Stash Dash 2015 - Use the Tools You Have

Stash Dash 2015 Five Simple Rules

Remember when you were at that craft fair and couldn't resist the adorable little yarn-making-spinning-mabob contraption? Or what about the four-functions-in-one jewelry tool you couldn't live without? And don't forget the trip to Michaels where you absolutely had to have that complete set of Martha Stewart punches for the most fabulous scrapbook pages ever made. Afterall, you used a coupon.

I think the biggest challenge for some of us who don't have massive size craft studios is, we HAVE to put things away. We have no choice--we have a small space to craft, we still need and want things like great crafting tools, but they can't all sit out within view. Then comes the dilemma--out of sight, out of mind.

Always keep the instructions.

Purposely using your stash this year also reminds you to use your tools--especially the ones you may have forgotten all about. It's just a matter of a little organization and making a point to, once a month at least, use your tools.

Last week, I got out the ole flower loom. (picked it up with a good coupon last year) It initially appealed to me, because looms are fun, whimsical, can even be used by children, and in the dead of winter who doesn't want to make some flowers? Plus, it's another great way to bust my yarn/ribbon stash a little, and I couldn't make flowers without it. But it's one of those things that I don't HAVE to have, so it was put away last year and I just forgot about it. I've had some fun with it though--and I'm making flowers for everything from tags to scrapbook pages to stuffed animals! A double layered flower would make a cute pin. These kind of looms have several sizes and shapes you can snap in and start weaving. It only takes a few minutes to make something.

Then there are tools we'd like to forget we even bought!

Were you fooled by any tools lately?

Because sometimes we get these things home, we may or may not even try them out right away. We may let them lay around our craft table a few weeks to see if they magically make on their own. Then we put them away with everything else.

That's why this is the year to get rid of your tool hoarding non-usage guilt! In other words, it's time to use it or lose it.

Of course, you may have a huge craft studio, and can keep all the tools you want forever. But in my little crafty corner, everything has to earn its keep.

So once a week or so, I'm getting out a tool that still looks like new, and making something. In doing this, I'm going to know what stays and what goes. This week, the flower loom stays! I confess, I forgot how it worked. But I was smart enough to keep the instruction sheet with the loom kit, and in no time at all I was up and running and producing a whole flower garden. So, note to you--always keep the instructions with your tools!

I have to say, after the coldest February in the Ozarks ever, I love making flowers.

So what about the tools that fooled you? Put them in a box. And when you have a few, have a fun crafty tool swap with your crafting buddies, what else? Maybe someone doesn't want their flower loom--so you can get started on your own flower garden! However, I do recommend it, and if you find the need to visit Michael or JoAnn, just use a coupon. You can use so many things in your stash with this tool--yarn, ribbon, cording, twine, or a combination. Happy stashing!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch in Flowers

Weaving Ribbon Yarn On a Little Loom

I am mad about this little loom! Weaving on this little thing is kind of addicting, and I'm looking forward to trying out all kinds of yarn, ribbon and string in my weaving--I see some of these little squares landing in the middle of mixed-media projects, homemade tote bags, and maybe a throw. Here's how my little squares turned out today with a ball of variegated ribbon yarn from my knitting stash. It only takes a few minutes to weave a square!

I went wrong a couple of times--variegated color can trick your eye--but I mostly got this one perfect!

Loved weaving with this silky ribbon yarn that had been sitting in my stash forever!

I'm imagining a silky patchwork clutch made out of these cute woven squares

This was one of my first attempts--very easy to go wrong in the middle! But I'll still use it in something.

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Weave

A Little Weaving - Trying An Old-Fashioned Pin Loom

Isn't this a pretty little loom? I was walking around a craft festival on a gorgeous, sunny day this past weekend, and found this booth--Dewberry Ridge. They handcraft their own weaving looms of many sizes. I've actually been thinking about weaving, so it wasn't really on impulse that I bought this beautiful little loom. They are the nicest people, and made sure to give me a lesson and all the tools I needed.

It tightens and shrinks when it comes off the loom.

My last weaving class was in 1988! I was working at a college, and they had a gorgeous weaving studio--gorgeous, huge, amazing! There was a whole room devoted to one loom, and another whole room devoted to the threads! At that point, all I did was cross-stitch, so I had not come into my full crafty goddessness, and I don't think I appreciated that experience like I should have. But I remember how relaxing it was to sit at the loom, and throw the thread boats back and forth and make fabric. I thought it was really cool. BUT! Threading the loom was a whole different story. 

My first couple of squares were wonky--getting much better at it now!

Threading the floor loom was a nightmare to me really. The painstaking process just wasn't worth it. But the love of weaving stayed somewhere in the back of my mind, and here I am 26 years later, discovering a little old-fashioned style loom, self-warping so no threading needed, and I love it. The wood is beautiful, soft and polished, and this thin variegated yarn is a fun one to start off with. Each square only takes five minutes to make, so soon I'll have a basket full to make something with! And I'll definitely use the first wonky pieces I made for a mixed media project! Have a happy day! Weave something! (I'm off to start my weaving board on Pinterest)

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Weave

Loomyinous Flowers!

Once upon a time, I took a weaving class! That's right, the kind of weaving class involving a weaving studio and huge looms. Luminous looms! It was a Saturday morning class, and I really fell in love with weaving. All except for one thing--threading the loom! When you are working with a huge loom, threading the loom can take...oh...forever! So, it's no wonder that I've always wanted one of these little looms that you can make simple yarn flowers with. Finally, I bought one the other day, and I've been having so much fun!

It only takes minutes to make a little flower...and not much longer to make a bigger, layered flower.

Not even thinking, I happened to choose this variegated Sugar n Cream yarn, and it happened to be the scented kind! It smells like flowers--perfect!

For a little weaving kit--it comes with several looms for circles and squares.

Then the whole thing compacts nicely and travels well. Why didn't I get one of these flower looms long ago? I'm just imagining all the kinds of yarns and ribbons I can use on it to embellish both my fabric and paper projects.

So some of my first flowers were a little wonky as I was getting used to it, but I'm much faster now. Can't wait to move onto the squares! I'm a dream weaver!