Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with supplies

Where can I buy leatherworking supplies and leather in Long Island?

lettuchi — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:57:13 -0800

Where can I find leatherworking supplies and leather at a storefront on Long Island, preferably Suffolk County? All I've found are hat shops or defunct addresses. Hi all,

I am looking for a store front where I can buy leather working supplies and leather sides/hides on Long Island, really it should be Suffolk so I can drive there. Thanks for any help.

The best, most stylish planting pots online?

The Whelk — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:46:15 -0800

I'm looking to outfit an apartment window garden with some kick-ass pots of various sizes and shapes. Where's the best online retailer of not-plastic, not-boring brown, pots and gardening containers? Bonus if they sell supplies like potting soil and live plants and seeds.

Practical yet Attractive Uses for narrow-necked glass bottles?

The Whelk — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:43:10 -0800

I have a few old glass bottles which I've cleaned, de-labeled, and given airtight cork tops. They're attractive bottles, about 750ml each with narrow tops, and I'd like a practical way to show them off ideally in the kitchen. I already used one to infuse olive oil and other to hold my dried dried beans rather than leaving them tied up in the pantry. What else can do with them?

DIY sling stand/frame plans and component supplies

hippybear — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:05:41 -0800

I'm looking to put together a portable sling stand without paying upwards of $300 for one. Any suggestions on plans or materials? So, free-standing portable sling stands seem to be easy enough to find for purchase online, but I'd rather figure out a way to make my own without spending retail for it.

I've found these plans, [possibly NSFW] but the overall length of the pipes required and the wood and such, it doesn't seem to be overly portable, especially in my sub-compact car.

There are a zillion examples of this kind of set-up [NSFW] being sold online. I'm guessing that since it is so ubiquitous, there must be a way to buy the parts and assemble them into a kit. I just don't know what the correct search terms might be for those snap-together metal poles and the corner/cross joining points.

I'm looking for other available plans for building a sling stand or sling frame which aren't the same as that one, and/or suggestions about search terms or even links to places where I might be able to buy that snap-together metal tubing and the other bits I need to put together a kit of my own.

What should I bring for a three-month field expedition to Central Africa?

Scientist — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:08:14 -0800

I'm going to be doing fieldwork in Central Africa next summer. What do I need to bring? So it looks like I'm going to be spending a couple-or-three months doing fieldwork in Central Africa next summer. I have a fair amount of camping experience but have never done extensive fieldwork before, and certainly not in tropical rainforests. I will be studying small amphibians at a variety of field sites from May through June or July, which is the dry season.

What am I going to want to make sure I bring with me? I know that we will be provisioned with some supplies, but what do I want to make sure I have in my personal kit in terms of clothes, hygiene items, tools, etc? What do I want to use to lug it around, for that matter? I am definitely going to ask this question of my advisor and my acquaintances in the department, and of course I am thinking about the matter on my own, but I'd like to solicit advice from folks around here as I know there are more than a few who have relevant experience.

Again, I do have ideas of my own and I will be talking to the people around me, but I'd like to set that aside for now. Assume that I know nothing and that if you folks don't tell me what to bring then I will be showing up naked in Libreville, Gabon this coming May. Help my first field expedition go as smoothly as possible.

How do I equip this high school knitting circle?

zoomorphic — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:55:50 -0800

I need to acquire supplies for a knitting circle for high school kids in Harlem. My problem is that the budget is $60. The knitting group is a quasi-mandatory after school class for at-risk kids, mainly girls. A lot of them have few female role models and most of them have gotten in trouble with petty crimes (shoplifting especially, as they're all obsessed with fashion/clothes and try their best to scoot around the school uniform codes). As part of my social work program, I'm trying to foster stronger peer friendships, encourage the girls to make their own stuff as opposed to stealing it, keep everyone busy doing wholesome stuff, and teach them anger-management skills.

Each after-school activity gets a relatively equal budget, and the knitting circle was allotted $60. This was enough to buy cheap plastic needles and acrylic yarn for the 15 students (12 girls, 2 openly gay boys, and 1 African Muslim boy who "really wants a blue scarf"), plus some yarn I already had on hand. The kids actually seemed kinda pumped for the first session but were immediately disappointed upon seeing the quality of the supplies.

Normally I'd splurge on these items myself, but I'm living off student loans at the moment and not in a position to buy a ton of cotton yarn and bamboo needles. I considered approaching some knitting stores in my Brooklyn neighborhood, but they're *extremely* high-end, hoity-toity places, and I'm not even sure what I would ask them. It seems unlikely that they would have extra supplies on hand that they wouldn't just sell paying customers.

