Crafty Blog Links whoo hooo

Layers Upon Layers
Carol Wiebe is a mixed media artist who will inspire you to let go of the inner judge!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
The week at Craftside you can learn a bit of Photoshop work with a cool Technique from Essential Fashion Illustration, three ways to hem from Singer New Sewing Essentials and a floating ATC frame in an altered book with a free tattoo graphic download.

The Impatient Crafter™
Don't toss those tags on your next fashion purchase, turn them into "ornapendants!"

About Family Crafts
If you do any traveling with kids during this holiday season, you will definately want to check out all of these creative travel activities.

Aileen's Musings
As promised Aileen's posted another EZ Christmas project #2. Come find out why dominos aren't just for playing anymore!

Cathie Filian
Check out this video on how to infuse vodka with berries for holiday martinis. Bottled and bowed, the infusions also make great gifts!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Every thought of starting your own craft blogging group? Here are some questions and answers about the process.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Connie's been counting patterns instead of stitches this week and realized that there are over 500 free patterns posted at About.com Cross Stitch now. Check them out today!

Flashback Thanksgiving decoration-Paper Plate Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving ya'll!

My mom put together a tote of our childhood memorabilia and gave it to us. I was going through it to find something else that I knew was in there and I ran across this little gem of craft-goodness. I kind of want to make some more today! Thanks Mom! and Dad too!

Crafty Blogger Links Monday-gobble up some good crafts

Swelldesigner a.k.a. Alexa Westerfield
Alexa shows you how to make a blingtastic earring and ring set on the cheap!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
So much to be thankful for over at Craftside like a "cutting edge" die cut design, a One-Piece Wearable done recycle style, fun Felt Club 2008 photos, and a "Blue Christmas" decoration project.

The Impatient Crafter™
Join Margot for the first in her new series of Crafty Quickies how to video shorts. One simple technique demonstrated in under 2 minutes and geared to the time and technically challenged.

About Family Crafts
Does your family have any unique and creative Thanksgiving traditions? Please share your stories with us and read others'...

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shares an EZ Christmas Ornament idea. If your looking for a quick gift for a teacher, secret santa or an ornament exchange this is a perfect idea. Aileen has even put together a kit if you don't have the supplies you need.

Cathie Filian
Get ready and get inspired for Thanksgiving, by checking out a recap of Cathie Filian's Thanksgiving blogs.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy shares her thoughts on the Sundance jewelry catalog, and oh, how cool it would be to sell to them.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Stitch some Thanksgiving characters with these free patterns. No, Connie's not talking about your weird Uncle Ed. We're talking First Thanksgiving here.

Layers Upon Layers
Cyndi has a whole new set of mixed media artists for you to have lunch with this week!

One week till Turkey Day and I have a Sweater Surgery Turkey for you!

Well I'm not much of a cook, baker, yes, cooker, no. But I do like to keep in a festive mood.
So this is the "Sweater Surgery" answer to Turkey Day.

It was pretty easy to make.
All you need is a tan wool felted sweater, some batting, and some embroidery floss.
I sketched out the shape of the legs and the body on paper. Then cut out four shapes for the two legs and two pieces for the body.

I blanket stitched each part together and when there was just an inch or two left open I stuffed it with fiber fill and continued to blanket stitch the piece closed.

I used pieces of Velcro to attached the legs to the body so they could be removed. This allows for fun "eating" shots with the turkey legs.

I am thankful for all of you readers! It has been just about a year since I've started this blog and I have received a whole bunch of nice comments from people I didn't know before I started this (and people I did know) and that has been just wonderful!

I hope you all continue to enjoy it!

Crafty Blogger Links Monday, uh Tuesday!! Ya that's it

Plaid photo of the day brought to you by Rockin' Felt Club 2008! You can see more photos over at Craftside.Isn't this guy great or what?
In his top pocket he has the cutest little plushie from absolutelysmall.com by Clair Chambers.
You have to check it out!

About Family Crafts
It is easy to plan ahead and get a jump on making that perfect holiday gift for everyone you know! This collection of books contains something for everyone.

The Impatient Crafter™
There's a free holiday themed project every week until Christmas at The Impatient Crafter™! This week it's a jaunty snowman ornapendant that both you and your tree can wear.

The Crochet Dude
See how Drew spends his day in the studio with this short video!

Layers Upon Layers
Come meet Ellwood T Risk, contemporary collage artist with a political slant.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Use a child's drawing for a pattern or give them some graph paper and have them design their own!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Pull yourself off the PC once in a while (after you read this post), and grab some craft time for yourself.

Cathie Filian
Thanksgiving is just around the corner…swing by Cathie’s blog for recipes, crafts and entertaining tips – plus, a recipe for a pumpkin pietini.

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Easily create elegant pumpkin jewel décor projects using leftovers from your bead stash!

Aileen's Musings
Let the voting begin! Aileen invites you to come vote for your favorite Art Muse doll and help choose the winning dolls!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside brings you a beaded and sequined Christmas tree ornament, a rockin' sweepstakes where you can enter to win a signed Fender Squire Stratocaster, a book mark gift card and a peek into a Creative Entrepreneur workshop and a way-cool design that was contributed by Carol Parks.

