#crafting community

[wrestlexstitch]

A friend told me about the Loose Ends Project and I think it sounds wonderful. I'm too new to cross-stitching to be of much help, but maybe I can dust off my crocheting skills....

[greentrickster]

Had the most amazing experience on Saturday. Was dropping off a couple plush mages to the store that sells them for me downtown, because a couple had sold over the past few weeks and I try to be a good supplier.

It only takes a few minutes and I'd already paid for parking, so I decided to linger and look around the shop a bit, because it's a cool place where there's always a chance something new has arrived if you haven't been there for over a week. It's fantastic. If you told me there was some actual magic in this place I'd believe you, and I've been in the employees-only area.

Which is why I was present, leafing curiously through a book on the making of the movie Chicken Run, to hear a guy behind me loudly proclaim, "Forty dollars for this?! I could make this!" I'm aware that the things in this store can be pricy, but also that a lot of the stock is made by local crafters, like me, meaning prices can be a bit higher due to the fact that you're getting something hand-crafted instead of mass-produced. So I turn around to see what he's complaining about.

And this guy is holding a wooden wand that is unique, one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted from solid wood. All things I know at a glance because, as it happens, I'm not the only person in my family who sells stuff at this store... my dad does as well. And he's the one who made that wand.

Now here's the thing. My dad's part of the local woodturner's group, wood turning being a method of carving that involves spinning a chunk of wood on a high-speed lathe while holding a bit of sharp metal against it until it turns into a wand, bowl, cup, vase, what-have-you. It's a highly-skilled craft that requires a lot of practice and and specialized tools, which he picked up after retiring but before going back to work, and he's been practicing and perfecting the required skills for at least fifteen years. If he likes (and he does like), he can get a wooden sphere carved and polished to such a sheen and smoothness that it both reflects the light and feels like plastic, which is highly impressive on a technical scale and extremely disconcerting on a tactile one.

And this guy just said one of his pieces wasn't worth the price on the tag because 'he could do it too.' Which, as any crafter knows, is not the sort of statement fellow crafters make at volume.

Now, I'm a reasonable sort of trickster. As I said, my dad's part of a woodturning group, I'm well-aware that there genuinely are other people in this area who are as skilled as, if not more skilled than, my dad. Maybe he's just a skilled creep or disagrees with the pricing. So I turn to the guy and go, "Oh? It took my dad a couple years to learn how to make those."

To which he smiles at me and asks if I know what kind of wood the wand is made of.

"Purple Heart."

"Wow, you really know your stuff!"

I stare at him for a moment, because 1) Purple Heart wood is literally the easiest wood to identify on the planet because, as the name suggests, it's actually purple, which is a thing woods generally are not. And also 2) he has apparently not grasped that the reason I know this is because my father made the thing he is holding.

I do not say these things. Instead I clue him in on the situation he's in by saying, "Yes, my dad made that wand."

"Oh. Um. Thank-you!" he holds out his hand.

I look at the hand, then at him. "For what?"

"For your dad!"

...

...I do not shake his hand, and I'm beginning to suspect that this guy does, indeed, not have any clue what he's talking about when he said he could make this himself. But I could be wrong. He could just be socially awkward, I get that. So time for the final question. With a polite smile that no customer yet has been able to tell is completely fake, I ask, "Are you part of the local woodturner's group?"

"The what?"

"The local woodturner's group," I repeat, "My dad turned that wand by hand, on a lathe."

Guy, smiling, about to seal his own fate, "Ah. That is a tool I do not have."

Me, also smiling, because he's just proven beyond all shadow of a doubt that no he could not, in fact, make it himself. "Mm. And that's why it costs forty dollars."

You know, he didn't have anything to say to that?

Put a bit of a spring in my step as I left.

[thecozycuttlefish]

I've been busy working on all my crafting projects this week, come take a look!

[iknityounot]

Fiber Arts Community Question:

I am looking into selling some of the hats I have made just to declutter...where do you guys recommend I sell from? I have tried etsy before, so I am not opposed to using it again, but I don't intend to sell them for much (maybe 10-15 dollars?) and I know etsy takes a pretty big cut from sales.

Any recommendations?

[deathtaffy]

In this step-by-step guide, I'll show you how I create a silicone cap mold (squish mold) for a resin art toy. Join me as I address the challenge of crafting a replacement mold for my best boi, Blobbii.

[islanderscaper]

No blue this week! I’m curious to see how long it will take to get to orange and red.

