I lost my glue gun.  Don’t ask me how; I don’t know how anyone could lose a glue gun.  But I did.  I am suspicious my son may have disposed of it for me - being afflicted with rather severe autism he is prone to rearranging my things, and sometimes throwing things out he does not feel are necessary.  At any rate, I am in the market for a new one.  I happened to see an ad on this blog about a glue gun and I decided to go take a look at it.  I am impressed and am considering purchasing this one.  When I tell you about it, you might want to take a look for yourself.  A good glue gun can make all the difference in crafts, and certainly in home maintenance as well.

What attracted me to this glue gun was the portability factor.  I have had “cordless” glue guns in the past - they have stayed warm for all of a minute, if that.  And if I have a cord, it seems it knocks everything off the table with the efficiency of a Labrador’s wagging tail.  I find that frustrating when I am working with small and intricate craft parts.  I also get really annoyed when the cord pulls the glue gun to the floor and I wish I had never started the entire project.  A truly cordless glue gun could reduce my irritability factor about 10 points.

It is advertised as ergonomic, having soft grips, and an anti-drip feature.  But what I think is really neat is that this glue gun has a blog!  There are many more things we can do with glue guns than we use them for typically.  This blog provided some inspiration and ideas to use this tool to its fullest extent.  And being a blog, we can be sure more ideas will be forthcoming.

Take a look.  I think you will like it.  Maybe the “loss” of my glue gun isn’t so bad.  This one is reasonably priced and it appears to be a lot more useful.

Click on the link at the top or here

Cold Heat Freestyle Glue Gun

Cold Heat Glue Gun Blog

One person’s junk is another person’s treasure.  At least, that is what the old saying is.  Considering the success of garage sales, I would have to agree.  What I really like though is when discarded items from one person become crafts and works of arts of another.  I particularly liked, being on the computer as much as I am, the idea of jewelry being made out of computer parts.  We all end up with bits and pieces of hardware that we can’t use; something fails and is replaced, so do you just throw that piece of “useless” equipment away?  Maybe you should reconsider what you could do with it.

Bonnie Meltzer is an artist that has taken discarded computer hardware and turned it into some of the most intriguing jewelry you will find.  She creates pins by using the bits and pieces of computers and then embellishes them.  Each piece is one-of-a-kind.  The faces are incredible.  I would not have thought such expression could be achieved using this technique but she has done it and she has done it well.  I debated for awhile before I decided on which photo to post because I like them all, but this particular one had a look of surprise (dare I say “shock” when it has to do with computer parts?) on its face, and that appealed to me.  I see these pieces as a great way to show your emotions of the day to the outside world.  I can guarantee you that while you are wearing one, you are going to have people asking about it - these are completely unique and just a lot of fun.

Meltzer also makes necklaces and wall art.  The photo at the top is one of her pieces of art.  It measures 24″ X 64″ X 7″.  Wouldn’t that just be perfect in a contemporary office setting?  I believe her style adapts well to a contemporary, yet softened feminine look, for the office and career woman.  I know I would love to have that piece hanging near my desk.  I decorate in contemporary lines and styles and I am totally smitten with Meltzer’s style.

Take a look at her Web site.  I know you will enjoy the photographs.  Exhibition information is also available.  And whatever you do, don’t miss her Portrait Series.  I have the link provided below.  It is very unique - I couldn’t leave you without being sure you took at look at it.  I know that once you spend a few minutes at this site, Bonnie Meltzer will have a new fan; it is impossible to see her work and not become an admirer.

Bonnie Meltzer- Very Mixed Media Constructions

Bonnie Meltzer - Pins

Bonnie Meltzer’s Portrait Series 

Do you have a group of little faces looking up at you waiting for you to come up with something to do?  Or maybe, it is a group of little faces that you need to be just a bit quieter on a hot summer afternoon.  How about a Vacation Bible School class?  Whatever the reason, most parents have a need for crafts that are good for kids to do in the summer.  A selection of kid’s crafts to choose from that is inexpensive, safe, and easy is what you need.

Nicole Crafts is not just another craft site. It is personalized to you.  It takes about three minutes to sign up and the membership is free.  The information they collect is minimal and confidential.  Once you sign up, you have access to areas such as “My Projects,” “My Craft Box, and other useful information to increase your productivity within the site.  You may be entertaining or teaching children, but you still have a busy life; these features they provide to members are most helpful.

You start by doing searches on the projects you would be interested in - “My Projects,” is an area that presents potential crafts you may be interested in.  You can search seasonally, by a particular material, or any keyword.  I did a search on wood and found a really cute coat hanger on a plaid airplane.  I also found a windchime in another search and an easy God’s Eye easy enough for a kid.  I then marked to add them to “My Craft Box.” 