Creature Comforts charity sewing event at The Santa Monica Museum of Art

So I went to this event and it was amazing! Jenny Ryan of Felt Club and Lori of Swap-o-rama-rama (this Sunday by the way) helped put together this charity sewing extravaganza! These are the blankets that we were making. One is 15x 15 and the larger one is 25x 25 inches.

Look at all those sewers in this great space at the Santa Monica Museum of Art
I know this picture is blurry but I have to say I have never sewed with a cool live DJ!(top center)

Here is my finished blanket. I strip pieced it with a bunch of different fabrics I randomly chose.
Here is a whole bunch of blankets and cat toys. I think they are so cheerful!
I loved this little girl. She really got into it. I also love that she took a small faux fur remnant and made a head band!
And last but not least, props must be paid to another dutiful dude for going along with the wife to a craft event and getting into the action!

Be sure to check out www.snugglesproject.org if you want to get in on the action!

Crafty Blogger Link Monday and a view from the top of Griffith Park

I hike in Griffith park and this is the view from the top looking out over the Los Angeles side.

"Industry is the enemy of melancholy"-William Buckley

So I interpret this saying two ways, the first is that looking out over all this "industry" makes me feel good and the other is making something makes me feel good.

Layers Upon Layers
Cyndi has declared that November is "Take a (New) Artist to Lunch Month"! Come and meet extraordinary artists that you probably haven't run into before throughout this whole month!

The Crochet Dude
Drew's new book of crochet patterns called "Designs for Guys" launched on Sunday! Click the link to see photos of the fun in Houston!

The Impatient Crafter™
Madge visits Terri O Radio for a wickedly fun two part interview on inspiration and carving out time for creativity!

About Family Crafts
Take a few minutes to browse through some photos of home-made Thanksgiving cards. You can also submit your own home-made card designs.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen's been busy finishing up some incomplete art pieces using her new favorite art supply, Shiva Oil Paintstiks. Come take a peek and see why Aileen loves them so much!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
What are you thankful for this season? Express and share those blessings in this simple pumpkin painting project!

Cathie Filian
Making your own Thanksgiving centerpiece is not as hard as one might think. Cathie Filian has a few simple ideas that can be made with everything from dried beans to texture paint.

Crafty Princess Diaries
What does The Matrix have to do with crafting? Listen to Morpheus and he will tell you.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Add some flair to your Thanksgiving decor with these free Cross Stitch Patterns.

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside brings you a cornucopia of craftiness this week with free patterns for Sweater Surgery Ornaments, the author schedule for Felt Club, a bunch of pretty designs from 1000 Jewelry Inspirations, a tutorial on how to unspin and incorporate scrap yarn to knit up a wild scarf, a call to share your opinions for a new book and a pumpkin cheesecake recipe.

Recycled Upcycled Sweater Napkin rings

First I want to share with you this cool video that goes with my latest favorite song. Music to upcycle by:



So here is the sweater "before" it went under the knife, well in this case under the rotary cutter.
I cut strips about 1 3/4 inches wide by about 6 inches long more or less centering the embroidery. You can really make them any size around that. Then with matching thread I sewed up the ends. This is so easy even kids could do it. If you didn't find a sweater with a motif already embroidered on it you could embroider or needle or wet felt your own design. I do recommend embellishing before stitching it into a tube though. I have stitched on a wrist sweat band once and it was a little fussy.
Happy eating!

The Two Plaids and Crafty Blogger Links

In my continuing photo series of plaid shorts, I scored a double with this guy wearing a plaid shirt with his plaid shorts. In a side note that I must share, my grandfather used to wear multiple plaids and it used to drive me crazy when I was a fashion conscious teen. It just wasn't supposed to be done then. This was of course before Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, designers who rock the multiple plaids with such reckless abandon it makes me so happy!

About Family Crafts
Sherri offers several ideas for creatively displaying your child's artwork.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen has an autumn themed digital piece she's created along with a link to freebie images for you to create your own work of art. Enjoy!

Cathie Filian
Win a copy of Bow WOW WOW! and a $100 worth of craft supplies from Plaid - 1 grand prize and 24 other prizes!

Crafty Princess Diaries
You can make any of these super quick jewelry projects just in time for Halloween, seriously, this Halloween! Otherwise, hit the bargain bins at your craft store for the after Halloween sales so you are prepared for next year!

Cross Stitch at About.com
Check out the latest additions to the Stitcher's Photo Album - We've reached a milestone. The first page is now devoted to submitted photos of the free patterns from About.com Cross Stitch.

Layers Upon Layers
Artist Kerry Wilkinson plays with resin in a big way!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside has ghoulish wet felted eyeballs, a crocheted spider web sweater project, crafting with the Chrome Cowgirl, and announcing Quarry Publishing is sponsoring this year's Holiday Felt Club in Los Angeles with special appearances, signings and make & takes with authors, Angela Cartwright, The Crafty Chica, Lisa Sonora Beam and Stefanie Girard.

The Impatient Crafter™
Join Madge for part two of her gothically delicious free Halloween project. The Invitation.