Art Craft Tutorial - Jump-Start Your Crafts Business With an Art and Craft Tutorial

Learning a new skill is never easy, especially when it requires a lot of practice. When you are looking to start a crafts business and need to develop some new areas of expertise, there is nothing more valuable than an art and craft tutorial.

Art training may not seem like a natural "fit" for the online classroom, but the Internet can be one of the best places to get craft guidance. In a classroom setting, an instructor usually shows the class how to do a certain technique a few times, and then moves onto something else. However, when you are learning online, the same art and craft tutorial can be watched again and again. When you really need to master a new skill, this is the type of craft teaching that works best.

Whether you are looking to learn a new method of caning polymer clay, the best techniques for painting a realistic-looking landscape, or the basics of the color wheel, there are craft training videos available for you online. Craft training videos allow for a more comprehensive art and craft tutorial, with close-ups and instructions that are easy to understand. Plus, most of these videos come with PDF instructions for additional craft guidance.

Another way to use an art and craft tutorial is in a teaching situation. If you run a craft teaching business in your home, you know it is often much easier to teach your students a new technique when they can watch a video about it first. This gives you the ability to provide a step-by-step art and craft tutorial before starting a new project. It also shows them what the end result can look like.

No matter how you use them, craft training videos can be an invaluable tool for your crafts business.

About the Author Donna Kate is passionate about art and is the owner of CraftEdu Online Art University. She is the author of 3 books and has multiple shot videos and dvds.

CraftEdu is a truly unique online art and fine craft university, dedicated to nurturing the passions of the creative person within each of us by making the creative world more accessible and convenient than ever before.
View the online curriculum at http://www.craftedu.com
(c) copyright CraftEdu. All rights reserved worldwide.

Leather Crafts Techniques for Hobbyist

Weather you are looking for something to do on your vacant time and at the same time you want to earn a living, or you just want to have a new hobby to invest your spare time, surely doing some leather crafts will provide you fun ways of express your creative self.

Leather is a very versatile material and there are a lot of interesting things that you can create out of leather. Leather crafts ranges from personalized key chains for your special friends to highly sophisticated and stylish leather bags, belts and other accessories. Leather craft books and kits also provide lots of patterns and excellent crafts ideas.

There are several techniques mentioned in leather crafts books that are commonly used. One of this is dyeing; this involves the use of alcohol based dyes, shoe polish can be used as an alternative in dyeing and in preserving leather.

Next technique is painting. In leather painting the paint only remains on the surface unlike in dyeing where in the paint is absorbed by the leather. In this technique acrylic paint is commonly used.

Carving is another technique used by hobbyist and professionals alike that are usually sited in leather craft books. This technique involves metal implements used to compress moistened leather to produce a three dimensional look in a two dimensional surface. In this technique the commonly used tools are swivel knife, pear shader, beveler, seeder, veiner, cam and background tools. Craftsmen also use punch type tools that are struck with wooden, nylon or rawhide mallet.

Next technique is stamping. This technique involves the use of shaped tools or stamps to make an imprint on the leather surface. Usually the imprints on the surface of the leather are created by striking the stamps in water damped leather surface with a mallet. Water makes the surface of the leather softer and able to compress the designs imprinted on it. To make the imprint last longer the leather is treated with oils and fats to make it water proof and avoid the fibers from deforming.

To find more about leather crafts techniques visit my website about leather crafts books by visiting my website at http://www.leathercraftbooks.net or http://www.leathercraftbooks.org.

Online Benefits for Craft Businesses

The internet has an endless number of benefits for craftspeople, not just as a medium for selling the end product but for each step that leads to sales. The fact that you are reading this shows that you already utilise the web for information but perhaps you have not yet considered some of the following points presented.

The ideas provided in this article have come from interviews with craftspeople, conducted for AussieCrafts.com.au, in the interest of sharing information with our peers. When boiled down to its bare essentials this is the true essence of the internet but it sometimes gets lost in all of the advertising and sales. The interviews spawned a host of ways in which the internet assists the crafters, both in their business and creatively, and provided much insight into untangling the web.

Inspiration

When asked about the sources they use for inspiration most craftspeople have said that the internet is a much used research tool. This is particularly useful with commission pieces, where a client gives a basic idea and there is a need to familiarise yourself with the subject. Browsing websites is also great for when you want to start a new piece but are not quite sure where to begin.

No matter what craft you do if you are stuck for ideas on what to create there are always plenty of places to get some quick inspiration online. The obvious way to get ideas is to search for your craft in the search engines but some other methods are:


Type your craft name into Google image search
Yahoo groups on your craft often have galleries
Online stores that sell your craft
Craft directories
Historical sites related to your craft, most crafts did after all come from very ancient beginnings.
Try searching for crafts that are similar to yours, if you do pottery, for example, search for glasswork. The colours and shapes are likely to spark new ideas.

If it's a more abstract inspiration that you need such as colour or texture then art, photography and nature sites are fantastic sources of ideas. Stock photography sites (such as http://www.dreamstime.com), for example, have thousands of images of almost everything imaginable. Let's say you want to create a bead necklace that reflects the colour and movement of the ocean. If you browse the sea and ocean category of a stock photography site you can jot down ideas based on what you see as you view page after page of photographs that cover every aspect of the ocean.

Education: patterns and tutorials

There are very few crafters who believe they know everything there is about their craft. Who of us do not want to learn something new? The internet is the best source of tips, tricks, patterns and tutorials on every craft imaginable, so much so that many craftspeople no longer purchase books about their craft. Many sites offer this information for free, as a way to attract and keep surfers, much the same way as articles like this are utilised. Others charge a subscription or a cost per tutorial, often downloaded as an e-book or a pdf file. For many crafts there are also online classes or lessons via email, again some are free (and often include advertising) and others are subscription based.

To find these valuable resources consider using some of the following terms alongside your craft name: tutorial, pattern, learn to, ebook, lesson, techniques, instructions or projects. These keywords were tested using Google search and beading, for example 'beading projects', and the results were astonishing. If it a particular technique you are searching for then add that to your search query, for example 'beading peyote technique', where peyote is a type of beading stitch.

