What are your current Projects and what time of year do you the craft?

[dem in texas]

We had a fire in the upstairs of our house with toxic smoke that ruined my sewing machine. All is fixed, I have 2 sewing machines (one is used) and I ready to start quilting again.

Years ago, when we lived in Alaska, I would do my crating in the winter when it was 30+ below. Now that I live in Texas, I like to craft in the summer when it is too damn hot to stay outdoors.

I haven't made a new quilt in over a year, but I am cutting out fabric for a school house quilt right now.

One cold winter in Fairbanks, I got the idea to make Xmas ornaments from egg cartons, a project my three kids could do. We sat at the table and cut and glued and painted those egg carton pieces. They still talk about much fun we had making them.

I am now a more skilled crafter, but I keep eyeing the stuff I put out for recycle and thinking about making ornaments again. If I am not too, tied up with Dr. visits and little grand babies, I will start a thread for crafting ornaments from throw away stuff, maybe after the 4th of July.

Folks, keep posting what you are working on, I really enjoy reading this thread.

Thank You, Democratic Underground, for having this place for us crafters to post about and show-off our work!

[Peregrine Took]

1. Switching from realistic to abstract art...

after I take some lessons on Utube, that is.

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNnkgxJWJnlgAHGQEDnJkhoBJEWMPvP_DT2s1Hx

[LoisB]

2. Mainly a crocheter and I do it year 'round. Working on two baby blankets and a towel right now.

Trying to have everything for the Christmas Craft fair finished by August/September. I like the egg carton idea. Also sew but am not expert at it.

[luvs2sing]

3. I'm a knitter..

and I knit regardless of weather or season. It’s my escape, and I knit every day.

Well..I usually knit every day. I broke my arm last week, so no knitting for god knows how long. I’ve attempted, but it’s too hard right now. I have two projects cooling their needles, a pair of purple cabled socks, and a huge shawl/wallhanging of the high and low temps in my home town the year I was born. It has been on the needles two years and, had I not fallen, I would have finished it five days ago. Le sigh.. 😥

[peacefreak2.0]

4. That sucks so much. I'm sorry.

I’m a long time cross stitcher and it is like meditation for me. I always said it was cheaper than Valium.
Mend well. ♥️🧶

[luvs2sing]

5. I did cross stitch for years..

but knitting took over all my craft time. I also do some bobbin lace.

Thanks..this is day 11 post-fall, and I actually think I’m going to survive the pain for the first time.

[Rebl2]

31. Bobbin lace

is so pretty! Looks difficult to do though.
I have cross stitched for around 40 years. My eyes and arthritis have gotten worse over the years to the point I rarely stitch on fabric anymore. Try to do projects on perforated paper. Easier for me to see what I am doing.

[dem in texas]

8. Used to Knit all the time

Learned to knit when we lived in Alaska. I became quite good at it, making colorful three color pattern, Irish pattern and just any thing else. I even won second place a category at the Alaska State fair. That was before I-phones and I never thought of photographing any of my work. I have a picture of my daughter wearing a hooded sweater I knit her and a picture of me holding a just caught silver salmon wearing one of my Irish knit sweaters.

Quit knitting when we moved South. I should take it up again, it is so relaxing and would be good for my old arthritic fingers - HA!

[electric_blue68]

16. I mentioned this in another comment...

Might work for being in The South.

Take thinner yarn but thicker than sock yarn to the thinner end of medium yarns and use needles 3-4 xs bigger than what is recommend. You get a nice open pattern that makes for a decorative scarf. 🧡👍

[electric_blue68]

12. I hope you've totally healed up by now. The purple cabled socks sound nice!

[Srkdqltr]

6. I just arrived at a quilt retreat. I will be here until Friday.

I brought way too many things to do.
At home I sew almost every day keeps me sane.
I make quilts for charity, some bags most my for myself.

[dem in texas]

9. I am deep into quilting now

I learned to sew when I was a child. Made most of my clothes and many dresses my girls. Didn't start quilting until I retired. Quilting is a whole different type of sewing, you can't sneak in a gather or tuck here and there. It is important to be precise from start to finish.

I have had fun getting my own fabric printed. I did this for our family history quilt and for my blue willow plate quilt. I want to have some more fabric printed, it is not expensive, adds only a few more dollars per yard, but you don't need much yardage for a family quilt, I had enough printed to make 6 identical quilts documenting my family. So glad I did because one of my sisters recently passed away.

I would love to go to a quilting retreat, sounds like my kind of fun!

