topic Re: Crafting in Home

Crafting

traveler — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 23:54:15 GMT

In the last 40 years I have been through quilting, ceramics, making porcelain dolls, silk flowers, cross stitch, rug latching, crocheting and other projects I can’t recall now. Problem is there are so many tubs of supplies. Currently I have tubs for silk flower arrangements and fabric for other things. Senior Center won’t take silk flower supplies.

Anyone else have supplies? I just have to keep busy.

Re: Crafting

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 23:59:45 GMT

I like to stay busy and have done a lot of crafting in my time but I don't enjoy it as much as I used to. Quilting is expensive and I have made quilts and given them away to those that I wanted to gift them to so I no longer quilt

I don't have a lot of supplies left over from projects, I do have some fabric but sold some at a garage sale last summer.

I think my crafting days are over unless someone asks me to make something.

Re: Crafting

RinaRina — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:10:01 GMT

@traveler wrote:
Currently I have tubs for silk flower arrangements and fabric for other things. Senior Center won’t take silk flower supplies.

I wonder why? Did they say?

Re: Crafting

Regal Bee — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:16:32 GMT

I used to love to craft.....it is over for me.

Re: Crafting

docsgirl — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:19:52 GMT

TRAVELER,

Were we separated at birth??? Like you, I'm into a lot of crafts. I sew, knit, make cards, make soap and candles, do water color stamping...oh, I could go on and on. I used to latch hook rugs, quilt, and do needlepoint and counted cross stitch when my eyesight was better. Like you, I have tubs and tubs of supplies. I use many of them but most of them I'm gradually disposing of. If people don't want them, I just throw them away. I found stuff I forgot I had so I just got rid of it. If I were you, I'd go through things and throw out what you don't need and can't give away. It's a good feeling to get rid of needless clutter. Good luck. docsgirl

Re: Crafting

RinaRina — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:24:18 GMT

@traveler wrote:

Anyone else have supplies? I just have to keep busy.

Oh, yes!

I have at least 15 skeins of yarn at all times, plus an assortment of crochet hooks, knitting LOOMS and weaving sticks. Also, acrylic paints, brushes, canvasses and rocks (yes, I paint rocks) and Mandala books for coloring along with ahuge assortment of coloring pens & pencils.

IMHO, the WORST thing is being home (especially on a COLD day) wanting to "do" something, but havng "nothing" to do. I love staying home, so I love to craft.

Re: Crafting

Kachina624 — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:26:27 GMT

I have a ton of beautiful dressmaker fabric that I'll never use because I no longer sew much. Wish I knew of an agency or program that could use it.

Re: Crafting

RinaRina — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:28:11 GMT

@docsgirl wrote:
TRAVELER,
Were we separated at birth??? Like you, I'm into a lot of crafts. I sew, knit, make cards, make soap and candles, do water color stamping. docsgirl

SEW! That's my next big project. I want to learn how to use a sewing machine.

Re: Crafting

Tigriss — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:39:59 GMT

Many churches run groups and many city centers also, not just senior citizen centers. The school may also take donations for the art classes or "home economics" since those supplies can be costly. Drama groups can also use silk flowers and fabrics since decorations and clothes for plays is expensive. They also tend to be crafty people by nature. If I have those kinds of groups in my small community, a few thousand in the city and less than 10K in the entire county, then other communities will or will be nearby. I hate to see good supplies go to waste. There is so much potential out there for them. I still quilt, sew, knit and crochet. I'm about to convert a mink caplet from my sister's MIL into a coat for my niece's American Girl doll, a stoll for my niece and maybe decor for some matching boots. I got voluteered for this birthday venture by the MIL, not my MIL, but my sister's, because I'm "crafty". Got to love people that volunteer your time for projects for kids you find hard to turn down. Right now we could use the fur coat. It will be around 9 degrees with the wind chill in the deep south of Georgia tomorrow night with ice and snow tonight/tomorrow, 2 to 4 inches of snow and who knows how much ice. I will probably stay home tomorrow and not drive to work the 40 odd miles. Too dangerous in a community that doesn't have salt except on the kitchen table.