Purchasing tools and materials

The internet has brought about a convenient way to buy almost anything, from anywhere in the world, and to craftspeople this has been one the most important benefits of being online. Often there are supplies needed for craftwork that are not available locally and this can be the case no matter where you live. It may be because it is only manufactured in a small area of Europe or that there are few people working in the same craft as you and therefore there is little demand.

Apart from availability issues nothing is better than being able to browse many stores in a short space of time and not only get prices but also see things without having to leave home. Ebay is popular with many craftspeople due to the range of goods and their prices, you can find both new and secondhand tools and materials there. Shopping online means more time for doing what you enjoy or what brings in your income. The world is becoming smaller and shipping costs and delivery times are too.

Often the websites that sell crafts materials also have a range of useful resources such as guides to using their products. They also have convenient contact information, like email, and as they are often craftspeople themselves can give advice on craft specific problems.

Publicity and exhibition requests

Many of the sources that are traditionally used for publicity such as magazines, newspapers and event organizers are now using the internet as a way to find craftspeople. Not only is the internet often a faster way to find what they need but it is also a visual medium. Therefore having a website for your craft business is not just about gaining sales and commissions but it also provides a way for the media and galleries to see your work.

One example of this is an artist interviewed on Aussie Crafts who has in the last few months been contacted by a lifestyle magazine to do an article on her work, as well as another contact to request her involvement in an exhibition. Both of these publicity avenues have stemmed from her website, which contain galleries of her work.

This same artist is also a member of an organisation supporting her medium, which has a website that lists galleries showing members' works at any given time. There are organisations such as this for many crafts, both global and local, that are worth having a membership with.

Sales and commissions

The most obvious way that craftspeople are using the internet is to sell their products to a wider market than previously possible, what is not so obvious is that there are many ways to do this. One artist interviewed extolled the virtues of the internet as, "It's been huge for us. We sell artwork and DIY kits all over the world and so put virtually all our marketing energy into our website. We get well over five thousand visitors every month at basically no cost and the whole world has become our target market."

Some of the reasons people decided to sell their crafts online include not having to deal with galleries, no commissions to pay, less overheads than a store and the fact that there is more time crafting and less selling.

Apart from setting up an often expensive e-commerce website there are other means to gaining online sales:

A 'brochure' style site, which displays the products you make but does not sell them online. Instead it can be used to promote a market stall, shop front, commission enquiries etc.
Many craftspeople are selling their work in auctions at Ebay; this can be a lucrative option for the right products.
Online craft malls are a way to have an online presence without the hassle and overheads of building an e-commerce site. Search for craft malls in the search engines and you will find such sites as craftmall.com, aokcorral.com and lilysplace.com. These sites generally use Paypal as a payment option to take the headaches out of online payments and are similar to Ebay without being auction based.

Human contact

One of the common problems that people who craft for an income mention is loneliness. Oftentimes they work at home alone and this can be very isolating. The internet can provide avenues to have contact with others who craft. They could be in the same locality as you and allow for face-to-face meeting or they may be on the other side of the world.

There are many group and organisations for most craft genres, such as Yahoo groups or MSN chats. Often if it is a location-based group there are classes and retreats organised for people to come together and learn. These groups can become invaluable for technical advice, feedback and learning but also that human contact that is a necessary part of life.

Client contact

Email is a fantastic way to keep in touch with clients and industry contacts. It is so much cheaper than a phone call (i.e. free) and is much less time consuming. Email provides a simple means to show clients' examples or progress on a work via photograph attachments. It also provides a record of all communication.

Online messaging systems, available for free from MSN and Yahoo, are also useful ways to keep in contact with customers. These can even be used to give online support by providing your identification name on your website. However these systems can become a time waster instead of saver if you are not careful.

Narelle Davison comes from a craft background but changed careers to marketing and web development. She has created the Australian arts and craft site, Aussie Crafts, to provide information and promotion for craftspeople through interviews, articles, forum and directory. The interviews provide great reading to both admirers of each craft and fellow crafters. If you are an Australian craftsperson and would like to be interviewed please visit http://www.aussiecrafts.com.au/interviews.html

This article can be republished if the byline links are kept intact.

Art Vs Crafts - A Debate With a New Twist

Many say that "craft" is a technique, static, possibly a repeated pattern of steps to achieve an outcome. Let's pick apart some examples and see what you think.

A leather worker takes repeated, learned, step to build and complete a saddle. During this process he must apply his craft of leather tooling skills to imprint the saddle. In his mind he's created a design using most likely a predetermined style method for his tooling. Once done, he's completed a saddle which has been "crafted" by hand.

What about the leather tooling separate from the saddle base? It was designed, drawn and implemented by this craftsman using his imagination and acquired skills. Ultimately he has created a piece of "art". Is he a craftsman or an artist? Could he be both?

If some describe crafts as a technique which has been in application for centuries then by all rights the leatherworker should be classified as a craftsman correct? But if "art" is a personal creative expression, what classification do we give his leather tooling? It can't be both could it?

Let's throw in a monkey wrench for fun. Suppose this saddle was the most beautiful, magnificent saddle anyone has seen. It's put into a gallery for sale and purchased by someone knowing nothing about horses, or saddles nor wants to. Assumedly it was purchased as "art" to be displayed amongst his collection. The following week the owner of the saddle invites his friends over for cocktails and show off his new purchase. As friends view the saddle one says "...wow, you really have to appreciate that craft." Another says " Now that's what I call a real piece of art". Yet another says "...what the heck are you going to do with that?"

The ability of repairing jewelry is a craft. If a jeweler starts designing jewelry and applies techniques centuries old to his crafts to achieve an outstanding and notable design or style, is it still a craft or has the jeweler become an artist because the jeweler brought thought, expression and emotion to the piece while creating it?

A monkey splashes various paint colors onto a canvas. The monkey has a great sales person who takes this work to a gallery. It sells for thousands of dollars because it's been presented as "art". Come on, is this considered intent, emotion or expression or is this the greatest sales person you met? Please... don't get me started on the monkey and his possible emotions.

If someone is able to sell what they produce or "crafted" does it make them an artist? Maybe.

The word "art" does hold a bit more credibility than "craft". We've all seen it while attending "craft shows" vs. "art" shows. Seems the "art" shows serve wine and cheese and demand higher end priced items. Craft shows are where granny sells her crocheted toilet paper roll covers, you know the one with the half Barbie doll on top of it? Or, where you see all those wooden country craft signs that say something cute and corny on them. Won't find any of those at a "Art" show.

