DIY smiles

[clevermanka]

I like being a crafty person.

When I signed up for miischelle's Conditioning for Bellydance class, I saw that the Stuff To Bring included a yoga mat. I have a yoga mat, but it never leaves the house (until now!), so I never bought a carrier for it. "Economy" yoga mat bags start at around $10 and are made of nasty nylon (ew). Pretty fabric ones can run up to $30 or more. So...crafty time!

All my mat bag cost me was an hour and a half of time and a yard and a half of upholstery fabric that I already had in the stash. Oh, and seven grommets. Yay! Happy make-stuff time!

All people don't have the time/inclination/resources to make their own stuff, and I'm not saying people should always DIY (I mean, hello, I'd lose a small chunk of my own income if that were the case). But making my own stuff makes me so happy. Is it cheaper in the long run to always DIY? Dunno. I invest a lot of money in materials and tools--not to mention the many hours (years?) of making stuff and learning how not to put things together. But it's all so good for my brain.

Making things makes for a happy Miss Red.

I haz good mood nao!

Comments

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Oh sure -- I look at things all the time and decide I can do it just as well if not better. Sometimes I don't WANT to tackle a project, but it's nice to be able to do so. Knit, crochet, sew, cook, do leather work -- I have lots of skills. I can also invent or amend patterns just fine.

I have to admit that some of these skills go way back -- knitting and sewing, 52 yrs; cooking, 55 yrs; crochet, 39 years; pattern conversion, 31 yrs. Half my skills are older than some of my friends!

I even learned how to create a medieval pavilion quite a way back!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I don't WANT to tackle a project, but it's nice to be able to do so.

Ding ding ding! Yes! This exactly.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Whoah, I need to talk to you about building a medieval pavilion for the back yard ;-)

[curieuse.livejournal.com]

Picture?!!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Well, it's not that exciting, but I'll try to remember to get a photo of it tonight.

[miischelle.livejournal.com]

a yoga mat or a towel!
you know we're not doing yoga right? we're doing sit-ups.

Still, I can't wait to see your fancy bag!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yep! I figured we wouldn't be doing yoga but I also figured any time I had the choice between exercising on a mat or a towel--I'll take the mat!!!

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

That's super-duper!
I'm envious! My yoga mat came with a pouch and I feel so plebian carrying it around.

(Maybe I'll have a new choli soon, too?)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I'll get to the choli as soon as I can.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

MMMWAHH!
Thank you!

[funky-peacenik.livejournal.com]

I love DYI and wish that I had more skills, namely sewing, to open the door to more projects.

I picked up a large wooden craved stamp at Ten Thousand Villages this weekend. I can not wait to show you!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Woo! Can't wait to see the stamp! A good way to learn new skills is ask for lessons from friends. You know, I'm just saying...

[funky-peacenik.livejournal.com]

I do plan on asking for lessons, especially on the sewing front. I found a pattern for diapers made out of old t-shirts that I would like to do. (Cloth diapers are stupid expensive)
Hopefully I can do this once I am in the house and settled a bit.

Amazing

[wyckedgood.livejournal.com]

I am always impressed by crafty people, I wish I were more so. My mother was ridiculously crafty, I might be craft retarded.

[moodsong]

I'm not as struck on DIY as a standard activity for myself because time is so precious to me but creative activities are a necessity for my continued existence.