Crafty Wall Hanging

It's been forever since I posted something crafty here. And since the bead blog is about beads and the stamp blog is about stamps... and this is neither, I thought I would share it here.

I don't remember what artist did this on Carol Duvall, but it's just my kind of craft... it looks nice and is super easy to make! It's one of the few things I saw demoed during the week and went home and made it! Mine is starting to look a little worse for wear but it has been hanging on my wall for 14 years!



Save for the pieces where white is showing...it looks like stone. Here's what you need:

• Water Putty - from Lowe's or Amazon 
• Scraps of 1/2 styrofoam
• 16 or 18 g wire
• Scraps of felt same size as Styrofoam
• Putty knife
• Soap or candle mold...something decorative and small
• White or Styrofoam glue
• Thinned brown paint or brown ink
• Paint brush
• Paper towels
• Wire cutters
• Round nose pliers

Steps

1. Mix some water putty as per directions on box. Pour into the candle / soap mold and allow to harden. When dry, remove from the mold.
2. Cut your Stryofoam into desired shape. I used a rectangle and two squares. 
3. Cut your felt to match your foam shapes. Set aside. 
4. With putty knife, spread water putty onto the sides and front of your foam shapes. Messy looks more rugged, like a real piece of stone. 
5. Spread a little putty onto one of the shapes from the mold and press into the front of the foam piece. I used three leaves on my rectangle and only one on the squares. 
6. Let everything dry. 
7. If using acrylic or house paint...thin it down with water. Or use brown stamping ink. Brush on and rub off with paper towels to age the putty. Think about shadows and light... where would the relief piece naturally be darker??
8. Glue the felt over the back. 
9. Cut a small piece of wire and bend it into a wide V from the middle. Grab one end of the wire about 1/4" from the end and bend it back up toward the middle bend but away from the overall wire piece. (See illustration below.) Repeat on other end. 
10. Insert wire through the felt and into the foam to hang the piece from 

This shows shows the bends in the wire from the front and the side. The little end is inserted into the foam and big bend serves as a hanger.

The beauty of a piece like this is that it looks much heavier than it is yet it can be hung from a sheet rock wall with something as tiny as a brad nail.

May Photos - Junk Food

This is a cookie bouquet made with food safe rubber stamps. I make a lot of cookies for the classes I teach and for demos and such. And since this is the only craft where you get to eat your mistakes... I eat a lot of cookies and so do my friends!Good thing we all love shortbread!

Crafting for Ducks

I find it absolutely heartbreaking that the very thing Mama Duck (a/k/a Mallory Mallard) needs to keep her babies safe is the very thing that can kill them!

Since I didn't have materials to build an official duck ramp lying around, I thought I would share my solutions here.

The pool chair works beautifully and they often bed down on the dry part at night. I achored the top with a rolling wood rack and some bricks. I've since added some plastic chairs as barricades in case the dog gets curious or raccoons come.

 

But, the padding was a little thick for some of the babies and what if they fell in the jacuzzi?? I described duck ramps to my hiking buddy... basically wooden ramps with something for traction... and she came over with some thrift store treasures. 

She had these place mats made out of twigs. I cut them in half leaving the binding that held them together in place. I took an old shelf that I had been meaning to throw out for months and my staple gun and voila! Duck ramp!

The closest end floats in the jacuzzi. I made sure the twigs would go down to the water level. You don't need this many twigs to make one. You could staple twigs every half inch or so.

The hiking buddy also brought an old bamboo screen. I tied a rock to anchor it in the bottom of the pool because it floats a little too well. I also anchored it to the patio with rocks and lumber. I took a pool pole and pushed the rock out at an angle to keep the platform in the water taut. This is their favorite ramp! 

I also raised the level of the pool up to the lip but over 2" had evaporated by this morning and the ducklings have grown so much.

It's also really great to have something floating in the pool for them to stand and rest on!  A piece of bubble wrap or pool cover works great. This can also work as a floating dock if you can anchor it near the edge.

 

The Last CHA CHA

Several customers have written as to the whereabouts of my annual Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) convention post. I must admit, I was so depressed after my day there in February, I could hardly think, much less write. No, I needed some time and distance. And, as it often goes with me, time and distance remove the need to write about it. But after reading so many blogs about how great it was... it's time the truth came out.

The Craft industry is on life support. That was my "tweet" on Facebook the Monday after the show and I still feel that way. It suddenly drove home for me that my lack of income isn't because I ran my own business into the ground...it's bad everywhere. This show is what galvanized my decision to find a "real" job.

