Volume 1 Issue 3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January, 1997
CRAFTY VISIONS
Volume 1 Issue 3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January, 1997
Sponsored by
INTERNET VISIONS COMPANY
Arts & Crafts
Central - Crafty Links System
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Letter
From Laurieann
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you had a joyous holiday season!
CRAFTY VISIONS NEWSLETTER is starting off the new year with over 2,300 subscribers! This is due to the hard work of our contributors, who make this a fun and informative newsletter. Thank you so much, and also to our readers for your wonderful comments.
This month we have some great Valentines Day crafts for you, so have fun, and make some wonderful gifts for that "special someone"..
Sincerely,
laurieann@ivisions.com
PS
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SEASONAL CRAFTS
VALENTINES DAY
by Bluebonnet Crafters
Using prepared bread dough you may color the dough by kneading a few drops of acrylic paint into the dough or you may paint the finished pin/magnet. Between pieces of waxed paper roll dough to a smooth 1/4" thick sheet. Using the cookie cutter or knife cut heart shapes from the dough and allow the hearts to dry thoroughly. When dry place a coat of the acrylic sealer on the front and back of the heart and allow to dry. Attach the pin back or magnet to the back with the craft glue and the ribbon rose to the front just below the dip in the heart.
Bread Dough
Tear bread in small pieces and place in zip bag, add glue. Mix well until it starts to form a ball. Add paint to color and mix well. It will form a smooth ball collecting all scraps when ready to use (it takes a while). Keep stored in zip bag in refrigerator until ready to use. Shape as desired and allow to air dry (depending on thickness of shape and humidity can take several days to cure. Shape should be turned over at least one time to be sure it dries thoroughly. This can be made without color and finished shape painted if you prefer.
by Bluebonnet Crafters
Place the purchased potpourri in the bowl and add the additional ingredients as they become available. Add the essential oil a drop or two at a time and toss gently through the potpourri. When using whole spices place them in a paper towel and place the paper towel in a plastic bag and break them up with a few hammer blows (do not crush too finely).
For your citrus use a potato peeler and peel strips of lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit peel (color part only). Then, with a sharp knife, cut peel into tiny slivers.
With found material spread out in a cool dark place and allow to air dry. Prior to adding to your potpourri mix, break up large pieces.
At each new addition toss the potpourri gently to mix. When the bowl is full share with a friend and keep building. The scent will change as you add but it remains pleasant and the potpourri can be built constantly.
by Bluebonnet Crafters
Get rid of the winter doldrums by bringing a touch of spring into your home with floral touches added to things you already have.
Using the floral fabric or gift wrap, cut out the floral pattern (one large flower, a group of small flowers, etc.) or use geometric shapes (diamonds, squares, triangles) in the appropriate size for the item to be decorated. You will be gluing the cut-outs onto the item, leaving spaces between the motif. When you have sufficient floral motifs cut out to decorate the item, place a thin layer of the glue or fabric stiffener on the back of one motif and position it on the item to be decorated, smoothing out any air bubbles and making sure all the edges are in contact with the surface of your item. From this point, randomly add additional floral motifs to the item, leaving a space approximately 1/2" between motifs. If you are working on a curved surface you may have to cut into the motif and remove small triangular sections to make it lay flat.
After completing the arrangement of your motif and eliminating wrinkles and air bubbles, paint the entire decorated surface with your foam brush and additional glue or fabric stiffener to ensure that the motifs are well sealed and protected. This step may be completed with an acrylic sealer in place of the glue to give it a little more protection for damp cleaning.
