Hi Friends,
I left the subject open because there's a bunch of things you might do. Embroidery, sequins, beads, collage, etc. If you put your heart and soul into it, even a little bit, it's "ART".
Two crafts interest me: sewing, and beading. Share your more recent completed projects and let's admire our work.
That's beautiful! I appreciate your ability to work with such small pieces, too. :) I crochet (but not in this heat wave) and sometimes watercolor paint or sketch. let's see.... This one is not my best, but it's my favorite. :)
I've only recently learned to crochet, taught by a kind friend, and I'm absolutely loving it.
I draw and paint too, and those are integral to my expressing myself, but I find crochet has a different quality to its creativity - it's very peaceful and at the same time I feel as if my fingers are dancing and hands are alive. It's so pleasurable.
I've also taken to hand sewing clothing recently and again find this a peaceful creative activity which is also gratifying as I get to wear my works. The dresses I make are simple in form but I choose colourful and high quality fabric so the actual handling of the fabric feels lovely and the end result brings me joy.
I've wondered whether the strong recent urge to clothe myself in colourful, high quality materials is a release of the frustration I felt as a child at being made to wear ugly ill-fitting home made clothing. I was wearing the same clothes at university that I was wearing when I left primary school at 12 years of age. I didn't grow after primary school and so my mother just left me wearing the same few clothes for years. It felt shameful.
Now I can create my own joyful flattering clothing with my own hands. Mind you, since I rarely go out I wear my clothing for myself - for the sheer pleasure of it, even if no one else sees it.
(I'd attach photos but I can't work out how to do it - sorry.)
CactusFlower and Blue Palm, :cheer: so glad you've joined the thread! (no pun intended!)
Love the watercolor! So nice and happy. I can see why it's your favorite.
Thanks for the compliment. I am on a "roll" with this particular design, called Russian Leaves.
Blue Palm, I was hoping there were one or more "sewists" out there. That's the new lingo for people that make their clothes. I started out doing that in my early years, then got bit by a quilt bug, but back to clothes again, because:
Quotethis a peaceful creative activity which is also gratifying as I get to wear my works.
Clothes mean so much to adolescents and young adults, just when the social identity is being formed. I'm sorry you had to go through your school years feeling shame because of this neglect. I'm very happy to know that you've taught yourself a skill which means so much and brings out the joy in life.
Clothing yourself in colorful, high quality fabrics is (to me) a sign of exquisite self -care! Can you describe your favorite so far?
Hi everyone.
Just wanted to join in, as I am another "sewist." I pretty much make all of my clothes.
I hear you, bluepalm. I was never allowed nice clothes as a child or teenager, and carried on wearing the same rubbish clothes for years, even after leaving home. Definitely believed I had no right to be nicely dressed, or even comfortable.
My m always wanted to truss me up in tight jeans and I used to get terrible abdominal pains.
Now my clothes are soft and comfortable. I don't go out much either, so I wear my nice clothes to walk my dog!
It has been a real struggle to convince myself that I deserve nice clothes but it's definitely a great example of self care, for all of us here.
Thanks for starting this thread.
I am enjoying seeing others work and learning about your experiences.
I enjoy cross stitch. I had trouble including a photo of my current project, but it is mountain scene.
I learned cross stitch from my mom. It is truly the only hobby or leisure activity I was taught as a child. It's interesting I continue to do it - I find it can be a form of meditation for me.
I had completely forgotten that I used to do cross stitch, Rainy Diary. It was very enjoyable. I don't think my eyesight would make it possible now, but I also enjoyed tapestry, so think I might try that again.
The mountain scene sounds lovely.
Welcome rainydiary and Libby183 :cheer:
Learning, meditating, enjoyment, the meaning of leisure, comfort, teachers.
Cross stitch
Sewing clothes
Tapestry
Scenes
All the cross stitchers! LOL Not my thing, but I wanted to chime in that my brother does it. it's the one hobby he's been able to stick with, given his ADHD and other issues. It takes him a really long time, but the precision kinda makes his OCD chill out somehow. I keep telling him he should frame the stuff he finishes, it's soooo pretty. His last one was this blue and purple dragon with gold notwork borders on black cloth. I'd go blind doing that!
