Information Blog Regarding Arts & Crafts

Leather working is a craft that has been around for more than twenty centuries. Leather was used to make a variety of necessities from belts to sandals. Today, leather work hasn’t lost any of its appeal and can pretty much still be used for some of the same purposes.

For a beginner looking to venture into leather work, it could be very stressful. Leather crafting though not entirely difficult can be complex and expensive. The best advice for beginners is to start with small manageable projects. Something that you will easily succeed at thus help you build your morale. A wallet or a belt will do. To keep the cost to a minimum, try sticking with only the essential tools. Leather working tools are numerous depending on the complexity and skill level your project requires and could also be quite costly. Since it is your first try, you might want to consider not purchasing any expensive tools you might never use. Who knows if your interest in leather work will remain anyway.

Below are some of the basic tools for beginners;

1. A sharp knife.

Purchasing a sharp knife that can make clean cuts on your leather is necessary. Dull knives will not achieve this. Your knife should also be sturdy to make your cuts straight.

2. Steel ruler.

This is to make sure you make straight cuts on your leather. To help with cutting, make chalk marks with the ruler first.

3. A cutting board.

A work surface on which to cut your leather is equally important to protect your work surface while helping  you make precise cuts on your leather.

4. A stitching pony or clamps.

These hold down your leather as you work making your work much easier. If you are looking for something cheap try buying a stitching pony instead of a clamp because it costs much less and gets you the same results.

5. Needle and thread.

These tools are necessary for stitching. Never use a sharp needle because that might get stuck in your leather as you work. Try a dull heavyweight needle that can stitch through leather. Use a waxed thread that is specifically designed for leather work. Never use natural thread such as cotton because of the biodegradation.

6. Groover.

This tool makes a straight groove on your leather to indicate the area you will stitch thus helping you sew in a straight line.

7. Spacer.

This is used to measure equal distances between your stitches making them appear neat and professional.

8. Pricking iron.

Unlike with most stitching, you have to make your holes on the leather first. This can be achieved by the use of a pricking iron.

With these tools, you are now equipped to start your leather work. Keep in mind that it is a complex process so try not to get discouraged if you don’t get it right the first time. If you enjoy it, you could later purchase more tools and try working with them.

Flower pressing basically involves flattening petals and leaves to remove moisture and make decorative pieces. There are many things you can do with pressed flowers including sticking them to fabrics or placing them in frames to make home decorations and gifts. Though it might seem intimidating, flower pressing is a relatively easy process only requiring readily available tools. It is also inexpensive and a fun way to keep your kids occupied. Below are some tips to help beginners find an easy time with flower pressing.

Selecting your flowers.

Though you can choose practically any flower to press, some tend to press better than others. Your ideal flower should have a vibrant colour since pressing tends to make flowers fade. It should also have flat petals and low moisture content. Flowers with thickened petals don’t press as well and you might have to flatten them with your fingers before you begin. Some examples of flowers that press well include pansies, cosmos and dahlias. Make sure your flowers are dry before pressing to prevent browning and mold. Avoid picking flowers in the morning because of the dew. Always remember to press your flowers immediately after picking so they don’t wilt. If this is not possible, place them in zip lock bag and refrigerate to keep them fresh.

Pressing your flowers.

There are many ways to press flowers. The use of a book is most common. Simply place your flowers face down or sideways between two pieces of paper and place in between a heavy book. Weigh the book down with other books or heavy objects. Leave it for 2-3 weeks to completely dry.

How to press using an iron.

This is an alternative method for pressing your flowers. It is much faster especially if you don’t want to wait two weeks for your flowers to be ready. As with the first method, place your flowers between two pieces of paper then between a heavy book to flatten them. Remove them with the flowers still inside the sheets of paper. Make sure your iron is dry. You don’t want any steam to form because that will add moisture to your flowers instead of removing it. Press the iron on top of your upper sheet of paper for 15 seconds while it is on low heat.  Remove it and leave for another 15 seconds for your paper to cool. Repeat the process until your flowers are dry.

How to press flowers in a microwave.

