By Christina VanGinkel
The first time I ever made anything with the technique known as rug hooking or latch hooking, I was about sixteen years old. My then boyfriend, who a few years later became my husband, was a fan of the NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys. When I came across a kit to make a pillow form with the Dallas Cowboys name and signature star hooked on it, I knew I had to try it at least. While that was just a few short years back (twenty-seven years ago to be exact), it was not so easy to find items with team logos and the like on them. The hooking part ended up being quite easy to make, fun even, and I was thrilled when it turned out to look like the picture on the box, as too often, when I would by a kit, the finished product often turned out looking nothing like the pictures that came with the kits. The assembly of the pillow was also simple, though my mother did help me with that part, sewing the final seam for me so that you could barely see where it was!
I ended up making a few different hooked rug projects through the years, including a pillow of my own that was a figural shaped design of a mermaid from a kit, and a tie dye looking rug for our bathroom that I made without a kit from leftover yearn from my many crochet projects. However, I had not made anything in some time. Then, when browsing the Internet I came across a site that sold kits similar to the ones I had made years before. The kits were of a style that would be fitting for a kid's room, playroom, or maybe a family room done in a kid friendly theme, but not stylish in a way that they would fit into a typical living room or adult's bedroom for example. This got me to looking further though, and I came across several sites that had both kits and patterns in styles and designs that would be very appropriate for any decor you might wish to match. They had selections of kits unlike anything I recalled from when I had first been introduced to this hobby. Some of the designs were so stunning, that they rivaled works of art. One could hardly imagine that they were fashioned with something as basic as yarn, a hooking tool, and a piece of even weaved base fabric! Others were actually the opposite; they were simple, fit my style perfectly. I fell in love with these designs!
The kits that were quite intricate in design featured detailed patterns such as a clipper ship with sails and a whale, Currier and Ives' prints, farm scenes, birdhouses replete with birds, etc., and looked almost painted! The simpler designs were actually, what caught my attention. Perfect for a country style decor or a more rustic look (my favorite if I had to define the style my rooms tend to lean towards), and included pictures of moose and bear shapes with evergreen backgrounds, angels, simple flower shapes and hearts, flags, sheep, and simple quilt patterns. The designs were made and the kits assembled with hand dyed wool yarns, so the colors of the yarns were as fitting a match for my likes as the design shapes themselves.
Even though it has been several years since I had made a hooked rug or item with this technique, the process is so simple, that I never even hesitated to order one of the kits that I knew would be a perfect fit for my home. I chose a black bear walking in front of a stand of trees with a star and moon in the overhead sky. The kit stated that it would make one wall hanging, small rug, or pillow cover, and it was available in three different sizes. I ended up ordering two of them in different sizes, the largest one, 16 1/2" x 20 1/2, to make a rug for next to my bed, and one size smaller, 14 1/2" x 16", to make a wall hanging for over my bed to match the rug. If you are looking for a new hobby to try (or even if you have tried it in the past), give rug hooking a look, as it is easy and fun, and with all the patterns and kits available, you will be pleasantly surprised at all the items you can make for your home.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Monday, April 03, 2006
Decorating Dried Gourds
By Christina VanGinkel
Decorating dried gourds is an activity that fascinates many crafts people. The fact that someone can grow a gourd from seed, harvest it, dry it, then use it to make a variety of crafts is often what makes working with gourds so intriguing to so many people. Even those who do not take the process from seed to finished product, and instead purchase their gourds already dried and ready for creating with, still will often tell you that working with gourds are by far their favorite hobby. From bowls to birdhouses, lamp bases, to custom pieces of art, you can do many things with dried gourds. Once you start, you may find yourself constantly in search of more things to make.
Etching
Etching on gourds is one of my favorites. If it can be drawn, it can be etched, so the gourd's surface becomes your sketchpad, and can be decorated in works from Native American themed, to bird and animal designs, Victorian, even in themes such as Halloween! The surface of the gourd is such a natural background for a piece of art that it lends itself well to just about any subject one might desire. One of the gourds I most admired was in fact etched with a haunted house and bats galore all over its surface. It was actually a bowl and the artist who made it had lined the inside with a silky fabric and was using it to hold her Halloween candy that she passed out to the neighborhood kids.
Painting
Probably one of the earliest forms of decoration used on a gourd, painting lends itself well to a gourds surface, especially when the gourd is going to be used indoors, though if you take care to seal the painted surface, it could also be used outdoors, for birdhouses or feeders, for example. The first gourd I ever decorated was used as a birdhouse, and I painted the exterior of it in a simple flower design, and then sealed the paint with an outdoor safe clear sealant. I resealed it each year, and now three years later, it is weathered, but still holding up. I do clean it each summer, after the birds have abandoned it for the year, and store it inside until spring arrives and I put it back out. If I were to leave it out year round, I am sure it would not hold up as long as it will with just a bit of care.
