A Steady Progression to Obsession Part 2

A Steady Progression to Obsession Part 2

Now, when I last left this subject, I was informing you of how I had gotten hooked on making purses. Making them is like eating a Pringles, you can’t make just one. I am constantly in create mode. If I'm not actually working on a project, I am thinking of the next one, then planning the one after that. My down fall, or blessing, is going into a book store and hitting the craft section. I almost always find a book that I want, or a few projects from it I would like to try. I pretty much obsess over where I can find the book cheaper, or free. Umm, me love free!! I take a picture of the book, in case I forget the title, then begins my quest to locate said item.

As soon as I get the chance to go online, I check on Ebay, Amazon, or one of the swap sites like swaptree.com, in hopes that I may procure that particular book. I check my Yahoo group in case someone just happens to have fallen out of love with the very thing I need. I usually don't find the book until later, or just put it on the back burner until that creative bug hits again, or I have some free time. You know, life has a funny way of cutting in on your magical world of creativity. I have all these great ideas, but then not enough time to get them going. Ugh!

I get a lot of my ideas trawling the isles of Jo-Ann's, or Michael's. For those of you who are new to crafting anything, these two stores are the go to places one hits first. However, if you live near a .99 store, you very often will come across a treasure trove of stuff for your project. Now this method can create a few problems, like me getting extra stuff that I don't need at the moment, but swear that it will come in handy for a project down the road.

The only remedy for that is to go into the store, go down only the isle I need to go down, not looking to the left or the right least my eye catches some pretty babble. And I don't dare go to the discounted section! Sometimes this works, sometimes. I have tried to only bring a few dollars with me so that I have no choice but to get the one thing I came for. Again, sometimes it works, if only to put off the purchase for a later date. I guess the only sure fire way to not come up with a new project is to be dead! And since I’m in no hurry to end it all, I will keep my chin up and continue to endure this cursed craftiness gene that has been biologically passed down to me. It’s not all bad people; you my adoring fans do get the benefit of the fruits of my labor. For you, it’s a win win situation. See you in the discount section!!

How to cope with this economy artisticly

To have the ability to create something is wonderful.  I watch others when they look at something I have made, earrings, a purse, a drawing, what ever, I feel like Wow, they like it. But at the same time, I wonder how it feels not to be able to do that. I have to catch myself and not take for granted the talent I 've been given. It can be easy to do.  I didn't start collecting my art work until I got into high school, but I had always doodled up till then,  and artistic people run in my family so I don't know anything else.  I don't know what it's like not to be doing something. When a person tells me they can't draw, I just simply don't believe them. I mean everyone can make a stick figure. Right? Not right.

In this day and age, meaning our sad economy, I think that the non artsy craftsy people should begin to explore the arts. I don't mean that you have to start off with the state of the art supplies, just a few good things necessary for the chosen art style. There are a lot of great things just sitting around your house, missing socks, bottle caps, even safety pins can be transformed into a functionable piece of art. Your old stuff is just waiting for new life, and it does help to create something.

 To put that all the frustration of what ever has been bugging you during the day into a project, is very therapeutic. I think that you will find, even if you feel that your piece is not as good as someone else's, the process of creating does relax you. It has given you a purpose, and  at some point of your day, you find that you can't wait to get to that project when you get home.  Once you have began working on your item, you'll really get into the moment. I say all that to say this, things are tough. There's no denying it, and doing finger painting, or decoupage is going to cure the high jobless rate that we are currently dealing with, but there is something about creating that makes you feel useful. That's my positive thought for the day.

Beads and Shrinky Dinks

Beads and Shrinky Dinks

 There are glass beads, clay beads, paper beads, plastic beads, and now, there are Shrinky Beads! Ok, Shrinky Dinks is plastic.  I just thought that had the sound of something cool being discovered. You say that you don’t know what Shrinky Dinks plastic is. Are you serious? Member when you were a kid and the commercial would come on with two kids at the kitchen table drawing on clear plastic, cutting it out, then their mom would put the pieces in the oven. The camera moves in, and we see the shapes curl and magically shrink to the size of the dime? The two kids shocked, they witnessed this never before seen phenomenon. Seriously? Member when you bugged your mom for them? Member when you got them you just used the whole pack because it was so fun to see that it actually worked, begging your mom for more. Member? Member?

Ok for those of you who have grown up not knowing what it’s like to actually get up from the couch and turn on the t.v. set with a knob, and not a button, or actually go to the library and find a book using the Dewy Decimal System, or heaven forbid, walk to school, Shrinky Dinks were all the rage during, well, way before your parents were parents, and a apple was just a fruit, not a computer company ran by some super nerd who laughed his way all the way to the bank. Strictly for children, until they needed adult supervision for the oven in which the wonderful fun began. 

