the craftmonster

chugging along

After quite a while without a digital camera, our dear Dij is back. Actually it's a new Dij. Kinda like when I was a kid, my brother had a goldfish named Fishy and when it died, he got another, and named it Fishy. There were quite a few Fishys. And I think this is our third Dij.

I finally have been able to add new items to my etsy shop. Downloading stuff seems to take ages.

Last week I discovered that my friend from the congo is also a dealer of African fabrics! Too cool. She had a couple of boxes of different wax fabrics from the Ivory Coast. I guess they were traditionally made in a similar way to batik, but now are more mechanically produced. So I bought a few yards off of her. This is no JoAnn fabrics stuff. So I combined with some plain fabric I already have and made myself a wrap skirt. Sorry the kitchen stool doesn't make a very good skirt model.

sewing plastic

Well I tried out the fused plastic project. And, yes, it does work. I particularly liked the result from using Target bags. And I wish I had my dear digital camera to show you what it looked like. On the down side, I don't really like sewing plastic sheets together. I guess compared to soft fabric, it's tactilely unpleasant. My sewing machine didn't like plastic either.

There were also warnings online about keeping a window open to avoid toxic fumes. I've got a pretty good nose, but didn't smell any fumes. Does that mean that they are of the unsmelly toxic fume variety, as in "you can't smell them but they'll slowly kill you" type? A la carbon monoxide?

I have my reservations about polymer clay too. And I love that stuff. Amazingly versatile. But environmental impact-wise, I think it can't be good. I haven't look into the production end of it, but I have my doubts. I imagine it's up there with "foam craft" (eek!).*Sigh*. Oh well, there are so many other materials and mediums out there to use. I suppose I only eliminate the most obvious. If I were to look too closely at what's available craft-wise in this modern world, most things would probably have some form of negative environmental impact.

I've been having plastic bag nightmares lately, but I'll probably tackle that subject on my other blog.

sorry honey but my love goes out to etsy today

I have seen the fused plastic bags popping up more and more on etsy. So I finally found a "how to" on etsy labs. This is my sort of project. Materials: free (pretty much). Equipment: readily available. I'm off to try some. And here is the link if you'd like to try it too. :) fused plastic bags. And best of all, it creates a use for all those shopping bags.

stuck inside

It's been raining buckets lately and we've been stuck inside. The 10 day forecast predicts more of the same. I think a certain madness may be setting in..... But actually I've had lots of time to create lately. So it ain't all that bad.

My latest small creations:

They are all 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches. I'd heard of artist's trading cards before, but had never made them. They are supposed to be traded, but loads of people sell them on Etsy for about 5 bucks each. Another day, another ethical dilemma. But I'll spare you from that.

I've really enjoyed going to the arthouse and working with clay for a couple of hours on Saturdays. I still keep my distance from the pottery wheel. There is just so much to learn there. I stick with hand-building (where I have control over my clay). I've been working on some tiles and decorative objects.

Best of all, I asked my friend at the arthouse if she had heard of Precious Metal Clay, and she had and said the this nearby Stained Glass Institute would be offering a workshop next month. Wow! I first read about PMC on Etsy (where I spend too much time now). I hope I describe it right, but it is very small pieces of precious metal (silver or gold) mixed with a binder and water. It can be shaped (I'm guessing here) a bit like polymer clay then fired in a kiln where the binder and water burn off and you are left with a 99.9% silver. I have been wanting to work with metal for a long time now, but it would be a big investment (not something to just dabble in). Also, I can't see having a torch in the house and other hazardous things I would need with the little whippersnapper around. Anyhow....a workshop! Perfect!

unloading some baggage

Literally.

I had opened an etsy account back in December last year. I took one look around at the how tos of setting up a shop and thought "too much work". 6 months later, in the lovely month of June, I finally have the determination to get to work. There is a lot of uploading and head-scratching involved. But with 14 bags (I already have 5 of my own which I use regularly), that's just too much excess lying around the house. Then there's also the growing collection of paintings. But that is more difficult to price, ship, etc.. So I will take that on at a later date.

As it turned out, I would have had a couple of sales if I'd stuck around at the craft fair a bit longer. They would have been from the other arthouse artists. I appreciate those sales, but sometimes selling to friends seems like the obligatory sale (as if you've hosted a Mary Kay party). But I know deep down that's not true. I can see true enthusiasm when many of my friends see my bags. I guess I just thought I would see it at the craft fair too.

I've had a couple of days to think and pray about things. For whatever reason, I feel that I'm on the right track. I don't want to be completely deluding myself (one of the downfalls of the very popular "positive thinking" movement- note people trying out for American Idol who cannot sing). That is one thing that scares me about "having faith" and being obedient to God is that I could be completely off my rocker. Why does God care about me selling bags anyhow? Doesn't he only care about saving souls? (these are rhetorical questions). Despite me having answered them many times in my head and to others, they keep popping up.

