Weekly Challenge and Chat Thread 2008, part 2

[Gingermonkey]

Ooops - we've filled the thread, best start a new one, eh?!

RH - The only stitching I did was the sequins in the middle of the flowers and the white stitching on the leaves. Everything else is collaged.

I'm thinking of doing a really big one for our newly decorated spare room. We have a dark teal feature wall that is just begging for a picture.

Nbg - my sister suffers with depression sometimes and she finds cross stitching is a thereputic exercise for her. I think it's a very worthy form of stress relief too.

GM - That blanket treatment did the trick eh ?

Message withdrawn

TB - it's gorgeous - as I said on your blog you should do some more and see how they do on etsy

I've been away ages - you've even tried to shake me off by moving to a new thread but I tracked you down

have been very busy with my first artclub venture (and a bit of real work, they finally made me do some - groan) artclub went well - I just had three kids and DD1 but they all seemed to really enjoy it. I couldn't believe DD1, she is 5 but she managed to concentrate with the 9 yo and two 11yos for 2 hrs and 40 minutes - even doing observational drawng for about 20 mins. Incredible

tomorrow is teh next one but I've just realised I left all my material (print outs of what I had planned to do) at work. AARRRGH! I'm gonna have to make it up aren't i?!

I've updated the mn blog and my own with a recycling challenge I did last night

I'm in awe of all the easter challenges - I've not started mine yet - tell me I am not way too late, I do have an idea...

I really think it does help with stress and depression.
It must be because your efforts are focused into whatever it is you are doing with the plus you are enjoying it and the satisfaction from the end product.

I was reading my last years school reports and inparticular my Arts and Textiles subjects.
It was lovely to read them and remember the projects I did.
I wish I could have had some of them back.

Anyway

Tilly, you should definately do a picture for your new wall.
How's your craft room coming on? Is it open for use now

Just out of interest, where does everyone do their crafting? In particular those that use sewing machines.
Atm I have mine in the kitchen with all my materials and other stuff strewn all over the utility room.
I have to keep moving the machine on and off the table every meal time.
I'm just debating whether to move into the spare room.

JG, its lovely.
Have been wondering where you've been.
Well done on the art club. I wish there was something like that here. My dd spends nearly 3 hours at Pre-school 5 days a week and I've been told that she spends her whole time painting, drawing and making things.
It would be great for her to be able to do it more elsewhere.
I hope it goes well for you tomorrow too.
How do you know what your going to do? Do you do themes each week?

I did the theme "cities" last time - I do like to have a theme as it gives a focus - I tend to spend some time on a new technique at the start - last tim eit was just talking to the kids about using their sketchbooks and not being precious about them, and taking them through all their pencils from 2H to 9B, getting them to make different marks etc. Then we looked a different responses various artists had made over the years to the idea of cities (Paul Klee, George Grosz, LS Lowry etc) and then I got them to do some observational drawings of teh rather gritty urban scene from my upstairs window. Quick break and then lots of collage with various pictures I'd downloaded from the web of city paintings, drawings and old and contemporary maps. Was fun.

Tomorrow will be more of a challenge as I have two more younger kids. I was going to do mobiles with them - talk about Alexander Calder to start with, then get them to sketch out ideas and start making parts for their own mobiles. I reckon if we have any time left at the end we'll do Mother's Day cards...

Am interested in what you've been saying about depression and crafting NBG, I find it great for getting me out of dodrums, and I am much less likely to go into a "blue funk" if I am busy with my knitting/sewing etc

I love your doll - great pressie a

and I think you should take over teh spare room. I've recently done this (had to for teh art clud ) and it is fab!

OOh - a nice shiney new thread!

I am keeping well away from the blogs in case I inadvertently click on Tilly's

(What was that about applique Ranting?)

Oh and the re the therapeutic effects of crafting - that was what Occupational Therapists did originally before they got into doing everything but. When I was at Physio school, I shared a flat with a student OT - she was one of the last to do basket work and weaving! (Meanwhile I was one of the last of the physios who studied massage, before that went to the complementary therapists.)

Gosh you must do a hell of alot of research before you do a class then.
It sounds like great fun. I wouldnt mind doing it myself. I certainly never learnt about different pencils in art class!

I like the words "blue funk".
I think that must be southern phrase as a friend of mine in London has used the term funk before. I'd never heard it before then.

When I was pg with ds1 we moved when I was about 30 weeks and my anxiety was sky high. I hated being on my own in the house and this carried on well towards the back end of last year.
Since I've started crafting I havent felt anxious about being on my own at all .

