What are you making just now?

Graces7 · 24-01-2020 9:00am

Twiddling my thumbs here, seeking inspiration and motivation! Swimming in hats etc! Abundant wool and time etc...

lulu1 · 25-01-2020 10:50pm

Graces7 wrote: »

Twiddling my thumbs here, seeking inspiration and motivation! Swimming in hats etc! Abundant wool and time etc...

I think we all need motivation at times I also have lost my mojo as they call it. 4 sewing machines that do different things sitting there unused for this week anyway

Did you ever think of knitting easter chicks where you put cream eggs in. Just a thought

Mike Litoris · 06-02-2020 7:11am

Made this. First attempt after watching a few vids on youtube. Been meaning to do something like this for years but just never found the time. Was great fun a a great learning experience.

Used Das paper clay, toilet roll carboards, cardboard, pebbles/stones from Portrane beach, tin foil, empty 2l 7up bottle and water colour paints.

Graces7 · 06-02-2020 12:47pm

lulu1 wrote: »

I think we all need motivation at times I also have lost my mojo as they call it. 4 sewing machines that do different things sitting there unused for this week anyway

Did you ever think of knitting easter chicks where you put cream eggs in. Just a thought

I once thought of them when I was running my market /craft fair stall but when I looked around everyone was making them. The art is to make things no one else is doing. So I diversified to cat nip toys! Oh and egg cosies went well!

Now as I am housebound etc I am "on call "for whatever will sell or is needed. Canada tell me what will sell there and India asked for bright baby hats.. Oh and someone on boards ordered a warm woolly hat. My first year here did a good line in Mayo red/.green football hats!

This is an odd time of year though.

lulu1 · 07-02-2020 12:53am

Mike Litoris wrote: »

Made this. First attempt after watching a few vids on youtube. Been meaning to do something like this for years but just never found the time. Was great fun a a great learning experience.

Used Das paper clay, toilet roll carboards, cardboard, pebbles/stones from Portrane beach, tin foil, empty 2l 7up bottle and water colour paints.

Oh God this is class I love it

lulu1 · 07-02-2020 12:59am

Graces7 wrote: »

I once thought of them when I was running my market /craft fair stall but when I looked around everyone was making them. The art is to make things no one else is doing. So I diversified to cat nip toys! Oh and egg cosies went well!

Now as I am housebound etc I am "on call "for whatever will sell or is needed. Canada tell me what will sell there and India asked for bright baby hats.. Oh and someone on boards ordered a warm woolly hat. My first year here did a good line in Mayo red/.green football hats!

This is an odd time of year though.

That's the thing Grace if only we could think of something that nobody else thought of we would be millionaires over night.
But for now I will keep doing the lotto
Nearly had a heart attack last week 3 numbers so near and yet so far away:):)

em_cat · 07-02-2020 12:59am

I’m knitting a new pullover for myself after the Xmas mayhem and working up samples for handwoven upholstery and textiles for our future new gaff. I’ve started learning about different types of weaving techniques & styles so I can transpose from shaft floor loom to a rigid heddle.

Mike Litoris · 07-02-2020 9:02am

lulu1 wrote: »

Oh God this is class I love it

Thanks Lulu. I'm giving it to my 2 nieces. I still have a few finishing touches to do. I'll put up the end result when it's done.

Graces7 · 07-02-2020 4:34pm

lulu1 wrote: »

That's the thing Grace if only we could think of something that nobody else thought of we would be millionaires over night.
But for now I will keep doing the lotto
Nearly had a heart attack last week 3 numbers so near and yet so far away:):)

Never done the lotto!

I did very well at the markets all those years! My grandmother had a shop so it must be in the genes.. Folk used to tell me I could sell anything to anyone.. all went to India for the tiny ones my family cares for, which incentivised me mightily . I used to say I was knitting baby milk; still am.

Now working on a pair of slipper socks for me, with assorted scraps of yarn that are not fit for anything... Need them fast! SO COLD this year... shivers!

This weather is very tiring!

Mike Litoris · 08-02-2020 4:26pm

Finished!! Added lights, door handle, a sign with the girls names, water in the well and touched up some colours.

DSC_1828 by ,

DSC_1835 by ,

DSC_1829 by ,

kadman · 12-02-2020 10:11am

Nearly done with a set of leather Vw Beetle seat covers,

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Mike Litoris · 13-02-2020 8:30am

Here we go again!

Mike Litoris · 14-02-2020 1:30am

Ready for painting!!

Princess Calla · 14-02-2020 5:45pm

Mike Litoris wrote: »

Ready for painting!!

They are fantastic!

