It’s fun and satisfying to design and then make simple items that serve some purpose. I find it very rewarding to conjure up designs out of my imagination and then build them using common tools and cheap or free materials. I’ve made all kinds of things. Most of them performed some function that no readily available, store-bought device offered.

I do a lot of text keying at a computer keyboard. After many hours of keying, day after day, my hands and fingers tell me (as in pain) that they’re pushing too hard, too many times. After going from store to store looking for a keyboard with easy to press keys, I realized that I needed something to measure the force needed to press the keys on a particular keyboard. Trying to judge the force by typing a little with each keyboard wasn’t separating the Tylenol endorsed keyboards from the more finger friendly keyboards. So I rigged up a plastic tube taped to a vertical wire a few inches long. Pennies could be put in the tube. The lower end of the wire is rested on a key. The number of pennies needed to push a key down is a measure of the key’s required press force.

Then there was the see through, wall hung beehive that I put on my bedroom wall. My father used to keep bees to harvest honey. One cold day in March, I discovered an abandoned hive that had fallen over exposing the bees to the elements. There was only several hundred bees left out of what was once thousands. I put a sheet of glass, about 2-foot by 2-foot, onto a wooden frame that I attached to my bedroom wall. Then I carefully transported the faltering bee colony to their new home. A tunnel made of metal window screening provided a path for the bees to come and go under a slightly raised window. The colony’s queen had not survived being exposed to the weather, so I knew no new bees would be reared. This colony would only last as long as the lifespans of its current members. But it was interesting to watch the bees doing what bees do throughout the next several months. And the bragging rights for having a bee colony on ones bedroom wall was something to envy.

Both the keyboard force-o-meter and the wall-mounted beehive were inspired by circumstances. I just saw the possibility of what could be done and wanted to do it. I try to be open to possibilites for other gadgets and gizmos that would be of value. It is well worth the effort: It is fun to make improvised gizmos, and you get a valued item. The item may suit your needs better than a purchased item because you make it the way you want it. The item could inspire wonder and delight. And it feels good to prove that your ingenuity and imagination can produce things of value.

Below is a description of a couple of items you may like to make.

Bootjack:

If you often find it annoying to remove boots as you enter the house, this project is for you. The bootjack makes the task easier especially if the boots are tight fitting or you are carrying something so that your hands are not free.

Begin with a 3/4 inch thick board that is about 2 feet long and 6 inches wide. Cut a V shaped notch in one end. Use nails to attach a small piece of wood to keep the notched end raised above the floor. Keep the bootjack near the door where you most often enter wearing boots. Put one foot on the jack to hold it in place. Put the heel of the other foot in the notch and pull your foot out of the boot.

Wall display cubby box:

Small cardboard boxes can be fastened together and hung on the wall. Small and valued objects can be placed there to be displayed and admired.

Save boxes from muffin mix, artificial sweetener, rice or other often used food items. When you have enough, cut each box to an appropriate size. I started with boxes 4-inches wide, 2-inches deep, and 6-inches tall. I cut each box to half height, so that each box was 3-inches tall. Boxes that are twice as wide as they are deep can be arranged as shown in the diagrams of this article. If you use boxes with other ratios of width to height, use a different arrangement or use pieces of corrigated cardboard to fill any gaps between boxes.

Lay a piece of plastic sheeting such as a plastic grocery bag on a flat surface. The plastic will keep excess glue from sticking to your work surface. You can use white glue to fasten the boxes together. To help keep the glue from running down the side of the boxes, use a method similar to that used by bricklayers applying mortar to bricks. Before putting a box into position, put glue on each side of that box that will be against a box already in place. That way, while applying glue, you can turn the box in any way that makes it easy to apply the glue. And the glue will quickly be between two surfaces. That helps keep the glue in place. A good glue pattern is shown by the red lines below.

As you assemble the boxes together, use a straight edge such as a wall or a large box as a guide to align the boxes in straight rows. Set something heavy against the boxes to hold them together while the glue dries. Bricks or large books work well. Use the plastic sheeting to keep oozing glue from sticking the boxes to the books or bricks. You can use paper clips to hold the edges of the boxes together where gaps occur.

When all the boxes are in place, let the glue dry for about 12 hours. Then use a nail to punch holes for a string that will go around the group of boxes. Two holes near each corner will keep the string in place. Tie the two ends of the string together. Hang the box display from a small nail.

Alan Detwiler started the web site Leisureideas. Visitors to the site are encouraged to use imagination and whatever happens to be available to discover new ways to enjoy themselves.

