Autistic Arts and Crafts Time - let's sperg

[soryu2electricboogaloo]

I find it pretty easy to do hands on crafty stuff, but I yearn for creating digital art again. I used to do a lot of digital art and it seemed to fall off in the past couple years. I got so invested, I bought a really nice screen tablet for $300. Since then, I haven't been frequently making art and it didn't hit me until now, like 6 years later, this is why. It takes like 10 minutes to set up when before I could just plug in a screenless tablet and go at it like nothing. I had tried to rationalize it's because I'm fairly independent now and my job and other areas of personal life have taken over, maybe true because even doodling I barely do (but I'm also thinking it's also because I don't do digital art so much anymore), but who knows, brain is weird in ways to rationalize. I'm now getting very close to selling my screen tablet and there's a little part of me that doesn't want to let it go, because what if I want to use it again, then I'll probably have to buy another one. At this point, selling the tablet will pay off, and the profits will absolutely be enough to buy a screenless pen tablet, I could absolutely buy 3 or 4 if I wanted to lol, but that'll be for other things. I feel it will kick off something.

 

[burntgrilledcheese]

Okay kiwis, I tried my hand at crochet a few years ago and made this blanket which I really love, but never use. Because it sheds like crazy and my husband hates being covered in fibres lol.
I'd love to use it regularly though, so does anyone know how to de-fuzz the blanket without ruining it? Is it possible, or do you just wait it out? Does it shed forever?

Thanks!

 

[Botched Tit Job]

Wyświetl załącznik 8847301
Wyświetl załącznik 8847302
Okay kiwis, I tried my hand at crochet a few years ago and made this blanket which I really love, but never use. Because it sheds like crazy and my husband hates being covered in fibres lol.
I'd love to use it regularly though, so does anyone know how to de-fuzz the blanket without ruining it? Is it possible, or do you just wait it out? Does it shed forever?

Thanks!

You could always use a fabric shaver. Get the kind that is used for furniture and plugs into the wall, not the battery operated kind for sweaters. That should take a decent amount of the fuzz off. Besides that, maybe give it a few washes? If it's acrylic you can run it through the dryer after, that might tighten things up and help with the shedding.

 

[burntgrilledcheese]

You could always use a fabric shaver. Get the kind that is used for furniture and plugs into the wall, not the battery operated kind for sweaters. That should take a decent amount of the fuzz off. Besides that, maybe give it a few washes? If it's acrylic you can run it through the dryer after, that might tighten things up and help with the shedding.

Thank you! It is not acrylic, but I have washed it a few times already, probably just not enough. I will look into the corded fabric shaver!

 

[Botched Tit Job]

Thank you! It is not acrylic, but I have washed it a few times already, probably just not enough. I will look into the corded fabric shaver!

Theyre like $20 on Amazon. I recommend everyone own one because they're so much stronger so you can use them on couches and blankets and stuff, and you can replace the blades. Kind of a BIFL purchase.

 

[Anatomical]

Realised I've never tried sculpting/modelling with a hot glue gun, decided to give it a go.


Started off with a base made with scrunched up foil, then started to apply the hot glue. It was notttt looking too good for a bit because I was smoothing and shaping with my hands, until my brain decided to function for once and I realised I could apply blobs of glue, let them dry, and then use the metal tip of the gun to do the fine work. Much less mess, much more precise.

I wanted to make a unicorn, but didn't use any actual references like a retard and ended up producing a roided out workhorse. I'll probably just slap a horn on him and call it a day anyway tbh

 

[𝕺𝖑' 𝕯𝖎𝖗𝖙𝖞 𝕱𝖆𝖙𝖘𝖔]

I find it pretty easy to do hands on crafty stuff, but I yearn for creating digital art again. I used to do a lot of digital art and it seemed to fall off in the past couple years. I got so invested, I bought a really nice screen tablet for $300. Since then, I haven't been frequently making art and it didn't hit me until now, like 6 years later, this is why. It takes like 10 minutes to set up when before I could just plug in a screenless tablet and go at it like nothing. I had tried to rationalize it's because I'm fairly independent now and my job and other areas of personal life have taken over, maybe true because even doodling I barely do (but I'm also thinking it's also because I don't do digital art so much anymore), but who knows, brain is weird in ways to rationalize. I'm now getting very close to selling my screen tablet and there's a little part of me that doesn't want to let it go, because what if I want to use it again, then I'll probably have to buy another one. At this point, selling the tablet will pay off, and the profits will absolutely be enough to buy a screenless pen tablet, I could absolutely buy 3 or 4 if I wanted to lol, but that'll be for other things. I feel it will kick off something.

