Sweater Surgery

How to crochet a chain silver lame bracelet

2012-01-26T14:01:00.000-08:00

I am a BIG fan of making something that is generally made out of one material out of something completely unconventional and unexpected and that is just the project that I fell in love with from the book Crocheted and Stitched Jewelry.

In Crocheted and Stitched Jewelry there is a crocheted chain necklace. I just had to make some crocheted chain! Off to the stash and I found some Lion Brand Silver Lame Metallic Yarn and I went with a size F hook.

I followed the basic stitch pattern and construction in Crocheted and Stitched Jewelry but I made a bracelet.

Confession: I actually brought this project to a meeting and I whipped this bracelet together in 2 hours!

I love it! I will most definitely be making more of these!

If you like making crocheted and stitched jewelry too then I bet you will love:
Handmade at Home: Crocheted and Stitched Jewelry
by
Emi Iwakiri

"Crocheted and Stitched Jewellery is part of a brand new series of craft titles from CICO. Beautifully packaged as a jacketed paperback and printed on woodfree paper, this series brings you a number of popular crafts at a very affordable price. Using traditional Japanese crochet techniques, Emi Iwakiri shows you how to create these adorable designs that include ribbons, beads, bows and even scraps from your sewing box. There are stunning ideas here to suit every occasion, from a classic cream silk pearl necklace to a vintage-style crocheted flower necklace. Try making a luxurious beaded collar to add a touch of glamour to any outfit, an elegant linen flower to wear in your hair or as a corsage or a fun, multi-coloured pompom bracelet for a modern, striking look. Whether you want to create original jewellery for yourself or to give as presents, you are sure to love Emi’s gorgeous Japanese designs. And once you have mastered her simple basic techniques, you will be able to create your own bespoke pieces in no time."

How to make an origami Easter bunny paper garland

2012-01-19T15:33:00.001-08:00

Yes, I know it's not even Valentine's Day yet but when I spotted the origami bunny tutorial in Wild and Wonderful Origami: 35 of Your Favorite Wild Animals to Fold in and Instant I just had to try it out right away! So I did. And then I did some more....and well let's just say I made origami bunnies like bunnies make bunnies!
I used some scrap pink, light blue and light green paper and got so good at these cuties I was walkin' around making them. I decided instead of drawing faces on these guys (the paper that comes with this book is pre-printed with the cute details) but since I made so many...well I thought I'd just draw but then I thought about using a tiny pom pom for the nose.

Well, when I started to play with the placement of the pom pom it looked more like the tail! So these little bunnies are bunnies from the back or front either way I think they are just too darn cute.

To turn them into a garland I threaded a piece of pastel thick thread onto a needle and stitched through each of the ears mixing up the colors of the bunnies.

If you too like to fold your fun then I bet you will love the Cico book:
Wild and Wonderful Origami: 35 of Your Favorite Wild Animals to Fold in and Instant
by
Mari Ono and Roshin Ono

"Make your own origami zoo with Mari and Roshin Ono's collection of amazing animals. Whether you love cute and cuddly animals like the baby bear and the cheeky monkeys, or are friends with the feathered variety, you are sure to go wild for any of the 35 innovative designs. There are four great chapters explaining how to really bring your paper to life. Animal Fun has classic designs like the crane and fox, while Safari takes its inspiration from the Serengeti with projects for zebras, giraffes, lions and more. Next is Sea World, home to ocean dwellers including the dolphin, sea turtle and even a blowfish, and the Forest chapter has ideas to transform your paper into a tree-dwelling owl or squirrel. Every project comes with simple step-by-step instructions and clear photographs, as well as helpful arrows showing you where to fold. Each design has also been given a skill rating, so start with a simple one and once you've mastered that move on to something a bit more challenging. 50 specially designed pieces of origami paper are included with the book, meaning you can start folding right away."

Family hand outlines commemorative aprons

2012-01-16T14:30:00.000-08:00

I was with lots of family over the holidays and I wanted to commemorate all that togetherness. I had 2 aprons that were promo items from some trade show and I thought they would make a great surface for everyone to trace their hand on.

I painted in the logo a bit so it wasn't quite as much of an advertising piece but left some showing. I brought a couple of packs of Elmer's Paint Markers for everyone to use. I think they all got a little of their creativity going and had fun.

And here's some more crafty goodness for ya!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a bit of Valentine inspiration, tutorials on how to face paint dragon and hydrangea masks, ideas and inspiration from Manga artist Melanie Schober and a recipe for coconut veggie muffins.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Eileen shows how to make a lovely flowered bolster pillow to dress up a room.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi's marbled fabric quilt is hurling towards completion!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Learn how to make a recycled sheer curtain flower fascinator.

About Family Crafts
Play along with the current craft challenge. Make a craft or two using CD cases and submit them!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how she repurposed a cardboard drink carrier into something beautiful using her new toy a Sizzix BIGKick.