Alan writes books on how to pursue playfulness and a sense of wonder. His books are available in digital format and can be purchased and downloaded on the eBookMall web site. Go to http://www.ebookmall.com Then do a search for Detwiler.

Share This

When it comes to manufacturing handmade cosmetics one ingredient no crafter should be without is lavender essential oil. Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) posses antibacterial proprieties, is gentle to both dry and oily skin, and has the ability to relieve such conditions as muscle pain, insomnia, headaches, burns, bug bites, eczema, psoriasis, and acne making it the most versatile of essential oils. It is also one of the few essential oils that can be used as a middle or top note in perfume due to its fresh, floral smell and affordable price.

Here are a few recipe ideas for using lavender in handmade cosmetics:

Salves, Ointments, and Balms: Lavender blended with neem seed oil or comfrey root powder produces a salve that soothes itching caused by insect bites, bruises, burns, and even diaper rash. Add cinnamon and clove for a pain relieving muscle rub ointment. Use lavender by itself as a gardener’s salve to help chapped hands or as a temple balm to aid in falling asleep and to quell headaches.

Hair Care Products: Blend lavender with apple cider vinegar and nettle herbs for a normal-to-dry hair rinse. You can also try combing rosemary, peppermint, and lavender essential oils along with jojoba and oat extract, which produce a very effective scalp oil treatment.

Bath and Body Care Products: Add lavender to toners, facial creams, and body lotions to combat acne or dry skin conditions. Lavender essential oil combined with dried lavender buds, dead sea salt, Epsom salt, and powdered milk make for a lovely bath salt recipe. Blend jojoba with rose geranium, lavender, sandalwood, and vanilla for a sweet and sexy feminine perfume oil.

Soaps: Try adding tea tree and lavender essential oils to opaque melt and pour soap base along with pumice (sprinkled at the bottom of your soap mold) for a deodorizing and exfoliating soap bar.

A word of caution, due to their volatility, research any essential oil, and always do a skin patch test before use.

Mindy Schwartz is a writer for the handmade beauty industry, as well as, the owner of a handmade bath and body business called Grayson’s Apothecary of Beauty. For more information, go online to http://www.graysonsco.com

Share This

The Shea Body Bar from The Natural Newborn arrived packaged tightly in a draw string bag, and my first thought was how great it smelled. I chose “Frozen Margarita”, but there are other choices on the website. Ingredients and reordering information were on the side of the package, making it easy for me to order this fantastic soap again.

I was amazed how great this soap really was! Not only is it natural, but it lathers well and leaves skin extremely soft. There’s no “film” left on your skin like other natural soaps leave. It also is a natural white, leaving out unnatural dyes or color additives.

The Natural Newborn specializes in natural baby products. However, they have an excellent line of products for toddlers and moms as well. The Shea Body Bar I had the pleasure of trying out is currently listed under “Handcrafted Soaps”.

On their website you’ll also find “Mommy’s Mini Spa”, which has products such as facial care, body care, and other products just for mom. Under “Toddler Tub” you’ll see items such as hand soaps, skin & body care, bug repellents, and other items for toddlers or older children.

For details on all the wonderful items The Natural Newborn offers, visit
http://thenaturalnewborn.com

About the Author: Kara Kelso is the owner of Mom’s Market, a family friendly shopping directory featuring product reviews. For more reviews, please visit:
http://www.momsmarketonline.com

Share This

The Bedouin culture has a long history of beautiful costumes, textiles and Jewelry. The Bedouin costume has not changed in a thousand years, and the Bedouins today dresse in every particular as they did in the tenth century.

In Egypt’s Western Desert, there are some oasis’s that have a distinctive traditional costume style. The loose, unencumbered dresse of the Bedouin woman is well suited to her nomadic life for it requires little maintenance. Although black is the dominating Bedouin color, women of some of the tribes dresse in blue. The garment is long and ample. The armholes are deep to permit a wide sleeve. The dresse opens to the waist and is usually unbelted. When a belt is worn it is tied around the hips and serves to support the figure as well as to adjust the length of the garment.

Traditionally these dresses are made of cotton, and are heavily embroidered in cotton cross stitch. Patterns are usually geometric, arranged in large solidly embroidered areas around the chest, sleeves and lower skirt areas of the garment. The embroidery is of a bright contrasting color, usually red or yellow. Blue dresses are embroidered in black or red. Choices in fabric reveal social status, as wealthy people buy imported fabrics and silk threads for embroidery. While choices in decoration may reveal marital status (weather the women is married, unmarried, or widowed), age, religion, or even the number of children in the family.

These Bedouin dresses are usually worn with black head veils and shawls, often with multicolored cross stitch embroidery down their centre panel, and with face masks “burqas” usually made of silk with a variety of decorative elements - embroidery, tassels, chains, amber, beads, amulets, and shells are common.

