craft Archives - Linda Nelson

CREATIVE MOJO: THE EBB & FLOW

August 22, 2016

Your crafting corner is collecting dust. That stack of quilting squares hasn’t dwindled down for quite some time. Your art journal entries have all but ceased. The unfinished painting sits, not glanced at since……..

It happens to the best of us. Creative block. Ambushed ambition. Perhaps one’s attention necessitates being diverted to other matters, as has been the case with me. But, how comforting when the magnet, the glowing flame…. that “thing”…. calls us back to center. I’m sure you’ve been in both places.

These days I find myself more accepting of this ebb and flow. The years have seasoned and conditioned me with how to better embrace what used to drive me nutty. Now, I just experience mild nuttiness.

At the moment, and to my delight, my creative mojo happens to be on the upswing. As the equinox draws near, this ambitious streak of mine will strengthen.

Proof of this prediction, a collection of fanciful felted fungi is spawning at the createaerie, and will be available for purchase at Lynch’s Garden Center come early fall.

©Linda Nelson 2016

So, don’t let the ebb and flow take your ambitions out to sea, or leave them to shrivel up on the shore. If you’re experiencing a block, just ride the tide. You’ll eventually find yourself docked in a slip of inspiration, ideas and most importantly, creative mojo.

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“HOO” LOVES EASY SEWING PROJECTS?

February 8, 2016

I enjoy sewing craft projects, and even more so when they are simple to do, as are these adorable fabric owls.

©Linda Nelson 2016

I bookmarked this pictorial post a few years ago and finally revisited the site this past weekend to give the project a try. They’re so much fun and so ridiculously easy to make. The one pictured above is a baby boy gift. I omitted using buttons for eyes; instead, I securely sewed on felt eyes that cute and curious little hands won’t be able to pull off. I also made my template quite a bit larger than the one in the tutorial; the finished size of this owl is nine inches tall and about six inches in diameter at its base.

©Linda Nelson 2016

My template for this pair of owls is slightly larger than the one in the tutorial, and they stand five inches tall and three and one half inches at their base.

I added something to my owls that the tutorial owls lack – rocks! Yes, just prior to cinching up the base I nestled a weighty round rock into the stuffing. That added feature helps make the owls bottom heavy so that they “sit” nicely.

“Why the Sharpie pen?”, you ask? Well, aside from the brown fabric breast area, that owl is made with artists canvas cloth, which is very easy to write upon with a marker pen. Make one just like it the next time you host a gathering and have guests sign their name somewhere on the canvas surface. This way you can have a sweet little keepsake to remember “hoo” came to your party.

There you have it.

Now, get creative.

Hoot, hoot.

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AMERICA RECYCLES DAY NOVEMBER 15, 2015: RE-THINK THIS

November 1, 2015

I usually don’t acknowledge national anything……… day, week or month; it’s just not my style. Perhaps that’s because I feel it’s gotten out of hand. Gee, why not create “National Breadcrumb Day”, “National Toilet Paper Day”, or “National Dustpan Day”. Get my drift?

Anyway, November 15, 2015, is supposedly America Recycles Day, and my learning of this prompted me to dig up a post from the past. Go ahead, give it a looksie.

I bring my recyclables to a local facility on a regular basis, tote my own grocery bags to the supermarket, and try to make use of and repurpose whatever I can. There’s even a scrap metal facility in my area that I can take advantage of. However, I am still baffled with the general DIY and crafty folk’s continued focus with reusing and repurposing things that can easily be recycled at a designated facility anyway. If properly disposed of, they shouldn’t end up in a landfill. What I seldom observe, nor practice enough of myself, is reusing and repurposing things that can’t be recycled in any way, especially bulk items. Those are what we should be concerned about even more so, and be going to great lengths to magically transforming their trashiness into “treasuredness”.

I’d love for you to share the recycling thoughts in your head!

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FOR FAST RELIEF……..

March 7, 2015

…don’t go to your medicine cabinet.

Instead, run to your craft room, and grab these items!

a piece of cardboard
gesso
a wood, masonite or canvas panel
scissors/craft knife
glue
your favorite go-to painting supplies (acrylic paint, antiquing ink, tinted past wax, etc….)

Sketch a simple design onto a piece of cardboard, then cut it out. Use your scissors to remove the excess cardboard surrounding your design; use the craft knife for attacking awkward angles and perfecting the shape. Now, glue your design onto your panel. Slap on a few coats of white gesso, do your thing with your favorite painting and antiquing method, and……….

Voila!

It ain’t instant relief, but it’s pretty darn close.

I’ve got one more relief remedy to share, so do stay tuned. Didn’t get to view the first relief tutorial? Well then, click right here.

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