Kerri's Creations

Homemade laundry and dishwasher detergent!

2010-10-31T14:03:00.000-07:00

I got so excited the other day while looking for recipes for homemade laundry and dishwasher detergent. We're trying to get closer to being self-sufficient, to use environmentally safe cleaning products, to use products that are non-toxic, and to save money. Unfortunately, the Eco-cleaners in the grocery stores can be pretty pricey. So making your own is the way to go! And it's super super cheap!!!

Here's my favorite laundry soap recipe:

- 3 bars of soap grated as finely as you can (I use pure glycerin soap from the Guelph soap company - it's like a buck a bar)

- 2 cups of borax (a natural compound found in the cleaning section)

- 2 cups of washing soda (in the laundry section)

You mix it together and voila! Then you only need 1/4 cup for each load. I also add 1/4 cup of white vinegar into the fabric softer area. Clothes are clean! (And don't smell like vinegar!)

The best thing is that it's safe for high efficiency washers because it's non-sudsy!

I had a hard time finding a homemade dishwasher detergent because they all contain borax. Borax is natural but can be toxic if eaten in large quantities, so I feel more comfortable not using it for dishes. I found a recipe but ended up making my own to avoid soap scum. Here it is:

- 1 cup water

- 1/2 cup liquid vegetable glycerin

- 1/2 vinegar

- 20 drops of lemon essential oil

- you need to shake before each use since the oil settles on top.

OK!! I hope this is helpful! Kerri

Kids Volkswagen

2010-08-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

The best thing is how rare these vans are! And to find one in good shape! The shirts are all in good shape, I have lots of sizes on etsy now! And of course, if you're into hitchhiking, you'd be hoping one of these beauties drives by! Beep Beep!

Tasty Olive

2010-08-13T19:49:00.000-07:00

Olives are tasty. In fact, the only way to keep my toddler sitting during landing of an airplane is to continuously feed him green olive pieces. Well, at least it worked last time. So why not wear an olive shirt? And one with a volkwagen van is even better. Check out my etsy store to buy this shirt for 20 bucks and my website to see more creations...

Creativity Revival

2010-07-18T16:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is necessary to take breaks from arting. Then when you come back, it's sweet fun again! I never thought I'd say this, but if you're ever in a creative block...just do it! Doing strengthens the attitude, not the other way around. Then your doing stimulates more doing! I just bought a whole bunch of shirts, so more are coming...and soon, a brand new fish design!!

A good way to sell your craft..

2009-12-07T17:48:00.000-08:00

A good way to sell your craft is to ask your friends to have parties! All they have to do is invite their friends over for a party. Then you show up and display your craft. And unlike a Tupperware party, the crafter doesn't convince people to buy stuff, or to have parties, or to become a Tupperware seller themselves! The crafter just hangs out, and answers questions if necessary, while selling to people who are interested. Then at the end of the night, the crafter offers the host 25% (or whatever percentage you want) of what was made at the party in free product! That way, no matter how much was sold, the host gets free stuff for having the party! And everyone is happy! And everyone shops local! And everyone supports OUR economy! And the crafter is happy! And the host is happy! Wheee! Check out some of my crafts on my website!

How to Convince People to go Green

2009-11-23T20:28:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of those psychology experiments where they put a rat in a cage, it presses a lever, and gets a shock? Well, the theory behind it is simple. The rat performs a behaviour, gets punished for this behaviour, then never does it again. Funny enough, the same reasoning can be used to get people to go green. Are you laughing yet? Well, grocery stores have recently placed a cost on plastic bags...a punishment! And ever since then, just about everyone brings their own bags! Its genius. I myself do it for the environment. But for some, money talks.

Eco bags are even cooler when they're hand made and local! To check out my eco bags, see my etsy store!

Locally Made T-shirts

2009-11-09T19:25:00.000-08:00

I recently wrote a blog about the importance of buying local. A few years back, a discovered a great line of clothing made right here in America called American Apparel! I can notice the better quality immediately. Buying locally made clothing helps our planet and keeps dollars in our economy. I've printed several T-shirts using American Apparel shirts, if you would like to see them, check out my etsy site or my website!

Overcome artist Block

2009-10-28T17:15:00.000-07:00

I reported one way to do this in an earlier post. It involved getting inspired from others and experiment in a new medium! I am now reporting another method: do custom orders! Often people make requests that throw you out of your box! They request an idea that you may not have thought of, and if one person wants an idea, chances are more people would be interested as well! I've recently been requested to do a screenprint of a Volkswagon van. Here it is with white paint!

To see my other crafts, check out My Website!

Why shop from local artisans and other local sellers?

2009-10-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have been trying our best to shop locally.

WHY???!!!!!!!!!!! Here's why:

-To support local farmers who treat animals better than factory farms!

-To NOT support slave labor!

-To get better quality products (cheap jewelry (or cheap) anything breaks fast!)

-To keep dollars in our local economy!

-To help save our environment (it may cost a touch more but it'll last longer, not get trashed fast, and therefore save you money in the long run)!!!!!!!

-You get things that are so much more unique!

-You get way better service!

-You help create community!

-You make friends!

So shop local, go eco, yay!

If you want to see some of my crafts, check out my website!

Surrendering to the Universe and Wrapping Stones!