My next challenge is to get rid of my fear of going to the doctors and hospital.
Do you think they would mind if I took my sewing machine along with me?

I do do a fair bit of research, but I know a lot of the stuff anyway from art college - it's trying to remember it and then work out how kids could engage with it that's the challenge - but I do genuinely love art so it's ok

but yes, come on down - you'll be an asset to my class I am sure

Jeangenie - the classes sound great. I'm looking for something a little more structured for my dd, she's 4 - is that too young d'you think ?

She loves anything arty, crafty and will sit for over an hour drawing, painting and glueing etc.

Nbg - The craft room is finished and I started moving in today. I need to find some storage next.

Having your own little creative space is like your very own piece of heaven - I'd nab the spare room if I were you

depend son your DD tb - as I said I was amazed at DD1 - I thought she'd have good staying power as she is really into art/craft but she managed nearly 3 hours and her observational drawing nearly blew me away

I think if your DD is into it and you can find a more structured class that is not just one of these franchises that does "complete the baker ross item of the week" you should try it. DD1 loves learning new techniques and will now happily try them out on her own. And it was great to hear her chatting about the "lowry figures" with the other kids. never too early if they are really interested I guess

Message withdrawn

nbg, i'm lucky enough to have my own room to work in, but it has been a long time coming. previously, i've always just used to kitchen table, or the sitting room floor. i've even sewn, sat on the sofa, with my sewing machine on a chair in front of me, i remember making curtains like that.

just back from the embroiderers guild meeting, went well, i managed to ramble on for about an hour , only 2 ladies started to fall asleep!, also managed to come home with a little stash of fabric that they gave me, a couple of pieces are cream/white patterned patchwork fabric which is ideal as i wanted something like that to do a snowy owl

my craft room is the spare room - unfortunately it is also the dumping ground for anything and everything that is outgrown/unwanted or confiscated!!Oh and the computer, which is in a hideaway cupboard.

i am so incredibly untidy when i work and lose things under mountains of buttons and stacks of paper and abandoned projects

sooner or later ds will need this bedroom as he is currently in a teeny tiny room

Nbg - I had depression after DD, and was on anti-dep. for 2 yrs. That is the main reason we have such a big gap (6yrs) between the 2 of them - I was sure I didn't want another one. Then I got a bit better and we tried for DS. It was almost nailed on I was getting depression with DS because my life was all over the place and a complete mess, but somehow I was ok (maybe stronger even). I totally agree that crafting helps. The only time I have got a bit over-stressed was when I had 3 wholesale orders, so I decided I'd contact the people and say 'actually, I don't have time - sorry'. I'm not bothered about making money, I don't want to take over the world, if I have too much to do I won't enjoy it and then it defeats the whole object of it in the first place, doesn't it?

My crafting space is the kitchen/dining room (one big room). But I am picking up a desk on saturday so I can have the sewing machine on there instead of us having to eat around it (which winds DH up!). I have what should be the pantry as a storage cupboard (really need to sort it out - it's a tip), and I am planning on tidying the utility room and taking over in there as well! I dream of a space of my own, but I think if I had it I would do less, as I have DS at home, and he plays in here with me at the table.

Nbg- not to jump on the depression bandwagon but...when i was pregnate with ds I had Hyperemisis, I was in hospital for a week on a drip when I was about 8 weeks pregnate, then spent the rest of my pregnacy on anti sickness drugs that did very little, and was very isolated, I was depressed but didn't know it and the doctors and midwives never said anything... I improved after I had DS and just kept going pushing everything back. but a year and a half ago i totally crashed and burned, I have been off the ADs since summer and the crafting has really helped. It keeps me busy and has brought me back to being a bit more of the person I was before moving to England to be with DH.

as for crafting space I have a tiny corner of the small living room...the only time I really need more space is if I get paints and canvases out, beads don't take up that much space.. at present anyway

Its interesting to hear where you all craft.
Our downstairs area is virtually all open plan so we have the kitchen, what I now call my utility room but was the dining room and a large family room. Then we have a front room and hallway which is sealed off by a door.
The reason I like to have all my craft bits downstairs is because I can do it while the kids are about and still keep my eye on them. If I was upstairs it would really limit when I could craft but the house would be tidy

GM, I totally agree about the money making side of things and getting stressed.
My way of thinking now is if I make a bit of money that would be a bonus but as it stands, its just nice to be making things, enjoying it and other people liking it too.

Its unreal how many people that you speak to who have or do suffer with depression.