So where does the word "Artisan" come into this equation? According to the

Merriam Webster dictionary an "Artisan" is defined as:

1: a worker who practices a trade or handicraft: craftsperson

2 : one that produces something (as cheese or wine) in limited quantities often using traditional methods

Ah oh, wine and cheese? Sounds like this belongs in the "art" category.

According to Wikipedia;

An artisan, also called a craftsman, is a skilled manual worker who uses tools and machinery in a particular craft.

I'm presuming assembly line workers can be called "artisans"? Let's not forget "artisan" bread. Is baking bread a craft or an art? As much as I love it I'd say baking bread is an "art".

Millicentrogers describes an Artisan as; "a person skilled in an art or craft." This one I like, no bias shown here.

What's my objective of this article? It's done with the hopes that people start thinking differently. A craft maybe an expression of art. Being an artist, is a craft. You must have the ability to craft something to be an artist. The old cliché "Art is in the eye of the beholder" stands true. Whether you're into crafting or you're an artist, you are here to communicate your skills and hopefully someone will appreciate your creations.

Julie Teeples is a professional artist and jewelry producer who makes and uses lampwork beads and fused glass in her jewelry designs. To view lampwork beads and additional information about her work please visit http://www.OakCityGallery.com To read more about the author and her work please visit http://www.OakCityGallery.com/aboutus.html

How to Tweak Your Craft Project to Make a Perfect Fit

Craft projects do not always come made-to-measure. Chances are you will have to do some fine tuning to make your chosen project fit. You may be able to find the perfect project where everything is just right, but if that is not the case, a bit of careful tweaking can make it work.

First of all give your project the once over in terms of:

- Craft skills required

- Time

- Tools and materials

- Size

- Pattern

Any one of these may need some attention so go through your project to check where you could alter anything before you start.

It is easy to pass something over in the first instance because you do not like the colour of the finished article. Maybe the writer has made it in a fabric that is not to your taste, or you would just like to make something larger/smaller.

- Do they give recommendations on alternative fabrics or trimmings etc, if you want to make some adjustments?

- Would you like to adapt the size of the project. Something smaller might work perfectly, or perhaps a larger project. Is there a pattern you can adapt, and do you know how to do that?

- Can you make the proposed project from different specialist materials? You may be able to substitute a technique or a tool - because you have something available, or you prefer to work a particular style?

- What is it about the accompanying photograph that prompts you to pass it by? What of the above changes would make it better?

- If you want to make it for someone special, or a particular occasion, what materials, greeting, colour etc could you choose to work it in?

- There may be a number of things that need your tweaking. Check out all the possibilities before you give up on it.

Some minor fiddling could turn it into something to be proud or - and something you would enjoy working. There is no point spending time and effort on something that your heart is not in! So go ahead and do your tweaks and create a craft project to be proud of.

The process of Learning Crafts is an individual as we are. We all have our preferred way to pick up new skills and techniques. The Craft Teacher can have you mastering craft projects fast with a Proven system for mastering any Craft Skill. Our Weekly Step by Step Online Craft Course gives you choices in how and when you learn. We create the steps and you set the pace. Go here for your Craft Projects.

Decopatch Techniques And Tips Before Starting Your Project

With Decopatch papers and different Decopatch techniques, even amateur designers can apply their styling skills to objects that they already have in their home. These special papers successfully blend the exquisite fashion panache of French clothing designs to special type of decoupage paper that is more durable and have more exquisite designs.

There are many Decopatch techniques that can help you get started in styling your home. The strength and high quality of these special decoupage papers give you more freedom to do whatever you want in transforming your home into something that suits your taste and style more.

You can also apply the paper in any surface regardless of how even or uneven it is and with what material it is made of.

People who look at finished Decopatch projects often think that the process which transformed a seemingly bland object into a stunning work of beauty is complicated. However, there are many techniques which are geared for newcomers in this craft and are simple and easy and do not require any special skills.

If you can cut and paste, you are able to use Decopatch papers to transform any object in your home. Cutting and pasting is basically the core skills that you need to have in order to apply most of the techniques involved in this hobby. Basically, you cut out patterns and pictures in the paper, glue them on the object and coat the object with special glue or varnishing that is made for Decopatch papers.

The tools that you need in order to jumpstart this hobby are also simple. Little did you know that most, if not all, of these tools are already in your home right now. Decopatch supplies are simple and one of the most important tools that you must have are the special papers and the special glue. You will also need bristle brushes, a glass of water for cleaning the brush and a pair of sharp scissors.

Once you have all these materials, you can now start Decopatching. Start by making sure that the object that you will be styling is clean and perfectly dry. If you are planning to paint your items before applying the special papers, make sure that you give enough time for the paint to dry before starting.

Basically, those are the only techniques that you must remember in starting every Decopatch project. With creativity and the right tools, you can now start Decopatching!

Katia is the author of a 10-page guide, "30 FAQ's about Decopatch". For your complimentary copy, visit http://www.paper2play.com - a website that specializes in provided craft related tips, advices and resources to unlock your creativity with Decoupage!

Blast From the Past: Arts and Crafts, the Artists' Movement

The Arts and Crafts Movement is one of the most influential design philosophies in the modern Western world; this distinguished style has yet to fade from public interest more than a century after its' conception. The style, which can be identified by its' simple forms and use of natural material, was developed in the late 19th Century by a handful of artisans who had become disenchanted with the growing mechanization of the furniture industry. What began during the late industrial period of Britain, soon spread to Europe and North America. The growing popularity of the Arts and Crafts Movement mirrored the growing industrialization of the Western world.

William Morris was the leading designer and philosopher behind Arts and Crafts and he in turn was influenced by the writings of John Ruskin, an art critic who espoused the ills of industrialization, especially in regards to art and architecture. Adopting this socialist, anti-industrial approach, Morris developed a style of furniture and architecture that highlighted the use of natural materials using simple forms or patterns derived from nature. This emphasized the technique of the artist, specifically the signature left by human machining. John Ruskins' argument that all art should contain a moral purpose is central to the philosophy of Arts and Crafts and this is signified by its' hand-made look.

