Friday Craft: The Next Chapter

I’ve owned a sewing machine for seven years, but I only periodically sew.  I enjoy making purses and little items.  I have completed one Crib-sized quilt for an auction, and have one queen sized quilt top 75% completed and sitting in the UFO bin.  I also have a Child-size quilt in progress on my quilt wall, but it’s only been 7 or 8 months since I began so that doesn’t count as a UFO, yet…

I like quick sewing projects.  I lose my focus quickly, and need to bounce from craft to craft as inspiration strikes.  I have completed three messenger bags, and each one turned out nicer than the last.

I’ve completed several purses, lots of little zip pouches, an awesome knife roll for PapaMakes cooking knives.  I haven’t tried clothing yet.  I’m not the most accurate fabric cutter, and I fear spending time and money on an item that doesn’t fit or look good.  And I think I’m allergic to ripping out stitches…

Sewing is probably the most challenging craft for me.  I love the satisfaction of a well-made, completed item.  I loathe the meticulousness that is needed to get there.  Perhaps loathe is too strong a word.  I have to be in the mood to take my time with a project to get sewing right.

Next Time: Photography

*What craft do you love and loathe?

MCM

Part I   |   Part II   |   Part III   |   Part IV   |   Part V   |   Part VI

Truthy Tuesday, Changes

Another episode in over thinking it.  This week I wanted to analyze how different KidMakes’ childhood is from my own, sociologically and emotionally.

When I think of my own childhood, I remember pain and turmoil and sadness.  I know that’s not all there was, but that’s what stands out in my memories.   My mom had a breakdown when I was 7, which led to a diagnosis of Manic Depression, now commonly referred to as Bi-Polar Disorder.

I remember that day.  She was talking about how we couldn’t go outside to pick my brother up from tennis lessons because the world was going to end, and it was her fault.

I convinced her to get into the car and drive the mile or so to pick him up (not the safest thing, from my adult POV).  He had started walking home and was pissed until he got a look at my face.

Since that day, I have felt the need to protect my mother.  I think that day my childhood ended.

My child will be 7 in a couple of months.  This is bringing up some…stuff…for me.  To manage my anxiety around this, I used this post to show myself how different her life as a child is from how mine was, and in turn how different my life is now compared to my mom’s in 1985.

(Mother’s Day also brings up stuff for me, so there’s that as well…)

Friday Craft, Ear to the Craft

On this episode of Friday Craft, earrings.  Earrings are easily my most lucrative craft.  For the relatively short amount of time it takes to make a pair of earrings, they usually sell.  And if they don’t sell they can be dis-assembled and put into another craft or a new pair of earrings.

I also have fun looking through the deeply discounted earrings in my local Fred Meyer to find neat elements to work into nifty new earrings.  Like the hands and bees above, they just needed a bit of color.  Purchased for $3.50, 5 minutes of work, resold for $15 each!  Woohoo!

Note to Self: a post about pricing.  This is easily the area I struggle with most.  What is a fair price to charge for something I would make anyway?  Research to the rescue!

Next time: Sewing!

MCM

*What’s your most rewarding craft?

Part I   |   Part II   |   Part III   |   Part IV   |   Part V

Tangle Tuesday

I think to break up the navel gazing, I’ll alternate Tuesdays with something fun, Tangles!
Every other Tuesday I’ll post a random tangle or two and a couple of tiles using them. But first I’ll post a few of my completed tiles, after the jump.

A few Zentangle links for you

Mother’s Day 2012

Every Mother Counts

Thanks to all the Mothers I’ve had in my life. Thanks to all the ‘Mothers’ upon who’s backs we now stand. Pray we do the work to preserve what rights they have purchased for us with their sweat, blood and tears.

Love and empathy to those who must mother themselves.

Friday Craft, Goddess of Craft

This week let’s look at prayer beads.  This is a new craft to me, beading with a spiritual/metaphysical flair.  Based on Anglican beads, which are based on the Catholic rosary.  My prayer beads are not associated with any particular religion, just an overall sense of mystery and mindfulness.  I made the blue one for my Mom after surgery to help her remember body mechanics for her healing body.  The skull is a symbol of the rock band The Grateful Dead, a band many found spiritual awakening through.

Next time: Earrings, as promised!

MCM

*Do you make any tools to use on your spiritual journey?

Part I | Part II   |   Part III   |   Part IV

Truthy Tuesday

I know, another series. This one will specialize in naval gazing and will hide mostly behind a jump.  The posts that I enjoy reading always expose the writer’s soft under belly, some snapshot of their lives, minds, inner workings.  So I thought I’d write a few posts like that for my blog.

I’m also working on my feelings around adoption and how mine has affected my life, perception and feeling toward myself.  So there’s that, too.

RIP Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch

MCA of the Beastie Boys, has passed away at the age of 47. I definitely enjoyed their music, and found him to be an especially endearing member. So humble, so empathetic for the suffering of others, particularly Tibetans. I always considered him to be the heart of the trio.
I can’t imagine how they must be feeling right now, and his family.

Friday Craft, Journey Through the Craft

These are from another card set using cardstock from a rainbow set, tiny pictures and elements from collage in Portland, OR.  Time for a little local small business love.  Collage sits in the NE section of Portland, on Alberta St.  Collage itself is an awesome little place to spend 15 minutes or 120 minutes browsing, touching, getting the staff’s advice on the latest craft you want to try out, or taking a class on beginning soldering, encaustics, representational collage or any of the other myrriad topics their classes cover.

And when you’ve finished up in collage, and if you have any money left (heh), walk outside and check out the neighborhood.  So many little resturants, tiny galleries, shops, food carts, and speciality stores to see, so little time in a day.

Next time: Earrings!  Prayer Beads!

Part I   |   Part II   |   Part III