The school social worker is too busy to really focus on a minor after-school class, so I figured I'd poll you guys. Perhaps I can merge our group with a bigger knitting/crafts program? Are there, uh, knitting grants? What do social workers and teachers do under these circumstances when the school budget can't accomodate the activities?

Cheap paper for watercolor practice?

kristi — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 10:35:42 -0800

Are there any no-hassle, cheap alternatives to watercolor paper? I want to practice a lot without spending a lot. I'd like to practice watercolor painting regularly (every day, ideally), but I'm reluctant to pay a lot for watercolor paper.

I'm even more reluctant to go through the process of stretching my own paper. (Lack of hassle is much more important than cost. I want to just be able to grab my supplies and start painting.)

Are there any cheap alternatives to watercolor paper that won't leave me sad and disappointed at the results?

If not, what watercolor paper do you recommend for someone who wants to practice a lot?

Sew help me

guessthis — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:40:54 -0800

So I've bought a sewing machine. Now what else do I need to get going? I just bought my first sewing machine, yay! I like to hand sew little things, but know nothing about using a machine. Ultimately, I would like to be able to sew and alter my own clothes. I'm signed up for classes in June, but want to practice a bit on my own in the meantime. What else do I need besides a machine to get going?

- Scissors, I presume. Anything I should look out for? Any specific product recommendations?

- Thread: what type?

- Fabric: what type of fabric is good for a beginner to practice with?

- Pins. Is a pincushion necessary at this stage?

... and?

I have set aside about 50 euros for initial supplies. If you could help me compile my shopping list, I would be most grateful!

Hand painting your own custom graphic tees

sunnychef88 — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:47:23 -0800

What are the best paints and other supplies for creating your own graphic tees/t-shirt art? Where can I buy the soft, plain tees for it? I want to hand paint my own graphic tees, and want to know the best supplies to use, and cheapest sources for them so that they look professional. The ideas and artistic design part is easy for me, but I'm totally inexperienced working with fabric!

I bought some Deco Sosoft fabric paints and a couple of fitted cotton tees, but am wondering what the cheapest way of obtaining these supplies is, whether I could be using better quality paints (i.e. paints that remain soft on tees, paints that don't chip in the wash, more vibrant colors, etc).

Also, I'm wondering what the different techniques and media are that people use to get certain looks. There's a watercolory wash look that stains the fabric that I'd like to be able to do. I can't get that sheer, delicate effect with matte fabric paints, right? Suggestions for techniques to explore would be appreciated.

Finally, I have some specific questions about supplies:

1. Where can I get a super shiny, smooth-looking metallic paint? Is it possible to get that wet, glistening look of a silver screen print using a fabric paint? The silver metallic paint I got was not very reflective or smooth looking when I tried it on a cotton shirt.

2. Where can I buy soft, fitted tees for cheap? I found some fitted cotton tees at the craft store, but the cotton feels a little rough and sturdy vs the tissue weight feel of a graphic tee. And the seams were noticeably shoddy and uneven.

3. Which brushes/sponges/stencils for transferring the paint on to the fabric are the most useful? What about fabric markers/dyes/etc?

Red tape in London. Literally.

D.Billy — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 13:45:40 -0800

UK Art Supply filter: I'm an artist in New York, ordering supplies for a project that I will be doing in London next week. I'm trying to order online from UK-based websites as much as possible and have the supplies delivered to the work site, rather than shipping from the US. There are a few things that I'm having a hard time finding... particularly certain kinds of tape. It there a UK-based website I can go to, or store that I can call, to get red artist tape, console / gaffer tape, or striping tape? (NOT duct tape or electrical tape. Duct tape's pronounced texture isn't good for my purposes, and electrical tape tends not to stick well enough.)

Ideally, I'd like rolls in widths of around 4" (100mm), 2" (50mm), 1" (25mm), 1/2" (12mm), and 1/4" (6mm).

Vintage Trapper Keeper search!

paindemie — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:36:34 -0800

Where can I find a vintage trapper keeper as a fun gift for a guy? The pickings on eBay are surprisingly slim. Any shop in your neighborhood have one? Would love some tips and contact info... It should be from the 80s, not 90s (he wouldn't recognize those characters and the 90s "designer themes" are lame). Probably superhero, science, or star wars themed, or a solid color. It's a gift for someone who's starting grad school, I already found two Star Wars folders to go inside. Maybe there's a shop in your neighborhood that's likely to have one? I'm in Brooklyn but happy to have it shipped from wherever in the US.

