Crafts after BC is good for the soul

I got 12 crocheted snowflakes pinned out today to stiffen them. I have about 50 more waiting to stiffen. Last Christmas at the local bc support group Christmas party, we were playing dirty santa with the gifts and my box with 6 snowflakes in it kept getting 'stolen' between several women and the ones who didn't end up with them asked if they could purchase them from me and a total of 3 dozen snowflakes were ordered. My fingers have been flying. Also I have had a request for a tree top angel. I may not get it done for Christmas this year but i do have an easier angel pattern than the first one I tried to make back in the 80's.

Sheila 

I have been making these since January, I just get a bunch crocheted up then have a marathon stiffening party.

I also have started crocheting cotton dish cloths.

Sheila 

Kathleen, Friday morning I put another 12 snowflakes in a sandwich bag and poured the stiffy solution in the bag only to discover that I didn't have enough solution in the bottle for the number of flakes and couldn't find the bottle I purchased about 3 months ago. Once you pour the solution, you have to keep going. They can soak for several hours in a sealed bag without any problems. Walmart doesn't sell it any more, I called my sister (who wasn't working Friday) and invited her to go with me to Hickory (about 20 minute drive) to get another bottle. After a half day trip to several stores not originally on the agenda, I made it home and poured more solution in the bag and got them properly pinned out. 

Sheila 

The top of page 36 shows some pictures that Spar posted for me. I tried using photo bucket once on the office computer to post some pictures and ended up with a virus on the computer and haven't tried it since.

Mandy, my left handed mother taught me to crochet the same you you learned from your right handed sister. I use a product made by Plaid called 'Stiffy, fabric stiffener', it is a water based formula, almost like a thinned white glue. An 8 oz bottle is about $5.00 and will stiffen numerous snowflakes. I have tried thinning white glue (elmer's) with equal parts of water (this was one of the suggested ways in the books in the finishing techinques section) but I wasn't pleased with the final results, using the prepared solution makes sure that you get the same results every time. After I pull the snowflakes out of the solution and squeeze out the excess, I lay them on waxed paper and sprinkle them with crystal glitter to make them sparkle. I pin them out on a styro-foam board that I have laid out printed bullseye papers (to make sure that all points are at equal distances from the center) and covered with plastic wrap.

 Sheila

Welcome Sweeny!

I mostly read what the others post.  I am just a simple crafter--knit and crochet; occasionally I needlepoint.  Unlike the ladies here, I am not all that creative.  Still, I enjoy crafting and think this is a great thread. 

Welcome Sweeny, all levels of crafters are welcome here. I too would love to see some of your wondergoblins.

I am still working on snowflakes. 3 dozen stiffened, 3 more ready to stiffen and working on a tree top angel for a special project. I think the tree top angel will be a one of a kind.

I also have started sewing pocket books and small quilted 'duffle' bags (sized for a toiletry/accessory bag).

Sheila 

Kathleen are you on Facebook? I have posted pictures there of my different projects. Last week at Quilt guild meeting, one of the members brought in some rolls of faux leather that was given to her. I brought some home and was able to sew the faux leather into a Bible cover and the toiletry bags.

Snowflakes are going well, so far this year I have made close to 9 dozen and sold 4 dozen of them. The 11th of December the 4-H club is sponsoring a craft sale at the library, our church has reserved 2 tables and I am donating the snowflakes, pocketbooks, travel bags to sell for the church fellowship hall fund to replace the hall that burned in May.

Sheila 

Good Morning Ladies....it's been a while since I first posted here and am glad I came across this thread again.  I re-read all the posts last evening and it seemed to have put me in a better frame of mind today and has given me the incentive to get going on some of my projects.  Gotta go embroidery a few names on some aprons..... rather sad though.  The aprons are for a lady  in my church and her 2 year old daughter.  Her 2nd baby was due in Feb 11 and she miscarried this past week.  Needless to say as I am working on it I will be praying without ceasing for this dear family.  Hope everyone has a blessed day........Karen    

Hi Happy Easter to all...

I finally found this post....thought it would be nice to revive it. Now that I am crocheting, I remembered how I used to love  reading this  thread.

hugs

okk , so I did my first square to donate for the hugaghans some of the girls make. I am very excited to do this. I just made a scarf for myself too..that was my first project.

hugs

This thread seems to be inactive for the most part.  My newest project involved some lamps that I got for free.  The first one was tall, with a thin neck and a rounded bottom (almost 50's).  There is a swirl in the design.  It was off white with dirty base.  I painted in orange, dry brushed gold over it and repainted the base in gold.  I love it!  The second is just a smidge smaller and looks like it has mosiac tiles on it - the colors were kind of muted so I painted those rows of tiles in black, turquoise and copper with the inbetween rows painted antique gold.  Love it too!

Anyone else doing any crafts?

Good grief Laurel.  You have been through it with cancer.  Enough is enough!  I can't wait to see the afghan - I bet its beautiful!  ((((HUGS))))

My 18 year old daughter has been yearning to learn how to make granny squares. She picked up knitting from me 5 years ago, and was the one who got me sucked into knitting socks. One of our favorite things to do is to spend a day at yarn stores. One of these days we will get brave and venture on line to learn crocheting...

I have completed the 4 dz snowflakes, at least the crocheting part. now is the time to wash, dry, soak in the stiffening solution and pin them out to dry.