Arts and Crafts is a design philosophy that spans trades beyond art and architecture, its' ideas where translatable to every medium and is attributed with inspiring such movements as Art Nouveau, Bauhaus and Modernism. The Arts and Crafts movement is credited with reviving traditional techniques and keeping the knowledge of hand tooling alive in an age that saw industrialization eradicate many classical forms of crafting.

In this modern age of mechanization, there is still a strong desire in the marketplace for such a clean style. Just visit any antique market or auction house to discover how hungry the public is for furniture that was made during a time where craftsmanship and quality meant more than mass production and cost.

As a recent graduate of a woodworking program, I receive many requests to build furniture and I have observed that most people prefer the clean, geometric lines of Arts & Crafts furniture, whether the customer knows the style they are referencing or not. This look translates easily from magazine pages to the home, making it a great design choice.

They say that trends go in and out of fashion in the blink of an eye, but when a style defines what it is to be "classic" it transcends the term "trend" and enters the pantheon of styles that endure.

To check out my work, including a few examples of Arts & Crafts design, go to my blog http://amandagallimore.wordpress.com.

Unique Photo and Crafting - Gift Ideas

How Do You Give a Reasonably-Priced, Unique Birthday or Holiday Gift? (Article updated: July 2010)

After, you read this article, you will have at your disposal a lifetime list of some of the best, healthiest, and readily-available gifts that you could give to someone.

Okay, that birthday is coming up, that holiday is creeping up slowly and you still have time but no ideas, what do you do? You are going to a party and you have no clue what to give; where do you begin? Ah, the "celebration" party has just about everything and needs nothing more; what do you give?

Almost everyone loves photos. Yet, giving photos may be an 'old' idea. Well, everyone has their own camera, and everyone can take pictures so what kind of gift is that?

IF you think of celebrations ahead of time, weeks or months in advance, you can give a most wonderful special gift that cannot be duplicated by anyone you know.

Here is how you can make your photo gift, your photo craft - SPECIAL! Here's how to put your own personal touch in there that will make your gift different from all the rest EVEN if others give photos as presents.

PREPARE AND GIVE GIFTS OF:

TIME

Most people do not realize it, but, "time" is one of the most valuable, most memorable and most lasting gifts that we can ever give anyone. Time is priceless.

Take the time to give someone, something, homemade.

In cases of family presents, we all have the "old" photos, old family history photos, and current photos of past holidays. Consider doing a "lifetime" photo album for someone who has no time to collect, sort and mount photos into archival photo albums. You can give the gift of TIME! Gather copies of all of your old photos and place those copies into a beautiful album. This is a great gift for someone who has piles of photos in boxes yet has no organized way to view them. A great way to give this gift of time is to pre-arrange an outing (to a state park or festival), take photos and do drawings throughout the festival and then collage them all, bring all the art together and present the present to your recipient later on in the year. (For example, go to a "holiday" celebration, parade or festival during the month of the person's birthday and collect the memorabilia for your future collage. If a person's birthday is in February, you can collect hearts and flowers and valentine's type themes at local events, and create a "red and white" special collage or photo book for that person. If their birthday is in September, you might collect "fall" type items, or if in December, you might collect Christmas themed-items and do a holiday or Christmas combined "birthday/Christmas" collage or photo book.

MOTION:

Photos, video photos, this is the way to go, especially if your recipient does not own a video camera. You do the video at the event. After you take the videos you can put them online through one of the free website services. Check with a good search engine to find a free website that permits you to post photographs and videos. Then put your family video up there ON PRIVATE - so that only your family can see the video. You can do some research online and even find some programs that allow you to make a "video scrapbook". Now, that's the perfect gift for someone who has a computer but does not have a video camera. There are many sites online where you can store and display videos. This is very helpful for those people who do not own video cameras. If your family member doesn't own a video camera, he/she can still enjoy seeing videos online if you store them at one of those free sites. If you have a holiday video, you might even be able to bring that to one of your local tv stations for display there. The key is creativity, hard-work, positive-thinking and persistence. Collect your photos and videos all year long and present them to someone as a "New Year's Gift". You just might make someone's day!

LOVE:

This Valentine's Day go out and photograph all of the beautiful window displays and community displays that feature hearts and valentines and valentines-related theme pictures. Collect these and save them for the following year. Do some of your own valentine poetry or go online and do some research for some free poems that you can use in your personal album. (Lots of sites have poems and art subjects you can use FREE -as long as you do not use them for commercial purposes. Obey all copyright laws and double-check to make sure these images are free. So, after collecting free images and poetry all year long, put your work together in a nice scrapbook. Check with your local scrapbook stores to find "scrapbook" pages to make your album beautiful. You can also check with Pearl Paint Stores and Michaels Crafts for some awesome additions to your collection. Both of these stores are awesome and have reasonably-priced items for all holidays.

COLLAGE:

You can give the gift of "time" in another way. Make a collage of either old or new photos OR combine some old and new into a time line capsule collage. If you go to thrift shops or garage sales, you can usually find old magazines and even some newspapers to use in your collage. Create a unique collage, place it all together on a craft board, and to top this present off, make a beautiful photograph of the collage. That last item will be your special personalized gift that is irreplaceable. Your photo of your collage. Most people you know will love a collage that is personal. You can find great collage pictures everywhere. Check old magazines. Check recycled magazines and check the libraries discarded book areas.

FAME:

Yes, you've heard it - Fame! Here is an idea if you live in a small town or in a town that has small libraries with display cases. PLAN a holiday or birthday display for a family member or friend. Once you plan it - gather all the photographs, collages and craft items along with your poetry or writings. Put it all together in a public display of your affection, time, love and connection to your family members and friends. The way to arrange it is this, go into your local library and speak with the reference librarian. Tell that person that you would like to have a month's display on the topic of CELEBRATION. Tell them that you will include pictures or writings about local celebrations, parades, festivals etc, and then you have a space for free to display your work. (Sometimes they need 2 or 3 months advance notice to make your reservation of the library exhibit space). Now, as you collect different memorabilia (from your city or state), collect also some of your family pictures that you know your family would want to have on display (be sure of this!). When you go to set up your exhibit, add the family pictures to the display, and that is the perfect gift for someone who has EVERYTHING. Send the announcement of the display in a card to your recipient and you are set. ALWAYS get permission to display individual photograph portraits of people in public displays.