Your decoration can be a random, all over pattern or you can continue the geometric design by making alternate rows or blocks of the patterned fabric. It is not necessary to do more than one or two items in colors of your choice that will brighten just a corner of the room and, in these dark winter days, make spring seem a little closer.
by Mary Ann Peterson
A pretty valentine is using a plain white greeting card or cut a piece of card stock to make a white folded card. Then by taking some fancy, delicate or interesting paper, tear or cut it into a heart shape. I like to use Mulberry paper and trace a heart shape using a wet Q-tip. When it's wet, you can just pull at the wet line and it will tear nicely leaving a soft, feathered edge. Glue or tape this heart onto the plain card. Then, using dried flowers, I glue an "arrangement" on top of the paper heart. I like to use a variety of colors and greens. For interest, I've purchased some greens from Michaels which are similar to small fern. This gives some dimension to the bouquet. In the card, you could write something appropriate, i.e., "A bouquet of flowers just for you on Valentine's Day".
DRIED FLOWERS
My husband made a flower press for me by cutting two pieces of wood approximately 9"x9" and then drilling a hole in all 4 corners. He then bought some long bolts and nuts and I can place many levels of cardboard (so air can get inside so the flowers don't mold) in the press and keep tightening the press. I did buy some blotting paper to place the flowers between before layering the cardboard.
Small flowers work best. An idea for winter flowers is using African violets, and in the summer I like the bleeding hearts flowers for my anniversary cards.
CRAFTY TIPS
How often have you said "There must be an easier way !"? Well, now there is. In this feature, our contributing crafters share some of their secrets with you.
Take some white shelf paper and a couple of rubber stamps with hearts on them and make your own valentine gift wrap paper.
My favorite way to gather a dress ruffle is to cut a piece of fishing line (I prefer 10# test weight) about 8" to 10" longer than the ruffle. Set your sewing machine for the widest zig-zag setting. Along the edge of the ruffle that is to be gathered, zig-zag over the fishing line on the wrong side of the fabric, leaving about 4" of fishing line extending at each side of the ruffle. Pull the fishing line to gather the fabric to the desired length. Knot the ends of the fishing line together and clip off the excess line.
After stuffing your cloth doll heads, spray them with studio fixative, let them dry and when you draw on the faces the fabric pens will not run.
To make your own cloth labels, iron a piece of freezer paper to the back of an 8 1/2 x 11" piece of muslin, and insert it into your printer. Design labels for a sheet of paper, print it out on the fabric side. Take the paper backing off of the muslin, and zig-zag around each label, cut them out and Wha-la, your own personalized cloth labels to sew into the seams or attach to any fabric craft!
OUR FEATURED ARTIST
Gloria J. "Mimi" Winer began her career as a professional model and restaurant manager. She then became a communications consultant and systems administrator for Fortune 100 companies. She has been an original cloth doll artist since 1983.
Gloria always wanted to study art. She has studied fine arts at The National Academy of Arts and Design, The School of Visual Arts, The New School/Parsons School of Design and with Pe Ling Liang of NYU. In addition she studied sculpture at Monmouth College. In the dollmaking venue she has studied with NIADA artists Lisa Lichtenfels, Bob McKinley, Martha Armstrong Hand and many others.
Gloria is active in the Original Doll Artists Council of America, the Society of Craft Designers, the National Cloth Dollmakers Association, the Global Doll Society and is immediate Past President of the National Doll and Toy Collector's Club of New York City (UFDC). Her business is a member of the Hobby Industries of America. She is on the Board of the Academy of American Doll Artists.
She shares her knowledge and the techniques she developed with the doll and craft world through "Let's Talk About Dollmaking", her irregularly published magazine and articles in doll and craft magazines, as well as through her own books and patterns.
The step-by-step instructions are lengthy, clear and easy to follow for even a beginning dollmaker. They are in effect a doll class in book form that allows the one making the doll to include variations of the doll being made.
Gloria loves sharing her techniques and it shows in her work. Her outstanding ability as a teacher means she is in constant demand to teach at conferences and seminars throughout the country. Many of her new techniques have involved inventing exclusive tools and the constant testing of materials.
