[Nfb-krafters-korner] Loom Knitting and Macrame and Candlemaking, Oh My!

[Sirena Carroll]

Dear Crafters,

I'm just here to gush.

I've been reading up a lot on several crafts, and for someone who has
a lot of trouble comprehending explanations, I was very surprised to
find that macramé and candlemaking settle into my mind with relative
ease. Perhaps it Is the way things are explained on the sites I've
discovered, but I do believe these crafts are crafts that, once I
begin trying them, I will learn to excel at them. I will, of course,
focus on candlemaking a bit later, as that is a whole nother arsinel
of tools I will need, and I'd like to focus on the crafts the tools of
which I already possess.
Macramé: http://www.macramesuperstore.com, recommended by Kathy, I
believe, is an incredible store. I got a board, three hoops, cord and
T-pins for about 21 - 25 dollars. An incredible deal.

I've also found this site which I've found does a very good job of
describing how to tie basic knots as well as other aspects of macramé
in a very clear and concise fashion. I do not understand everything,
but that is just because I am a beginner.

http://www.free-macrame-patterns.com/

Loom Knitting: I just received my Knifty Knitter loom and I am very
excited! I can't wait to begin researching, reading and learning about
this too so that I can begin. I'm very pleased with the sturdy feel of
the looms and the lack of three million parts. I think, once I get the
basics down, it may be easier than I expected to work with this. Of
course, I need to get the basics down first. Haha.

Candle Making: I am thrilled, even if I'm holding myself back, to
begin trying this. I found, purely by chance yesterday, an absolutely
phenominal website. It has products for what seem to be reasonable
prices, accessories, starting kits, and even what they call a candle
making university which has pages explaining about different waxes,
dyes, fragrance oils, why they're used, recommendations and
suggestions, etc. If any of you are interested in candle making, I'd
recommend taking a peek at this site. Some of their fragrances are
soap safe as well. I'm guessing that means you can use them in soaps
and bodywashes as well as in candles.

http://www.lonestarcandlesupply.com/

Well, that's my gushing over. I'll probably research soap making next.
I do not intend to try all these crafts out at once, of course, but it
gives me a small line of things I know I'd like to try my hand at. One
day, I would like to sell things, make gifts, donate those things I
create. I think that as much as learning the crafts are important,
enjoying the prospect of learning about new crafts is just as
important. Without excitement, inspiration and future plans, what are
you left with? And so while I definitely encourage everyone to take
their time as suggested, and believe me, I'm so guilty of not doing so
myself, I also think that you can, in your mind, make a list of
everything you're interested in, research them as the whim takes you,
just don't try overwhelming yourself by starting to learn them all at
the same time. But I think dreams are just as important as the
practical application of learning the craft itself. After all, if you
don't know where you want to go, you're knitting on life's circular
loom without any idea of where or when to stop. Have a goal, have
dreams, have sense, but also, have fun.

Rena