Hello there.
Every mountain goat needs a lair, someplace epic.
Perhaps a hollow mountain?
Say what???
Just my size.
Y'all come back now, hear?
This little goat is yet to be named. He is just a quick, little, commissioned gift. While it seems illogical, I think working smaller is more difficult than working large. You end up using thinner yarn and a smaller hook. So ultimately, there isn't a huge reduction in the number of stitches and it is much more demanding in the whole concentration/motor skills department. It does use less materials, though. I actually used wool yarn for this project. I have a stock pile of uber-small wool skeins (abandoned to me by my mother... who is apparently much smarter than I and knows not to use these yarns for her projects anymore) and I am always trying to use them up. Even though they are fine quality, virgin wool it is very hard to use. It is much 'stickier' on the hook . I guess the friction is good because it holds the knots and stitches together...but I seem to take twice as long on each stitch.
I am sure there is some wisdom on the merit of these slow stitches that is fitting for a mountain goat dojo. Perhaps the goat could be a consulting sensei?
I suspect there will be several posts on envelopes, but you gotta start somewhere.
While there are many types of envelopes, I am just going to focus on the most common choices for envelopes when you are purposely selecting/buying for an event. Otherwise, if this is just for general use, who cares what envelope you use. I always pick the cheapest or just send an email (normally the email because I can attach pictures of lolcats).
In the picture above there are four very different types of envelopes. Starting in the top, right corner and working clockwise, there is a standard postage size, announcement envelope, then a standard postage size, baronial envelope, then a non-standard size, square, announcement envelope (you will be paying extra to mail), and last is a totally non-standard envelope for a gift enclosure (mail at your own risk).
Announcement envelopes are also called A-line or square flaps. They are all this category because of their flap shape and the orientation of the flap along the length of the envelope. When you buy nice envelopes, this is where you have the most options. There is a little variation on how wide the flap is, but generally the flap comes down to almost half the width of the envelope.
I am very curious about why so many envelopes are square flap. Frankly, there are other 'fancy' flap shapes and the paper quality is what makes it a nice envelope. I do have a theory, though. If you think about it, there is less paper used to make an envelope with a flap like this than is used to make one with a big, triangular flap.
These triangular flaps are collectively called 'v' flaps. When it is a small 'v' that goes to the middle (or just shy of the middle) of the envelope, it is a baronial envelope (L). When the 'v' passes the middle of the envelope and almost goes the full width of the envelope, it is called a deep-'v' envelope (R).
Generally, the deep-'v's are considered much fancier than your standard baronial. On a practical note, you do have more room to write your return address on the flap of the deep-'v', but otherwise, it is just 'fancier' because it is more expensive... and it is more expensive because it uses more paper.
To be honest, you don't have many options when you go and buy envelopes. When papers for printing get made into their matching envelopes, there is only one style they get made into. Basically, if you want a deep-'v' envelope in a particular paper and there is only a pack of square flap envelopes on the shelf, you are out of luck.
While you can't pick and choose your flap style, you normally have a wide range of choices in envelope size. Most rectangular envelopes that you see for sale are going to be standard postage (provided they aren't too big/too small or too heavy when it gets filled). The main, non-standard postage, envelope option is the square envelope. The reason the square is extra to mail has to do with what the post office does with its envelopes. When the mail comes in, there is an automated process for the stamping and initial processing. A rectangular envelope has a clear orientation on it's top/bottom and sides whereas a square does not. So the machines cannot process the envelope properly and it needs to be hand-cancelled. Hence, extra postage.
If you put this in the mailbox, it will get delivered but your recipient will be paying the extra postage. Same thing if you put something too big in the mailbox. If you put something too small in (like that gift enclosure from the top of the post), you might not be so lucky. It might not even make it to the recipient. Small things get mashed up and lost. Of course, you can put anything in the mailbox and provided there is enough postage on it, it will be mailed. I have put things smaller than the 3.5x5 in. size requirement in the mail and it worked out just fine.... but it is smaller than what the post office says that you can send. So decide if you feel lucky.
Hope this is a good start to some of the options. There is much more to be said on sizing, materials, and shapes, but let's just leave that riveting page-turner for another day.
