Bobby Pin Pom Poms

It is all about accessories sometimes especially when it comes to an outfit I am putting together and a costume is no exception. (Is there ever really an exception?!)

Using to large bobby pins and a some lace scraps leftover from the lace leggings I made two little pom poms for my hair to add to the green veils I made.

I cut the piece of lace into little strips and put them in a bundle that I tied together at the center then attached to the bobby pin ends, securing with a few dabs with the hot glue gun.

More accessories at a nothing cost and I can use for this project and other outfits to come.

Total supplies used: two bobby pins, lace fabric scraps, hot glue gun.

Colonel Crawford En-Campment

Over the weekend I attended a re-enactment and encampment of  Colonel Crawford's capture. (For those who do not know much about Ohio history his capture and torture was the response for another man's brutal massacre of approx. 100 Christian Moravian men, women and children. Because of their deeply rooted religious beliefs they did not fight back against their captors and instead prayed and sang until their time to meet their death by hammer.) Many believe that Crawford was in the wrong place at the wrong time and suffered horribly as an example to others. (Find more about Crawford here.)

The re-enactment was good and the costumes had so much thoughtful detail. As a part of it there was an encampment, various displays and artisans, and demonstrations.I pleased to find all sorts of artisan showing off their wares or demonstrating skills. This included various handmade jewelry (beaded and metal work), carved wooden flutes in the style of the Plains Indians, a type of hand weaving for belts and scarves that I had not seen before, pottery in process, a man working on braided rugs (from a local historic society), hand dipping tallow candles (I can not imagine lighting might house with animal fats, but it happened), an assortment of weapon reproductions, as well cooking. It was so nice to not only see examples of  some of these nearly forgotten crafts that were one a part of everyday life but to also see that the skills to do them were being presented.

It turned out to be a lovely afternoon.

For more information about the massacre and the history check out these links:
http://www.graveaddiction.com/gnadenhu.html
http://gnadenhutten.tripod.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnadenhutten,_Ohio
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/colonel-william-crawford-proceeds-toward-the-ohio
http://www.touring-ohio.com/history/crawford.html

Hot Glue Gun

A hot glue is a wonderful thing, a wonderful tool. You can find the one that fits you. For most projects I am a HUGE fan of my mini low temp hot glue. At camp I had a basket full of them. (I kept the high temp ones for counselors and staff only, since I have been known to burn myself enough on them.)

I was helping a few friends with costumes awhile back and got to introduce one of them to the hot glue gun, something she had never used before. I was convinced I would come back the next day to find that she had hot glued sea shells and things to every surface of her home. It wasn't that severe, but she did find how much easier it was to attach things to the shoes and make accessories for her costumes. I think she even got one as a Christmas present.

Hot glue guns are one of those little things that should be a part of every crafter's supplies, every stage box (for you theater bugs out there), and just handy to have around the house (you never know when one might come in handy).

Scissors

It may seem like something minor, but I have found it important to mark my scissors. The sewing scissors are marked with an initial and sometimes a 's', especially if they are ones that will be traveling with me and my sewing machine (like to the theater). The non-sewing scissors, usually ones that have been demoted from sewing scissors are usually marked with a 'NS' or 'non-sewing'  or 'paper only' on the handle with a black magic marker. It's important to keep your sewing scissors separate from your paper and other scissors, as paper can dull your sewing scissors. Trust me, when I say you will be glad you've marked them to keep track of what they are or are not to be used for.

Pin Cushion Jar

Anyone who sews or crafts knows how important the tools they use are. Taking a little inspiration from Queen Martha (as in Martha Stewart and her website), I made this to keep on hand and as a handy gift for other sewers in my life (Mom, Grandma, Aunt someone or other, or just a best friend). I use this one as a button jar. (Something we can all use on hand.)

So, use one of those jars you might have on hand (especially if you or someone or know is into canning), a scrap of fabric, a bit of cardboard, a little extra bit of filling/stuffing and make one for yourself (or someone you know).

Tissue Paper Carnation

April Showers Bring May Flowers - and I'm going to get those flowers even if i have to make them out of tissue paper.

(My mom taught me how to make these years ago in Girl Scouts.)

Simple supplies: Tissue paper (any color) and something to secure (string, yarn, wire, twisty ties, floral wire, pipe cleaners, even a stapler will work). I used twisty ties in this simple tutorial

Paper Bag Journal - Instructions

From my Camp files & instructions: (when working with others, it often helps to have instructions written out for them to see, even if seems a rather easy to teach & share.)

(A huge hit at camp with scout troops, teen & pre-teen girls, their mothers, other staff, and anyone looking for new ideas for scrap booking. I made a few for staff I was particularly close to as an end of summer gift.)

My Sewing Machine

My sewing machine is a beautiful asset and friend. For years I was stuck using one of my mom's multiple machine, ravaged from the years of her sewing projects and our 4-H projects. (Five kids doing 1 or more sewing projects every year... three of them being boys who worked the peddles like a race car.) The final straw was one year after I had cut all of the pieces of a Halloween costume and had started to piece it together, I got into an argument with her machine. Now, you might think a sewing machine, being an inanimate object can not argue back, but they can, in their own special way. I conceded and packed away the cut pieces of the costume and soon forgot it. (No worries, I didn't go without a costume that year - I have an entire closet dedicated to costumes.) Having packed away the costume I was content to keep my sewing to handwork (which as a child I preferred over using a machine).

After years of using my parents' (both of my parents can sew) machines, I received my Singer Inspiration  as a Christmas present. Finally, I had MY machine, that my brothers hadn't messed the tension up, with cords I knew where they were, with my machine accessories where I put them. I no longer had to share AND in spirit of me being me, I added a few personal touches.

