Practicing Craft

~ Kana Smith
pinterest joke
one of the many jokes about Pinterest as a “time-suck”… Which jokes, of course, you can FIND on Pinterest…

I admit it. I have joined the ranks of Pinterest addicts. I’m not  considering that a bad thing, however, given the folders full of great ideas I’m accumulating–combined with the fact that (ohmygosh) I’m actually following up on those ideas! Most of the Pinterest jokes (which you can find as pinnable items on Pinterest itself) reference the idea that “Pinners” are too busy pinning stuff to actually use any of it. (“Honey, can you pick up pizza? I’ve been busy all day Pinning nutritious recipes for our family.”)

So I’ll defend my Pinterest Habit by pointing to the Useful Things that have already come of it.  Case in point: I had just done a spring-cleaning run-through of my closet last week, clearing out things that no longer fit, or haven’t left their hangers for a couple years…  And then I found loads of DIY (do-it-yourself) tutorials for “repurposing” clothing. I’ve dusted off my sewing machine and retrieved nearly half the items from the “give-away bag” (including the cat, who seems inclined to take up residence in it–possibly in protest of the fact that we’ve put her on a diet…) And one by one, those items I’d designated for Goodwill are taking their places–in their reincarnated forms–back in my closet… and on my person.

cat's out of the bag
The cat’s NOT out of the bag…

This is good stuff! Especially since we have zero budget for clothing and (aside from a new pair of work-shoes for Keoni when he got to the point of duct-taping the soles of his old ones) we haven’t even shopped at the Savers’ second-hand store for more than a year…  So I have some newly-useful items–ranging from the three-minute no-sew alteration of my teenage son’s discarded T-shirt into a “vest” for use as swimsuit-cover, to the conversion of an unused summer dress into an empire-waist top and matching wrap (from the skirt fabric)…

beading
busy with bracelets… Ideas sparked by Pinterest

Another category of “stuff to try”–which I’m working my way through–is the collection of recipes for making your own cleaning products and personal-care items. Those of you who have been following here for a while might remember my earlier commentary about necessary items which can’t be bought with Food Stamps–like toilet paper, soap, or shampoo…  Well, I haven’t found a toilet-paper recipe yet, but look for an upcoming post on “Food-Stamp Kitchen Chemistry”–all kinds of ideas for cleaning the house (and the people) from ingredients we can buy with Food Stamps… (Keoni just got the initial response to his application to resume his previous career in Corrections, and we’re praying our Food-Stamp days are numbered–but some of these are ideas I’d continue to use even when that’s the case…)

bracelets
some of my new creations…

But the category in which I’ve been dabbling the most is playing with jewelry-making… With the help of Suzy-cat, who can’t resist the tempting beads, threads, and wires…

I’m realizing, actually, how many years it’s been since I indulged my “crafty” side. (And I’m using the word in its colloquial sense, of engaging-in-crafts, rather than the dictionary definition of cunning-or-sly…) Back when the mugwumps were little and I was a stay-home Mommy, I used to do a fair bit of craft-work… crocheted afghans and cross-stitched wall-hangings and sewed curtains and (my favorite) crafted hand-made books with pockets and pop-outs and artsy little bits and bobs… A couple years after I went back into the workforce (full-time-and-a-half!) I gave my sister my book-making supplies for use in her scrapbooking–I hadn’t touched them since I’d been back in the draining and demanding office environment.

Thanks to the Pinterest nudge, though–not to mention my newly unstructured life–I’m playing again. And jingling a little when I walk…

anklet

41 thoughts on “Practicing Craft”

  1. Kana, I so get this, I am a Piniterest partner, I’ve made my own laundry soap and it so rocks… Instead of paying $9.00 for soap, I now make my own for $2.00 , I found the recipe, and made it and now have 10 gallons of laundry soap.

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    1. Thank you! I had fun. :)
      “Repurposed” a freshwater pearl necklace (haven’t worn necklaces since my “permanent jewelry” went in, in the form of tattoos) and a turquoise bracelet (too “chunky” for my skinny wrist)… Those have been sitting in my jewelry box for YEARS.

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  4. yes, yes, yes … it can be a time suck … but I’ve also found it useful as a “time to wind down” tool. See? If I call it one of my coping tools, then I don’t have to feel guilty about how easy it is to get stuck for two or three hours finding all kinds of neat-o cool things.

    I will say that when I went grocery shopping this weekend, I intentionally purchased a few “not usually in the cart” items so I could try a couple of recipes that I found on pinterest. I’m all about adapting what works for each individual, so the rhubarb and sweet potato jam easily became rhubarb and sweet potato – with a touch of pineapple – jam instead. Next on my list to try is the apple slices dipped in pancake batter.

    pinterest is fun and interesting and yes, a big ole time suck.

    but at least we can choose how much, and when. :-)

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    1. I love the way you think! Coping tool–perfect. It has become my wind-down, the last thing before I retire the laptop at night, looking for giggles & funny sayings, and I turn off the light smiling. :)

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  6. Hi,
    Wow, you are very clever. I love the idea of turning unused items into something that can be used, and I love your jewelry, the foot jewelry is very nice, and something a bit different. :)

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  8. Okay, Kana, this is totally cool. Who knew you could do things like make your own laundry detergent. Plus, I totally love your bracelets. I’ve signed up for Pinterest but not done much with it. Clearly, I need to do more.
    Hugs,
    Kathy

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    1. It will definitely appeal to your “crafty” side when you start playing with it… And I can see YOU adding Pins to the Pinterest world–your gift-wrapping artistry? :) Hugs!

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  11. Gorgeous! What fun. Thanks for the giggles and inspirations! Love those bracelets, especially the wide one. All of it’s awesome. Hugs, Gina

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  12. My daughter-in-law and all my younger friends here in her age group just ADORE Pinterest. Like you, they actually use the how-to’s they find there. Yesterday, for example, our church held a huge celebration honoring our several high school graduating seniors. The cake was made very deliciously and beautifully from a Pinterest recipe! I tend to use from Pinterest what others pass on to me on Facebook. I am so busy with my WIP and my research that I comfortably ‘fess up to my laziness in exploring Pinterest on my own!

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  14. I’m loving your recycled jewelry. I do the same thing. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to buy used or repurposed when ever possible. I have to admit I failed miserably at making rolled paper beads. Have you tried it?

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    1. I haven’t yet–though it’s one of the “how-tos” I’ve pinned… I’ll let you know how it goes! ;)

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  19. Pingback: Food-Stamp Kitchen Chemistry #1: Jewelry Cleaner « Kana's Chronicles

    1. I’d be happy to make another for you, if you can spring for the costs of materials & mail. Or I could try putting together a how-to if you want to give it a go yourself… :)

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        1. I’ll be at the store tomorrow, so I’ll do some quick adding-up and let you know. :) Would you like both (the anklet AND the full-foot piece)?

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