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#147973 - 05/08/08 08:03 AM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: jawjaw]
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Member
Registered: 06/05/06
Posts: 4136
Loc: American living in Europe
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"...ride a motorcycle done that , trained showdogs done that…oops…show dogs, not hubbys? No haven’t done that, belly dance hahahoho Mrs. Santa Claus laughing over here, sing, done that..now I can only sing baritone, paint yes, yes , and on and on and on. …..” JJ, I love doing graphic work on my computer. The Microsoft enables me to create really nice expose´s. If I had the time…which is what most of us lack, I would love to learn all the ins and outs of website making and market my skills. Although, this branch, like so many others is taken over by finished websites to download for minimum fees. But they just can’t be as individual as a customer may like…so maybe there is a chance. When you say graphic art, do you mean on the web or on canvas? I would like to take a sailing course for oceon sailing, which involves navigation skills, and screaming for help as loud as you can.
Edited by Edelweiss (05/08/08 08:14 AM)
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#147975 - 05/08/08 01:06 PM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: jawjaw]
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Member
Registered: 03/22/05
Posts: 4876
Loc: Canada
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I would probably really enjoy working with stained glass. My brother-in-law used to make lamps...I'd love to make a stained-glass torchiere lamp for our living room. One of my best friends is a full-time teacher, but his passion is working with stained glass...his work is phenomenal ( http://www2.cyg.net/~parart/pages/artwork.htm ). I had the chance to work with him one afternoon and enjoyed it immensely. My problem isn't time, it's space. Our house is tiny, no room for a studio or workshop of any kind right now...I've mentioned to hubby my idea of turning the small spare room into some kind of studio and prayer room. But he wants to keep it as a spare bedroom...it's been two years since anyone used that room as a bedroom. We use it to store all of the stuff we buy throughout the year to take to our friends in Cuba (the room is jam-packed full already, and we won't be going until next January! So far we have eveything from Hot Wheels and Spiderman underwear to kitchen knives and about 20 bottles of sparkly nail polish.) So if we did renovate that room, we wouldn't have any place for the Cuba stuff, and that is our number one passion and commitment. Anyway, we're still working on some innovative ideas as to how to create a creative space.
_________________________
When you don't like a thing, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.
(Maya Angelou)
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#147977 - 05/08/08 01:42 PM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: jawjaw]
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Member
Registered: 03/22/05
Posts: 4876
Loc: Canada
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...or Autumn Blaze...our carpet is paprika, the sofa brown with hunger green as the complementary colour (I love earth colours). So it would match the decor. I've seen the Genesis Ring - it's gorgeous...especially when it catches the light.
If I was going to renovate the room, I'd get rid of the bed, and line two of the walls with cubby shelves, enough to hold all of the Cuba stuff and any art supplies. I'd have a comfy chair and small table for my prayer books, candle and music. Then I'd need a table to work on...and that's about all the room would hold. Right now there's a twin bed, sewing table and old oak bureau from my childhood that hubby rescued and restored after Gary died. With all the Cuba stuff covering the bed and sewing table, there's barely room to walk in there.
The only way to go is up...lots and lots of shelves, cubby shelves would work best, given the wide diversity of stuff they would store. It looks great in my mind, but can't get hubby to share the vision - yet. Every so often I mention it to him, but he's just not open to it right now.
But the Cuba thing keeps me/us busy...it's fun, and creative, trying to find the most best stuff for the least amount of money - and then trying to fit it all into the suitcases in such a way that they don't draw too much attention when we go through Cuban customs!
BTW, we did get an estimate for installing one of those wall beds, you know, the kind that hides in the wall until you need it? Way out of our budget for now, but that would be a great way to go too...we would both get what we want.
_________________________
When you don't like a thing, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.
(Maya Angelou)
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#147983 - 05/08/08 11:50 PM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: jawjaw]
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Member
Registered: 03/22/05
Posts: 4876
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
Eagle, that's a Murphy Bed...right?
Yes, that's the name. We had a guy in to measure and give us an estimate. It's a tiny room, but the combination of an air duct "bulkhead" at one end of the ceiling, a closet at the other end, a window and an air vent to work around, everything would have to be custom made, rather than putting pre-existing units together (which is how they usually do those things). So the cost was just too high. Hubby considered trying to put one together himself, but at the time, we had houseguests arriving soon and needed a bed sooner than later, so we just bought a twin bed and stuck it in there.