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess shows what she has in the works on her hooks and needles.

RockPaperInk
Class Valedictorian: Modern Dog; Seattle Washington, USA

How to make a recycled curtain flower fascinator

2012-01-12T10:33:00.000-08:00

Light blue is one of my favorite colors and when I received a Whimsey box to find the most beautiful shade of light blue DecoArt SoSoft Fine Glitter Fabric Paint nestled in with all the other goodies I new that was what I needed to play with first. So off to the new book Handmade at Home: Button and Bead Jewelry for a bit of inspiration. This recycled curtain flower fascinator is what I came up with. I think it came out pretty darn purdy!
This pretty chiffon flower necklace featured in the book Handmade at Home was my inspiration. It just so happens to be in the same color as my DecoArt Glitter paint from the Whimsey box! All I needed was some flowers. Easy enough with an old curtain and my Sizzix die cutter.
I painted the fabric flowers rather sparsely and rather haphazardly to give them a dimensional look.
To make then actually dimensional I stitched them together as you can see starting from the back and ending on the front ready for the next layer.

When I had all the flower layers together I stitched the bead onto the top center and secured the bead and layers together with an additional stitch. All that was left to do was a few stitches to the headband.

If making pretty jewelry from buttons, beads and fabric is your style then I bet you will love:
Button and Bead Jewelry: 25 Step-By-Step Projects
by
Deborah Schneebell-Morrell

More about the book from the publisher Cico Books:

"Bring to life the undiscovered treasures of your sewing box. Handmade at Home: Button and Bead Jewelry is an essential guide to creating stunning, fashionable jewelry. Craft author Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell shows you how by using a wide variety of materials, from chiffon and lace to copper and moonstone, as well as scraps from past projects, you can make any number of contemporary, eye-catching pieces, each with your own unique twist. Whatever your standard, the 25 delightful projects and variations - from a ribbon choker with velvet flowers to linen heart brooches - will help you make the most of your sewing box. Whether you want to make practical, fun, everyday items or intricate, stylish designs, there is a range of projects to suit your tastes. Complete with step-by-step photographs, helpful explanations of techniques and a comprehensive list of materials, Button and Bead Jewelry will help you on your way to creating exquisite pieces in no time."

Happy 2012!

2012-01-10T11:38:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a fun New Year's Eve celebration! Mine was a trifecta of light. Fire, blue Christmas lights and the moon.

And later the Universal Studios Fireworks to make it a four-pete!

What's with all my sports terms?????

Your Grandmother's Crafts
These ARE your grandmother's crafts. Ya gotta problem with that? I didn't think so.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is fun idea for using a pretty teacup as a doll dress from the new book Creative Pilgrimage, tutorials on how to embroider a backstitch chain and a cable chain, fitting info on different types of pants and a recipe for raw ice box chocolate chip cookies.

Mixed Media Artist
The plans for Cyndi's new marbled fabric quilt are coming together!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Make some Retrofabulous Pulp Fiction Thank You Cards!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Add beautiful kaleidoscope effects to your hand made cards with iris folded designs.

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess shows you how to get cozy with your favorite cup of tea.

Craft. You.
Meet the man behind TV host and mid-century modern lifestyle expert Brini Maxwell.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi starts off her year by experimenting with nylon wire mesh...a medium really new to her!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how she created a patinated copper steampunk necklace using paper!

RockPaperInk
Waste not, Want not: The science and practice of sustainable design

How to re-make old shoes into glitter-tastic new ones

2011-12-19T10:29:00.000-08:00

Shoes are most definitely my latest favorite thing to customize, alter and otherwise remake. I took my inspiration for this redo from the fabulous new book Sweat Shop Paris: Lessons from a Sewing Cafe.
This is what the shoes looked like before their transformation, plain dark brown but the folds offered a great way to divide up the space and use different colors.

How I altered the shoes:
I painted several coats of Plaid's Extreme Glitter paint onto the different sections of the shoes. I used red and black.
Then I die cut 4 pairs of scissors out of some silver Mylar making sure I did them in mirror images for the right and left shoes using the Cuttlebug scissor die. One set went on the toes and the other on the outside ankle area.
To glue the scissor on I used Tacky Glue and a toothpick.
Then all that was left to do was add a few coats of Crafty Chica Glossy Gloss Varnish to give them that glitter patten leather look and protect the scissors.

