[Nfb-krafters-korner] ideas, without a roller tip

Thu Aug 19 19:52:37 UTC 2010

Sounds like Dick's idea is similar to a former clients.  She did use a ball key chain and painted the top green (most of our canes at the time had green at the top).  We gave them out as gifts at Christmas to the bus drivers with this poem:

We wanted to get you something
To hang upon your bus ---
We thought that every time you saw it
Perhaps you'd think of us.
It had to be something special
So we searched everywhere ---
We wanted you to realize
Just how much we care.
We made this tiny ornament
Shining oh so bright ---
And hope that on your daily route
It will be just right!

They were a big hit!

Cindy Z.
-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rovig, Lorraine
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 1:48 PM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] ideas, without a roller tip

I sent your fundraiser idea on to my old cane-travel instructor, Dick Davis of BLIND Inc., in Minneapolis, and got back from him another cool idea for making little canes. 

Lorraine

-----Original Message-----
From: Dick Davis [mailto:ddavis at blindinc.org] 
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 2:44 PM
To: Rovig, Lorraine; 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Subject: RE: ideas, without a roller tip

Lorraine,

Thanks for sending this on to me.  When I do little canes, I use 1/4 inch
wood dowel stock, which is available at many hardware stores, cut it to
length, paint it white with a silver tip, and use a piece of clear 1/4 inch
plastic tubing for the handle.  It looks just like the real thing.  I don't
put the little strings on mine, but it should be no problem to drill a hole
through the end of the handle and use fishing line or something similar. 

I make my canes with a straight handle, but I imagine the tubing could be
heated and bent to make a crook, reinforced with 12 gauge single strand
copper wire with white insulation.  That also can be found at a hardware
store.  If they don't have single strand, which you need for strength, buy a
piece of 12 gauge Romex and pull the wires out of it.  Or the wire itself
could be used to make the cane, with tubing used for the handle and a little
bit of insulation stripped off the end to make a shiny copper tip.  

Dick Davis
BLIND, Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: On Behalf Of Rovig, Lorraine
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 2:12 PM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] ideas, without a roller tip

Dixie, I like the solution you have for the pipe-cleaner canes, with one exception...Call me overly fussy, but, umm, the NFB canes sold here at the National Federation of the Blind Independence Market (in Baltimore) do not ever come with a roller ball and the NFB-trained cane-travel instructors do not recommend roller balls.  

When tapping metal, wood, hollow surface, solid surface, cement, grass, dirt, a foot in line ahead of you, etcetera-- NFB canes have a mental tip that gives the traveller information through the noise created by the surface one is tapping and the sound also gives the traveller audible information about the size of the room and the nearness of walls and ceilings.  The metal tip also gives different vibrations to the hand holding the cane, which can be read by an experienced cane traveller as different materials or surfaces. This feedback helps orient an experienced cane traveller. The metal tips are also less heavy than a roller ball tip.  An NFB long white cane, whether made of carbon fiber or fiberglass, plus the standard metal tip is very light-weight and this prevents hand and arm fatigue for the blind traveller.

For an alternate solution: Perhaps a little strip of silver-colored foil would represent a metal tip or maybe dip a tiny bit of the end into black ink? Maybe do nothing--producing the tiny cane with a handle, hanging cord, and shaft would make it look like a blind-guy's cane and wouldlikely be enough work on each handmade piece of this interesting fundraiser project.

Cordially,

Lorraine Rovig
Assistant to Chairperson: NFB Scholarship Committee
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 
      at Jernigan Place
Office:  (410) 659-9314, x2415; 
E-mail:  scholarships at nfb.org; 
Website:  www.nfb.org/scholarships

Promote Access to Science Education for Blind Students:
Vote every day for the NFB Youth Slam in the Pepsi Refresh Project, or (easiest way) text 101913 to Pepsi (73774).

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dixie
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 11:49 AM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] ideas

I think I would use a small piece of black chenille wrapped around the top
end to make the handle, maybe even twisting a piece of embroidery floss in
to make the wrist loop.  Then a small ball for the roller ball cane tip.
Maybe a bit of red embroidery floss wrapped around the last bit of tip end?

Dixie

~ @-> ~ <-@ ~
Psalms 47: 8 Do not hold against us the sins of the
fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate
need. 9 Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver
us and forgive our sins for your name's sake.  

~ @-> ~ <-@ ~

~ @-> ~ <-@ ~
Did you know?   

Only 1% of Americans serve in our military, but, they need0% of our support.
Commit an act of kindness for a military family.  ~Dr. Biden

~ @-> ~ <-@ ~

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Terry Knox
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 11:20 AM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] ideas

Pipe cleaners designers! I need some suggestions on ideas for pipe cleaner
pins. I am trying to design a pin with pipe cleaners that would involve a
candy cane, red and white with a white cane over it sort of like a X with a
pin backing, but smaller to give away for a donation for our local NFB
chapter for a Christmas table. Like the veterans do with poppies or red
cross pins.  If any of you have any suggestions on how to design white cane
to look like a cane and not a pipe cleaner, I would love to hear it.

Terry Knox

_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfb-krafters-korner:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/blueher
ons%40sbcglobal.net

_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfb-krafters-korner:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/lrovig%40nfb.org

_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfb-krafters-korner:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/lrovig%40nfb.org

_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfb-krafters-korner:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/cindy.zimmer%40nebraska.gov