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Professional Crafter’s Guild
PCG
The Professional Crafter’s Guild has been established to elevate the status of crafting to a profession, not just a hobby. The Guild offers membership to all areas of crafting. To join the Guild please complete our online application form. Once you have been accepted you will receive an email with your registration details, badges to add to your websites and a digital certificate of membership. Your details and web links will then be added to our online members list.
ions t c e n n o c e iv t a e Cr Crafter’s network
Become a part of a WONDERFUL COMMUNITY Join in on the FUN IN THE FORUM UPLOAD PHOTOS AND VIDEOS to promote your creations Customise your OWN PROFILE PAGE Spend time in our CHAT ROOM and host your own CHAT EVENTS
Don’t miss out on our special 2nd Anniversary Event on 16th August 2011 Creative Connections is sponsored by
www.procraftersguild.com www.creative-connections.ning.com
THE TEAM Editor and Ad Sales - Anna (The Crystal Lady)
CREATIVE
thecrystallady@creative-crafting.com Technical Editor - Avril (Sprinkles Sparkles) sprinks@creative-crafting.com FEATURE WRITERS Diane - Peggy’s Collection Tina - In the Garden
You did notice didn’t you? Yes, of course you did. We hope you like it, took a while to work out but we quite like it. You will also find lots more features than usual and some lovely new writers for you to discover, alongside the regulars that you always enjoy.
Tracey - Wowthankyou Claire - Elderberry Arts Jim- James Kath Guitars Gemma - Beads Unlimited Katie - Japan Crafts Martiza- La Luna Ranchwear Betty - Betty Bee Vintage Elisa - Elibee Gifts Kirsty - Little Floating Craft Co Lara- Poppyfields Design
The Creative Crafting team are always buzzing with ideas and this issue is no different. It’s all very hush hush but we do hopefully have some interesting things to share with you in the future. You’ll have to watch this space for that one and keep your fingers crossed for us. One thing we can tell you about is that we are hoping that you will have the option of purchasing your very own bound, printed version of this issue. This won’t be available straight away as we would like to test how this comes out first but we will keep you informed of the results and if and when you can purchase your own copy. Don’t worry though, our online version will always be available from our website completely free. Another change that crept in with the last issue is that a full PDF version of the magazine is available for you to download from our website. This will hopefully help everyone who has trouble with the magazine reader or needs to zoom in for a closer look. This is available from the home page of our website. http://www.creative-crafting.com Our weekly ‘Ready - Set - Post’ competitions on Facebook are also proving very popular so don’t forget to pop along and enter those to win fantastic prizes. www.facebook.com/CreativeCraftingMagazine I will now stop waffling and let you get on and enjoy our new issue. Kettle on feet up and relax.
Anna
www.creative-crafting.com www.creative-connections.ning.com
~ Raising the profile of the crafting community ~ Your Creative Team
AvAnna
Get in touch!
Anna - Editor
Publications
Avril - Technical Editor
Diane - Senior Feature Writer
We always love to hear of your crafting experiences and read your feedback for Creative Crafting. Email us at: articles@creative-crafting.com
CREATIVE In this Issue ...... Your Summer Window Shopping Modern Life is Rubbish! So lets get crafting! Get Crafting with Betty Bee.
Sprinkles Sparkles hunts out some Summer Craft finds for us. Vintage Earrings to Accessories Two Cheeky Monkeys has a fantastic recycling project to bring fresh life to old earrings.
Interview time! Metal of Ages Find out more about the mustachioed, Rogue jeweller from North Georgia. A Good work life balance? Is it possible? Discover how some busy crafter’s manage their time.
Interview time! Poppypatchwork Kim from Poppypatchwork describes her journey into the world of denim. The Little Floating Craft Company Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you lived on a houseboat?
The Luthiery Life
Tina in the Garden
So what is a luthier anyway? Read the story of talented James Kath.
We visit our green fingered friend once again in her countryside retreat.
Create your own fun, wire bracelet Follow our tutorial by Maritza from La Luna Ranchwear. Origami - A Japanese Craft Katie from Japan Crafts tells us the history of the art.
CD Clock - Tick Tock Elibee Gifts shows us how to create a stunning clock from an old unwanted CD.
Events Check out our Events page, there may be something near you!
Create a Summer Bead Necklace
Ask Anna
Another fantastic project from Gemma at Beads Unlimited.
We answer another one of your crafting questions.
Knitting with Cotton
Quick Crafts
Diane from Peggy’s Collection shares more knitting secrets with us. (Image at the bottom of the page)
Quick, colourful cosies with Lane Lynn
Fusing Glass
Crafter’s Directory
Lara from Poppyfields Design explains the process of fusing glass.
Discover fabulous handmade items for sale, or perhaps advertise your own store.
Fused Glass Coaster Project Why not try some glass fusing yourself? Lara tells us how. Teenage Crafting Chelsey shows us you are never too young to start crafting.
Would you like to write for Creative Crafting? No technical computer skills are needed, just your crafting thoughts and ideas. If you would like to be included in the next issue of Creative Crafting Magazine please email us at articles@creative-crafting.com
Interview time! Green Oak Creations You’ll never look at old knitwear the same way again!
Crystal Healing Claire from Elderberry Arts brings our attention to the ancient practice.
Crystal Magic Our regular feature with The Crystal Lady. This issue features Semi Precious Aquamarine. Colour Blocking Sprinkles Sparkles has some very colourful finds from the crafting world.
With your ideas. All articles for our Halloween (1st October 2nd Anniversary Issue) are due by 1st September 2011 We are looking forward to meeting you.
WWW.CREATIVE-CRAFTING.COM
I
t’s been a pig of a day, bad tempered and irritating in equal measures. For many people the only way to redeem it would be to crack open a bottle and put their feet up in front of the TV. That is of course unless you are a crafter. A crafter will clear the dinner dishes away, put the kids to bed and then with the radio tuned in to something relaxing start working. Not that it feels like work. Whether you are crocheting a blanket, decoupaging a jewellery box or painting a chair you will quickly enter the craft zone and feel your troubles melt away. The therapeutic qualities of arts and crafts have long been recognised and classes are run in hospitals, prisons, care homes and having been a life long crafter I’m a massive fan of using your crafts as a relaxation tool. That’s not to say mastering new disciplines is always the fastest way to achieve blissed out contentment. We all know the black clouds that form when an idea doesn’t work out, or a project simply gets the better of us. Our crackle glaze goes lumpy or we sew our tapestry to our trouser leg but often even the moments when you are shouting at your sewing machine are good as they totally force you into the moment. There’s little time to worry about, love, money or kids when you are trying to get the tension right on an ancient singer machine.
For my part I get the most satisfaction from up cycling items. Turning discarded items usually destined for the tip into beautiful pieces you will use and enjoy. It makes me feel virtuous as it’s a green way to get new things (and I’m a gal who loves to shop) and the feeling of satisfaction I get when I finish reupholstering a chair or make a cake stand out of mismatched pates from a car boot is really hard to beat. Crafting is also a brilliant way to indulge your creative side and carve out a space that’s just for you. In a world where we are increasingly slaves to our phones and computers (guilty as charged) it actually forces us to step away from the laptop and engage our brain in a more practical way.
So the next time you feel stressed out, don’t buy up all of ASOS.com or eat that family pack of twirls, log onto Creative Craftin and see where the mood takes you. Its natures Prozac-trust me. Betty Bee regularly shares her craft projects on her blog www.talesfrombettybeetowers.blo gspot.com and writes a regular column for Vintage Life Magazine “Betty Bees How to…” which show readers step by step craft projects. www.vintagepamperbox.com The alternative hen party for sassy ladies.
INTERVIEW
d that n a , s r e g in f abraded d n a t u c l, a t molten me , s k r behind a n p a s , m s e e h m t la t f e e! We me c Addicted to ie p r e t s a m a finished n o h s li o p t h burning brig AGES’. F O L A T E ‘M Tell us about Micah Stuart
M
y name is Micah Stuart and I am the owner of Metal of Ages Jewelry! www.metalofages.etsy.com I'm a quarter century old, mustachioed, Rogue jeweler, who loves to wear black, even in the summer time. I was born in Wiesbaden, Germany on a tiny U.S. Air Force Base. Unfortunately I was so young when we left I have no memory of Germany at all. Which is a shame because there are some wonderful sights to see in Germany. My family then moved to Florida briefly before settling down in the North Georgia mountains where I have spent most of my life until recently (I still miss the Florida weather!). Two years ago I finally escaped to Nashville, TN where I live a bachelor's existence and make my jewelry full time. It's quite a pleasure living in Music City and a definite upgrade from the rural life of the North GA mountains.
