I am getting ready to take a year(ish) off of new work, which means my creative focus is going to be on making just for fun. I am so excited and this has been a very long time coming. I hope to share some of my personal projects here on the blog but I know for sure I will be sharing them a lot on Instagram. In an attempt to not spend all of my online time in 2022 answering "where did you get that _______?" I am writing this post.
The requisite 800 disclaimers: Most of these tools you can find easily at your local craft or fabric shop (or ceramic shop if you have one nearby!!) Some links are affiliate which means if you purchase through the link I may receive a small commission on your order. This is not, on any level, an exhaustive list. This is just a list of the specific products I use. I am not saying they are the best. I am saying they work for me.
POTTERY
Amaco glazes (some favorites: jade, textured turquoise)
Mayco glazes (some favorites: blue splatterware, celadon bloom, pink pixie, alabaster)
my wedging board is just a piece of scrap plywood wrapped in a drop cloth and staple gunned in place
GARMENT SEWING
I use large washers from the hardware store as my pattern weights
I sew using mostly independent patterns, you can see recent ones in this Me Made May post
I purchase most of my garment sewing fabric online and most (but not all) comes from Stonemountain Fabric, Melanated Fabrics and Blackbird Fabrics
QUILTING
I purchase 99% of my quilting fabric locally in San Diego at Rosie's Calico Cupboard
I learned the basics of quilting from this book
KNITTING
I use Ravelry to find new patterns -- here is my page with (outdated) completed projects and then my "favorites" on the site.
I purchase some of my yarn locally in San Diego at Apricot Yarn and Supply Co and also shop often at Purl Soho online or their warehouse when it was open! But normally I find a pattern then search which yarns other people used to complete the pattern. Then I buy that yarn from whatever (normally small) online shop I can find it at if my local shop doesn't have it. So pattern always comes before yarn.
I loved the Farmer's Daughter sock squad and think it's a good way to get into knitting socks
I get bare yarn at Knitpicks
I use Jacquard acid dyes for dying my own yarn
I buy knitting needles in various sizes for projects as needed and mostly at my local craft store; I am not at all particular to a brand but here are the small circulars I use for worsted weight socks
CROSS-STITCH
the program I use to design my patterns
other patterns that I have done over the past few years
here's a short tutorial for an easy way to start your thread
this is the 6x6 frame I have used to frame my own patterns.
SCREENPRINTING
screenprint ink for fabric and paper
FLOWER-PRESSING
this is new to me this year and I only plan to get more into it.
this is my press
and I took the companion online workshop. It's maybe two hours long? Tricia was a great teacher and I learned so much more than I thought I would. I am following her instructions exactly when I press.
here's a video of what I pulled out of my press the first time!
VARIOUS OFFICE TOOLS
iPhone tripod/holder for overhead photos and videos
Rotatrim paper cutter (my 15" version looks like it's discontinued?) but here are a lot from the same brand
Ikea Ivar shelving (this is what I use for a standing sewing and computer desk)
Ikea kitchen island (I use two as a worktable)
