Antique Road Trip

O'Neil's Antiques

I know when I set out to write this blog I wanted to focus on crafts, family, and life in NYC. Well I can't help it is my love of crafts and family are also tied into my love of travel. This Thursday (yes during the blizzard) my family and I started out on a road trip from New York to North Carolina to visit some family. Since the weather was bad we decided to drive about half way and spend the night near some of our favorite antique stores around the Delaware/Maryland border on Rt. 13. If you haven't figured it out already I am infinitely interested in tradition. I am a firm believer in understanding your roots before you can grow and spread your branches. So I guess it is no surprise that antique store amuse me. Walking through an antique store is like walking through a mini time capsule.

Loving all the books I found

One of our family's favorite antique stops is O'Neil's which is a few miles before you hit Maryand.  We have been coming here for years and absolutely love the big collections of estate jewelry, antique furniture, and treasures spanning a few centuries worth of nostalgia.  We were saddened to see that within the next few weeks the store will be closing.  The lovely couple who owns O'Neil's have decided after over 25 years they will be retiring.  On the bright side appointments can still be made to view their jewelry at their home.  Since everything was pretty much on clearance I went to work digging through each section looking for treasures. (Yes that is me sitting on the floor exploring craft books... the owners did say to make myself at home :)

Maybe I'm addicted, but at least its a healthy addiction

While there are so many beautiful things I would love to buy I decided I would focus this expedition on finding craft books, patterns, tools, and supplies.  I love looking through books to get ideas.  Many of the crafts I grew up with in my family seem to have faded as video games and computers have become the way to entertain so its pretty difficult sometimes to find resources.  Antique stores are a great place though to find these lost treasures.  Usually I feel lucky if I find a book or two but this trip I guess I was rewarded for braving the winter weather.  I  found so many craft resources that I actually had a hard time picking which books to buy and which I had to leave behind. With just two antique store stops I had literally piles of new craft goodies.  If you are looking for a cost effective place to load up on supplies antique stores, thrift shops, and yard sales are a good place to start.

Holding some of the new craft stash!

As for our followers, you can look forward to many new items in our Etsy Shop within the next few months.  The hardest part is going to be deciding where to start!  There are so many good ideas that inspire new items for my personal collection as well as the shop.  I even found some patterns I remember my Nannie working on when I was a little girl.  I love when we find little trinkets that remind us of our past.  Nannie was such an important part of why I am the crafter I am today so those things that remind me of her are extra special.  Antiquing turned out to be a successful part of the trip but we still had a few hours drive until we could begin our weekend getaway with some of our Southern relatives so we once again hit the road.  While flying is definitely a faster way to travel I wouldn't give up our road adventures for the world.  There is nothing like meeting new people, discovering hidden sight seeing gems, and spending time with your family.

We continued driving down south and decided to take a route that would bring us over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  For those of you who have never traveled this strip it is a combination of tunnels and bridges with a beautiful view of the water.  We were lucky enough to hit it just as the sun was setting.  The view was so colorful that we decided we couldn't just quickly pass it by.  Instead we stopped at their rest area.  There is a restaurant there with water views as well as a gift shop and convenience area. It is also a great place to stop and take a few family photos or just enjoy the spectacular view.

After all the snow we have had in New York this year it was incredibly refreshing to stand by the ocean on a warm day, listen to the seagulls and the churning of the water, and watch the sunset.  On that note, I will update our readers next post on the rest of the trip!

A sunset so perfect it almost doesn't seem real

For Part II of our road trip adventures click here!

 

Plastic Canvas Tips

One of the first crafts I can remember doing with my Nannie and Mom is plastic canvas.  I will never forget the birthday I got a big plastic bin filled with plastic canvas, yarn, needles, scissors, and a Looney Tunes Pattern book.  Pepe Le Pew was my Nannie's favorite character so I decided my first project would be the Pepe Le Pew magnet to give to her as a gift.  I was lucky enough to have my Mom and Nannie to explain some of the basics before I embarked on my little project.  I thought I would share some of this insight.

Plastic canvas is a great low cost craft that is simple enough for children to play with but diverse enough to create beautiful adult projects as well.  First things first... selecting your supplies:

Plastic Canvas comes in all different shapes, sizes, and colors.

• Shapes: The standard canvas shape is a rectangle, slightly larger than a sheet of paper.  Larger sheets are available and these are great for items like place mats.  You can also purchase pre-cut shapes  like squares and crosses that make certain projects easier.  In addition to these there are also shapes like circles, stars, and hearts that have the holes specially placed to maintain the shape but allow for stitching.
• Sizes: While there are different size sheets there is also different size meshes.  The rule of thumb is the mesh number is the number of wholes per inch.  For example 7 mesh, the most common mesh, has 7 holes per inch.  Moving to a smaller mess number can help accommodate thicker yarn/thread.  A larger mess number is a great way to fit a larger pattern into a smaller space.  For instance, if I have a wall hanging pattern (7 mesh) and I want to fit it onto a smaller sized tissue box cover I can transfer the larger pattern to lets say a 10 mesh.  
• Colors: Most projects are completed on clear canvas, that way if some shows through between stitches it is discreet.  If your project is predominantly one color or, you want to leave some of the canvas showing you can purchase colored canvas in almost any hue imaginable.  

Needle Selection

Mesh 7, Needle 16

• You want to select a tapestry needle for plastic canvas projects.  These needles have more of a rounded edge in comparison with sewing needles and will help prevent pricked fingers.  These needles also come in plastic versions which are a great alternative for little crafters to use as they learn.
• The size needle you buy will correspond with the canvas you are using.  Mesh 5 and mesh 7 typically use a size 16.  Mesh 10 typically uses a size 20. (The higher the needle size the thinner the needle and the smaller the threading hole).  

Getting Started

• "Measure Twice Cut Once": While this phrase is most often used by carpenters it applies to use crafters as well.  Carefully count out the stitches in the pattern and then count the corresponding holes on the canvas.  Always double check before cutting the canvas.  Some people use grease pencils to make the pattern before cutting.  I sometimes use crochet stitch markers for my projects if it is going to be a complicated cut.  You can wait until the pattern is complete before cutting but holding the extra canvas can be burdensome.
• "Dangle to Detangle":  The yarn can at times tangle and knot while stitching.  One way to avoid this problem is to allow the needle to dangle once and a while which will unwind the yarn avoiding the pending tangled mess.
• Nothing wrong with being Scrappy: Scraps are your friend when it comes to plastic canvas.  Plastic canvas projects are a great way to use of scrap yarn from crochet or knit projects.  I keep a pencil case for yarn scraps so nothing goes to waste.  Also, when you complete a plastic canvas project hold on to the left over canvas scraps as well.  They may not have been of use for your current project but those scraps can be used for smaller projects and to add 3D detailing.  No piece is too tiny as even two whole scraps found be joined to form unique jewelry or barbie accessories.