Modge Podge
Similar to painting, using Modge Podge or similar products on a gourd to decorate it, will last longer if the gourd is used as an interior decoration, or if it is sealed and not left outdoors year round. I have had good success with applying dried flowers all over the surface of gourds and using Modge Podge over the dried flowers to both apply them and seal them; ending up with a decorative surface that can be wiped clean. While bowls made in this form would not be food safe, they would be very decorative and fun to make! This is an ideal form of decoration for making a gourd over into a lamp base, combining two items from nature into a very useable piece.
Beaded
Some of the simplest designs on gourds, and that are at the same time the most visually stunning, have been with beads. From tiny seed beads to larger beads, they seem to be have been made solely for decorating gourds once you see the two combined. The first gourd I ever saw, other than as a plant growing in the garden, was actually a combination of a painted and beaded gourd. It was a bowl, with a woman painted on the surface, and the rim of the bowl was beaded with large beads and feathers, appearing as if they were part of the woman's attire. Done in the traditional southwest colors of turquoise blue and burnt orange, I have never forgotten how the colors, materials, and design itself all blended to make such a visually appealing piece of art.
If you are looking for a hobby that combines natural materials with a choice of finished product and modes to achieve the finished designs, working with dried gourds might be just the hobby for you!
Decorating dried gourds is an activity that fascinates many crafts people. The fact that someone can grow a gourd from seed, harvest it, dry it, then use it to make a variety of crafts is often what makes working with gourds so intriguing to so many people. Even those who do not take the process from seed to finished product, and instead purchase their gourds already dried and ready for creating with, still will often tell you that working with gourds are by far their favorite hobby. From bowls to birdhouses, lamp bases, to custom pieces of art, you can do many things with dried gourds. Once you start, you may find yourself constantly in search of more things to make.
Etching
Etching on gourds is one of my favorites. If it can be drawn, it can be etched, so the gourd's surface becomes your sketchpad, and can be decorated in works from Native American themed, to bird and animal designs, Victorian, even in themes such as Halloween! The surface of the gourd is such a natural background for a piece of art that it lends itself well to just about any subject one might desire. One of the gourds I most admired was in fact etched with a haunted house and bats galore all over its surface. It was actually a bowl and the artist who made it had lined the inside with a silky fabric and was using it to hold her Halloween candy that she passed out to the neighborhood kids.
Painting
Probably one of the earliest forms of decoration used on a gourd, painting lends itself well to a gourds surface, especially when the gourd is going to be used indoors, though if you take care to seal the painted surface, it could also be used outdoors, for birdhouses or feeders, for example. The first gourd I ever decorated was used as a birdhouse, and I painted the exterior of it in a simple flower design, and then sealed the paint with an outdoor safe clear sealant. I resealed it each year, and now three years later, it is weathered, but still holding up. I do clean it each summer, after the birds have abandoned it for the year, and store it inside until spring arrives and I put it back out. If I were to leave it out year round, I am sure it would not hold up as long as it will with just a bit of care.
Modge Podge
Similar to painting, using Modge Podge or similar products on a gourd to decorate it, will last longer if the gourd is used as an interior decoration, or if it is sealed and not left outdoors year round. I have had good success with applying dried flowers all over the surface of gourds and using Modge Podge over the dried flowers to both apply them and seal them; ending up with a decorative surface that can be wiped clean. While bowls made in this form would not be food safe, they would be very decorative and fun to make! This is an ideal form of decoration for making a gourd over into a lamp base, combining two items from nature into a very useable piece.
Beaded
Some of the simplest designs on gourds, and that are at the same time the most visually stunning, have been with beads. From tiny seed beads to larger beads, they seem to be have been made solely for decorating gourds once you see the two combined. The first gourd I ever saw, other than as a plant growing in the garden, was actually a combination of a painted and beaded gourd. It was a bowl, with a woman painted on the surface, and the rim of the bowl was beaded with large beads and feathers, appearing as if they were part of the woman's attire. Done in the traditional southwest colors of turquoise blue and burnt orange, I have never forgotten how the colors, materials, and design itself all blended to make such a visually appealing piece of art.
If you are looking for a hobby that combines natural materials with a choice of finished product and modes to achieve the finished designs, working with dried gourds might be just the hobby for you!
Painting Decorative Wall Letters
It's all the rage in children's bedroom all across the country-- wall letters that spell out the child's name or their monogram. This hot trend, which began showing up in upscale stores and boutiques a few years ago, is so rampant that now even discount stores are selling wall letters. The best wall letters that I have seen are hand painted letters-- and there are many eBay businesses that revolve around peddling hand painted wall letter designs at close to ten dollars a letter (some charge even more than that).
If you are crafty in the least bit, then making wall letters for your children's rooms is definitely a task that you can handle. You may even be able to turn this newfound hobby into a lucrative business venture or, at the very least, you can create gorgeous, custom letters that you can give as gifts or sell at craft fairs.
Supplies. Starting your hand painted wall letter hobby won't be difficult. The most important supply you will need, of course, is the letters. Craft stores sell unpainted wood wall letters in all sizes and the average cost can be under a couple of dollars per letter. Cash in on one of the craft store's weekly discount coupons and you can get them even cheaper. Discount stores like Target, Kmart and Walmart usually sell plain white letters. Depending on the sizes you need, you can stock up on a bulk supply of letters in a variety of fonts.
