Quick Update #2

Been busy make some new tic-tac-toe games. They seem to be a good seller for me on my etsy shop. I do need to be making some other items but not in the mood to work on anything else. Had to take some time off from crafts to take a couple of computer classes for work. Fun classes, just long hours that I can't use for crafts.

Seems like I'm painting

Been working on new items for my etsy shop and letting my blog just sit. Sorry for that.

I've been working on some door signs. It is so much fun to watch the design develop as I add new rows and colors. In a way it is like doing a painting, you start with a plain piece of canvas and by add color and texture with your stitches you create a picture.

Some pictures many not be of a set object but a grouping of color. That is what happens sometimes when I do a solid piece. Each color works with the next and before long you have a warm feeling about what you have made. I love sharing that feeling with others. I hope you can find the warmth in my items as you check them out.

Thanks to all of you who are and have been following this blog. I hope to figure out how to follow each and everyone of you. Just give me sometime to work at it.

Following Up

Hope you enjoyed doing the tissue cover. Now that you have made a project of your own, you can see how much time goes into all the items being made by others. Plastic canvas can be made into just about anything that you can think of. There is a large group of people on etsy.com who make items from plastic canvas. I hope you will take time to check out some of them.
Here are a few of their shop names and there are many more.
circleinthesand
NeedleMania
craftylady2420
craftychris
Lorkey1981

How to make a tissue cover.

Are you ready to make something from plastic canvas?
Here are instructions for making a boutique tissue box cover.

Materials that you will need are
1 sheet of clear plastic canvas (91 x 71 threads)
4-ply yarn
Items listed in the “Getting Started” blog posting.


Cutting the Canvas
Using the cutting diagram shown, mark your canvas using the grease pencil. You will have 4 sides and 1 top marked on the canvas (see photo).

Cut between the marked threads for each piece. Cut close to but not into the threads. Use the craft knife to cut out the center area on the top after marking it. Use a damp cloth to remove any markings on the canvas before beginning to stitch you pieces.


Coving the Canvas
The stitch used in this cover is a Scotch Stitch. It is worked over 4 threads. By using different colors for each row or group of stitches, you can change the look of the cover. The sample shown uses two colors to create a checkerboard look. Each group (row) of stitches is worked down and across the canvas. Cut your yarn into 1-yard lengths until you are comfortable with working stitch then you can use longer lengths.
To start leave a 1” or 2” tail on the wrong side of the canvas. Work your stitches over the tail to secure the yarn. Once secure, clip the excessive yarn close to the stitched piece. While working your stitches keep the tension consistent. Stitches should lay flat and you should not be able to see through your stitched piece. End your yarn by running the yarn under several stitches on the wrong side of the piece. If your yarn becomes twisted, drop your needle and let the yarn untwist.
To finish the opening on the top, use the overcast stitch (see photo). The opening should be completed before you join the top to the sides.

Joining
When all pieces have been completed, you will need to join the pieces together. You will use the overcast stitch to do the joining. To join two pieces of canvas, place one piece on top of the other with wrong sides together. Stitch through all layers. Remember to secure the ends of the yarn. Repeat until all sides have been joined together. Now join the top to the sides in the same manner. Once all the pieces have been completed, overcast the bottom of the cover.

You have now completed your tissue box cover!

Getting started with plastic canvas

There are some things that everyone should know before starting a plastic canvas project. And a few items that you should have on hand before starting.

1. Plastic canvas comes in different sizes (based on thread count per inch). There are 5-mesh, 7-mesh, 10-mesh, and 14- mesh count canvas. The larger the number the small the finished item will be. A 7-mesh count canvas will be larger than a 14-mesh count canvas item. When working a pattern, check the canvas count size first before cutting the pieces.
2. Canvas comes in a large selection of colors. Color canvas works best for items with a large portion of the canvas showing (like the crayon keepers I make).
3. There are different stiffness and sheet size in plastic canvas. There are ovals, hearts, circles, and other shapes to choose from.
4. Always before cutting a shape from canvas, check to see if the pattern is in holes or threads. Cutting a pattern piece listed by thread count by a hole count will cause the pattern not to fit the piece.

Some items that will help with a pc project are as follows


1. A good pair of sharp scissors
2. A craft knife for cutting out small areas.
3. A grease pencil for marking the pattern on the canvas. Comes off the canvas with easy.
4. Needle threader. Makes it easier to thread a needle with yarn.
5. More than one canvas needle. Great for multi color projects to have a needle for each color being used.
6. A hole/thread count ruler.

I sometimes rework the pattern on graph paper to make the cutting details easier to follow. I also use the graph paper to work out new pattern colors for my projects. I use 4X4 and 10x10 paper. The 10x10 is great for working out placemats. The 4x4 for magnets and other small items.


Now your ready for your first project.

New look?

Been thinking that I need to revamp by etsy shop. Make a new avatar, banner, and redo my shop announcement. Do you think that would help?

Thinking of going from the methods of the crafts to the items that I make. Setting it up as home deco, accessories, and children items. For the avatar, putting few items in it, so it is easier to tell what I'm selling. Banner - more photos of the items and a different title. When I get some worked up, I will post some possible banners and avatar.

Craft rooms are nice ...

Before my sons moved out on their own, I had all of my craft stuff on one side of my walk-in closet. Would work on a project in the living room or at the kitchen table and have to move it when I was done for the night. But now I have a whole room for it. So glad to have a room where I can go and do my crafts and not move things to be able to eat or make room for guest. Love being able to work on a project and just leave it as is when I have to go do something else.

Here are some views of the room.



My yarn storage, 12 drawers and I need more drawers. Or get all that yarn made up.



My collection of craft patterns. Last count there were over 375 leaflets,
182 magazines with 2147 patterns. And adding more..



More storage and entertainment




My work table. Doesn't look this clean all the time.