Gloria provides a platform for famous doll artists from all over the world who travel to her studio at Point Pleasant, New Jersey to teach seminars. She has received a special award for her contribution to cloth dollmaking from the National Cloth Dollmakers Association, a Presidential Award from NIADA for her contribution to the National Institute of American Doll Artists. Gloria received a first and second award in the Artists Division of the UFDC national conference in 1993 and 1994 for her original cloth dolls. In the competition at Dimensions in Cloth, an annual exhibit and competition for cloth dollmakers she received a first place award. Her work has been part of "Dollmakers Magic and Figure in Cloth", a show traveling throughout the United States to galleries and museums. She has also exhibited at the Wenhem Museum, Wenhem, MA. in two exhibits of Dolls of the 21st Century at the Springfield Museum, Springfield, OR and by invitation at the Musee des arts decoratiff, Palais du Louvre, Paris, France.
Gloria has done an in depth study of the new clays and published "Mimi's New Clays for Dollmaking" covering the subject.
A trip to her web site at http://www.mimidolls.com/ is an education in dollmaking and a whole lot of fun.
CRAFTY Q & A
In this feature, we invite readers to ask a crafting question. Questions will be printed in each issue. We then would like for anyone who has an answer to these questions to please send them to me.
In the following issue, we will print the questions, the answers we received, and new questions for you to answer.
Please submit your crafting questions to laurieann@ivisions.com
From: Marlene Handely-Stack
Can anyone suggest any EASY or Beginner projects for me? I am teaching myself and would like an EASY sweater or something??? Thank you so much. I recently became disabled and am enjoying this new found craft hobby.
From: Jennifer
I am getting married in May 1997. I would like to have something original and crafty for my centerpieces at my reception. Any ideas? Also, ways to incorporate crafty ideas into decorations for the wedding. Thanks.
From: Beth
What is the best way to clean cross stitch pieces upon completion, especially when there are a lot of different colors?
CLOTH DOLL CORNER
Happy New Year from Gail The Doll Lady and all the dolls and teddy bears from Gail's Doll House. With the start of a brand new year, many of you will be organizing your sewing rooms and making plans for your 1997 Dollie Projects. I thought I would start out the new year by giving you many great Hair Techniques ideas that have been given to me from many of the wonderful members of the clothdoll mailing list - Virtual Dollies. For anyone who would like to subscribe to just a clothdoll mailing list - Virtual Dollies, Please fill out our automatic subscription form.
RAFFIA HAIR
Take the raffia and wrap it around wooden dowels, wet slightly and then dry in a warm 300 degree oven for about 30 minutes. You then can glue it on a doll's head. It really turns out cute.
***
Take strands of raffia and wrap the strands round 2 fingers, then slide the loops off the fingers and tie them in the middle to make bows. They then can be glued or you can sew them all over the doll's head. You can tear strips of cloth that coordinate with her clothes and tie them in small bows and place a few of these on her head among the raffia.
***
Use raffia for long hair on a larger doll by knotting several strands together. Tie the knots about an inch or inch and a half from one end. Place the knot on the hairline and glue it on, the inch plus overhang serves as bangs. You continue knotting the strands and gluing them to the head until you have the amount of hair you want. Take a bunch of it at the crown and tie it up in a ribbon.
JUTE
You can use jute in braids, and wrapped around a dowel rod to make the jute curly.
YARN HAIR - Microwave
Wet the yarn and wrap it around chopsticks, or plastic straws. Put the yarn in the microwave, for just a few minutes at a time, until it is dry. Unwrap and place onto your doll in a variety of different hair styles.
***
Shirley Temple type curls are made by pulling a piece of fleece by the cut end, spraying it lightly with water or setting lotion, then winding the fleece around and downwards on a large plastic knitting needle (depending on the width of the curl) don't make it too thick, though. When wound, give it a light spray and pop into the microwave oven for around 40 seconds If not dry to the touch, put it in for another 20 seconds. Doing it this way helps prevent burning.
Take out of microwave and put aside to cool. Then push off from the top of the needle. You can use hair spray. Watch the head of the knitting needle, sometimes it is not made of the same plastic and it will melt.