2009-10-22T13:42:00.000-07:00

I learned most of my stone wrapping skills on the road. Usually when I was travelling with no expectations and no destination. I enjoyed surrendering myself to the universe because that is when the magic happens. Magical situations that is, meeting incredible people, finding yourself in incredible situations, being completely fascinated by the moment, and by nature. I found that when my travels let me closer to my hometown, situations presented themselves in which I was taught a new technique about stone wrapping. I began wrapping rocks that I would find, pieces of glass, and other curiosities. I then started going to scrap yards to get aluminum and copper, which are easy to wires to bend. I then realized, however, that aluminum has negative properties that can be harmful, and of course, it eventually tarnishes! So I started ordering tinned copper wire that has no harmful properties, and is anti-tarnish! I now also wrap semi-precious stones with healing properties for those who wear them!

Check out some of my wraps on my website! Thanks!

Ravens

2009-10-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

I started painting ravens from a dare. A friend told me that a raven I had painted looked more like a chicken! So I was determined to paint the best raven I could! Then...it became an obsession! I couldn't stop painting ravens! Now I even make raven printed bags and T-shirts. Turns out my native horoscope is the raven. I also found out that the raven is known as the trickster because he stole the sun. But it was actually the raven who returned the sun back to the sky after he stole it from the real thief! So..the raven is a nature lover, like me.

If you would like to see my creations, check out my website!

How I began to paint native art

2009-10-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

I was part of an activist group hoping to save a piece of native land from being paved. I spent a night in a teepee druming and put a lot of time planning a fundraiser to help support some of the direct activists. One night while painting posters for the fundraiser, I did a painting that most thought was unmistakably native inspired. Ever since then my paintings have all had a little haida and ojibwe flavor to them. I love to paint animals, especially birds. They are often accompanied by trees and rich sunsets.

If you would like to see more or my original paintings, please see my website at Kerri's Creations.

What sells on etsy

2009-10-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

When I first created my etsy store, I put up mostly jewelry. I listed jewelry that I sold best when I vended at festivals. I soon noticed, however, that jewelry is very flooded on etsy. I than read some advice that suggested to list things that are very unusual. At festivals I also used to sell prints of very unusual ink drawings. Although they were interesting, they never did as well as my jewelry. On etsy, however, it seems to be the unique things that get noticed the most. So I listed one of my unusual prints and had my first sale! Check out some of my prints on my website!

What semi-precious stones looks best on you?

2009-10-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

I dove deep into the art of knowing which color tones look best on which skin/hair/eye tone one day (when I was trying to figure out which I am!) and found it really useful in helping people pick a semi-precious stone to wear. People with dark hair are generally winters, people with light hair (blond) are generally summers. These two, which have red undertones in their skin, look best in cooler tones and can interchange what tones they wear. Falls and springs have yellow undertones in their skin. Falls have brown or auburn hair with brown or hazel eyes. They can have blue or green but only if there's brown or yellow mixed in. Springs do not tan, have red hair, and often have freckles.

Here's some stones I find look best with certan skin tones:

Winters look best in cool dark tones such as Onyx, Sodalite, Lapiz, amazonite, coral, purple agate, green agate, malachite, blue howlite, and serpentine.

Summer's look radiant in clear and white crystals, amathyst, rose quartz, and green aventurine.

Autums and springs look great in teal agate, tiger eye, carnelian, turquoise, amber, neutral brown agate, and copper.

Check out some jewelry made from these stones at Kerri's Creations!

Artist's Block - Screenprinting

2009-10-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

I go through waves of creativity. Sometimes there's just not enough time to create all that I envision, and other times I reach an artist's block. My last artist's block ended when I went to a craft circle, stared at an empty canvas for several hours while occasionally glancing at my friend screenprinting t-shirts. After that evening began another wave of creativity! I began making screens of my art for printing. Sure, starting something new often leads to frustrating moments but then some nice creations as well! See more pics of my newest creation at my etsy store!

Fairy Wings

2009-10-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

I wanted to create fairy wings with tassels that flowed in the wind. I searched and searched online but all I found were wings that were stiff as a board... I then proceeded to create a pair of wings with sheer flowing fabric, sewed them in multiple layers onto a flexible alluminum base that I twisted together and twirled, and added some fabric elastic bands so they stay on well and can fit all adults. After hours of sewing, I finally created wings that flowed as if they were real. Check out my wings at Kerri's Creations or on my etsy store at Etsy Store

Semi-Precious Stones - Meaning

2009-10-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

I love to work with semi-precious stones because not only are there pretty but they also have healing properties. Sometimes when I'm selling my jewelry, I find people are drawn to certain stones and pendants. I like to think that on some level, they know what type of healing they need, which draws them to this particular stone. I like to tell people to go with their gut feeling and consider the first stone that really catches their eye. I guess you can call it the taosim of wearing jewlry!

If you'd like to see some of my wire-wrapped pendants, earrings, and bracelets, come check out my site Kerri's Creations.

How to Start an Artist Community

2009-10-09T20:21:00.000-07:00

Every week I meet with other artists in St. Catharine's for an art circle. We share ideas, inspire each other, and have fun. We first met during other activities, such as environmental activism and vegetarian pot luck dinners. Each week we select a new craft for a focus group--one week it's screen printing, another it may be painting.

I really encourage other artists to try this out.

If you want to see some of my creations, check out my paintings on Kerri's Creations.

Turquoise Swirl Earrings

2009-09-20T11:52:00.001-07:00

Turquoise Swirl Earrings, originally uploaded by kerriscreations.

See more images of these cuties on kerriscreations.com (my new favorites!)

2009-09-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

Kerri Michalica

2009-09-17T19:55:00.001-07:00