[electric_blue68]

13. Do you design a pattern that's then set up and printed on fabric?...

Once I was temp jobbing at a fabric company. I passed the room where several artists were painting designs! I was so excited .

Obviously a lot can be done by computer apps now. I do remember seeing a lens tool that would give you 6 repeats so you could see how the design was patterning.


I particularly enjoby crafters more free form quilting, though I appreciate the more traditional forms.

[demigoddess]

7. I make and mend a lot of clothes for my handicapped daughter who is not a

normal size. Room for diaper etc. Also her wardrobe requires a lot of mending which I really like doing. I have been teaching myself to make sewing patterns. Recently, I learned about flamenco sleeves. I crochet and knit also. But not as much as I only learned the basics. My mother set me to knitting and purling in second grade, to fill my naptimes. I like doing these things year round but more in the winter.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. I craft year round. I thought I'd spend most of my time crafting, painting, or sewing after I

retired, but it hasn't happened. I've been helping my son remodel his house and travel too much.

There probably isn't anything I haven't done. Macrame, crochet, knit, quilt, sew, oil paint, calligraphy, Ukrainian eggs, china painting, basket weaving, fabric dying, clay figures, and of course, cake decorating, to name a few.

[electric_blue68]

14. Oooo, Ukrainian eggs...

I'm 2nd gen half Ukrainian-American; my dad's side.

My sis and I split up my parents modest collection of Pysanski. I tried it once. Too wobbly, I got discouraged quickly so only did one. My mom being asthmatic couldn't have the ?anilyne dyes; so I ended up with weak colors further discouraging me.
Living in NYC we have a store to by them from. Also visited the Ukrainian museum which has a whole roomful of them!

Cool on the basket weaving. I once bought my mom a book on artistic basket waving - using it as an art form versus a utilitarian one. Oh, they were Soooo beautiful!
I also read up on traditional methods. 👍

I did two small flat coiled basket plates using a thick cord wrapped with embroidery thread. 👍🧡

Also bought a ?coiled plate made in the Hopi Nation when I and a friend visited there.

[samnsara]

24. i do basket weaving..its good for the ol hands!

[electric_blue68]

30. Missed this! If you don't over do it probably great like strong and subtle exercising for hands, fingers & wrists. 👍

[drmeow]

11. My current obsession is fused glass

I have also been known to sew, make bead jewelry and flowers, crochet on occasion, and do mosaics. I gave up pottery when I realized I wasn't into it enough to get better. On edit - I do crafts year round.

This is my latest piece:

[electric_blue68]

15. This is adorable. 🥰 When I saw it months back I didn't get what it was...

tonight (well very early morning) I got it right away!
I must have been extra, extra stressed then.

You should post more

[drmeow]

18. Thanks!

I tend to forget this part of DU is here!

I actually sold a few pieces right before Christmas (not the birds - they are too labor intensive and I'd have to charge too much plus I make them primarily for my parents). Here's one of the pieces I sold (it is a 4.5" x 4.5" shallow trinket dish):

[electric_blue68]

19. That's why I hadn't been back (Forgetting) and looks like others have forgotten too! This is lovely!

Last edited Tue Feb 21, 2023, 08:19 PM - Edit history (1)

🧡
Reminds me kind of like labradorite! Love way you've broken the pieces up.

Reminds me also of metalsmith jewelry makers with inlaid rings with opals etc. 👍

[drmeow]

20. I'd love to see one of your pieces! nt

[electric_blue68]

33. Having -yet again- forgotten about this group ...if you're still around now that I know how to use a photo hosting site.

I'll have to photograph some things.

Or maybe I'll do it anyway. Eventually. 👍

[electric_blue68]

21. Boy, was I too sleepy last night...

I "translated" this visually into a tile vs a shallow trinket dish.
Now I see it correctly!😄 👍
I would put a few rings, and pierced ear studs in it bc I wouldn't it all to cover up that lovely inlay


I realized I made a typo which might have given the impression I do metalsmithing.
I don't.

If you still want to see my wire work jewelry which I have to find some in my unpacked 😄 stuff -
(imho) most is NOT typical let me know. 👍

[samnsara]

23. beautiful!! I too forget about this part of DU...

[samnsara]

25. i could see this up the side of a gourd!

[AllaN01Bear]

34. love it.2nd post here

[drmeow]

35. Thanks! nt

[electric_blue68]

17. As for me: Drawing, unique wire w, w/o stones, pearls wire jewelry, crochet, knitting...

Last edited Wed Apr 26, 2023, 11:56 AM - Edit history (1)

I hope to get back to some painting: abstract art, and realistic landscapes some w a science fiction twist to them.