There are everyday dresses , and special occasion and wedding dresses. The bride usually buys the most luxurious material she can afford and if she has a choice she will pick a shiny, highly ornamental fabric such as brocade, cut velvet, or printed silk. The style of the dress is very simple and it has long sleeves. It may be caught in at the waist with a silver, gold, leather or folded fabric belt. The wedding dress is usually black in color, with rich silk embroidery of variegated colors around the neck and the front part of the dress.

There has been a major revival in the creation of Bedouin costumes and embroideries since the late 1980s, and it is now possible to buy beautifully made contemporary dresses, trousers and shawls through retail outlets in Cairo.

Basel
http://www.Bazaarway.com

Share This

Today, handmade soaps are found at craft shows, specialty stores, on the internet and in some retail outlets. Many people enjoy making novelty soaps that both look beautiful and work to keep your skin feeling fresh. Though it is readily available now, this wasn’t always the case.

Records indicate that soap making may have existed as far back as 2800 B.C. There are records that indicate both the Ancient Greeks and Romans both started experimenting with olive oil in their initial soap making. During its earliest years of creation soap was considered a luxury and was only available to the richest individuals and families. Soap makers were hired to create their products and were paid well by their wealthy employers. Because of its’ rare status, it took years before handmade soap became accessible to everyone. But, one thing that remained unchanged through the years is the fact that, like its current use, soap was used to wash skin and clothes when it was first discovered.

As the years progressed, Europe established a soap making industry as did America. While handmade soap was generally made by women during the colonel American era. Each year, usually before spring, women would gather together and make soap from the ingredients that were saved from the winter months. Generally colonial soaps were made from lard.

Since large industries took over the process of soap making, the quality has suffered immensely. Soap making has been quite profitable to large corporations. However, these large corporations do not offer handmade soap and, therefore, lose control over the special touches that only handmade soap can offer. Rather than a luxury item, as it was earlier considered, soap has become an everyday must-have household item. The availability of regular soap lead to the inventions of other things, including detergent, dishwashing liquids, stain removers, liquid soaps, etc.

Today, handmade soaps are created by talented crafters worldwide. Unique designs, scents, colorations and styles are among the many characteristics found in today’s handmade soap. From lavender soap to soap loaves, handmade soap is still very much considered a luxurious item, but not anywhere near as unattainable as in its earliest years. Soap loaves, much like the name implies, can be cut down to make bars of any size of shape. Many soap makers show their creations at various craft fairs throughout the year, as well as specialty stores.

Handmade soap is thought to be wonderful for your skin. Because each bar contains healthy ingredients that help to rejuvenate the skin, many users swear by its’ effects. Today, everyone from amateurs to small business owners are experimenting, selling and enjoying their own handmade soap. Vanilla, lavender, floral and practically any other scent imaginable is available. The next time that you find yourself peeking in and out of quaint stores lining the streets or browsing the aisle at a local craft fair, snoop around and see if you cannot find someone who is offering handmade soap. Otherwise, there is always the internet where a variety of handmade soap is right at your fingertips.

Jeffrey Dorrian is the soap guy. Really, that is his website http://www.thesoapguy.com He has been making handmade olive oil soap for the past five years. “Handmade soap is a true inexpensive luxury anyone can enjoy.”
handmade soap

Share This

Jewelry is very prevalent, but jewelry that directly compliments your personal style or makes your statement for you perfectly is not prevalent. Find out some ways this is so with chainmaille jewelry. Discover a craft that ends up as a fine bracelet you will treasure for a long time to come.

1. It is a thrill to make your own jewelry

You will be walking on air after your first successful chainmaille jewelry project. Why? Because there are few things that can compare to making something precious with your own hands. The excellent results you achieve will bounce back to you every time you notice your new chainmaille bracelet. It will be even greater when a friend notices your handiwork.

2. There is no other kind of jewelry that is so simple to make but so professional looking

There simply is not another kind of handmade jewelry that yields such great results. There is no complicated soldering or equipment necessary. You do not need a jeweler’s shop to make this kind of jewelry. You need only pliers, jump rings, and good instructions. This jewelry will last a lifetime and take only a few hours to make.

3. Save yourself a lot of money

When you make your own chainmaille jewelry you save because you do not have to pay for the labor. You do this part yourself. But since you make jewelry for your friends, to sell or for yourself it is fun and does not feel laborious. You think of how happy your fine piece of jewelry will make someone and the labor becomes pleasant anticipation.

