• silverwhisper said on Dec 20, 2006....

  i'm not into crafts, but i'm curious what others have to say. :>
  
  ed

• CreativeWoman said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Thanks, Ed.  Me too. :-)
  
  CW
  

• MissMimi said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Well, let's see, I quilt, I knit, I do counted cross-stitch, i can even crochet but haven't in a while.

  One year I knitted sweaters for both of my youngest nieces for christmas.

  Last year, I got the idea in my head that a few of my friends needed to have little quilts for Christmas. I think I made four of them.  I recently completed a quilt that will be given to my niece as a wedding gift.

  I've been doing this for a lot of years, so I have quite a backlog of UFO's (UnFinished Objects).

  Sometimes I think it would be neat to make quilts and try to sell them, but I have no idea how to even go about it.

   

• secretlife said on Dec 20, 2006....

  I knit.  I crochet.  I have made hats for the kids, and scarves...I crocheted a quilt for my oldest daughter's crib when she was an infant -- those little granny squares.  It took my the entire 9 months to complete it.  I have a bunch of squares I started after that, but never seemed to go back to it.  Both of my daughters knit.

  I've done a ton of crafting things- 

  I've done painting on clothes and made outfits for the kids for the holidays -- including painting on sneakers, sweatshirts, even fleece dresses-

  I actually did this again this year for my son and 3 nephews for our family christmas picture.

  I've done silk flower arrangements....centerpieces, wreaths, and things like that.

  I've done scrapbooking.

  I've said before I made all the wreaths for xmas in and outside of my house...as well as the garland.

  I'm very handy with paint and a hot glue gun.  I've done faux finishes on walls, stencils, and even venitian plaster in my kitchen.

  I'll try just about any craft, and go to several craft fairs each year to get new ideas.

  I think for me, I like doing something with my hands and then seeing the results-- there's something rewarding in that.

• purrrkitten said on Dec 20, 2006....

  I can't knit and I don't sew (unless you want me to use my car-fixing words!). I love doing crafts like ornaments or drawing things or hands-on types of crafts. I seem to do well with them. I have attended women's get togethers where they do crafts once in a while.

  Problem is I never have the time at home and to find a place around here that does it and takes care of the kids too... ???

  I'd love to do it again sometime...   :-)

• MissMimi said on Dec 20, 2006....

  I've never been able to get the hang of glue guns. I'm all thumbs, and I end up getting burned and getting those little threads of dried glue everywhere.

  Pk, quilters use those kind of words too, at least this one does. It's a good time to practice one's vocabulary skills! :p

  Doing handwork is a great time for thinking. The repetitive movement, especially of knitting are very comforting to me. It's gotten to the point where I very rarely just sit and watch TV. I always have to be doing something.

  I don't work outside the home, and I have a lot of hours in the day to fill up, so I spend a lot of time doing handwork. I've asked myself a time or two, what's the point? I mean, you can only make so many quilts, and then what? I've come around to thinking that these quilts and other little bits and pieces that I make willl outlive me, and it comforts me to know that they'll be tangible reminders that I was here.  I once told someone I couldn't die until I made a quilt for each person that I love.

  Gee, CW, did you think this'd turn out to be a philosophical discussion?  ;)

• secretlife said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Mimi:  do you have any idea how much those handmade quilts go for at craft shows? 

  You can make a bunch of money ---

  You can even get a table at these things and do custom quilts for people.

  I always wished I had the talent.

• lioneljay said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Here is a picture of a clock that I designed and built. Actually, I've made several of these as gifts. This one is made from cherry and walnut. The face and the top and bottom of the case are cherry and the four "numbers" and the sides fo the case are made from walnut.
  
  Desk clock
  

• MissMimi said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Secret, it always shocks me when I see what people are willing to pay.  When I go to craft fairs, which I love to do, I very rarely buy anything.  Like you, I go to get ideas.