When did first begin creating your designs, and why? Well, it all started nearly 10 years ago. My first creations were pieces of chainmaille made from electric fence wire wrapped around a dowel rod. Somehow I managed to produce 3 different chainmaille shirts without going insane. It was mostly a hobby in my spare time that slowly but surely led to ever more intricate chains and finer materials. It wasn't long before I acquired some basic jewelry tools and started in on the world of silver smithing. I taught myself how to solder, make rings, weave chains, mount stones, and the list goes
on. Looking back I would have to say my "designs" have DEFINITELY evolved since those early days. What is it that you enjoy about your work? What do I enjoy about my work!? The hours, the flexibility, the creative license, being my own boss... did I mention the hours? Don't be jealous, but I often watch movies while I work as well. My work also gives me the freedom to be my eccentric and quirky self pretty much all the
www.etsy.com/listing/46603536/stainless-simple-torc-style-bracelet
www.etsy.com/shop/metalofages time. No cubicle, uniform, or good behavior for this guy. After all what's someone going to do? fire me? What is your biggest crafting achievement, and why? I don't think I could possibly narrow my biggest achievement to one great piece or one fantastic moment. The most remarkable thing would have to be my transition from being a regular bench jeweler and repairman, to an independent business owner, and what's more, I've managed to do it all without any formal schooling or other instruction. I have come such LONG way and the journey from point A to point B is the great achievement. Only B through Z left to go.
some more of my recent work. I finally had some time that I could set aside for a large intricate project that truly displays a bit of skill. I will be fortunate enough to create meany more pieces of that caliber in the near future so keep your eyes peeled! http://www.etsy.com/listing/6364 8201/modern-artifact-stainlessfleur-de-lis (See image below) Where does your inspiration come from? There are several themes that normally drive my imagination. The basis of my designs reflect techniques from the jewelry masters of centuries past as well
before I actually go and DO the work. Do you have a favourite material to work with? My all time absolute favorite is, without a doubt, STAINLESS STEEL! I love working in a medium that very few craftsmen are utilizing. I get to invent completely new things and explore the limits of a relatively new material. It feels a little bit like an adventure every time I design something new. It also appeals to my "jack of all trades" mentality. Working with stainless requires you to be a little bit of a welder, machinist, bench jeweler,
Other than your crafting, what else do you like to do? When I am not working on jewelry it is time to relax! I spend most of that time catching up with friends, watching movies, enjoying the Nashville night life, etc. Once upon a time I was heavily involved in the theatre, but there is definitely no time for that anymore. My work occupies the overwhelmingly vast majority of my time... and I like it. I have also been known to read and learn new things whenever I get the chance. If you had to choose your favourite from the items you are selling, which one would it be? If I HAD to choose I suppose my Fleur De Lis bracelet would win the prize. It currently resides on the island of Curacao along with
“My work also gives me the freedom to be my eccentric as artifacts in museums, sunken treasure, Classic art, and classic architecture. Aside from that it could be any image, color, or texture that catches my eye. Most every time I close my eyes the thoughts and images come together. When the time for a new project comes it's not uncommon for me to spend quite a few meditative hours sitting and doing all the work in my head
and quirky self pretty much all the time�.
www.etsy.com/shop/metalofages and black smith all at the same time. Do you have a favourite website? Well, Etsy would be my most frequented individual site. I have conversations and other business to attend to on Etsy every day. Not to mention the fact that Etsy is awesome and can provide hours of eye candy. It comes highly recommended! I definitely enjoy tending to my Facebook business page with posts and updates about what is going on at MOA. Honorable mention would include Google image, which is not so much a site as it is a portal to all the wonderful photos and relevant material one can get one's hands on. http://www.facebook.com/pages/ Metal-of-ages/136167189759911
www.etsy.co m/listing/6 1315050/st signature-de ainlesssign-bracele t
Has any person helped or supported you more than any other? Here is where I have to give a huge shout out to my parents!! Without their support and encouragement I highly doubt I could have done even half the things I have managed to do with my jewelry. Also the wonderful people who gave me my first job as a jewelry repairman. They put a torch in my hand and set me loose upon the world.
www.etsy.com/listing/7257 8275/auryn-keypendant-stainless-never-end ing
Tell us a random fact about yourself! I recently acquired a large burn across the back of my right hand from- you guessed it- making jewelry. It is definitely the largest of my many many jewelry making scars. -sigh- it's an occupational hazard
ng/73111641/triq www.etsy.com/listi t an nd pe tyceltic-trini
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that this helps her to focus on what she has set as a target. Oh yes, she sets herself daily, weekly and monthly targets as well. Sarah has a pragmatic approach to work and puts her family first all the time saying “
”. She finds it tempting to use her computer during the hours her children are at home but discovered it can turn into a massive e-mail answering fest and therefore is strict keeping computer work for daytime/school time. As far as domestic chores go Sarah has a great tip for all busy people, “
A good work-life balance? Is it possible?
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n any aspect of work or business it is always difficult to draw the line between getting ahead of the game and having some ‘me’ or ‘we’ time. In the end do we ‘live to work’ or do we ‘work to live’ - it is a difficult call particularly for those trying to build a successful business; in the words of Theodore Roosevelt “ ” – meaning if you don’t do whatever is needed no one else is going to because you have no employees yet. As a Libran, I strive for that perfect balance – but it doesn’t happen ... when I lock myself away in my home office to work, the house gets untidy and the children feel neglected; when I do the housework or take the kids out, emails and phone messages urgently await my attention. I take my work very seriously – the investment of emotion, time, and yes money means that I need to keep in control and up to date. Yet I have two toddlers, one of which will soon start school, and I feel
guilty that I haven’t given her my undivided attention these last 18 months or so. I love being a mum, but I also love being ‘me’ and having an interest that isn’t confined to babies and children. How do you manage? That’s the question that we posed to our WowThankyou community of sellers. Sarah Stone of Sarah’s Fleeces is a busy mum, who runs a family as well as successful business producing a range of clothing products. She says “
” This means that she only works in the hours that the children are at school but also has to get the housework done as well in the same 5½ hours. She finds that she thrives on the variety of tasks and works better in short bursts – finding Sarah’s Fleeces (upper right) Bearing Gifts (right)
” Lesley Carr of Bearing Gifts turned her hobby into a business in 2007 (she makes bibs, peecosys and other baby items). Lesley describes herself as a wife, mother, carer for elderly parents,
dog walker, house manage, gardener and finally a craft career woman [phew...], she says “
” Lesley loves to cook as well as sew and knit but says “
” She usually begins to sew about 5.30am (in the summer anyway) which is the quiet part of the day until everyone else gets up. Then, Lesley says, the fun starts! “
.” The family are currently trying to sell their house and Lesley says “ ”
days. “
” She also leaves evenings mostly free, by just using 30 minutes or so to check and answer her e-mails and the rest of the time to relax. Sounds like Val has got a good work life balance to me. (See Val’s work above). For Susan Bonner of Dottie Designs the work/life balance sounds a bit of a struggle. She comments that “
Val Williams of SlickSilver works three days a week in healthcare and two days on her jewellery business. Her husband is an artist and works on a freelance basis from home. Basically they check the weather forecast for the four days she is not in her formal job and then work on the bad days and go out on the good weather
” She is happy to work these hours as it means that she can pick up and drop off the children at school every day and even take an occasional day off for Sports day. Susan adds “ ” She works about 6–8 hours a day
on the business and also tries to make time to take her young daughter out for ‘adventures’. Housework can be a bit of a trial and so Susan employs a cleaning lady (once a week) and an ironing lady to keep her house in order. She says “ ”. (see main image on previous page). So how do you keep a good work/life balance? I think for most people the answer is keep grounded, keep calm, decide what you have to do, set achievable goals, make time for yourself as well as your family and remember to have fun. It’s easy to write down, but to achieve this, you really will have the best of both worlds x
Written by Tracey Kifford from Wow Thank You
e f i l y r e i h t u l Th e
He’s an amazing woodworker and taught me all the basics, much to my mother’s chagrin. Bandsaws, arm saws (the kind for wood, not arms), routers, and a plethora of hand tools became my best friends. I’d spent every waking, non-school hour in the shop building anything I could get my hands on. By thirteen I was already known around school as the guy who could play anything on guitar and could fix anything that happened to them; and thirteen year-old boys trying to emulate Pete Townsend and Jimi Hendrix could do their share of damage. At fourteen I started taking lessons from a really great Jazz teacher in New Jersey and it just so happened he was a luthier.
It was the first time I realized that this could actually be a career option. I got excellent grades in school, but really excelled in all my music classes. After high school I briefly attended Dorn and Kirschner Band Instrument repair school, but left after six months because I was bored out of my mind; I wanted to work on guitars, not trumpets. So I built a couple of guitars (out of wood from my local hardware store, pine I think) and took them to my previous Jazz teacher and, after a complete year of tormenting him day and night, he accepted me as an apprentice. Apprentice translates to “Work like crazy, get yelled at a lot, and make no money”. I was elated.