Don't forget to bring _______ when you go to the hospital!

bookmammal — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 09:02:31 -0800

What items did you forget to bring along when you were admitted to the hospital for surgery? My 75 year old father will be hospitalized for heart surgery in early January. Luckily, his doctors feel that this will be an uneventful procedure and he will make a full recovery. He will probably be in the hospital for about a week after the surgery.
My family has been blessed with excellent health and none of us has ever been hospitalized before. What are some things that he's likely to forget to bring with him when he's admitted? Basic items, or items to keep him occupied when he begins to feel better after the surgery? He's normally pretty active--not really a TV watcher. Any suggestions or hints are appreciated!

Point me to a good electric pencil sharpener!

lirael2008 — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:50:53 -0800

I'm looking for a good electric pencil sharpener--preferrably one that accepts multiple sizes/shapes, but I'd settle for one that sharpens standard pencils excellently. I currently have an iPoint that I got from Costco that is kind of horrible, eating the length of the pencils and never getting sharper than a dull point.

I've heard great things about Panasonic, but most of theirs are no longer being produced or very expensive (i.e. over $100).

I'm willing to spend up to about $50 for something reliable and making a consistently sharp point.

Rocket Kits in Rochester, NY?

Marky — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:01:37 -0800

Nephews birthday. Where can I find rockets in Rochester, NY? Surprisingly, Wegmans doesn't have them‽ I traveling to Rochester NY this weekend, it's my nephews birthday. His mom thinks he's old enough to build and fly a model rocket. I did the same with my dad at his age, it sounds like fun.

But neither she nor I have any idea where to buy the supplies. All the hobby shops I knew 30 years ago are long gone.

So, model rocket kits in Rochester: Where? The closer to Henrietta the better.

Choosing shower floor tile shouldn't be this hard.

bilabial — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:37:09 -0800

Now I need help choosing tile for the shower floor. Is the one I picked going to hurt me? I know you are not my tile setter but I've got to order tile soon. Testing the tile before ordering is not an option. Demolition begins Monday, 4/18 and I have picked this tile from Home Depot, but it's not available in stores and nobody at their 800 number can tell me if it's safe for the shower floor.

Based on the website description, would you, personally, put this mix of high and matte finish tile in your shower? (the black is the glossy, the white is matte) If you would not, what would you suggest as an alternative, bearing in mind that I really like the shabby chic look as mentioned in my last bathroom question.

My designer has been less than helpful after I told her I didn't really care for the one tile she showed me last week, so I chose this tile. also! she tried to convince me yesterday that soapstone and Silestone were the same thing. UH, NO! She did call back just now and say that her contact "at the tile store" says the tile I picked is fine "because there is so much grout and the tiles are so small." Is that true?

The contractor is very clear that whatever I give him for the floor has to be suitable for shower floors. It's not so much that I want to keep him happy, as that I'd really like to not shower myself into the hospital.

Stitch it up!

torisaur — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:17:24 -0800

I am in Ontario, Canada. Where can I buy reasonably priced - nay, cheap - craft supplies online? Inspired by this question and my desire to take up more productive/crafty hobbies when I'm done school, I'd like to do up some offensive cross stitch samplers. Does anyone know of a good website where a Canadian lady on a budget might get the necessary supplies? Bonus points if it has more than just cross stitch/embroidery supplies, as I have been known to knit, crochet, and bead on occasion.

Where to buy e-cigarette supplies in San Francisco?

lovableiago — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:16:14 -0800

Where to buy e-cigarette supplies in San Francisco? My boyfriend started using one of those e-cigarettes a few months ago and usually orders the nicotine fluid (the stuff that produces the "smoke", which is really just vapor) online. He just realized he'll run out of what he currently has this weekend, when we'll be in San Francisco, so the question is: Where can he get this stuff in the city? Obviously there is no shortage of smoke shops there, but do they sell this kind of stuff? No idea here since this is, like I said, a relatively new thing for him.

Where to buy crafting supplies in Toronto, specificallly embroidery?

custard heart — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:24:08 -0800

Where to get embroidery supplies in downtown Toronto? I've taken up embroidery -- not just cross-stitch, but all the other stitches too, so i'm looking for more than just cross-stitch kits. Downtown has a great fabric and notions district along Queen at Spadina, but I'm not sure where to go to get embroidery floss and supplies. I'd like some nice hoops and frames, fancy floss, needles, aida cloth and osnaburg. Also, some nice transfer pens and printable iron-ons. It seems like Michaels and such dedicated crafting stores are located way out in the 'burbs, and I don't have a car. Also -- where can I get plain white tea towels and napkins for embroidering, or should I sew them myself?

