Kool Aid, bad the intestines, good for crafts!

   Today I found a very old half open packet of grape Kool Aid in my kitchen closet. I probably brought it at a weak moment at the supermarket, when my kids were young .

  Anyway, as I thought about which toxic dump I would take it to, some of it spilled on my favorite white cotton embroidered tablecloth, I quickly tried to rinse it and the %$#stuff would not come out!!! After a primal yell and calming down,  I thought, Mmmm.

    I when to my craft room/ married daughter's abandoned bedroom and pulled out a swatch of white cotton fabric and sprinkled the rest of the %$# stuff on it.

      At first the swatch was a mass of color that looked black purple but after a few rinses and a few drops of liquid dish detergent, the swatch became a nice pastel shade of purple. Needless to say, I began thinking of the possiblities in terms of crafting.

I plan to play around with using that %$# stuff for tie dying, painting fabric, yarn and other materials that absorb liquids.

WARNING: DO NOT take the kids to the supermarket with you and hide the $#% on a high shelf.

So, crafters, on the next visit to the supermarket check out some Kool Aid, it comes in all sorts of colors, OOPS, I mean flavors. You can get five packets for about a dollar, which is pretty cheap for an assortment of "dyes".

She Still Plays With Dolls!

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-294407

The interviewer said her name was Barbara Walters.

                                                  An interview with Sandra Street, 

                                                   Doll maker and Fabric Artist

Sandra Street is a Pikesville artist who exhibits her dolls and fabric arts at many impressive venues in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas.

I visited her home and was able to see her unique workspace that  exudes inspiration.

She began making dolls in 1995 when her (now) sister-in-law was married. Before that, she had known her for more than 20 years, and she wanted to make a special gift for her. The doll she created was so popular at the bridal shower that the other guests placed orders for their own.

When Sandra found out that some of her coworkers sold their own handmade dolls at aSmithsonian museum gift shop in Washington, D.C., she asked the manager to carry her own work, and it was accepted.

Since then, her determination has resulted in prime placement for her art.

Her art has sold at gift shops of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which is also in D.C.; the Baltimore Museum of Art, and the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.

Sandra credits some of her success to her gumption in approaching new venues. "All they can do is tell you no," she said. "You just have to ask."

Her art is seen by more of the public at jazz shows and art festivals such as Columbia's Art Park in Howard County. She has taught dollmaking at Irvine Nature Centerand been featured in The Owings Mills Times and on WJZ-TV in Baltimore.

I pressed Sandra for tips she would give other artists and received several. Actually, these can apply to many other career fields as well.

1. Create in a good atmosphere.
Sandra keeps her supplies in a room that her 4-year-old granddaughter calls "the making room." But she uses the rest of her home for inspiration.

In the main room of her house, Sandra has arranged pieces from her African art collection, which she has amassed for more than 30 years. They are interspersed on clean wood floors accented with healthy green plants.

The overwhelming feeling is one of clean, pure space.

In my opinion, cluttered art rooms, while stimulating, often overwhelm and inhibit creativity. It can be hard to make more of something when the space is already full. The immaculately clean design of Sandra's main room, with its smooth surfaces and carefully placed art, allows space to think.

2. Don't forget the music.
Sandra, who for six years owned "Street Folks," a jazz coffee bar in Randallstown, has a special love for jazz music. It's usually playing in her home; when I was there I heard lovely music from Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane.

3. Don't be concerned about whether other people like what you make.
It's yours, she advises, it's your own creativity. What other people think doesn't matter. Don't hold back.

4. Work with your energy.
Don't work when you're not inspired, Sandra says. If you run out of ideas, put your work down and come back later.

Sandra puts her unfinished dolls in a spot outside her kitchen where she sees them while she does other activities. The ideas come to her throughout the day.

The dolls she makes are tall and statuesque. They wear brightly colored textiles and are adorned with handmade and vintage jewelry. Many of their components are repurposed from secondhand materials that Sandra reuses, or are given to her by friends.

She saves old fabric and beads. With leftover leather, she makes mosaic pillows and jewelry.

