Gift Ideas for the Crafter

Stephanie Mulry Jewels

This past weekend I picked up an issue of Mollie Makes, a British crafty publication.  There was an article called The Art of Giving.  It's something I think people should read. Written by Lottie Storey she points out that the "true gifts aren't the easily acquired consumables...rather, giving in its purest sense has to embody something of the giver".  Something like hand making a quilt, stitching a house warming gift, or knitting a Christmas stocking.  What do you do if you aren't crafty? And you want to buy something for the crafter in your life?  I posed this question to our EtsyNY team and I received some feedback.

What to buy for the knitter? Alicia of Birdy 27 Designs said, yarn of course!  But make sure to get a gift receipt, some knitters only like to work with certain yarns.  You can always get a gift certificate to a favorite yarn shop.  If you really really love the receiver and that person knits alot, Brand from PurlBKnit suggests a winder and a swift.

Since I work in a yarn store I know what a winder does and I am a knitter hobbyist.  If I knitted for a living I know a winder would be extremely appreciated.  Ok what the heck is a winder? 

A swift winds the yarn and then it goes onto a ball winder.  Doing this to the yarn makes it much easier to work with the yarn.

Ok so what do I buy for someone who designs jewelry?  I don't know anything about jewelry.  Amy from Sweet Olive Jewelry was nice enough to tell me what's on her wish list, a good book! I know I always love some new magazines or books.  Nothing like actual inspiration  you can tack to the wall.

Bibles for the general techniques:

• "The Complete Metalsmith" by Tim McCreight
• "Metalsmithing For Jewelry Makers" by Jinks McGrath

Advanced/unusual techniques:

• "Creative Stonesetting" by John Cogswell

Inspiring contemporary designs:

• "The New Jewelers" by Olivier Dupon

Magazine for wearable art:

• "Ornament" Magazine

Ok some givers feel strongly about giving certain things, I know I know it's suppose to be about the receiver not the giver.  But what if you have a person who doesn't want to give a book.  Or someone who is completely digital.  Stephanie from Stephanie Mulry Jewels suggests a gift card to ebay.  I know of so many artists who find inspirational things on ebay, items to use in their business or maybe for their own use!

And last but not least, the sewist.  I am a designer and sewist.  Like Alicia from Birdy 27, I always welcome more fabric or a gift card to a fabric store.  For my 40th Birthday this past year a friend gave me a Liberty of London fabric bundle.....Love!  I have it sitting on my work table as inspiration until I decide what to do with this beauty!

Now if you really want to make something keep checking our blog for DIY posts.  You can also check my blog for how to's on pom pom ornaments, felt stockings and more!

Happy Crafting!

Tracey Toole

http://traceytoole.blogspot.com/

DIY Hair Gel

Ok...time for another fab DIY project! I am sure most of you have used hair gel one time or another. How about making some hair gel that is inexpensive, and you can customize the scent. Flax seeds are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and some say it can be used to prevent hair loss or encourage hair growth.

The ingredients are really simple: 1/4 cup flax seeds, 1.5 cups of water.

Optional ingredients: preservative, essential/and or fragrance oil.

You will also need a saucepan, spoon, and a strainer.

Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan. Once the water is boiling, add the flax seeds and lower the heat to a simmer. Cook the flax seeds for about 10 mins, then turn off the heat.

Strain the seeds out of the liquid, and dispose of the seeds. You are left with a sticky, runny gel. Once I strained off the seeds, I was left with about 5oz of gel.

I made two batches, one with 1.5 cups of water, and the other with 2 cups of water. I didn't notice much difference with the gel's thickness, but I ended up with 9oz gel (2 cups water) and 5oz gel (1.5oz of water)

Once the gel has cooled down a bit (maybe 30 mins) you can add a preservative. I used a common wide-spectrum preservative that is easy to use. Phenonip can be used at .05-1% rate. I also added 10 drops of rosewood essential oil. You would need an accurate scale to add the correct amount of preservative. If you choose not to add any preservative, you can keep the flax seed gel in the fridge, and use it up within two weeks.

I did not try out the gel yet, but it should provide a soft hold, and avoids having "crunchy" hair. If you give it a try...please post a comment, and let me know how it goes!

Until next time....happy crafting!

Nordea

nordeasoaperie

DIY metro card holder (vs.2)

In my last blog post, I made a metro card holder, but it wasn't the one I REALLY wanted to make. I actually wanted to make a type of billfold with two pockets. This is similar to the plastic case that I had been using since the early 90's (which understandably was on it's last leg.)

This one takes a bit more time, but I like the results a lot better. I started with two pieces of denim about 6"x5" Again, I am still working on the huge pile of old jeans I have stashed in the corner of my bedroom.

I pinned the pieces together with the right sides together. Then I sewed around 3 sides, leaving one side open.

