For those who wish to knit or crochet, try starting with the larger needles. It makes the item go quickly. Big is anything over a size 15. Some needles are huge, almost broomstick size. I got into knitting a couple years ago, DD wanted a pancho for school. Panchos were just starting to get popular. I made it pretty fast, loose weave was pretty, so garment was light and not overly hot in school. Just a couple rectangles sewn together, so there was a point in front and back, head opening. I crocheted an edging with real fluffy yarn in a nice contrast color. Turned out well, she got lots of compliments on it. If you use synthetices, you can run it thru the washer. Wool FEELS so nice, but does take extra care and summer storage for moth prevention. For kids, synthetics are the way to go, keep clean easily. I also crochet, actually prefer it. But finding a large hook, size S, made it fun crocheting rugs with strips of old cloth. I have made a number of rugs now, and they are fast to do, wash wonderfully. I just hang them on a lawn chair to dry on the porch. I just make the pattern up as I go along. I have squares and ovals, all about 36" x 24". Seems to be a good lap size, bigger is harder to handle and heavy. Sizes will fit well in front of the sink, bathroom shower, back door for the dog to lay on. I might put a piece of no-slip stuff under it, to keep rug still on a vinyl or wood floor. So if you are considering doing knitting or crochet, try just doing some easy squares, in a large size like 36"x36", using a big hook or pair of needles. You might want the needles with a string between the ends, easier to use with wider knit projects. Knitting is just back and forth, so the string/cable needles are very handy with bigger pieces. You only need to know one stitch to start, get good at it, to finish the piece. I did some with knit on one side, purl on the other. Really basic, but pretty with nice yarn. Pieces that size or slightly longer, can make lap robes, baby afghans, or be put together for a larger sized afghan. Really go quickly to finish. I tend to watch TV when working, don't need a lot of attention to project with only one stitch on each side, just keep doing the same thing. Other good, fast projects are hats. They can go quickly, done in a couple days or less. Can be done knitted or crocheted flat, then sew the edges together to be round. I consider myself a beginning knitter and crochet person. Only have a couple stitches in my skill list, but you can do a lot with just basics. Very fun to produce an object, rug, hat, with these basics. I HAVE learned to do cables this winter, so am moving up the skill levels. Cables are surprisingly easy! Now on to learning to do pattern reading! My SIL was making scarves a couple years ago, just one stitch. Now she does FANCY socks, lookes almost embroidered. Needles are so tiny, that she can do pictures on the socks. Huge jump in skill, just trying new stuff. I think she keeps all her socks, wears them to show off! As well she should, they are amazing. The knee socks shown above, are very attractive. I will try some one of these days! I am planning to work on mittens first though. We can always use mittens around here. Have to get the thumb part down. Maybe then I will be ready for sock heels and 4 needles like my mother does them. I do some painting of items used in the gardens. Stepping stone enhancement, coloring some statues, ironwork that I have around. Not really original stuff, not the artist. Painting is a winter thing, too busy in summer. Also do some sewing, with fancy pillowcases being an inspiration this year. LOTS of elaborate lace trim, which is fun to look at on colored cases. Make good gifts at Christmas and other occassions. I am using the few inches left over as trim on a case for the couch pillow. Just many kinds of lace on a piece of material, to be used as an accent piece. Kind of fun doing fancy, after using the sewing to mostly repair work clothing. Made some tank tops for DD, all the kids need a lot of them to layer. I had the material, she chose the colors she wanted. I will be letting her do the next ones, pinning neck and arms takes all the time. Then she can make more when she wants them. About an hour each shirt. Rolling knife is a big time saver there. We used her purchased shirts as patterns, just cut around them, so they were just the right style and sizing. I don't want any clothing to look "homemade" because no one will wear it. My "Arty" skills come out in putting things together, some designing talents, not a pictoral art skill. I did a lot of picture framing over winter to get the art stuff up on the walls. We had gathered quite a lot, not hung it before. Priced getting it professionally matted and framed. ACKK!! The PRICES THEY WANTED!! I checked out mat cutters and got one, bought some frames to do it myself. That was fun, picking matting colors, cutting the mats, double layers or fancy cutting, framing it up. Very satisfying to see them all finished up. Those who have seen the walls of pictures, like it too. Good thing Art can cover a lot of talent and skills!

I like this method because it is fool proof and because the pictures will stay alligned indefinitely. First, I cut out paper templates for each pic. I use brown postal paper.Then I arrange my pics on the floor to get a basic idea of what would look good. Then I hang my paper templates on the wall attaching each template with painter's tape on each corner. I move the templates around until it looks just right. You can precisely measure spacing or not, it just depends on what sort of look you prefer. It is necessary however, that you sort of use a level on each template--you'll have another chance for leveling more precisely when you attach the pic to the wall. I attached 3M velcro strips to the back of each pic according to 3M's directions. Be careful that the strips will not show from the sides when walking down the hall. If your frames are wide enough, the strip should be placed in the shadows. If frames are thinner and one side is more visible than the others, I might put two strips on a less visible side, along with one on the top and one on the bottom--just don't shortchange your strips. I also always place strips so that the picture hangs flat rather than tilted (top and bottom rather than just at the top) even if 3M suggests that only one strip is needed per the weight of the pic. Before hanging, I tear a section of each template away where the strip will attach the pic to the wall, but I leave major portions of the template in place to guide me on where to hang the pic. I press the frame in place per 3M's directions with a small level on top of the pic frame while at the same time aligning the frame with the template. When the project is complete, I carefully lift each pic frame part way from the wall, so that I can slide and/or tear the paper template away from behind the pic without losing the precise placement of the pic on the wall. I reattach the frame to the wall again by repressing in place. Here is a link that might be useful: 3M Command Strips This post was edited by theresa2 on Thu, Aug 28, 14 at 21:59

I've just submitted my entries to the AFAR website. I went with "A New York Minute", "Daughter of Panama", and "Otherworldly" as my three-for-$10 submissions, and as I could also submit additional pics for $10 each, I sent in "Best Friends" (the boys), "Full of Promise" (the schoolgirl), and "Her Sister's Keeper." I was required to give each a title and say a bit about each photo. That was the hard part! Anyway, I had fun pulling all this together and would certainly love to win something, but if not that's ok too. Thanks again for all of the encouragement and helpfulness y'all have given me. I appreciate it greatly!

The pic is very fuzzy and what is it that you love about it. I actually like to buy originals not prints unless they are wood cuts so a bit more info might help us .