I find the best way to counter burnout is by switching mediums and creative approaches. Maybe take a traditional pencil/charcoal on paper drawing class or take up a new craft?

Anything that's creative will only enrich you and keep you sharp. I spent a while doing lots of tailoring instead of painting and once I finished I suddenly had a new appetite for painting. Like I had indulged my cravings for accuracy, precision and doing things traditionally through tailoring (which relies on those traits) and suddenly craved freedom and spontaneity for a change and my paintings looked fresh and exciting as a result.

I'm wondering if y'all are cutting fabric on a Bearing Sea shipping vessel or something bc I've never cut myself with a rotary before? Sounds fucking awful though!

I agree with @Accept Only Substitutes though, the automatic retractable trigger type is nice. I really want to try rotary cutters that don't have a guard though, it just seems convenient.

My quilting to-make list just doubled lol, I have another wedding quilt and baby quilt on the list before spring!

I hate having to squeeze the handle while i cut because it fucks up my accuracy, like my hand has to focus on keeping the blade out rather than on the line. Mine has a squeeze thing but you can lock it so the blade guard stays either retracted or engaged so it's the best of both worlds.

Edit: I also vastly prefer to use a pinking blade on a rotary cutter over shears. My pinking shears hurt to use after a few chops and its way faster and easier to lay ur seam allowance flat on a mat and let rip

 

[General Disarray]

After doing a massive diamond painting of the cover of Iron Maiden's Killers album for my dude, I have embarked on my most ambitious project yet.

I've found a supplier that will make custom canvases without glue, so I ordered an approx. 22 x 22 inch gothic stained-glass style spider in a web, including rhinestone crystal drills. I am using a 24 x 24 polycarbonate panel that's 3/16" thick, taping the canvas to the back, and stripping the crystals of their foil backing to be transparent. I'm also using opaque black resin drills for the 'leading' and also using a black acrylic paint pen behind those drills to ensure no seams show through the light.

I have to spread the Dotz Stick glue very thinly and evenly over the surface, then let cure for 24 hours after securing the canvas. It should be here either today or tomorrow. That's gonna be the hardest part. Getting all the colored drills to butt up evenly against each other is much easier given the fact I can leave any gaps that may occur within the black leading lines which will be covered by the acrylic pen.

The borders will consist of two rows of opaque black drills, then a velvet tape trim. Also looking at textured privacy cling film to also go behind the panel to diffuse the light and create more of a wavy glass look behind the cut crystals.

Pretty excited. I'll share more with pictures as the project progresses. It's been a real bear to process how I am going to approach it but I think my plan is pretty much complete now. I've even been looking at little glass blown insects to adhere to the web but I get ahead of myself often lmao.

ETA: Canvas arrived a little while ago, got it mounted up to the back of the panel. Re: adhesive - FUCK THAT GLUE; it's messy and there's a fine line between too thin and too thick. Been testing on glass I've pilfered from old picture frames I'll never use. Settling for using diamond dotz sandwich sheets, easier to work section by section, and I have more than enough to cover this space.

 

[Haunted Tamagotchi]

Started crocheting lace recently. My eldest has started dipping her toes into costume making and cosplay so I’m helping her make her first one, and it requires frills. I used to crochet lace as a teen so I figured I’d have a crack at it again and it’s been fun!

 

[lolnah]

Started crocheting lace recently. My eldest has started dipping her toes into costume making and cosplay so I’m helping her make her first one, and it requires frills. I used to crochet lace as a teen so I figured I’d have a crack at it again and it’s been fun!

Do you have a good place to find patterns? I make doilies and lace edgings but I've been running out of patterns for them lately

 

[Bloated Dead Body]

I finally finished my first clay figurine that I’ve made just for myself - a Fallout 4 Protectron! I’m a little disappointed with how the resin-pour for the head went, but for a first attempt, I guess it’s not bad. Wyświetl załącznik 8564012Wyświetl załącznik 8564011Wyświetl załącznik 8564013

in a world of 3d printers, this beats anything people would 'make' with one of them

 

[Moldy Loaf Of Bread]

in a world of 3d printers, this beats anything people would 'make' with one of them

Thank you so much, that really means a lot! That’s what I kept telling myself as I was making them - the satisfaction and pride won’t be as great if it’s just printed!

Here are the two newest additions (who still need final details done, but I’m currently recovering from Hand surgery so they will have to wait) - Paramedic Protectron, and Construction Protectron!