As for sewing, I used to love to sew and was kinda into quilting. I didn't really have the patience for clothes and being an apple-shaped plus size person made patterns a pain in the tuchus to alter. I haven't in years and don't have a machine anymore, as fibromyalgia means a lot of pain for all that pinning, cutting, and being over a machine. :( I do sometimes miss it. That's part of why I crochet. I can produce similar things with less pain. Although, thanks pandemic, for driving the price of yarn through the roof. :bigwink:
It's funny how we "forget" all the things we used to do and love. Cross stitch seems intense and scary to me, but objectively speaking, the patterns I read, or make up are probably very similar.
The physical act of setting up, bending over, cutting, ironing, is work, but as time goes on, it's possible to make that suit our new abilities, choices and stamina.
:applause: I love to hear about new or old crafting experiences. If something jogs your memory, please post. :yes:
Well, there is a type of "sewing" sometimes with crochet if you join pieces a certain way, such as the seams on a cardigan pattern. When making amigurumi, parts are often sewn together with the yarn. These are small stuffed cute things. Let me see if I can find a few pictures... (might be a day or so before approved, I get it.)
Kelly the unicorn, a merman with a goatee, baby Groot, and a non-binary squishball (lol)
Sounds good CactusFlower!
It seems (seams! ha ha ha) vaguely familiar... I look forward to seeing it. Yeah Baby Groot :cheer:
Yeah CactusFlower, I can see everything now! :yes:
Thanks so much for posting.
These are calming and fun. Kelly's green nose/mouth are sweet. Who knew mermaids had goatees? And Groot reminds me of Gumby. I can see myself throwing the squishball around for fun.
Do you have a place where these are displayed or used by others? Periodically I get myself a stuffed animal, but always give it away after a while. The only thing I've kept that's soft and cute is a miniature fabric pink and white check bunny with hug long ears. She sits in a small pink fabric basket over by my beaded ornament shrine.
Unfortunately, I like in a small place, so projects often either end up as gifts or stuck in a box. Kelly was given away and the others are in a drawer with some yarn. I do have a couple stuffed animals that stay on my bed.
Hey Cactus Flower,
I can relate to small spaces! Sorry for the delay here, tried multiple times to respond with one or two attachments-but algorithms prevented that. I'll try again when I'm feeling optimistic and naive! I'm happy Kelly found a good home, and that you keep some of your work on your bed. :applause:
First, it's a real challenge to pick and choose what to do, save and where to keep it. There's some freedom in having "more" space, but I find that being forced to focus actually leads to better outcomes. Or at least for me, less procrastination and most activity. There's a balance though; I often long for the days of abundance when I had scrap-booking, braiding, beading, stamps, loom, yarns, ribbons, papers, albums, etc strewn all over and I could pick and choose what I "felt" like does that day. I'm big on "feeling like" whatever. That applies to food, crafts, going out, exercising or staying in.
The thing that helps me now is to "listen" to my inner self and if she only feels like doing an itty bitty thing, that's OK! It doesn't have to be a full fledged completion. How about you? Do you feel driven to reach a certain point, or are you OK with seeing wherever you go that day?
Do you have a dedicated space, or have you assigned a living space so you can work? Do you clear it off periodically, or find you're motivated to do more if you leave it all out and in progress?
Apparently, the concept of counter space in a house from the 30's was nonexistent. LOL. I have one of those sets of stacking plastic drawers where I keep a lot of my creative supplies, and a rubbermaid container holds yarn. I do tend to have things in lots of places, though. My crochet hooks and a half-finished artsy blanket are in a fabric storage cube under my desk. painting supplies are in one of those drawers. I have a small plastic drawer stack that sits on my desk for all my pens. (like, fineliners in 1 drawers, sharpies in another, Microns in another, gel pens, fountain pens, pencils, etc) Notebooks everywhere. A shoebox under my desk decorated with stickers to store the tiny toys I bought for my Inner Child. (like jars of slime, some lego dolls, squishies, stickers, etc) I don't tend to leave things out on my desk due to room, especially as the blanking keyboard slider shelf broke a few days ago so my keyboard is now on top of the desk. My mom was huge into paper art/cards and such when she was alive so there used to be a TON of die cuts, papers, ephemera, Tim Holtz supplies, alcohol inks you name it. But when she passed, I just couldn't, so I donated it all to a senior center to enjoy.