S
o what is a luthier anyway? When I tell people I’m a luthier, I usually get a response like “Oh, that’s nice, we’re Presbyterian”. A luthier is someone who makes stringed instruments. Centuries ago when the word first was born, the lute was the predominant stringed instrument; that’s where the “lut” in luthier comes from. At the time it was necessary to be equally skilled in making violins, cellos, lutes and vehuelas (the guitar’s closest ancestor). One had to apprentice with a master and then pass a series of gruelling tests while the council looked on. Only after successful completion could one be called a luthier and hang out a shingle for business. Fortunately, things aren’t so tough these days when it comes to certification. Fast forward several hundred years and here we are in 1979, the year I graduated high school. At that point I’d been playing guitar for ten years and had already built a couple of very ugly guitars in my Dad’s workshop.
(above) As An Apprentice In 1980! (below) 30 Years Later! (Lost the beard, found 30 pounds!)
I spent five glorious years working for him full-time and waiting tables at night to pay my living expenses. The last six months I was there he paid me $5 an hour, which I mistakenly believed to be under the table. But at the end of the year I got a nice letter from the I.R.S. and thus had my first lesson in giving away all my money to them. That part has never gotten easier… or cheaper. It was then time to venture out on my own, but, when it came to seed money for my guitar business, I was as broke as broke could be. My brother had been taking computer classes at Rutgers at the time, so I borrowed his books and taught myself to program (and this was before the IBM PC, so I had to do it all on paper!). I then put a resume together and applied for a programming job in the newspaper. With no experience and a somewhat dubious claim of professional training, they made me take a test to see if I was qualified… I was! Who woulda known? So, I started programming computers for a living, promising myself that it was only until I could save up twenty
sunnier skies and shuffleboard. Not me, I’m on constant overdrive. At forty-nine I feel like I’m just getting started. I make my wife nuts. Since we have no children, hence I don’t have to pay for tuition or weddings, I’m in the process of transitioning away from computers and back to full-time guitarmaking. We’ve downsized our lives quite a bit and no longer need several fancy cars or food. My wife has returned to her love of jewelry making and we now are trying to make a living as crazy, hippy, made-by-hand people. It’s not just our own desires we wish to satisfy, we both truly in our hearts believe that we can make things far better than the factories thousand dollars for tools and and imports! We are tired of the rental space. That was about 27 junk that they’re trying to sell to years ago. I’m still programming. us. We want to give people a And I still don’t have twenty better option. Make things like thousand dollars; But I’m they used to be made; with optimistic this will be the year. quality and pride using only the “Optimistic” is the operative word best materials we can find. We’re and the thing that keeps all of us basically tired of furniture made at our craft. Despite advice to the from compressed garbage and contrary and any common sense that comes with a tool to put it we may still possess, we “made together. by hand” people continue to Guitar making is one of the most believe we can make a go at it. I tedious forms of woodworking once read that the only difference there is. It is one of the only between an amateur and a areas of woodworking where our professional is that the amateur tolerances are measured down to was smart enough to know when the thousandth of an inch and in to quit. I’m not that smart. After some cases (such as the distance all, Colonel Sanders started KFC between frets) it gets down to a when he was sixty-seven; a time half of a thousandth. Our digital when most of us give up for calipers get the most use in our shops. Making guitars is lot like writing a novel, many people want to do it, many people say they are doing it, but many never even complete their first attempt. Not only does the construction of the instrument need to be flawless, but it must also look like art, sound great and feel right to the player; you just don’t run into such a stressful combination of factors in other woodworking crafts such as furniture making.
Not that furniture making doesn’t have its own challenges, but, having also made furniture, I’ve never been kept awake at night wondering if a drawer is going to fit or not. All of that being said there’s no other type of work I’d rather do. On a daily basis I get to work with various types of exotic wood, mother of pearl, abalone, brass, celluloid, a slew of specialized glues and adhesives, hand tools, power tools, plexiglass, electronics and lacquer. It’s such a varied set of skills that are needed, it takes years to master each of them; there’s just no way to be able to get it out of a book and do it right the first time. It will take at least fifteen to twenty guitars to finally have one you’re comfortable enough to show people. Not to mention that there are vastly different skills needed to build solidbody guitars versus flattop acoustic guitars versus archtop acoustics. My personal favorite style to make is the archtop jazz guitar. I feel that it takes the most honed set of skills, both musical and mechanical, to produce a mastergrade instrument. Carving the top out of spruce and the back out of curly maple takes days and many times it feels as if my arms are going to fall right off. It’s a very nerve-racking exercise too because the raw wood itself is so expensive, that one slip and you’ve got a nice piece of expensive, exotic firewood. Then comes the task of bending the sides over a hot pipe. Exotic wood, especially curly maple, has so many potential fracture points that in an instant… well, more firewood. There’s just no way to practice on other woods to get the feel; mahogany bends different than rosewood which bends different than maple. Not to mention that each individual piece of wood has its own personality; it’s a new adventure each and
every time. Like any of you that makes things from scratch, I can talk about my work all day long, so it’s difficult to write about it because I’ll just assume everybody has the same level of enthusiasm as I do for the type of work I do. But that’s the blessing and the curse, isn’t it? In order to learn our craft we spend years of honing our skills with little or no money from it. In fact, the reason we’re all so good at what we do is because we started doing it out of passion, not out of a need for money. Anytime I’ve ever done anything simply because I wanted the money, it never came out as good and I almost never enjoyed it. The world is slowly filling with junk made by slave labor and cheap materials. For me, I know that even though a good factory-made guitar can easily cost thousands of dollars, I know that it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting the best made product of its kind. I’ve done repair work on brand new guitars that cost upwards of three thousand dollars from very famous manufacturers where under the shiny black finish was automobile body filler and cheap wood that you can buy from Home Depot. I’m not exaggerating
either. I’ve seen this so many times it could make you sick. As made-by-hand people, we must strive to produce products that far exceed what is factory-made. Lets not let old-world craftsmanship slip away. People deserve more for their money than their currently getting. I’m on a mission.
You can find the Denver Guitar Guy at: www.kathguitars.com www.etsy.com/shop/RockyMountainSou nds
Written By Maritza from La Luna Ranchwear
This project is for a memor� wired coiled bracelet. It is so simple, you will find yourself making so many of them, and they make g�eat holiday presents, and can be done for ever� season! A g�eat f�n idea is to take old ear�ings that are kind of f�nky, and add them as char�s. I always buy ‘weird’ looking ear�ings, and them place them as char�s
f�n Wire Bracelet Memory wire - 2 or 3 loops Jump rings Charms Silver tone spacers Lots of different beads Wire cutters Round nose pliers Flat nose pliers.
textures, place some crystal, shiny beads here and there. You 1. With round nose pliers make a slide the beads tightly next to the other as you work, keeping the small loop at the end of your spacing even and adding the memory wire. Try to get it as close as possible to the other wire charm, continue to the end. as you curl inwards, towards the outside may be a little harder. 2. Place a small bead next to it, leaving the little loop at the end to attach a larger charm. Gather the charms and the jump rings, and secure the charms to them. Start beading the wrapped coil. 3. Place a larger bead, then a Smaller one, some spacers, and just make sure that you keep about the smaller distance between all the beads and your charms. It is a lot of fun, just to pair different colours,
Let your imagination fly, sometimes if I forget to add a char� in bet�een beads, ver� simply, open the jump ring on your char�, move the beads and you can also hang a cluster of where you want it and just close it them f�om a shor� chain! And there and move the beads back. When you go f�n, fast and so cute! you are get�ing close to the end, keep the beads tight and leave a few mm so you can make a loop and close it tight nex� to the end bead. At this time you should pick a large and different bead or a few ones,
A Japanese Craft
W
hile the origins of origami remain unclear, it is thought that paper folding originally came to Japan from China. As with many aspects of Japanese culture, it is believed Buddhist monks travelled to China to study, and brought paper folding skills to Japan in the Heian period (794-1185). Paper was very expensive, so origami would have been a wealthy person’s pursuit, and was probably limited to letter folding and ceremonial use rather than the type of models we see today.
health in Japanese culture, so people often fold 1,000 cranes when they are ill. There is an interesting (true) story of how the origami crane has now come to represent peace throughout the world…
During the Edo period (16001868), paper became cheaper to produce and the appeal of origami spread to the merchant and samurai classes. During this time (1797) the first known book on paper folding, Senbatsuru Orikata (1,000 Crane Folding) was published and soon afterwards the art form was given the name ‘origami’ (‘ori’ = fold, ‘gami’ = paper).
In 1945, Sadako Sasaki was a toddler when the atomic bomb hit her home city of Hiroshima. Ten years later, she developed leukaemia as a result of radiation poisoning. While she was in hospital, her classmates reminded her that if she folded 1,000 cranes, she could make a wish to get better, so Sadako started folding whenever she felt well enough. Despite folding many cranes though, Sadako eventually lost her fight for life at the age of 12.