4. Stress relieving “meditation”

Your day is filled with unpredictability and many times stress. There is so much multi-tasking these days. When you make your own chainmaille jewelry you essentially are putting links together. You start with a few links and a pattern. You watch it grow and see your progress immediately. Seeing the repeating pattern get longer is great therapy. Since there is a little predictability here you are soothed and relaxed. Your simple jewelry project just made you feel better about your day. You can cherish the thought that, “I can wear this great thing I made.”

5. Nourish your creative side

Making your own jewelry is much like play for a kid. The risks are small, nothing is expected, no boss will critique you, no pressure to make a deadline, you are set. These are “hot house” conditions for creative jewelry making. Experiment, try this new craft, making your own chainmaille jewelry. What is there to loose?

6. Finally make your chain jewelry just the way you like it

Tired of mass produced jewelry? Sure mass produced makes sense with automobiles and DVD players, but jewelry is different. Jewelry is the most personal statement you make in what you wear. It has to fit you, physically, but more so it has to speak about something you care about or something that makes sense to you. If you make your own chainmaille jewelry, which is a perfect medium to make quality jewelry, you can have it just the way you want it. You decide everything. How long, how thick, how heavy, how thin, or lacey, how wild, how conservative, in short, it is up to you.

Using modestly priced sterling silver jump rings you will be able to make stunning high end jewelry that rivals Tiffanys. The trick is in the patterns and the consistency you achieve in your chainmaille jewelry. At http://www.culturejewelry.com we offer a world class how to e-book you can download today. Find out how to make your own great jewelry now.

Matthew Woodbury, author and jewelry designer, comes from a family of jewelers, artists, writers, and engineers going back 155 years. He is showing how all that is necessary to put culture back into jewelry is to use your hands.

Share This

Soybean is a plant that is found annually in climates with hot summers and is used primarily for vegetable oil and animal feed. It’s natural origin is believed to be China, but soybeans are now grown worldwide by soybean farmers and researchers. Through the years, many new uses have been discovered, including handmade soap, hair care products, candles, cleaning products and even furniture. Just as soybeans are plentiful, so are it’s uses. Researchers continue to strive to find new ways to incorporate soybeans into everyday products. The most recent uses discovered include adhesives, ink, plastics, etc.

Soybean products, including their use in handmade soap, are gaining in popularity worldwide. Researchers believe that the rise in popularity is due to the many benefits believed to originate from soy. In fact, soybeans and soy foods are believed to be healthy because they are high in protein. In addition, researchers have found that food containing soy protein may reduce the likelihood of developing heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc.

While perhaps every benefit of soybeans may remain unknown to this day, enough promising traits are being recognized to substantiate the addition of soybeans into many products. Handmade soap is among the products that now feature soybeans. Individuals with sensitive skin would especially benefit from the presence of soy in their handmade soap. Soybeans are non-allergenic and may replace other ingredients that could cause problematic occurrences in some soaps. If you have ever used a soap that is too harsh and leaves your skin feeling dry and itchy or uncomfortable, you may be having a slight reaction. Handmade soap featuring soy, however, will eliminate that problem. Leaving the skin feeling soft, smelling fresh and appearing silky are among the many benefits of handmade soap.

Soybeans are grown on farms and in various controlled environments before being sold to manufacturers or exported throughout the world. The next time you visit the store, take a look at the ingredients on the back of vegetable oil, shampoo or cleaning products and see if you don’t notice soy being an ingredient on at least one of these products. Look especially for products that are natural or feature natural ingredients. And, the next time you are at a craft fair or happen to find someone who offers handmade soap, ask if they offer soybean soap and inquire about the benefits. The same is true if you enjoy browsing the internet and shopping with the talented handmade soap creators. You may be surprised at just how many products you will find.

The article on soybeans and handmade soap is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning a diet program or attempting to ward off certain illnesses, a licensed medical doctor should be consulted in order to determine the best plan of action for your personal needs.

Jeffrey Dorrian is the soap guy. Really, that is his website http://www.thesoapguy.com He has been making premium olive oil soap for the past five years.

“Handmade soap is a true inexpensive luxury anyone can enjoy.”

handmade soap

Share This

When it comes to choosing our own jewelry we can be very picky as well as
we can be very impulsive buyers. I would like to give you some advice
about choosing your rings. When I help out my customers in person I get to
really direct them into jewelry that fits for them individually. What I
mean by that, is that many people only look at the jewelry without taking
in consideration their hands, fingers & comfort. When choosing a ring of
course we want the ring to look good but will it look good on our specific
type of hands? It’s just like clothing, it may look great on the models
but maybe not so much on you. Look at your hands, are they wide or narrow,
are your fingers short, long, thin…

If you have big hands you must get a solid ring because chances are your
hands are strong & you use them accordingly & you don’t want the band to
brake. Also don’t choose something too tiny it will look out of
proportions. Wide bands can fit you but not too wide, go for about half an
inch wide. You are one of the lucky people who can wear very large stones
so don’t miss out on that!