  Very nice, LJ.  Just my opinion, but I've always thought woodworking was very sensual.  All that rubbing and stroking... *Bad Mimi, bad, bad...*

• purrrkitten said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Very cool, LJ!! I like it! Simple lines but beautifully done...   :-)
   
  purrrrrrrrrrr  ~^^

• lioneljay said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Thank you Mimi and purrkitten. I especially like working with walnut because it gives off a beautiful aroma whenever you cut it or stroke it with a plane.

• secretlife said on Dec 20, 2006....

  mimi:  ever think of doing consignment work? 

  quilting is time-consuming......and takes talent.  It's like art.  People are willing to pay for your time and your skill. 

  LJ:  your clock is beautiful.

  I saw a woman once who did designs on glasswear using a welder...some kind of welder that makes smaller 'beads'....

  She made designs on the glasswear and then used crystals in the center of them. 

  I bought 12 wine glasses from her......

  Something like that I'd love to try....

• dailyachesandpains said on Dec 20, 2006....

  My Grandmother tried to teach me, well she did teach me to knit.  I don't think I did it enough when I was young, so I am now clueless.  I did just mention to my Sister that I wanted to learn again, but that would require me to leave the house.

  My Grandmother also tried to teach me how to quilt...that one, I didn't have the patience for. 

  I envy anyone that's crafty. 

  {{{hugs}}}

  Daily

• maemae said on Dec 20, 2006....

  I love to crochet.  I have an afghan that I have been working on for a couple of years.   It's pretty big now and probably done, but I just like to keep working on it.
   
  One year, I made everyone I knew scarves because I couldn't afford real gifts.
   
  I also love, love love, to bake/cook, if that counts.  I'm alwyas looking up new recipes.
   
  Decopage can be pretty fun if you have enough materials and something to work on!

• MissMimi said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Daily, quilting does take patience and a lot of practice. When I first started I thought, i can sew, how hard can it be?  Well, what a mess!  And the first quilt I made has a lot of big mistakes in it.  But there aren't any quilting police who come and inspect your work for defects, so I do what I like and have fun with it.

• funfreak2k2 said on Dec 20, 2006....

  hi,  may i know what home business u r doing?  coz i am trying to find a work from home opportunity.  i am trying several things for that.
  
   http://www.mylot.com/?ref=funfreak2k2
  
  http://www.Toys4Free.com/12227
  
  funfreak2k2
  

• mobil said on Dec 20, 2006....

  I can generally make a mess of things.
   
  Where is the fucking clock. I looked everywhere, are
  you guys looking at pages I can't see ?

• CreativeWoman said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Mimi,
  Secret is right.  Quilts go for big money.  You should take a good picture of one you willing to part with and post it on ebay or etsy.  I think you would be surprised what it would bring.  You could also sell them in consigment shops.
  
  I use crafting as a way to fill my time too.  Philosophical?  Well, one thing leads to another. :-D
  
  Secret.
  I love almost any kind of craft myself.  I love trying new things.  I even did all the silk flowers for my wedding including my bouquet. Right now, I'm gravitating toward yarn more and more. :-)   I love my knitting loom.
  
  You sound very crafty.  I'm envious of your painting skills.  That's one thing I'm not good at.
  
  lionel,
  That's an awesome clock!  Great job!
  
  daily,
  Not everyone has to be crafty.  What's your hobby?
  
  purr,
  I love your comment about knitting and car fixin' words.  :-)  You should have heard the F bombs I dropped when I was trying to learn the knitting loom.  It wasn't pretty.  :-)
  
  maemae,
  I have crocheted one afgan.  It was one big continuous square.  I gave it away as a gift one year for Christmas.  I have another one started somewhere.  I may finish it and give it as a baby gift for a child due this spring.
  
  funfreak,
  I haven't decided on a home business yet.  I'm still researching.  I would love to parlay my love of writing into something big.  I'm needing a steady cash flow though.
  
  mobil,
  click on "desk clock" at the end of Lionel's first comment.  It will take you to the clock.
  
