Posts filed under 'Craft'
I know that saying c***t to some of you causes hives. That is not the goal of this post. The goal of this post is to delve into the creativity that is this group. So….
Who knows what Spoonflower is? They are a neat, small company that prints custom designed fabric. I want Cherry Bomb fabric!!! I’m picturing a cream or gray background with the cherry bomb from the t-shirts (yes, I know we have to get permission or design something else) that can be used to make bookcovers or the little totes I made for folks in Oregon. But what I really, really, really want is a dress. A Cherry Bomb dress. Think about it. A full skirt, a fun bodice, leaning towards a shirt dress with Cherry Bombs all over, some red piping, and some cute vintage cherry buttons. Or, I know, some fun Moot buttons. Better yet, some Moot fabric. Wait, Moot and Cerise and Cherry Bombs all scattered around. A few overlapping each other so the design elements look casual and not too structured. After all this group doesn’t do structured very well. Maybe a Hawaiian inspired floral design with Moot and Cerise and Cherry Bombs peeking out from the flower petals.
Maybe not so much a Cherry Bomb fabric but a book fabric. Something that has classic bodice ripper covers scattered along one edge so that when it’s made into a dress there is a border of books along the bottom. I don’t know.
Can’t you see this dress all made up? Take the black and white dress- keep the body white and use a red trim- have the overwrap part done in a fabric with Cherry Bombs scattered all over. Use two vintage cherry buttons at the waist, add a pair of red kitten heels and you’re ready for book signings all over the world. Or make the custom fabric in a deep, rich brown and have classic books scattered all over like it’s raining books. Pair that with your hair up in a bun, a pair of “librarian” glasses and watch out world.
Hmmm. think I need to go design some fabric. Anybody want some?
February 19th, 2009
We’re over 100 comments on the one post, and the other post is, theoretically, on topic only, so I thought I’d slip this in here, a sort of continuation on the Oldie But Goodie post. Plus which there might be people out there, somewhere, who haven’t heard the song. Also, this past weekend was the anniversary of The Day The Music Died, so it’s timely.
Don McLean’s AMERICAN PIE
A long, long time ago…
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile.
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And, maybe, they’d be happy for a while.
But february made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver.
Bad news on the doorstep;
I couldn’t take one more step.
I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride,
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died.
So bye-bye, miss american pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die.
“this’ll be the day that I die.”
Did you write the book of love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock ‘n roll,
Can music save your mortal soul,
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Well, I know that you’re in love with him
`cause I saw you dancin’ in the gym.
You both kicked off your shoes.
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues.
I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck,
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died.
I started singin’,
(chorus)
Now for ten years we’ve been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin’ stone,
But that’s not how it used to be.
When the jester sang for the king and queen,
In a coat he borrowed from james dean
And a voice that came from you and me,
Oh, and while the king was looking down,
The jester stole his thorny crown.
The courtroom was adjourned;
No verdict was returned.
And while lennon read a book of marx,
The quartet practiced in the park,
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died.
We were singing,
(chorus)
Helter skelter in a summer swelter.
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter,
Eight miles high and falling fast.
It landed foul on the grass.
The players tried for a forward pass,
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune.
We all got up to dance,
Oh, but we never got the chance!
`cause the players tried to take the field;
The marching band refused to yield.
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?
We started singing,
(chorus)
Oh, and there we were all in one place,
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again.
So come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick!
Jack flash sat on a candlestick
Cause fire is the devil’s only friend.
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage.
No angel born in hell
Could break that satan’s spell.
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite,
I saw satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
He was singing,
(chorus
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned away.
I went down to the sacred store
Where I’d heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn’t play.
And in the streets: the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.
But not a word was spoken;
The church bells all were broken.
And the three men I admire most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.
And they were singing,
(chorus)
February 2nd, 2009
I know a few of you aren’t craftily inclined, but this is about more than crafts, it’s about kids exploring and learning.
Bryn is my mini-me and her mother is craft challenged so when she wanted a craft sleepover for her 12th birthday I got drafted offered to help. We decorated cupcakes and picture frames and did Shrinky Dinks and painted little plaster of paris critters and decorated pillowcases and made Sculpey erasers and they stayed up late and had fun. But as much fun as they had I think Mom and I had more. Here were four girls, three of whom had never met, from fourth to seventh grades, having fun creating, sharing, and problem solving. It was a joy. I know that is a phrase that get tossed around a lot, but it was truly a joy to watch the wheels turn and the smoke come out of their ears.