I have to go...we've been with our 18-month-old grandson most of the day - he had a very high fever (103.8) and we were helping out. I think they finally decided to take him to the hospital this evening, so we're just waiting to hear back. And we're leaving for Montreal for a couple of days tomorrow and I haven't even packed a toothbrush yet! But I'll have computer access at my step-daughter's house, so will come back online from there.
_________________________
When you don't like a thing, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.
(Maya Angelou)
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#147984 - 05/09/08 06:29 AM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: Eagle Heart]
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Registered: 01/21/07
Posts: 3675
Loc: British Columbia, Canada
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Very interesting stuff that your friend does in his stained glass works, Eagle.
I took a stained glassmaking course years ago and did create a large 24x36 inch piece with real,thick heavy lead channels and plaster grout. We were required to as part of our class project. Class was 14 wks. long. My piece was a water lily blooming in ice blue cave of water under a wave-like ceiling. I had even christened it "Spring Thaw".
I threw the whole piece away in garbage when I had to pack and move my home to a different provine. It was so heavy and dangerous to deal with. Heavy stained glass requires serious safe hangers from ceiling and anyway my lead channels were warped from my amateur hands.
I just have photos of that piece.
I know what you mean jaw-jaw. That's why I've taken evening art courses in a scattered way over last 20 years. No real path right now that I'm on and I'm wondering if I should put myself on a path to discpline myself to become better.
Right now, it's lack of large chunks of Muse time after work.
Yes, if I had all the time world to do creative stuff, it would be more of what I did try in past:
*painting and mixed media *Western calligraphy... I'm losing my precision touch. this is calligraphy where you do NOT dip steel nip in inkpot. You paint the nib for even ink coating and then execute the letters with flourish.. *marbling/papermaking *all of the above media/techniques into central works
No, computer graphics actually doesn't turn me on. I see it as more linear in process and technical. Yes, I know you can do calligraphic fonts with computer software, but honest, the tactile pressure of pen and ink flow to get nuanced shaded lines, thick and thin is more spontaneous and freeing than computer tools.
I guess I see it way too tied to my jobs where I've forced my arts,y English literature major mind to think more technically to create research databases, to troubleshoot technica problesm for user and with computer IT department folks. I love this aspect of my job but have learned that the computer and software restructures my brain to be less spontaneous ..otherwise I spend minutes/hrs. resolving a technical tiny problem to make something work or "look" good to me.
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#147985 - 05/09/08 08:05 AM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: orchid]
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Member
Registered: 12/30/05
Posts: 3027
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Locally at a craft centre a man does blown glass items.They are "witches balls" where a teardrop shape ball has an inner little compartment.Then you put perfumed oil to warm in the sun.Its hang above a door.Witches dont have reflections..so when opening the door you must look and check if there is a likeness.. so the story goes. I have one..above my bed..!!! a good friend had a stained glass workshop.she does commisions for churches and homes.Her smaller works are beautiful too She does angels as brooches.She is willing to let me work there as a learning process.I aim that this happens. I make earrings..just constructing pretty beads.Some antique with additions.Also in colours to suit outfits.I did safety pin brooches a time ago..adding all sorts of things.Lovely to accessorise big cardigans..I obtained pins with loops to attatch the notions..these were fun..all my friends enjoyed them.My daughter had to say she had enough..she passed the surplus on to colleages. I am for more creativity. Mountain ash
Edited by Mountain Ash (05/09/08 08:07 AM)
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#147987 - 05/11/08 01:51 PM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: jawjaw]
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Member
Registered: 03/22/05
Posts: 4876
Loc: Canada
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This is really interesting...everytime someone mentions something they'd like to learn how to do, I think, yeah, I'd enjoy learning that too. After a couple of years of inability to be interested in anything, I'm enjoying this new burst of curiosity in all things possible!