  CW
  
  
  
  

• CreativeWoman said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Don't you love the smiles you get when give a gift that you made especially for someone?
  
  CW
  

• mobil said on Dec 20, 2006....

  That is a nice clock Lional,

  I feel more than a little stupid

• MissMimi said on Dec 20, 2006....

  I gave my daughter a cross-stitch sampler that I designed, stitched and framed myself listing her softball career stats and the records she set, for her college graduation. It had her uniform number and team name on it, and her university. She cried when she opened it.

• lioneljay said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Mimi, you could make a small business out of creating custom samplers like the one you did for your daughter. Sports parents love that stuff!
  
  CW, and Mobil, thanks.
  

• CreativeWoman said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Mimi,
  You have a career begging to be started.  :-)
  
  mobil,
  You just had a brain fart.  :-D  We all get them.
  
  lionel,
  You are welcome.
  
  CW
  
  
  

• CreativeWoman said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Mimi,
  Have you ever donated a quilt for a raffle? I think you should do that.  Just make sure that the ads for the raffle and the tickets included a blurb "Quilted By Mimi". The word of mouth advertising you would get from that could really get things going if you want to get your name out there.
  
  CW
  
  

• MissMimi said on Dec 20, 2006....

  LJ and CW, it's definitely something to think about. CW, I've seen the etsy website, and I think I'll check it out. Etsy is where I found a knitted penis warmer for sale. :D

• MissMimi said on Dec 20, 2006....

  I have donated a quilt for a very special charity raffle. Unfortunately I didn't include a label. With that one though, it was all about the giving. It was a very worthy cause.

• Zayda said on Dec 20, 2006....

  I do a ton of crafty stuff but not enough of it to make a living at it.  But then maybe if I did it seriously....hmmmm...
  
  They have a huge arts and crafts festival here every September. They close down the whole downtown, and set up tents and booths for 3 nights and four days.  Local and regional bands play on the center stage almost all day.  Going is one of my favorite things to do every fall.
  
  So, am I crafty.  Well, I can say that I don't sew, knit, crochet cross-stich, or quilt, but I do:
  
  
  • make candles and scented oils
  • scented bath salts, homemade soaps, and bath oils
  • dried and silk floral arrangements, topiaries, garlands, swags
  • live floral arrangements
    
  • shadowbox arrangments of antique keys or other items i happen to find at yard sales, rummage sales, estate sales
    
  • glass bead jewelry (I don't make the beads myself--yet.  I would love to learn to make poured glass jewelry.)
  • decorative hair clips, bows, barrettes, headbands (I adorn plain store bought ones)
    
  I also etch glass.
  
  When my husband and I got married, I made all the decorations for the wedding and the reciption except for the column backdrop that we rented.  I did the floral arrangements for the tables, make the topiary trees that lined the entrance to the building we got married in.  I hand painted all the pots the trees were in.  I also did the floral arrangments for the fireplace and the mantle that were in the building, the garlands for the stairs and the entire balcony that wrapped around the building.  The only floral arrangements I didn't do were my boquet, the bridesmaids boquets, or the cake florals.
  
  I made all our of our wedding favors including the candy/mint favors and the boxes they went in.  I designed and printed the scrolls we gave out with our wedding poem on them and tea-dyed the paper they were printed on then burned the edges to make them look antique. 
  
  (I even made all the food for our reception with the help of two of my friends, but that's not really crafty.)
  
  I do make flavored infused cooking oils too.
  
  When I was younger, I did candlewicking.  My mom still has a few pillows that I did the candlewicking designs on.
  
  And, I draw but haven't done that in years and am not very good at it.  Although my mother my mom has a charcoal piece I did of paper bags framed and hung in her den.
  
  I also am a pretty darn good photographer and a decent enough graphic designer that I design all the signatures on a forum that I moderate, if someone asks me to design theirs.
  