I should've had a clue that something was wrong the second I arrived. I park in the back and have to enter a long tunnel beside the show floor to come out in front and get my show badge. Normally, I can hear muted voices in the show next door. But being in the tunnel is like a vacuum. And the second I open the double doors next to the new product area, all those voices magnify and hit with a wallop. I was so excited as I approached. And then I opened the doors and ...nothing!

I looked around and the new product area was not open, but I needed to go upstairs to get my badge. I looked all around on the escalator for some glimmer of recognition and finally decided I had my days mixed up. I was certain I had driven all that way on the wrong day!

Before I got off the escalator, I decided I would go find a friend and just work in their booth setting up. But then I saw a guard, wearing a CHA badge. I looked past him...the booths were set up...but where were the shoppers???

I walked the whole show floor in about four hours - including placing orders for the shop and talking with friends! A far cry from the year I didn't think I saw it all in 4 1/2 days there! I figure with all the vendors MIA on the main floor and the new product floor MIA altogether, there were between 50 and 60 AISLES of missing goods on the show floor! So here's a good visual for you.:

Compare the 08 and 09 showbooks!

It's not just the economy, Stupid! So we can blame this on the times such as they are but I don't think that is entirely to blame. I think some of the problem lies with networks such as HGTV and their ilk. Years ago, someone there decided crafting had to be "edgy." Edgy? It's crafting, not fashion!

Every show they put on after Carol Duvall went off the air had to be edgy. And it's there that they underestimated their audience. There are plenty of people in this country and around the world that LOVE to craft. It doesn't need to be "edgy." People who craft are impressed with a cool idea for a handmade card or a unique way to make a doll. But you can't convince the networks of that. When the networks want edgy, the craft companies will blindly follow.

And I have to say, walking that show floor with my producer's eye, always looking for new talent and new ideas, there wasn't much there to impress. The new demo talent just doesn't have the charisma. Maybe, they are all being trained to be "edgy."

When I think of the launch of HGTV, the top shows were Carol Duvall, Gardening by the Yard and Matt & Shari. Without fail, each of these shows were a little cheesy. All broke the fourth wall.* And all the hosts came across as salt of the earth, neighborly people. Having worked with three out of the four hosts, I can say it wasn't an act. They are the kind of folks you'd love to have a conversation or a cup of coffee with. And I still say shows like that have a real place on cable and even network tv. The audience is there. They just don't want to watch shows that portray crafters as crazy. Or edgy.

There were some good things: I fell in love with The Painter's Pyramid which allow you to paint all the sides of something and not allow it to stick to the table! (Been there, done that!)

The Painter's Pyramid

Of course, the part of me that wishes I was an inventor is kicking myself over this one! I saved those little plastic "pizza tables" for years - you know the little bit of plastic that keeps the lid from crushing a hot, fresh pizza??? Well, I used them to elevate my painted work ....just wish I'd thought of marketing it! LOL!

I loved the giant 3D puzzles perfect for classrooms made by Total Class Creative. They have both chipboard and wood items ready to paint, decorate and assemble. Check out these eggs! They even have kid furniture too!

Total Class Creative's Holiday Eggs

Diamond Tech has come out with decals that can be fused in glass... so cool! And they have a new book out called Simply Fused that is really fun!

And last, but never least, the nice folks at Plano Molding / Creative Options have expanded upon their crafter's organizers and carry-alls. This fantastic line just gets better and better! And, it's made in America!

So that's the good and bad of it. There are still plenty of craft companies out there, making cool stuff to make crafting fun and easy. And it's still a fantastic way to spend time with your family. There's nothing like making something yourself. The business will survive but I think it's going to be a pretty rough couple of years...

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*The fourth wall is a film term meaning you acknowledge the cameras and or the audience. Viewers see three walls with the camera (eyes of the viewers) being the fourth. In the early days of these cable networks, they shot many shows a day and there was no time to stop for retakes. The hosts were often asking the camera crew if they got the shot. Once, a pencil rolled off Carol Duvall's table and you see the hand of the floor manager reaching up from the bottom of the frame to hand it back to her.

The Worst Day; The Best Friend

Yesterday was an awful day. I was teaching and, because of the rains this week, I was a bit under-prepared. I just kept avoiding it all week. Finally, Friday night, in the pouring rain, I got out in the shop and packed kits and then loaded up the car. I stood in one of my storage sheds staring into one corner...knowing something was missing...but what? Soaked to my undies and freezing cold, I gave up and went in the house.