YARN HAIR
To make ringlets and corkscrews by wrapping the yarn (this works on all kinds of yarns), wrap the yarn around wooden skewers or metal knitting needles and immerse briefly in boiling water. Remove from water and let cool before you take the yarn off the knitting needle. This works wonderfully and is quick and easy. You can get lots of variety depending on the thickness and type of yarn used and the thickness of the knitting needles, dowels, etc.
CURLING MOHAIR
Slip on a bobby pin to secure the hair, and then place the curls (or wig) into an oven on a protected cookie sheet (paper towels under the hair work very well) at 200 degrees for an hour. Take out and let dry overnight.
HAIR FOR NON-TRADITIONAL DOLLS
Go to your local Home Depot or hardware store in the Electrical section. There you will find a whole wall full of colored covered wire from fine to thick. It comes in great colors and can be curled, braided, or made into rays like the sun. It costs just a few cents a foot so you can use lots.
MOHAIR - NOVELTY YARNS
Mohair yarn is actually made from mohair and has a fuzzy look and you can get it in many colors. Since it is a natural fiber it is easy to curl. Roll it up on drinking straws and bake it in the oven at 200 degrees for about one hour. The tightness of the curl will vary, depending on how tightly you have wrapped the yarn.
***
Novelty yarns that have metallic threads in them give an exotic look.
***
Another technique is to take little pieces of poly-fil and saturate them with fabric/acrylic paint and plaster them all over the doll's head. It takes several layers, but you get a unique look.
INDIVIDUAL CURLS
Get a pencil or other cylinder the circumference of the curl you desire. Apply hot glue to the cylinder and wrap the yarn around it. Just before it is dry, slip the curl off and let it dry completely. This technique is great for Shirley Temple or Little Lulu type hair styles.
SETTING SOLUTION
Soft fine yarns and threads can be curled with a setting solution, and do not need stitching. To make solution, dissolve 1 cup of sugar « in 1 cup of boiling water. Let the solution cool slightly. Then, dip the hair into the mixture, set on curlers and let dry.
MACHINE SEWN HAIR
The hair loom and hairpin are similar in concept in that you wrap the yarn around wire or rods and stitch down the middle or close to one side on the machine. It eliminates the bulk of having to stitch through a piece of cardboard. Use a zipper foot if you need to stitch really close to the rod or wire.
********** Hopefully some of these hair techniques that I have selected for you will come in handy for your 1997 Dollie projects.
Should you experience any problems, please drop me a note and I will be very happy to provide further assistance to you. Make sure when you write that you indicate which technique that you are having problems with.
CRAFTY KIDS
by Bluebonnet Crafters
Materials for one card:
Instructions: Cut a heart using felt or Fun Foam. Write one of the sayings on the heart and glue the magnet strip on the back and set aside to allow glue to dry. To form the envelope use the paper lace doily and fold bottom 3" up. Then fold the right side in one inch and glue in place. Next, fold the left side in one inch and glue in place to form the pocket of the envelope. Address the envelope. Use one sticker as the stamp. Place the prepared heart Valentine magnet in the envelope and use the second sticker to seal the envelope.
SAYINGS: Cutey Pie, My Girl, True Love, Kiss Me, Love You, My Pet, Be Mine, Hot Stuff, Heartbreaker, Sweetheart or make up your own saying.
VALENTINE MAIL BOX
Material:
Instructions:
Glue the doily in the center of the box top. With adult help cut a slit in the top of the box 4" long by 1/2" wide. Cut heart shapes of different sizes from the scraps of felt, Fun Foam or construction paper and arrange in random order over the outside of the box and glue in place. With a permanent marker write "My Valentines" on the top of the box and add some of the sayings to your hearts in red.
CONVERSATION HEARTS
by Rose Woehlert
Here is another idea featuring conversation hearts:
Use red, pink purple, green, and yellow felt or foam material and cut out in the shape of hearts. Hot glue two hearts together from the bottom point to the beginning of the curve at the top on each side leaving the top open for you favorite candy. Then write a message on it,like the sugar conversations hearts you buy. Put conversation hearts in a small baggie, tie with curly ribbion, and slip them into the heart.