It travels some with me when I'm doing costumes or helping sew costumes for a show (I do so love theater). At first I carted it around in the original box it came in (it was better than nothing), but now I have a very nice traveling machine case on wheels with a handle (another Christmas present that followed the machine). The Human Rights Campaign Equality sticker was a dead give away that it was mine (0f course the "Trust Women" and the "No Fur" on the sides probably helped too), when sitting in a costume shop among other machines. One of the actors came in the room, pointed, and asked, "Is that one your's?" I am what I am... no apologies.

Camp Tales - A Girl & a Drill Press

One of the benefits of working at camp as an Arts& Craft Instructor, was being able to teaching basic woodworking to kids 9-14, a good portion of them never having any previous experience with it. This was especially true with many of the young girls. It was nothing too difficult; hammering (for string art), wood burning, sanding, and the drill press (for wood games using golf tees and wooden squares pre-cut for them). I had safety lines, safety goggles, and strict rules about no one using the drill press without my supervision and wood burners needing my supervision or the supervision of one of my counselors or other staff.

I was exposed to woodworking young through my grandpa and 4-H, debating in Middle School of becoming a Shop Teacher. I took woodworking projects in 4-H and even built a cedar chest that went to State Fair (for another story). I even helped with 4-H woodworking judging at State Fair one year (a great story for another time). I wanted my campers to be safe, but I also wanted them to know that the basics were attainable.

One sunny afternoon, I had the usual mix of boys and girls in the Craft Hall ready to take on the drill press. A little girl of about 9 or 10 crossed my red line into the drill press area, safety glasses on, her sanded & marked piece of wood in hand. She didn't act too sure about the powerful machine she had watched others use & was now standing before. I went over the basics again, encouraging her that she was just as capable of this as anyone else. There was no rule that said girls couldn't do woodworking or handle power tools. We lined up the first hole to be drilled as she took a hold of the handle, slowly and gingerly pulling the drill bit down into the wood, making the hole. As she raised the handle and released, I watched her change as her face lit up. In an instant, something changed and suddenly the little girl timid about a power tool knew that she could do it and knew that she had done it. There was excitement and a realization that come about in drilling that first hole as well as a truth that she was truly just as capable as anyone else. That day a little girl was introduced to woodworking and maybe to the power she was a capable of.

Perhaps, it's the feminist in me or a reminder of the little girl I was, going to woodworking judging surrounded by boys, but that afternoon a little girl realized that girls can and being a girl shouldn't stop her. That afternoon, I got to be make a difference in one little girl and I got to watch it happen.

Teaching Colors

A few years ago I spent my summer not at camp, but taking care of a three-year-old on a daily basis and traveled with the family as their nanny. Everyday we tried to do projects that would help her explore her world and learn new things.

She knew her colors, but in exploring how to mix colors we did tie dye. (Because tie dye is awesome.) Using dye in the three primary colors (red, yellow, & blue for those who weren't sure,) and various shirts her mother had pulled (it was a great way to being new life to those light colored shirts with stains that every kid's parent has stuffed away), she learned all about how to mix the three primary colors to create the secondary colors (purple, green, & orange). We used bottles to make make things more usable for a little girl and created a rainbow of creations.

Paper Doll Cut Outs

Most of us made those folded paper cut out dolls. We'd take paper and fold it a few times before taking a pair of scissors to it to free the row of hand holding dolls. I'd play with couples and ladies in big dresses to the best of my cutting abilities, sometimes taking little bits of tape to connect multiple strands of the faceless little paper dolls to string across my room. There is nostalgia attached to the images of these and images of strands of them in a girl's room or strung across a Christmas tree. I don't remember how I learned or who taught me, it was something that little girls did.

While I do not remember learning, I do remember very clearly a little girl that I taught. I was spending my summer living and working at a summer camp that catered towards families and groups with kids. A little girl of maybe 9 or 10 was there for the week with her dad and spent part of each day doing crafts with me. In the beginning her dad came with her, but my the middle of the week he would often came and pick her up. One day she had came to visit and at some point I realized that she had never seen anyone cut this strands of paper dolls that I remembered so from childhood and did not know how. Folding some construction paper I cut a strand of the simple dolls and then a few more to show her different forms. She was mesmerized and I watched her attack the new project with gusto (and a pair of scissors). By the time her dad arrived she had a whole collection of strands laid out around her. It was something so simple, but something that she couldn't wait to share with her dad and something that made her day.

I realized again that day the reminders that come often when working with people and the importance of the simple joys. I didn't solve world hunger or end war or poverty that day, but in that simple act I realized how important I was in that little girl's eyes at that moment. I could have taught her anything new, it wouldn't have mattered, what was important was that I took the time teach her something and that I just took the time. I also got to see the joy a parent can have merely by basking in the light of his child's excitement and celebration.

Generation before me cut out strands of simple paper dolls and hopefully generations after me will as well. Maybe I served a part in keeping that going, a continuing strand... much like the simple little dolls themselves.

Coloring outside the lines is a fine art. ~Kim Nance

Paper Box - How To

I love making paper boxes of all different sizes as they make great gift boxes, the smaller ones for trinkets, worry dolls, or homemade jewelry and larger ones for cookies, cupcakes, or other bits. I've been making them for so long, I don't even remember learning. They might have been something my mom taught me and/or something from my Girl Scout days (my mom was my leader for a long time). When working & loving at camp it was something I often taught kids, especially to store worry dolls, jewelry, or just for fun.

They can be made from plain, colored, or decorated paper and are a great way to recycle & reuse newsprint, comics, brown paper bags, doodles, or old wrapping paper. Versatile and can be made in all sorts of sizes.