Category Archives: Crafting

Crafting, Stuff, Watercolor painting

Projects and stuff

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I’m almost caught up with my miniature watercolors. I set a schedule of one painting every three days. September and October had so many things going on that I got behind in painting Now, I’m only two paintings behind and I think I’m finding a way to do decent landscapes. I still need more practice.

Some framed mini paintings- you’ve seen these already..

As the self-appointed repairer of the vending machines, I failed to get the soda machine out of its “out of service” mode and had to call the person who sold us the machine. Because he was going out of town, he couldn’t get to us until Oct. 31st.

He got it working and I spent another hour testing and resetting the slots. He also gave some tips on keeping it running such as getting dust out of the cooling unit and cleaning out the junk that was stashed in there “in case we need it.” The machine is working better and I should be able to maintain it.

I’ve been teaching sewing to students from the city’s alternative high schools. We have two, with limited curricula for students who don’t do well in standard classes. They come to the maker-space to try things like woodworking, leather craft, sewing, stained glass, and pottery.

I’ve taught them to make pillow cases and stuff sacks, utility aprons with pockets, and our latest project – bags to use to microwave popcorn. When I teach them, I show them and explain each step of using the sewing machines, how to measure and cut fabric, and how to mark the seam lines by using a piece of masking tape as a guide next to the sewing foot.

This student has used a sewing machine before so she didn’t need the masking tape.

One of the teachers also made a bag.

When I take project pictures with these groups, I only picture the hands of the students since I don’t have parental or guardian permission to film them.

Crafting, My own damned opinion., Watercolor painting

Catching up

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Medicare doesn’t cover annual physicals for us old folks. They only cover wellness checks. So I spent time mostly answering questions about my quality of life in the negative which confirmed the positive quality of my old age. Sounds odd, doesn’t it? Anyway, I passed, so I guess I’m doing well.

The Boomerang Child talked about getting some mental health treatment. As far as I can tell, he hasn’t made a move to do so. I fully expect to find him dead one day. I’ve had low periods— spent many an evening contemplating whether it would hurt for a long time if I slit some part of my body or if I took pills and drank alcohol, would I wake up in the morning.

The answer is yes, it hurts and I did wake up the next morning. More than once. The worst time was being held down while my stomach was pumped. I spent two weeks locked in the psych ward for that one. That was over 50 years ago. Now that I’m older, I don’t have time for that foolishness.

I’m still six paintings behind in working my way up to 100. I should have 83, but I’m only up to 79. I bought four frames from Dollar Tree and inserted some paintings. They’re not horrible.

Latest additions

Crafting

Teaching again

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Thursday, October 9th, I taught basic sewing to a group of high schoolers. This time, instead of stuff sacks or pillow cases, they made can cozies. I was scheduled to teach four or five students, depending on what prior projects weren’t completed, but I made kits for six just in case I got six. I have six sewing machines to use for teaching that were purchased with grant money from the school district.

The can cozies were simple- two strips of fabric with batting sandwiched between them with a strip of velcro to hold the sides closed. I have one I made one that has craft foam instead of batting. That seems to work as well, so I’ll use that instead of batting.

Can cozy made by one of the students.

It was fun. My pattern turned out to be a bit short in length so the cozies didn’t turn quite as well-fitting as they should have. For the next class, I’m going to allow larger seam allowances which we can then adjust and trim.

I don’t have a date for the next class yet.

Crafting

Here I am again

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I initiated hourly fees for use of the most expensive sewing machines in my area of the makerspace. We were the only large area not charging use fees. My hourly fees are only $2 per hour, lower than the $10 per hour of other areas because I get more long term projects on machines requiring less expensive repairs or replacements. The fees will go toward things like needles, bobbins, and replacement machine embroidery hoops or specialty parts for the other sewing machines.

I had a serger disappear from the shop. I’ve ordered a replacement. What I don’t understand is why I still have the scrap bin and the pedal. The new machine, as well as the other more expensive machines are getting trackers. That way if another machine disappears, I’ll have a notification and a time frame to check the cameras.

This past weekend, I took part in Bodgefest — a celebration of 11 years as a makerspace. I had a table featuring various zines and handmade books, plus fancy bookmarks and some leftover wristlet key holders I found in with my displays.

