Tag Archives: crafts

At Home with The Studio: Rock Crafts

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Lately, I have been obsessed with the idea of rock painting. There are so many cute ideas on Pinterest!

One of my favorites is the idea to paint Waldo on a rock. You could then hide him somewhere in the yard and do a real-life Where’s Waldo? game!

 

I also love these Kindness Rocks from Crafts Unleashed. After painting them with happy messages, they hid them at a park and playground for others to find. What a nice way to spread a little anonymous kindness.

 

Lastly, I think this one is a super fun idea from Mary Brio Rose. Take a rock and paint section dividers and then hide it. As people find it, they will fill in another square and hide it themselves. I think it’s so nice to think of a rock as travelling along and making people smile. Who knows where it would end up?

All of these ideas are really great ways to take a craft and use it to have fun with people you know, or to brighten a stranger’s day, both of which are wonderful ideas in this strange time.

I’ve created a Studio rock art Pinterest board, which includes the above, as well as some other really fun rock painting ideas. Stay crafty!

The Studio at Home: Beaded Safety Pins

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We have started a weekly video series called “Studio Sessions,” which is posted on our social media channels every Saturday. In it, I either feature a craft you can do at home or delve more deeply into the kits we have available for use in The Studio. Last week, I taught you how to make beaded safety pins (watch it here if you missed it!).

In the video, I used a pattern I designed of a tulip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is super easy to make your own patterns for beaded safety pins. Just test out the safety pins you have around and see how many seed beads fit on them. For my pattern, I used 1” safety pins. I could get 10 beads on each, and could comfortably get 7 safety pins across. You could use graph paper and simply color in the pattern until you get something you like. Or, if you prefer to use the computer like me, you can use Excel to draft your pattern. I changed the column width to 2 and turned on inside and outside borders. Then, I used the paint bucket tool to fill in the pattern. This was an easy, no mess way to keep adjusting the pattern as I went along until I got something I liked.

If you’re not feeling up to designing your own, there are lots of patterns already out there! I’ve created a Pinterest board of patterns and inspirational ideas to help get you started.

If you need information on the mechanics of putting together your own beaded safety pin, the Studio Sessions video below will walk you through it.

Happy crafting!

Modern Cross-Stitch at the Library

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I will be the first to admit that I did not read during the stay-at-home order. Weird, right? I’m a librarian, an avid reader, and I even had a large stack of books to work through as well as a well-stocked home library. But there’s something about existential dread that, at least for me, put me off from reading. I didn’t craft, either. I usually have at least one cross-stitch project that I am invested in, along with tatting and the occasional sewing project. I did no cooking experiments (beyond learning how to make baguettes), no archery, no wildflower identification, no wine-making – none of my usual spring activities. To be honest, aside from working from home, I spent my days playing Animal Crossing on the Switch.

I’m finally getting to a point where my hobbies have become fun again, and the first thing I’m really interested in is Cross-Stitch. I’m working on a project I found on Etsy – I love anything nature-related, and my current favorite artists are 2x2StitchArt and CozyEveningStitch. If you’re looking for a free option, DMC has tons of free patterns available on their website. I am on the prowl for a modern cross-stitch book that has these kinds of patterns in it, but for now the best patterns I can find have to be purchased individually online.

There are still plenty of options for me at the library, though. We have a few fun modern cross-stitch pattern collections available through the library – The World of Cross-Stitching, a monthly magazine, is available on Overdrive. They provide a ton of patterns each issue, and have a great mixture of different styles of cross-stitch. If you enjoy stitching a few “bad” words and sassy phrases, Subversive Cross-Stitch is jam-packed with the kinds of patterns my grandmother would never have touched. Featuring phrases like “Don’t be such a baby,” “You can’t make me,” and “You lie like a cheap rug,” you’ll need a darker sense of humor to appreciate this book and its many profanities. Whimsical Cross-Stitch, available on Hoopla, features a ton of cute animals, block patterns, nature –– the list goes on, with most of the projects being simple, quick, and beginner-friendly. And last but not least, Feminist Cross-Stitch, which is packed full of feminist affirmations like “Don’t tell me to smile,” “Beauty is not a number,” and “Believe women.” It also has a section of subversive, sassy designs – similar to Subversive Cross-Stitch.

So, there we have it, a list of great library resources on modern cross-stitch! One more thing – if you see a book with astronomy, biology, or nature cross-stitch patterns: send them my way!

 

The Magic of Christmas

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I have been an avid cross-stitcher for decades.   In 1987, when my son was born, I vowed to cross-stitch a unique and special Christmas ornament for him every year.  That promise lasted one year.  Fast forward thirty years and I vowed to do the same for my grandson.  So far, I have kept that promise.

The first two ornaments I made him were cute, but were lacking a certain Je ne sais quoi.  I wanted something that was really charming and special.  I scoured the internet, and while I found a lot of patterns, none of them seemed to have the oomph I was looking for.  Then I searched Evergreen Indiana and found a book titled The Magic of Christmas in Cross-Stitch (Atglen, PA : Schiffer Publishing, 2018).  This book has the cutest, most adorable Christmas cross-stitch charts I have ever seen.  Whether you’re looking for a cherubic child writing a letter to Santa, or angelic children building a snowman, this book seems to have it all.  Last year I cross-stitched two little mice sitting under a mushroom wrapping presents.  When I showed it to a friend, she said it was “beyond adorable.”

This year my grandson will get Santa stuffing his bag full of presents.  My hardest decision now is which delightful design will I cross-stitch next.

My precious little grandson is only two years old and doesn’t yet appreciate that I’m doing this for him, but someday, he’ll hold up these ornaments and say “My Mēmo loves me.”  And you know what?  He’ll be right!

The Studio At Home: Make and Takes now available curbside!

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As you may have heard, we are now offering curbside service! We are excited to announce that The Studio is also getting in on the curbside act.

Each week, we are offering a different kit with the materials you need to make a fun craft.

This week, you can pick up a kit to make your own rainbow with popsicle sticks and foam. Next week, we will have a kit to make friendship bracelets with a cardboard loom available. It’s a really easy way to get started with friendship bracelet making. It doesn’t require fancy knots or patterns, and you end up with a really neat bracelet.

If you’d like to request a kit, just let us know when you call in for curbside service.

If you’re curious about the craft of the week, just check The Studio webpage, which will includes a picture of the finished craft.

Our webpage also includes links to some GPL Pinterest boards with inspiration for kids, adults, and DIY games. We hope these ideas keep you making while you’re at home.

We look forward to seeing what you make! Post your finished projects on Instagram with #GPLStudioAtHome