  I've thought about doing scrapbooking because all my in-laws do it.  But it doesn't appeal to for some reason (despite the fact that I get sent scrapbooking stuff every Christmas.)  I have used some of the scrapbooking items to make handmade cards.
  
  I paint off and on.  But it's mostly things like painting flowerpots or doing wall treatments in our house.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• momsrock said on Dec 20, 2006....

  I love scrapbooking. I have made them for my kids and my nieces and nephews. I love photography too... so that helps with my scrapbooking obsession!

  I don't really make anything else.

• momsrock said on Dec 20, 2006....

  In high school I spent most of my free time in the art room working on the potters wheel. My teacher took my creations to shows and exhibits...and I would love to have a wheel at my house!!!! I used to make sculptures too. "Molly" was favorite. It was a life sized head with dimples and pigtails and she was so freaking cute!!! But she terrifies my youngest son...so she has to stay at my moms until he figures out she isn't real.

• CreativeWoman said on Dec 20, 2006....

  Mimi,
  A knitted penis warmer?  Now, that's a special gift!
  
  One of the groups at my church raffles a quilt off every year.  When they do, they post a photo of the quilt and the person who made it with their contact information.  It's a very simple way to promote your talent.
  
  Zayda,
  It simply floors me how talented you are!
  
  moms,
  I've never gotten into the scrapbooking.  But like Zayda, I use some of the techniques for making my own greeting cards.  You also sound so talented with your scuplting.  I don't think I ever moved past Play Doh.  :-D
  
  CW
  
  
  

• Zayda said on Dec 20, 2006....

  CW--I don't really consider myself all that talented.  Although, if I thought I could make a go of it, I might abandon my day job and try a small craft business.  Well, maybe in addition to my day job.  But I don't know how I would fit my day job, marriage, a child, and writing plus a small craft business in my day.
  
  
  

• gingersoul said on Dec 20, 2006....

  CW...i am very crafted ...

  Like you, I knit ....i made several blankets for my daughter when she was a baby and scarfs and little hats too.

  And I think i tried and pretty well completed a lot of different cratfs projects.

  I am very good at drawing and sketching so i have a particular eye for balancing shapes and colors. Also i can easily figure out a solution for achieving my goal in absence of the necessary materials.

  I painted all the chair and the table of my backyard, coordinating some outodoor vases with them. I love doing floral arrangments and i use several different material with the flowers....i mix dry and fresh flowers for example, vegetables and feathers and beads and woods.

  i used to sell my photographs and my drawing when i was younger. I worked in a comune for two years: we were specialized in working with leather and a lot us (like me) din't know a zit about it at the beginning. I learned how to create hair pins with leather that i would then paint and ornate. I learned how to make leather bags and belts as well. Leather vest too... It was very rewarding. We use to sell our creations as street vendors and use the money to  buy new material and pay the rent of our comune-workplace. I also painted vases and bottles (filled with colored sand) and add to them beads and leather decorations. I learned how to make beatiful kites too......

  i always had a special thing for interior design: my husband was the arm and i was the mind. Together we created our own pieces of forniture for our house in Italy: i designed a long curve shelf for the hall, our bedroom wardrobe, the head of our waterbed that i covered with a silk material. I painted the long mirror of our bedroom. He would execute my designs. We loved it.

  i have been asked to draw a mural (painting of wall) for a local community center. It was really beatiful, i have to brag...lol....

  Now i do scrapbooking (i am teaching my daughter) and i still create some of my house Xmas decorations. When i used to throw our Xmas dinners i would create the invitation cards and the menu for each guest (they would find it on the table). I made the invitations for any of my daughters sleepover or b-day parties. I decorated each Halloween our house for her parties as well.

  I made fake old parchments for announcing my daughter she would receive the new book of Harry Potter i ordered for her months earlier online...i printed the message then i bath it in tea to make it really old, i burn the edges to make it looks all worn out and then roll it up as a pergamen....it was part of her B-day presents ...she loved it.... 

