I used to be so much better at posting. Whatever happened to Xanga!? Anyway. I still have hopes for this to be primarily a craft blog. Even if infrequently. These are what I've been up to lately...

I've made about 5 of them so far. And believe it or not, the first one was the easiest! Not sure what that's about, but me and the drill have been having issues. I guess I got lucky on the first one, and now I should get my dad to give me a tutorial on how to properly use his drill. The intended use is to hang jewelry. See...

That one belongs to my roommate. I made it for her for Christmas. It was the first one I attempted, and is probably my favorite so far. To make these I go to thrift stores, flea markets, yard sales, etc. and find old frames, preferably without the glass and backing, and also flat-faced so that drilling holes for the knobs is easier. I also hunt for knobs at flea markets too, but a lot of them come from Lowes and Home Depot. The chicken wire is from Lowes too, or wherever you can find it. The only other things you need are a staple gun and staples, wire cutters, and pliers. Oh, and maybe a ruler and pencil to make sure the knobs go where they need to. The most difficult part is cutting the chicken wire to fit the frame, and then bending all the pokey wire so it doesn't poke out. I'll try to post pics as I make more. Maybe even do a step-by-step how-to post. In the mean time, if you are interested in perhaps purchasing one for yourself or a friend, I would gladly make and sell them! Any that I sell in the month of June will go to benefit my roommate, who is going to Africa this summer to teach jewelry making skills to women in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, in order to give them a skill set to gain employment and improve their standard of living. The holder in the first photo is available right now for $15 dollars. As I make them, the price will vary with the size of the frame. Please spread the word if you know someone who would be interested in one of these jewelry holders! More to come... KelSub