"I like to take discarded items and transform them into something creative and beautiful," Street says.

Often, the reycled components have special meaning to the doll's recipient. One recipient commissioned a doll in honor of her late mother. Sandra transformed a dress that belonged to the mother into a skirt, and incorporated the mother's handkerchief and a brooch. The new owner cried when she received her doll. It had the scent her mother's perfume.

To view more of Sandra's art, please visit The Baltimore Doll Company.

The Meaning of Rose Colors

I design my leather roses in all colors and each color has a meaning. 

TRENCH TOWN TRINA, BOB MARLEY'S CUTEST FAN!

               Trina just flew in from Jamaica, she's wearing a red leather skirt trimmed in cowie shells.

 Trina is wearing the world's smallest "Bob Marley" tee shirt.


Trina is handmade and one-of-a-kind, about 40 inches tall

  NOW SIT BACK AND ENJOY A BOB MARLEY CLASSIC!

         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHekNnySAfM&feature=related

Fashion and Race/ Race and Fashion

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/07/living/fashion-industry-race/index.html

How Women Commit Sins Against Their Businesses

http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/10/11/6-mind-traps-that-could-sabotage-your-business/2/

Trench Town Trina

Trina just flew in from Jamaica. She's dressed in a red leather skirt trimmed with cowie shells.

Trina is showing off the world's smallest "Bob Marley" tee shirt and has a head full of dreadlocks.

Trina could make any Rasta fall in love! Trina is about 42 inches tall.

Leather is better for Mother's Day

In this depressing economic climate, it is totally ridiculous to spend one's hard earned money on half dead roses.

                 The price of fresh flowers has increased because florist shops have to compensate for the increased cost of shipments of  flowers from floral growers/ dealers, who have to compensate for the increased price of gas.

          When it comes to gift giving many people are looking for items that have value, great craftsmanship and show thoughtfulness.

       This year don't give your mother expensive half dead roses, think about giving something that will last forever. Give something that will make her smile.

Handmade leather roses are the perfect gift.

They're unique and will last a lifetime.

   Instead of getting thrown in the trash after a couple of days, leather roses will become part of the grateful recipient's home decor, where they can be seen and appreciated daily.

Leather roses also available rose scented.

Leather roses are offered in a variety of colors, including gold and silver.

Leather wrist corsages which can be worn as bracelets after Mother's Day are also great gifts for mom.

How to Make Dance Costumes for Kids | eHow.com

How to Make Dance Costumes for Kids eHow.com

How to Find Luxurious Fabrics at Thrift Stores | eHow.com

How to Find Luxurious Fabrics at Thrift Stores eHow.com

Ladies, It is okay to fake it!

Many dollmakers like to design dolls with curly, straight or frizzly locks. Doll wigs and doll hair can be expensive and the choice of hair styles is limited.

So, Dollmakers...

Take a trip to the infamous dollar store, you know that place where one can find everything from size 42 ladies panties to 10 pounds of stale cookies for just a dollar!

These havens of cheap junk, also sell fake hair in a variety of colors and styles. I have experimented with making doll wigs with this stuff and it worked wonderfully.

Here's how

1. Cut desired length of hair.

2. Using a hot glue gun, secure a circle of short curls around the hairline of the doll's head, leaving the middle of doll's head bald.

3. Get a small child's or infant sock, the color should closely match the color of hair.

4. Cut off the foot of sock, it now looks like a cap and should be smaller than doll's head so that it will fit tightly.

5. Squeeze glue on the inside circle of the doll's head and pull cap over head, leaving the hair that was glued earlier exposed, that hair will be the bangs and side curls.

6. Now, glue desired amount of hair onto cap and comb into desired hair style.

7. To make a removable wig, do not glue cap to doll's head.

8. One bag of fake hair should provide you with several doll wigs.

Also for those crafty ladies who knit or crochet, there are many knitting and crochet patterns and stitches that can be used to design beautiful doll wigs.

With the wide variety of colors and textures of yarns available, imagine the possibilties!

So...
Ladies, it's okay to fake it, just don't tell anyone!