Biggest crane: wingspan 81.94m, created by students at Hiroshima University, 2009. Smallest crane: folded from a 1mm x 1mm piece of paper by a Japanese heart surgeon, using a microscope and a needle.
Most paper cranes: 1,274,808, in Singapore. It is easy to find origami instructions, diagrams and even videos online so the internet is your richest resource for origami Bear in mind that Sadako’s school inspiration. If you want to make something decent, however, you friends had suffered the loss of will need proper origami paper. many friends and relatives Cut-up newspaper is fine for The Meiji period (1886-1912) was throughout their short lives, so practicing on but will not be a time of deep political unrest after the death of Sadako they completely square so it may let and origami became less popular decided to take action against you down at a crucial moment! as Japan hurried to modernise war and nuclear weapons. They (and Westernise). However, this made posters and stood on the Japanese origami paper is lighter was also the time when origami street asking for donations to than ordinary paper (hence why spread to the West. Akira create a statue of Sadako in Yoshizawa created many new Hiroshima Peace Park. A national newspaper is best for practicing on), and comes in many beautiful models in the 1930s and newspaper picked up the story developed the system of and soon, donations were diagrams and arrows for folding flooding in from all over Japan that is still used today. The and beyond, and the children pictorial nature of the diagrams raised enough to have a statue made them universally built. understandable. You can still see this statue today in Hiroshima Peace Park, of Sadako holding a giant origami crane high in the air. The statue is often swamped with strings of One of the most popular origami 1,000 cranes which people have models is the paper crane. folded and sent from around the People often confuse the crane world. Underneath the statue is a with the ‘flapping bird’, but if you stone with the inscription: look closely you can see that the crane is more elegant with its longer neck and tail. Traditionally, the crane represents long life and good
designs that will enhance the look of your models. The standard size is 15cm x 15cm but you can easily cut a sheet into 4 to make more, smaller models. At just £4 per pack (60 sheets) from www.japancrafts.co.uk you get a lot of origami bang for your buck! Handmade ‘washi’ paper is more luxurious to work with as it is handmade, hand printed and has its own unique texture and lustre from the materials used to make it. Designs are based on kimono patterns and usually include gold and silver detailing. You definitely need to practice with newspaper before moving on to washi, but at £10 per pack from www.japancrafts.co.uk it is still reasonably priced. More origami goodies, kits and workshops are available from www.japancrafts.co.uk
This fantastic site shows you in 3D how to complete origami projects. www.origami.org.uk
Written By Katie from Japan Crafts
M
Written By Gemma from Beads Unlimited
ake this simple st�iking necklace using beaded eyepins and simple techniques.
Summer Bead Necklace
Gemma is inspired by ever��hing around her, f�om colour and for� to the materials she uses, and by using many t�aditional techniques with contemporar� ideas she creates jeweller� with her individual st�le. 8 x 15mm matt wood russet (WDB21) 7 x 15mm matt wood crimson (WDB11) 9 x 8mm silver foil bead aqua (GLA25) 24 x headpins silver plated (HPSP) 48 x plain cups silver pated (PCSSP) 26 x 5mm jump rings silver plated (JR5SP) 1 x 8mm jump ring silver plated (JR8SP) 1 x trigger clasp silver plated (TRGSP) 1m x light chain silver plated (CHLSP) You will also need a pair of multi pliers (CRMT)
1.
1. Thread a plain cup, a bead of your choice and another plain cup onto a headpin. Bend the headpin into a loop approximately 0.5 cm above the bead. Hold the loop with the pliers and wrap the remaining headpin tightly around towards the top of the bead. Repeat for all of your beads. 3. 2. Cut one 45 cm length of chain and one 52 cm. Join the ends with a 5 mm jump ring and add an 8 mm jump ring to one side and a trigger clasp to the other. 3. Open a 5 mm jump ring and join one of your beaded headpins to the centre of the longer length of chain. 4. Continue to add beads in this way to create a beaded section approximately 23 cm long in the centre of the longest length of chain and 8 cm for the shorter length.
2.
Your Summer window shopping
Sunny Sunflower Pony Tail Gorgeous 100% felt & beaded sunflower pony tail elastic. The outer petals are handmade from lovely, thick, deep yellow Felt. The centre of the flower is dark brown felt hand stitched with stunning turquoise beads.
For more info visit The Felt Works Handmade Shelf Blocks Bright and cheerful set of shelf blocks has been handmade by Sparrow Primitives using solid real wood.
For more info visit Spar�ow Primitives
Mystical 'Oberon' Mer�aid Blue Char� Bracelet This Bracelet is silver plated and includes mermaid charms, pearls, sea shells, dragonflies, leaves and an array of blue beads in different shapes and sizes.
For more info visit Miss Bohemia Pink Chiffon Fabric Flowers Necklace
Orange Classic Camper�an Sof�ie or Decorative Air f�eshener. Gorgeous & colourful handmade orange campervan air freshener. Lovingly made with felt, DMC thread and filled with dried lavender.
For more info visit Stitched with Love
Pink fabric flower necklace, backed with pink chiffon, trimmed with beads, buttons and pearls in various shades of pink and gold, finished with silver chain interlaced with pink chiffon.
For more info visit Millies Pret�� Things
Gold And Champag�e St�iped Necklace & Dangle Ear�ings I based the necklace on gold coloured beading wire and threaded it through gorgeous, gold, striped, tubular, glass beads and toning Chinese crystals. The earrings are on gold plated fish hook ear wires and head pins. They are hung with tubular, striped, glass beads and Chinese crystals.
For more info visit Scot�ish Princess
Cot�on Bunting Sewing Kit This 100% cotton sewing kit in a mixture of lovely colours is so easy to make and a real keepsake to bring out year after year.
For more info visit Alison Capeling Have your new craf�� makes feat�red here. Nex� issue is Halloween themed makes. Email - sprinks@creative-craf�ing.com
Vintage Ear�ings
to accessories Have a look through your grandma's jewellery box (with her permission!) for any beaded or interesting clip on earrings.
1. Remove the original earring clips using your jewellery pliers or metal snips. You may need a jeweller's saw to remove the clips, but this is not generally necessary. For some earrings, especially the beaded ones, the backing is usually very easy to remove from the metal plate to which the beads have been anchored.
Written By TwoCheekyMonkeys
From Earrings to Accessories. Upcycle vintage clip-ons into something new.
Vintage clip-on earrings Jewellery pliers and metal snips Metal file Bobby pin blanks with pads Strong glue such as E6000 or two part epoxy adhesive Felt or fabric scraps 2. Carefully feel for any rough edges where the clips were removed and file down any sharp edges. Cut out a small piece of felt in a matching colour to cover the back of the earring. Glue the felt to the back of the earring and leave to dry.
3. Once the glue has dried, decide which way you want your new bobby pin to sit and glue the bobby pin blank to the back. Leave the glue to dry once again and then you have a beautiful, re purposed hair accessory!
- You can also t�r� your old clip on ear�ings into a pin brooch or shoe clip simply by at�aching a brooch pin back or a shoe clip blank to the back of the ear�ing once you have removed the original clip. For a f�ller or more eye-catching look, at�ach the salvaged clip on ear�ing to a fabric yo-yo or lace r�ffle flower before at�aching the bobby pin blank or brooch pin back.
INTERVIEW We meet a passionate patchwork quilter who has adapted the age old technique of rag quilting to create something new, different and exciting - taking recycling and patchwork to a whole new funky level!!
Tell us about the lady behind Poppypatchwork. I am South African by birth, happily married to Andrew, with one daughter - Jessica (9). I also have three fabulous step-children - Patricia (23), Michael (21) and Samantha (18). We emmigrated to the UK eight years ago and we live in Maldon, Essex. I am a Registered Nurse and currently work full time as a Specialist Infection Control Nurse for a Mental Health NHS Trust. Sewing is, and always has been, my first love hobby but I also enjoy reading, occasionally knit and do cross stitch. As a family we are keen cyclists and love being outdoors so take advantage of good weather whenever we can. When did first begin creating your designs, and why? I have been a passionate patchwork quilter for 21 years now and have a fairly extensive scrapbook of photos to keep track of all the quilts that I have made. I do particularly love heavy fabrics with texture though and about two years ago I saw a ragged quilt on the Internet made out of plain denim squares. I loved the look of it and just had one of those lightbulb moments thinking "if I made a piece like that I could then lay a bag pattern on it and make a bag". But the plain denim was a bit boring for me so I hunted the charity shops for embroidered denim clothes and started cutting them up!! I have included a photo of Jess with a backpack on her back - that was the second item I made using my new idea. And it's grown from there..... Initially I just made bags and backpacks for friends and family but everybody who saw them raved about them so much and encouraged me to start thinking about selling them. I now have them listed on www.etsy.com , www.folksy.co.uk and www.misi.co.uk . My shop name is Poppypatchwork
What is it that you enjoy about your work? My husband and I are great believers that one should have a passion in life - something that you thoroughly enjoy doing, just for you - something that gives you time to switch off from the stress and hustle and bustle of everyday life and allows you time to think, reflect and relax. His is cycling, mine is sewing. I have a fabulous little sewing room and even if it's just an hour a day, which it often only is, I disappear up there, put the radio on softly and get involved in creating something new. I find it very therapeutic, I switch off from my hectic life and chill, and, the bonus is I have something pretty and useful at the end!!! What is your biggest crafting achievement, and why? I haven't ever entered any competitions etc. but if there was one item that I would say did challenge me, it was a quilt I made for my parents for their Ruby wedding anniversary. (See picture.) I transferred a series of photos from their lives together over the 40 happy years and designed them into a quilt.
