Hope you all are craftin' like crazy.

 It's hard to believe when the temps outside are high 80s...But the trees are really starting to change their leaves. This is ignoring the trees stressed by drought this summer. Many of those lost their leaves in August.

Today in the Dentist chair listening to the radio I remembered a cartoon from several years ago and thought it would go well with our craft for today.

A news/weatherman would take walks near a Native American settlement to see how the Indians were preparing for the winter season. He saw them gathering nuts and lots of wood. It's so hard to face everyone if my predictions are wrong, he thought.  The next day he predicted the coming Winter would be Cold.

The Chief of the tribe wanted to be a modern and good Chief so he listened to the weather as well as watching the signs of nature. He immediately called everyone together and told them it would be a long cold winter so they had better gather more wood, nuts and other stores.

On the weatherman's next walk he saw everyone in the tribe cutting and hauling wood. Even children were out collecting nuts and pine cones. "Oh my!" he thought as he rushed back to the station to add a Severe Winter alert to his long range forecast.

And so it goes.  

If you know where this story came from let me know.

Here are directions for a simple but handy Log Tote

Materials:
 42 x 16" piece of heavy fabric;
2 ( 20" x 1/2") dowel rods;
Fabric paints in desired colors.

Instructions:

1. Cut fabric and hem long sides then fold in half.
2. Cut a 5" semi-circle in center of each top edge for hands to pass through when carrying.
3. Stitch down edges to form half inch casing to slip dowels through.
3. Insert the dowel rods in casing.
4. Paint desired motif on each side of tote with fabric paints.

Note: You may also embroider a design on each side instead of painting, if desired. Or stencil to match your decor. These also make nice gifts with a small bundle of wood and kindling. Tie a couple sticks of cinnamon on the handle with raffia.

Happy Craftin' 

Hey Crafters,

School has started here and the related crazies of getting everyone ready is starting to wear off.

Has the DREADED Crafting Slump got you down???

Here are several ideas to get you going.  :-)
==      ==     ==
Mary says.
"When that sewing slump hits me, I go to the kitchen and bake a few things. By the time it's all done AND the kitchen mess is cleaned up, I'm ready to get out of there and SEW!"
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Connie's strategy is a good one too.
"Something that keeps me going is my wish lists. I keep a list and folder with pictures and directions of projects on my wish lists. I have one each for sewing, knitting, crocheting and quilting. The lists are long and notebooks thick, but I always have something inspiring to work on. I also keep a notebook with photos of my finished works. I look through it to boost my spirits. When I look through it I can see just how much I have accomplished."
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Rhonda says she motivates herself with a little trick.
"When I get in a slump, I find a project that I just can't wait to do. But, my rule is that I have to finish the project that I am working on before I start the new one! When the new project gets me back in 'the mood,' I try to work on UFOs [unfinished objects] to keep them under control. Shopping for the new project almost always gets me going again!
+
Cleaning gets Laurie back on track.
"Whenever I am not in the mood to sew, it is generally because my sewing room is a mess, so I spend an hour or so cleaning up and/or reorganizing my room. When I see all the things I couldn't before cleaning, I come up with new ideas and dig right in."
==      ==     ==

I love looking through catalogs and making wish lists of supplies, tools and projects.  The added benefit is that the list can be put aside and taken up at a later time. Someone may ask me what I would like for a birthday present or what I need to start or complete a project. Friends, spouses and family like to have several ideas to choose from and TadDah here is a wish list. Cleaning up the finishing room (AKA Crafting Center) is one of my strategies too. I think of crafting as creative chaos, but after a while the chaos can block the creativity. I get very messy, but I do have to straighten up to continue to create.

Connie's photo notebook above reminded my of something I wanted to share with you.
My Grandfather was a wood carver but while he was alive almost no one was able to purchase his carvings because he loved them too much to part with them. Mary Roberta his daughter (my Mom) crafted things to give and sell. When she passed to another life there were no rooms filled with her creations for us to go through... all her creations were with Others. My brother said "how sad to see a life gone with only some clothes and paperback books to leave behind". This comment really made me upset because he had no comprehension of the thousands of items she had produced. There are many lives and homes her crafts are still being used and enjoyed in. The quilting especially will be cherished by many for years to come.
So... back to Connie's idea. Take pictures of your creations.  A photo notebook or cd, even an online journal. You will see your advancing skill, your techniques changing and adapting and have memories of the time you spent creating. You will be so glad you did.