If you are a fan of the "redo" I bet you will live this beautiful and inspiring book!
More about the book from the publisher Andrews McMeel Universal:
Sweat Shop Paris: Lessons from a Sewing Cafe
by
Martena Dusss and Sissi Holleis

Sweat Shop Paris: Lessons from a Sewing Cafe brings the namesake Paris Sweat Shop founded by Martena Duss and Sissi Holleis to North America with more than 50 DIY fashion and home projects, including instructions and more than 200 helpful, inspiring full-color photographs. The first "cafe couture" sewing shop in Paris, the Sweat Shop was named to highlight the questionable nature in which store-bought clothing is sometimes made. Instead of rewarding dubious labor practices, the Sweat Shop and The Sweat Shop Book inspire crafters to make something unique with their own sweat equity and creativity.

Crafters meet at the cafe and share ideas while renting equipment by the hour. In addition, classes teach novices how to sew, knit, crochet, and much more.

In March 2010, Martena Duss and Sissi Holleis opened the Sweat Shop, the first sewing cafe in Paris, near the trendy boutiques of Canal St. Martin. Duss is a Swiss makeup artist. Holleis is from Austria, where she had her own fashion store and label. In addition to carving a niche in Parisian society, the Sweat Shop has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Elle, the New York Times, Le Monde, the Guardian, and Marie Claire.

Christmas tree ornament chain link fence decoration

2011-12-18T12:02:00.000-08:00

Back at 4th July time I made an American flag with Christmas ornaments on my chain link gate well did you think I would let my gate go unadorned at Christmas? No sir-e!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a double giveaway featuring books and Styrofoam shapes along with tutorials and patterns for Christmas painting and knitting along with a recipe for vegan nut butter dip and some adorable photos of our newest Amineko.

Rock Paper Ink

Until Covered in Ink Do Us Part

Lindsay Sews
With the holiday ornament swap complete, you can check out photos of the lovely handmade ornaments--including bacon!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge turns some styrofoam and sparkly things into a Retrofabulous Suzy Snowflake Snowlady!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make a yarn ball and dpn Christmas tree.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how she took pre made cards and embellished them to make her own Christmas cards she mailed out this year..

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi enters the Friendship Bracelet world and learns a thing or two.

Craft Buds
Turn that old wool sweater into a personalized keepsake. Learn how to make a monogram sweater ornament, embellished with jingle bells.

Craft. You.
Meet Jenny Barnett-Rohrs of Craft Test Dummies this week on Craft. You.!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy is able to spill the beans about a new jewelry business adventure she is exploring.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
"Santa Claus is coming to town." Are you ready for The Artful Crafter's annual Christmas Parade of Crafts?

Rorschach's new Christmas sweater and his yarn ball Christmas tree

2011-12-15T12:22:00.000-08:00

Rorschach Amineko got a wonderful Christmas sweater from one of our best friends. I think he looks positively adorable in it. I mean really don't all cats look cute in sweaters, especially crazy Christmas ones! Here he is posing in front of his favorite Christmas tree in the house.

It's made from his mom's stash of green balls of yarn and dpns (double pointed needles). All I did was make a base of yarn and then stack each layer on top of the first securing the balls with the dpns.

And it seemed appropriate to top off this yarn ball tree with a tiny knit sweater.

I do love using my craft supplies in their natural state to make decorations. It will be super easy to dismantle and store back in the boxes as nothing was damaged. If you need to make yourself an Amineko check out this post that features the book I used to make Roy.

Funny headline and product combo from the grocery store check out line

2011-12-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

OK does anyone else think that this drink is the perfect beverage to read this article?

If only what we read was true.

Craft Buds
Create H.O.P.E. Designs is making a world of difference through sewing patterns, and Mary stitches up the A+ Art Portfolio.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a fun new video on how to tint gesso with pastels by Traci Bunkers, tutorials on how to draw Christmas trees and poinsettias, tips on cleaning glassware and a yummy recipe for vegan maple bacon doughnuts.

Craft. You.
This week on Craft. You.: Heather Mann of Dollar Store Crafts.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Here's a post about remembering the December birthdays!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen not only offers you a fantabulous Glitzy bleached Christmas tree project but also a giveaway on her blog this week!

About Family Crafts
Play along with the current craft challenge and submit an angel craft or two.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy takes a look at a craft book packed full of projects.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Do you know about yarn bombing? Whimsical hand knit and crocheted art is circling the globe!

Lindsay Sews
He's cute and cuddly, and you can sew him with just one yard of fabric. Take a peek at Hugh Manatee from the new book, Fabric-by-Fabric: One-Yard Wonders.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
It's a video! It's two craft projects with instructions! It's RETROFABULOUS! Yay!

Mixed Media Artist
If you've still got any autumn leaves available, here's a pretty idea for using them up!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Learn how to make a recycled sweater wreath with a candy style bow.

Rock Paper Ink
Jay Calderin discusses getting a handle(bar) on trends.