VV, I need some more buttons, can I email you please so I can see what you have?

Yesterday I made a monkey with some of my new fabric and I'm really pleased how he's turned out.
I just need to sew his legs on but stupid me made zig zag trouser legs.
How hard is it to sew legs into that!!!!

nbg - our house is pretty open too. We have the hallway and sitting room which are open, and the there's a door into an open kitchen/dining room. It does make it nice for me to be able to keep my beady eye on DS. Because he does like to get into trouble. Last week I was having a shower, and he was playing in his room. I could hear him shouting (but it wasn't a proper cry so I left him to it for a bit). He was still shouting 5 mins later, I went into his room and he was stood on the chest of drawers!!! I don't know how he'd climbed up, but I was quite impressed

nbg - of course you can email me
my email is [email protected]
there are some pictures on our blog and descriptions on the for sale section of blog too. I have had a good sort out of my buttons and have some good selectons at the moment - also some nice beads {i'll put some on my profile when i get time} i'm off to Nottingham for the weekend to see my bestfriends new baby so won't be around till monday

Jg, good to hear that the art classes are taking off well. How I wish we had something like that round here, dd would love it, ds would too.
My two are both very art minded, ds waiting to hear if he got his options and wants to go to Art College eventually (we took him to the Tate Modern in the half term because he's a big fan of the Cubists). And even when I used to take dd to toddlers it was a bit of a standing joke with everyone that she would spend the entire session glued (sometimes literally) to the crafting table. Her teacher said that when they had a big art project on, dd was the only one who completed it from start to finish!
I don't have my own crafting space , sewing machine and overlocker live in my wardrobe, stash (wool and fabric) live in cedar disced boxes in dh's wardrobe (much to his delight). And I just drag the whole lot down to the kitchen diner when I need it. Of course I can crochet and knit anywhere, even while waiting for dd to finish tap class.

completely off subject but after reading all this about what our houses are like, me & dh were talking the other day about houses we like. i have a huge thing about american houses, like the one in the film 'daddy day care' (can you tell its been half term this week, thank goodness for boomerang films ), huge hallways and lots of open plan rooms and wood panelling.

we've also both agreed that one day, we will do a kitchen in the style of an american diner.

after dh had his studio built in the garden, i found these, how cool would one of those be in the back garden!!

ok, now you all know about my secret hankering to move to america, i need meri to tell me what it's really like, as i may have a bit of a hollywood-esq type view

Oh I love those american diner style kitchens. If I was left to my own devices I would have a house that was a homage to retro and bad taste, like a cross between the 50s, 60s and 70s. (Doesn't sound so good when you write it down does it?)

lol ranting

i have just joined the craft forum, oh dear, another forum to wile away the hours posting on!

also, been meaning to ask, GM, when opening an etsy shop, is it a good idea to post in the forum on there? i've had a quick mooch around there, but not posted yet.

LK - DH and me have a secret hankering to live in the US too. Mind you, he wants to live in New York (SoHo to be precise, in some hugely expensive swanky apartment) and I want to live in Pennsylvania because my friend lives there and I can see her more often! . Actually I think I'd live just about anywhere other than the UK (starts rant about taxes and house prices and cost of living, blah blah blah). DH's friend lives in Las Vegas, in a swanky, swanky house and it cost him $400,000 about 3 or 4 years ago. It's MASSIVE, and in the really posh area of Vegas (I can't remember where that is though). I was watching Cribs the other night and 50cent's house in Connecticut (I think) was on there - OH MY GOD, it had a night club in it, it was so massive (and more like a hotel tbh). Totally unecessary, but rather impressive in a vulgar new money way
Did you see on Grand Designs last week or the week before, the house in Scotland for a rather portly lady and her husband who didn't want many stairs? I was in love with it. I want to live there. It had stuff in it, not like most of the houses do (they are usually a bit too minimal for my liking)
Anyway, enough of my dreaming.....
I would post in the forums on etsy when you have the grand opening - to get a bit of traffic if nothing else. Obviously you have your blog too. What about posting on flickr as well? I just got a sale through flickr, and I've never thought about it in that way before now.

dh would love to go to san francisco, he likes new york, has been a few times, but wouldn't like to live there. crafty wise, portland seems to be the place to be.

the plan is to open the etsy shop in april at the same time as registering as self employed, dh reckons that starting in april makes sense as it fits in with the tax year. i already use flickr a lot and post my blog images there, it's been hugely useful actually as a way of testing popularity.

i've already got 20 people who 'heart' my shop on etsy before i've even put anything in it!!