Daily Check-In Post 7th March 2021

[pensnest]

Hello everyone, and welcome to the regular daily check-in post, for this week hosted by me, pensnest. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.

Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?

There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.

Today's Question: Are you (in Normal Times) part of any groups that craft together? eg knit & natter, pottery class etc. What do you get out of it? Will you go back to it once the pandemic is no longer a threat? Have you been able to keep it up on Zoom?

If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.

I now declare this Check-In OPEN!

Comments

[m_findlow]

I would love to join some kind of local group but sadly haven't been able to find any.
Many years ago there were a bunch of ladies at work, two of whom were knitters/stitchers and a few who expressed an interest in learning crafts. We would get together one lunchtime a week and I would bring in some beads and things and taught them how to turn loops so that they could make their own earrings or memory wire bracelets. It was lovely and a shame it didn't last as people moved on.
There used to be years ago a wonderful little craft shop near the train station that ran classes on cardmaking as the shop was heavily papercraft oriented but did sell a very small amount of beading supplies. I was working up the courage to offer to run a basic jewellery making class, but they closed and moved further away before I got the chance.
Costume jewellery is so cheap these days that people no longer want to make their own because it ends up being a lot more expensive, especially if you buy from the big craft chain stores because they'll sell a packet of ten beads for say $4 (plastic mind you, not glass or crystal) and I could buy a string of real crystal with about 100 beads for the same price from a proper wholesaler, making it really expensive if you're just starting out. I've been to other bead stores where they charge per bead and the cost ends up being just outrageous, but that's how I started out and didn't know any better. I'd love to be able to tell people all the tips I've learned the hard way and make cheap, affordable kits of high quality supplies for people to start out with.

[pensnest]

I remember going to an incredible bead shop in Sydney and coming away with a fabulous haul of things I couldn't resist... but I've not managed to do much with them. Not that I've ever got into jewellery making, but I meant to incorporate the beads into knitted or embroidered projects.

I think there's a lot of value to being able to do crafts in company - everybody learns from one another. I ran a glass painting 'workshop' for my chorus, and even though they were all beginners I got some ideas from seeing how they worked with everything. Good luck finding a group, when you're able.

[m_findlow]

It sounds like you may have visited "I Love You Beads" in Sydney as that is one of the main bead shops there (I know most of them by name or reputation from magazines and trade shows). I've bought things from them online.
We used to have a great wholesale place in the inner city suburbs on my side of town which then moves all the way across the other side of town. I only went there once after they moved, but man did I buy up one of everything that day! A shame they've since closed their warehouse. I think you can still buy stuff online but it's never the same as seeing them all in person.
I think jewellery making is tricky at first which is why people give up on it. Stringing beads is easy enough but it's all in the finishing off the ends and having the right bits and doodads to do it and make it look professional. Having someone teach you all the basics makes a huge difference. I had to learn it from books and my own mistakes but always happy to share what I've learned.

[pensnest]

That's the one! I still have the carrier bag. My daughter found out about the place so while we were in Oz visiting my father in law, we made a little pilgrimage there. I think our chaps investigated the Bridge.

I have a couple of friends who make jewellery - one, who is quite an artist, does teaching sessions as well as going on courses to learn. I think for me, as with spinning, it's something I don't want to fall in love with, as there just aren't enough hours in the day. Why can we not have time turners? I am sure crafters would be a huge market for a time turner!

[medievalrosalie]

There's a great bead shop near me which is great for all the weird little things I need sometimes. Groups are hard. People move on.