Normally I just make things... you know, you have a vision and then you execute it. This time, though, I had a bit of a much needed reality check.
I had been fretting a miscalculation in the expansion of the boucle yarn which made the sheep over double the expected size. In my grand scheme, there would be a semi-rigid batting structure, which would strengthen the legs and allow the sheep to stand. Of course, this growth spurt in the sheep's body made for too much weight on the leg supports.
The sheep was destined to remain forever on its side, like some fluffy, barnyard, serpentine Venus. Which actually is kind of alluring, but not quite the grand statement I was going for.
Then I hatched a plan to put in wooden dowels as a core inside the batting structures. The sheep would stand, grand and indomitable. But then I had a bit of an epiphany.
I was show-and-telling the sheep in progress to the child of one of my friends. What happened was the much needed reality check. This little boy went up to the sheep, gave it a big hug, and then sat on it... and then hugged it some more. I had been so caught up in my vision of a standing sheep that I forgot how kids want to play.
Ultimately, this is a gift and the recipient should always come first. The sheep needs to cuddle-able, first and foremost. Something squishy to use as a pillow and a plaything. So she should be seated and soft, huge as she is, errr, big boned and voluptuous.
It is so easy to forget the whole 'form follows function' when we are making things independently and unchecked. I am embarrassed to say that I was going to ruin all future potential for snuggling and play with my wooden rods. I guess that this is just a good reminder not to make things in a vacuum; sometimes the romantic vision can overshadow the original intentions.
I am so glad that little boy sat on that sheep (though mom was pretty mortified).
And now, on to the next project!
Card stock and Cover papers are the primary 'thicker' papers that you use for printing projects, be it commercial in scale or for a small, special occasion.
Generally, card stock is a term reserved for papers sold for crafting purposes, but sometimes you see heavier weight paper for printing called card stock when there is no lighter weight version of the paper available. Otherwise, heavyweight paper for printing is called Cover. This is the paper you use for folded cards, flat cards, enclosures, and business cards. While there are always limitations on sizing when you print on paper (is it too little or too big to run through a printer), the weight of a paper is also a limiting factor. Make sure you check on printing with a test sheet before you commit and buy a stack.
Since the printing is more complicated on Cover, many people opt for printing on Text weight, then mount it onto Cover pieces. Once you open the field to using the heavy paper as a purely decorative and structurally supportive element, then scrapbook paper is a great option. Scrapbook paper is generally sold as 12x12 in. squares and they are a moderately heavy card stock. The down side to using them is that they are normally sold in stores as individual sheets, so buying in bulk to keep down prices can be a challenge. Also, many papers are seasonal. Once they are gone, you will never see them again. So buy enough for your entire project ASAP.
Still, scrapbook papers are the main option for pattered paper in Cover weight. Many of them are decorated on both sides, so they don't look like an unprofessional craft project when you use them for formal occasions. Personally, I use them all the time for business cards. Normally, if there is a pattern on one side, then there is a contrasting solid color on the reverse. You can get your information made into a stamp and then stamp it onto your pre-cut blanks. This is one of the least expensive ways to get those specialty, crafty-tastic business cards that are so in vogue at the moment.
Cover and card stock should be readily available in office supply stores and specialty print shops/paper stores. For scrapbook paper, this is strictly a craft item and you will need to go to a craft store. Buying online is also possible and will be necessary if you are looking for larger quantities. The main scrapbook brands are Basic Grey, American Crafts (a personal fav), Cosmo Cricket, and Sassafras, just to name a few. Martha Stewart Crafts also has some great designs, maybe the most elegant and tasteful in the bunch. I think it can get kind of kitschy pretty fast in the world of scrapbooking. I don't scrapbook and I am going to leave it at that.
The only source for patterned Cover paper for printing, which I am aware of, is the Mod-tone paper line from French Paper Co. Actually, I take that back. The invitation elements brand Envelopments also does patterned paper. Or I should say that they buy papers from other manufactures and then silk screen their designs on it. They do very pretty things and you can buy 8.5x11 sheets (I think they recently started to do larger sizes and custom cuts, too). Heads up on the price though. Envelopments isn't a brand for a low budget and you will need to buy through a reseller... but then you can buy/special order when that reseller has a sale. Yay, sale!!
