I tried one of the ideas in a Japanese craft book yesterday, of “recycling” magazines by pasting clipped images together to make a large sheet of paper. Here’s my first try, using bird-watching and gardening pictures from magazines I got at the local library magazine bin:

I tried to use an adhesive runner at first, but eventually resorted to a gluestick and a liquid adhesive pen, since those can cover greater areas more easily. I also realized that I should clear my desk off entirely before starting something like this, since it takes up a lot of room.

I like the overall result, and will probably make envelopes out of this first sheet. I’m going another one sometime, and have stored a few additional clippings in a pizza box I had sitting around, from when I ordered scrapbook paper that they shipped it in.

I wanted to work on my next sheet, or some other crafty project, today, but I’m just not in a very creative mood right now. It started this morning when I visited a local Goodwill, to see if I could find any old books with images worth clipping. I found a few children’s encyclopedias that had potential, and one even had my first name written inside the front cover, which was amusing. But I got so bored by it all, and left without buying anything. The same thing happened at a nearby crafter’s mall, where I made a point of looking at their sample cards for ideas. It didn’t help, so I just went home.

I even tried poking around sites like Craftster and get crafty to look for ideas to get me going, but nothing really jumped out at me. I cut out some magazine pictures and made a few envelopes instead, since that’s pretty mindless, but even that didn’t seem appealing. I guess it’s just one of those days, but maybe I’ll try again later.

Well, the sewing machine I ordered a few weeks ago finally shipped, so it should be here in a little over a week. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve used one, so I’ll definitely have to sit down with the manual and make sure I know what I’m doing. A friend of mine also gave me a book about sewing for my birthday (Sew Fast, Sew Easy), so that should help.

I’ve already been thinking about what to sew first, aside from paper-y things, which is what I mainly want to use it for. I was thinking that I could try to make some bags, like drawstring bags or tote bags, just to see how that goes. I’ve been trying to find free patterns online, and have found a few, but it’s taken some work. I definitely found some odd sites in the process, like ones with free patterns for “modest” clothing that looked like something out of “Little House on the Prairie.” Whatever floats your boat, I guess.

For what it’s worth, here are the instructions/patterns I found for drawstring bags:

• craftgrrl: Drawstring Pouch Tutorial!
• Embroidered Drawstring Bag (PDF)
• Making Cloth Drawstring Bags
• 4″ x 8″ Drawstring Bag
• Kids Projects: Drawstring Bag

In the meantime, I’ve been working on my cross-stitch project, including in a quiet corner of the local library. I’ve been trying to think of other places to work on it, but libraries and community centers are all I can come up with, at least among places that wouldn’t be too messy (like a cafe, with food and all) or noisy. Any thoughts?

I’ve also been adding to my craft library a bit, mainly with a number of cute, Japanese books about sewing and paper crafts. The projects in these books are really quite nice, though I have to just follow the pictures, since I can’t read the instructions. I don’t know how many of the projects I’ll actually try, but there are a few that I definitely will. One that comes to mind is from a “recycling” crafts book, where they suggest pasting together clippings from magazines and newspapers to make large paper sheets that you can make envelopes from.

Looking through these Japanese books makes me wonder why it’s so hard to find similar projects in English books, rather than the typical “grandma-cute” kind that I complained about before. I do think this is changing somewhat, with younger and more “hip” books and TV shows coming out, but it’s happening pretty slowly. It’s not as if there isn’t an audience for it, so what gives? Maybe I should use my writing background and write my own book sometime.

One last thing: thanks to jetgirl on the tips about my card sets. I definitely want to take more photos of them, just to give a better idea of what’s inside. I’ll think a bit more about the eBay option, since I might try posting them on a page here.

Oh, and speaking of pages, I’ve added a few new ones, including one about my craft book library and one showing off my completed embroidery projects. So, in case you’re reading this on RSS, check those out.

I put together a few more mini envelope/card sets this evening, though I still have to make sticker seals for them. I had made all the envelopes awhile ago, including at the crafty meeting in Campbell, but hadn’t actually made flat cards and tied them up with fibers until tonight.