The next achievement was my first sale on Etsy to a lady in America - you cannot believe the thrill I got out of that - it is so flattering when someone likes your item enough to dig deep into their pocket and give you their hard-earned money for something that you have made. And that feeling never goes away - I get so excited with every sale! If you had to choose your favourite from the items you are selling, which one would it be? My favourites are my "boho slouchy denim patchwork shoulder bags" - I have a couple that I have made for myself and they are such roomy, versatile, comfy bags to use. Where does your inspiration come from? - friends, family, books etc? I have a huge collection of denim and embellishments now (thanks to a very tolerant husband!!) and usually I will look at a section of embroidery and think " that will be perfect for a backpack flap" or " I just have to use that pocket" and it grows from there. I also love browsing on Etsy and that
has got to be the most inspiring website in the world!! There isn't a day that goes by that I am not awestruck, impressed and inspired by the beautiful things that people all around the world are making. Do you have a favourite website? Yes, without a doubt www.etsy.com Has any person helped or supported you more than any other? My husband and family, without hesitation!! Jessica insists she has the cleverest mummy in the world, and of course, I do agree with her!!!! Tell us a random fact about yourself! I loooove chocolate and drink too much coffee!
KIM’S ETSY STORE Kim has Etsy, Folksy and Misi stores.
No-one will ever have the same item as you, each one is entirely unique and takes many hours of happy planning, patch-sourcing and stitching to create the ultimate item. Kim welcomes requests for specific themes/colour schemes. Please note, no two bags/items are alike so exact replicas cannot be made.
Kim has also added a range of candlewick quilts.
I
never dreamt that I’d end up living on a houseboat, or that I’d be so influenced by the affects of living on the water. I have my amazing husband to thank for our current way of life (an ex Royal Engineer who knows no bounds!) but I always had an affinity with the great outdoors and my mum’s love of textile artists like the fabulous Annemieke Mein could only strengthen that. Since we built our houseboat, Zulu, the water and the riverside flora has taken over though. When you start your day watching the reflections of the water on the ceiling it’s easy to stay relaxed, and hard sometimes to motivate yourself. I have so many inspirations but the water takes away the urgency! The colours I use in my work tend to be more influenced by the outdoors now with soft blues and browns, which is a definite progression from my earlier days when everything was “oil in a puddle colours”! I watch the tones of the countryside fade into one another as we amble down the river at a steady 4mph and can’t bear to leave anything with a solid blocked edge – you’ll find my vintage distressed
(left) Kirsty from The Little Floating Craft Co. (below) Zulu
L’eausioux, the sprite. style bears strong evidence of this! One recent creation that fought her way to the surface after many months of swimming around in my head is my river sprite, L’eausioux. With her elongated limbs she can slide effortlessly through the bubbling waters, and I’m confident she has more friends who’ll be joining her in the nottoo-distant future, to congregate on our little patch of the Great Ouse. When L’eausioux first became a reality she was a little scary…. I could see her so clearly but I hadn’t worked my way back through the necessary stages she must travel through to see where exactly her origins lay. With definite “Labrynth” and “Dark Crystal” influences floating around my head, she needed a personality and a look that was all her own. By sculpting her head and face a piece at a time I think I managed this – but her facebook fans had a sleepless night after seeing the first photos of her partially formed head and headless body! She’s a beautiful creature now though, and she’s really lived up to the images I saw before she came to life.
Life at the Little Floating Craft Company is always evolving, like the old creatures from the river slime! I indulge my love of all crafts and use whichever medium inspires me (including cake and sugarcraft!). I print my own fabric, create textile goodies, make jewellery, create luscious cards and gift tags… anything is fair game! There is no pressure here on the river to meet expectation – I can be truly free to create what I feel, whatever that may be. For those who’ve never spent the time of day just sitting with their toes wiggling in the water I would urge you to try it. Take a sandwich and a drink and stay for an hour or two. See what moves you. You may be surprised where you end up!
www.littlefloatingcraftco.folksy.com See more of what we do on www.facebook.com/littlefloatingcraftco You can also read my blog at www.littlefloatingcraftco.blogspot.com
Hi! I’m Tina, Welcome to The Garden on this bright sunny morning. Shall we have coffee today as you are here early and some nice chocolate biscuits, lets indulge, well it is summer. I see we have some new readers, well welcome come and join us, I have lots of photos of The Garden since the last issue. Well it was rather dry last month and the hydrangeas were suffering they are a little smaller this year. So there I was doing the rain dance, praying for rain and yes I got my wish and down it came. The Garden really enjoyed it and went into overdrive, and so did the weeds, there is always a down side. The roses have been just wonderful and flowered earlier than usual I took so many photo’s it was difficult to choose. My better half and I also got a little project done. We had a new Shower fitted in the house and were left with the old shower tray and down by one of the sheds. It was a bit scrappy, so he dug a hole big enough to fit the tray in,(I know you do not need a photo) then he sealed the drain to make it watertight, I placed stones around the edge and some washed gravel in the bottom and filled it with water, purchased some pond weed and what do you have? A pond. I put some stones in the bottom as a shelter for any little creatures, but so far nothing has taken up residence.
(Top Right) Sunny View (Four Centre) Various Roses (Right) Shower Tray Pond Project.
Tina in the Garden
What do you think to this plant with the butterfly on it. It really is beautiful and has a strong perfume or should I say smell as it does tickle my nose a bit. It is privet which is normally clipped close as a hedge but like everything in The Garden it is left to do its thing and is full of flowers this time of year. My better half will prune it back in September.
I thought you would like to see the bog as it looks so nice and cool. It never fails to surprise me how many shades of green there are in nature.
At the moment the roses are still flowering, and the hydrangeas are coming out, also the apples and pears are coming on fast. The main job is the dead heading which is so important if you wish your plants to keep flowering, but boy do they take some keeping up with.
Well time seems to have run out on me again, thank you for taking the time to join me in The Garden. See you all again soon. Your green fingered friend
Tina
A little project The cotton lavender has also overflowed onto the path, so I just cut it back and from the clippings selected some cuttings. As you see it is so easy. I take a lot as not all root and if you have too many, well give them to your friends and relations, we all love plants, especially when they are free.
Cotton Lavender
Pull off Cuttings from old stem.
Take off lower leaves, plant around the sides of a large pot in compost plus a little grit, top dress with grit, water and leave in the shade.
Written By Elibee Gifts
CD Clock! This fun, summer themed clock would look great in any garden room or summer lounge.
Blank/old cd Glue Patterned paper Stickers/rub ons/glitters Clock mechanism and handles
1. Take your CD and cover the labelled side with glue. I find a glue stick works better than wet glue as this tends to bubble the paper. Make sure you go right to the edges. Place your CD glue side down onto the back of your chosen paper, smoothing out the paper so there are no bumps. 2. Leave the glue to dry for a little while and then cut the paper carefully around the edge of the CD. You can use a craft knife, but I find it easier using scissors. 3. Using a pair of small scissors, carefully cut a small hole where the centre of the cd is. Make sure you do not cut it to the same size as the hole in the CD as this will be too big for your clock mechanism!
1.
2.
3.
4.
4. Now the fun part, decorating the face! You can use whatever you like. Here I am using stickers and glitter. It’s also a good idea to ink around around the edges of your clock face or you can use glitter. 5. 5. After you have decorated the face,you can start to add the numbers. For this you can use number stamps, rub ons, stickers,anything you want really. For this clock I have used little gems. Start with number 12 then 3, 6 and 9. You can either leave it with only the 4 numbers (a quarter face) or you can continue and add the rest making sure you have equal spacing between them. If you are using gems it is best to use a clear drying glue.
6.
6. Once you are happy with the face and any glitter or glue is dry you can add the mechanism and handles. Push the spindle through the centre of your clock face and attach using the washer and nuts and then gently push on the handles, starting with the hour hand, then the minute and lastly the seconds handle.
7.
7. Now all you need to do is hang your clock on the wall or display it on a small plate stand and you are done!
Fair - Vintage and Handmade Market Where: We will be taking up residence at Diplock’s Yard on North Street, the same venue as Brighton Farm Market, which has quickly established itself as our city’s best weekly farmer’s market, held every Wednesday and Saturday. Diplock’s Yard is an all-weather, semi-covered venue. What’s happening: The Yard aims to bring together the best of independent vintage merchandise - from fashion to homewares and everything in between, along with talented independent designers.