YOU MIGHT NEED:

Sometimes you may need model release forms for your photographs. Check out this site that has free release forms online.

MODEL RELEASE FORMS

http://www.dpcorner.com/all_about/releases.shtml

You can copy those forms (read the instructions at the site).

HEALTH AND SAFETY (For Artists)

If you do a search for arts hazards or arts safety or arts techniques safety, you will come up with a good number of websites that furnish great information about art and health and hazards.

USE your imagination and you will come up with ten more ways to celebrate using collage and photography and your crafting skills.

FIND YOUR CRAFT ITEMS:

PEARL PAINT STORES - This group of stores is located in New York City in the heart of Chinatown. They carry craft items of everything from sumi-e supplies, puzzles, photography, art, watercolor, stamping and hundreds of other craft items. They have so many items that it takes FIVE stores to hold all of the items. (One store alone is five stories high).
PORTER'S PHOTOGRAPHY - Look up this store on the net. It is one of the best photography supply places that we have found. We have purchased items from this store so we do recommend it highly. They have prompt delivery, accurate service and great products.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES - Surprise! You will find craft items here, sometimes even prettier and more rare than those you find at craft stores or photo stores. MOST libraries sell old books and sometimes those OLD books are good enough for collage supplies. You can purchase a book for fifty cents or one dollar and with that one purchase you will gather tons of pictures, illustrations and other embellishments good for your collage.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS - Ask. Ask everyone you know if they have any old magazines or books that they would like to donate towards your craft projects. You might come up with some wonderful ideas and supplies for your next projects.
PORTER'S ONLINE - (no relation to the Porter's Photography) - Though we have not purchased from this company, their website looks good so it's worth checking it out as soon as possible. You can find this one online by using the Google search tool. This catalog is an awesome photography and crafts tool.
THRIFT STORES - You can sometimes find old photography albums at these stores and also, they have been known to sometimes have scrapbook items.

LOOK!

Once you really open your eyes to talent and creativity, you can come up with awesome ideas of expanding your creative collection for future gifts.

Look around your city and town and you will be surprised at the talent that you can find. Get permission to check out the high school art departments and ask about having the services of the local photographers there to do your special photographs.

Look into non-profit groups in your area. So many times, non-profits have access to mural-painters and other up-and-coming artists. So perhaps you can make some connections there.

Look into the annual fairs and festivals. These are types of events that artists seek out. And usually, if the fair or festival is large enough, you might even see a special art exhibit just for that event.

Look into your own network of friends and relatives. There are very creative people around you. In your own circle of family and friends, you probably will find some talented writers, artists, poets and other creative individuals --right there where you are. Enlist their help in some of your art projects.

So, in summary, remember these important items when thinking about using crafts and photography for gifts:

HEALTH and SAFETY: Always use safe materials and keep them away from children. Many of the creative arts kits and paints and painting kits contain lead. These kits are not toys but kits for beginning and professional artists. Take care when bringing these into homes and schools.

Read all the warnings and pay extra attention to safety and health.

LEGAL NOTES: USE Model release forms when needed.

WRITING AND PHOTOGRAPHY: Check out the American Society of Journalists and Authors Conference that happens once a year, usually in New York City. We attended this conference one year and found it most enlightening and informative. During the conference, authors - new, inexperienced and published authors usually have the opportunity to contact, converse with and consult with many editors, publishers and sometimes even with the President of a large publishing firm. During one year, we had the opportunity to speak with the President of Random House. This conference is an opportunity to not be missed! For new and beginning writers, the conference fee might seem expensive but we recommend it -even if you save up for the fee. We know that this conference is worth every penny you spend on it.

Other conferences are usually listed of posted in magazines like Writers Digest, or The Writer, so it pays to check these out.

Photography: We highly recommend the New York Institute of Photography for beginning photographers. Check out the Canon Masters program also.

CREATIVITY AND COMPLETENESS: Check out and use the sites listed in this article to get the most out of your own crafting/photography experience. Use teamwork to obtain the best results. Brainstorm with other creative individuals and artists. If you live near a Michaels store, spend an afternoon in there just browsing and then go back and purchase what you need.

Think about all the gifts that you ever received in your whole life, I'll bet there are some beautiful homemade favorites in your list. Make something this year, for someone you love. G0 homemade!

Supplies: Check out Michaels and Pearl Paint Store in Manhattan or anywhere else you need them. See the websites online.

So, when looking to gift --in a very different way, look to the arts, look to music, look to crafts. Look outward and upward to find gifts that will keep people smiling all year long.

The author is a creative individual who has displayed art, writing, photographs and collages in more than 60 exhibits in New York State.

The author is presently trying to recover from a serious auto accident. And she wishes to share with you, her ideas on everything.

The Art of Cake Decoration & The Tools Required

The modern style of cake making is a relatively new concept. Cakes have been with us for the past thousand years. In ancient Egypt, cakes were more like the modern day bread that we have. They were spongier and had bread like consistency. This may be because of the presence of yeast in the cake batter which gave it bread like consistency. The first non-yeast cake to be baked was the sponge cake which is till date a hot favorite among cake lovers. It was different from the normal cakes but still differed from the dairy based cakes of today which use butter, eggs and baking powder.

The turn of 18th century saw the entry of the temperature controlled ovens which changed the art of baking for ever. It revolutionized the process of baking and the results were the cakes as we see them today. With the change in the scenario, cake decoration too became a sport and many sugar craft artists and chefs became masters in the art of cake decoration, thus winning accolades for themselves.

Cake decorating is an art form which is in widespread use. This kind of sugar craft uses icing and frosting as the basis for cake decoration. Using this craft, even a simple cake can be made visibly delightful and exquisite. Alternatively, cakes can be molded and sculpted to resemble three-dimensional persons, places and things.

Cakes form an integral part of any celebration in most parts of the world. Decorated cakes are the focal point in many celebrations like birthday, graduation party, bridal showers, baby showers, wedding and anniversary etc. Some of the professional cake decorators are former painters and some even have degrees in fine arts, or arts history or some of them are graffiti artists.