So here I am waiting for my bag model to wake up. She who can easily sleep in til nearly 11:00 each day (I've been up since 6:30). She who is now as tall as I.

I do want to have a business. I want my children to see the ups and downs and process involved in making money. And what to do with that money. I still want to use my "gift" to give to others who so desperately need it (like Jesus Villages in Uganda).

And truthfully, selfish as it may be, I guess I want to do it for myself. But really, analyzing my motivations at this point just gives me a headache. I think I'll let God point things out if I'm going awry.

Well, back to Etsy. I can still take some photos without my slumbering model.

Oh yeh, there is a part on Etsy to write your bio, and all I could think of was something like "part-time artist who is just finishing off a large slice of humble pie is looking to Etsy in last ditch effort to unload excessive baggage" (giggling).

Thanks for reading my ramble.

P.S. Here's my etsy page.

this past week

Ive really put forth effort to get as many bags made as possible (without completely neglecting my family) this week. The festival is tomorrowin the town square. So here's a few photos:

This is the Bag Tree which Richard made for me.I think it sorta looks better without any bags on it. But it was difficult to know what to do. Putting them on a table didn't seem like a good option. This is better, but as you can see, still needs improvement.

Bag Tree loaded with bags, ripe for the picking.

Bags I made this week:

winter fashion show

Really now, and you thought I was just sitting on my duff this season. Well, actually when sitting, I have done some knitting. So I present to you my winter line of handknit goods.

First off. A wrap to keep me warm. Of all things since I turned 40, I have been concerned about dressing my age. I'm starting to think that I look like a college student with wrinkles. Well, these thoughts fluctuate each day. I consider myself "on top of the hill" and not "over" yet. Anyhow, this is my "Celtic Woman" wrap and perhaps it will impart wisdom to she who wears it.

Next up: With leftover yarn (I love Noro!) I put together this knit bag. I'm really enjoying making cables these days. I like how it turned out.

The inside is lined with my fabric. I don't know that lining a bag was the best use for it, but it had been sitting on a shelf for a long time and was that bit too small for other uses.

Finally: Doesn't he look handsome in his new sweater? This bear went from drab to fab this winter (I can't believe I'm talking like this). He's the winner of this year's "Rag Bear Makeover Challenge". Of course, before the challenge he was wearing only his birthday suit, which did nothing for his over-loved, semi-abused, 22 year old frame.

That's it for now.

well, I'll just scan it then

Still bemoaning the absence of our digital camera. Well, I can always scan what I'm working on. So here it is: My NovemberBlue bag.

I'm still experimenting with permanent solutions to put designs onto fabric. Fabric pens are the easiest but have a sort of "I drew on this bag with Magic Marker" sort of look to them. Unprofessional? Fabric paint pens are better. One thing that annoys we about both of them is that they are good for only one bag. At the end I can see them growing fainter. Then I just gotta toss them. Onto the great pile of waste....

Another option I tried was using a henna bottle and filling it with liquid acylic. This worked well and will have the most fade-proof result. But it was a bit finicky to use. I kept getting afraid that I would smear the paint (not a concern with the above options). Nevertheless, I probably just need to spent more time with it.

I've been curious about batik techniques and have actually wanted to try them for some time. I could only do this while the little whippersnapper is not around. I get paranoid enough using an iron. A skillet full of hot wax is not exactly small-child friendly.

I had originally planned on selling some bags tomorrow night at the Second Saturday event, but decided against it (they don't get a lot of foot-traffic for these events out at the arthouse). I do plan on selling with the arthouse at bigger events on November 25 and December 9.

Well, gotta get back to my bag making. I used to really dislike the sewing part, but it's grown on me. My sewing has improved. Better seams=better quality bag. Bye for now.

i want my camera back!

About a month ago we took our camera in to be  fixed. The camera could not be fixed on the premises, so it was sent away to a far distant land to be repaired, and we eagerly await it's return. I've been wanting to post here, but I can't do a craft blog without photos. Unless I want to do artist's renderings....hmm...nah.

I've been asked by my friend, the owner of an "arthouse" if I would like to sell my bags on their "Second Saturday". On this night, once a month, all the galleries on the older side of the tracks have openings with wine & cheese (etc.). It's a fun night out as Richard & I have attended a couple of them. Anyhow, I've not responded to her (mostly because I haven't been in to see her). I do have 10 bags laying around the house, and I would like to sell them.

Problems:

1. I don't have a business license and haven't even looked into the rules & regulations of pertaining  to one here in the great state of Texas.

2. I still am iffy about the quality of my goods. My sewing has improved after 15 or so bags though.

3. Wretched pricing gives me a headache. And I still want to give most of the money to Jesus Villages in Uganda at this point.

So, I guess I'll probably do it.

experimental flap bag

The first bag I've made with a flap. I've found having a flap a much easier thing to do when knitting or crocheting a bag. Probably related to the bag's strap (much thicker and bulkier on sewn bags. Will continue experimenting.

detail: