Hobby Shop Blog

Making a braided rug the old fashioned way is much cheaper than buying a ready made rug and provides you with a wonderful craft project for stay-at-home evenings. The rug I am describing for you in this article is a “patchwork” sort of a rug, colorful and without a particular pattern.

The easiest and the cheapest way is to go through your old clothing first and save back all of the knitted and jersey articles to use for your rug. These types of fabrics do not “shred” when scissored and also tend to have a “give” to the fabric that allows for easy braiding.

The first step is to cut all of the fabric into one and a half inch wide strips. Pick out the three strips you want for the first “braiding strip” and pin them together at the top with a large safety pin. (It doesn’t matter if they are of different lengths.) Then just begin to braid. You may want to tie the beginning braid to the back of a chair or some other sort of anchor to start with but you don’t have to. Once you have gotten to within three inches of the end of any of the strips you are braiding, simply add in a new strip by placing it neatly inside of the remaining piece, rolling the two pieces together, and simply continuing on the braid. Note: the “end” of the rug braid is NOT DONE yet, simply use a safety pin at the end of the braid you are working on and leave the braiding strips hanging out so that you can continue the rug to the size you are wanting.

After you have braided a piece that is around six to eight feet in length, you will want to decide whether you want a round rug or an oval rug. The only equipment you need for this step is a large five or six inch long straight “doll” needle (this has a slightly “duller” point and is a sturdy non bendable needle) and waxed beading cord. Simply take the long braided piece and lay it around into a circle or an oval shape and sew this braid together by taking each of the inside loops and weaving your beading cord in and out of the loops. Pull each loop together snugly and shape the rug as you go. It is easier to start this first part of the rug by laying it out onto a large table top to begin stitching the braiding around itself, once you build it up a bit, you no longer need to use the table. Just sit with it in your lap and you can work on it.

All you do to complete your rug is continue to braid your continuous braid and continue to stitch it around itself until you get to the desire size and shape. At the end, sew your last pieces of the braid back into the rug individually with your waxed beading cord for about 10 inches. You will be proud of the colorful area rug and of the work you yourself have put into it, and best of all, you haven’t spent anything and yet you have a easy to wash area rug!

The cigar shop of yesteryear has been increasingly replaced by a virtual version that offers the same wide variety of cigar brands, humidors and accessories, but knows no geographical boundaries and offers products at a fraction of the cost. Truly, online cigar stores have played a major role in the cigar boom of the last decade, revolutionizing the industry and making the purchasing of cigars cheap, hassle-free and anonymous.

Cigar stores both on and offline provide a large assortment of brands, from the inexpensive to the premium. Some of the most popular brands in the U.S. include the many varieties of Macanudos, as well as Montecristos and Nat Shermans. They come with a full range of prices that appeal to both the serious aficionado and the occasional, recreational smoker.

Of course, the most sought after type of cigar remains the Cuban variety, which makes them both more expensive and more difficult to find. Fortunately for cigar lovers, the onset of the Internet in addition to the relaxation of government sanctions regarding the importation of Cuban goods has made it much easier for U.S. citizens to enjoy the many Cuban flavors available for the serious smoker.

In addition to cigars, cigar stores stock various accessories available for purchase. The most common, and the most essential item is the humidor, which serves to preserve, protect and display a collection of cigars. Humidors vary greatly in shape and size, from a small box holding just a few items, to a full, climate controlled room, but each serves to provide the optimum temperature and humidity for lasting flavor.

Other products available include containers, cigar cutters, lighters and cases. Cuban Crafters, an online cigar store featuring premium cigars as well as a full range of accessories, even offers gift packages for cigar lovers of all kinds.

While some cigar aficionados still enjoy the occasional trip to their local smoke shop, online cigar stores are clearly the wave of the future and can be credited in large part for the dramatic increase in sales to the U.S. since the early 1990’s.

To begin investigating which shows to apply to, you might start

with what you know—those shows you’ve attended, ones that are

within an hour or so of your home and ones other vendors have

recommended. You will not always know if the craftsperson who

suggested a show has the same values as you until you check it

out for yourself, so this is not always a concrete selection

principle. But it’s a place to start. If you belong to a craft

guild or organization or subscribe to a trade journal, you may

be able to get show recommendations there. Several websites are

equipped with lists of local and national shows and all the

contact information. Also log onto some of the craft forums

where you can ask other crafters and look for some consensus on

the best shows.

You will find information about where and when the show is and

who to contact to apply. Once you call or check out their Web

site, make sure you apply by the requested deadline. When you

call the promoter of the show or visit their Web site if they

have one, be sure to ask any of the questions you may have such

as:

What was the attendance last year and what is this year’s

expected attendance? How many years have you been producing the

show? How many booth spaces are there and how many applications

do you receive? How do you assign booth spaces? What are the

entry and jury fees? Are there any additional fees like % of

gross, parking, electrical? Do I need any special licenses? What

kinds of people attend your shows? What kinds of crafts do you

select, who makes the selection and what are the bestsellers?

What is the average price range of items exhibited? Sold? What

are the average sales for exhibitors in my medium? What style is

the show? What kind of promotion do you do prior to the show? Do

I get some promotional materials? When do you notify the

successful applicants? What happens if it rains or snows? What

are the security arrangements? Any other support available?

A professional promoter should have this information and should

be willing to share it with you. If they won’t, you may be able

to get it elsewhere—on the Internet or in some craft guides that

are sold by subscription and have show reviews. Some shows

request you send a self-addressed stamped envelope for the

application. When you get it, you’ll see the booth sizes, fees

and what you need to submit. You also may receive a copy of the

contract, which outlines your responsibilities as an exhibitor,

such as whether or not the craftsperson must be present in the

booth, what merchandise is and is not allowed in the booth,

display requirements and for larger indoor shows, the rules

regarding electricity, unions, fireproofing and the cancellation

policy. Also, whether or not you need any special permits.

Usually, your seller’s permit is all that’s required.

The best promoters are discriminating about who they select for

their shows based on unique, original quality products and

attractive displays, as shown in your photos or slides—which is

why using a professional photographer is recommended by most

craftspeople. They also look for a balanced variety of

categories. Good vendors attract good customers and so everyone

wins—the customer, the vendor and the promoter!

It’s homecoming season across the nation, but only in parts of Texas and Oklahoma is it also homecoming mum season. Some students take homecoming mums just as seriously as the homecoming football game itself.

For the uninitiated, a homecoming mum is an oversize mum corsage decorated with three-foot long streamers in the school colors, bells, charms, banners, little plush animals done up in bows, sparkly letters, even Christmas tree lights.

It is usually worn in the middle of the chest like a breastplate with the streamers flowing down the front of the body almost touching the ankles. It is, in short, a fashion statement.

But homecoming mums are so much more than that. They are a sign that somebody loves you. They’re no longer given only by boyfriends. Mums can come from friends, your mom, dad, aunt, or even a booster boy (a boy-friend who is not your date).

Anybody who’s anybody wears one, or two. These days, a homecoming mum can cost up to $100 and weigh as much as 12 pounds!

Homecoming mums have become a status symbol for many junior high and high school students. Designs change every year. The more original, the better.

If you’re a crafter and live in Texas or Oklahoma, you should be in seventh heaven. You can make homecoming mums for yourself or your favorite high school student at a fraction of the retail price.

Even the boys are getting into this fad. They’ve started wearing homecoming garters on their sleeves.

If you craft for profit, the high margins make homecoming mums a very attractive seasonal craft.

Homecoming Mums: The Tradition

Chrysanthemums have long been the quintessential Fall flower, so it’s not surprising that they quickly became associated with the quintessential Fall sport – football. In the earliest pictures of college football games, you can pick out the mum corsages worn by the young women in the stands.

Since everything grows big in Texas, it’s also not surprising that the Lone Star State is credited with developing the more elaborate corsages known as homecoming mums. In the 1960’s, these wonderful concoctions could be had there for $10. Ahh, the good ‘ol days.

Over the years, mums were cultivated to grow bigger and bigger and the corsages grew and grew.

Today, the silk flower has replaced the live chrysanthemum as the centerpiece for homecoming mums. With silk flowers, the only size limit to homecoming mum corsages is the size of the wearer!

Now a homecoming mum can be saved as a keepsake or recycled into next year’s new unique corsage.

Christmas is a fun time of year, a busy time of year, and a bumper craft sales season! You can never start planning too early, and each year you’ll find you improve your results from the previous year as you get more experience.

Christmas Craft Ideas - Where To Sell Your Crafts

There are so many opportunities out there for holiday season sales, here are a few Christmas craft sales ideas:

Christmas Fairs & Markets - Do an internet search using your local search engine, and stock up on your local print media to check what’s being advertised in your area. Book early! If you’re too late to book for this year, put your name on the list for next year.

Retailers - Find out about the promotions at your local mall, and ask your local convenience store if you can rent a small space to display your crafts.

Charities and Fundraising Events - These are usually well supported by the community, find out what’s taking place near you.

Home Party Sales - Christmas is also a good sales period for this type of selling, so arrange your own parties or ask someone you know who does home party selling to take your crafts along.

Door to Door - Offer the kids in your neighborhood a commission for any of your crafts they can sell for extra pocket money.

Christmas Craft Ideas - Best Selling Crafts

Seasonal events like Christmas present great opportunities for fun craft items and new product ideas!

Decorations and ornaments are an obvious idea, and a good one, especially if you can come up with something really unique and creative.

Gift hampers with different themes are great, especially if you can create a clever package for men because they can be quite difficult to buy gifts for.

Offer discounts on some of your items that sell well throughout the year to boost your Christmas sales, or sell it for the same or a little more but with an extra item packaged with it.

There is so much variety available in fabric shops, on-line, and in mail-order catalogs that it’s almost difficult to choose. Often, I end up buying fabric whether I need it right now or not. After all, a quilter must always have fabric on hand.

The “magic” comes when you find a fabric that you fall in love with. Finding a suitable fabric usually isn’t difficult for a project you’re working on. Settling on just one fabric is the hard part.

Here are some criteria to keep in mind when making fabric selections: colorfast quality; fiber content; surface design. If you stick to some guidelines about these criteria, then you’re sure to be pleased with the final result of your project.

Surface Design:

The printed or woven surface design and, of course, the color, is very important.

1) Try to pick fabrics with the same color value so one doesn’t stand out in the finished quilt.

2)Check to see if there is a one-way direction in the design; you may need to purchase extra fabric to allow for cutting fabrics with plaids or stripes.

3) The size of the design and the background spaces are also important considerations. Are the designs large, medium, or small? Is the background area prominent? How will this particular fabric look when cut it into small quilt pieces? If the design is too widely spaced, it may be lost in the cutting of the fabric.

Take a few minutes to analyze fabric and keep these questions in mind when purchasing fabric. It is far better to have left over fabric than be working on a project and run out of material. I’ve run out before only to find that the fabric is no longer in stock.

Colorfast Quality:

Avoid fabrics that fade. Pigment-dyed fabric resists light 40 hours. Wet-printed resists light 20 hours. The best thing to avoid having your quilt fade is to keep it out of direct sunlight.

Fiber Content:

The fiber content is especially important when purchasing fabric for quilts. The way fabric responds to manipulation is determined by the fiber content. The standard 100% cotton fabric sold for quilting is easy to work with and this is the best choice.

Cotton blends are harder to work with; they tend to shift while cutting or sewing them. 100% cotton is strong when wet, absorbs moisture, creases easily, irons nicely at high temperatures and wears well.

Beware of Discount Fabric:

For a good finished product, quilters need to purchase good-quality, colorfast cotton fabric from a reputable supplier. I’ve bought fabric from discount stores because I liked the print. Then I had trouble manipulating the material; it would shift and bunch as I sewed it.

The finished product usually reflected the problems I encountered while sewing. No matter how much money I saved on material, my time was wasted by producing a less than satisfactory quilt.

In order to be happy with your finished product, I recommend that you buy what appeals to you… as long as it is good-quality, colorfast cotton fabric that is treated with finishes to control shrinkage, resist soil, and resist wrinkling.

>A Compact, Disease Resistant Holly - 22 Years in the Making!

Dr. Elwin Orton of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey has spent over 40 years developing improved hollies and dogwood trees that are hardy in the winter and disease resistant. Back in 1982 - after being disappointed with three hollies that were planted on his property, Dr. Orton set out to develop a new compact growing holly that could withstand east coast conditions, be low-maintenance, have a nice pyramid shape and have dense, dark green foliage with bright red berries. This does not sound like an easy task - and it wasn’t! It took Dr. Orton 22 years of hybridizing and thorough testing to develop a holly that was everything he wanted. This week we are please to feature the holly that Dr. Orton developed - ‘Red Beauty.’