Decorating a cake is a very fine process and involves a lot of concentration, finesse, experience and basically the aesthetic sense to present a beautiful object. The proper use of the necessary tools and techniques is a must while going for a cake decoration. The theme of doing up a cake may vary according to the occasion. It starts from the very premise that there is a well baked cake which is just perfect for decoration.

A variety of tools and accessories are used for baking such as cake pans, cookie press, non stick baking mat, tong and many more. With the help of these articles, an exquisite delicacy can be produced.

The next logical step is to give the cake an outer dressing which is an essential procedure, if you want to present a beautiful object of culinary excellence. The decorating tools are very useful for the beginners or advanced bakers who need to decorate cakes, pastries, and more. These tools include a decorating string, looped plunger, cream horn cases, cake stencil set, wood rolling pins etc.

Icing of the cake is also one of the most important components of cake decoration. The proper use of icing dispensers helps in drawing very fine decorative designs without fatigue and the exercise becomes hassle free.

For more information on Pear Filled Bundt-Cakes and Fish Terrines please visit our website.

Leathercraft Tool - Different Types of Leather Working Tools For You

Would you like to start a wonderful arts and crafts hobby? Working with leather will be good for you especially if you love fashion and design. It is one of the popularly practiced arts around the globe. You could do it for fun or for making extra money. Perhaps you have never known about your hidden leathercraft talent. Now is your chance to reveal this talent to yourself. You never know if later you will become a star leather goods designer. All the same, start by buying the correct leathercraft tool. The reasons why tools are important include:

1) Correct leatherwork tools make your task exciting and worthwhile

2) By using correct and quality tools you can finish the task quickly and productively.

3) High quality tools ensure that learning how work with leather is simple.

You should never buy leatherwork tools blindly. You are likely to spend your money imprudently if you do not research first. Internet has good resources and you should make use of it. There are several stores dealing with leather working tools and supplies. Choose tools that are within your budget plan. At the same time avoid going for cheap and inferior tools. These will automatically become expensive in the near future. It's better to avoid buying a poor quality second hand leathercraft tool. Below are the most important tools to buy:

1) Stamping tools: Leatherwork is a broad art and craft category. You are free to choose the area you would like to pursue. Many people who do leatherwork as a hobby prefer stamping. If you are one of them, make sure you know the right tools. These are also called the leather tooling or embossing tools. It is easy to buy these tools on the Internet and most of them are dual purpose. Most of them are user-friendly as well.

2) Embossing wheel: Embossing leather is not a difficult task and many leather workers go for it. If you plan to emboss, you do not have to attend school. Buying an embossing wheel is recommended. It is available in numerous designs and is an alternative for stencils.

3) Hammer and chisel: tooling leatherwork technique is manually and uniquely done with a hammer and chisel. Perhaps you already these tools in your house.

4) A cutting board: You need a leather board whether you are an expert or a beginner leather worker. It facilitates cutting to help you prevent wasting the textile. It can also help you work fast and professionally.

5) Marking tools: you certainly need marking tools including pencils, ruler, metal straight edge and so on.

6) Cutting tools: Needless to mention, a leather crafter cannot do without an X-acto knife, a pair of scissors, a retractable knife, pliers and other spare blades.

7) Needles and threads: As a leather worker you have to choose sharp needles and quality beeswax threads. At some point, stitching is required to hold pieces together, to decorate or to reinforce. Do adequate research to find out the best stores to buy your needles and threads from. It is easy to buy the best leathercraft tool within your financial abilities and needs.

G. Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from leathercraft patterns to professional basketball. Thanks for reading!

In Which We Get Down To Work (Making A Chair From A Tree Without Machine Tools - Part 3)

You may be wondering when I am going to stop daydreaming and get on with making a chair.

It's just that I know that some people are going to ask "What's the point in making furniture by hand?" and I think that it's difficult to explain, I certainly can't put it in a sentence. I have read entire books by people who have tried to answer this question ( e.g. David Pye - "The Nature and Art of Workmanship", he is not afraid to try and his theory about risk and design is fascinating ) Maybe, if I was pushed, the best I could come up with would be "try it ! Then you'll see" and although I know that that's not a satisfactory reply it may be the quickest and the best explanation for the appearance of these articles - If you don't want to try it just now, watch it being done in the photos and movies on our website ........ and read the text and maybe you'll feel more like trying it. I've been designing and making furniture for 30 years and showing other people how to do it and learning any way that I can; but I think I would need a whole book to explore why I do it and I think that this way might be the best; hopefully more people will still be there at the end of it. And another thing; it's like explaining a joke - it loses a lot in the telling.

So you now know about the island - a little about the shed, and a little about the tool chest. I will say more about the shed and tool chest later.

Now is the time to cut the tree down. It's February and even if the wood is slabbed now it's going to be months before the components will be dry enough to assemble as a chair. I can go on about the shed and the tool box while the wood is drying, gradually working on the components at the same time. My son, Matthew, has been press ganged into activity and is holding up the two handed saw, which is protected by a pine cover.

The tree I have in mind is a beech which has been struck by lightening. It's about four metres of stump that is going to rot from the top down - It may already be badly discoloured, so now is the time to find out. There is still some life in it; there's a branch sticking out of the top. Just a word of advice here, it's not advisable to cut trees down, even if they are your own, without asking the Local Planning Department first. (Pity this isn't standard practice in Brazil and the Philippines too.)

Now I come to a difficulty with the Toolchest idea. The Toolchest I have contains bench tools as you will see later. It would be hard to see how a two-handed saw could be part of a cabinetmakers kit, far less how it could be fitted in the Toolchest. Let's just say that it is consistent with the overall intention - It's not a chain saw; so just to get this out of the way now, the same applies to the other tools that are needed to get the basic materials for the chair before they get to the bench - scythe, spade, adze, wedges, hammer etc.

So off we went a couple of weeks ago to cut this stump down -

the blade of the two-handed saw protected by a wooden sheath. I don't know where I got this saw from but it is by Sandvik and I expect that it is about 100 years old. I have emailed Sandvik for more information but their records only go back to the 1950s and they have been making saws since 1880. So my guess is as good as theirs. Before using the saw, I gave the blade a good wax and rubbed some more on it each time we stopped for a break. The other saw, which I have sneaked in, features in a tool catalogue by Tyzack from 1908 - it's a Disston and hardly ever been used, it can be converted to a 2-handed saw by the addition of another handle.