Where can I go to find these things? The closer to downtown, the better!

How hard is it to learn to sew?

MaryDellamorte — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:32:33 -0800

How hard is it to learn to sew? Also looking for your favorite sewing resources (books, blogs, fabric & supply websites, etc). This is something I've wanted to learn to do for a while. I've always been pretty crafty and I'm good at making things so I'm thinking that this is something that I'd enjoy. I also think it would be a nice skill to have for practical reasons. Is this something I should take a class or two for or is it possible to learn from books?

Where should I start in regards to a machine? I don't want some piece of crap that's going to jam up on me every two minutes but I also don't want to spend an arm and a leg on something that I might not end up enjoying. Any other tips or recommendations are welcome.

What will my mom need for her cruise?

torisaur — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:30:55 -0800

What does my mom need for her first cruise? My mom and dad, both in their mid-to-late 50s, are going on their very first cruise in March. My mom, who has been trying to get my dad to go on a cruise for years, is understandably excited. They haven't travelled anywhere 'tropical' since they've been married!

For Christmas, I would like to make her a little basket/stocking-like gift with some things she will use on the trip. I have never been on a cruise, however, and I'm not sure what those things are (other than, say, sunscreen). So, I'm looking for some ideas of practical things, and a few fun/frivolous things that she might not think to pick up herself. Any suggestions? It's a Caribbean cruise, if it matters.

Architectural people-figures in Austin, TX?

fiercecupcake — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:31:26 -0800

Where can I get plastic, unpainted architectural scale models of people (figures) in Austin, TX? Like these. HO scale preferred; O would be OK. So far I have been to: Hobby Town on S. Lamar, Hobby Lobby on S. Lamar, King's Hobby on N. Lamar, Great Hall Games on N. Lamar to see if gaming minis would be OK, but they're all soldiers (hey, these are all on Lamar!), and called Jerry's Artarama.

Please hope me. I really don't want to order them online, but I will if I have to.

I had a dream... I was Picasso!

two lights above the sea — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:20:02 -0800

I had a dream I started painting again. Help me renew this hobby cheaply and correctly. Ever since I was a kid I loved nothing more than to get behind an easel and paint for hours on end. It was all I did in high school, and all I did at home. You should have seen the carpets in my bedroom. Covered in paint. I even took classes at the University of the Arts (here in Philly) in high school. Fancy! However, when I started working full time and got adult responsibilities (and didn't go to art school), I stopped painting. I figured there was no point if I was never going to go anywhere with it, right?

Last night, I had a dream that I was painting again. I was extremely happy in the dream, and woke up missing that part of my life and myself. I now understand the value of having rewarding hobbies outside of work, so I'd like to start painting again. I haven't painted in at least 3 years, maybe 4. I don't even remember which brushes are best for which paint. I don't even remember if that matters! Help!

Can you point me to some simple guides on the web? As I said, it was all I did in high school, so once I start reading I'm sure it will all come back. I just don't know where to start. If you have any general/simple/common sense advice (aside from 'Just start painting',) please share! If it's important, my two favorite mediums were watercolor and oil. Acrylic never did it for me.

Two bonus questions:

My mom works at a craft store and gets a 40% discount. Is this my cheapest option for obtaining supplies, or is there a place online with rock-bottom prices? I'm on a budget right now, so saving money on this is pretty key.

I'm in Philadelphia. Are there any workshops/classes available in this area on the cheap? I'm talking very cheap; I was student at the community college, but even taking a class there would be too much for me to spend right now. I used to be fairly talented, but obviously it's been a while.

Thanks in advance!

Mt. bike course marking poles needed

jeffmac — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:28:04 -0800

Anyone have a US supplier for these? I want to use them to mark a course for bike racing.

26 ga sheet copper, New York, today

novalis_dt — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:07:18 -0800

Where can I find sheet copper in New York today? Metalliferous is closed on Saturday, and I need some 26-28 ga sheet copper asap. I need a piece that's at 12" x 15", but if all I can find is 12" x 12", I may try it. Where can I find it in New York?

Medical Supplies Need Direction

goalyeehah — Tue, 18 May 2010 12:46:07 -0800

Where can I donate unused medical supplies? My lover just recently passed away from cancer. She was under hospice care and we still have a lot of supplies left over (I.V. stand, gloves, electrolyte soulutions, saline flush syringes, heperin syringes, alcohol wipes, etc.). We cannot return them to supplier. Will free clinics or any other organization take this if they are unopened and unused?