‘Red Beauty’ has quickly become a standout among other hollies and we are sure that it will remain so for years to come. Unlike other reliable and hardy blue hollies that require much pruning to maintain a good shape; ‘Red Beauty’ maintains a natural dense, pyramid shape with little maintenance. Dr. Orton said of the ‘Red Beauty’ - “It clearly stood out in the trial fields. After 10 years of evaluation, the original plant was only 7 feet tall by 4 feet wide at the base. It had never been pruned. It was very dense and self-compacting with a tight pyramidal habit. It’s a winner!” ‘Red Beauty’ has beautiful, glossy green evergreen foliage that will be covered in bright red berries in the autumn. The foliage has a finer texture than many other hollies available today. Simply put, ‘Red Beauty’ is the best holly we have seen in years - if you are in need of a privacy screen, a narrow hedge to define your yard or a background for your perennials - this is the perfect plant for you!

Planting and Care

‘Red Beauty’ is slower growing and will mature at eight feet tall to four and a half feet wide. To ensure the best display of fruit possible, plant near a male holly such as ‘Blue Prince.’

Plant spring or fall.

For fall planting in Zone 6 (especially in a windy site), place a double layered burlap screen around, but not over the holly for the first winter.

Plant in full sun to light shade.

Must have a well-drained site.

Does best with compost-enriched soil.

Water regularly until established.

Fertilize with Cottonseed Meal and Kelp Meal in early spring and late fall.

Hardy in Zones 6 - 9.

Kids are always wanting to make mom a gift for Mother’s Day. They want something that is all their own, without much help from anyone, so here are some ideas that are both inexpensive and easy for them.

A home made jewelry box: Give the child a small paper mache box - sort of like a jewelry box, any shape with a lid. Now, put down some newspaper, put acrylic paints, brushes, glitter, buttons, charms, ribbon or lace, glue, colored markers or crayons down on the paper, and let your child do the work. You will be surprised what they can come up with.

They can also use the same materials to make a card for Mom on Mother’s Day. Just get a thick card stock to fold in half so they can decorate it. You can also use poster board and help them make a big “Happy Mother’s Day” sign, to greet her in the morning with.

Another idea is to get some cheap plastic beads with big holes, some string and let them make a matching set of bracelets and a necklace for mom.

Cut out hearts of red, pink, lavender paper or poster board, color it, put glitter on it and hang them all over the house.

Modeling clay is always a nice medium to play with. There are clays that only need to dry in the air and need no baking at all. Modeling clay allows your child to form anything that comes to mind. They can use their imagination with no limits, except for the limits of the clay. Once the project is dry, your child can paint it or dress it up any way they want. It is an inexpensive way and fun way of letting your child make and give of their heart to their mom on Mother’s Day.

Check your local craft shop for other project ideas that are appropriate for this age group. Take your little one to the store and let them decide what they want to make for mommy. Just remember to read the age group limit on the outside of the box.

Always remember to supervise the children, especially with glue, paint and scissors around.

In today’s fast-paced stressed life, even children need to take a little time off with some form of relaxation. However, instead of raising a couch potato who listens to MP3s, plays video games, surfs the Internet or just watches TV, encouraging a child to take up a constructive alternative, such as, a hobby could open a whole new dimension to his life. Parents should support their child in discovering the rewards of having a hobby.

What is a Hobby?

A hobby is a pastime or activity that a child does in his spare time for individual accomplishment. It is something they have an interest in and that they enjoy. It differs from an activity that is forced on them. For instance, a parent may think that her son needs some exercise and signs him up for soccer. While her son may not mind playing soccer, he is not especially enthusiastic about it either. This is not a hobby for him; whereas, a daughter begs to take up ballet. Here she is not only getting exercise, but she lives and breathes ballet. That then makes it her hobby.

What kinds of Hobbies are there?

1. One type of hobby is collecting, such as, key chain, lunchbox, autograph, stamp, trading card, comic book, postcard, doll, spoon, patch or coin collecting.

2. There are educational hobbies. A few of them would be amateur radio, bird watching, genealogy, chemistry or astronomy.

3. Then there are creative hobbies. They could be painting, photography, playing a musical instrument, cooking, scrap booking, building models, HO gauge trains, kite building, wood carving, needlepoint, knitting, sewing and crocheting.

4. Also there are physical hobbies, for example, playing sports, yoga, bicycling, running or hiking.

5. Next there are the games. Many of which can be played in competition. Several are chess, checkers, bridge, gin rummy, backgammon and scrabble.