How to make a recycled sweater with a peppermint candy style bow wreath

2011-12-05T09:26:00.000-08:00

My first Christmas wreath of the season. If the wind keeps up here and I have to keep picking up tree dabris it might just be the only one! But it sure came out cute.
I was inspired by this post over at Fave Crafts Blog where there was a sock craft roundup. One of the projects was a wreath made of socks that was adorable! Well as the mistress of sweater surgery my go to material is the almighty sweater so off to the sweater stash!
While not a conventional Christmas color combo I thought this striped sweater would look kinda cool.
How I made my recycled wool felted sweater wreath;

I cut the sleeves off the sweater and up the seam.
I simply whip stitched the sweater strips onto a Styrofoam wreath base. The stitches don't show so it doesn't matter what they look like! I wanted it to be a little more scrunchy so I cut another strip of the sweater from the back as well. So in total it was 3 sections.
To make the candy style bow. I cut 2 strips of the stripes. One was 3 wide with the dark color on the outside and one was 3 stripes wide with the dark stripe on the inside with the two light blue on the outside. Then I folded them in half and coiled them up. This made the center candy part.
To make the "wrapper" side pieces I cut the ribbing section from the base of the sweater and did a running (gather) stitch. I bit of hot glue was used to attach them to the sides of the candy and then onto the wreath.

Win a copy of Sweater Surgery and 9 other great books and yarn

2011-12-04T11:16:00.000-08:00

Pop on over to This post at Craftside and get yourself in the running 3 ways to have a chance to win a copy of Sweater Surgery and 9 other sewing, felting, knitting and crochet books along with a whole bunch of yarn and supplies!

Also at Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
there is a free knit stocking pattern with monograms, a whole bunch of cool gift topper tutorials, how to embellish antique gift tins and a recipe for Asian turkey and rice soup.

Craft. You.
It's hectic around the holidaze, don't forget to take a moment to enjoy and exhale. Zuzu's Petals.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Displaying an art collection is a craft too!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you a blinged out Dollar store ornament transformation!

About Family Crafts
Share your homemade gift stories, whether they are good, bad, or ugly! You can also read other people's stories.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a recycled die cut sweater Christmas tree.

Mixed Media Artist
Handmade decorations and ornaments help to make the season bright!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Need a craftacular gift for the holiday season? Fret not, Madge has got you covered!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Do you craft for profit – or would you like to? Here are some tips for reaching your target market.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy gives you some tips for finding fun and yarn friendly project bags.

How to make a recycled sweater Christmas tree from Sizzix die cut flowers

2011-11-28T13:49:00.000-08:00

My Christmas mugs gaze adoringly at the latest recycled sweater Christmas tree to join the forest. This one had it's inspiration during the same craft show that the recycled sweater flower pumpkin did.
It's super easy to make. I die cut all the different sizes and shapes of Sizzix flowers I had out of all different shades of green recycled wool felted sweaters. I then stacked them up from biggest to smallest mixing up the shapes and colors.

I ran a bit of floral wire bent in half like a bobby pin from the top to the bottom and twisted it to secure the layers. Then I simply attached the bead with a silver tipped straight pin.

Double the Sweater Surgery crafty goodness

2011-11-14T10:08:00.000-08:00

I did an event at the Burbank Library where attendees made recycled wool felted sweater flower rings with me and these twin girls were just so darn cute! They just cracked me up.

If crafting puts a smile on your face too, check out what my fellow crafters are up to:

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Retrofabulous Christmas Craftabration returns to The Impatient Crafter Blog! Madge makes a retro inspired upcycled gift box!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a tutorial on how to cut and lay a recycled end grain wood floor, a tip on how to cut tissue paper easier, a recipe for vegan white and milk chocolate and some wild crochet designs.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Learn how to crochet a cute striped Christmas tree skirt.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi decides to make a companion piece to the hand-painted and stitched silk quilt she just finished. Time to get painting again!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi shares a second Humphrey the Elephant 3D card.

Craft. You.
An inspiring interview with Crafty Mastermind Mark Montano!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy shares a hand-made gift that someone else makes that is perfect for pet lovers.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
See how to make a tubular wine bottle tote from a cardboard mailing tube.

How to crochet a Christmas tree skirt

2011-11-10T14:21:00.000-08:00

My Halloween decorations aren't even all packed up yet and back in the rafters of the garage and I am already pulling down the Christmas trees! Oy! That's just the way it goes when you get inspired to make something. Today it's a crocheted Christmas tree skirt. I was savoring the pages of the new book Stashbuster Knits: Tips, Tricks, and 21 Beautiful Projects for Using Your Favorite Leftover Yarn and the page you see above has this cool jacket with a circular back and as the book title states it's made from the almighty stash (of which this fiber fanatic has in abundance!)

And the part of my stash I've been savoring and has been calling to me the loudest to work with is Vickie Howell's Sheepish yarn.
How to crochet this Striped Christmas tree skirt:
Gather your yarn and hook (I used a Boye "H" as the yarn indicated)

Note: I made it this way because I might use it with different little Christmas trees I have and some of them don't have removable legs so I wanted to be able to open it up as far as I needed to.
(This photo is of single crochet thought the back loop)
I did this because I think the stripes looked smoother this way.

