" in circular form.

Funny enough, 2 other women at the party commissioned 2 more for gag gifts for their husbands for Christmas!!

[girl_dee]

Originally Posted by Medusa

I crocheted a "wiener blanket" for a bachelorette party one time.

It consisted of a long tube crocheted into a cylinder with two hanging "ball scarfs" in circular form.

Funny enough, 2 other women at the party commissioned 2 more for gag gifts for their husbands for Christmas!!

LOL that would make the Fetlife Kinky Yarn thread for sure.

[midwest chick]

the panties would work out well with 'soft' doily thread....

might have to trial that!

[nycfem]

My maternal grandma was the same way. She really made crafting magical for me even making special appearances at my nursery school to teach the class crafts. One particularly magical memory was how she'd pick Queen Anne's lace from her garden and put bunches of it in vases with water and a food coloring. I loved how the color would go up the stems and completely dye the flower.

Originally Posted by June

My Grandma I., used to make all kinds of things. Hats from beer cans, trashcans from egg cartons, purses from scraps of linoleum. She also sewed my cousins and me a lot of clothes and pajamas. Oh, and crocheted ponchos!

But anyway, one year when we girls were 5, 6, 7 & 8 (I was 7) she crocheted us all bikinis. Our mothers were horrified, but they were super cute (as I recall with my 7 year old sensibilities). I think we only wore them once.

So yes, you can knit or crochet the equivalent of undergarments.

[MsDemeanor]

Originally Posted by June

I guess this is kinda crafty.

Yesterday, I made laundry detergent with one of my friends. The recipe can be found >Here<.

We grated the Fels-Naptha in my food processor using the cheese thingy, then put it in a bowl and redid it with the blade so it got powdery, then mixed it with the Laundry Soda and Borax. It smells delightful and I am on my third load with it. It does not suds up at all, and the Fels-Naptha dissolves in cold water, which is what I generally wash in.

For about $8, you can make a ton of laundry soap, and you only use about a tablespoon each time. Because I wasn't sure about using so little for a large load, I used about 1/4 cup.

Next, finding an alternative to dryer sheets, because I am addicted to them, and they have really horrible stuff in them.

We also made deoderant using coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch and some escentual oil. I am wearing it now to test. We put it in existing Secret containers that we had cleaned out. It rolls up, but is a little bit soft. I will update this later after I have tested it during exercise.

I follow a fun blog full of recipes for cleaning supplies, food, and general all around how to make your home better on the cheap. Check the archives for recipes to make laundry soap, dryer sheets, household cleaners, carpet stain remover, etc.

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/

[deedarino]

Hi everyone...I love this thread. Your craftiness is awesome!

I have always been crafty, I love working with glass or mosaics. For the last several years, I have been addicted to soapmaking (which I am hoping to make into a business!) I also make sugar scrubs, candles, masks, lip balm...etc.

Pinterest is my newest favorite thing to waste time to...I am thinking of making pinterest collage pictures.

On another note: The best fabric softener is about a cup of vinegar with a little essential oil added to the rinse cycle.

I haven't tried this one yet but lots of my friends swear by "milk of magnesia" as a great healthy deodorant.