So, back to the Shrink Beads. Now these lovely beads that you see were left over whole punches from a pair of earrings and a bracelet made from shrinky plastic. Keeping with my effort to reduce my carbon footprint, while still creating something nice, I wondered what they would look like if I shrunk them. I stuck the little suckers in my toaster oven I rescued off of a street corner across from my son’s middle school last year, and BAM!! Shrinky Beads!  These little beauties are light, easy to work with, and can be used a variety of projects.

I liked the way these came out so much, that I plan on making some intentionally! I have already saved the punched holes from other Shrinky Dinks projects that I am working on according to color, and I will be putting them in the oven as the need arises.

A Steady Progression To Obsession: Part One

I started my purse making obsession by making one from a pair of jeans I really got tired of looking at in my closet. ( I think I was subconsciously influenced by my mom, who made a diaper bag for my brother from a pair of old jeans before this was even cool!)

I really didn't want to toss them out because they were GAP jeans, and you know what stuff from there costs! I truly got into this project, I even got rid of my little cheap craft sewing machine, as it wouldn't handle jean material, and got a real one! Think I was serious? I batiked the inside lining as well as the outer material. This purse was made from just the leg of the pants. I only wanted a small purse for the first try. I would recommend this to you if you starting on this venture, as it will not require you to purchase anything unless you want to add artistic and fashion aspects to your design. One less carbon footprint, right? This project was 98% made from recycled products! The other two percent were materials that needed to be purchased to finish off the purse. You can't have this one, sorry to say, it's long gone, but you can order the next one!

I then went on to make my second purse, which I now use as a gym bag for my car. (No pictures of this one, sorry. I may update later.) For the lining of this bag, I used a few GAP shirts that I again couldn’t part with, sewed some buttons in so that I would be able to take the lining out if I wanted to change up, and used a belt that a co-worker had given me, for the arm strap. This bag could carry your sink if you wanted!

 

By my third purse, I had become totally, and completely hooked. I had moved on from my jeans, I only had like two pair, and started on my son’s outgrown jeans. The result, pure awesomeness! At least I thought so. I included bedazzled jewels on the front, a pocket for my lipstick and pen, and made a removable inner bottom so that the purse would have stability. The lining for this one was a pillow case, and the strap was a belt, both of which I had gotten from the .99 store. Let me tell you, the .99 store can be your friend. If you don’t have one in your area, look to your local discount store for findings. This will be your home away from home.

More to come in Part Two of : A Steady Progression To Obsession

Use What U Got

Today's Tip: The next time you buy pot puree, strawberries, blue or raspberries, think about reusing the container to house gift bath, or other small products you have created in. It cuts down on your delivery time to friends, family, or clients. It also saves on fuel, as you have it (the container) on hand and don't have to go from store to store looking for a something small enough to house your masterpiece. You have also cut down on the use of petroleum based items, which should make you feel just a little bit better about your self, at least the part about cutting down on trash.  Now that second piece of double fudge chocolate cheese cake, I can't help you with. Don't be affraid to reuse those Dixi Cups either, they are a big help. If you can get out the salsa smell, you are in business!

Bee-U-T-ful Soap,lip balm, bath soak by Something Dirty: that'd be me :-)

Do include a note to the giftee/client stating why you chose that particular vessel, as it will help personalize your item, and the person is not left thinking that you are just a big cheappie, spreading that non fact about all about town. It's so much nicer to be known as a person who is green instead of cheap!

Drop me a line if any of these tips help.

Sampling

Today's Craft: Any



Today's Topic: Samples



Hello fellow crafters both old and new. This blog site will generally be focused on art and or crafting issues, but won't be limited to those subjects. I will attempt to give you new ways in which to perform certain tasks, short cuts, money saving tips, as well as some green ways to do it.

I am new to Blogger, so I thought that I would start off with something simple. Forgive the content display as I have not yet found how I'd like things to look.  Suggestions are welcomed.

Today's Tip: Want to give someone a sample, not the whole product? Don't have anything suitable for your product? Think again! Use those old paint by numbers paint containers for samples of oils, creams, soaps, or any powdered product. They close tightly, fit anywhere, and everyone has them. Clean out the old paint, let container dry, use a sharpe or paint marker to decorate, and you have a cute sample container. See, short and simple.



Let me know if these tips are helpful, leave a comment on my page.



Happy Sampling!