 

[General Disarray]

It's upside down just fyi.
First pic shows the first row with the canvas intact, I folded back a portion for the second pic so you can see what it looks like in cloudy conditions. The 75% tint is on it's way, so I can experiment with that when I am done.
Don't think I'll be using any black on the back to boost the opacity of the seams where the 'leading' is; the eye isn't going to see it unless you're RIGHT in front of it and no one but me and my SO are going to see it anyway lol.
AI really wants to make spider legs curved, I had to beat a couple into submission just to get this test design.
Pretty happy with the outcome thus far. Hope you all at least think it's kinda neat.

 

[Wooley Ball]

Do you have a good place to find patterns? I make doilies and lace edgings but I've been running out of patterns for them lately

https://www.liveinternet.ru/users/4107042/rubric/2313377/

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

Gorls, I’m so excited. I have been in the market for a computerized sewing machine with an automatic needle threader and speed controls. I’m a confident beginner but hate threading needles and have a heavy foot. I need something to force me to slow down so I can practice getting a straight seam without splitting my focus on keeping a steady speed too.

I fell in love with my friends’ embroidery machine, but embroidery is a bit much right now, and I don’t like borrowing expensive things.

I stumbled upon a FB Marketplace listing for a working computerized Brother SQ9000 for $20! Yes, it needed a foot pedal and a needle plate cover. All told I spent less than I did on my other Brother with no fancy features at all.

I drove an hour and a half each way, but what a deal. I’m waiting on my needle cover to get here, then I’m going to start sewing again!

 

[Bees]

I stumbled upon a FB Marketplace listing for a working computerized Brother SQ9000 for $20!

That’s a screaming deal. While you are waiting, get some YouTubes up on dismantling and cleaning your machine. If they didn’t have a pedal they haven’t been using it and it will need to be oiled. Get all that lint out from the gears while you’re in there!

 

[Cheesegirl78]

That’s a screaming deal. While you are waiting, get some YouTubes up on dismantling and cleaning your machine. If they didn’t have a pedal they haven’t been using it and it will need to be oiled. Get all that lint out from the gears while you’re in there!

Congratulations, that's a STEAL.
Follow Bees advice and get it cleaned and oiled. Happy sewing.

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

That’s a screaming deal. While you are waiting, get some YouTubes up on dismantling and cleaning your machine. If they didn’t have a pedal they haven’t been using it and it will need to be oiled. Get all that lint out from the gears while you’re in there!

That’s a good idea, I’ll do all of that. I want it last a long time, and preventive maintenance will definitely help do that.

 

[Sloppa]

Gorls, I’m so excited. I have been in the market for a computerized sewing machine with an automatic needle threader and speed controls. I’m a confident beginner but hate threading needles and have a heavy foot. I need something to force me to slow down so I can practice getting a straight seam without splitting my focus on keeping a steady speed too.

I fell in love with my friends’ embroidery machine, but embroidery is a bit much right now, and I don’t like borrowing expensive things.

I stumbled upon a FB Marketplace listing for a working computerized Brother SQ9000 for $20! Yes, it needed a foot pedal and a needle plate cover. All told I spent less than I did on my other Brother with no fancy features at all.

I drove an hour and a half each way, but what a deal. I’m waiting on my needle cover to get here, then I’m going to start sewing again!

If I might suggest something, which I believe will save you time and so much stress: disassemble the parts of the clothes to their patterns first, so they are reduced to panels, trace them out using greaseproof paper and plan the flow of your embroidery using the new pattern, since the machine will see it as adding ontop of, like a tailor sewing a pattern on someone wearing the cloth, then stop around 1/6 of an inch where you reach the border, sew the panels back into place and drop down a full needle gauge and connect the orphaned sections by hand.

Now: in the manual: it is technically possible to take something tailored and use a Brother Machine to embroider it, but my mum, dad and I spent a whole summer trying to figure this out and failed, my dad has a degree in computer science my mum was a major in mathematics. We just gave up and used it as a flat embroidery engine (which it was excellent at).
Any motion up-down (Y axis), side-to-side (X axis)

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

Autistic question time.

I’m planning on spray painting some plastic coffee containers for storage of whatever stuff. I don’t know if I should paint both inside and outside, but I think it’s probably only outside. Inside could get scratched up from whatever is stored in it, if it’s flour or pasta the paint might not be food safe, etc.

BUT the inside is most likely going to be bright red. At least some of them. I love red, it’s one of my favorite colors. But if I gift these containers, my friends don’t like red the way I do… it’s also possible I’m overthinking it again since it’s obvious that it’s a coffee can no matter what.

So: outside only, or inside too?