Creativity is the fuel that drives the crafter. It is an expression of ideas that brew about in our heads. Sometimes the creativity well runs dry though, and a little help is necessary. Other times it is fun to see what other people have created and expand our own ideas. “The Creative Life,” is a television show, with a corresponding Web site, that features everything from traditional crafting to the new recycled art so popular today.  

‘The Creative Life’ is your new one-stop show for step-by-step how-to segments and tips and techniques for creating unique items for the home. From decorative painting to building, gardening to cooking, sewing to home decor and everything in between, Cheryl does it all, and takes you on location as she explores every nook and cranny of ‘The Creative Life.’
The Creative Life Web Site

“The Creative Life” presents not only ideas but free patterns on the Web site.  If you have been unaware of this show, you can also find the PBS scheduling so you can watch the production in your local area.  You can also see different clips from the show.  For the crafter, “The Creative Life” is a “creative” approach to crafting that will be become a useful resource.

The Creative Life 

Inspiration comes from many quarters.  Professional designs are of course one of the best ways to become inspired.  You can also do “knock-offs” of a professional design for yourself.  But where do you find some unique ideas, particularly with the industrial, layered-up, stripped down, boho fashions of today?  Easy!  You look at a New York All-Nighter Hangout that makes them already!

Studio 1am

Do you have sore hands from knitting or crocheting?  I sure do.  My hands get so tired and feel so painful from marathon hours of knitting.  Many crafters have this problem.  Some crafting days I feel like my finger joints are on fire and the rest of my hands are just plain worn out. 

There are some things you can do if you have this problem.  As I said, it is a common problem with crafters and also with computer users.  With those of us on the Internet doing knitting blogs – well, we have a double whammy. 

The 5 X 5 X 5 hand workout is something that should help you a great deal.  Exercising your hands in a way to relieve pain and stiffness, will help you avoid repetitive stress injuries. 

On this page, you will also find a product called Handeze Massage Gloves.  This is another thing that will help hand pain during crafting.  They can be ordered online in several places and Berroco has taken any risk of getting the wrong size away.  They have a hand sizer that works right on your monitor. Set your screen resolution to 640 X 480 to have the sizer work accurately.

Hand pain is a difficult problem for crafters and computer users.  We love what we do and even when it hurts, we keep doing it.  There is no point in telling a knitter to stop knitting because of hand problems.  Taking care of your hands and taking some steps to ease problems through prevention can extend the time you can spend on the needles.

I love the idea of recycling items that would normally go into the trash, or on a good day into a recycler, into crafts.  It is fun, the crafts are funky, and the expense is virtually nil.  This must be the perfect non-fiber craft for me because I drink a lot of diet pop and I have pop cans all over the place!  Yes I do recycle, but I think I could keep a few to make this wonderful dragonfly since I collect dragonflies.  This one would definitely be different than any other I have!

This site is all about recycling pop cans into different works of sculpture.  They even have a Starship Enterprise!  They also have various vehicles (including a green tractor which you know I had to love), trains, aircraft, and a variety of insects.  The patterns are only $14.00 ($8.00 if you download them on the computer) and they include full size templates, step-by-step instructions in a clear plastic cover.  The Web site has a list of the materials you will need; most you will have around the house and the others are inexpensive.  All of the patterns I looked at required eight 12 ounce pop cans – I could have quite a collection of vehicles and insects of Diet Pepsi Vanilla!

Two warnings:

1. Be cautious – when you cut into aluminum you can get a nasty cut.  Wear very heavy gloves and watch the edges of the metal you have cut into. 
2. This may be an addictive craft, so be sure you bookmark them for future visits and more patterns.

Other than that, have fun!  And use your own imagination as you go.  If there is an Enterprise, shouldn’t there be a Klingon ship?

Tesscar Aluminum Crafts – The Dragonfly

Tesscar Aluminum Crafts Web Site - see the Enterprise here!