BlogHer - Crafts - Comments

Cheeky

gretnagreene — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:30:34 -0500

I think if it had been me I'd have blown my top. I wrote a book once, a long time ago, and it is so incredibly difficult to try & promote it and to try & get even small independent book stores to take it.

Trying to sell your own book on your own website is so obviously what anyone is going to do, the people who complain don't live in the real World - if they'd ever tried to do anything, to run a business, create a product, or write a book they'd know how incredibly difficult it is and would be more understanding.

I'm afraid the World seems full of people like this at times, people who want to just compalin and knock other people, you just have to ignore them and get on with it.

Thanks for the support Suzy

Mom101 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:20:09 -0500

If you check the Save Handmade page at Cool Mom Picks, there are some good updates as to what's been going on in the past few months. There is now a one year stay on compliance, so I imagine things will flare up again as February '10 approaches.

Sadly, we've already seen several wonderful crafters and small labels voluntarily close shop because they can't afford the testing to prove compliance, even though they're meeting the guidelines. European brands like Haba, Selecta and Hess have pulled out some or all of their products from the US market. It's sad.

Here's a great update on Mothering.com about why it ain't over until it's over. Overlawyered is also a great resource.

Mom-101

Cool Mom Picks.com

So far it looks like the

suzyjenkins — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:04:10 -0500

So far it looks like the CPSIA has not been enforced, as many are still selling their crafts and used children's toys/clothing on ebay. Time will tell how this will turn out in the future, but I will be fighting this along side other small businesses if it starts to be enforced.

Grumperina...

debra roby — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:29:49 -0500

For me, crochet is new and complicated, and I could not crochet a stitch without total silence and three reference books nearby :).

Grumperina, I remember the days (weeks) of you obsessing over which pattern to use. I'm certain that you would need the same level of concentration to produce these. These swap items were all works of art, though.

I'm sure I could find a simple pattern and just have fun with it for a couple hours. And I've been crocheting since 4th grade...so a long, long time ago.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

Potholders' portability: user-dependent

grumperina — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:05:32 -0500

Thanks for mentioning the potholder swap! It was a lot of fun, and some truly amazing projects came about as a result. But I think the portability for crocheted potholders is a very user-dependent thing. For me, crochet is new and complicated, and I could not crochet a stitch without total silence and three reference books nearby :). I imagine a seasoned crocheter would agree with you that they are a fabulous take-along project, though.

OK, we'll plan for a craft-in some time...

debra roby — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:35:13 -0500

I think there are going to be "birds of a feather" lunch tables.. we can plan a craft-in at lunch time. Let's say on Friday??

Are you working on completing these projects as part of the '09 Stash Busting?

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

fun stuff!

debra roby — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:31:11 -0500

I like the idea of soap puffs and scarves.. but I want to be assured that I have enough stuff to keep me busy on a whole trip (including delayed flights. They seem to be the norm, now).

I knit socks using the magic loop (one large circular needle) so there are never too many needles for me. As long they are begun -the first 5 rows are a challenge - it's fairly easy from there.

If I decide to do a scarf or something, I may just rely on the fact that there must be a yarn shop somewhere in Chicago I can visit if I need to, right?

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

Crochet Soap Puff

alovelything — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:42:42 -0500

I crocheted a soap puff on a road trip with my husband ... to a bowling tournament of his.

Unfortunately, it didn't take long enough to make forcing me to watch middle aged men bowl. :)

On another road trip, I knit several scarves for holiday gifts.

A granny afghan was started on another trip. Since I didn't want to carry all the colors with me, I just did the first row on 20 something motives.

Socks involve too many needles not to mention that I need complete silence and concentration to turn the heel.

Love to see what you decide!

www.alovelything.com

one of the first things i think about when planning a trip

laurie — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:25:08 -0500

I knit a log cabin blanket all the way to florida and back, a couple
of years ago. By the time we got back from our road trip, it was almost
queen-sized. And reeked of potato chips.

I still love it though: http://notjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com/2007/04/ending-better-than-it-started.html

Usually, I travel with socks but this year, I'm bringing a scarf to BlogHer (http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/04/noro-scarf.html), although I am working in another blanket (http://www.woollythoughts.com/afghans/pursuit.html)

Unfortunately, I am much better at starting things than finishing
them. It worked out well, though, when it came time to take photos for
the book cover. "Not Done Yet" appears to be my motto in more than one
aspect of my life.