Vintage china & homewares sellers Unusual lighting designers Pedlars of jewellery & accessories Booksellers & vinyl specialists Fashion designers Retro clothing traders Artists and lots more.
Dates: During August and September it is on August 14th,11.00-5.00, August 28th 11.00-5.00, September 11th 11.00-5.00 September 25th 11.00-5.00
Information: If you are interested in a pitch, you can get in touch with Maxine on the contact details below: Email: mmaxine@yahoo.co.uk Phone: 07931224449
Exhibition – Twisted at Phoenix Brighton
Event - Twist & Make’
Where: Phoenix Brighton, 10–14 Waterloo Place, Brighton.
Where: Phoenix Brighton, 10–14 Waterloo Place, Brighton.
What’s happening: This summer we focus on work by seven artists who employ traditional materials and techniques of textiles and ceramics, but manipulate and twist them into different forms, altered meanings and new directions. Wriggling out of the traditional domain of ‘craft’, these objects escape the plinth, shelf and glass cabinet, occupying the gallery as unconventional wall pieces and installations that you can walk through and explore.
What’s happening: Twist & Make celebrates traditional and contemporary craft, bringing makers, techniques and art all together in a beautifully crafted way! With delightful tea and cakes, retro fruit cocktails and a quirky, eclectic soundtrack by our favourite DJ’s, Twist & Make will have something for anyone who loves the finer things in craft!
Dates: July 23 - August 21 Open Wednesday - Sunday 11 am - 5 pm
Dates: Saturday 13 August, 2011 11am – 5pm (Free entry for visitors) Information: To apply to become a stall holder at Twist & Make please email: clare@phoenixbrighton.org
Hi Kelly,
Dear Creative Crafting, When I was a little girl my mom bought us basket making sets which included cardboard frames, plastic sticks and paper strips to weave with. I have recently been looking for these and can't find them anywhere :o( I've been thinking about using this idea but instead of weaving with the paper strips I was thinking about using ribbon instead but I have no idea how I would go about it without something to refer to :o( Any ideas or suggestions? Many thanks, xXx Womble xXx
Thank you for your question. I think these are the kits you spoke of: These kits don't seem to be available any more but there is a wealth of information online about basket weaving with ribbons. Here is a wonderful tutorial that I found on http://www.wrights.com/wrights/cl ass/kidscrafts/wovenbasket/woven
Woven Basket Materials (for basket approx. 4" high, 3" wide): 6 1/2 yds. Wrights速 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (#223-143) 1/2 yd. Wrights速 1/4" Satin Ribbon (#2232-120) Straight Pins Glue
Instructions: 1. Cut Grosgrain ribbon into 18" lengths. There will be thirteen. Reserve one for handle. 2. Remaining twelve will be woven together into basket. Read through directions entirely before beginning. 3. Weave 12 pieces of ribbon together in plain over/under weave as in Illustration 1. 4. With ribbon woven as illustrated, tighten woven square so that there is little or no space between pieces of ribbon (see illustration 2). 5. Glue at eight points marked with letters (see illustration 3). 6. Points B, D, F, and H will become bottom corners of basket. Points A, C, E, and G will turn up and begin to form sides. Piece should be turned over so that flat side facing up in Illustration 3 becomes base and faces down.
7. With piece flat again, pick up point A (see illustration 4 illustration shows piece without free ends of ribbon). Hold point A up until triangle H-A-B is approximately perpendicular to woven base (see illustration 4). Pick up point C until its triangle is also perpendicular.
9. You will be "filling in" between points A and C. With this space filled in, turn piece so that C is in A's place. Continue around in this fashion until entire basket has been woven. 10. Tighten weaving of basket sides as for base (see illustration 2, step 4).
8. With points A and C held upright, the ribbons extending 11. Following Illustration 6, top edge should be trimmed into from ends of woven piece will points and overlapping ribbon be folding into each other edges should be glued above corner B. Following together. Illustration 5, begin to weave loose ends together following 12. Four top trimmed corners pattern established in base should be turned to inside piece. Work one ribbon at a along fold line shown in time and pin to hold when illustration 6. you go on to next ribbon. All corners are the same and will be worked in exactly the same manner.
Ask
a n n A
www.craftanswers.blogspot.com
1. Cut Grosgrain ribbon into 18" lengths. There will be thirteen. Reserve one for handle. 2. Remaining twelve will be woven together into basket. Read through directions entirely before beginning.
www.craftanswers.blogspot.com
Do you have a question about craf�ing that you'd like answered? If so, then you've come to the right place. If we can't answer it, then we will do our best to find someone that will. You can write your or email them to:
3. Weave 12 pieces of ribbon Illustration 1
Illustration 2
Illustration 3
thecr�stallady@creative-craf�ing.com
Or leave a comment on our blog.
Illustration 4
Illustration 5
Illustration 6
If you are interested in basket weaving this site is definitely worth a look: www.basketmakers.com
Knit�ing with Cot�on
Knitting with cotton is perfect for the summer time. It is also great for anyone that’s allergic or sensitive to fibre and yarn. Cotton is a light weight fibre that is great for summer clothing, dishcloths and accessories.
Cotton can be dyed in a number of different colours or you can buy it in colours already dyed which is great for a number of garments. It is also strong, durable and machine washable which is great for washcloths or dishcloths as they can be re-used. It also holds together well and doesn’t peal like some other yarns. Tips for working with cotton Try wooden or bamboo needs if your yarn is splitting and or you find it too slippery. Because cotton can be somewhat bulky, try to start the new ball at the edge of the work rather than the middle. Take frequent breaks as cotton can be harder to work with on your hands. Always swatch for your project you are working on. My favourite cotton to work with is called peaches and crème as it comes in so many different colours so they are fun to work with.
We would love to see your projects you make so please send in any pict�res. sprinks@creative-craf�ing.com
Written by Diane from Peggy’s Collection
Written By Poppyfields Design
Fusing Glass H
i, my name is Lara Humphreys & I’m a Glassaholic! I’ve been working with fused glass now for about 2 years and I’m completely hooked!
Fused glass dates back over 4,000 years to ancient Egypt although it wasn’t until the Roman era that its use become widespread.
There are 2 really important things you need to know.
Fused glass is a great medium to work in as it can have a functional use as well as be decorative. So you can make bowls, dishes and plates for your home along with jewellery & decorative glass panels to display. I’m no expert and I’m learning new and exciting techniques ever day, but funnily enough, sometimes the things that don’t go completely right are more exciting than the original idea. Glass comes in all shapes and sizes from the normal pieces which you would expect to see PLUS stringers (long thin glass), confetti (very thin glass shards), frit (crushed glass) & powder. All these can enhance a project.
“Ok, so what do I need to know about glass so I can get going?”
Glass isn’t considered a completely ‘stable’ item. The formation of glass is such that it undergoes considerable stress to achieve our desired shape & colour, which is why sometimes glass cracks for no apparent reason. The stress within the glass just became too much! We can help to alleviate that problem in the cooling process.
Firstly; safety has to be our main concern! Glass has lots of sharp points and bits that ping off so you must wear safety goggles and lightly padded gloves (ok, so I don’t wear the gloves but I get cut ALOT). You cannot eat or drink whilst cutting glass. Who really wants to find a glass shard in their sandwich or cup of tea? It’s also extremely dangerous! Secondly; glass has something called ‘COE’s’. This stands for coefficient of expansion. This is the rate of how quickly the glass expands and contracts. In fused glass you would normally see Coe 90 or Coe 96. It is important that you don’t mix the two as the glass when fused will crack. It’s not difficult to ensure you keep to one
Coe, companies such as Bullseye Glass only make glass in one Coe.
based in their garage). Or you could buy a microwave kiln.
Here’s a list of the basic items you need to fuse glass: Glass; Oil filled glass cutter; Grozing pliers; Safety glasses; Gloves; Cutting mat; PVA glue & cocktail sticks; use of a kiln. Most of these items can be bought very cheaply from Ebay.
Microwave kilns will only take one small piece but fuses & cools in less than a couple of hours. There is less control over firing but it’s great for fusing small jewellery pieces. Microwave kilns cost approx £75£85.