  My last big projects in our old house has been painting her room....two wall blue and two walls green...the guest room...a serene dust blue... and the kitchen walls....a royal blu....(yep a like blue....:-)

  Like Secret i am very good with the gluegun... watch out.....  

  My favorite place is Michael or Hobby Lobby, i find inspiring even Home Depot....lol....

   

  Btw...LJ..i found your clock very beautiful..sleek, elegant, with a reminiscence of the 30' fashion...very nice...,

• whoisit4 said on Dec 21, 2006....

  While not crafty in a visual, paper, thread and glue sort of way, music is my primary craft. I've been writing, arranging and orchestrating music as long as I can remember. Currently, I'm working on some music for our church choir and orchestra. Most of what I arrange are pieces that I can play and/or sing myself. My most personal music could be construed as a prayer language. When I am alone, I can compose, arrange and perform simultaneously. The music itself doesn't always flow quite like a polished piece, but it is intended as a musical representation of thoughts and feelings that are difficult for me to express in words.
  
  I also paint. Most of what I have painted are decorative touches around the house like flowers on doors and pin-striping. I did a mural on my daughter's wall of a giant rainbow with a castle sitting on a mountain on one end with a princess and prince who has come to court her and Noah's ark on the other end with all the animals coming out and Noah making a burnt offering. I even included sedimentary strata underneath with various fossils in it. I've also touched actual canvas with the brush a few times with pretty good results. My mom was an artist. I guess I got her gift.
  
  I have dabbled in cross-stitch, embroidery and the culinary arts, but really don't have the time for any of it. I come from a long line of gifted seamstresses and can sew, but generally only do so on rare occasions.
  

• GroundedMystic said on Dec 21, 2006....

  Well I'm a metalsmith/jeweller and I work for myself from home selling my original pieces. I have also dabbled in just about every other craft I can think of.

  But this week mum and I built a cob wood fired pizza oven in her frontyard. They are dome shaped and we creatively sculpted the dome into a fish with the oven door as it's mouth. It was our first attempt at cob building and I've got to say I'm hooked! Stupid pun I know!

  We will be limewashing our mud oven and perhaps even putting some copper ornaments on it so that it gets that goregous verdigris look about it.

   

• MissMimi said on Dec 21, 2006....

  GM, a for-real pizza oven? I've never heard of cob building. What is it?

• gingersoul said on Dec 21, 2006....

  GM...this s great project......i was dreaming to have a similar one in my old home backyard but then we decided to make a small pond with a cascade .....it did turn out really nice and we put even some blue lights behind the water...

  the pizza oven would have been the next  thing..but then...bam...no more common house....

  good luck with your project...:-)

• GroundedMystic said on Dec 21, 2006....

  Mimi yes a real pizza oven. Cob building is an ancient method, easy and loads of fun.

  Dig up dirt from your yard

  Put it in a cement mixer with straw and water

  Mix around until it turns into brown goop

  Slap it on the ground or whatever you are building

  It's dirty,messy and so much fun. It's also very, very quick to build this way. We have good clay in our ground and our brown goop sticks to everything, including us...Lol!

  The oven looked like a disaster until we got the cob on it. We finished sculpting it yesterday and now we are so pleased. It looks fabulous. Just a couple of weeks for it to dry out now and then we can cook.

  Mum and I have both dreamt about making a pizza oven for years. When I mentioned it again this year she just went out, bought supplies and we spent 3 full days making it. Mission accomplished. Neither of us have ever done cob building before. But it's pretty hard to get it wrong.

  We saw loads of fantastic ovens on the Net which had artistic sculptures on them, a snail, a lizard etc. We had to do something special with ours too. We did a fish. The oven turned out much larger than we thought. The walls are about 6 inches thick. But it looks cool.

• MissMimi said on Dec 21, 2006....

  GM, that sounds fabulous! I love pizza about more than anything, so expect me over for dinner. ;)

• gingersoul said on Dec 21, 2006....

  Really cool...good job.....and i like that you made it with your mom..

  girls power!!!.....:-)

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