-Chain 10 (or as many as you need to fit around the base of the tree you think you plan to use it with).

-Cut the end of the yarn and pull through the last loop.
-Tie a bow with the tail from the end and the tail from the beginning.
-Pick your next color yarn and starting at the beginning again 2 single crochets in the back of the first loop.
-Work single crochets around the chain doing 2 stitches in one stitch every few stitches to increase. (Note I don't count I just go with it to keep it flat by eye)
-Do 2 single crochets in the last loop, cut the yarn and pull through the last loop to secure. Tie a bow with the tails.
-That's pretty much it my crochet peeps! Just keep going until you have the size you want.

If you know what tree you are using and it has removable legs you don't have to tie each row together like I did to keep it able to be opened and adjustable.

Another thing I should note here, yes, this book is a knitting book but it is so pretty and inspirational I just happen to prefer when I am working in the round doing it in crochet.

More about the book from Potter Craft:
Stashbuster Knits: Tips, Tricks, and 21 Beautiful Projects for Using Your Favorite Leftover Yarn
by
Melissa Leapman

"This is the latest title from popular knitting teacher, designer and author Melissa Leapman. It includes 21 creative projects and ideas to utilise every last piece of yarn in the stash. It features basic techniques, special tips, alternate colour suggestions and guidance on storing your yarn collection. Popular knitting teacher, designer and author Melissa Leapman offers quick, easy and imaginative new projects designed to make use of all the yarn odds and ends every knitter has. From a tiny baby sweater to a lovely striped wrap, "Stashbuster Knits" provides 21 creative projects and ideas to utilise every last piece of yarn in your stash. Projects are organised by yarn weight and use a variety of techniques including lace, cables, colour-blocking, stripes and fair-isle to make items for men, women, children and the home. The book also includes basic knitting techniques, special tips, alternate colour suggestions and guidance on storing and organising your yarn collection."

Funny sewing machine shot from Maker Faire

2011-11-07T12:58:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd share this fun sewing machine shot from the Swap-o-rama section at the last Maker Faire.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a tutorial on how to sunprint with paint on fabric, how to identify torch flames, a recipe for vegan white and milk chocolate and how to design the size and shape of your eyebrows.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has used some low-tech tools to make some fun printed pieces of silk for a future project.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a recycled zipper ring.

About Family Crafts
This current craft challenge is all about vacations. Do you have a vacation related craft you can submit?

Aileen's Musings
Aileen had a phenomenon happen while creating mini star ornaments from some microwave clay.

Cindy Gimbrone Beads
Cindy tries her hand at right angle weave and reviews Stitch Workshop: Right-Angle Weave published by Kalmach Books.

Craft Buds
Paper crafters can enter to win an Epic Letterpress Combo Kit (through 11/8) and learn how to make a fall wreath using this versatile machine.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy reviews a new book out called Craft Activism and gives you the inside scoop about how you can read the first chapter for free.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Here’s how to use 3D clay accents to make your decoupage projects pop.

How to make a recycled zipper ring

2011-11-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

My inspiration comes from a weird place today. These are characters from Sony's LittleBigPlanet. They have little zippers on them and I just thought I needed to make a new piece of recycled zipper jewelry.
So out came an old pair of jeans that I actually use when I felt a sweater so they really don't need their zipper and the seam ripper.
I used a piece of 20 gauge wire about 10 inches long and wrapped the wire through the zipper on each side of the pull. Then simply wrapped one end around all four pieces of wire on the side of the zipper pull that the zipper would come out of when it's together. The other end of the wire only gets wrapped around the other single wire so the "separated side" stays separate.

I am now going to go through some more of my old cloths to see if I can find some other zipper pulls to make more bling!

Happy Halloween from the meat skull

2011-10-31T10:56:00.000-07:00

Yup this skull is made of meat! Pretty cool hu?
What else is cool are these links that my fellow crafty bloggers have to share!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to needle felt a bat and a pumpkin with a cute mouse, an early recycled sweater Christmas tree designed with the new Sizzix die, a chance to win a copy of How to Draw Steampunk, how to build garden row covers, a reportage video and a recipe for a fast fruity skillet cake.

Aileen's Musings
Hard to believe but Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Aileen is gearing up by offering you a freebie pumpkin biscotti recipe card and a pumpkin label for you to download and print for your own use.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi creates one special Christmas card using rubber stamps and paint.

Cindy Gimbrone Beads
Cindy and her blue fingers review The Handbook of Metal Clay.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Combine some basic crochet skills with soap collecting for this charity donation idea.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Rather than stashing your mom’s jewelry away to tarnish and gather dust, combine some of your favorite pieces into a M.O.M.s (Memories of Mom) necklace.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi's hand stitched silk top quilt is all finished! Whew!!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a secret window in a glitter decoupaged book with a Fiskars Everywere Punch.

