Glimmerville » crafts http://www.glimmerville.com Let Your Light Shine Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:04:52 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Work in Progress: Dragon edition http://www.glimmerville.com/2009/08/work-in-progress-dragon-edition/ http://www.glimmerville.com/2009/08/work-in-progress-dragon-edition/#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:02:34 +0000 Rachel Ross http://www.glimmerville.com/?p=496 Right now I am working on scuplting two dragons – one is a commissioned piece, and one is just for fun.

This baby is just for fun, but I really like the way he is turning out. I tried a texturing technique (tingue twuster!) that I found on the Dan Perez site.

If you want more “step-by-step” information on how I do this, let me know – but mostly it’s “wad tinfoil and wire in the middle, then cover with clay until it looks right”. I have actually taken many progress shots of  the dragon below (the one below the baby). Maybe I’ll do a step-by-step sort of post, but it would be picture intensive and I don’t know that anyone really wants it. Just ask questions if you have questions – I’d be thrilled to find out that anyone is reading the blog, hint. [Edit: Yes I know you are reading the blog, because I received some nice feedback when I asked for ways to keep my milk safe in the fridge! And thank you!]

 

He only has a partial wing, so far

He only has a partial wing, so far

This is the one that is “an actual commission that I should be working faster on” whoops. Sunday I started on a wing, then picked it up yesterday and discovered that the Apoxie never set! Perhaps I mixed the batch badly. This is why I would fear for everyone’s safety if I was a mad scientist.

 

Not very complete yet.

Not very complete yet.

On an EVEN BETTER note, my dad’s company just got some work in today – praise the Lord!

That was a huge answer to prayer.

I hope your day is going well, too!

 

And it’s Game Night. I bought a new card game called “Illusio”, that I haven’t tried yet. I don’t know that I’ll have time tonight, but I loved the “rival magicians” theme.

]]> http://www.glimmerville.com/2009/08/work-in-progress-dragon-edition/feed/ 6 Not All Streams are Mainstream http://www.glimmerville.com/2008/12/not-all-streams-are-mainstream/ http://www.glimmerville.com/2008/12/not-all-streams-are-mainstream/#comments Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:25:12 +0000 Rachel Ross http://www.glimmerville.com/?p=191 If you are like trying to buy local/American/homemade crafts and arts as gifts this year you have probably heard of Etsy (plug plug, my shop is here). But Etsy is not the only place you can find crafty, one-of-a-kind (or one-of-a-few) items!Here are a few others for you to consider:

  • Ebay – sure lots of commercial stuff like Mickey Mouse promo glasses from 1976 are on there, but there are also lots of homemade things, and craft supplies! Just dig a little deeper.
  • Shanalogic – It’s trendy. It’s squeeably cute. It’s homemade!
  • Cut+Paste – This site has 35 “partners in craft” whose work is always changing!
  • Stylehive – It’s a little bit like StumbleUpon, but if you search, you can find a big handmade section. Some is crossposted links from Etsy, etc. A bit confusing, but an interesting place to browse.
  • My Bonnie and Clyde – Another artist co-op offering interesting jewelry and interior design selections. This site is relatively small with only a few categories, which makes searching easier.
  • Artsefest - This site has a more international flair than the other handmade gift sites. This site also boasts a live help feature.
  • DeviantART – it’s not primarily a craft-selling site, but you can purchase prints of most anything. And if you look in the Artisan Crafts section you’ll often find people with items for sale, or find new artists whose art inspires your own!
  • Artfire – A new Etsy competitor (seriously they talk about being cheaper than Etsy on the front page! Hmm). It has some cute artist-interaction features! It also has a “commission a piece” service much like Etsy. It seems to have some non-handmade vintage items as well.
  • Silkfair – Another site that makes buying and selling homemade gifts (and non-homemade gifts) ”fun and easy”.  It uses Google Checkout and some others in addition to PayPal, which I think is a nice plus. It also shows a seller’s existing ebay rating, if they have one!
  • Flickr – Lots of people post homemade items on Flickr – and I know they would love to discover you are interested in buying them!

Well I’m sure I’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to hunting for hand crafted items online. This definitely proves Etsy is only the beginning! Sure, it would be nice to have everything in one place, but maybe you’ll find the perfect item in one of those tiny out-of-the-way corners of the internet that few people have discovered… keep on searching! And promote your own work in as many places as you can!

 

 

 

 

 

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