* The dolls pictured all have yarn tresses, I think the black yarn
made beautiful dreadlocks.

Doggy Style

Want to try something different?

IS THIS YOU?...

1. I can't knit another sweater.

2. I won't sew another quilt.

3. I hate scrapbooking.

Many times I hear craft freaks cry about not being able to get TURNED ON.

They have become bored with their regular projects and want to experiment with something different.

So, desperate crafters.......

How about designing clothes and other accessories for pets?

In these crazy times, pet owners are treating their furry friends more and more like people!

There are pet spas, salons and even gourmet pet food!
Fiber artists

Try sewing, knitting or crocheting pet sweathers, hats and booties, using wild colors and crazy patterns.

Jewelry Designers

Design pet collars using beads, leather, shells and other goodies to make something unusual.

Ladies, offer your creations at the next craft fair.

You'll probably be the only one with such items.

That should make you feel better!

DOGGY STYLE CAN BE FUN & PROFITABLE!

* I think my handmade leather cuff bracelets might fit over the head of  pit bull!


                                    "Atomic Dog"
                           featuring George Clinton 

                                      BOW WOW WOW, YIPPEE YO, YIPPEE YAY
           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szkmivRWegU
                                           

Confessions of a Streetwalker

Guess what ladies,

 

I am a veteran of the world's oldest profession.

I walk the streets looking for goodies and I always get what I'm looking for!

I'm an addict and will take almost anything home.

But, I leave old underwear and old men alone!

Some say it's a "curse", but I just can't help it!

I will jump out my car and find treats on streets of nice neighborhoods.

Sometimes in high heels and leather, I prance up and down rows of stuff to find special goodies.

                                                                                                                                                                     

I solicit all to look out for me.

I proposition store clerks and managers, telling them to call me when something good comes in.

I offer my services, in return for fabric scraps, extra beads or whatever from the gigs that I do..

I pick up lots goodies by being in the right place at the right time.

Some say I'm an obsessed, but I really don't care, I get paid with praise and compliments for the things that I do.

I knit, paint, sew and even make jewelry, I'll try anything once, I'm always up for the challenge.

You name it, I have probably done it!

There's no shame to my game, I don't care what ya'll say!

YEAH, I'm a streetwalker and I going to

another yard sale today!


Check out the Streetwalker's Anthem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-y0F5t-rlQ

MY FIRST TIME WAS NOT THAT GREAT!

    The first time I took my handmade dolls and leather

 home decor/ fashion designs from my comfortable and safe studio out into the world. I was both excited and fearful.

 I had agreed to offer my creations at a local arts and craft show.

    Upon arrival, I was assigned a dark place in a corner of the room and given a small scatched up table!

      The promoters of this event could not be found as were attendees.

                   I soon realized that the event was

           about taking advantage of inexperienced vendors

                     I had been tricked and used!   

                      The promoters were the ones enjoying

                         my "First Time" and getting paid!

                From this disappointing "First Time" I learned some valuable lessons that I would like to pass on to fellow craft freaks who are considering "Giving it up". 

       Please consider the advice below to enhance your "First Time".

                 1. First and foremost, try to get info about the organization that is sponsoring the event, don't just choose any event, be selective.

                                

                2. Be prepared for your "First Time".

                           a. Carry signs and a notepad to write down email addresses of buyers .

                           b. Don't feel ashamed about carrying hundreds of business cards.

                           c. Make sure protection is available and carry an umbella for outdoor events

                3. Look professional and yet attractive,

                      BUT PLEASE NO CLEAVAGE! you're there to sell crafts and nothing else!

                4. Greet visitors to your booth, but don't talk too much with bored husbands who are there to please their wives.

                5. Be patient, sometimes events can start off slow, but get better as the evening progresses.

        CRAFT FREAKS..........

                 Whenever you decide to start promoting and selling your crafts.

                         Don't be afraid, ashamed or embarrased.

                 Do things right, and your First Time will be exciting and profitable.

            Psst!

                  After a wonderful First Time, you will probably want to do it again!!!!!!!