You can make a very simple brush holder/carrier from a simple wicker-woven placemat OR a woven calendar (wall-hanging type). Just weave elastic (the type from the fabric store) in and out of the weave, the length of the placemat in 2 rows, about 4 - 5 inches apart. Glue each end of the elastic to the placemat. Slide brushes under the elastic to hold, roll up and tie with ribbon (which can also be folded and glued on the fold to one end of the brush holder). An easy tote for your brushes when you go to class!
Clean up tip (contributed by Doreen Bathurst)
Find some hand wipes or baby wipes that contain alcohol. This is important... the non-alcohol type will NOT do! You can buy them or save the little packets of wipes you get with a fast food order. Use them to temporarily clean our mop, deerfoot or any other dry method brush when changing colours. The dampness cleans the brush and the alcohol leaves it dry and ready to use. Be sure to clean your brush properly with soap and water later. You can also clean up little goofs on your project with these wipes, but work very lightly! Also great for cleaning your hands of dried paint or safely removing a 'fresh' paint spot from clothing!
Brush cleaning tip (contributed by Diane McEntee)
I buy the small oval plastic hand-soap holders with the little rubber spikes on them to help clean my brushes. They are great to just swipe the brush across a few times to get out paint from the middle of the brush right to the ferule. They can be found in dollar stores, usually two for a dollar.
