December 31, 2010

New Craft Projects for 2011

First of all, I have plenty of home improvement projects and scrapbooking projects that I need to get to in the first 6 months of 2011.  The home improvement projects involve a lot of painting and I am actually looking forward to getting the painting done.  I love color and I plan to put a lot of color on my walls.  I know -- if the day would ever come to sell the house I will go out and buy beige paint but until that day comes, I want lots of pretty colors on my walls. 

But somewhere in between all of the painting and scrapbooking, I want to learn how to make some crafts that I have never tackled before.  First on my list is rag baskets.  I follow Kelli over at Simply Altered and I absolutely love the baskets that she has been creating.  I have a lot of leftover fabrics from some projects so I can see myself whipping up some of those baskets.  They are so adorable. 

Two years ago I purchased a few Knifty Knitter looms and they have been sitting in a basket next to my sewing machine ever since. Time to get them out and start knitting.

Round Looms
I remember seeing my mom use these looms when I was a child and I always wanted to try my hand at knitting using these looms.  

Long Loom
There they sit waiting for me to read the directions and get started.  There always seems to be something else I have to get done before I can get to any "fun" craft projects, but this year I am taking my Grandma's approach to crafting.

Grandma never sat done and just visited with people.  She sat down and had some knitting or sewing project in her hand while visiting.  I always think that when I have some time in the evening and we are watching a movie or t.v. show that I should have a project ready to work on so I can just pick it up and start working.

There was a time back 20 to 25 years ago that I would spend at least an hour a day or so cross stitching.  I loved to cross stitch and I was always stitching a gift for someone.  I enjoyed watching those little "x's" transform into a picture or pattern.  Later I graduated from Aida cloth to stitching on linen and using little beads.   I still love to cross stitch, but I wear bifocals now and it is a little harder to see the pattern and the linen.  So I am graduating to projects that require a lot less squinting.

Crafting is like therapy to me.  I love taking a piece of fabric or yarn and watch it being created into something.  I'm excited about trying some new craft projects while I am finally painting some rooms in my house. 

Can you tell I'm also feeling a lot better?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, thanks for the shout out!! I love your ideas on getting started on some crafts. You and I are so much alike as I used to spend HOURS on end cross stitching!! back in the day that there was actually a cross stitching store in Osky. Were you here then? The Needleworks. It was awesome!!!! and yes, crafts of any kind has been and continues to be my best form of therapy......I have to always have some project underway.
Remember, the book is here waiting for you, all you have to do is let me know when you are ready for it, as well as my tried and true pointers that are not printed in the book. ;)
It's gonna be a GREAT year!!!!

Martha said...

I'll be giving you a call - probably at the latter part of this week re the book. I have to get the decorations down and some other things done around the house first.

I think I remember the Needleworks way back in the late 1980's. I used to go to Pella to get a lot of my supplies.

Hope you and everyone else is having a Happy New Year.

Anonymous said...

yes. late 80's would be about right, as it was when I graduated high school. Funny as NO ONE that age that I know now would be cross stitching huh??
Pella did have a good store too as did Valley Junction. All closed. A sign of the times I guess. :(

Anonymous said...

I'm right there with you! That's my personal goal this month too, learn at least *one* new craft, (more if I can!) and to make some gifts this year! I'll have to check out the site you linked up, thanks for sharing & have fun with your crafting! I hope you'll share what you'll be doing!