The next most important supply you will need is acrylic paint. Once again, craft stores are the place to go for inexpensive acrylics-- a small bottle cost less than one dollar and it will take you a long way. Buy a wide variety of colors and of course some white paint to lighten up other colors if needed. You should also stock up on some good quality brushes in a few different brush widths-- this is not the time to use your kid's watercolor paintbrushes! Finally, you will want to buy some sealant protectant to apply to the letters after the acrylic paint has dried--this will seal the letters and keep them looking like new for many years.
Painting Ideas. There are many great suggestions for how to paint your letters. My son has blue gingham painted letters in his room and they look adorable. My daughter's wall letters are more of a mixed set. Check out popular children's decorating catalogs and their online websites for ideas for colors and patterns. Many professional letter painters mimic the designs of popular children's bedding and room decor lines lines. While there may be copyright issues regarding this practice (I'm not sure what the guidelines are, as I'm not a legal professional), you can easily design your letters to coordinate nicely with these popular designs by using coordinating colors, etc. For instance, if your daughter has a pink and green floral bedding set, paint the letters with similar colors. You can also make each letter different-- as in you can paint a pink gingham letter, a green floral letter, a pink and green polka dotted letter, etc. When grouped together as a set these different designs will look great together and will match any bedding design nicely.
The most popular room themes for girls include princesses, flowers, butterflies, hearts and stars. For boys, some of the most popular room themes include dinosaurs, airplanes, trains, race cars, camouflage, and solar system.
If you're nervous about painting freehand, practice on paper first. You can also use stencils for some designs, although I prefer the imperfections of a hand painted letter. Plaids, flowers, stripes, swirly lines and star designs are all good choices to make each letter unique.
You can also add hooks or ribbons for hanging the letters. Some letters will come with wall hooks already attached on the back. If not, the wall hooks are very inexpensive and can easily be mounted onto the backs. Decorative ribbons are a nice touch, especially for a girl's room.
And don't forget this important step: after the acrylic paint dries, apply a coat or two of glossy or flat sealant to protect the letters from fading. The sealant will give your letters a finished look and protect them for years to come.
If you are crafty in the least bit, then making wall letters for your children's rooms is definitely a task that you can handle. You may even be able to turn this newfound hobby into a lucrative business venture or, at the very least, you can create gorgeous, custom letters that you can give as gifts or sell at craft fairs.
Supplies. Starting your hand painted wall letter hobby won't be difficult. The most important supply you will need, of course, is the letters. Craft stores sell unpainted wood wall letters in all sizes and the average cost can be under a couple of dollars per letter. Cash in on one of the craft store's weekly discount coupons and you can get them even cheaper. Discount stores like Target, Kmart and Walmart usually sell plain white letters. Depending on the sizes you need, you can stock up on a bulk supply of letters in a variety of fonts.
The next most important supply you will need is acrylic paint. Once again, craft stores are the place to go for inexpensive acrylics-- a small bottle cost less than one dollar and it will take you a long way. Buy a wide variety of colors and of course some white paint to lighten up other colors if needed. You should also stock up on some good quality brushes in a few different brush widths-- this is not the time to use your kid's watercolor paintbrushes! Finally, you will want to buy some sealant protectant to apply to the letters after the acrylic paint has dried--this will seal the letters and keep them looking like new for many years.
Painting Ideas. There are many great suggestions for how to paint your letters. My son has blue gingham painted letters in his room and they look adorable. My daughter's wall letters are more of a mixed set. Check out popular children's decorating catalogs and their online websites for ideas for colors and patterns. Many professional letter painters mimic the designs of popular children's bedding and room decor lines lines. While there may be copyright issues regarding this practice (I'm not sure what the guidelines are, as I'm not a legal professional), you can easily design your letters to coordinate nicely with these popular designs by using coordinating colors, etc. For instance, if your daughter has a pink and green floral bedding set, paint the letters with similar colors. You can also make each letter different-- as in you can paint a pink gingham letter, a green floral letter, a pink and green polka dotted letter, etc. When grouped together as a set these different designs will look great together and will match any bedding design nicely.
The most popular room themes for girls include princesses, flowers, butterflies, hearts and stars. For boys, some of the most popular room themes include dinosaurs, airplanes, trains, race cars, camouflage, and solar system.
If you're nervous about painting freehand, practice on paper first. You can also use stencils for some designs, although I prefer the imperfections of a hand painted letter. Plaids, flowers, stripes, swirly lines and star designs are all good choices to make each letter unique.
You can also add hooks or ribbons for hanging the letters. Some letters will come with wall hooks already attached on the back. If not, the wall hooks are very inexpensive and can easily be mounted onto the backs. Decorative ribbons are a nice touch, especially for a girl's room.
And don't forget this important step: after the acrylic paint dries, apply a coat or two of glossy or flat sealant to protect the letters from fading. The sealant will give your letters a finished look and protect them for years to come.
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