Homemade Life Register Of Crafty Crafters...

We all know that Homemade Lifers are a crafty bunch, thought it might be an idea to make a listy thing of the different handicrafts people get up to...

One post per person please (remember you can always edit it in the future) & tell us all what your crafty interests are...

It may be helpful if you could put what level you consider yourself at:

1. Thinking About - Think it may be interesting, & considering starting.
2. Learning - Got the stuff, beginning to learn how to do it.
3. Accomplished - Know how to do it & happy with what you do.
4. Expert - Other people love what you do & want to know how you do it.
5. Master Crafter - No explanation needed, & willing to explain & help mere mortals.

Ooo... Sounds like a good idea... I'll start (with a very short list!)

I'm into metal stuff, normally pretty big items. Love welding (either gas or electric) and have been known to do some cold casting of base metals. In more recent times I've dabbled in jewelry making using silver, but this really tests my patience! If I had to rate my expertise in all things metal I guess I'd have to go with somewhere approaching the expert area, and if I don't know the answer I'll probably know someone that does!

Erm... Thats about it, I can dig stuff in the garden, and sometimes things grow, but thats more luck than judgement!

I am an expert in the following (well, I teach others how to do it..., anyway!)

Papermaking and paper crafting, lots of other papercrafty stuff (books, cards, envelopes, boxes )
Various making things from recycled/natural materials from seasonal wreaths to bird feeders
Making lotions and balms etc
Melt and pour soaps with added extras.


Composting
Growing organic veg and organic gardening generally
Chicken keeping
Den building, campfire cooking, wildlife and plant ID , woodcraft, knots, tracking, games etc

General sustainability stuff (greening up your life sort of things)

And am adding to the list as I go.


I am accomplished/expert at making

Various alcoholic drinks ( cider, fruit wines, infused fruit spirits, with the odd mishap)
Yoghurt, butter and soft chese making -hard cheese soon!
Chutney, Jam
Some cookery (not terrific at patisserie!)
Some needlecrafts (embroidery, hand sewing, felting)


I have a go, with varying degrees of success at needle felting, knitting, weaving, rag rugs, tapestry, soap making, basket making, and lots of other stuff.

I also carve wood, weld metal and make scrap /junk models rom all sorts of stuff.

I do lots of other stuff, on a learning but on the way to being accomplished sort of level.

I can't get the hang of a potters wheel, though!

I am, alas, something of a dilettante in most of the things that I do, never really achieving much more skill than needed to complete a task.

I suppose that over time I have achieved a decent skill with a crochet hook, though nothing special.

I am officially classed by my trade as a Journeyman Horticulturist which allows me to employ apprentice level staff at set rates. Trying to run a smallholding means that I prefer to think of myself as an eternal learner in all things - a jack of all trades, master of none.

Hmmm - well I'd say that I was an accomplished knitter and possibly an expert at cross-stitch. Machine sewing, crochet and other embroidery I'm very much learning. Veg growing I'm also learning having produced the first batch in our garden last year.

Mrs C

I'm quite an accomplished knitter(except socks!!),
Also acomplished in the following - cross stitch, embroidery, sewing,Clothes mending, baking/cooking
I dabble in indian beading, veg gardening, jam making/preserving
I know theres more just can't think right now

I knit, but just small plain things.
I can sew, but no longer make clothes
I can crochet squares
I make cards, but I am not as good at it as I would like to be
I play with beads
I make things for Dolls Houses
I am teaching myself to paint & draw
I love gardening
I am a good cook
I can Make do & Mend & recycle
I will add as a PS that I am a lousy housewife!!

I think Badger should add spoon carving to his list, I would buy them!

However I am a bit like Badger, I do something and if I am satisfied don't try to perfect it, just off to the next task!


Cooking - I am pretty good at curries, mostly Indian as I dated a Pakistani a few years back and that was all he ate, so I became very familiar with them. I make pretty good sourdough bread too!



Knitting - I am a beginner at crochet and knitting, but love it and will aim to get better


I will add some more when I can sit down without a baby yelling at me!

