Arts and Witchy Crafts

When you go to thrift stores you never know what you'll find there. Sometimes you're unlucky and return home empty handed, and other times you find the greatest thing! When I found this oversized Star Trek: Next Generation uniform shirt, I was ecstatic and didn't think twice about the size. This was the first shirt I had to make major alterations to, I mean, I had to take this thing apart and remove the excess fabric. It's easier to take fabric away from a piece of clothing than it is to add it. Just the thought of this being the only shirt I had made me hesitant to start the alterations. I put this project off for a while until I finally got a wave of confidence that made me think, "Screw it! I'll never be able to wear this unless I take the plunge." Every cut of fabric was nerve wracking, but in the end, it came together pretty well. If I had stayed afraid of ruining it, I wouldn't have the shirt or the experience of piecing together a garment. Just ...

A new hobby doesn't have to be an expensive investment when you're starting out. Begin with the essential to get started and find out where and what things are worth spending extra cash on. Here are some tips I recommend following! 1. Sales!     Avoid paying full price for supplies at big retail chains if you can. Most big-name craft stores always have coupons, clearance, and sales going on, so take advantage of these. 2. Reuse!     Secondhand items are great whether you're just starting out or have had the hobby for a while. Going to thrift stores and garage sales is another great way to save money. Plus, you're giving a new purpose for something that would've been thrown out. Just be sure to wash and sanitize the items before using them. 3. Patience!     This really isn't a tip for saving money, but it does have value! There will be times when your project isn't turning out the way you planned or you're having trouble at a step. During these tim...

Back in early 2020, the Neon Museum in Las Vegas held a book signing with Tim Burton, and I just had to make something for the event.  A lot of inspiration comes directly for the source, and that was the case for this clay jewelry set. Multiple times I've read through The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories written and illustrated by Tim Burton and knew whatever I was going to make would be based on my favorite piece "Voodoo Girl."  The museum featured a mesmerizing art exhibit by Burton with some familiar characters including the Martians from Mars Attacks and the Boy with Nails in His Eyes. That little guy might be up next to sculpt because the headpins for jewelry are the perfect size for tiny nails. This was a great experience, and I was over the moon meeting Tim Burton!

  My friend and I adore Animal Crossing, and as soon as I saw this pattern for a bell bag by Fandom Vintage, I knew I'd be making two. What's great about this crochet pattern is that it has both written instructions and a clear, helpful video to walk you through the steps. This is the second item I've crocheted at the time, and I was able to follow along with little to no problem. The parts that were a pain were making the star and keeping count of the stitches (I lose count way too easily).  There are two modifications I made. I hate making i-cords whether it's by crochet or knit, so for the handle I used a Romanian cord instead. I also added a lining to the bag because I'm irrationally worried about things falling out, and it's another way to personalize the bag for my friend. This pattern can be found on the blog fandomvintage.com

The first projects I want to share are some early ones that I'm not exactly happy with. Remember the galaxy print on everything craze? Being some who's fascinated with space, I was all over that trend. I tried my hand at customizing a pair of shoes with acrylic paint, and while I felt satisfied with the results, I never wore them out. So, was I truly Satisfied with them? Looking at them now, I see a couple of things I would do differently. It's not bad that I feel this way and I'm criticizing my past work, it means that I'm learning and improving my skills. This drawstring bag would have turned out great if it weren't for the sad, limp bat wings. The first time around, I stuffed the wings making them look weird and puffy. They were already attached to the bag, so I had to cut the wings open to remove the stuffing. It didn't improve the look or structure for the wings, but it looked better than before. On the bright side, this bag held up well in mosh pits an...