Long time no post...

AS I am still trying to find a "day job", I seem to have time to try new things out. This is not all bad but does not pay any bills... sigh. The accompaning photo is a trial of an idea I had. The idea was sparked after I stitched an embroidery design of a bear track with a scene inside it. So I thought why could I not take other items, be they animal,mineral, or vegetable(so to speak) and make scenes with them. This lighthouse was my first attemt and I am not totally happy with it, however, it is a start and will keep my creative juices churning away and just maybe I will come up with some very cool designs. Hey, it could happen!! I hope that everyone has some time to let their creative side out to play. Take care and use your imagination, let it run wild and free.

Integrated Creativity

Integrated creativity -- making use of a variety of different materials in new and creative ways We are all familiar with the oft used term 'recycle', which as growing up we thought was just what one did to be thrifty. Recently I came across another version of the old hackneyed term, 'up-cycle' which meant to make something even more useful or upscale from something previously used. Sorry, but that term just does not do it for me; it is too reminiscent of up-chuck, aka to hurl or shoot the cat or vomit or "Mommy, I threw up!!!" followed by a long wail and longer lasting smell. [I don't like the term 'blog' either, but that is another story.] As I was explaining to my sisters the essence of the article, which was good despite the terminology, it hit me. What we do or have is integrated creativity. We discover new uses for both old and new things including discards, random yard sale or auction finds, and those things we forgot we had that probably were purchased with some other use in mind! Some of this comes from having to 'make do' as children. When you live many miles from the store, and might only get to town once a year, creativity comes into play more often than not. Don't have the exact item called for in the directions for any project? Scrounge around and see what you can find that might work. Scrounge = look everywhere with eyes wide open for a potential solution. Granted there are times when you may have to wait for that trip to the store, but often a little integrated creativity comes to the rescue and you end up with a special creation using unexpected materials. Integrated creativity does not mean you have to use unusual items, only that you keep your mind open to the possibilities. It means that you consider materials at hand and how they may complete or embellish a project, how they might preserve a memory, or create a mood. Integrated creativity combines items from different crafts or uses, in new and interesting ways. The results can range from extremely useful utilitarian items to heirloom quality gifts. Most will be unique one of a kind, and they will each contain the spirit of the maker. Old items will find life, and either bring history with it or begin something new. Is there a trick to this? No, not really. Just keep in mind that a hook is not always a hook, or a bracket for a piece of equipment may now BE a hook! That old board might become a primitive frame, just right for an original pen and ink sketch. That drapery fabric might make a fantastic carryall bag, or a cover for a scrapbook or a hand bound copy of the family history. Those odd washers in a jar from Grandpa? Accents on a frame, embellishments on that carryall or maybe just what you need to fix the plumbing! By the way, you can visit us at http://www.crafting4free.com/

Too Busy!

It is really bad when everyone is either too busy crafting, or with life, to keep up with their website and the blog! However that IS the case with us pretty often. As other things slow down, then we get back to it but it is on a rather random schedule. With longer days and more time spent at home 'tidying up' from winter, don't forget to keep your eyes open for treasures. Spring cleaning [or whenever you find a spot of time] not only cleans out true garbage, but helps you reorganize and reaquaint yourself with what you have. More than that, it uncovers new treasures - those things seen with a new eye. They might have been there for years, but time and circumstance can change their potential use. Every time I head out to my fabric warehouse, I end up bringing in something I had not meant to, because it has inspired me to try something different. Plus, I get re-energized. Warmer weather is also calling me to get back in my 'wood shop' area and sort the piles of reclaimed boards, try a couple different ideas. A friend at work does interesting things with paper, some of it completely with recycling, ending up with beautiful cards, specialty paper for book covers or scrapping. I hope she will write a small piece of the web site, and share a photo or two of her simpler projects. Almost time for the day job, and I must take some things with me today for a field trip to the Rock and Gem Show. Think a treasure or two may come home with me? :)

When a dump is not just a dump!

I know, just the word 'dump' doesn't normally conjure up much excitement, unless................you happen to be lucky enough to live out in the country where you might have a very old dump on your property or on that of an understanding neighbor! Many a craft project has come to life in our house spurred on from a 'find' in an old dump. I once found an old buggy hub and turned it into a very nice lamp base. The handles off old kerosene cans, make great rustic hangers for picture frames. For me, the old country dump is a wonderful source of treasures!

Its All Good....for something!!!

We may not even know it....yet.... but there is a use for just about anything. Take this piece of standalone lace I made on our new embroidery machine (well we have had it since last October so it still qualifies for new), it was just to see how the whole thing worked but I am sure it will have another life as part of some project. Inspiration comes in so many forms and random thoughts, to me at least - and to my three wonderful sisters as well - I may be just taking a walk and something will just pop into my head and launch a creative process. I see things in nature on a daily basis that inspire me to create. Beautiful flowers, odd cloud formations, gorgious sunsets and/or sunrises, quirky trees with oddly bent branches or a particularily brilliant color - all make me happy and all have me wanting to capture their beauty for eternity some how.

As for this piece of lace..... i think i will try it again with silk thread and see if it softens up a bit.

I keep watching at the local thrift store and online at places like ebay for vintage trims, buttons, whatevers that can only add fun to our projects and in turn inspire more projects. Happy crafting, whatever form it takes. It is my sincere belief that creativty is essential to a healthy mind, keeping it very active and also allowing us to share our joy with others.

As I was cleaning...

Yes, I do that once in awhile....cleaning in my new sewing/craft room, that is! I still have much to put away in cupboards drawers and other hiding places. At the local grocery store, I found little flat bottomes, square baskets, 2 for a dollar. Then later, at another store in the clearance department, bigger matching ones, 2 for a dollar. Of course, I bought some and am finding them quite handy for sorting and storing all those nifty little (some not so little) craft items I have so many of! I have all kinds of necklaces made from wooden, metal, and plastic beads and have already torn them apart for various uses. One of the smaller baskets is working well to store them in. I often look at the second hand stores in the costume jewlery for charm bracelets (you remember the old kind that actually had hanging down charms?). Taken apart, they make wonderful accent pieces for scrapbooking and many other projects. Speaking of jewelry, have you seen the new shoe clips? Just saw in some magazine and thought, heck could make them out of old clip on earings. Way cheaper then the $25 a pr. they advertised for in magazine. Okay, before you panic, no, I do not wear the kind of nice shoes they were clipping these things on, but many of you actually do dress nicely and they might be cool. Not so grand looking on my cowboy boots........but then again................. :) :) I might start a new trend and clip on some old western clip on earings down on the last laces by the kilties and be 'stylin'!!! Back to my sorting!

What could you use that for?

Plain old trash is usually just that......plain old trash. However, junk may be treasure. Recently my sister was wondering about where she could find a snap deal that would slide on a strap. I told her "I don't know what they are called but I have some, brand new, in a coffee can." "You DO??" "Yep, got them at that big yard sale last summer in a box of stuff." Well now, on the one hand, none of us 4 sisters should be surprised at the 'treasures' any of the rest of us have rescued and kept. The only problem can be finding that item you have squirreled away! Moral of the story? Not only collect your own treasures but have a network of family and friends who can't help but collect them too. It helps with projects, keeps the creative ideas flowing and often improves them. Now if we only had time to organize that collection..........................