If you have small thin hands you probably already know that rings which
are too massive & heavy are not meant for you. Go for filigree or Celtic
designs they will be much more comfortable & will suit you best. Wide
bands can suit you as long as they are not too wide & keeps you from
closing your hands completely so if you buy online & don’t get to actually
try it on before buying verify the width.

Wide bands are very hot right now, but they don’t suit everyone.
Long slim fingers suit them best. Actually most rings will suit you best
but not too narrow, stick with about a quarter inch and more width in the
front.

Short chubby fingers sorry for you but you should avoid wide bands, you
wont be comfortable & it will end up in a jewelry box. If you have short
fingers choose a thinner band with the front part small to medium size. If
you really want to go with a wide band well choose one that tapers down in
the back to about a quarter of an inch or less. Try a colorful stone that
will catch the eye or maybe a cameo ring.

I hope these advises will help you find rings that better suit you & that
it will have you purchase the right ones. After all when we love a ring,
that it looks great on your hand & it is comfortable it often ends up
being a real treasure.

Silversmithing artist Blue Crockatt invites you to see her latest handmade jewelry at http://sterlingsilverart.com.

Share This

Crafting is a messy job! Once you get serious about crafting to the point that it’s a daily event then very soon your studio becomes an obstacle course of hot glue guns, glue sticks, paint brushes, and let’s not forget the water that was used to clean your brushes.

Yes, I know from experience that if the craft studio is not organized then you are likely to trip over the glue gun cord, step on a glue stick and spill the paint water. I also know from experience that this can all be done at the same time!

The following are tips that will help you organize your craft studio so that you keep your sanity:
1. Hang wastebaskets on the wall.Yes, it does seem a little strange but it works. I was complaining to a friend that I didn’t have enough storage for my silk flowers. She said that her mom would hang small, plastic wastebaskets on the wall and put her silk flowers in those. Then you are able to easily see the types and colors of the flowers you need. But they don’t need to be limited to silk flowers. You could store glue sticks, thread or various scissors in one wastebasket.2. Place a garbage bag within reach of your workspace.As soon as you cut wire, paper, etc. then put your throw-away directly into the garbage bag. You may even tape the garbage bag onto the table where you are working. You would be surprised at how much time this saves when it’s clean up time.3. Roll fabric into logs. If you have quite a selection of fabric then you know that it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack when you need that certain fabric. Start folding your fabric into logs. Fold the fabric in half, long ways. Then just roll into the shape of a log and stand it on its end. Then not only will you be able to see the fabric easier, but it will save you space in storage. Hopefully, these three tips will assist you in keeping a craft studio that is easily accessible and functional, and maybe keep your sanity in tact!

Floral Creations was started by Brandi so that she may share her crafts with others. From handmade Red Hat Society gifts, and baby shower favors, to floral margaritas and unique Coke Floats, Floral Creations is all about variety! Find us on the web at http://www.visitfloralcreations.com

Share This

Wedding Invitations should be ordered when you have all the details of your wedding set place, time of ceremony and reception as well as your guest list. Plan to place your invitation order at least 3-4 months in advance, some companies may require 4-6 months. Especially, if you are ordering custom made invitations or handmade invitations and coordinating ensembles. Depending on the intricacy of your design and because they are not mass produced, but rather assembled one by one it can take anywhere from 4 to 10 weeks for your order to arrive. Also consider the factor of the design process, possibility of errors, proofs and changes in your design.

Ideally invitations are sent 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding. It is best to send out-of-town guests their invitations 8 weeks in advance, as this will allow for making travel arrangements. Consider sending out-of-town guests save the
date cards earlier, with information on hotels, flights and car rental.

Keep in mind that you will need time to address your invitations, ask family and friends for help. While doing it yourself is the most cost effective way. There are other alternatives you may want to consider: the invitation comapny may provide this service for an additional fee or send the envelopes to a calligrapher. A fun alternative would be to learn calligraphy yourself, there are many books and materials readily available.

Even though selecting your invitations may seem like a daunting task with all the possibilities available, giving yourself enough time will prove beneficial and a money saver.

It is never too early to start shopping around!

Edna Renskers is a professional wedding stationery designer and owner of Edna’s Sweet Announcements.

Handmade Wedding Stationery and More!
http://www.EdnasSweetAnnouncements.com

Share This