How to make a secret window in a Glitter decoupaged book with a Fiskars Everywhere Punch

2011-10-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

You know how I love new tools! Today's new toy is the Fiskars Everywhere punch. This paper punch will make a square anywhere you want!
I decided to try it out by making a secret window in a book. The Fiskars Everywhere punch worked like a dream! I punched about 3 pages at a time and I was done in a flash.
The outside of my secret hiding place book (or I was thinking this would be a fun way to give a small gift item like one of my shotgun shell necklaces) needed some help!

I flipped through the book Encaustic Workshop: Artistic Techniques for Working with Wax and saw this page featuring these leaf skeletons and I happen to have a pack of them.

I know this book is all about encaustic but some of the ideas work for decoupage which is what I did with some Plaid Extreme Glitter Paint.

I used both black and gold. I put down an irregular coat of each first. Then another coat of gold. While the 3rd coat of gold was still wet I pressed the skeleton leaves into it and topped it off with a 4th coat of gold.

I have a few other books that will have a "window of opportunity" soon!

More about the book from North Light Books:
Encaustic Workshop: Artistic Techniques for Working with Wax
by
Patricia B. Seggebruch

Find out what happens when mixed media meets melted medium

In its purest form, encaustic painting is as simple as applying melted beeswax to an absorbent surface. In Encaustic Workshop, it becomes much more: a dynamic medium where anything goes and the possibilities are endless.

Packed with step-by-step techniques, helpful tips and diverse examples of completed works, Encaustic Workshop brings all the accessibility and excitement of a mixed-media workshop to your own workspace. If you're a beginner, you'll find everything you need to know to get started. If you're a more advanced crafter or fine artist, you'll discover things you never knew you could do with encaustic.

Instructions and photos will guide you as you learn to:

Apply, layer, color and carve wax to create artwork rich with texture and depth.
Create collages that combine encaustic with papers, fabric, found objects, image transfers and more.
Experiment with charcoal, inks, watercolors, pastels and other mediums to create unexpected effects in the wax.

Then, complete step-by-step projects and an extensive inspirational gallery will show you how you can combine the techniques you've learned to create more complex works.

Sign your creativity up for this Encaustic Workshop - then just melt, paint and play!

A graduate of the University of Colorado, Patricia Seggebruch has been painting in water media, oil and encaustic for about twelve years. She has been teaching workshops at retreats (such as the enormously popular Artfest) since 1998, and she conducts demonstrations for Daniel Smith in Seattle/Bellevue, for ArtMedia in Portland, and for Ampersand Art Supply in Austin, Texas.

The old saying, "running around like a chicken with its head cut off" photo

2011-10-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

Photo du jour that makes me giggle. A friend of mine has a fun little flock of chickens and I felt like I was running around with my head cut off trying to photograph them! This shot made me think of the saying about chickens with their heads cut off because you can't see her head. But rest assured she had a cute one fully intact.

Not onto some cute crafty links!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a blanket stitched felted flower pattern and tutorial, a chance to win a copy of The Wine Lover's Devotional, some high fashion clothing details, and a recipe for an oven smoked roast.

Aileen's Musings
Herm and Ethel have arrived for their annual visit. Stop by and say hi and grab this year's freebie Halloween postcards to download and send to friends and family.

About Family Crafts
The current craft challenge is all about crafting with plastic bags. Submit your project and browse through the pumpkin projects submitted for the last craft challenge.

Cindy Gimbrone Beads
Cindy reviews Craft Activism just in time for Make a Difference Day!

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess takes a trip and talks a little about the benefits of attending functions away from home.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Got tea lights? Look at this darling mini birthday cake favor you can make with them. You’ll find directions for a coordinating birthday card as well.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi's painted silk fabric quilt is almost finished!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make a recycled wool sweater pumpkin with flower die cuts.

About Family Crafts
The current craft challenge is all about crafting with plastic bags. Submit your project and browse through the pumpkin projects submitted for the last craft challenge.

How to make a recycled wool sweater pumpkin with flower die cuts

2011-10-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

This project came about in kind of a funny way. So you get the story first then the tutorial.
I was recently at a craft show that let's just say had a bit of a slow start. I don't know how many of you, my Sweater Surgery readers do craft shows as vendors but if you do then I bet you have participated in a slow one here and there. Well I first did what the teenage girls were doing across the way and started texting like fiend to everyone I could think of to come to the show.