Re: Crafting

ptagirl — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:41:01 GMT

I know how you feel about crafting supplies. I was straightening up my craft room today, OMG! What a mess!!!....

Earlier this year, I purged a lot of things and donated to Goodwill.... I, too, have been into (I think) every craft hobby you can think of over the years and had the supplies to prove it....

It gets very expensive to do any hobby, but after awhile, you have to purge, otherwise the supplies take over...

I do love to keep busy and I'm still into cardmaking and scrapbooking, but I've donated most of my yarn, material and painting supplies ( and a lot of my finished items) up to date...

If you want to donate your items, you may check out some schools, nursing homes, or churches in your area ... a lot of the time they're looking for craft supplies for the children or the seniors to keep them busy... Just a suggestion...

Purging does feel good when you're done and people who can't afford new things are able to start up a hobby themselves without a lot of cost ....

Good luck and keep busy...keeps the mind occupied...have a great day!

Re: Crafting

haddon9 — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 01:03:12 GMT

I have enough scrapbooking supplies to open a small shop! I've also done a variety of crafts but found my niche with my scrapbooking and card making . One thing led to another and I started painting signs (using some of my scrapbooking items).

I have a shop on Etsy selling signs and have been doing so for almost 10 years....at least all of the supplies have more than paid for themselves!

Re: Crafting

software — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 01:33:57 GMT

I learned to knit over 50 years ago, I still have all my needles. I probably have 100 skeins of yarn. Maybe not quite that much but I don't even want to think about it. I make kids hats and scarves for myself - fashion scarves and winter scarves. When I retire this year, I plan to make something at least once a week. I really enjoy it.

Re: Crafting

riley1 — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 02:34:02 GMT

I don't crochet as much anymore, but did donate the yarn to a Senior center and some to a friend.

I also, sent my extra scrapbook supplies to a friends granddaughter.

However, I'm cleaning out the closet again, so I shall see what else I can get rid of, lol.

Re: Crafting

RinaRina — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 11:42:53 GMT

@software wrote:
I learned to knit over 50 years ago, I still have all my needles. I probably have 100 skeins of yarn. Maybe not quite that much but I don't even want to think about it.

Now that I'm "older", one thing I regret is not learning these skills earlier in life.

I WISH I had learned how to use a sewing machine, knitting & crocheting when I was young.

Re: Crafting

Witchy Woman — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 14:42:42 GMT

@traveler

Like you and many other posters here, I've done my share of crafting over the years.

There was a time when I crafted wreaths and such for EVERY season and would switch everything in my house every few months.

All this stuff was stored on my 3rd floor craft/sewing room. It was stuff to the rafters! Granted, the items were beautiful and I enjoyed the process, but after many years of hauling things up and down, I gave up.

Sewing was always a favorite and I had enough quilt magazines and fabric to last until the end of time. I would stay up late at night on my sewing machine.

Fast forward many years. All supplies have been given away to local animal charities that sold them at their yard sales. This included yards and yards of cotton quilt fabric.

However, I now sew blankets for Project Linus, and all of them given away to babies and children in need, mostly locally.

The sewing is simple, but satisfying. And I still shop for fabric, which I love.

Wanted to add that those of you wanting to give away fabric might have a local chapter of Project Linus that will take fabric, thread and sewing supplies.

Re: Crafting

151949 — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 14:42:58 GMT

@Mom2Dogs I make a lot of guilted items that aren't actual guilts. Pieced tablerunners or tablecloths, tote bags - backpacks -vests & jackets. I rarely have the time to invest into an actual quilt anymore, plus we live in Florida so there isn't much need here for quilts.

Re: Crafting

riley1 — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 14:47:06 GMT

@Witchy Woman - I will also add - Pillowcases for ConKerr cancer - only uses a small amount of fabric and such a good cause.