Happy Crafting,

Mary Brent
 

Ideas for the busy crafter today.

Do you take along a project for those times when some waits are inevitable?

Most crafters have a bag of ribbon scraps that are not long enough for major needs but are too good to throw away. A few beads or charms are easy to add by sewing or knotting if the holes are large enough.
Tah Dah!!! You have a personalized gift for anyone.

These are great to make when you have just a short time to work. In fact recently I was called to Jury Duty and took along a large baggie with ribbon pieces, assorted wood and glass beads, several needles threaded with matching beading thread and a small folding scissors.

Yes these things made it through the metal detector and x-ray machine. There may be long waits in rooms with good lighting and even desks. You do NOT do crafting when on a jury, but rather when waiting for long stretches in the jury waiting rooms.

Good Creating,

Mary

Beaded Bookmarks
Materials
17 inches of 3/8 inch wide double-faced satin ribbon for each bookmark
Scissors
Beads with large openings

To Make A Fringed Bookmark You Will Need:

Beading needle
2 silver beads
Silver seed beads
White beading thread
Silver-lined, large rocaille beads

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Tie a knot 1-inch from the end of the ribbon. Slide bead (or beads) from the opposite end of the ribbon up to the knot. Tie a knot on the other side of the bead(s) to hold in place.

2. For the other end of the bookmark, measure 10 inches from the inside knot and tie another knot. Put on the bead(s) and slide up to the knot. Tie another knot against the last bead.

3. Trim the ribbon ends.
Concept from Sierra Pacific Crafts

Hints
1. To personalize a bookmark, write a name on the ribbon using a permanent marker.
2. Make both beaded ends the same and use your ribbon as a gift tie to cinch up a surprise sack.
3. Use alphabet beads to spell a name or word. Wisdom, Love, Friends etc.
4. Make a fringe with seed beads and mirrored beads and sew to each end of the ribbon.
5. Use school colors for quick 'n easy fund raiser projects.
6. Make up a batch of these and award them to friends for Thank You gifts.

 Did I mention the first week of the month is crazy busy? Now the second week seems to be just as wild as the first. Forget the lazy days of Summer.

Of course as a crafter you know about time, Right?

Whatever time you have available...something fills it to the max. YOU have to choose and prioritize which of the thousands of things waiting to be done YOU will accomplish.  (1) Urgent Important have to be completed projects. (2) Important to You but maybe not to everyone else. (3) Need to be done in the near future. (4) You Want to do.  (5) Not important

So, . . . MAKE IT A TOP PRIORITY
If there is a task or activity with large potential positive consequences, make it a top priority and get started on it immediately. If there is something that can have large potential negative consequences if it is not done quickly and well, that becomes a top priority as well.

Whatever you don't really like DO IT FIRST! Quickly. The only exception to this rule is if the task is so HUGE that no way can you complete it at this time - break it down into manageable sections and GET Started.

This really matters to crafters because most of us would rather craft than almost anything else and we can't start on that new craft until the priorities are completed.

Enjoy Your Days,

Mary

P.S. Super Quote.
Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!
Goethe,

Greetings Crafters,

 Found a great quote (definition) on the web.

Craft-itis: A condition that causes the uncontrollable desire to knit, crochet, sew, paint or otherwise handcraft projects of all kinds. There is no cure, and who would want one anyway?    ANON


Don't forget to press flowers from your yard, arrangements and even ask friends and neighbors for a few blooms. Most people are happy to share. Remember you saved that thick phone book just for this purpose??? Collect in the AM after the dew has dried. Many ferns and grasses also dry well and help make pictures and cards later on.
*Some people layer flowers between paper towels and heat at 20 second intervals in the micro wave until dry but unless you just love standing and checking constantly this is not my recommendation.

Very short for today as the first week of the month is very busy here.

