MetaChat - AskMeCha: Pretty Pretty Pencils

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16 November 2005

AskMeCha: Pretty Pretty Pencils I've decided to sew or somehow make all my Christmas presents this year (except the stuff for my kids, because I can't sew mp3 players and computer chairs yet, unfortunately...)→[More:]

Anyway, one of the things I'm making are pencil cases. They're really nice, and look great. I'm using vintage cotton fabrics and I'm tying them with leather strips. Now that I've made them, I need some pretty or nice pencils to tuck into them. I'm trying to save money, so the 3.00 twig bark pencils I saw online aren't going to cut it, although I'd love to find them for, say...80 cents each!

Does anyone know of any place online to get bamboo or twig pencils, or nice colored pencils, or some other beautiful, yet inexpensive pencil?

I've found these simple and elegant scented pencils (vanilla, cinammon, or lavender) but 10.00 for 7 is too much. I don't want to use cutesy or glittery or cheap-looking pencils, if that helps.

post by: iconomy at: 07:53 | 13 comments

I saw these photos online and my cases look just like this, except with different fabric, of course. Mine aren't so foo foo but you get the idea.

≡ Click to see image ≡

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by iconomy 16 November | 07:56

Cool idea, iconomy! Makes me realize I must get off my hiney and get our holiday cards done. This will be the first year I've made them, so we'll see.

posted by chewatadistance 16 November | 08:08

What kind of cards, yoga? I want to make mine this year too. We don't send out very many, so making them wouldn't be that big of a deal.

I did find these twig pencils for 50 cents, but they're probably not uniform enough in size to use - some are thicker and longer and crooked.

Kind of like penises.

posted by iconomy 16 November | 08:17

Oh I'm also making these cafe aprons for a few people. They allow me to indulge my fabric fetish, twice, because they're reversible! And super super easy to make. Apparently you have to go barefoot if you wear this apron. They're great-looking on, and men love them as much as women do. I'm also making handbags for a few people.

posted by iconomy 16 November | 08:24

I am not very crafty, but one thing I can make are no-sew fleece blankets. I think I am going to make a couple of them this year.

posted by sisterhavana 16 November | 10:44

They're great! You can make no-sew scarves, too. I've made Christmas stockings, socks, mittens, gloves, hats, and blankets with it. I made an on-the-go diaper changing pad with fleece for a friend who just had a baby. It's kind of hard to go wrong with it.

posted by iconomy 16 November | 11:01

So I'm going to have to take this question to AskMe, huh.

posted by iconomy 16 November | 11:12

Pencils - have you tried Michaels Crafts yet? They usually have a better selection than you might think, and they range between .10 and .25 (* mourns the cents symbol again for the first time in a long time *) or even Office Depot has some cool ones, and/or any hippie/good toy stores where you are?

Cards - I usually do linoleum cut cards: make 3 or 4 small cuts then print each one 4 or 5 times, or make rubber stamps & do each individually - white & silver on black paper looks good, or, if I'm lazy, do one or two little paintings & scan them & print them or color xerox them, then add glitter.

posted by mygothlaundry 16 November | 12:14

ReproDepot is one of the few places to get fabrics from my favorite designer Munki Munki. How cool are those prints?

Anyway--have you considered filling the cases with just plain old colored pencils? They're cheap and great for sketching or organizing you calendar.

posted by jrossi4r 16 November | 12:33

I just talked the boss into letting me buy the office supplies this week, so I can go check out the really nifty little stationary store down the street. I'll check there for cool colored pencils and be done with this, so I can move on to obsessing about something else ;)

posted by iconomy 16 November | 13:20

You can have pencils printed pretty cheaply, and they could have some nice saying, or Happy HannuChrisKwanzMas, or your holiday wish of choice.

posted by theora55 16 November | 13:34

posted by deborah 16 November | 15:34

Kind of like penises.
But easier to draw with.

posted by dg 16 November | 22:07

← Maya's Micronomicon || Spot the difference in these two pics. →

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