With this process, you need to place the book in a microwave for about 30 seconds. Make sure your book has no metal including staples. Next open your book to let it cool off and vapour escape. Repeat this ten times.  Transfer your flowers to another book and leave them for up to 3 days.

With your flowers now pressed, you can make an arrangement of your choice and finally put them to use making cards, home decors or anything else that might appeal to you. There possibilities are endless and only require your creativity. Practice from time to time and you will find yourself more at ease with the craft.

Rock painting can be a great way to pass time. It’s fun, addictive and above all inexpensive. Once you get the hang of it, rock painting can be a great way to spend time with your family and let those creative juices flow. As with any other craft, there are things you need to know before you begin. Below are some of them.

1. How to find the perfect rock.

Rocks are easy to find. After all they are everywhere in our environment. The trick is knowing the right rock to paint in .Your ideal rock should be smooth and well rounded. River stones or stones from the beach will do.The size and shape of your rock will depend on your own project. However, if you’re going to pick rocks make sure you avoid protected property such as some  beaches and national parks. The good news is you can always buy your rocks if you find the task of picking them on your walks tedious. Make sure never to purchase waxy rocks because that only makes it hard for paint to adhere.

2. Rock preparation.

If you’ve picked your rocks, you might want to clean them to get rid of all the dirt. Simply soak them in warm water and soap for a few minutes then use an old toothbrush to scrub the dirt off. Afterward, leave them in the sun to dry or simply place them in an oven for a faster effect. Make sure to sand off any gritty areas with a sandpaper.

3. Preparing your space for painting.

Paint can be hard to wash off thus leaving stains all over your floor or carpet. To avoid this, lay down some newspapers or old clothes to protect your floor. You could also change into some old clothes you wouldn’t mind messing up.

4. Painting your rocks.

Fortunately for you, you could use any kind of paint to draw on your rock. Acrylic paint is the best to use since it gives off more vibrant colours. However, it is difficult to wash off thus not advisable when painting with kids since they are bound to make a mess. For children, you could try tempera which washes off easily though it is not as bright. Always have three paint brushes, that is, a small, medium and large one. You could use the large brush to paint your background while the smaller one can be used to draw finer details. However, if you have difficulty with paint you could use chalk crayons or regular markers to doodle on your rock. Always make sure to dry each coat before proceeding to the next. Once you’re done, apply a sealer so that your work lasts. You don’t always have to do this but it is advisable if your rocks are going to stay outside.

5. What to do with your rocks after painting.

There are countless things you could do with your creations. Here are but a few ideas;

•         Give them as gifts
•         Sell them if your work is good enough.
•         Use them as paperweights.
•         Decorate your home or garden.

Though rock painting might take a lot of practice, the results are worth it. You can try a variety of designs on your rocks to make your experience even more fun without having to spend more than necessary. Try bringing your family and friends into your new hobby and share rock painting ideas.

The processing of clay to make pottery was a milestone for man. It meant having light and durable storage vessels. Furthermore, clay was readily available from the environment thus inexpensive. Centuries later, decorative pieces came to be, identifying communities through their unique styles. Today, pottery is a very relaxing and fun form of art with an increasing number of people using pots as decor.

Potters can buy clay rather than make their own. Commercial clay saves greatly on time and work. However, processing your own clay is cheaper and helps you develop an appreciation for your environment. Besides getting your hands dirty could be just as fun.

With that said, it is only right that you learn to make your own clay. Clay processing is quite simple and once you get it right, highly rewarding. Fortunately, most soils contain clay. Even the one in your backyard. Still for a higher yield, it is best to know areas with plenty. These include;

ü  Riverbanks

ü  Road cuts

ü  Gullies.

ü  Construction sites

Before deciding to harvest clay, do a simple test. Add water to your sample and roll it into a snake. Tie it around your finger and see whether or not it breaks. If it does, then it isn’t good clay.

There are two methods of clay processing, the dry and wet harvest method. The dry method is best for areas with water scarcity while the wet method is better for areas with plenty. Below, are the steps to follow for each.

THE DRY HARVEST METHOD.

