Crafting and Hobbies

[DreamingOfIslands]

For those of you who need/want organization:

Pshawraven and I found these lovely toolboxes at Lowe's. They have multiple, four tier compartments with dividers you can set to hold whatever you want plus a line of little drawers up the side. The whole thing snaps tight and snug so nothing spills. We consolidated about three boxes of loose things using this toolbox. I intend to buy more of them because they're so compact and easy to store.

For the paper we've got lying around (mostly scrapbooking type stuff) we figured we would use the filing cabinet bins and organize them according to color and theme.

Any ideas for fabrics? Right now they're either lying around in bunches or randomly smooshed into tubs wherever we can fit them.

Oooh, to add to this, toolboxes are great, but tackleboxes are organizational awesome PLUS they're portable. I'm an art major, and I have to lug like SO MUCH STUFF around campus because of it. I have this great tacklebox that I got at a great price at Wal-Mart, and it fit ALL my paints and brushes for my color theory class. It was super helpful, especially when we had to paint outside and stuff. Wal-Mart has them in lots of sizes and styles. I actually have two- One was for drawing supplies my first semester, and the other I've just mentioned xD A tackle box was actually listed on one of my syllabi as an ideal carrying case for supplies, and it just works so well.

[TxCat]

We went to a different Wal-Mart than we usually use today, one that still had its fabric section intact. I'm impressed --- they have the paisleys, gingham, and calico I make my pioneer style dresses and aprons out of. They also have some good denim for skirts and some soft gauzy materials for caftans and abeyas. Their beading section was well stocked too and I picked up some green glass and orange glass E beads to make the flower bracelets I've been working on.

I also found a small booklet on crocheting dishcloths, but I have a question: what sort of yarn should be used? It doesn't say.

[MistyoC]

The dishcloths I have done are in a cotton thread. They hold up fairly well and are great for real scrubbing. We do use cheap terrycloth cloths most of the time, though.

[Phoenixwildfire]

I've worked a week on getting this right- and it's finally worked!

Usually if you want to make a sock monkey, you have to use a particular kind of sock- white and gray and red. While this is all fine and well, I want to use COLORFUL socks- because I am obsessed with color.

So I worked on a pattern to make sock monkeys from REGULAR socks- those that are higher than heel socks, and perhaps even knee socks.

Anyway- it worked out REALLY well! Here's the final product of the pattern (using halloween colored socks as an experiment- because they were cheaper than the other socks)



I call her Skullcandy

She has candy corn colors, skull patterns on her legs and a giant R.I.P. on her arm, and her back in black drippy horror font.

[KailTheOtter]

I mailly just write, I post journals and stories on sites and thats really about all im good at as far as these things go, unless minecraft counts...in which case EVERYTHING >:3 lol

[ZackyBear]

I like to buy junk-lot transformer toys and refurbish them as gifts since it's cheaper than buying the original toys There are some things I have trouble doing, and others I can't do at all. But practice makes perfect, I guess.

Hmm...I think a few good boxes for organizing things like toy parts and other things would be this one, this one, aaaand this one.

Though Amazon is always a bit pricy, so you could either check a nearby craft store or go through ebay and get a good deal

I call her Skullcandy

I like that! It's so cute!!!

[Soleil]

I've worked a week on getting this right- and it's finally worked!

Usually if you want to make a sock monkey, you have to use a particular kind of sock- white and gray and red. While this is all fine and well, I want to use COLORFUL socks- because I am obsessed with color.

So I worked on a pattern to make sock monkeys from REGULAR socks- those that are higher than heel socks, and perhaps even knee socks.

Anyway- it worked out REALLY well! Here's the final product of the pattern (using halloween colored socks as an experiment- because they were cheaper than the other socks)



I call her Skullcandy

She has candy corn colors, skull patterns on her legs and a giant R.I.P. on her arm, and her back in black drippy horror font.

I have a friend that is terrified of Sock Monkeys. Maybe I should show her your awesomeness

[TxCat]

I just placed an order for the stones and shells for Pshawraven's birthday present. I asked her what she wanted and she said she wanted to commission me for a Poe bracelet. We ordered a silver charm which says "Nevermore" and one which says "Once upon a midnight dreary" from Silver Crow. I ordered 6mm smoky quartz beads for the black from Happy Mango. From Magpie I ordered orange coral beads in the same measurement and cinnamon baroque pearls. Finally, from Fire Mountain I ordered a 3 strand slide lock clasp. Also, they carry the carbochons in Sleeping Beauty turquoise so I can replace the one which fell out of my antique ring.

I'm so excited but I'm nervous because this is the first time I've ever used quality gemstone products to make something. I don't want to screw it up.

Any suggestions about the proper type of wire? The stuff I use tends to either split or fray after a while but I can't find anything better.

[ShaiNeko]

Fire Mountain carries different kinds of wire, Tx. They might be able to advise you if you call or email. *hasn't looked on their website in a while* But I'd think maybe a half-hard type?

[TxCat]

I need to have a much bigger --- as in, a restocking --- order before I can order from Fire Mountain. The shipping charges are outrageous. The clasp was only $4 but the shipping they were going to charge (there was no option for regular mail or for the FedEx $5 deal even though they mentioned it) was twice that.

Thursday or so we'll go raid JoAnn's. They just re-designed their beading and jewelry section and I noticed they do have the clasps I need.

I'm excited about this project, though. I love working with high quality things.