There are many places where you can learn about fusing glass from Most people interested in fusing don’t start because they think they taster days to more intensive courses have to go and buy a kiln. Kilns don’t come cheap admittedly, but Making Space there are ways around this. www.makingspace.org Most studios, art centres, companies that fuse glass are Warm Glass happy for you to hire their kiln. www.warm-glass.co.uk This costs approx £10-£15 per firing but it’s likely to be a large Creative Glass Guild kiln which will accommodate a www.creativeglassguild.co.uk large amount of glass. West Dean College You could possibly use a kiln of www.westdean.org.uk another glass artist (probably
Lara Humphreys larazhumphreys@yahoo.co.uk www.poppyfieldsdesign.folksy. com www.facebook.com/poppyfieldsde sign
Written By Poppyfields Design
Before cut�ing your glass for your coaster practice scoring and cut�ing scrap pieces of glass. 1 x 10cm X 10cm 90 coe transparent little wheel at the nib end of cutter starts at the edge of the glass Various coloured 90 coe transparent glass. You should be able to hear a scratchy noise of the & opaque glass glass scoring. Oil filled glass cutter Glass Cutting Pliers Cutting mat (with cm grids if possible) 3. You should be able to see the scoring line on the glass. If you Safety glasses haven’t scored all the way across PVA glue the glass turn the glass over and Ruler, Coloured Pencils & Paper make the score again. You Use of an electric kiln cannot re score over existing score marks. Take your glass cutting pliers (making sure the 1. First draw your design on a raised notch is at the bottom) piece of paper. Use a ruler to and place the score mark over draw a square box 10cm x 10cm the raised notch. Close the pliers and divide the square into a and firmly press. If the glass geometric shape. Colour the doesn’t break easily then it’s spaces to your liking. This is what likely you haven’t scored the your coaster will look like. It is glass properly. It is also possible important to not leave any spaces, to snap the glass with your you must have at least 2 layers hands, but if you are going to of glass all over. do it this way you must wear protective Kevlar gloves. 2. Cut your first piece of glass. When cutting, use the cm grid as a guide for your cutter. Don’t use a ruler as the cutter won’t make a good contact with the glass and it may not score properly. Hold the glass cutter like a pen. Hold one side of the glass steady whilst scoring. Press firmly and push the glass cutter. Start the scoring process at the bottom of the glass (nearest to your body) and ensure the
4. After you have cut all your pieces of glass, wash very carefully (lots of sharp edges) with soapy water. This removes all the oil from the cutter and finger marks. Dry thoroughly. Try to hold the glass by the edge and not on the surface.
Using a small dab of PVA glue, stick them onto the clear 10cm x 10cm transparent glass. Don’t worry if your edges don’t meet perfectly.
6. After firing and waiting for the kiln to cool down (don’t open the kiln below 40 degrees centigrade, 100 degrees fahrenheit), remove from the kiln. You will need to wear a dust mask as the firing 5. When the glue is completely dry paper will turn to fine ash and it is you can now fire your coater. When highly toxic. Wash your glass with you put your coaster in the kiln water to remove any ash and dry. (which will have been prepared with You now have your lovely coaster! thinfire kiln paper) turn the glass over so that your coloured glass is on the bottom and the transparent All materials sourced f�om War� Glass glass is on the top. This will ensure www.war�-glass.co.uk that your coloured glass melts evenly and you will have no gaps in your design.
Teenage Crafting
Written by Chelsey
Want to make a sweet gift for your best friend? Or show your love for someone special? Make a friendship bracelet! You can be so creative with colours and the desig�. It's such a personal gif� to show how much you care. Here are all the tips, ideas and desig�s you need to make a thoughtf�l handmade gif�...
First Of All, you need a base for the bracelet: You can use a metal chain; (bearing in mind you may need bigger beads to thread through if you choose this). Plait different coloured yarn together, measure on your wrist so that there is enough to go around the wrist and to tie in a bow to secure. Elastic is good for threading beads through. You could even make a crochet chain! Or a simple silky ribbon tied. It's time to add some beads! Co-ordinate the bead colours to the chain colour, alternate in sparkly, spotted beads etc. Be creative! Find a charm with your friends initial, that would be good to add. Plus a charm to do with something they like, if they're into music then get hold of a music symbol, or a flower if they like plants. If you’re making a bracelet for yourself as well, then you can have matching bracelets with different charms. You can buy these from craft stores and second hand stores. You could even make your own charms! Buy a pack of modelling clay, cut out the shape with a plastic child's knife or clay knife, pierce a little hole in the shape while it's still soft, then leave to dry. Once hard, the charm can be painted. You know those necklaces with little lockets that you can put pictures in? Buy one from a second hand store, take the locket off, put your own friends picture in, then thread it through the bracelet! Here's Another Cute Idea: Cut out a heart shape out of modelling clay, then cut it in half in a zig zag shape before it dries, attach one half to your bracelet, the other half to your friends bracelet and when you put your wrists together, the heart will be complete! Sweet and Simple. Quick Tips: Tie a bow made of yarn or ribbon around the chain. Shop around for cute and unusual charms to be attached like a phone, car, clock, rainbow, animals, these can be found or made yourself. Beads, a charm and a bow is plenty to add to a chain and gives you a base for if you want to sell your own jewellery. Use your skills; knitting, crochet, sewing, weaving and felting can all be incorporated into the jewellery. Knitting a chain? Try about 6 stitches (bangle size) and if you know how to do eyelets, a ribbon can be threaded through the chain. Cute!Even knit little flowers to sew onto the gift, there are plenty of patterns for flowers around. Letter beads are so sweet, you can spell out names or words like "best friend" or "special friend." If you know what your best friend likes, then you can incorporate their personality into the bracelet. Have fun with this lovely craft and make someone smile at the same time!
INTERVIEW Learn a little more about the lady behind the fantastic Green Oak Creations from Texas. You will never look at old knitwear the same way again! Tell us about Lee-Anne Hmmm… A little about me…. Let’s see. Well, I guess the first thing would be that I’m a lifelong artist who just happens to know how to sew. My father is an artist and was/is always sketching, drawing, & painting. I guess I caught the bug early and started drawing doodles as soon as I was old enough to hold a Crayola. My mother sewed quite a bit when I was younger and showed me the basics in my early teens, but I didn’t really get into sewing too much until I had a family of my own. I don’t have any good pics of me actually in the sewing room, but here’s the state of chaos at the moment. When did first begin creating your designs, and why? I really began stitching up recycled sweaters in December 2009, after seeing the incredible work of phenomenal Etsy artist, Katwise. At first, it was just as a fun hobby to make quirky clothing for myself and my family, but very soon after, I started request from friends, and then from strangers… Something inside my heart was telling me this was what I was supposed to be doing. So I officially started Green OAK Creations and opening the Etsy shop, GreenOAKCreations.etsy.com in January 2010.
What is it that you enjoy about your work? I love almost everything about making these offbeat creations (except for figuring out my taxes. Yuk!) My favorite part, though, would have to be the insane amounts of shopping I get to do. I would almost classify myself as a shopaholic, and I find it absolutely spectacular that I have found a way to make a living that includes going on ridiculously, indulgent shopping sprees! Where does your inspiration come from? The color inspirations come from everywhere… Everywhere I look sometimes. Sometimes a certain
sweater will inspire the rest of the combination, but mostly my ideas come from other things… A particular evening sunset, the carpet at the doctor’s office, a glazed pottery tea mug, a hand towel at a friend’s house, a pretty blouse on a lady at the coffee shop, a greeting card… EVERYWHERE! Sometimes it’s tough just to keep up with the all ideas! I have to make notes or take pictures for myself when I see something I like so I’ll remember it later. Each Green OAK creation is pieced together by hand; using all recycled knits and fabrics.
starting point. I lay all the sweaters out on my cutting table in color order. Once I’ve finally decided on the sweaters, then the cutting frenzy begins. I “see” the finished product in my head, so I kind of already know how much I need to cut from each sweater and what can be saved to be used later (although I really need to start cleaning out those sraps... I think there’s going to be an avalanche soon! Lol!) Has any person helped or supported you more than any other? As always, my hubby has been a phenomenal support system for What is your biggest Your work is very beautiful, do me. When we decided that I crafting you have a process for really needed to give this sweater achievement, and designing each piece? business a go, I was still working why? a full time job. Hubby was Thanks! I do have a process, sort fortunate to have a job with a I think the most lavish coat so far of, because the idea for each one very flexible schedule, so he did is the Enchanted Peacock coat in starts out differently… But once the majority of the sweater the Epic Fantasy collection. I all the sweaters are picked out, it shopping, all the sweater spent close to three whole days stays pretty much the same for stitching that one together. I use each creation. As to picking out a washing, runs to the post office, plus took over the day-to-day that series of coats to really starting theme, that’s pretty chores around the house (cooking stretch my creative muscles… Sit random. I could say to myself dinner, laundry, kid shuttling) so I around and think of ways to that I’m going to make a rainbow could sew at night and on the dream up things you would see in coat, and I find one particular weekends. He’s such a rockstar! storybooks or movies. color that is very striking to me. It could end up being the bodice If you had to choose your favourite from the items you sweater, or part of the skirt or are selling, which one would it trim, maybe the waistband… Wherever it ends up, then the be? rest of coat is built from that I have been very fortunate to be so well received on Etsy and things tend to get scooped up pretty quickly, so I only have a couple of things for sale at the moment. I think my favorite coat of all time is still Through the Forest; the colors came together so well and it just felt so earthy & elven… Like you were being transported to a mystical, magical forest for a lovely day of play with the fairies.