And I love the idea of a "craft-in."

Laurie

The blog is Not Just About Cancer and the book is Not Done Yet.

Afghans! Baby blankets? Craft in?

debra roby — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:58:56 -0500

Baby blankets. That's one I forgot. With friends becoming grandmothers left and right (seriously, three grandkids born within 6 months), crocheted or knitted baby blankets would work too. They don't get too large, I think...

We should have a craft in some time during BlogHer so everyone can show the stuff they brought to work on during odd moments.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

I'll be doing socks I think

sassymonkey — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:06:59 -0500

We're not flying but we're driving and according to google maps it's close to a 13 hours drive (and they don't count rest, refueling and eating stops). Socks are good because they fit in my small travel bag. I just need to have gotten a good cast on first.

I once took a crocheted afghan on a plane. I wasn't very far into it so it wasn't too big to travel with yet. And one of my friends used to have a two day drive to visit her in-laws and that was pretty much the only time all year she'd work on her afghan. (It took her six years to finish it I think.)

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

The Sewing Machine Meme

debra roby — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 09:03:16 -0500

1. What brand and model sewing machine do you have?
I own a Pfaff 7550

2. How long have you had it? Purchased in 1998?

3. How much did it cost (approximately)$2000

4. What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, crafts, home dec.?)Everything. I've done piecing and machine quilting, simple clothes, crafts and home dec.

5. How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get? Not as much as I used to. First 10 years, I used it almost every day.

6. Do you live/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does it have a name?
I knew how to operate this machine intuitively when I tried it out. That's why I bought it. Knew it would likely be the last machine I ever purchased. But I never named it.

7. What features does your machine have that work well for you? I love the built-in even feed feature.

8. Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? Yes. The thread has to catch at a place before the take-up lever; it's behind the cover and not easy to insure that it does. For me, it often fails to stay there. When it doesn't catch, the tension is thrown off and the thread shreds and breaks. One small bad design feature.

9. Is there a great story to share about your machine? Not this one.

10. Would you recommend the machine to others? You can't buy it new anymore. But if you see a used one for sale, it's one of the best Pfaff machines ever made.

11. What factors are important to consider when looking for a new machine? For me, intuitively being able to figure out how to make it do things. Because I don't read manuals.

12. Do you have a dream machine? No.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

GREAT to meet other girl gamers!

ImaGuysGirl — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:01:39 -0500

Maria- halo is a great game! Have you seen the wedding where a couple actually got married by Master Cheif and the girl walked down the isle to the halo theme music?!

JPeaslee- i feel your pain! When I tell people I write about/play video games, there is a look of confusion on their faces and I always have to immediately "prove my worth". At those times I wish I could pull out a portable xbox and commense the ass kicking. And I couldn't agree more with the statement about how video games have NOTHING to do with murders, violent crimes etc...That is simply a case of a parent not wanting to take responsibility for thier child's actions and trying to find other things to blame their bad behavoir (ala video games)

Glad to see other girl gamers out there. There is a great video called "Women in Gaming" that you should watc

Blythe Brumleve

http://www.GuysGirl.com

http://ImaGuysGirl.blogspot.com

FINALLY Another female gamer

JPeaslee — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:35:09 -0500

I get no higher pleasure than logging onto Call of Duty 4 and kicking ass. My clan name is "chik," just so there's no confusion amongst the poor men who fall prey to my black widow abilities.

Okay, I'm not that good. But it still annoys me when I walk into a room wearing one of my favorite gaming T-shirts, and I hear, "Oh, wow, you play real video games? Not just like Mario Party?"

Gee, thanks.

Even more aggravating is finding feminist articles on how video games are evil instruments of violence. In spite of my rather eclectic video game collection, which does include violent games, I've never killed anyone. Imagine that.

Thanks for contributing to the discussion

Maria Niles — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:09:50 -0500

What I hope is that we can be more open about talking about these issues. That might better allow us to help figure out ways to better augment our finances without feeling like we are pushing.

Thanks for your comment and may I just add, I love your avatar :)