I thought I'd pop in for a little update. Though you wouldn't know it from the blog, I've been busy working on my Etsy shop. Since I switched it over to photography, it's kept me busy getting things listed, taking new photos, and adding other items. Besides 8x10 and 5x7 photo prints, there are now photo note cards, ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions and Originals), and photo blocks. I've thought about doing ceramic tile coasters, but am still working on that idea.
In the meantime, I've also become enamored with Mod Podge...can you believe it?! You'd think that sometime in all my craft obsessions, I'd have discovered Mod Podge before now, wouldn't you? I mean, it was invented in 1967! But I don't think I had unless it's been so long that I'd forgotten. Anyway, there are lots of neat projects out there to try with Mod Podge. Here's one that I'm working on:
I already had this small lamp shade. It was kind of plain, though, and seemed to be a good candidate for "podging." I used a paper towel to trace and cut patterns for the different sections, then laid the pattern on some lace fabric and cut it out. I placed the cut lace on a shade section, and then Podged away! A foam brush worked well. It took a really thick coat to soak through and get the fabric to stick. Dabbing down over and over with the brush smoothed it down nicely, though. Fabric Mod Podge would probably have worked better, but I just used what I had on hand.
It's not quite finished yet, but so far I like how it's turning out.
And one more thought for today about photography...getting a great shot sometimes takes a hands-on approach--
:)
First, I thought I'd show you a sewing project I recently finished. A vintage-style apron:
The front:
And the back:
This thing really covers you up. It's practically a dress. The pattern is Simplicity 3544. After seeing some aprons online, I got the idea that I needed to make one. I really like the vintage styles and found the pattern and material at Wal-Mart. The material for this apron somehow just shouted 1950s to me with its bright yellow background and red flowers. I haven't been much of an apron wearer in the past, but probably should have been, seeing as how anytime there is flour involved, it usually seems to go everywhere. I haven't actually worn the apron yet. I'm thinking I may have to tie a dish towel around me to keep my apron from getting dirty. :)
If you haven't looked lately, you can't imagine how many aprons are sold and available for sale at Etsy! I didn't realize they were so popular now. I bought some more material, and would like to try and come up with a pattern similar to some of the ones I've seen on Etsy.
And now...The Realization. It seems like every time I post, I've become enthralled with some new hobby/craft. I go surfing around the internet and think, "Oooh, isn't that cool?! I should try that!" Then while looking up information about that hobby, I come across something else and think, "Oooh, isn't that cute?! I should try that!" And so on. And of course, you have to order the equipment necessary to try it. I've often wondered why I can't seem to stick with a particular craft without trying out something else before I've hardly learned the first one. Is this weird or what?
The first "needlework" type crafts I remember doing are probably embroidery, crochet, and sewing. Since then, I've made miniature quilts, appliqued on sweatshirts, done counted cross stitch, and, of course, there's the whole fiber thing: knitting, spinning, wool dyeing, carding, wet felting, needle felting, weaving. And this isn't even counting photography, genealogy, soapmaking, digital scrapbooking, papermaking, and who knows what else. I think sometimes even baking and trying out new recipes fall under this category. Then a couple of weeks ago, on a trip involving my latest project (I'll save that for another post), as I pondered all of this "first-one-hobby-and-then-another" and "why-don't-you-stick-with-one-hobby" business, I came to the realization...I have stuck with one hobby all this time. My real hobby. Yes. My real hobby is...Trying Out New Hobbies.
Wow! It's kind of a relief in a way, figuring this out. A little hard on the pocketbook at times, but nice to know that maybe it's not so weird after all. I guess the excitement is in the learning.
Next time, I'll try to show you my latest "new thing." :)
It's not quite finished yet, but so far I like how it's turning out.
:)