Other than your crafting, what else do you like to do?
Do you have a favourite website?
Other than sewing, I also like to draw and paint, and I’m teaching myself how to crochet at the moment… Still working on granny motifs but I’m up to making hexagons now. My daughter and I are supposed to give tie dying a try soon, too. Basically, I like to do anything artsy & creative. I think my favorite thing to do is hang out with my favorite person in the world… My hubby! We are both artists and we also have a travelling face painting and henna tattoo business that we do on the weekends. It actually works out great because we get to spend a whole bunch of time together AND make some money while we’re doing it.
I don’t get to spend as much time as I would like surfing the Internet, but some of my favorite shops on Etsy are GratefulDan.etsy.com, LunaDesignn.etsy.com and BeautifulPlace.etsy.com. I’ve also been looking at a lot of sites about crocheting recently, and I’ve found RedHeart.com and Bernat.com have some really great free patterns. Tell us a random fact about yourself! I think something people find most interesting is that my hubby and I have been married for almost 19 years after knowing each other less than two months. He was in the military and I had just graduated from high school
www.etsy.com/shop/greenoakcreations www.facebook.com/pages/Green-OakCreations/411228225645
when we met while he was home on leave. Two weeks later, I moved across the country with him and almost two months later, we were married. We always said it was the dumbest, smartest thing we ever did, but here we are, 19 years later, and we’re as happy now as we were then… Maybe happier! Don’t forget to visit Lee-Anne at her Etsy store and Facebook page to see more of her incredible creations.
Crystal Healing
M
ost people are aware and can name many precious and semi precious stones. People have favourites and are likely to own a piece of jewellery featuring one or more of these varied and beautiful stones. What a lot of people won't be aware of is that these stones were once much valued for more than just their beauty. In past times and cultures gemstones had sacred meanings and where used for their healing properties as well as in jewellery and other decorative applications. This is known as crystal healing and has been practised all over the world throughout history. Crystal healing works on the basis that everything has a vibrational rate and that energy is constantly being exchanged between things. Each type of crystal has its own vibration rate. This is due to many factors including colour, chemical composition and shape. In the same way crystals can be used to alter electromagnetic waves for medical machinery and quartz watches, they can be used to change energy. Crystals can be used to absorb, reflect, balance or direct energy. Crystal healing can be performed in many ways. Some people chose to visit a trained and qualified crystal healer. This can be a good option if the crystals needed are hard to get hold of or very expensive. Though it's worth noting that a piece of raw unpolished stone will heal just as
well as a pretty polished stone so do not worry about having to spend large amounts on stones cut a certain way or set into expensive jewellery. Crystals can be carried in a pocket, slept with, placed in your bath or used during meditation, reflexology or massage. It is also possible to make a crystal essence by soaking crystals in spring water which can then be used immediately or preserved with alcohol. This process is not safe for use with all crystals as some are dangerous and even toxic. The simplest and probably most common method of crystal
healing is to wear the gemstones as jewellery. Because crystals hold energy it is important to cleanse them regularly so they can work as well as possible for you. This can be done in many ways for example by leaving them in moonlight or washing them under the running water of a stream or in the sea. It is also best to cleanse crystals when you first receive them as they will have been handle by many people and may of picked up energy from them and also the environment.
Written by Claire from Elderberry Arts
Some common crystals and their properties
H
ematite – This a very grounding stone associated with blood and circulatory system. Supports the kidneys and stimulates the absorption of iron. Good for boosting self esteem, will power and for help in accepting your mistakes.
M
oonstone – A stone of new beginnings. Strongly connected to the moon and promotes intuition and empathy. Traditionally used to enhance psychic abilities. Associated with the female reproduction cycle and can ease any related issues and illness. Good for PMS, conception, pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.
Elderberry Arts
A
methyst – A protective stone that is good for enhancing meditation. Beneficial to the mind and can help in decision making. Aids insomnia if slept with or placed by your bed. Dispels anger, fear, rage and anxiety and promotes love. Eases headaches and reduces bruisings and swelling.
Handmade unique and uncommon jewellery made using a variety of materials including wood, silver, hemp, glass, crystal, gemstones and lampwork. www.elderberryarts.co.uk
Beautiful Jewellery to help you through life!
MYSTIC EARTH Have you ever thought of having a piece of Gemstone and Crystal Healing Jewellery Created ‘just for you’
R
ose Quartz – The stone of unconditional love and an important crystal for the heart. Placed by your bed it is said to attract love and relationships. Draws of negative energy and strengthens sensitivity and empathy. Encourages selfforgiveness and self love.
Each stone matched to your needs!
The Crystal Lady at Mystic Earth can offer you this service. These pieces of unique jewellery make the perfect gift for a loved one or a much needed treat for yourself.
www.mysticearth.co.uk
These wonderful gold filled post earrings have a beautiful faceted moss aquamarine cube wrapped with 14K gold filled wire. www.etsy.com/shop/nansglam
Designed in the Artsy Chicas studios, this is a bracelet of soft colours, made with Aquamarine beads and Preciosa bicone crystals, clear crystals, moonstones and pearls. Finished with attractive bead caps and spacers, a flower toggle clasp and a butterfly charm as a symbol of life. www.folksy.com/shops/Stierage
Nansglam
tsy Ar £16
c i g a M l Crysta
Chicas Fertil i ty
Aquamarine Birth Stone Bracelet March (Pisces)
Jeweller
Aquamarine Burst Wire Wrap Gold Earrings
y
$18
Aquamarine Be3Al2(Si6O18)+K,Li,Na+(Fe)
Traditionally believed to bring well-being, a good memory and clairvoyance. Mother Nature has Mentally - Clears up confusion, brings unfinished business provided us with to a conclusion. Bestows light heartedness and a happy relaxed wonderful Healing Gemstones disposition. and Minerals. Physically - works with: pituitary and thyroid gland, regulating Yifat Bareket growth and hormone balance. Can improve short or long sightedness, clams overreactions and hayfever. Happiness spiritual Chakra - Aligns all, clears throat chakra, opens third eye. hand stamped Necklace
$149 Personalize this gorgeous gemstone necklace to suit your needs! Whether its your hallmark age, 40, pay tribute to your children, or highlight your own initials, feel free to contact me and we can get your ideas stamped into metal. www.etsy.com/shop/yifatbareket
Double stranded necklace of labradorite and handmade fine silver nuggets, with aquamarine and murano glass beads, and handmade silver links. www.annettegivenjewellery.co.uk
K
An
£65.50
£45
SJ
Aquamarine and Labradorite Silver Nugget Necklace
Allure of the Sea Blossom Drop Earrings
Hand-cast sterling silver £89 seashells with freshwater pearls, aquamarine and handmade glass droplets. Each of the elements are separately attached to the ring so that they move independently around each other when worn. www.wowthankyou.co.uk/wendy-penrose If you would like more information about Crystal Healing Jewellery, you can contact The Crystal Lady at:
iven te G t e n
ewellery Desig ns
Rock Pool Ring
thecrystallady@mysticearth.co.uk or visit http://www.mysticearth.co.uk
Soft blue green moss aquamarine coin beads with natural inclusions sit proudly upon handmade blossom drop square frames made from sterling silver wire which I have shaped, hammered, sanded, polished and coiled. www.folksy.com/shops/KSJewelleryDesigns
Written By Sprinkles Sparkles
Multi Colour Bracelets, £3.99 for two Beautiful Personalised Items
Colour
Blocking Liven up your home and wardrobe with this seasons accessories.
Pretty Wooden Peg Magnets, £2.50 Bella Bobbin
Trendy Wall Art For Girls, £30.00 Craft on Canvas
Multi Coloured Large Crochet Bag, £15.00 Philys Fabrics
Building Brick Crayons, £5.04 Lil Doodlers
Lane Lynn shows us how to make these quick summer colourful cosies. 2. Trim the ghosts into a couple of curves on the front piece. Leave the back. 3. Sew the two pieces of felt together around the dome. 4. Add your own features, such as 1. Cut out 2 pieces of felt in a eyes and cherries. 9cm x 10cm dome shape.
Quality Knitted Items
Polly Purple Horse Crafts Unique Greetings Cards Handcrafted With Love
Peggy’s Collection Made with love and care.
Why not send someone a very special greeting card. PollyPurpleHorse specializes in creating one of a kind, shaped and Easel style greetings cards. New, exciting designs added constantly. Visit my Folksy store to check out the latest, including Truck, Shoe, Butterfly, Dog and Cat shaped cards, also Guitar and Bird House easel cards!!
Commissions undertaken Find me at www.folksy.com/shops/pollypurplehorse Pollypurplehorse on Facebook
http://www.peggyscollection.webs.com
polly_purple on Twitter
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More projects, more interviews, more crafting possibilities. Don’t forget that you can embed our magazine reader into your blogs and websites.
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