Crazy Quilt Gatherings

The world of crazy quilting is fun and a fantastic outlet, for allowing freedom of expression and creativity. As we know, creativity refers to the ability to 'make something that has not existed before' through intelligence and skill. Quite a few of our world's wonders, small or large, can be credited to collective works, of a team behind the scenes. Why not round up a circle of friends, to create a crazy quilt?

A few quilt block swap activities can be found and seen online. We can also start up our own quilt block swap or donation, by sending an invitation to our friends and family. An invitation to create and contribute one or two crazy quilt blocks, for the assembly of a full quilt. After all, contributions from a collective can prove to 'speed' up the completion of a crazy quilt project.

Immense pleasure can be found working alone on a crazy quilt project, indeed, but, maybe there's a special occasion coming up. Gifting with a crazy quilt, by a group of friends, could prove an interesting surprise. Use of teamwork in personal or professional settings, has proven to provide benefits on quick completion of a project. In following this example, a group could have a full size crazy quilt as a gift in a short time.

The idea of creating your own quilting circle, can be quite useful towards providing a handcrafted one-of-a-kind gift, for any special occasion, civic or alternative holiday. Who says we can't start our own tradition for a holiday? Suggestions for new traditions is always an option for friends and family. A visit to your local library and research into non-traditional holiday alamanac's, may prove to be a fun group activity.

Setting up your own crazy quilt circle could also be useful for fundraising activities. A beautiful crazy quilt, can be quite an attractive and popular item for auction. Donating the quilt to a charity or non-profit, to raffle or auction off, can be a rewarding experience. Raising awareness of your skill may draw attention and too many requests, so thoughtful and shrewd consideration may be required, so not to be taken advantage or over worked.

The design of your crazy quilt can be a group decision. Share and exchange ideas for, choice of colors, design ideas, size, length, number of blocks per person, purpose of creating the quilt. Let the event, holiday or tradition be your guide to follow, but let everybody's personal creativity flow, for each quilt block. Once the blocks are brought together, layout of the blocks can also be a group decision or left to one, to produce the finished quilt. Once complete, it will be a surprise for the whole group.

Gathering a small circle of friends, into an informal quilting circle, can be a great activity for producing a crazy quilt. A step further may include setting up a Crazy quilt guild which is a somewhat more formalized group. This could be set up as a non-profit organization with memberships. Cash donations may be gathered for hosting classes, advertising, galleries, raffles, educational resources, and their own shows.

A quilting circle can be a formal or informal group but the goal of enjoying the creation of quilts remains true. Discussing a long term vision of your existing group would be best to explore the possibility and next step of action to consider. For now, enjoy your immediate quilting circle and have fun with your project.

Learning in Motion 

Extra Reading

Establishing a Quilting Guild

Quilting Daily Forum

Quilt Guilds 

International Quilt Festival -Facebook

I hope you found this article informative. Please feel free to leave your comments, share your own observations, share with others who may be interested. Send a Email if you would like to place a Order today or to say, Hello! I hope you visit again.

Article (C) 2014, all rights reserved. Gin G. creates and posts articles online about Crazy Quilts, business development, second income idea's. Gin G. Is a graduate in business development, Nursing, and passionate about arts and crafts.

Crazy Quilt and Applique are like Sisters!

The beauty of a crazy quilt can be quite breath taking and examining the details will reveal the amount of work that's gone into that quilt. There are some truly fantastic crazy quilts out there too as every artist is a unique individual. As I have said before about sewing, it can be quite therapeutic. It fills that downtime for those days when not in the mood to go visiting, or out. Just put on some music or the radio and work on your latest upcoming creation. So, how is sewing like a family?

A family as we know is a group of people that care for each other and don't have to necessarily be blood related, as adoptions and guardianships do take place also. In the world of sewing, we can find many 'relations' such as quilts, clothes, bags and totes, accessories, home decor, to name a few. These are all assembled together with fabric of all sorts and thread, either by machine or hand, en masse or by piece.

Crazy quilts, done traditionally, are sewn onto a foundation as are appliques and both are done for design and color. Appliques goes one step further and doubles as artistic embellishments. These can be added by purchasing a pre-made applique piece or from creating your own. They are available in a huge variety of designs too. We can find embroidered pieces, bejewelled with beads or sequins, in lacey designs, children and adult designs, or created with use of fabrics and in many colors.