6. Some are then a combination of hobby types. For instance, hobbies that are a blend of the collecting and educational varieties are rock and mineral, fossil, butterfly, feather, shell and arrowhead collecting. Gardening could be considered both physical and educational; whereas, the art of dance is creative and physical.

What are the Rewards of Having a Hobby?

1. It can promote relaxation.

2. It can encourage physical exercise.

3. The hobby may further advance creativity.

4. Through the process of self-discovery, a child may realize a talent they did not know existed.

5. A hobby can teach. A child may learn about the particular subject they are engaged in and perhaps become an expert. They can learn organizational skills through setting up a collection or planning the next phase of their hobby’s development.

6. It may aid a child in increasing the drive and persistence to attain their goals.

7. Due to self-achievement, the hobby can help in building confidence. For example, when a budding gardener takes some seeds, cultivates the soil, adds the right amount of water and proper sunlight and wins first prize for growing the largest tomato at the fair.

8. It can also aid in developing social skills like how to handle competition with learning to win politely or lose gracefully.

9. The hobby could result into a lifetime passion or eventually turn into a career.

There are very few downsides to having a hobby. Unless, of course, the child becomes obsessed to the point where everything else in their life falls to the wayside. It is the duty of a parent to keep their child on track with what is appropriate and not to allow them to become too fixated on their hobby.

To further the desire to take up a hobby in a child, it is important that the parents have a hobby themselves. They also should attempt to expose their child to various experiences so that possibly their child may form an interest in some area. When an interest seems to develop, parents should support it wholeheartedly. Perhaps take a trip to a museum, show, or exhibit that features the hobby.

However, parents should not demand absolute perfection from the child. They should allow the child to try, fail, and learn from their mistakes. After all, it is their hobby and they should be allowed to explore it their own way. A child who discovers his own personal pursuit will surely reap many rewards from his hobby that he otherwise would not have experienced.

What crafter wouldn’t like to know the ‘secret’ to finding the

crafts that sell? Especially the ones that sell most often, and

for the highest dollar. It is a common question, and one that

certainly cannot be answered easily. A number of factors will

determine the success of your craft on the craft show circuit.

If you can imagine craft shows all across the country, you could

probably imagine several different types of crafts at each show.

This is just one reason why it is difficult to pinpoint the

craft that will be successful in your area. But, if you want to

sell crafts for a profit, then you are going to have to figure

out which type of craft is already popular.

Go to craft shows and see what is selling Ask around at craft

stores to find out what is really popular right now Find a niche

for something that ISN’T offered at your local craft shows

The first point is probably the easiest to do, because if you

already like crafts, then chances are you don’t mind going to

the craft shows. Besides, it is always important to check out

the competition before you even start your crafting business.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the retailer when you are

out there. They may or may not be willing to answer some – but

if you phrase them out of interest rather than fact finding you

may have better luck.

Once again, if you are a crafter, you likely head to the local

craft store on a regular basis, and you can gather a lot of

information here as well. Ask the people at the checkout

counter what has been moving really quick, or casually notice

what other people are carrying out of the store. Make regular

visits and you will see for yourself what moves in the stores,

as they rotate their goods and change their displays.

The third point is high-risk, high reward. If you find a niche

at the local craft shows, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you

are going to have the next hot-selling craft. With new products

it is often hit and miss – with miss being more often. But,

niche crafts – especially if they take advantage of other hot

trends – can be very profitable. As it is in any business,

those who stay on top of their market usually end up making more

money and are more successful in the end.

Here are a few tips for creating a profitable craft:

Find something functional. Most people would like to get some

use (however limited it might be) out of a craft they see.

Create something that is unique to your area – something that

people can only get if they come to your region. This appeals

to tourists and others just passing through and going to the

craft show.

Crafts that will make good gifts for others. Practical items

are also excellent for this purpose as well.

Rarely is there a sure thing in crafts. But, you can take much

of the guesswork out of finding the most profitable craft in

your area with a little research.

Still, across the craft show world, some of the top craft show

experts believe that the following craft areas are perennial

best-sellers: In no particular order –

Personal items (soaps, body lotion bars)

Entertaining items (wine charms, coasters, place cards)

Practical crafts (bread baskets, candles, placemats, anything

people can put to use!)

If you can find something in these areas, I would say that you

stand a much greater chance of selling your craft – and for top

dollar – at your local craft shows!