JJ, I used to enjoy putting a lot of creative energy into wrapping gifts. But I never learned how to make bows and had to resort to using store-bought. Nowadays, I'd like to get creative about figuring out reusable options for wrapping and topping gifts...I've used tea-towels in the past, but I'm sure there must be other stuff out there that would make innovative and useful gift wrappers/toppers.
Last Christmas, I topped my granddaughter's gifts with an assortment of ornaments, but the one topper she enjoyed the most was a pair of fuzzy purple gloves.
_________________________
When you don't like a thing, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.
(Maya Angelou)
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#147989 - 05/11/08 04:31 PM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: jawjaw]
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Member
Registered: 09/26/04
Posts: 3910
Loc: Alabama
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JJ and all, Don't forget Youtube teaches how to make bows in video. I learn sculpting skills from there time and time again. It's free and ready when you are. Here's a sample and there's lots of them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqlIizOi64s
_________________________
chick ~ Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you're alive, it isn't ~ ~ Prayer is the most we can do for another human being ~
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#147994 - 05/13/08 12:10 AM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: jawjaw]
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Member
Registered: 11/15/05
Posts: 2798
Loc: NM, transplant from NJ
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Wonderful, JJ! I know I sent some "interesting" patterns, but that is the fun of doing homemade!
I wish I had a camera to take pics. My husband is the photographer and I will not touch his complicated camera!
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#147995 - 05/13/08 12:15 AM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: jawjaw]
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Member
Registered: 11/15/05
Posts: 2798
Loc: NM, transplant from NJ
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Quote:
I've always wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument. ANY kind. Wonder what the easiest to learn would be? Simply because of time and expense...anybody have any ideas there?
Interesting. Back in the 4th and 5th grades, we learned to play the flute and the autoharp, respectively.
I LOVED them both! Someday....I'd love to play the flute again. The autoharp also, but I do not think they are around anymore. Anyone hear of them??
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#147996 - 05/13/08 12:24 AM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: Di]
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Da Queen
Registered: 07/02/03
Posts: 12025
Loc: Alabama
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I don't know anything about them, but I did a google and found this page http://www.autoharp.org/ that seems to have a ton of info. Maybe that would help? What an interesting instrument. It looks difficult...no? yes?
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#147997 - 05/13/08 12:52 AM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: jawjaw]
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Member
Registered: 11/15/05
Posts: 2798
Loc: NM, transplant from NJ
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Yes, very different. You press the buttons, which hold down the strings to get the sounds...sorta like a guitar. The clincher is that you cross your hand OVER to strum!
I loved it!!
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#147998 - 05/13/08 05:13 PM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: Di]
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Member
Registered: 12/14/04
Posts: 724
Loc: Chesapeake, VA
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This is an amazing subject and timely. I have always from time to time loved to knit and crochet. But I was always limited to what I can make and didn't really know how to read the patterns.
Up until a year ago Michael's offered classes and when I found out I took a couple of them. It really helped because there were things I had done wrong. Anyway, since our family crisis, I have been drawn to get back into knitting and crocheting. I have already made numerous things for my granddaughter and I didn't realized how much fun it is to make baby items. I just finished making her two dresses for spring, an afghan and a pillow for decoration. There are so many pretty colors out there other than the typical baby pink, white, etc...
It has been therapeutic for me as well!
I should check out the autoharp, very interesting. I always wanted to learn how to play the guitar. Yes, I must confess, growing up in the 70's, I get this urge to play air guitar, LOL. Not only that, I just love the sound of the Spanish Guitar too!
I have wanted to learn how to make jewelry, cards and soap. I have made soap and I should do so again, considering I have the supplies.
What I really am interested in besides the crochet (Chatty, don't be surprised if I ever call you for any help, LOL) is turning trash into treasure. Recycling items to make something else. What a way to help the environment and save money as well. I think it is amazing what you find and put together with what you already have.
What a great thread!!!
Cheers, Cathi
_________________________
Proud member of National Association Of Baby Boomer Women! www.nabbw.com
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#147999 - 05/17/08 01:26 AM
Re: Crafts and other things
[Re: Wisdom&Life]
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Member
Registered: 10/08/04
Posts: 1274
Loc: MD
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Renee
Edited by Sadie (10/29/08 12:01 AM) Edit Reason: Left Forum
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Courage is very important Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use .
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