Appliques can be ironed on or sewn down onto a piece whether it's clothing or, in my case, a crazy quilt, to add a decorative embellishment. A theme can be created with appliques to tell a story for children and/or adults with use of current or past, favorite trends. An embellishment adds decorative beauty along with creating a conversation with friends and family. What sort of theme do you think your family member would enjoy?

Inspiration for creating an applique can be found all around us. It can be based on themes from television, movies, music, holidays, emotions and over all likes and/or dislikes. One can draw their own designs, add an extra 1/4” edge, sew this raw edge under, by hand, then sew it onto your foundation. If purchased, you can sew it directly onto the foundation without worrying about raw edges. Another method is to use a satin stitch on your machine to edge your applique to hide the raw edges. Design ideas are limitless.

Extra Reading Resources

Make and Use Applique Templates

Buy an Applique

Machine Applique

The Applique Society

Learning in Motion

 

The world of a seamstress is full of art and color, love of the trade and hardly a dull moment. For the non-sewing persons, you do have the option to ASK for the services of the seamstress and yes, for a price, since it is labor and time that's required. Once you purchase the service, deliver your assigned task (i.e., sew an applique), then you just wait till your seamstress calls for pick up. Take a look in your local paper and telephone book to check for seamstress services and call for a quote. Contacting your local seamstress can provide an alternative to updating your clothes vs purchase of new ones and may prove cost saving.

I hope you found this article informative. Please feel free to leave your comments, share your own observations. Visit my galleries for inspiration. Send a Email if you would like to place a Order today.  

Article(C)2011 GG9909, all rights reserved.

Managing my Blog for Newbies

The use of Google Blog search engine will produce about 47.5 million results for the term 'Crafts'. In the world of blogging, we must do our best to get noticed and arrive in the top SERPs, search engine results page and preferably the first page. So just how does one set up to make such an arrival?

A common word of advice for writers with blogs, is to find great keywords for their 'niche'. Think of niche as a 'category' of just where and how to find your web site. As stated earlier, using the term 'crafts' brings quite a few results and one can easily get lost and tossed, probably to the last SERP. An extra tip, is to break down your chosen keywords further, and include sub-categories and other keywords 'related' to your niche. An example:

i.e., how to make edible finger paint - Blog title, tips and recipe for parents and family

art, parenting, pre-school children, jello finger paints, - Sample keywords

One other method to find keywords is to look at the 'cloud tags or labels' to get more idea's for keywords. This will require you to search and observe other sites, that are found on the first page of your intended niche. Record their keywords in a file and save it to your computer. Meanwhile, explore their site to see what other information they write about, that may help inspire you to write something similar, or write to counter the subject. This is checking out our competition and SEO, search engine optimization.

The use of keyword generating tools and/or software, is another method to create keywords to help get your blog noticed. A popular tool is Google Adwords Keyword tool. These tools can also be used to discover extra blogging idea's for future use. It's recommended that you create and keep such a list on standby, for those days when you're experiencing a sense of 'writer's block'. It's important to observe and consider the 'too popular vs low popularity' keywords being used.

The use of keywords is important in the blogosphere and preferably for generating 'organic' traffic. This refers to visitors finding you through a 'natural' search effort though some people will say, only those that 'pay' for advertising or hosting, are the ones who land first in the SERPs or getting first page SERP depends on one's 'popularity'. Well, there are a few more steps needed, that may help.

A lot of blogs depend on generating TRAFFIC. I believe this is definitely a major qualifier for getting noticed online. Paid advertising also depends on the keywords chosen, to get quality SERP landing and usually for the lowest price, for targeted traffic. A few idea's to help generating traffic to your site, can be through 'networking' by joining groups on other sites such as Ning, blog networks, and those that are related or in your specific 'niche'.

Others will say, article marketing. Write and post articles about your niche and point back to your own site. The point is that you get to leave your 'site URL' in available 'signature' or 'author bio' space but over all, it's to sprinkle your blog URL around the internet and again, generating 'organic' traffic. It's important though to be on sites with a 'market' that is INTERESTED in your niche. Do you notice the 'badges' that can be found on some sites and how it says, 'member of blah blah'? It could be another source of generating traffic and interest, in your site. Again, check your competitions' web site for clues.