Saturday morning, I was all ready to go - just a few minutes late - when I got in the car. And my procrastination hit me square in the forehead. Last Monday, I had noticed the jeep was turning over way too much to crank. I put that on my to do list for next Monday. But yesterday the car wouldn't wait; fully loaded with class supplies and completely dead.

I ran into the shop and called the BFF. She was still in her pjs. The panic gave me an instant upset stomach. I ran into the house.

Back to the shop to unload the car, I placed all supplies on the curb - or so I thought.

We got to class and started setting up and I realized a crucial box never made it into the car. The BFF only asked for my security gate code and left.

The students arrived and, improvising, I taught the class bass-ackwards: last part first. It was then I realized why I stood in the shed, staring into the abyss. I had not packed the colored celophane for making candy roses. Knowing the BFF was on the way back, I improvised again, using sheer ribbon instead. Hey, it worked!

The BFF arrived while I was futzing with roses and simply unpacked that missing box and even set up a late arrival. Finally, I was showing them how to decorate the cookies.

It was then I realized one student had a severe mental deficiancy. I had demoed placing double stick on an acrylic block, attaching the stamp, rolling out the icing, inking the stamp. This student put down her tape and rolled the icing right on top of the block! And FREAKED when it stuck to the icing! Periodically, she would step away from the group and hold her head while walking in very tiny circles! The BFF just took care of this girl, helping her with everything and giving her space when she needed a circular pace.

While I was teaching, the BFF cleaned all my tools and all the tables and even started loading her car. I treated her to burgers and shakes and then she drove me home, exhausted.

As we left warm and sunny Glendale, my hopes of a refreshing walk were dashed. No car to get to the creek and, as the BFF pointed out, there was a dark cloud over Sunland. Outside, it was a good 20 degrees cooler. As we pulled up to the shop gate, to add insult to injury, it started to hail!

We threw everything in the jeep - the closest shelter in the storm and my BFF drove home and back to her life.

I don't know if eveyone has a BFF like mine but there are so many times she has simply wowed me with her kindness. She goes above and beyond on a regular basis. I often joke that if I get into heaven, it will be by default of being her friend. And then I realize, I must have something fantastic in this life or some other to have been gifted a friend like her.

CHA CHA CHA

OK, so I'm a little late on this year's Craft and Hobby Association Show wrap up...but better late than never, right?

I'm as surprised as anyone that I even went! It was a slow year in the shop and I'm grossly overstocked on almost everything I would buy at the show. None of my close friends (i.e. Becky) were going to be around to walk the show with me and I had honestly decided to stay home.

About a week before the show, I was asked to help out a friend and that will have to be a whole other post so, I'll skip over why I was there for now and make this about the products.

After a few lackluster product years (boy, I'm a jaded craft show producer!), this year was exceptional! I must've had my head in some strange place for a few year because I've finally heard about the Crop-o-dile. This baby punches 1/8th and 3/16th holes in just about anything and sets eyelets.

I had the great pleasure to meet Sandy Sandler and see her fabulous invention, the Bowdabra. My sister, who turns into the "Bow Queen" every holiday season would love this. It is the perfect tool for making a bow - better than the wooden dowels that I learned on by a mile! You can even make great bows from scraps of ribbon and the tool comes in two sizes.

A new glue made its debut at the show and was getting quite a bit of attention at the show but I wonder if it was only because it had a rather interesting name: Sticky Ass Glue.

One of the new product lines I fell madly in love with is the Creative Options series of crafter's luggage made by the wonderful folks at Plano Molding. The Plano folks are already experts in organization and each piece is well thought out and designed for ease of use and versatility. I'm gaga about the bead bag, the shoulder bag, and the small rolling bag (which has become my "teacher catchall" for my classes!).

And my favorite new thing ever: would you believe a kiln that works in the microwave!!????!!???! And that you can actually heat glass to fusing temperature (1500 degrees) in just three minutes!!!??? Obviously, it takes quite a while to cool off and has no real temperature control but the possibilities make my head spin!

Now, as a long time fusing instructor, I do have issues with the fact that this kiln - really just a ceramic box with a special paint inside that reacts to microwaves - doesn't really have a way to ramp down and hold the glass at the proper annealing stages. But it's not for fusing plates or large items. It will only make one large pendant or a smaller pendant with earrings in one firing. While I would never encourage anyone to sell their wares made in this kiln but for someone dabbling in fusing and just wanting to make gifts for friends, the 100 dollar price tag sure beats the cost of a small kiln!

I will be carrying these in the shop as soon as the manufacturer ships.


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The Moss Thing - Part 2

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Back in February, I wrote about the giant moss project I had to make for work.

