Crafts

[Amylou]

I have always been interested in art and craft. My dad has taught me basic willow basket making and it is from him that i have the passion to learn more. It has always taken a back seat to 'proper' learning, as my mother puts it
Now that i am soon to graduate i really want to learn more. I would love eventually to have my own small holding and be able to live as sustainably as i can and earn my wage by my crafts. I have a while to go now though. My main crafts that i like are willow, clay work, painting and iv dabbled in woodwork. I guess i should try and concentrate on one and become as good as i can at that.

Does anyone else do any crafts? Do you make a living from it?

[tufftie]

At the moment all I do is make candles - just for own use. I would really like to make corn dollies and wooden instruments like bamboo flutes Green woodworking skills are also on my agenda and really anything that could make me more self sufficient

[ron1863]

Hi Amylou,

I don't have the skills for craft work but I admire people who do, especially the people who can make a living from doing something they really love.
I was employed in the N.H.S. for 30 years and overall, I enjoyed it until beaurocracy took over and depleted the rainforest, but would really have loved to have worked with animals

[Amylou]

Originally Posted by tufftie

At the moment all I do is make candles - just for own use. I would really like to make corn dollies and wooden instruments like bamboo flutes Green woodworking skills are also on my agenda and really anything that could make me more self sufficient

Ooh candle making was something i was interested in too. Its quite a laborious process isnt it? All the dipping.

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by Amylou

Ooh candle making was something i was interested in too. Its quite a laborious process isnt it? All the dipping.

Depends on the type of candles you want to make - stick ones can take a while Moulds doesn't take long if you just want to do a straight forward one colour candle and only a little longer if you want to play around with different colours etc. You can also make some really fancy ones but they do take a long time.

Block ones are a good way of using up old wax - just combine wax of the same colour and add a slightly darker shade of wax dye and perhaps some essential oils for scent....