BOTH THESE SAWS WERE WELL SHARPENED BEFORE WE USED THEM and I can't exaggerate the importance of that, the tree was sawn through from both sides in half an hour and the experience was pleasurable. The first cross-cut when the tree was felled took 10 minutes or so. I don't expect to convert the world of loggers and potential loggers to throw away their chain saws and do it manually! The point I would make is that careful sharpening is essential for any hand tool, and if anything I was, yet again, surprised by the efficiency of this antique. A very important aspect of any job like this is clearing your feet before starting. We had to dig away the ground, as we were on a bank, to give good stances for working, we also had to clear away branches overhead and low branches from the tree itself.

Remember the 2 -handed saw cuts in either direction (the teeth are sharpened equally on both sides) and both operators should be pulling one after another. It is interesting to note that when you use a saw like this to fell a tree you can hear what is happening - the creaking and cracking gives you more warning of its impending fall and more time to get out of the way !

The problem that crops up with both these operations; felling and cross - cutting is the cut closing on the blade just before you're through, with felling there is another issue and that is; where do you want the tree to fall ?

This is not a lesson in how to fell trees only a "serving suggestion" but both these questions are answered by using the technique of making your first cut low on the side you want the tree to fall and the second cut slightly higher on the opposite side. It's the same technique when using an axe, but, in passing, I think it's unlikely that anyone could have felled that tree in half an hour with an axe.

When you are cross cutting it is essential to get a pivot under the tree at or near the cut, to open the cut as the remaining wood weakens, not to close on the saw and jam it. If you do jam it you will still need to lever open the cut to release the saw.

Allan Fyfe is proprietor of Lethenty Mill Furniture. This article forms part of a series about his quest to build a chair from a tree on his own land without the use of electricity or machine tools. Allan is passionate about the designs and techniques associated with traditional furniture from the North East of Scotland. His website, http://www.lethenty-mill.com, allows other woodworking enthusiasts to learn these techniques via a series of self study furniture making projects.

Writing About Crafting - 10 Tips For Writing a Craft Book

Crafting is one of the most active markets in today's book publishing markets. In 1996 it accounted for 10% of all book sales. Most people in North America do some sort of crafting.

And it doesn't just stop there. People who write craft books are frequently asked to speak at the many craft fairs and trade shows that take place around North America.

If you have a favorite craft that you are skilled at and you don't write a book about it you are missing the boat! You're missing a great opportunity to build a business around something you love.

However writing a craft book isn't as easy as it looks. Here are 10 tips to help you write a crafting book:

1. Start by learning as much as you can about your reader. This is good advice for any writer but it's especially true for writing about crafting. Not only do you need to know what motivates your reader, and their problems you also need to know how experienced your reader is.

2. Whatever experience level your reader is they will have problems. This is great from a motivational standpoint. You need to remember to focus on the reader's problem and the solution not on general information.

3. Before you sit down to write be sure to plan your book and your approach. If you are all over the board in a crafting book it will be very obvious. Not only will the quality be reduced but your ability to capture the reader's attention will also suffer.

4. Start your planning with a theme especially if you are intending to write a collection type of crafting book. Crafting is just too big a topic to cover. A theme will help you to tie the different projects together and provide a focus. It will also help you to focus on solutions to problems.

5. If your crafting book is focusing on processes draw out the process using a bubble diagram or other technique. Some people are verbal learners but most people are visual learners. By diagramming the process you help clarify and simplify the process.

6. On that same line remember to use photographs in your book. Often people can't make the spatial transition from a verbal description to the real world. Photographs help to overcome that issue by providing the visual clues that you can't describe without being boring.

7. Check your spelling and grammar. There is a variation in the use of English around the world. The U.S. is the biggest market for craft books. So if you are intending to sell to that market you may want to use the U.S. spelling and grammar rules.

8. Along that same line, not all materials are available in all areas. If you are going to identify materials or vendors be sure that they can be purchased in your biggest book market. Choosing vendors who use the internet can help to offset that problem.

9. This same thing applies to tools. Specifying a limb trimmer that can only be sourced in Japan may make your Bonsai book look exotic. But it'll only drive your poor reader to distraction and anger as they realize they can't get that tool in North America.

10. Always test your plans. Preferably with a friend who is about the same level of experience as your target reader. There's nothing that can destroy your reputation faster than a mistake in the plan.

Do you want to learn how to write a book in 24 hours? Take my brand new free course here: http://www.learningcreators.com

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

Arts and Crafts Ideas - 3 Traditional Crafts From Around Scotland

Scotland is a country with a very rich heritage and culture, much of which is expressed through our love of crafting. Here, we'll take a more in depth look at 3 types of craft from across the country.

In part, a love of crafting is due to a wish to leave something tangible to future generations. Nothing expresses home and caring quite as well as a handmade item. Many such items are in fact kept and passed down from parent to child becoming significant, valuable heirlooms.

When we craft, we are in a sense connecting with our past and yearning for continuity. Recent years have seen a resurgence of interest in traditional skills spurred on by a wish to nurture them, thereby avoiding them dying out completely. There are strong Celtic and Pictish traditions in Scotland of course and the symbols of these are reflected through many of the crafting media, displaying an incomparable beauty and simplicity that finds admirers around the globe.

Fair Isle Knitting

Fair Isle is in the far north of Scotland, lying half way between the Shetland Isles and the Orkney Isles. It's a small island with few raw materials available and knitting provides an income for many of the women there. The knitting technique, which was named after the island, was actually developed in Shetland and creates distinctive patterns from the region. These patterns don't usually have more than two or three stitches in any colour at one time since they are stranded.

A block of one colour that is too long will mean an overly long strand of the other colour which could be too easily caught on a button or other item. Knitting is done in the round and Shetland jumper-weight yarns at 8 stitches to the inch are normally used. Fair Isle sweater construction involves sewing or fastening the work where the arm holes go, and then cutting the knit fabric to make the armholes. These cuts are called steeks by American knitters, but the term is not used in Shetland.

Weapon Craft - Sgian Dubh

Another well known Highland craft is that of creating custom sgian dubh (pronounced skee(a)n doo). Sgian Dubh are worn as part of Highland dress, tucked into the man's hose so that only the pommel can be seen. Now having only a ceremonial function, the blades are often made from brass which is then nickel plated while the handle is made of plastic.