I'd love to do something like that!

Happy painting!

Mike Litoris · 16-02-2020 5:14pm

Nearly there

ShauntaMetzel · 17-02-2020 3:49pm

Leather mobile cover. Though I used formic sheet in the beginning but I think leather is more durable.

Graces7 · 17-02-2020 5:36pm

Sleepless nigh ts in the storms so I sit abed and knit, baby hats for India just now. Gathered them in today and during Storm Dennis there are 16 finished and ready to go.

As they say it is an ill wind... and boy was that such a one!

Mike Litoris · 22-02-2020 10:22am

Finished build no 2! A bit scary this one!

DSC_1882 by Anthony Murray, on Flickr

DSC_1879 by Anthony Murray, on Flickr

DSC_1872 by Anthony Murray, on Flickr

IMG_0402 by Anthony Murray, on Flickr

Mike Litoris · 27-02-2020 10:47am

Build 3 Started!

It is for my niece and nephew who are brother and sister. Thinking of adding a moat and drawbridge. The other side of the moat will be a spooky tree for my nephew!

Mike Litoris · 28-02-2020 8:48am

Now we're ready for painting!

lulu1 · 28-02-2020 8:05pm

Mike Litoris wrote: »

Now we're ready for painting!

These really are class are they done with that clay i seen in one of your other pics.

How long would it take you to make one

Mike Litoris · 02-03-2020 10:26pm

lulu1 wrote: »

These really are class are they done with that clay i seen in one of your other pics.

How long would it take you to make one

Cheers. Yeah, Das clay. It can be picked up for a fiver for a 1kg block in Mr Price. The current build took nearly 2 blocks, 2 empty bottles, a roll of tin foil and a few bits of cardboard from Lidl boxes. A hot glue gun and some tacky glue is also used. The paint is mostly watercolours. The builds usually take about a week. I've just started so am winging it with the painting. If I knew what I was doing it would probably be quicker.

Here's the update, I reckon 1 more day and I'll have it finished.

Here is the guide on YT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0RGK0Xv5Kw

Princess Calla · 03-03-2020 1:09am

@mike

I presume they are for indoors or do you varnish them for outdoors.

Your first one I think was a fairy house, which made me think garden, but equally fab to have inside.

Mike Litoris · 03-03-2020 9:26am

Princess Calla wrote: »

@mike

I presume they are for indoors or do you varnish them for outdoors.

Your first one I think was a fairy house, which made me think garden, but equally fab to have inside.

I dont think they'd last too long outdoors as that Das clay reactivates/softens with water. Even if it was well sealed with varnish you'd have trouble I reckon. I do varnish to protect them. Polymer Clay is used for outdoors but I've no experience with it other than knowing it has to be baked/cured when its built. I reckon watercolours would also be a no no for outdoors. I'll eventually go down this route when I run out of family to make them for!

Princess Calla · 03-03-2020 10:20am

Yeah it was the watercolour paint that flagged not waterproof, never even thought of the clay

Mike Litoris · 03-03-2020 11:17am

Princess Calla wrote: »

Yeah it was the watercolour paint that flagged not waterproof, never even thought of the clay

Hehe.

I think acrylics work for outdoors stuff. I haven't dabbled that much with them but I reckon they're harder to blend.

Princess Calla · 03-03-2020 12:18pm

Acrylics are water based too. I haven't used them but they model themselves on similar properties to oils, which I have used, I love blending with oils

so they maybe easier than you think to use.

New Home · 03-03-2020 2:02pm

They may be water based but they form a sort of plastic film, as far as I know, and I know that a lot of paints suitable for outdoors are acrylics. They come in spray cans, too.

Mike Litoris · 03-03-2020 7:02pm

Right, build 3.5 is just finished. I need a break!

Princess Calla · 03-03-2020 7:12pm

Once again absolutely fab!!!

Do holloween and Christmas themed ones you'll have a nice lil earner... Certainly have the talent for it!

Mike Litoris · 03-03-2020 7:39pm

Cheers!

They take too feckin long!!

You'd need to charge a fortune to make it worthwhile. It's a labour of love for now!

I've to make a scary tree to go with the above build for my nephew.

Should have it done by tomorrow. The below tutorial is super well presented. Should be a breeze plus I'll get some practice using acrylics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_XgEcpXeME

Mike Litoris · 05-03-2020 3:40pm

House is done, tree started. Will get the paper and glue (bark) on the tree today and hopefully painted tonight then somehow marry the 2 together tomorrow.

Mike Litoris · 07-03-2020 12:48am

Spooky Tree finished. This was super easy and quick and a ton of fun to make.