Then I said to myself, "I am sitting here with a pile of wool felted sweaters and my Sizzix die cutter. Get off your but and make stuff!" So that is exactly what I did.
I cut a whole bunch of flower shapes using all the different flower dies I had out of two different orange sweaters and stacked them up in a pumpkin shape.
To secure the stack of flowers I bent a piece of floral wire into a "u" shape and poked it through the stack from the bottom to the top. I twisted the wire together and trimmed one end short and left the other about 3/4 of an inch long to put a small piece of green sweater over to form the pumpkin stem.

The recycle wool felted sweater pumpkin is crocheted eyeball approved.

This is how we celebrate our Birthdays

2011-10-17T15:51:00.000-07:00

This is my birthday twin Amanda (left) and the Mommy who made her Lori on the right dancin' with fire! When we say we're on fire, we really mean it!

They were awesome.

But now there's crafting to do!

Craft Buds
Pick up some free Halloween printables at Craft Buds, including subway art and a cut-and-assemble Halloween banner for your mantle. While you're there, you can look for the easy fabric pumpkins tutorial, and get your home ready for fall!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy shows the results of doubling up on yarn to make a loom hat using school colors.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Here’s a quick and easy tutorial for making vintage-look bottle vases.

Lindsay Sews
Modern quilters unite to host the 12 Days of Christmas Sample Quilt Along. Each block will be different, and with only two blocks per week for 6 weeks, it's easy to join in! Get your fabric ready, because it kicks off in two weeks.

Mixed Media Artist
Piecing the top of a hand-painted silk quilt is like doing a giant puzzle!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Free crochet tiny ghost pattern.

About Family Crafts
Looking for a fun Halloween gift for your neighbors? Check out these fun ideas that will have you ringing the door bell and running!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a chance to win a copy of the book The Art of Vintage Journaling and Collage with a tutorial on how to make a rock collage paperweight, a link to enter to win 12 design books along with quotes and eye-candy from Quilt Hall of Fame inductee Nancy Crow and the book Design Matters.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shares a couple of holiday Artist Trading Blocks she created for a swap. Don't know what an ATB is? Stop by and check them out!

Carmi's Art/Life World
A sweet pop out card featuring a rubber stamp launch from the Crafter's Companion is this week's special post.

How to crochet tiny ghosts for Halloween

2011-10-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

Tiny ghosts are just a little spooky, well really they are just darn cute.
I was inspired to crochet these tiny ghosts after seeing these great knit ones featured in the book Teen-Tiny Mochimochi: More Than 40 Itty-Bitty Minis to Knit, Wear, And Give.

When making dimensional projects out of yarn I prefer to crochet, but that's just me. If you like to knit little adorable things than grab yourself a copy of Teen-Tiny Mochimochi: More Than 40 Itty-Bitty Minis to Knit, Wear, And Give and you'll be in cute heaven!

If you like to crochet and want to make some tiny ghosts like mine here is how I did it:

Crochet Ghost Pattern:

I used Lion Wool-Ease White Multi 301 (it has a strand of sparkle in it)
and for a hook I went down a from the suggested size of J to an I

As far as the pattern it's more like a suggestion as each ghost can be a little different and free form as ghosts tend to be, I know this!

Chain 2
Single crochet 8 into the first loop
Slip stitch to join
Single crochet around increasing approximately every 2nd or 3rd stitch until you have a nice dome shape and there are at about 14 stitches.
Then I did about 4 rows with no increasing or decreasing.

For the final row to get an irregular edge I alternated 2 treble crochets in one stitch and then a slip stitch around the base.

For the eyes I grabbed some black yarn and knotted it twice to make each little eye and stitched each one on.

Repeat to make a set, because you know one is not enough!

My crocheted eyeballs look on in admiration :)

More about the book from Potter Craft:

Teen-Tiny Mochimochi: More Than 40 Itty-Bitty Minis to Knit, Wear, And Give

by
Anna Hrachovec

"This title is suitable for advanced beginner to intermediate-level knitters who want fun, witty, irresistibly tiny patterns to make as gifts for friends, cute accessories and decorative items. In "Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi", toy knits designer Anna Hrachovec presents more than 30 super-cute, humorous patterns for miniature toys, plus techniques for tiny knitting; ideas for using the tiny knits as wearables, decorations and gifts; and instructions on how to convert a pattern for a tiny project into a bigger toy.

Anna Hrachovec launched Mochimochi Land (mochimochiland.com), a website and brand of knitted toy patterns, in early 2007. To design her toys, Anna draws inspiration from Japanese kawaii (cute) culture and children's illustrators such as Dr. Seuss. Her original knitted creations have been featured on The Martha Stewart Show and have been exhibited in galleries in New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Tokyo. In addition to her website, Anna maintains a blog (mochimochiland.com/weblog) and a Ravelry group for her fans (Mochimochi Land Lovers). Anna's first book of knitted toy patterns, Knitting Mochimochi, was published in 2010."