My Girl Scouts are in seventh grade this year. Through the years we have really pushed the concept of doing for others, especially at the holidays, and have a tradition of making a family gift each year. When they were in kindergarten we made homemade hot cocoa mix. They helped mix and pour and then they decorated the containers. This year, as much as I was hoping for something that easy, they have determined we need to make reusable grocery bags. So we are. The local screen printer donated a large stack of oopsies to us and we are turning them into bags. Every family should end up with five when we’re done. The part of this i’m most proud of is they decided this is what they wanted to do. True, they left the how to do it to me, but they came up with the bones for the project.
Last year after the Christmas play I had three young ladies over for a craft afternoon. We did Shrinky Dinks and made ornaments from cinnamon dough and drank hot chocolate and ate cookies. When all three girls were talking about it at play practice this year I decided we needed to do it again. So the Sunday after Christmas I am having them over to craft. We’re going to make bookmarks and decorate a straw or a glass for their New Year’s celebration and do another project or two and we’ll drink hot chocolate and eat cookies and probably giggle.
I know not everyone grows up to be crafty, but I am convinced putting a pile of paper, markers, and ribbons in front of a kid and saying, “Make me something” is a good foundation for a creative life. The odds are none of these girls will be the next Martha Stewart, but when faced with a problem that needs solved the paths in their brains that turn parts and pieces into whole items are already there. In the words of the immortal Shake N Bake commercial, “And I helped.”
What life skills do you hope you have been able to teach kids in your world?
December 17th, 2008
Was going to do books and documents then I realized how long the documents document was and decided I didn’t want to write a book about books. I’ll do that some other time.
I’m blatantly stealing from resources available on the website of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) and augmenting them with my own experience. Please keep in mind I live and work in an arid climate and have nominal hands on in a humid environment. Also, these are guidelines. Please consult with a trained conservator for items that need serious help.
The AIC has brochures on caring for a variety of treasures.
A few things to keep in mind as you are looking at where and how to store and display your treasures:
- If it was once living it needs to breathe. If you don’t want to be there, neither does it.
- Light is hard on documents and books. It fades the ink and degrades the paper and other binding materials.
- In a perfect world things are stored at 72 degrees and 50% relative humidity. In real life try to avoid radical changes in temperatures and humidity.
- Plastics that you can smell are off gassing, this is damaging to documents. Many places sell plastic page protectors that they say are acid free, and they are correct; but it’s not acids you are worrying about with plastic, it’s all the other chemicals involved in the process.
Documents
Tape bad
Clean hands good
Light bad
Support good
Don’t use pressure sensitive tape on documents. This includes Scotch, masking, duct, and binding tapes used to repair circulating books in some libraries.
Wash your hands often when working with paper items. I use Ivory soap. Whatever you use make sure it isn’t perfumy or lotiony. You don’t want any kind of residue on your hands. You can use lotion after you’re done playing with old things.
Light is hard on documents. It fades inks and paints and degrades paper. Items that are heritage, or you would like to keep for more than a few years, should be displayed out of direct sunlight and harsh artificial light. Use UV shielding curtains, window film and frame glass to help protect displayed items.
Items that are being stored should be supported in storage. If you only have a few items they can be gently stacked on each other. With more items use an appropriate box.
Items in storage should be stored individually. This can be in their own window mat board, folder, envelope, or polyester enclosure.
If items are going to be handled frequently they need to be stored in a manner where they can be viewed without being touched. Polyester encapsulation or high quality page protectors are good for this.
Resources
Here are some resources. Even though these items sell to professionals and carry high quality items some weird things still slip through, so think and ask questions before buying anything with too grandiose a guarantee.
AIC Brochures http://aic.stanford.edu/library/online/brochures/index.html
Supplies
Hollinger http://www.hollingercorp.com/
University Products http://www.archivalsuppliers.com/
Gaylord Brothers http://www.gaylordmart.com/listing.asp?H=3
Metal Edge http://www.metaledgeinc.com/
Light Impressions http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/
Archival Methods http://www.archivalmethods.com/
Talas http://www.talas-nyc.com/
Conservation Resources http://www.conservationresources.com/
Inner Armor http://www.innerarmorind.com/Mainframe.htm
Paige Company http://www.paigecompany.com/
And no matter what the chicky at Kinko’s says, DO NOT LAMINATE anything you care about and want to last. Lamination is for bookmarks and posters in the kid’s rooms.
