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BB Arts & Crafts Circle

ecomama
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

Hey wonderful people!

I take delight when I read about what other people have made themselves; from art works to sewing to knitting to ANYTHING!

The CREATIVITY in these forums is astounding.

The skill set is pretty mind blowing too.

It warms my heart to know that Arts and Crafts are being enjoyed by so many of our members.

Please feel welcome to SHARE your past, present or future projects with us all.
Or even what you'd like to learn how to do.

Any gift ideas are most welcome too!

Love EM

95 Replies 95

Hey Hamsolo- punny name lol!

I have only a slight clue about what youre talking about cos my 10 y.o got a PS4 for Christmas, and just loves minecraft. Mostly spends her time in creative- sounds similar to what you're talking about??

Getting inspired by your mention of whitewashed floorboards Em......

Cheers,

J*

ecomama
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

Lol be prepared J*!

I've just walked up and down my street finding empty garbage bins (it's the best night of the week here being Garbage Night LOL!) I had 8 garbage bags full of spikey edging timbers and rubber underlay and blerk it was awful! That was only from ONE room.

The carpet is going on top of the lantana lol.

Now the room smells of stinky feet.
Yup NOICE!
The windows are open and the fans on - like it's been for DAYS now.

I REALLY hope the paint will subdue this ahem aroma lol.

I'm so tempted to go in there and Domestos it, bought some today for the 1st time! LOL.

But my old school friend works in the paint dept at Bunnings so I'll ask him tomorrow, if he's working. And I need to ask about a sealer too.

My BF would tell me to use isopropyl alcohol ALL over it as they do in their multi million dollar instruments lol, I'm just not telling him atm.

Whitewash is so pretty. It goes with antique furniture really well.
But I think Yvette was trying to save mama money and do it ourselves too which saved us money.
She liked it in her last room, it could be a bit of that too.

Will keep you posted lol.

EMxxxx

Hi Everyone,

There certainly is a lot of wonderful chatter, ideas, skill sharing, positivity, expectation and creativeness being shared here!

Thanks for all the enthusiasm. I have managed a little colouring, have looked in craft books for inspiration and have undone a French Knitting project as the yarn I was using does not look good now I am trying to turn it into a mat. I think it will look better as a blanket with added colours, so I can crochet that some time.

Recently I saw an article for "Doodling Art" and one for "Slow Stitching" both looked interesting.

Cheers to you all from Dools

Not_Batman
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Hello all.

funny how a lot of us end up on the same threads.

a couple of years ago i started doing drawing and painting as a way to learn something new and de-stress while off work. I started with acrylics but found they dried too fast. I havent done anything in a while, but decided to switch to oils. - big Bob Ross fan

saw some inspirational paintings yesterday, so that has given me some ideas.

Not_Batman

Hi not B,

I love oils! O my gosh I got so into them when I was like, 20 something. Yeah thats the thing about acrylics isn't it? They dry so quick. The colours are amazing too, and you can get such good effects by thinning them down.

Hamsolo- I so get the perfectionism thing. Both my daughters are afflicted with it too. Doing art with them led to comparisons, which is so sad cos I love their art.

Lillylane a teacher friend once told me that he only kieeps the handmade cards he gets given. Thats such a special thing to do

Cheers,

J*

ecomama
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

Hey Lilly

In ALL this moving of bedrooms, boxes of ummm "stuff' everywhere... my reward is that I found a black brush turkey pen lol!

I used to say to my children that they were like ferrets. They'd find something they liked - we used to do lots of craft together when they were little - then they'd ferret it away in their rooms and I'd find them later.

All I need now is a red and yellow one and I can paint a brush turkey!

EM xxxx

Lillylane
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

Ha! EM, that sounds like what my kids do! Our dear little creative brush turkeys 😉

Pretty sure our girls liked using sticky tape before crayons even. Lots of construction going on with old cardboard etc. Craft seems to appeal to all ages.