I do projects spontaneously, yes. If I'm not in a mood to paint, I won't. I'm not crocheting at the moment cause it isn't fun when it's 90 degrees. I might decide to do something, then have to plan the execution (like, ooo, I want to make a cardigan, so I need to get X amount of certain yarn...) Honestly, I haven't done much since starting this healing journey just because it's taken up so much brain space and energy. I hope that changes, but we'll see. I'm not forcing it.
Fantastic post Cactus Flower. I did stumble at first on this:
Quotethe blanking keyboard slider shelf broke
:blink: What is "blanking" :bigwink: Got it.
Yes, you sound exactly like the way I've done things here, there and everywhere. Yeah, I can relate to (not) using your Mom's stuff, really. I love your description of the toys for your inner child. Legos! stickers! If I can, incorporate my toys into my space, but only one has made it so far. Oh, be still my heart: inks, dies, papers, gel inks, microns, pencils, I save containers of bead tubes, clear top acrylic containers, flip top containers. You just never know when you'll meet a tiny item that deserves it's very own spot! All my stuff is in some kind of (15 year old) Jet Max cube with shelves, or fabric drawers. I've appropriated cosmetic containers for needle storage, sewing supplies etc. Just because they market for one purpose, doesn't mean it has to be that way.
Yes, I can relate to the energy is takes to plan, execute and finish a project, especially in the light to allowing healing and recovery and self-care to be #1 on the daily agenda. I like that you're not forcing it; as it should be.
I think I've learned my OOTS lesson attachment. Only the lowest possible resolution is accepted. Using the old Panasonic Lumix point and shoot, copying to desktop, downloading then placing in post. Whew! A lot of work!
It is a necklace with a fringed amulet purse made with:
cylindrical beads (Delicas)
round beads sizes 8-11
Precosia crystals
fire polished crystals,
lentils
bugle beads (long thin beads on top border)
Later will post my two previous. Now, I'm starting to want one in turquoise! :yes:
*gasp* Bee, that is GORGEOUS!
Thank you Cactus Flower. It is one of my better pieces.
I started out with a paid tutorial in person, then, decided to ditch some instructions and do it my own way. This has been in my closet and I tried to donate it for a library fundraiser. My offer was dropped or ignored. I kept it. Now I have it on my wall and a very tiny spark of turquoise desire has been lit. Perhaps I'll continue.
They either don't know what they missed or didn't know how to clearly state what they were looking for. I can think of several art places and shows in my state where beading like that would be entered. :) I look forward to the other stuff you make!
Beekeeper your necklace is absolutely beautiful - a true work of art. What a lovely talent to have to be able to make such beauty with your hands. Since I've started crocheting my old arthritic fingers have become much more nimble so I'm tempted to find some tutorials online and have a go myself. I'd love to make a necklace for each of my granddaughters. Thank you for giving me inspiration to investigate another creative activity.
:grouphug:
Cactus Flower, thank you for the vote of confidence.
bluepalm,
thank you for the appreciation and the thoughtful and encouraging comments. The more you use your hands, the better their mobility and coordination. Crocheting is a great outlet with so many possibilities. Give in to temptation and scout out tutorials. Don't forget to search key terms outside of YouTube too because lots of people have blogs and sites where they show step by step still photos of their process.
Necklaces for granddaughters can be so satisfying! I found some little ceramic letters, strung them on braid and also color coated thin leather and made one for my granddaughter and grandson! They were thrilled. It's a joy to see their cute faces lit up with excitement.
Below is an image of my favorite soothing bird fabric, which comes not from S Korea, but Pakistan. I have a foam core covered board above my work space for a color wheel and notes.
absolutely, crocheting is great! I found a lot of super useful videos on youtube that showed how the different stitches were done, so I could pause, repeat, etc. Bella Coco crochet is great because she's one of the few who has both left and right-handed tutorials. she and a few others also go nice and slow on their tutorials with a clear view of everything. And there is some crocheting (especially jewelry) that can include beads! Other great tutorials on youtube are by:
simplydaisy
naztazia
kristin's crochet tutorials
jayda in stitches
moogly
I also recommend ravelry.com for thousands of free and paid patterns, community, and great support of diversity.
Absolutely 100% for Ravelry!!!! :cheer:
Thanks for the names of resources Cactus Flower. That is very thoughtful. :hug:
The attachment below is a sample of Japanese braiding (on a hand held disk) with various materials.