Make these for the kids at school so that each kid will get a different color with a different saying.
KITCHEN CRAFTS
by Bluebonnet Crafters
Using your favorite pancake mix (you might add a little red food coloring or liquid from frozen strawberries for color) drop by large tablespoon on the skillet and with the back of the spoon form into heart shapes. Serve with whipped cream and frozen strawberries.
A TART FROM THE HEART
With your favorite pie crust dough roll out and cut an 8" to 10" heart shape. Place on a cookie sheet. With the excess dough form 3 long thin coils and braid and arrange around the outside edge of the heart shape. Prick the heart all over and bake as you would a pie shell. Set aside to cool. Just prior to serving fill and decorate with whipped cream, whipped topping or vanilla ice cream.
FILLING
Wash, drain and hull the strawberries. Set aside 1 cup of the best looking berries. Using 2/3 cup water and 1 cup strawberries simmer 3 to 5 minutes. Add sugar. Blend the cornstarch in the remaining 1/3 cup water. Allow the strawberries to come to a boil and stir in cornstarch mixture. Allow to boil 1 minute stirring constantly (until clear). Remove from heat, add the remaining berries except those set aside earlier, fold the berries through the mixture to completely cover the berries and pour into the tart shell. At that point arrange the saved berries on top to decorate. Refrigerate until cool and firm. At serving time add whipped cream, whipped topping or ice cream.
CHOCOLATE DIPPED STRAWBERRIES
DIPPING CHOCOLATE RECIPE
Ingredients:
Note: Different companies package different amounts. All packages should contain 10 to 12 oz. each.
Instructions:
Place the white chocolate and the semi-sweet chocolate in plastic bag. Zap for 90 seconds. Knead package and repeat in 60 second increments until white chocolate has begun to soften. Add remaining chips and continue to microwave and knead alternately until most of the chips are soft and will blend. Remove from the microwave and knead bag until smooth and completely blended.
Wash, dry, DO NOT HULL, fresh strawberries. Dip each berry into the dipping chocolate covering the lower half of the berry. Place on waxed paper and refrigerate until ready to serve. Arrange on a pretty plate covered with a paper lace doily.
CRAFT OF THE MONTH
by Bluebonnet Crafters
 |
WREATH |
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Instructions:
Beginning on the left side back at the dip of the heart wrap the complete wreath with the white ribbon and glue in place. With the chenille stem form a hanging loop and attach to the back of the heart at the dip. Using 2 picks or groups of silk flowers and a tuft of tulle or net glue to the front of the wreath at the point. Arrange the flowers in a chain that begins on the outside right of the dip and goes up into the dip itself and slightly to the inside left arm of the heart. Space the other picks or groups of silk flowers randomly around the heart wreath being sure one group is placed at the point. With the lace, pearl strings or ribbon loop from one group of flowers to the next around the heart. Using the 18" lengths of ribbon tie a shoestring bow and attach it at the point of the heart just below that flower group.
READER ROUND-UP
Some of our readers are trying to round-up the answers to the following questions:
Jim (jpdl@sincom.com)
Hi, need a wholesale outlet from which to order stock for new retail store. Please reply to e-mail or to Candle with Care, 18441 10thA NE, Poulsbo, Wash. 98370
****
Marge (aclark@vyberenet.net)
I am having a very difficult time finding Tole Santas from around the world to paint. Do you have any suggestions where I could look/contact to obtain patterns and directions? Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
****
Donna (doni@vermontel.com)
I trying to find an instruction booklet that I had about 10 years ago. It was for chenille and bumpy chenille. I made a large snowman and a small snowman. The large one I used bumpy chenille stems cut into sections and then twisted into tight curls, the small one was bumpy chenille stems placed on a 2 - 2" styrofoam balls. Can ANYONE help me locate this book or the publisher so that I can see if I can still get a copy again?