I actually listed some of my previously made sets on the handmade/crafty shopping site Etsy (check out my “shop” here), but none have sold yet. I don’t know if it’s a matter of the price, which I think is decent, or if people just aren’t into what I’ve made. It could just be that not enough people are viewing that site yet, so maybe I should try to list them on eBay, like a friend suggested to me awhile ago. I’m certainly not new to eBay, but I don’t know if it would fit there, plus there are the fees to consider.

While I was working on the flat cards though, just digging through my cardstock stash, I started thinking about getting into scrapbooking. I think about it now and then, especially since I buy a good amount of scrapbook paper for making envelopes, but have never actually started a scrapbook. I definitely have the supplies for it, but I guess coming up with content is my problem.

Looking at various examples of scrapbook pages people post online, I just don’t feel like I have much to “scrap.” Taking a look at my digital photos, the majority are either of hamsters or of beach and similarly scenic nature shots, and neither of these seems like the kind of thing to go into a scrapbook. Not that there is any right or wrong when it comes to keeping a scrapbook, but I guess I don’t have the same motivation when I think about it.

I guess I could print up a few digital photos and at least try to create a page, just to see if I enjoy working on such a thing. Then I’ll be able to say that I tried, even if I end up hating doing it or how things turn out. Now, which hamster photos should I start with…?

I had a minor setback with my current, and rather large, cross-stitch project. While working on it the other day, I realized that I had done a patch of it in the wrong location, though I couldn’t figure out how I had gotten my count off. I guess this is what comes with working on one’s first large project!

I ripped out a bunch of the stitches, but got pretty bothered by the whole thing, so I’ve let it sit for a few days. I think I might be ready to pick it up again and fix things later today though, since I’ve cooled off a bit from the initial discovery.

I should definitely get going on this project, especially if I want to have it finished for mid to late October, when I would be giving it as a gift. I just wonder if later on, while I’m working more, I might discover some greater mistake, and just want to rip the whole thing to shreds! I hope not.

I will try to post some photos of this project at some point, though I don’t want to ruin the surprise to the recipients!

In an attempt to find local craft groups a few months ago, I happened upon a local chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of American. I found out when the next meeting would be, but I ended up forgetting about it until this month. I finally attended one this morning, and am still trying to decide whether I’ll become an official member or not.

The good stuff: The other members were all very welcoming to me, and were eager to share information about the group. The projects they work on seem to be fairly varied, including different types of needlework (Bargello and Hardanger were mentioned a few times), beading, and even some quilting. They have regular stitch-ins, where members get together to just work on a project. They also offer regular workshops and correspondence courses, and there are also opportunities to buy kits and attend shows. Oh, and they have their monthly meeting both in the morning one day and at night on another day, so everyone can make at least one, if not both.

The not-so-good stuff: I was the youngest person there, and probably by quite a bit, with the majority of members being in the late 40s to early 60s range, I’d guess. There were a good number of women talking about their grandkids, so it is definitely not my close peer group, like the Campbell craft group is. Also, the meeting I attended was held in a church hall, and the night meeting tomorrow will be at a retirement home, neither of which is a particularly comfortable location for me, even if they’re close by. And, finally, a good percentage of the projects shown, either as possible kits or classes, or even as show and tell from the members, were really not my thing. Not all of them were the super cutesy stuff I ranted about previously, but it was just not the kind of thing that caught my interest.

I guess the age thing is what sticks out most right now, since I’m very much in need of some contact with my crafty peers right now. Unfortunately, the San Jose area just doesn’t seem to be a haven for these types, with most artsy crafty types living up in San Francisco proper, which is not a place I get up to all that often these days. I don’t have problems being around an older crowd (though the occasional talk of ailments is really not my favorite topic), but it would be nice to meet people who can more easily relate to me.

I think I’ll mull this one over a bit, and see if there’s anything else out there to check out. I doubt I’ll find much more in this area, so maybe I’ll just give this group a chance. I don’t have to work on everything the group offers, and who knows, maybe some of my interests will give the other members ideas for new projects of their own.