After turning the denim pouch right side out, I cut out a piece of stiff paper (like a file folder) and cut it to size, and tucked the paper inside the pouch. Then I sewed up the open side, and folded the pouch in half.

Then I cut out two pieces of fabric and sewed it to the inside of the pouch to create pockets. I like two pockets...metro card on one side and a bit of cash (or credit cards) can be placed in the other pocket.

For a bit more security (especially if I am storing cash) I added a bit of velcro on the sides. I cut out a small square, glued it in place, then gave it a quick stitch, just to make sure it stayed in place. This way, when I close the billfold...it stays closed!

That's it...quick and easy!

Until next time....happy crafting!

Nordea  /  nordeasoaperie

Brooklyn Craft Camp this Saturday

This Saturday you can take a one day vacation and not leave the boro of Brooklyn.  

Brett Bara, a well known blogger and DIY pro is hosting the first ever Brooklyn Craft Camp.

I wanted to blog about this because how I wish I was going! Unfortunately I do have to work that morning but maybe some of you, our readers, can go and fill us in.

Starting in the morning with delish donuts from Peter Pan Bakery in Greenopint and listen to keynote speaker Jay McCarroll. Remember him? Winner of Season 1 Project Runway.

Then get ready to choose from a wide variety of classes:

Make a Terrarium

Beginner's Crochet

Crepe Paper Flowers

Wooden Bead Necklace

Learn to Embroider (with Jessica Marquez, an EtsyNY member)

Pom Pom Station sponsored by Purl Soho

and how cool is this one? DIY Nail Art Bar

Finish the day with cocktails sponsored by West Elm.

Visit the website to see a complete list of classes, they are filling up fast so if you get in please let us know how it was!

Tracey

https://www.etsy.com/shop/traceytoole

DIY MetroCard Holder

On Sunday, New Yorkers got the bad news that metrocards were going up in price again. If my memory serves me, this is the 4th fare hike in 5 years. In addition to the higher fare, we now have to pay $1 if you buy a new card, instead of refilling an old one.

That means that taking care of your metrocard is more important than ever! Keeping the card safe from the elements (my huge pocketbook full of stuff) needs to be priority number one! I do have a little plastic sleeve, that has seen better days, so I decided to make something new to keep it dust and scratch-free. I am always looking for uses for the huge pile of old jeans stacked in my apartment, so a denim metrocard holder is what I decided to make.

1. Measure the metro card, and cut out two pieces of denim slightly larger to account for seam allowance.
2. Place the right sides together and pin them in place. Sew around the perimeter of three sides, leaving the top open.
3. Trim the excess fabric around the seam, and turn the fabric inside out so that the right sides are on the outside.
4. Cut a piece of stiff paper to size(like a file folder) and slip it inside of the top opening to give the holder a bit of structure. Once you slip in the stiff paper, go ahead and sew up the top of the metrocard holder.
5. Cut a piece of decorative fabric slightly shorter (length) than the denim square. The width should be the same.
6. Place the fabric on top of the denim square and sew around the three sides, leaving the top open so you can slip the metrocard in the pocket. That's it...quick and easy!

Until next time....happy crafting!

Nordea / nordeasoaperie

Fabric Covered Buttons

As you can see, I've got a lot of buttons in my stash. Unfortunately, sometimes none of them will work for a particular crafty project I may be working on. Last September, I decided to finally replace a missing button on a jacket. I headed down to a button store in the garment district and ended up buying a button for $3. Yes, $3 for one button. I found the price to be ridiculous, but I had no choice. A few months later, I came across instructions online to create fabric covered buttons....so I will never pay $3 for a button again!

First, pull out your stash of fabric scraps. It doesn't take a lot of fabric, so there is probably something in the fabric stash that will be useful. I decided to use the greenish-colored fabric (seafoam) because I had no buttons that matched the fabric.

Measure the distance from the edge of the button to the middle of the button. You want the fabric to be able to reach the middle so you can completely cover the button.

I traced a circle on the fabric around the button, making sure that there was at least 1/2 inch extra all around.

Then, I cut the fabric. My measurements were pretty close, but it wasn't necessary to be exact.

Taking a needle and thread, I used a running stitch (I think that's what it's called) and stitched along the perimeter of the fabric circle.

After placing the button in the middle of the fabric circle, pull the thread taut so the fabric gathers around the button and covers it completely.

You can even trim a bit of the fabric around the outside of the stitches to reduce the amount of bulk behind the button. You don't want too much fabric because you want the button to lay as flat as possible when you use it.

Continue to stitch up the fabric until it is taut around the button. Knot off the thread, and you are done! A beautiful button for whatever project you are working on!

Until next time....happy crafting!

Nordea nordeasoaperie