September 17th, 2008
I haven’t written in days. I can’t. I’ve tried but I just can’t. It won’t come. I have an idea for an ending but I can’t get it there. I sit down in front of the computer and nothing happens; nothing good anyway. Oh my Bob I suck.
But apparently “Oh my Bob I suck” is not a valid excuse for not writing. So here are some that might be:
I have writer’s block.
I have writer’s cramp.
I’m sleepy.
I’m hungry.
I’m thirsty.
I’m drunk.
My pen ran out of ink.
My computer ran out of electricity.
Dirty Jobs is on TV and I must watch it, um, to study it as research … for my main character … yeah, that’s it. Research.
Telemarketers wanting me to donate to the Fraternal Order of Police called and broke my deep concentration.
My cat had a hairball attack that left me emotionally scarred.
My horoscope said today is not a good day for creativity.
It’s raining.
It’s too hot.
It’s too cold.
I have to take my pet rock for a walk.
Mei spel chek brocke.
What’s your excuse?
July 28th, 2008
I’m too tired to write a coherent post, but the comments are over 100 and inquiring minds want photos, so here’s one for you. Yes, that is our own darling Scope in Oregon with CMS! It was a wonderful surprise.
I think everyone survived, but it was a lot of work having that much fun. I don’t mean the cooking or housework, because that was all done by kind helpful CBs. I mean meeting friends that I’ve never seen before, and talking and laughing and hugging and talking and laughing some more, sometimes until two in the morning. That’s work! I loved it.
And yes, we did make it to Powell’s. In fact, I’m a little puzzled about that bookstore. When I walked in, I heard an announcement over the loudspeaker:
Attention! If there’s a minister or a wedding officiator in the store, would they please come to the Information desk in the Gold room? Thank you.
What the heck was that about? A woman was 9 months’ pregnant and suddenly realized that she really, really needed to get married right now because her water just broke? A man who got the love of his life to say “yes” and now wants to rush to the wedding before she changes her mind? It’s one of those things that you have to wonder about.
Too tired to write more. Later!
June 23rd, 2008
I checked the schedule, and unless I’m totally confused (which is entirely possible) I’m not treading on any toes with this post. I need help. More so than usual.
I’m doing something wrong, I must be.
So here’s the thing.
I wrote a post on Cranky Fitness, the blog where I spend a lot of my non-CB time, about how people could win a free bicycle simply by leaving a comment. Lots of people read the post; I can tell by the sitemeter statistics. About 1% of the people who read the post commented.
The conclusions I’ve drawn from this are:
1. No one wants a free bike that’s valued at $400.
or
2. My writing was too busy being trying to be interesting and creative, which obscured the essential point of the post.
Frankly, I find #1 hard to believe and #2 damn depressing, considering I get paid to write.Granted, what I’m paid to write is dull, technical, and so far removed from creativity that it might as well be accounting, but it is, technically, writing (albeit technical writing). I know that I wrote this post in a hurry and whilst trying to fend off a migraine, but still — a free bicycle? I must be doing something very wrong.
So what am I doing wrong? This is a blog filled with people who are discerning readers and writers. Surely someone can gently and kindly give me an educational kick up the backside on this one.
The post in question:
Stay young and win money, bicycles & stuff
April 17th, 2008
I have a very active fantasy life and recent conversations on this blog have made it even more active than usual.
I also like to prowl eBay and buy lottery tickets.
As I write this the PowerBall Multi-State Lottery is 91 million dollars, 46.7cash payout, and I have a ticket. After this investment of $1.00 turns itself into a winning ticket, I take the cash payout and pay taxes I figure I’ll have around 20 million dollars. A nice, simple to manipulate number.
Here is what I’m going to do with some of that money.
$775,000 is going to buy this http://tinyurl.com/6k8vzd
I found it on eBay, doncha know.
5 BUILDINGS 14 ACS CENTRAL KENTUCKY- FORMER BOARDING SCHOOL
- approximately 14 acres +/- in Millersburg Kentucky approximately 25 miles northeast of Lexington on Highway 68
-The property was formerly Millersburg Military Institute which was founded as Millersburg Male and Female Seminary in 1852.
-All buildings are fully furnished.
