Craft

How to get started

Ease of getting started

My journey and inspiration into every new craft I start

Books 

bought or from the local library give incredible inspiration and ideas

YouTube 

is a very good friend when it comes to tutorials and inspiration

Instagram

 and different communities give great inspiration

Tools that bridge the gap

“Dremel” makes rotating tools with a multitude of attachments. (I have a “plug-in” over a battery version to avoid having to stop mid work)

I use my “Dremel” for wood, stones, glass and fossil-prep.

In my view it all depends on what you want. 

Personally I do a “deep dive” into any new craft. I borrow a ton of books from the library, browse Youtube and Instagram

“Craft-psychology” states, that having multiple projects at the same time (10 is not too many!) can be very beneficial. They need different levels of required skill, concentration and energy so there is always a project that suits your state of mind.

Crochet

A kit to start out. 

Hooks and yarn that match in size/thickness.

Patterns that match ability and what you want to make/learn

Different projects require different skill levels. 

Following a video-tutorial or pattern can be easy and a repetitive pattern will let your muscle memory flourish.

Making your own patterns, crocheting freehand and altering existing patterns tend to be a lot more demanding (and for me rewarding).

Drawing

Pencil and paper to get started.

A sketchbook can be a handy place to do your drawing on the go.

A larger kit with different pencils, charcoal and erasers is a good expansion after a little time.

Very easy to get started and there is always a way to improve and learn new skills according to where you want to take your craft.

Woodworking

Whittling (simple shapes)

 A sharp (!) knife. In time expansion with different knives for different purposes, an ax and a saw can be useful. 

Bigger projects

Electric tools. A bench for fastening wood.

Chainsaw carving

A chainsaw with a carving blade is essential. From there the tools will build up as you get more experienced

Very easy and with the eternal options to expand and improve your craft-journey

Chainsaw carving is expensive to get started with, so a course before buying equipment is a good idea. But all it took for me was trying out a saw with a carving blade and I was sold!

Stone Working

Shaping

 A stationary “wet grinder” or handheld rotating grinder. I have found that “Dremel” is a good tool to start out with.

Polishing

Wet sandpaper can be used to hand-polish - this takes a LOT of effort! 

“Dremel” do make attachments for polishing.

Drum-work

A stone-drum will do what water and sand on the beach do over 100’s of years in a couple of weeks. Stones, grinding powder and water in the drum, and you are on your way to very beautiful stones!

If you have access to the tools needed it is very straightforward and easy to do. A cheap wet grinder will get you a good bit of the way, but for a more professional finish polishing tools do help a lot. Polishing by hand is very time-consuming and hard on the hands. 

Clay

At home

Messy and once you are done you have to find a place to fire your clay. Alternatively you can experiment with building a clay-pit in your garden, but that takes some research

A turning course

On a course everything is taken care of, so all you have to do is show up and be creative

If taking a course the setup is easy, but it has a relatively high level of difficulty. But it is also the craft where I have had the biggest “high” after succeeding!

A downside is the price. Clay and other materials are quite pricey.

The burning process also requires a kiln.

Glazing pottery

Taking a class or going to a workshop

Easy and fun activity with someone else too.

Glass carving

“Customizer” from Resparked

 If you purchase the Customizer it is very straight forward and easy to get started.

Fossils

Finding

A book and a place to look.

Preparing

Requires tools!

Finding is easy. It just requires the patience to get going.

Preparing can be a bigger deal with some quite intricate set-ups. Can also be done with just an engraving-pen and a pair of glasses to protect the eyes.

Cooking and baking

Cook books, ingredients and a will to experiment (and fail at times) while having fun!. I like just looking in the fridge and seeing what I have to play with.

When baking I add all kinds of interesting ingredients to the dough and see where it takes me

Getting started is easy. But beware! Once you start having fun and getting into it the gadgets you are going to want to get will increase in numbers😘

Jewelry from stones I worked (and found)

Crochet from a drawing I made

Getting to know the different stitches and how they act/look by researching books or making crochet pieces from existing patterns.

Pixel-crochet. A pixel-art website or checkered paper is helpful here to make your own pattern or convert a drawing/picture into pixels.

Difficulty level is relatively high. But so is the satisfaction upon finishing a piece!

Fossils and rocks

When I am out looking for fossils I often come across rocks that I think will look beautiful polished, shaped or even in jewelry.

Very easy and meaningful combination. Just pick up both whenever going to the beach, gravelpit, gravelroad, claypit or wherever you go that you can find rocks 🙂