[podcastwithsheila]

Suggest a price for this beautiful handmade bag. #bags #leatherbags #shorts

[pinkpinkstarlet]

I really want to get into sewing my own clothes especially those really pretty gowns because I’ve seen so many YouTubers make beautiful dresses and I want to do that but I don’t know where to start 😭😭 can someone help me out?

[createdbycranium]

I have a new jacket, the material is similar to a good hoodie. I have two, maybe three, store-bought decorative patches which each have an iron-on adhesive backing, and I will likely collect more. I want to attach the patches and potentially collect more patches of different varieties, I don't forsee ever needing to remove them.

Someone I know has had issues in the past, a patch that peeled off a vest in the washing machine. Again, these are store patches, so quite thick with embroidery as well.

Is it better to use the iron-on method intended by the manufacturer, or to sew them on?

[magnoliabloomfield]

If you like crafting, organized conversation, swapping items with fellow crafters, and letting your freak flag fly, please join my discord server.

[evy-benita]

A little axolotl plushie I'm working on! Will be sharing the entire process here and on my YouTube channel :3

PS: I'm really sorry about the watermarks. Merch manufacturers keep stealing my images so I'm sticking my name onto my things now.

Thank you for reading. Love you lots! - Evy

[sandeepsaini]

The advent of online shopping has revolutionized the way we access materials and resources. For those looking to buy wool online in India, the digital marketplace offers a plethora of options, from local artisanal yarns to internationally acclaimed brands. This shift not only saves time but also opens up a world of exploration from the comfort of one's home.

[professorcalculusstanaccount]

I remember discussing Tintin casting choices with a friend from Germany and remarked how it was odd he often has an English accent in adaptations rather than a Belgian one, and my friend just replied "that's because Tintin gives incredibly strong English boy energy (derogatory)"

Here in the UK there's a lot of weird classism tied into accents. Today accent diversity and representation in broadcasting is actively pursued but in Tintin's time there certainly was a preferred accent to have.

imagine this exchange happens between pages 28-29 in The Crab with the Golden Claws

[onewomancraftshow]

Making your Craft Booth Stand Out

I've been doing craft shows on and off for about 10 years now and over the years I've learned what to do, what not to do, what works, and what doesn't. It's safe to say that after all these years I think I've finally got it down! Here are my simple tips to make your booth stand out from the others...

PICK A COLOR THEME. Whether it's the theme of the event, such as a holiday, or the theme of your actual business. Make sure your colors mesh well with your products and won't wash them out or blend them in too much. If your business is handmade soaps then your color palette is probably softer, and earthy. Pastels are going to be your best go-to colors instead of a rich eggplant, royal blue, or black tablecloth.

DRAW IN THE BUYER. Ever walk by a display that has some type of movement, lights, or music? Of course not, because you most likely stopped to check it out right? Drawing your customers in with something shiny, bright, or hanging is funny to think of but trust me it works! Whether you're 4 years old or 40 it makes you do a double take or at least a pause to look to see what else is around it (like your product!). I actually use battery-operated lights with clouds since my business involves making plushies. Amazon has tons of options for these!

BIG CLEAR SIGN. Your business name should be the one thing no one should have to ask about. Make sure it's big, its clear and somewhere unobscured. A banner or a nice table banner is perfect. Adding a sandwich board to the front of your booth with a funky quote or just a friendly "welcome" draws people in.

DECORATIONS. You want to keep any kind of decor to a minimum on your tables but behind you or above you are perfect! It shows personality, inviting vibes, and compliments. Try finding a nice garland of felt balls or themed flags! Definitely, nothing that takes away from your actual products but compliments them! You wouldn't want to use bright circus-themed hanging flags to go with your chic clothing, but a nice burlap or coordating color would be best!

THANK YOU FOR VISITING. A nice dish of mints, cute candy or a simple thank you sign is a nice friendly gesture to your customers for stopping by even if they didn't actually buy anything. People leaving with smiles draw others in and make them wonder what they are smiling about.

[deathtaffy]

Let me show you how I made 500 resin art toys to hide at Dragon Con. In this how to tutorial, I'll share my meticulous process of creating 500 resin ghosts, designed to be hidden and given away for free at Dragon Con.

[dimitrippy]

is it... a feasible thought to believe that sewing supplies can ever properly organized?

Or am I doomed to be picking up spare threads and needles from my coffee table for eternity?