-ADMINISTRATION BUILDING has 10,032 total square feet, built 1852, 3 stories, with 2 apartments
-WOMACK MCMONAC GYMNASIUM 31,438 total square feet has fully stocked weight room and basement rifle range
-MILLON HALL dorm building 14,151 total square feet 2 stories, basement and 38 dorm rooms
-MESS/DINING HALL 8,976 total square feet has basement, library, work shop
-RANKIN HALL classroom building 19,354 total square feet has 12 classrooms, 2 stories and basement, 26 dorm rooms.
-The grounds include a football/soccer field.
What’s going to happen to it after the purchase? Well….
I figure it will take 5-10 million for renovations. I would be willing to bet the water and electric need updated. There will also probably be asbestos abatement, roofs, heat and tons of other things that fall into disrepair over the years and need updated, repaired or replaced. But that’s just the basic, make it habitable and usable stuff. After that comes the fun part.
The dorm building will be reconfigured. We’ll have cozy rooms for one or two and big rooms for a crowd. No more dorm room metal bunks with thin mattresses, the beds will be comfy and most will be made of wood. The bathrooms will be nice but serviceable. The hallways will be painted something fun and will have plush carpet.
There will be wireless internet all over the property.
There will be writer’s workshops and retreats.
There will CB get togethers and Cherry get togethers and it will be used by all of our favorite authors when they want to have fan gatherings.
And we will beg really really really loud and Her and Him will come and play with us since it only 1.5 hours outside of Cincy.
There will be alpacas and merinos and other lush fur babies. There will be classes on spinning, and dyeing and many of the fiber arts.
There will be bartending classes, big porches, lazy dogs, and cabana boys.
There will also be the bail fund so we can ensure that every CB can be at every CB meet.
What other classes should there be?
April 15th, 2008
I promised I’d devote this post to gardening questions and answers. Meanwhile I’m putting together my composting presentation for Tuesday PM. Of course the one I found out in the ethers didn’t quite meet the needs of my audience; so I’m adding and subtracting.
Here’s the most important thing you need to know about composting: 4 Basic Ingredients:
- 1 Part GREEN stuff, such as kitchen or garden wastes, fresh grass
- 1 Part BROWN stuff, such as hay, shredded leaves, wood chips, shredded newspapers
- A little BLACK stuff, such as soil, manures, compost, fertilizer (instead of compost)
- A little WATER
Put it (at least a total amount that’s a 3′ X 3′ X 3′ pile) in a place you can watch over occasionally to water if it dries out. Turn it. Use it after it cools off.
So now it’s your turn!
April 6th, 2008
** I have not decorated for Christmas- the only thing I have up is the wreath Marcia made me
** I’m typing one handed because the dog wants attention, and it’s either type one handed or spend all afternoon getting bumped on the arm by doggie nose
** I have a very good friend whose mom makes the most extraordinary fused glass jewelry- I’m giving pieces to people for Christmas-
** One of my co-workers has a thing for mid-century modern- for Christmas I made him and his wife these stacking trees http://thesmallobject.com/stenopad/wordpress/?p=822- I changed mine a bit and made them out of fuschia, tuquoise, and purple figured felt and closed them with velcro instead of sewing them into cones- he looked at me mighty odd when he opened his gift and had a stack of felt half circles but when I showed him how they worked… He’s thinking they may stay out all year
** I helped a young lady (10) craft her mother’s gift last weekend- it was fun, especially since it was the first time she’s ever made fudge
** I had three young ladies (8,6, and 4) over Sunday afternoon and we decorated cinnamon ornaments with glitter, made Shrinky Dinks, and drank hot chocolate
** I am helping another young lady (12) make gifts for her family this weekend. I’m still not sure what we’re going to make but I’m sure it will involve Shrinky Dinks, sewing, and being messy.
** It is turning into a handcrafted Christmas for me. I think I like it. Okay, I know I like it. It’s fun. Things are done with the specific person in mind. And no one else has anything quite like what I’m giving.
Wow, started this post all “woe is me” and “I’m not doing Christmas this year” but I guess I am. Just different than I have in the past. This seems like the start of a good tradition.
Are any of you crafting for the Holidays? Or buying hand crafted from others? And more importantly from my point of view how do you feel about hand crafted gifts? Are they caring? Cheap? Lazy?
And if you need a source to buy handmade I suggest etsy
December 19th, 2007
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