I know many of us crafty folks have jars and jars of buttons--or even just one jar. We hoard the little discs and shapes like they're special gems, using them in craft items, admiring them in their jars, or running our fingers through them--well, you get the idea.
So, how about a button swap?
My ideas for such a swap could be any of the following:
Decorate a jar or other button container for our partners, then include at least 100 buttons or so.
Swap 10 buttons or so with 10 different partners so that everyone ends up with 100 "new" buttons. The shipping wouldn't be too expensive since buttons are lightweight.
Swap 50-100 buttons with one partner, excluding the decorated container.
"Claim" buttons of one person while listing your own that you have to share.
Craft for a partner with buttons as the main focus of the craft.
Personally, I like the first idea, as well as the idea to swap with 10 different partners. Anyone else have any suggestions or think this might be a fun swap? If enough people are interested, I'll see what I can do about organizing a swap for all of us button addicts out there!
Many of us collect buttons, as well as use them as the main focus in some of our craft projects. They don't really fall under any other category--not that I could see, anyway--so I was thinking a section dedicated just to them and the many ways we use them and keep them would be a great idea. Being the proud owner of 5 jars & a basketful of buttons, as well as some items I've made, I'd be happy to have such a place to display them. Heck, I'd even volunteer to moderate it!
I love, love, love this new magazine put out by Coats & Clark. I think it's great for both beginner crocheters are well as us seasoned ones. The patterns are awesome, that I've seen so far, and there's a lot of great tips and ideas. I missed the first issue, but I've gotten the past two, and I am not disappointed. It's much better than Crochet! magazine ever thought about being...in my humble opinion. I like Crochet, but Crochet Today is just the magazine I've been looking for.
Anyone else checked this out yet?
Their link is: http://www.crochettoday.com There's a few free patterns on there, too, from their first three issues. It also shows the projects that are in the most current issue.
I normally put these in the crochet forum, but I think this one belongs here (as any of them could) because they are made of nothing but beads and wire. However, it's crocheted wire...beaded crocheted wire. Oh, and a fillagree clasp. The beads are lavender pearlized glass.
This started out as a pattern but then it kinda just took off on its own. It's small, just big enough to carry a few essentials in. I used Hilos La Espiga No. 18 nylon thread in a varigated color. I have a bag made of it from the Happy Hooker book (that's posted somewhere in that section of the forum), and I love it.
The Artist's Way ~ A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron isn't technically a craft book; yet, one about enhancing your creativity. I'm wondering if anyone has ever followed this course and did it affect how you create any at all? I've had this book for a year, but I haven't started the excercises in it because one thing she wants the reader to do right off the bat is start writing in a journal for no less than 30 minutes the first thing in the morning, before doing anything else. I'm planning to try to work my way through it, though, once my daughter is back in school and I have to get up early just about every morning.
Anyone have any thoughts on this book? If you buy it, let me know, and maybe some of us can go through it together and see if it helps our creative sides any.
I made this bracelet for my sister. I have to say it's probably the prettiest one I've made so far, and the photos don't do it justice. I plan to make another to sell at my store in the next day or so. I like it so much, I want to keep it for myself! But afterall, she was the inspiration...
The idea for a business card swap first came into thought in the Etsy business cards in swap packages thread. The main idea of a swap such as this would be to send out nothing but business cards to your fellow shop owners. Nothing to make...unless you make your own cards...and you'd get as many business cards as you send out. An idea could be to send out several to each person so they can pass them along in their swap packages or to friends and family. Too, I would think that it could be any shop you own and create things for, not just Etsy. It would be a way for craftsters to get their name out to more places, possibly increasing the traffic to their site(s).
The difference in this and the sweat shop swap is that you aren't sending out any items...just your card.
What do you guys think? Anyone interested? Any other ideas for a swap like this would be appreciated, too!
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