1. Dry the soil completely in the sun or by fire.
2. Crash into a fine powder.
3. Sift it to remove organic debris. Organic debris could build up steam and blow up your wares during firing.
4. Add water and knead and it is ready to use

THE WET HARVEST METHOD.

1. Collect your soil from beneath the top soil since top soil has a lot of debris.
2. Add the soil to a level of 2/3 in a container and break the clamps.
3. Add water to your soil and stir.
4. Leave it to sit. You will notice two layers of clay water and silt.
5. Pour off the clay water into another container to separate it from the silt. Leave the clay water to settle and repeat the process to remove all silt.
6. Let it settle again for hours. A distinct layer of clay settles below a layer of water. Pour off the water to leave clay. Do this repeatedly.
7. Using a fine cloth, filter your clay. Pour the clay onto it the cloth and fold it into a bag. Hang the bag from a tree. Water drips from the fabric and and the clay hardens. Leave it for 2-3 days while checking its consistency. If the clay can be moulded into a ball, it is ready.

8.Temper your clay by adding larger particles to your clay to restrict its  expansion during firing thus avoiding explosion. Use sand or tiny rock particles. Simply form discs with the clay and sprinkle the temper over it. Try using different amounts of temper until you find the perfect mixing ratio.

9 Make test pieces to test for the workability of your clay and the maturation temperature. For your test piece, make small bowls.

With that your clay is ready for use. If you are a beginner, you will want to start small. Make a few clay mugs until you get the hang of it. Over time, you will start to become better and even enjoy it more.

It’s not uncommon for people to feel daunted and confused by the sheer volume of paper choices whenever they walk into an art shop. Perhaps the last time you walked into one you got flustered and decided to walk out. When it comes to watercolor painting, it’s important to choose the right quality paper as it is the foundation of your artwork. Choosing the right watercolor paper for your painting work doesn’t have to be as daunting and confusing as it seems to be.

Quality and Production

The first thing you want to think about is the quality you want. Are you looking for an artist-grade or student-grade paper? Note that watercolor papers can be handmade, machine-made, or mold-made. Both hand-made and mold-made watercolor papers are stable and durable with irregular surface textures that are pleasing to work with. Papers made by hand are more stable and stronger though. You should, therefore, consider handmade papers if you’re looking for artists’ quality papers. Machine-made papers are often used for student’s quality artwork as they are less-costly and prone to deterioration especially when wet.

Watercolor Paper Texture

When it comes to texture, it often depends on your individual painting style as well as personal preference. There are three watercolor paper textures; the hot press paper, cold press paper, and rough paper. The hot pressed paper is preferable for artists who love detailed work as it has a smooth, hard surface. The most versatile and popular texture- cold pressed watercolor paper has a lightly, semi-rough textured surface. Finally, the rough watercolor paper is suitable for painters looking to add luminosity and visual interest in their artwork due to its rough texture that’s good for washes.

Weight Matters

Watercolor papers are measured by weight- numbered in grams per square meter or pounds per ream. Usually, the heavier the weight of a paper, the pricier and studier it is. If you’re planning to use a lot of washes during painting, then its best you choose a thicker paper. A 90 pound paper is best used with less water and won’t survive a lot of abrasion and scrubbing. The most commonly used water color paper- the 140 pound paper, can handle a bit of water and abrasion or scrubbing. The 300 pound watercolor paper is as thick as cardboard and doesn’t need stretching.

Watercolor sheets, Pads, and Blocks

Watercolor papers are commonly packaged in individual sheets, blocks, or pads. Buying individual sheets is great for larger works and also allows you to tear them down to your preferred sizes. If you’re looking to keep your artwork as a collection, consider pads with a spiral binder. Blocks are usually bound around the edges making them easy to transport. While you won’t have to stretch the paper before using it the fact that you need to remove each of the 20-25 sheets to start another piece of painting makes it problematic.

In conclusion, understand that there’s no one best watercolor paper for artwork. However, there’s only what works best for your specific artwork. Consider experimenting with various brands and different kinds of watercolor papers to find what best works for you.