Plus what are called Unique "Artist Books". These are making art using the various book forms: single fold, one signature, multi signatures, scrolls, Japanese binding and more.
They are amazing! I did ?6 small ones in one year in ? '15 or '16.
You all should look them up. 👍

Unfortunately when I had to make an urgent move leaving much behind I missed taking most of them ☹️😭 sigh.
Unless they were packed inside something else that got put in my Save/Store bins.
Not counting on it though. I could probably remake close to the same kinds. More projects! 😄

Been doing digital painting mostly abstract the past 1 1/2 yes in my smartphone with Infinite Painter. A wonderful app!
I want to get back to drawing with physical material as I've done much of my life. 👍🧡

Do art & crafts all year round. Sometimes more sometimes less for decades.

4/25
ETA: I Found my little Unique Artist Books! Yippie!🥰

[samnsara]

22. I weave baskets from pine needles and sell them at the Farmers Market..and i

..weave all year round.. so I dont have a season...just craft in different parts of the house. During the summer i sit outside so i can watch the dogs as I weave and during the winter i weave inside in front of the tv and binge watch something..just finishing 23 seasons of Midsomer Murders...

Its a hugely messy craft but they turn out beautifully......I would include a photo if i knew how :/

[electric_blue68]

26. Cool! The Modern Basktry Book I originally bought for my mom...

includes a mix of traditionally made, and modern takes (not ali are utilitarian) on baskets. I love a well made various kinds of traditional baskets - but also really love the more artist mode not necessarily utilitarian ones.

It shows the major styles with steps by steps of basketry: including pine needles. It seems like a pretty tricky material to manuever, but with lovely results! Kudos to you!

How did you get into that?


It might take me a bit but I could show you what I followed to be able to host photos or screengrabs here on DU on rare occasions.
Think about it. 👍

[samnsara]

27. My mom coiled baskets and even had exhibits at the local art Gallery so when i retired early..

Last edited Mon May 1, 2023, 08:27 AM - Edit history (1)

..I looked for classes at the Sr Center. I did just kinda ok until I found a dvd by a woman in Calif who made it all come together for me. I flew to San Diego and took 2 days worth of classes and made a life long friend. Now I sell them at the Roslyn, Washington Farmers Market (where Northern Exposure was filmed). I had an Etsy store for awhile but I hated the shipping costs plus I was making larger baskets coiled on wooden bowls.

Pine needles make gorgeous baskets but i was needed color during Covid to lift my spirits so I found a fiber that takes dye beautifully and used that along with the pine needles and I am really loving the results.


would love to see what you have regarding posting photos..thanks!!!

[electric_blue68]

32. Sorry, I missed this. I forget to go to the Art, and the Craft group....

How neat your mom did coiled baskets!
I bought a Hopi coiled plate when I visited AZ, Navojo & Hopi Nations. Still have it.

Your mixing fiber w pine needles sounds wonderful!

I did 2 coiled small decorative coiled plates using embroidery thread back in the late '90s. They were very pretty I might still have one. And one somewhat deformed 😮😄 woven one.

Actually now that I learned to use a photo hosting site this year - if I find the one I might still have I'll post it.

[yellowdogintexas]

28. I crochet year round, but not all the time

I went through a long string of baby blankets last year and took a break for a while.

Finished a blanket for my sister in law that is black, 3 shades of gray and white, in a self striping yarn. (Ebony and Ivory by Bernat if anyone is interested)

I am currently working on a blanket for my son in law's sister. I had made on for the other sister's baby and Heidi liked it so much she asked for one. I am heading out to Phoenix in a few days and taking it with me in the hopes I can finish it while I am there and save the shipping!!! Those things get pretty heavy!!! Besides, it will be something to do in the OKC airport while I am waiting for my connecting flight. Normally I would just read, but I really need to get this done...so ...

[demigoddess]

29. I do a lot of sewing but sometimes my favorite thing is to do mending. Lately I have been putting

knee patches on a lot of pants and pajama bottoms for my daughter. Difficult at times but sometimes it is quite satisfying. I have been forced to cut out the inseam and put on the patches and then resew the inseam. Luckily pjs are very roomy. Need to find another flannel sheet and make some new pj bottoms!!

[MissMillie]

36. I'm working on a granny square afgan

It's going to be a wedding present in August.

Since almost everything I make is for gifting, I work when I need a gift. lol