I’ve made a few new zines for the sale this month. One is a new Florida Man adventure based on current events. I have not nentioned any names. Another is a short story that includes a recipe for a hearty soup. I’ve also written a small book on diy book-binding,

My son helped me carry in my table and display items. I didn’t make much money. I don’t think any of us vendors did more than a few sales. My last sale wasn’t actually a sale. A really cute little girl came by with her mom and looked over my books. A tiny coil-bound notebook caught her eye. She picked it up and looked inside but the pink flower on the cover is what caught her eye.

Her mom asked how much it was. I hadn’t put a price sticker on that one, but the others were $2. When I mentioned I hadn’t priced it, the little girl placed the book back on the rack. When her mom asked how much, I told her it was a dollar, or free, her choice. The little girl was so happy to get the little notebook. I didn’t lose any real money by not charging for it. The happy smile was worth more than money.

Here I am, setting up. The little girl’s book is on the third row of the rack below the zines.

The zines are an in-going commentary on various topics. The Florida Man headlines make an entire series. I do a couple of new zines every year. Next year I’m going to set up a table at Zine Fest featuring the Insanity Shuffles* series and some copies of my craft booklets that I make for my classes – paper-making, book-binding, soap making, how to read sewing pattern symbols, and a few others.

That’s it for now.

About me, Crafting

Bye, bye Pizza Oven

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An abandoned Pizza oven.

A corner landmark is gone now – sledgehammered into oblivion. There used to be a fireplace business on the corner that had the pizza oven and a couple of outdoor fireplaces on the corner. They went out of business shortly after I moved into the neighborhood.

The property sat empty for almost ten years. I don’t know if the owners retired or died but the oven remained. The property was bought a couple of years ago, but nothing was done with it until recently. It’s all cleaned up except for the remains of the oven. I’m not certain if the new owners even knew that was a wood-fired pizza oven. As far as I know it was only a display in front of the shop.

Life goes on and I get older. The youngest granddaughter is in college and moving into her first apartment. The parental units are concerned because she’s a full-time student who also works full time. I’m not worried because she’s had a plan since she was 13. She started working at 14 and unlike her parents, I know she has savings. She’s worked as many hours as she legally could and saved more that she spent. She’ll make it.

I signed up for a program of “chair yoga.” It’s okay, but I picked a bad time to start with my sore neck and shoulder. The weird thing is that in spite of the pain and stiffness, I have full range of motion. I guess I’m just peculiar.

The Boomerang Child is back at work after almost three weeks. The company must really like him or they have trouble hiring people. He likes it, so I’m not going to complain. Well, not too much.

I’m about 5 paintings behind on my painting project. I’ve been working on some new inventory for a sale that occurs in a couple of weeks. I always do well at the occasional sale event we put on. Part of the reason is I have my logo on the bags I use.

They’re small brown paper shopping bags with handles that I attach logo stickers too. Even if a customer only buys a $3 zine, they get a bag. It acts as a signal to others. I’ve had so many customers come up and tell me they saw my bags and had to find out what I was selling.

I am at the pricing stage for my newer items. I usually stick a tiny price sticker on each item unless a label won’t fit or stick. Those items get added to my price list.

Crafting

Halfway done.

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I currently have 50 mini watercolor paintings. Painting every three days or so is working. Some are blah, some are okay, some might actually be decent.

The first two mini albums. The upper one has 24 pockets and the lower has 26.

Another view of the albums.

My studio is quite crowded. I’m thinking of putting the drafting table in the shop’s free area and bringing in another folding table. The drafting table is a couple of inches too high and can’t be adjusted any lower. Plus I need another flat surface more than a tilted surface. I have a couple of easels if I need paintings tilted.

I covered up the logo on my lab coat. The kitty patch adds character to a nice cover-up for messy crafts.

I’m rather messy when I’m painting or crafting. Actually, I’m rather messy everywhere. The only two places at home that are not messy are my bedroom and the bathroom. My house is a little short on storage space. People in the 1920’s didn’t have a lot of possessions and no one since has upgraded the storage. My need for storage is for craft supplies and yarn.

I cleared out my Craft room at the house to make a bedroom, but it turns out I’m trying to stuff way more things than I have room or storage for into what is actually a smaller space. I can’t go as high up with the angled ceiling since I can’t use the end wall without blocking the stairs. I have a desk against the half wall, but can’t go higher because then I can’t reach the light switch for the area.

I did not plan very well. An alternative is to get rid of the dining table and chairs and move the crafty stuff to the living room. Another alternative plan is to move two of the tall bookcases from the living room to upstairs and then move the craft tables and their attendant storage pieces to the living room.

At any rate, I have too much stuff and need to weed some of it out. Hey Makerspace— incoming!

