Bridgesicle.

So for the 3d Design course that I'm taking, we had to create a bridge that would support an eight pound brick that also met these requirements:
-only using popsicle sticks, woodglue, and kite twine
-must be 24 inches long
-cannot layer the popsicle sticks any more than 3 deep at any given point.
This is what I came up with:
I knitted a net for the brick to be set in in the bottom, which really seemed to impress my instructor, actually. He told me I should "go to New Zeland and help make chain mail for the new Lord of the Rings movie." He's kind of a character.

He was pretty helpful to me though, I am more good at making things that are aesthetically pleasing and not so much have any practical uses, such as brick holders. He advised me to have it meet at the top or else it would fall in on itself, which I wouldn't have had the foresight for. I tested it with a couple things at home, such as a weighty candle, but couldn't find anything heavy yet small enough to compare to the brick, but what i did have to use didn't even seem to phase it, so I have pretty high hopes, seeing as whoever had the bridge that can hold the most bricks gets 2 movie tickets! This really was a big learning experience for me, having to think about creating things with a purpose and solving problems along the way, such as trying to attach two popsicle sticks with a dowel rod.

Anyway, the brick contest is Monday, I will report back with how it goes down!
And I will be sure to post our next project on here as well, which is a chair made out of cardboard that doesn't look like a chair...and can support a human sitting in it.
-Rachel

on pins and needles..

Kniting needles to be precise. Ohhh I'm so clever. Haha. Anyway, from just looking at this blog (and around myself) I am pretty aware that it's hard for me to just stay focused on one project for too long. I suppose that keeps me from getting bored, but it also prevents me from finishing alot of the things I start. I can usually come back to them after a while with a refreshed inspriation, though. And if I don't make a task seem to dauntng, I can usually finish it. So maybe it would help me to break big things up into smaller parts? Who knows!

Anyway, knitting and crocheting have seemed to be my vices as of late. Maggie got me a crochet hook and some yarn for my birthday, so after about a 10 year pause on that one I was able to pick it back up again with a little help! I have been working on knitting a scarf for my boyfriend, who once tried to learn, but that was short lived. So I am putting the yarn and needles he bought to good use at least! But as I said earlier, that by no means says that his scarf is the only project I have going. I am also knitting another scarf simply because I like the yarn, am always scrapbooking on and off, and am even tryng to work on some decorations for my walls. That embroidery piece is on an indefinate haitus. Much like Blink 182 was..until just earlier this year!! So exciting.

Also, I got a whole buch of used-up giftcards from my work...I don't have a plan for them yet, but I'm sure I'll find something!

-Rachel

old map

So this embroidery project is testing my patience. Mostly because I get easily distracted so doing one single movement of one single color is becoming a little tiresome. But I have such high hopes for the outcome that I want to persevere. And maybe it will help me for in the future to not abandon something just because I've mildly lost interest, but to stick to it more. I think overall it will pay off. 

I've only dabbled in embroidery before, so all I am really good at is the ol' classic chain stitch, so another goal I have is  for the writing part of it at least, do a little experimenting on some new stitches. I am enjoying using this as more practice in working with textiles as well, since I usually stick to trusty paper crafts such as scrapbooking and cardmaking. So this should obviously make me a much more patient, learned, and well rounded person. There is no good excuse for procrasting now. Too much is at stake.

We will just have to wait and seeeee...

-Rachel

"I still don't know what I should make my title"

Hey! This is Maggie, and I want to let you guys know what I plan on using this blog for and what Kraftxcore is all about. I am an incoming sophomore at Mizzou in Columbia, Missouri and I am currently double majoring in Journalism and History. I'm not exactly sure how I want to use those majors, but I am confident I will figure it out! Basically, I want to use this blog to make crafty friends and also to hopefully help inspire some craftiness in others. I have dabbled in a lot of different creative outlets, but now I am mostly psyched about scrapbooking though I am getting back into some of the other things I used to do earlier. 

Currently, I am working on an "autobiographical scrapbook" too, and its a good way for me to mess around with new techniques without feeling that I am screwing up. So that is going good. 

I am also knitting a scarf (I know in June?) and working on an inspiration wire for my room. In other scrapbooking news, I recently finished a scrapbook for my friend Cathrine and now am working on one for my friend, Abe!

Have fun getting all Kraftxcore!

i feel like titles are the hardest part...

Why hello all! This is Rachel, and I thought I'd use this first post to share what craft-core means to me. I am an Art and Design Education student, work at Starbucks, and am in a pretty excellent relationship. I think of crafting as an outlet of creativity that can be used to preserve memories,  express feelings, or simply entertain. Making things hands on and expressing myself in visual terms has always felt natural to me, so crafting seems to fit right in. Not to mention I have a borderline unhealthy affinity for color schemes and vintage patterns. 

Some current projects I am working on include an "autobiographical scrapbook", where I have just been documenting things that I like/are important to me currently, and plan on coming back to and adding to it as time goes on. So this will be an indefinite work in progress, but hopefully I won't lose interest in it. If  so, I guess I can make a page in it about being apathetic...

I am also working on a little embroidery number that was inspired by one of  katie.cupcake's pieces. It's worth mentioning that I started a Lollapalooza scrapbook last summer after I attended it...yet can't seem to finish the very last page. Anyway, this is just a little introduction of what we're trying to share here, and by no means all encompassing. Sooo, since saying goodbye is always awkward, I will leave you with that! :D