1. Spiral braid-7 strand: variegated hand dyed rayon rat tail size #1, 6 ply cotton, Krenik metallic thread.
2. Spiral braid 7 strand: 12 ply silk, Krenik metallic 1/8" ribbon
3. Spiral braid 8 strand: variegated rayon rat tail, size #1
4. Spiral braid 8 strand: waxed cotton craft cord
5. Spiral braid 8 strand: domestic soutache, rayon rat tail, sizes #0 and #1, variegated dyed gimp
6. Spiral braid 8 strand: rayon rat tail, size #1
7. Spiral braid 8 strand: rayon craft cord
8. Round braid 8 strand: variegated rayon rat tail size #2
9. Spiral braid 16 strand: waxed cotton craft cord
10: Spiral braid 16 strand: 2 ply cotton embroidery thread
11. Square braid 8 strand: rayon rat tail, size #0
12. Flat braid 8 strand: rayon rat tail size #0, variegated 2 ply cotton embroidery thread
13. Flat braid 8 strand: Korean knotting cord
The act of digging out the braid samples has spurred me on to make a new one as a necklace to hold an experimental pendant in white. I've talked a lot about the silliness of wearing my snowflake earrings in the summer-as though the fashion police would issue a citation. To date, they are the only white earrings I have, so too bad. Here they are.
So awesome! I finally see the braid pics. I personally like 4 and 6 for the way the color spirals, and 8 for the just... chunky-ness and sheen. Wear those earrings whenever you want! As snowflakes, as little white edelweiss flowers, as a magical charm against the heatwaves, (lol), whatever. They're stunning.
Thanks Sage.
These have special meaning for me. I abandoned my beading, and desire to create anything for over a year. I bought this pendant kit to kick my patootie and to use tile beads I'd never used before. I like it so much, I got a second kit, and made earrings. The great part is that I had planned to give these away, and then thought, Nope, these are mine. The perspective of a charm against the heatwaves appeals to me. :sunny:
Braids 4 and 6 are good at illustrating their spiral essence. I was pleasantly surprised with 8 chunky-ness too.
here we are in AUGUST! so, let's get creative and start something small. :yes:
bluepalm, this may be for you.....
Attached in the photo below is a mini round foam Kumihimo disk, by BeadSmith $7 on Amazon, 4.5 inches, which means it's easily held in both hands without a lot of fiddling around. The foam is 3/8" inch thick, which is perfect.
I'm using Caron Watercolor 3-ply pima cotton, hand painted. The lavender is called Clematis and the nearly white Banana. (???) there is no yellow in it, just white, cream and faint, faint lavender.
A 7 strand braid is "easiest" to make because the method is so automatic. Place fiber, rotate, place fiber, rotate. You can lose yourself in the motions, and for fingers and hands that have felt the passage of time and pain, it's good for brief times.
I used to make braids with embroidery floss, and that was slow going. I want something faster, done the same day (HAH!) and ready to wear soon. I'm happy to act as teacher, mentor, cheerleader, whatever. I've taught this to kids, adults and myself!
Long fibers are wrapped around clear plastic disks, (bobbins) like the silly hair curlers in bygone days. The edges flip up and then down. The fibers are fed from the wrapped bobbins as the braid is made. The mesh bag is filled with glass flower beads, most people put them in vases to hold the bouquet. This acts as a weight to aid gravity as the braid is formed and to pull it down out of the way. The bag will be attached to the knotted strands in the middle of the hole. Placement of the fibers at each position determines the pattern of the braid.
For now, I've used a clip to hold all the fiber strands together. I'm reserving tying a knot and attaching the weight to see what pattern I get. Stay tuned. You can get an idea of how it works here; https://www.lythastudios.com/123bead/kumiplanner.html (https://www.lythastudios.com/123bead/kumiplanner.html)
Hi BeeKeeper - this is intriguing. I've not tried anything like this before. It holds promise of being a way to make jewellery for my grand-daughters so I will bookmark your link to remind me where to go. Thanks so much for your explanation.
Bluepalm
You're welcome Bluepalm
Kids seem to like making friendship bracelets, so maybe everyone can do it together! :bigwink:
Well, Big Reveal~it's "done." The circular bail that connects the pendant to the braid is made up of silver lined 6mm bugle beads. Two tries before I got it right. I learned a lot and that's the main thing. Onward.