MBP
 

Cooler Today Everyone,

Hope you are having fun and making time to craft. A friends' daughter just had a baby and I thought I would share this idea with you.

Baby's Time Capsule

This is a wonderful idea for a baby shower or a new parent. Once the box is completed you can place many items of memorabilia inside for a keepsake. Place a list of items the new Parents might not think of inside the box. Suggested items for contents: Copy of baby's birth certificate, photo, hospital bracelet and cap, small lock of hair, newspaper clippings of events which occurred on date of birth, birth announcement in news paper, the calendar with Dr appointments penciled in etc.

Also a small book to journal thoughts about the birth or baby is easily personalized.

Materials:

1 wooden or heavy cardboard box (available at craft stores) with lid, a box shaped like a chest would be ideal.
White and blue or pink acrylic paint
letter stencils
blue or pink ribbon for embellishment
1 baby spoon
glue

Instructions:

1. If box is wooden, sand down lightly, then wipe clean with a damp cloth.
2. Paint entire box with white acrylic paint and allow to dry completely.
3.  Stencil child's name on top of box.
4. Trim with ribbon and matching bow as desired.
5. Glue baby spoon to the front top of box for a handle to open.
6. Place keepsake items inside box.
Hints:
Paint letters freehand or decoupage the name to the box.
Purchase a note book and cover with pretty paper or material for Parents to journal in. Everywhere in the US has school supplies on sale at this time of year and I usually put several notebooks away to recover and decorate for birthdays and Christmas presents.

Hi,

It's hot here...how about you?

Origami has always intrigued me and these simple folds will allow you to make a batch of colorful paper boxes to decorate, leave plain or fill with treasures and use as gift boxes

Origami Folded-Paper Box
WHAT YOU NEED
• Heavyweight drawing paper, cut into one 10 5/8-inch square and one 11-inch square
• Scissors
• Crayons or markers
• Glitter glue, stickers, stamps, tiny charms or pieces of ribbon
• Paints and brushes

To make the bottom, fold the smaller paper square in half diagonally, first one way and then the other, creasing the folds well before unfolding them.

Next, fold in all four corners so they meet in the center of the paper; crease them well and unfold them.

Now, fold one of the corners so that it meets the farthest crease line opposite that corner, crease and unfold it. Do the same with the three other corners. Finally, fold each corner to its closest crease line. Then unfold all the corners to reveal an overall pattern of creased squares.

Make two cuts in the paper at one corner, two squares deep and two squares apart. Make identical cuts on the opposite corner.

Place the paper in front, with the cuts facing north and south. Fold in the east and west corners along the crease lines two times, finally bringing the two sides up vertically. Bend the pointed ends of the east and west sides toward one another, crossing them.
Step 6:
    
Bring the tongue-shaped portion of the paper (the one facing south) up and over the crossed ends, folding it down over the ends and tucking it so that it stays put. Do the same with the north end of the paper. This completes the bottom of the box.

To make the lid, fold the larger sheet of paper the same way the bottom of the box was done, except that before cutting and assembling the lid, decorate the paper using crayons, markers, glitter glue, stickers, paints, tiny charms or pieces of ribbon.
Tips:
The four creased squares in the center of the paper plus the four pairs of squares abutting these are all that will show when the paper is folded into its box shape. Make sure the paper is completely dry before assembling the lid.
WHAT YOU NEED
• Heavyweight drawing paper, cut into one 10 5/8-inch square and one 11-inch square
• Scissors
• Crayons or markers
• Glitter glue, stickers or stamps
• Paints and brushes
Although the box above measures about 4 inches across and 2 inches deep, you can vary the dimensions of your boxes by changing the size of the two paper squares you start with.

Butterfly Garden Stake
Design by Jana Ewy

This is a beautiful craft and can be personalized any way you wish. You Will find it requires several items you may not have... but by reading the instructions and printing the pattern I think you will be able to substitute items and tools from your home. If you have questions put them in the comments and I'll answer.
This idea is in the Family Corner Newsletter
http://www.familycorner.com/newsletter/creative.shtml
Project idea courtesy of Michaels, the Arts & Crafts Store. For more ideas or to find your local store visit their website by clicking here or call 1-800-MICHAELS.