Cross stitch and various embroidery like candle wicking - Learning to Accomplished. Have done a bit and know what I am doing but would not put myself any higher than this.
Crochet - probably expert. I love to do it, people buy my stuff and return to buy more, not quite a master as there is still stuff I haven't tried
Scrapbooking - Accomplished. Been scrapping for 2.5 years and love what I do. As always striving higher and to learn more. I have won quite a few prizes so I must be ok
Card making - not as accomplished as scrapbooking, but getting there
Baking - I love baking and am good at what I do. Haven't tried some things so maybe in the expert range? If Ihaven't tried it I often know about it or can get info pronto on it



1. Thinking About - Think it may be interesting, & considering starting.
2. Learning - Got the stuff, beginning to learn how to do it.
3. Accomplished - Know how to do it & happy with what you do.
4. Expert - Other people love what you do & want to know how you do it.
5. Master Crafter - No explanation needed, & willing to explain & help mere mortals.

I've dabbled with several things: wood turning, various metalwork, even plastic.
I would not claim to be an expert, but quite often the results have impressed a few people. I don't think any of them are particularly good, but then I know exactly how difficult they weren't to do... Perhaps that is the secret of most crafts: keeping schtumm... :?

Remind me. I'll try to post some pictures sometime.

I work as a gardener so I guess I'm farily expert at that stuff, but gawd it sounds so arrogant.. especially as I still have so much to learn.

I'm pretty good at winemaking and jamming

Not bad at wombling and taking someone's crap and making it into something unusual and useable.

I love cooking

I love learning, so I'm reaching journeyman there, I reckon, be it academic or musical.

I'm a beginner knitter but I've nearly finished my first jumper!

I emborider, started that to give up smoking.

I love art and do my own piccies and frame them, don't care if they're crap they look kinda cool

I love thing transferrence... as in using a pallet for car rack, then a table, then a solar heater then a bike rack..

I'm cheap

I'll give anything a go really, I may be crap but then again, I may be bloody brilliant, love finding out.. and when crap going "OLllllllll...... can you finish this please?" and wandering off...

I tend to go through phases - for the last few years I've done little but garden. I also knit and make cards. Things I haven't done for a while (but have previously done to an acceptable level) are: silk painting, sewing (I made my wedding dress), crochet, vegetable dyeing and cross stitch. I have woven (but not for a while), made candles, and done printmaking. I was trained in ceramics (handbuilt and thrown) - I haven't had the opportunity to do this for a good few years - I'm hoping that when I do it'll be one of those things you don't forget, like riding a bike. Oh, and I like to draw small landscapes in coloured pencils.

Dandelion could you show me how to master a potters wheel..I am rubbish at it and am determined to DO BETTER...!

Coiled pots, thumb pots not an issue...

As soon as I find a decent electric wheel (no good at kick wheels I'm afraid) and remind myself!! It's mainly a case of getting the feel for it and practicing, and the knack does eventually come(back) (I hope!)

Well, since I've just introduced myself, and began reading this thread to get to know all of you, I think I might put my list up too.

There is only one thing that I am an expert/master at and that's knowing how to find the information I need, or who to ask for assistance and advice. I dabble in so many things that I too am a "jack of all trades".

In the realm of being accomplished, I say the following fits: baking, cooking, nutritional knowledge, psychology & human behavior (though not a craft), storytelling & writing, and my 15 year old son just added that I am accomplished at being a mother (cute little kiss butt  )

The rest of my interests vary in skill and knowledge, though I have fun with it at any rate. My ventures at the moment are soaps, salves, and herbal medicines/homeopathy. Here soon, I will be gearing up for the spring garden too.

As I'm allergic to a lot of cosmetics I've been intending to have a go at soap using some of my beeswax (I keep bees). I've done skin cream very successfully. I also want to try something with propolis as it is supposed to have good healing properties. I only dabble a bit for myself as there are very stringent licencing requirements in the UK if you want to sell anything of that nature.

What's propolis, Ploshkin?

Propolis is collected by bees and it is resin from some trees and sticky buds. They use it to glue things together and seal gaps. They combine it with enzymes and it has antibacterial, antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.

Ploshkin, my kids have really sensitive skin too. The best soap for them is Castile soap; but you can take a recipe for this and add anything you like, when it's nearly done.

Ploshkin wrote:Propolis is collected by bees and it is resin from some trees and sticky buds.  They use it to glue things together and seal gaps.  They combine it with enzymes and it has antibacterial, antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.

Bees are so amazing!