That is truly beautiful work BeeKeeper. Inspiring!
Thanks bluepalm!
My little Sunday experiment with circular peyote. I felt locked in by wearing my snowflake earrings in the midst of a heatwave, with no other "white earring" choices. Those little 6mm bugle beads at the edge are my favorite. This reminds me of my mandala phase, combined with my holiday ornament styles.
This is the only time I've completely finished (stiffener) the same day I made them. Wooo! Like putting laundry away the minute it's out of the dryer. :applause:
BeeKeeper they are marvellous. I couldn't see the detail until I enlarged the image and as I did my mouth opened and a puff of air came out as if I'm saying - How did you do that? How did you make such gorgeous little earrings? Genuine admiration.
bluepalm
Thank you so much for the lovely post bluepalm. That little puff of air, amazement and wonder is what I do it for. As to how I do it, well, how much time do you have? In a nutshell I started beading as a distraction from grief, (it's even in my business name!) Being a detail oriented recovering perfectionist, I love going down the rabbit hole of pattern construction, often making up my own. There, other things seem small compared to conquering some "engineering process" and away we go! Add in a decade of messing around...and untold $ks of beads, tools and "education."
I ripped out the last 3 circles about 4 times. Good enough is something I allow myself now, in life and in beading, It takes me time to appreciate it but once I do, I feel that comfort.
BeeKeeper I love what you say here: 'Good enough is something I allow myself now, in life and in beading, It takes me time to appreciate it but once I do, I feel that comfort.'
I've been on this journey from striving for perfection to accepting 'good enough' too. Now I feel that 'good enough', something made with the imperfections left in, is actually a warmer, better and more human result. A machine can give perfection. Humans are imperfect - that's what connects us.
bluepalm,
I really appreciate your comments! in particular the contrast between human craft and machines.... :thumbup: That brought it home to me in a way I haven't thought about before. Thanks!
I am proud to announce I have successfully threaded my serger with 4 same color threads, discovered how both sides of the bottom open to do so, and have made a trial overlock edge on extra curtain fabric. I HAD to do this now because the afternoon sun here is beastly! :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:
Now it looks like I'll be able to make progress and maybe even have 4 panels done or half done by the weekend. No attachments here because the thread is cream and the fabric is cream and the resolution of attachments is really low, so it wouldn't show up anyway. Nevertheless it's beautiful to me. :bigwink:
Continuing the braiding with more Caron Watercolor threads. It helps my shoulder function, is enjoyable and "cheap". I'm going into the blues and greens now: Photo is of cotton thread only
Top: Mint Julep
Middle: Sea Foam
Bottom: Sea Glass
The second attachment is my open pendant with 90 beads forming the center "row". I discovered my guesstimate was faulty, based it on a multiple of 60 divisible by 3. You really can't tell. :bigwink:
So beautiful and all my favorite colors! It's very calming to look at these. :)
They really are beautiful. Love the color combos.
Beekeeper, that pendant is gorgeous - beautifully done. :cheer:
Thanks bluepalm,
I've kept it close on the work table, because it is going to grow into something, not quite sure yet.
Armee and Sage, yes, calming blues and greens. :zzz:
I bit the bullet and have put everything on bobbins to create my new braid. Even have it all in a pouch with scissors so I can do it anywhere. Of course, that's where it stopped! Good news though. I've made my way through 3 days of clean up and sorting, so TODAY just might be the day! Kind of feel like Rip Van Winkle. Did I really just spend 8 months semi-conscious?
:grouphug:
18 inches of braid done yesterday-the result is :thumbup: I cant' recall being more enthused about a braid or the colors. I'm loving Caron Watercolors and see (pun intended!) a collection in my future. Along the length, it subtly changes and actually appears "shimmery."
That's gorgeous BeeKeeper! :cheer:
Thanks, bluepalm these might be your colors too! Tomorrow I'm posting a photo of an open diamond I made years ago, but didn't know what to do with it. It will be a pendant which I'll wear with my paisley blue/green shirt. It's really gratifying to rediscover an old love (braiding) without agonizing over patterns and styles. Watercolor solves all those problems. :yes:
One photo shows the newest braid with a former open diamond sample.
The other photo shows a "nested diamond" with the center bead being sensitive to Ultraviolet light. Formerly known as Mood Beads.
If both appear, wowee, zowee