Now, if blogging to SELL products, it's important to list yourself in your local, regional and national business listings. Using these sites will help point prospective 'customers' back to you. In the world of arts and crafts, it's best to also join local, regional and national Art groups. Some are niche specific and may also find a 'badge' that you can add to your site. These sites may help to give your own site better search results, after all, business caters to people and search engines like to help businesses. It's also important to note that some business listings may require 'business license' numbers of one sort or another. Both these choices help give your own site, a sense of 'legitimacy' in the eyes of prospective customers. 

Social media is also very popular to use to help generate traffic. Tools such as LinkdIn, Twitter, Facebook, Ning, to name a few. Again, use it to FIND people that are interested in your niche. Then be assured every time you make a post to your various 'social' sites, there's going to be a few fans of your topic.  

An item to consider, is the 'presentation' of your blog. A few questions to examine while viewing our blog such as:

• is it 'visually' appealing?
• Is it hard or easy on the eyes?
• Is it easy or hard to read?
• Is it too busy? Flashy? Undressed?

Upon landing on your blog, how do you think your audience will see it? Does it look sloppy or semi-pro? People will say, it's only 'window dressing' but we know how 'appearance' can create a quick judgement, of pass or fail. I would suggest, less is more. Simple design and small splashes of color rather than something that looks like a gloomy graffiti wall (no offence to graffiti artists intended!) we just want a site where a reader will feel comfortable and relaxed, to read, without major distractions.

Last but not least, is your 'voice' behind the writing. There are types of writing that people enjoy and others, that cause them to hit the 'back' button, to disappear in the internet stratosphere. It's highly recommended to write, as if you're in a direct 'conversation' with your best friend. Natural emotion and self, is the best tool to use when writing on your blog. People get to know you as they read more and more of your posts. They will see glimpses of your life, personality and we can't forget to add HUMOUR. The best medicine for one's Soul. ☺

Extra Learning

 

Extra Reading Material

Blogs Tips and Tricks

My Blogger Tricks

Free Download -Keyword List Generator

Blogging Tips and Strategies
 
I hope you found this article informative. Please feel free to leave your comments and share your thoughts. Send me a email if you have a request on a topic of interest or to say hello. It's FREE to subscribe by Email or my RSS Feed.

Article(C)2013, all rights reserved. Ginsense creates and posts articles online about business development, micro business, health, science, technology and society.

Sewn with Care

A few research studies have shown, that doing acts of kindness towards others, benefits both recipient and the giver. It improves their over all emotional and social well being. If we take a closer look at our circle of best friends, we may just find that we all give and take from each other. We may also find ourselves measuring others, by their ability to give and take to their fellow man. A successful marriage may very well provide clues to this very act, as quite the bond between the couple. It is a quality that we find within ourselves and may unconsciously, seek out in others.

Today's world has thrown many natural disasters at us, and many people stepped up, to help those in need. Unfortunately, we have no control over the weather and according to the latest news reports, it's going to be the 'new normal'. The prospect of future 'super' storms does not excite me nor instill any real sense of security in our world. It is something that many of us will have to learn to prepare and survive these unforseeable events. Yet, again, we will also find others who will step up to reach out and help. It is definitely one of Mankind's top qualities.

Next to strange weather systems we have all the too common various illnesses, that afflict our children and where again, we find people performing acts of kindness. We have web sites that are dedicated to teaching and inviting others how they too, can give, provide and show their support. This can be learning to sew clothing items, blankets and toys next to offering financial donations. We will find people from one side of the world, reaching out and helping a child, on the other side of the world. Can you imagine the feelings this stirs for the child?

Other areas, where we will find acts of kindness performed daily, will be in other social areas. We will find women in shelters escaping domestic violence or homelessness, youth shelters providing help for runaways, shelters for homeless men, homes for the mentally challenged, our homeless pets, and importantly, helping our military personnel, at their own times of need. Thankfully, the internet has opened the information highway for us to find them, and them, to find us, who will be quite happy to give our support.

