Crafts & Hobbies #66: Knitting and Crocheting

Crafts & Hobbies #66: Knitting and Crocheting

I have crocheted in the past and even tried using thread instead of yarn to get a form of lace. I could never get the hang of knitting, too many parts. I don't really crochet here on the Gulf Coast, due to the heat. I was more inspired when I lived near the snowbelt. Plus I had a Grandmother who could crochet an entire afghan in just a day or two. (she was fast!)

If I had to choose making between a prayer shawl, chemo hat, or lap blanket, I would make a lap blanket. A group I was with in the North made lap blankets for the local nursing homes. It was fun to make them as a group and most of our group was male. I could also do the chemo hats, since I did hats before. However, I would need to practice a bit to get my skills up to par.

Does our branch have a knitting group? Our Children's Dept has had a knitting program this Summer. After the July program finishes, they will have another in August. These are both weekly beginner programs, but intermediate programs are possible in the Fall. The Young Adult Dept has had at least one knitting/crocheting progam in the past.

The Adult Dept doesn't have a "sponsored"program, but Bay Area Knitting & Crochet try to meet in our Conference room twice monthly. If we wanted to have a branch program, we would probably approach the Bay Area Knitting & Crochet group for assitance. They might be willing to host a program for us.

Crafts & Hobbies #65: Coin Collecting

Crafts & Hobbies #65: Coin Collecting

Wow. My piggy bank is special, because that is where I keep my interesting stuff. I have a box for the overflow. I consider myself a casual collector. I think it started when Grandpa would give us kids Kennedy half-dollars and Eisenhower dollars. I don't know if any of the other grand kids kept theirs, but I kept mine. Some of the Kennedy's are silver!

Just looking in the box, I see the Kennedy half-dollars and Eisenhower dollars. It is nice to hear the silver ones clink.
There is a Buffalo nickle with Indian profile on front. No date found - it is quite worn.
An Indian head penny, that unfortunately has some corrosion obscuring the date there also.
A Lincoln wheat back penny has the date 1917, but I think I have one or two older in the bank - 190- somethings. A steel penny too.
Roosevelt dimes - 1963 & silver and an oddly colored 1966.

I also have some foreign coins. I really like the Canadian coins I have. Three of them feature King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II as a young woman, and Queen Elizabeth II as an older woman. It shows the changing of the crown and how long Elizabeth II has been Queen.

I also have most , if not all of the state quarters. I just need to find where I put my folder for them. One member of the household does have their folder filled.

Like I said before, I'm a casual collector. I keep stuff in a box & piggy bank. I occasionally check websites for values, but most of what I have is just because it is interesting. There are some dealers in my area and I have window shopped before, but my stuff is just "found". I don't see myself buying coins as an investment. I check my change on a regular basis because you never know what you might find. I'm watchng for those nickles & what ever else cathces my eye.

Crafts & Hobbies #64: Zines

Crafts & Hobbies #64: Zines

I think I might make my own Zine, but it might just be a one-shot & not for distribution. Subject-wise, boy that's a tough one. This could be either instructional or self expression (or both). I can see turning some of the procedures I've written for work turned into a Zine. Maybe staff would remember some of the instructions if they have a more creative format.

I can see how the old pulp magazines could have started this way and some are still in publication today. I think that Libraries with zines are just providing another form of content to their customers. You need to start somewhere and, from what I saw, some of these zines have a big following. If the customers are reading it, why not have it in the Library?

Crafts & Hobbies #63: Digital Scrapbooking

Crafts & Hobbies #63: Digital Scrapbooking

I went to Scrapblog.com and took the 5 minute video tutorial, then created a layout using their free online program. No registration is required to create, but if you want to save, publish, or share, registration is necessary. I didn't try Crop Mom or Scrapbook Flair, but may take a look in the future.

My thoughts on digital scrapbooking: It is fun and I could learn to really like it. I like the idea of keeping stuff stored online, if available, because it doesn't take up memory on your PC.

I did you encounter a problem in trying to make a layout. I found I could not share what I made unless I registered with the website. Permission settings make a difference in how a layout may be viewed if you embed a link in your blog. If the permission is not set to public, others may not be able to see the layout. I only have one page for this "scrapblog", but it could be more.

Here is my layout.

Crafts & Hobbies #62: Decoupage

Crafts & Hobbies #62: Decoupage

I remember doing decoupage in scouts. There were several projects. One was a cigar box. We decorated it inside and out with decopage. If you didn't know it was a cigar box to begin with, you would have never suspected it when we were finished. We also did bottles. You could get a neat stained glass effect using colored tissue paper on a clear bottle or jar.

I really haven't done much decoupage since then, but liked some of the projects I saw on Flickr.
The decoupage chair by moxie may have taken time, but it looks worth it. Daxiang stef's switchplate gives me some ideas on how just a little thing can make a big difference. A switchplate is something I might try to begin decoupage again.

Crafts & Hobbies #61: Craftspiration!

Crafts & Hobbies #61: Craftspiration!

I took a look at Repurposeful, Instructables, and Craftzine. On Instructables, I found the Duct Tape Tear-Away Scratch Pad. This is a really neat and practical craft. You use scrap paper and duct tape to make a tear-away scratch pad. A very Green idea in reusing the paper. The comments on the post are very positive. I'll be using some of the desktop calendar pages that I use as scrap paper. They are aready cut to size. Now where is that duct tape?

Here is my Duct tape Tear-Away Pad:

Front & Back pics

This was EASY. I skipped the glue stick & it still works fine.

Next time, I'll have a front cover too. I used an empty tissue box for the cardboard.

I've browsed around in the multimedia section. I can learn craft techniques or DIY by watching a video or form of written instructions. I like to read over instructions first, but it is nice to have a video option when you are not sure exactly what the written version means. But I do like having a print version always. That way I can just peruse at my leisure and not worry about loosing my place in a video. The written also lets you quickly scan to see if it is something worth doing.

What can I do next?

Recession Busters # 60: Food, Fun & Frugality

Recession Busters # 60: Food, Fun & Frugality


I watched one of Clara’s videos and posted the video my blog below:





Clara's cooking reminds me of cooking in college. Some of this is still in use today, but I'm moving more towards rice instead of pasta.


I've known about Houston on the Cheap from one of the Houston Chronicle's blogs. I do look at it weekly and am frustrated when when there is a great deal, but it is on the other side of town. This is one example: $25 Massages This Summer at Lone Star College. I would take advantage of this deal, but not if I need to drive across town.


Here are some tips we have been using for some time regarding saving money during difficult economic times:

One thing we've done that is free is ride the Bolivar Ferry. We park in the parking lot and walk on. We don't walk off the Bolivar side, just ride the Ferry back & forth a few times while standing on the upper deck. You can watch the ships, enjoy the breeze, and maybe see a few dolphins.

Thrift Shops are a great resource, especially with growing kids. When the kids are at the point where that out grow clothes before wearing them out, Thrift Shops are the place to go. Where else can I get jeans for $3.00 most of the time? And the clothes that don't fit , but are still in good shape? Donate them for someone else to use. Most of the local shops support a charity, like Goodwill or ICM.

Another long standing tradition with us is Half Price Books. The local store knows us as regulars. We don't always buy something, but looking is part of the fun. And at a lesser cost than the regular bookstores. Of course, the Public Library is still the best place to get books and media. No cost and items are returned to the Library for less clutter at home.