Love the sound of fresh white-washed floors 🙂

ecomama
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

Oh the STICKY TAPE phase lol!!

I had to hide all our tape from the kids when I'd had enough of them taping EVERYTHING!

I think that's what all the patches in the walls are from... dear me.

My grandchildren are going through this phase lol and my daughter BOUGHT heaps of rolls for them to do it. Taping everything now and she's kind of regretting that decision LOL!
That daughter is the artist one.

She was literally BORN that way. Before she was even 1yo she had to do a painting before breakfast (or lots of them) or she couldn't eat! She had a "Painting Station" set up on the porch with choices of paper etc and mama going broke keeping up with the paint.
Hasn't changed a bit lol. STILL painting and finding so much need for it in her life.
Luckily my aunty worked at Eckersley's when she was a teenager, daughter was in HEAVEN during that stage!

All the grandkids have their own easels now too. Hence me helping her organise everything last week!!

I'm so proud of my youngest d. I had to go shopping for ages this morning and when I got home, she'd done the FIRST coat of whitewash on her new bedroom floor!! ALL BY HERSELF!
It just looked like wet raw floorboards when I saw it then I took my sunglasses off and yes you can see a TINT of pale. Lol.
Maybe a few more coats I think.

Then the sealer. D was shocked at the cost of everything yesterday so I'm glad she came to see how much it cost me. I never tell the kids and they should know. No guilt, just awareness.
I think that's why she took more responsibility of it all today.

It's going to look BEAUTIFUL.
I'm so glad we agreed to do it this way.

Love EM
NB: I'm tossing up whether to have a craft / sewing table in my new bedroom???
Bit worried it might stress me out when I need to sleep BUT I love to see it all set up ready to just DO when I'm in the mood (or decide to take time out from other things). Hmmm.
Feeling undecided.

Hi EM,

Regarding the craft table idea in your room, you could try it and see how you go.

Maybe have a pretty cover to go over the table and mentally tell yourself that it is not time for craft right now as I need to sleep.

You could have a note pad handy to jot down any ideas that do come to mind so you can recall them in the morning.

I'm a bit like that when I set up a jigsaw puzzle! Go to brush my teeth before bed and an hour later I am having a cup of tea and putting in more puzzle pieces! Ha. Ha.

Today I started my "paint by numbers" and have sorted out some yarn for my next crochet project. Did a little drawing last night as well.

Cheers all from Dools

ecomama
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

Hey Dools, great idea thankyou.

Wow you're really getting things happening there with your crafting.

What's the picture of in your paint by numbers artwork?
What are you going to crochet?

I'm delighted that I've found SO MANY crafting things whilst going through the boxes of stuff from all our upstairs bedrooms. LOTS of good quality thin textas, LOVE those for fine colouring in, a fine colouring in book - different to my own one, charcoal and other drawing stuff that I might give to Alexa - doubt I'll use those.

I've found a few brand new needlework projects still in their wrappers. Will see if I still like them, if not they're off to the Op Shop.
A couple of cross stitches I WOULD like to finish, time to get a new pillow slip for them - that's how I keep them altogether with their threads etc.

I think having them in my bedroom WOULD be nice.
They're great "company" lol.

Think I need a new sewing machine, you can probably guess what happened to my last 2 and my overlocker.
All the Scandi craft projects I'd like to do are easier & faster with a sewing machine, so I'd prefer to have one.
Any suggestions on a GREAT brand of sewing machine?

Oh I just saw the HUGE table / cabinet I could use as the sewing table!
I salvaged it a while back. It looks like a Hampton Style Kitchen Island but is antique.
The top lifts up to store things or you can use the drawers.
I wonder which children might like to help mama MOVE it lol!
My tall stools from my birth place would suit that perfectly.

I'll bring up my Nana's rocking chair too for my crafting nook. There's a beautiful view of my front garden from this room, so that would be a happy & peaceful spot.

At this rate I might have to sleep in the loungeroom! LOL.

All good, if it works that's great.

EMxxxx