Clicking on the “My Craft Box,” now has the three crafts I have selected.  It shows the date I added the craft to my list, the difficulty level (these are all beginner ones so they would be great for Vacation Bible School) and about how long each project will take to complete.  By clicking on the photo, I then get full detailed instructions, a list of necessary materials (including a photo so I am sure to buy the right thing) and a list of supplies I will need.

Each project has a printer friendly page, an email link if I wished to send a copy to each parent (perfect for a classroom situation), and a store locator so I can find all the goodies I need for this craft.  There is also a forum to talk about crafts with others and a contact page so you can email for further information from Nicole Crafts.

This is a great site.  Were I grading it, they would definitely get an A+.  I think of all the times I have attempted to put together crafts for kids (pre-Internet) and what a fiasco it always was - this is a answer for busy parents and the kids are going to love the projects you come up with!

Nicolecrafts - Crafts For Kids

There is a risk in crafting.  Any kind of crafting.  The risk is addiction.  Actually it is not an addiction in the strictest definition of the term, but it might as well be because of the effect it has on crafters.  I can’t even count the number of resolutions I have heard on New Year’s Eve that go something like this:  “I promise I will finish my unfinished _____ (fill in the blank - knitting, crocheting, beadwork, whatever craft you like) before I buy any more projects.”  That is a resolution that lasts about a week, if that long.  Crafters are addicted, compulsive about, or just plain nuts about starting new crafting projects.

It is a self-defeating behavior but one that almost all of us are guilty of doing.  Much of it is because of how much we love what we do.  Another thing that can cause a huge WIP (work in progress) supply, is the explosion of imagination.  Once you start one thing and get going on it, other ideas begin to germinate. One thing leads to another and pretty soon you have a dozen projects with a dozen more sets of supplies to start others.  They call it a yarn stash, or a bead stash for a reason!

I have a few hints that have helped me get my “stash” and WIP list a little more under control.  I have recently made some changes that have caused a temporary swelling of the WIPs, but it will “cure” itself in a few months and then the WIP should diminish until I have a static and manageable amount of things I am working on.

• Don’t feel you should only have one project at a time going.  That is unrealistic.  You will want different projects to work on depending on your mood, whether you need a gift, degree of complexity, how portable it is, and so on.  But just a few different ones should satisfy the need for variety without overwhelming you.  And it is nice to finish something once in awhile!
• Pick one, two or three crafts that you really enjoy and are really good at.  Also give yourself room to grow.  Choose those crafts you continually can improve at.  Becoming really good at a couple things is much more satisfying than doing a lot of things just fairly.
• When you shop for supplies, keep in mind what crafts you have chosen to pursue(based on hint #2).  If you can use it within those crafts, it won’t be a waste of money or start you on another wild goose chase.
• Organize yourself.  File your patterns in notebooks, file folders, plastic bins or whatever works for you.  Categorize them so that when you want something, you can find it.
• Store supplies in an organized system.  Put yarns together and subdivide them; sock yarns should be stored with sock yarns and bulky yarns should be stored together.  Make it so that you can get to what you need quickly.
• Get small plastic storage bins and put one project in each bin.  Label the outside of the bin.  Keep something by the sofa or chair where you watch television or movies and work on that project there.  Keep one by your bed; when a sleepless night arrives, an hour of crocheting or knitting can do wonders.  If you work on crafts that are difficult to work on in certain environments, keep books around to read about improving your skills or admiring the galleries of other people’s work.
• Reward yourself.  When you complete a project, you get to do something you really want - a trip to the bookstore?  An afternoon at the movies?  There are many ways we can motivate ourselves.
• Keep a craft journal.  There are journals made for many kinds of crafting and seeing your progess and completed work is a lot of fun.  After a few years, you will see how your skills have grown.
• Give back a little.  Get involved in a charity project that utilizes your crafting skills.  Consider a swap of knitted or crocheted squares - there are swaps all over the Internet for every craft.  It is a lot of fun to meet people and exchange crafting projects.  I am involved in several swaps right now and they have been good for me in terms of keeping me focused.
• Keep a blog.  It will keep you honest.  If you are posting photos of your work and you talk about it, your readers will expect to see that progress and to see a finished project.  As a benefit, you will meet a lot of people and make some very special friends.

You will never get over craft addiction completely.  Who wants to?  Part of the fun is knowing all of the wonderful things you have waiting to be made.  Keeping it under control, however, will help your budget, your stress level, and your sense of pride all at the same time.  And that’s a pretty crafty idea!