Princess Calla · 07-03-2020 12:52am

That's class!!

I think you've definitely caught a modelling bug

Mike Litoris · 07-03-2020 1:12am

Princess Calla wrote: »

That's class!!

I think you've definitely caught a modelling bug

I have indeed. I've a bit of time off work and it's something I've wanted to do for years. Would never have gotten around to it without the time off. Now it's taking up all my time. I'm loving it though!

Princess Calla · 07-03-2020 1:20am

So what's next to add to the village?

New Home · 07-03-2020 1:29am

Dungeons and Dragons???

Princess Calla · 07-03-2020 1:39am

New Home wrote: »

Dungeons and Dragons???

Excellent suggestion

Mike Litoris · 07-03-2020 1:40am

My wife wants something, I've another 2 nieces that want houses too.

Lol, when I eventually get to make something for myself it will deffo be D+D inspired! Or maybe a lighthouse!

lulu1 · 07-03-2020 2:02am

Mike Litoris wrote: »

My wife wants something, I've another 2 nieces that want houses too.

Lol, when I eventually get to make something for myself it will deffo be D+D inspired! Or maybe a lighthouse!

There's a saying that goes Dont give up the day job

But in this case I think you could

Mike Litoris · 09-03-2020 1:28am

We were babysitting this weekend so of course this happened.....

My niece spent 5 hours making the bricks for it!!

Mike Litoris · 11-03-2020 10:24pm

Progress report. First time doing a water effect and it turned out awesome. Coloured the bed blue with dashes of green and white. Used drying tacky glue to create white surf then covered the lot with clear silicone and teased waves with a matchstick!
Not too happy with the paint job but it's what was requested. Pink is so hard to work with.

The One Doctor · 12-03-2020 5:55pm

Spirit of Fire

Spirit of the Sea

Both from scrap beech, very enjoyable to make. Probably sell them on Etsy.

Graces7 · 13-03-2020 8:26am

So many lovely things!

As for me; have run out of things to knit. Sometimes yarn that is handed in is not of any immediate use. Such is a whole large cone of thick grey/beige cotton, so, deep in face cloths, hand towels, floor cloths, dish cloths.. Boring but practical!Tried selling hats to a local shop but with a very hard trade summer ahead with UNOWAT?

Available ; one pair of hands, skilled and versatile!

Mike Litoris · 26-03-2020 1:05am

Finished the last one. Cant give it to my niece yet as the family are in quarantine!

Mike Litoris · 26-03-2020 1:11am

Build 6. Need to get the pulley on the drawbridge working smoothly. The whole thing will sit in a moat when its done. I've ladders and a raft made out of twigs which will sit in the water under the hobbit doors.

Princess Calla · 26-03-2020 1:45am

Lock down is working out well for you

Hope you picked up a good supply of clay before the madness

Mike Litoris · 26-03-2020 10:05am

Princess Calla wrote: »

Lock down is working out well for you

Hope you picked up a good supply of clay before the madness

I sure did! I got a load of Das clay from Mr Price. I got 12.5kg bulk bag of paper clay for €15 from Art and Hobby. It's not the best though. Has a texture like cement and shrinks by about 15% when dry so it cracks all over the place plus watercolours dont really work on it as its mad porous. It'll still have it's uses!

makeandcreate · 27-03-2020 2:27am

Mike Litoris wrote: »

I sure did! I got a load of Das clay from Mr Price. I got 12.5kg bulk bag of paper clay for €15 from Art and Hobby. It's not the best though. Has a texture like cement and shrinks by about 15% when dry so it cracks all over the place plus watercolours dont really work on it as its mad porous. It'll still have it's uses!

Check out https://www.ultimatepapermache.com/paper-mache-clay
She has the best make it yourself paper clay recipes (you just need loads of toilet roll:eek:) and some amazing projects. I found Art n Hobby paper clay horrible.
Or maybe homemade cold porcelain clay .
They work out much cheaper than DAS for larger projects.

Mike Litoris · 28-03-2020 12:46am

makeandcreate wrote: »

Check out https://www.ultimatepapermache.com/paper-mache-clay
She has the best make it yourself paper clay recipes (you just need loads of toilet roll:eek:) and some amazing projects. I found Art n Hobby paper clay horrible.
Or maybe homemade cold porcelain clay .
They work out much cheaper than DAS for larger projects.

Lol on the toilet roll!!

Thanks for the link. I should have enough Das for another 6/7 builds. Yeah, the A+H Clay is nasty stuff. Fine detail is a big no no with it. I'll probably use it for the bulk of structures where clay is needed and use Das for the finer detail..

What are you making just now?

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