****
Timothy (tweeber@mail.iserv.net)
Can anyone help me find the doll body and clothing patterns that you could order from the March/April 1987 "Cross Stitch & Country Crafts" magaizine? The dolls are Elizabeth Anne and Emma Louise. I have the pattern for the cross stitched faces--they were in the magazine, but you had to order the body patterns that came with clothing patterns. I will pay for the patterns and the postage. Any and all leads will be appreciated.
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Janet (JBSRosebud@aol.com)
I am looking for Classic Pooh patterns for knitting and cross-stitch. Can you direct me? Thanks!
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bcstitches (bcstitches@webtv.net)
I am looking for rub on paint transfers that can be used to decorate around a window or door. I understand that Tulip and Plaid both have these transfers but am unable to locate them where I live.I would love to obtain a catalog of their designs if there is one available. Any help you could give me would be appreciated. Thank you for your time.
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Judy (Judy_Simms@msn.com)
I am housebound (I have multiple sclerosis and asthma) and can put aran type stitch on graft for you to knit. Get in touch if you need help and I also can teach anyone to knit the basic stitches.
****
Angela (awharram@oxford.net)
I was wondering if there are any crafting ideas that can be made using bottle corks. We make our own wine and always have many corks that should be serving a purpose other than filling up the garbage. Any suggestions other than wreaths?
Editor's Note: Please also send your cork crafting ideas to laurieann@ivisions.com, and I will use them in an upcoming issue. Thanks!
****
Ugh...please help...I forgot to order a cross-stitch pattern my wife wanted called "Happy Everything" and now it's no longer in the catalog...if you know where I can find it, I'd sure appreciate your help...Thanks in advance.
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Lisa (bracken@whistler.net)
I am in desperate need of a paper making recipe for a school project. Can you please send me one if you have one? Thank you.
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Lee ( Preston@nicom.com)
Looking for metallic dnc floss in DC, Northern Va, Md area.
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Sharron (sjreid@calvin.stemnet.nf.ca)
I am trying to contact New Zealanders who enjoy tole painting. Can you suggest how I can get in touch with "crafty" New Zealanders? Thank you.
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Kathy (yelsewk@aol.com)
I am looking for the pattern and the legend for the spiders for your Christmas trees. Any help you might have in finding this pattern will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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Diane (dlarsen@webster.sk.ca)
I am looking for a pattern to do scrubbies. It looks like strips of netting cut, and crocheted together. Do you know of any such pattern?
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Betty (doncase@mail.coos.or.us)
I am just getting into gourds and am trying to find out the best way to dry them. Any help would be appreciated!
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
1) Internet Visions Company is proud to introduce its newest Bulletin Board, Collectible Hard Plastic Dolls, sponsored by Dianne's Enchanted Dolls. Check it out at http//www.wwvisions.com/craftbb/plasticdoll.html .
2) Be sure to visit our newest on-line shop, Kezi's Premier Cloth Doll Patterns, at http//www.TheKeziWorks.com
3) Also, be sure to visit the other bulletin boards and on-line shops that are part of Arts & Crafts Central
CONTRIBUTORS:
e-mail: bluebonnet@BluebonnetVillage.simplenet.com
URL: http://BluebonnetVillage.simplenet.com
e-mail: gail@LUVDOLLS.com
URL: http://www.netport.com/pennyluv/
Visit Gail's Bulletin Boards
e-mail: chance@cswnet.com
URL: http://www.wwvisions.com/craftbb/kay
Visit Kay's two Bulletin Boards:
e-mail: jjr@wcn.net
Visit Rose's Yard Art Bulletin Board http://www.wwvisions.com/craftbb/yardart.html
e-mail: toddk@shenessex.heartland.net
e-mail: patlinton@x-press.net
Thank you for reading the CRAFTY VISIONS NEWSLETTER and a very special thanks to our contributors! We are now accepting ST. PATRICK'S DAY and EASTER craft contributions, as well as contributions for all our newsletter features. Please send all contributions to Laurieann@ivisions.com
Please contact us with your questions, suggests, or submissions!
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