A person with sewing skills, no matter their level of experience, is one of the many types of supporters that can be found often requested. They are sought out, for their ability to piece together different items such as clothing, toys or blankets. If you take a look at a sewing guild online, you may find certain times of the year, announcements are posted, about a sewing project needed for a charity they support.

The strength in numbers, as can be found in a guild, can prove invaluable for charities and pooling their work together, brings in the extra number of projects. These announcements can also usually be seen in sewing forums or reference to a charity included in photo's. These projects may not look grand or unique and be simple, to the trained eye but that's not the point. It's the smile that lights up on the face of the recipient of these projects, that makes the time spent by the charity and unknown seamstress, that gives back that sense of great satisfaction. If you're part of guild, ask if they'd be interested in supporting a worthy charity, at your next meeting.

Charities can be found in great numbers online and in many different areas of interest. It is critical to ensure you examine their privacy polices and check out their ratings. A few sites are available which are dedicated to ensuring that the public, is NOT abused. For the seamstress, if you use 'sewing for charity' in Google, you will also find many available sites to choose. Ensure you research each one and your own available time, that you're able to dedicate, for project requests.

Extra Reading

Sewing for Charity

Charity Watch

BBB- For Charities and Donors 

Active Learning Video

I hope you found this article informative. Please feel free to leave your comments, share your own experiences or observations, share this article with your friends and give your Vote. Visit my galleries for inspiration. Send a Email if you would like to place a Order today.

Article(C)2013 GG9909, all rights reserved. GG9909 is passionate about the art of Crazy quilts and world of sewing and small home business.

Designing for More Space!

The world of sewing whether for clothing, accessories or quilts and even the arts and crafts world does require that we have a fantastic work surface. Some of us are fortunate and don't mind plopping ourselves onto the floor though ensuring we don't lose our 'tools of the trade' amidst the mess we make, may become somewhat problematic.

A search around the web and we will find many idea's for creating our own DIY tables and desks. Most consist of using existing pieces of furniture and attaching a piece of plywood, counter top or a door as the work surface We can shop around at garage sales to pick up pieces of furniture or visit a nearby store. Some pieces of furniture that's popular to use are cubby hole shelves, 3 shelf units, small office machine stands or small 3 drawer dressers. These work great for adding extra storage and keeping our supplies near at hand.

The use of plywood can be easily cut to size, to fit across the width of which ever piece of furniture you choose as a base. Other idea's include buying a collapsible buffet table, the ones where the legs will fold or another popular idea, the ping pong table. One can even pick up parts to make their own version of a collapsible table with buying the 'legs' and a piano hinge. We can have fun with 're-covering' the surface of a plywood board with a layer or two of batting and fabric or vinyl covering. A few people have converted a closet or armoire into a compact 'sewing' corner. We just have to make sure they are sturdy.

Storage and organization of our supplies is important. It helps us with sticking to the task at hand, working on finishing our project. A few extra idea's are as follows:

• curtain rod with S hooks to hang a container
• decorative plant hangers
• pant hangers
• make a wall hanging with pockets
• hanging shoe/closet organizer
• magazine holders as brackets to hold a shelf
• toilet paper/paper towel bar

The idea's for storage are endless for the four walls and ceiling in our 'work' room. Take a look around and check for area's you can create extra storage space or to enlarge your floor area. Go online and explore the many idea's available to us which we may be able to apply or modify to our own needs. It's an area that can be quite fun, decorating our sewing/craft/work room.

I am a fan of Peter Fallico and watched his 'Home to Go' series whenever possible. One idea he presented was using five doors and attaching them to make a unique little 'office' area which we can morph into our own little 'work' corner. Refer to my 'rough' (very rough!) drawing of how he had put it together using hinges. It was designed to be portable and functional. One can add all sorts of storage design idea's to the available space around it.  

One last item I recommend that I noticed one day receiving a visitor. I had nowhere for my guest to sit and she was forced to stand! How rude of me! I would suggest maybe adding one of those little ottomans with 'storage' space or a comfy bench (with storage) in your 'work' room for such situations as they may arise unexpectedly. It's always nice to share 'shop talk' with others.

Extra Reading

Do It Yourself Craft Desk

Pinterest – Sewing/Craft Room

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