However, some pieces are highly crafted works of art commanding high prices. The blades are constructed from titanium, sterling silver or Damascus steel then finely etched with celtic designs, clan crests, regimental symbols or personal inscriptions. The handles are then made from a variety of natural materials such as Highland Bog Oak, Scottish Yew, Ebony, Rosewood and antler bone. These are also extremely decorative, utilising celtic, pictish and clan symbols.

The pommel is normally fitted with a semi-precious stone such as the Cairngorm, a smoky quartz from the Cairngorm mountains, or amethyst from Tayside. The final necessary piece is the sheath for the blade and these are also made of either wood or fine leather tooled with complimentary patterns.

Weaving

The tartan, or plaid, is a woven material made from spun and dyed wool in different weights. There are over 2800 publicly known tartans with the oldest dated to the third century, making it 1,700 years old. Although today's patterns are colourful, originally the material would have been limited by locally available materials.

The word "tartan" actually described the way the thread was woven to make the cloth: each thread passed over two threads then under two threads, and so on rather than referring to the pattern itself.

Weaving in Scotland was originally based around cottage handlooms for making linen from home-grown flax. Rough woolen cloth was then introduced in the Lowlands around the 16th century. Harris tweed eventually arrived from the Outer Hebrides in 1840 courtesy of Lady Dunmore. As wool gained in importance, particularly in the Borders, finer wools, known as worsted became available.

After a long period of decline from the 1870s onwards, recent years have seen a regeneration of traditional weaving techniques. Many art and design students, encouraged by support from The Scottish Woollen Publicity Council through the 1980s and 90s, have set up their own businesses using computerised looms. Others have computerised handlooms for weaving craft items.

Discover more arts and crafts ideas, crafting resources and news at http://artsandcraftsideas.zoxic.com

Woodwork Crafts - The Beginners Guide To Woodworking

Woodworking is one hobby that can also be a rewarding profession if you love to work with your hands and build beautiful pieces of furniture from wood. When you learn the woodworking crafts and become a fine woodworking craftsman, you will be able to build all kinds of furniture, (table, beds, and chairs), with ease. You can then sell your completed woodworking projects and make a handsome profit.

It takes time to become skilled in the craft of woodworking. The nice thing about working up to that expert craftsman level is you will be able to build some really nice furniture for you and your family to enjoy. Imagine building a custom coffee table or grandfather clock and having it sit in your living room. It will be a topic of conversation whenever you have friends come over to visit. They will ask: How did you make it? Where did you get the woodworking plans? How long did it take to complete the project? What kind of wood did you use? What kind of tools did you use? How on earth did you make such a beautiful piece of furniture? As you discuss your work, a sense of pride will come over you and don't be surprised if your friends ask you to make one for them too!

If you are thinking you are too old or too young for woodworking, think again! You are never too old or too young for such a fun hobby and it's perfect for beginners!

Where to Begin in Woodworking?

Start with an idea in mind of what you want to build and then get a really good woodworking project plan that is geared toward beginners. There are several small woodworking projects for beginners available for purchase from online woodworking retailers. A few woodworking plan suggestions to get you thinking are: a jewelry box, a music box, a clock, a bird house, a chessboard or checkerboard, a rocking horse for a child just to name a few. Of course you can start out with as grand a woodworking plan as you choose. However, the chances are if you start out with a small woodworking project at first, you will have a better chance of completing the project.

Your woodworking project plan should include some lists! Lists of: woodworking hardware, the amount and type of wood required, and the required hand tools and power tools to complete the project. Note: A word of caution about buying woodworking tools. Only buy what you need to complete your immediate or upcoming project. This is important especially if you are a beginner and just starting out. Tools are not cheap. The beginner needs good woodworking tools, but you can easily break the bank buying lot of tools you may not use all that often. When you do buy tools, buy quality. Do a little research and compare products. Buy the best that you can afford at the time.

Here is my Beginners List of Woodworking Hand Tools:

A claw hammer, wood chisel set, a hand saw, a miter box with a saw (for cutting angles), a coping saw, finish punches, flat and straight tip screwdrivers, a rubber mallet (for tapping pieces together while not damaging the wood), woodworking clamps, a wood vise, a bench plane, a rasp, a tape measure, a 12" steel rule, a 6" steel square, and don't forget the wood glue and a brush to spread the wood glue! Of course you will need a dry place to work and may need a pair of saw horses to work on.

Here is my Beginners List of Woodworking Power Tools:

Circular saw, a jig saw, a table saw, a belt sander (to remove larger amounts of material and level out larger surfaces), an orbital finish sander, a 3/8" electric drill, a 12v or 18v cordless drill.

Here is my Beginners List of Woodworking Safety Equipment:

Safety glasses, clear safety goggles, dust masks, face shield, hearing protectors, Nitrile disposable gloves

We could go on and on with listing more woodworking hand tools and more woodworking power tools here, but the idea is to buy the essential hand and power tools that beginners will need. You can always add to your toolbox as you gain experience!

Guidance for Beginner Woodworking Craftsmen:

You now have a great new hobby in woodworking, you have purchased your woodworking project plan and you're really excited to start using your new woodworking tools, but how? Your woodworking project plan should provide you step by step directions and techniques to complete your project. But if you are unsure about what to do there is help available! There are several places that beginning woodworkers can learn about the woodworking craft. First, subscribe to one of the several woodworking magazines available. Every month the writers in woodworking magazines do a story on how to improve your woodworking craft. Whether it is showing you how to apply a finish to a completed project, or how to make a mortise and tenon joint, something new can be learned every month. Next, is buying instructional DVD's like the ones created by Fine Woodworking Magazine. Instructional Woodworking DVD's cover topics such as: mastering your table saw, how to use a router, how to turn wood projects, turning wooden bowls, and wood finishing basics. As you can see, there are many educational resources available for the beginning woodworker to learn the woodworking craft.

Woodworking is a hobby that can also be a rewarding profession. Learn about woodworking crafts, and what hand tools and power tools are must haves for beginners to be successful. Once you learn the woodworking crafts and become a fine woodworking craftsman, you will be able to build all kinds of furniture, (table, beds, and chairs), with ease.