Crafting

He got a job!

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So the boomerang child is once again employed. I hope this works out. If you sense a bit of underwhelm, it’s because he has quite a shaky employment history. The longest he’s held a job is just under two years.

More tiny paintings

I’m still painting. I have three paintings to do and the second book will be filled. That will be 50 out of the 100 paintings completed. I’m also working on some larger pieces— 9 by 12 inches.

My soap making class was cancelled due to a lack of interest. I only have one person registered for my paper making class on Saturday. Maybe my teaching fee is too high. I think I’ll make some feedback forms to find out what members want.

Crafting

Crud!

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I’ve had some sort of crud for the last week — mostly dizziness. I still seem to have it. I had 2 bookbinding classes Saturday. Attendance was light. I know one person was refunded, but two other people didn’t show up.

This was my Binding Single Pages class. Only 3 signed up.
Another set of single sheet books.

The morning class was Bookbinding 101.2 – Binding Single Sheets. We did three types of bindings. The first was a Perfect Binding. Thats the type of binding you have on a paperback book. It’s a glue binding where PVA glue is brushed on the edges of what becomes the spine.

The three students created their own covers out of cardstock creased in the center to form a spine which was then glued to the text-block. The paper used for all three of the text-blocks was copy paper cut to size. For more advanced classes, I use medium weight sketch paper. I also charge more per student.

The second book was a simple form of the Stab Stitch. Two of the students used two holes and one used three. When I do my class on Japanese binding, we will use more intricate threading patterns and chipboard for sturdier covers.

The third book was a combination of sewing and gluing. It makes more of a scrapbook-type book. The pages were sewn together with a 3-hole stitch and then glue was applied to the thread to secure it. An additional layer of glue was applied to the spine to hold a separate piece of card-stock as a spine. The covers were then applied to the spine piece with glue.

This a great way to keep kids artwork together in a book form. For the covers of that type of book, I would recommend chipboard covers cut to the size of the largest piece of art being bound. The chipboard could be covered with wrapping paper, rather than pieced together card-stock. A coat of Mod-Podge or thinned white glue could be brushed on the covers so they would last longer.

The second class was basic bookbinding where my 4 students learned how make a book with three signatures and how to attach the signatures to a simple spine. I didn’t get pictures because I started feeling off again. All I know is that whatever I have is not Covid. I’m going to have to find out if I have an ear infection since my balance is off.

After everyone left and I had cleaned up,I decided to spend time in my studio. Mistake! I sat down and almost immediately filled my tiny wastebasket with barf. Fortunately there was a plastic bag in there. I sat for awhile and then carefully drove home and went to bed.

Crafting

Caught up

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Latest three paintings.

I’m not sure if I’m improving or not. My progress seems inconsistent. I’m hoping that it’s not some sort of symptom of old age. Of course, if it was, I don’t think I’d know it. That’s probably normal for my age.

Here are some pictures of my studio.

Back wall
Another view
Last view

I think I mentioned that the space is 48 square feet 6ft by 8 ft. I have a selection of watercolor and other art books, canvases, card-stock and other art supplies. I also have a box of containers of pho and some energy juices in case I miss dinner or lunch.

The light bar on the wall is held up by five layers of heavy duty double-sided tape. It seems that every three weeks, the tape needs to be reinforced with a new layer.

I need a new strategy for that light.

Crafting

I didn’t realize how long it was between posts.

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I’ve been having a devil of a time with the shop light in my studio and the concrete wall. Even though the light weighs less than 5 pounds, the double-sided tape I was using wasn’t strong enough to hold it, in spite of the claim of holding up to 10 pounds. I used double layers of the tape and the light fell down,

I added an extra layer of tape and the light stayed up for two days. Finally, I bought a different brand of tape which is rated to hold up to 38 pounds. The light fell down. At no point had I removed any of the prior strips of tape. I bought another roll of heavier tape and applied enough to create a 4-strip deep layer and added several more of those thick layers to the back of the light. It hasn’t fallen yet. Yay me!

I like the light. The two led panels tilt down so I have bright light on my desk. There are six outlets and two USB charger ports. It’s working quite well now. I’ve been spending most of my time at the shop. The internet has been wonky so I haven’t posted from there.

I made a book to hold the paintings I’ve done so far. The paintings slide into the pockets. The idea came from a woman on YouTube named Joke Hardenbol. Even though I don’t speak Dutch, her instructions were easy to follow. I left a like and a comment on her channel.

By the way, the light is still on the wall.