I was just checking the network website for an airdate and, for the life of me, can't find one. But, I DID find references to the show and project info (including my directions for the dang moss covered "L") on the network site. (I don't want to link back as the show is copyrighted and I don't want any trouble considering I still work there from time to time. But you inventive, smart bloggers can figure things out... or email me.)

I then remembered that Matt was shooting a video "behind the scenes" and went to his and Shari's website... It's kinda long at 17 minutes but shows what a mess we made of that house. AND all the steps I was my knees were complaining about at the time. I'm in it too, despite my best efforts to hide from Matt and his camera.

Anyway, the show should be airing real soon if they are getting info up on the site.

CHA Wrapup - Better Late Than Never

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OK, I promised some friends and customers I would do my CHA (Craft & Hobby Assoc.) wrapup and since it's been a month... Well, here goes.

The first rule of CHA still applies. That is, if there is a particular someone you really don't wish to see, you will encounter that person within minutes of arriving at the show.

This year I had two people on my list. One is an old friend and I found out that she used to have the Art Director job that I was doing at the time. And I really wanted to avoid the whole, "So, what are you up to?" conversation. I saw her but was in line for my press badge, so other than a quick hug, we had no time to talk. Whew!

Number two is an artist I booked on Carol and fought to keep her on the show. She sweat profusely under the lights and was really discombobulated on air. I often would take my lunches to go to her house to prep her. After 9/11, she behaved like a spoiled brat and since I left the show, she acts like a five-year-old when I see her. (We belong to the same silver art group.) I was putzing with my cellphone trying to reach friends when I saw the rude artist out of the corner of my eye. I kept right on putzing... Whew #2!

With rule one out of the way, I got to enjoy the show. First, I got so much swag in the press booth, I had to go all the way back to the car first thing in the morning. I came back in and did a quick pass through new products.

Sorry to say, all was lackluster. I am amazed at the lack of creativity. First of all, there is still an overabundance of crapbooking materials. OK, I'm willing to admit I see no ART in this craft form. And what is the point of spending all that time to create something just to shove it in a book?

No offense intended if you are a crapbooker, but it was summed up best on Date /20-20 Minutes/ Primeline. The episode was a "Can this marriage be saved?" type of thing. The husband was saying, "I come home, I play with my kids. We go to soccer, gymnastics. We ride bikes, roller skate."

Reporter: "And what is your wife doing while you and the family are out playing."

Husband: "She scrapbooks."

It's like, you're so busy documenting your life, you actually miss your life???

CHA had a ton of new vendors hoping to break into that market.... Just when you think the market is oversaturated, here's all these new companies trying to break in.

The rest of the new products were not memorable except one. Here too, the lack of creativity astounds me. Someone has come up with a paint by numbers for grownups. They sell a painting on a canvas...really, it looks good enough to hang on the wall as it. But an oil "artist" can paint over it and texturize with the oils to add dimension. Yeah, I want to say I painted that!

I went on upstairs and hooked up with my dear friend Becky Meverden. I was her producer on Carol and we became fast friends. She's like another sister to me. She and her hubby, Curt walked the show with me. I have to say, it's such a pleasure to do a show with Curt. I'm used to having to pay attention and keep things on track. But he did that for us and hauled our heavy bags of magazines and samples all the way back to their hotel. What a sweetheart.

We ran into Carol Duvall at an autograph signing promoing her upcoming book. I begged Carol to write a book when I worked for her and now that she's "retired," she's finally done it! No surprise to me that she wrote it on her favorite craft medium, Paper. It should be a bestseller when it comes out in a few months.

Becky had her own book signing to get to...she's written her first jewelry book after writing many polyclay books. Below is a cell photo of Becky with her book.



While Becky signed books for her fans, I walked the show alone and ordered a ton of stuff for the shop. Show specials such as free shipping, BOGOs, or just percent off really helps a small shop like mine.

Later, Becky and I stopped by JHB to check out their buttons that Becky designed. Just as I was about to give up seeing anything new and really exciting... I found myself racing across the show floor to Armour.

Someone there thinks like me. As a sometime glass artist, I've often considered the feasibility of owning a sand blasting booth. (No room, too much money.) I really wished for some kind of inflatable thing to sand blast in and Armour has made one!
It looks like two swim toys connected by more plastic. You can insert your glass, their sand etch (sand attached to a propellant) and blast away. Their Sand Etch is so gentle, it won't even hurt your hands and it's refillable! No Waste! This excites me!

All in all, a good show but really only to see older vendors. It would amaze me to see any of the new ones back again next year.