Pipe cleaner skeletons just hangin' out

2011-10-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

These little pipe cleaner skeletons just make me smile. They were made by my friend Bev of the infamous StarPrompt! Pop on over to her site for a giggle and a listen to her on American Public Radio.

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a crochet cone flower granny square pattern, how to make a mood board and chance to win a copy of the book One Drawing a Day that it's from and a recipe for slow cooker vegan pizza.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi messes around with the layout for a new quilt made from hand-painted silks.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Did you know that you can recycle greeting cards into cute little gift boxes?

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy takes a look at a crochet book that promises simple projects.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a cricut cartridge give-a-way this week!

Aileen's Musings
This week Aileen shows you how to make a frightful Halloween mail art tin.

How to make a recycled milk jug movable Halloween skeleton

2011-10-05T18:16:00.000-07:00

This makes my 3rd skeleton/skull project this year. I guess it's this year's theme.
He is most assuredly not scary. And I didn't plan this but I wired him up onto my screen door and then after photographing it I closed the door and look he peeks in through the window looking like he's sayin' hey!
All you need is a recycled milk jug and the Sizzix movable skeleton die. I used a bit of wire and seed beads to attach the joints together.
I think I will make another one that is going to get a bow!

Happy Halloween Spider Web crochet skirt finished!

2011-10-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Last year I posted the almost finished crocheted spider web skirt pattern and yup, I finished in time to wear it this year! Here is a fun photo my friend Maria took of me in my spider web skirt hamming it up for the camera holding a giant pair of scissors she scored on Ebay!

A side note I will confess I had to tear the house apart to find the tiny zip lock baggie the little ball of yarn, hook and almost completed skirt was in. Because where do you keep your Halloween unfinished crochet projects? In with all the Halloween decorations? No. In your "works in process" area? No. I finally found it in the drawer I keep projects I have written about already. These are the done ones but I must have thought I would finish it sometime during the year. Go figure.

OK now onto craftastic links!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a chance to win a copy of Modern Calligraphy and Hand Lettering by Lisa Engelbrecht, two ways to position a patch pocket, a cool finger print poster, an eye dropper drawing tutorial and how to nalbind from the book Knitting Around the World.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi's got a rack full of freshly painted fabrics, and she knows how to use 'em!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Learn how to make a recycled #6 plastic shrunk skull necklace.

About Family Crafts
Do you have a fun and fabulous collage idea? Share it!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi had new 3D rose cards to showcase this week.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Don't be a wash out! Learn to make a simple crochet wash cloth with this free pattern you can download as a pdf file.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Eileen had fun learning how to create fine art with Photoshop.

How to make a #6 recycled plastic skull Halloween necklace

2011-09-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

I have more recycled plastic skull Halloween goodness for you today! This time I am recycling #6 plastic!
That's what the little clear skull is made of. Did you know that #6 plastic shrinks when you heat it? I picked up this fun fact on another recycled crafter's blog who lives in another country where getting Shrinky Dink (brand name) supplies can be difficult. I wish I still had the link to her blog but I alas have lost it!
I started out by cutting the flat part of takeout container down to the size that would fit through the Sizzix die cutter using the Skull and Cross bones die. I punched two holes to join the top and bottom half and one in the top center to attach to the necklace before heating and shrinking with my Marvy Heat gun.I used a bamboo skewer to hold the shrinking plastic in place and help it not stick to each other when curling.
Off to the stash for the rest of the necklace. I used a Plaid Chain Chain Chain over-sized clasps and one of their Flavor bows along with some old white chain reclaimed from an old necklace.

There you have it, recycled plastic Skull 2 of Halloween 2011!

How to make recycled milk jug skulls for Halloween

2011-09-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

These cute little skulls are made from a recycled plastic milk jug run through the Sizzix die cutter with the Skull & Crossbones die.
All I did was cut a flat side from the milk jug and run it through the machine. Then punched two sets of tiny holes to wire the jaw to the top of the head and one hole to hang it from. I just wired it together and then to my screen door. As I empty each milk jug I will make more and add them.

Los Angeles Double Rainbow

2011-09-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles just doesn't do things small. When we do rainbows, we don't do just one, we do two!

So I thought I'd share them with you along with the crafty goodness from around the blog world:

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a chance to win a copy of the new book Unstuck by Noah Scalin with a fun eyeball photography idea, stylin' earplug earrings, and how to freeze eggs.

Cindy Gimbrone Beads
Bead Vegan is an occasional post where Cindy the beadmaker posts some of her vegan recipes. This one is inspired by the flavors of India.

Craft Buds
It's all about sewing for little guys this week on Craft Buds, where we've interviewed the authors of the new book "Sewing for Boys" and gave one of their projects a test drive. Also check out the roundup of sewing apps for iPhone and Android users.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy shows how she made a cat tube using a knitting loom.

Cross Stitch at Craft Gossip
Connie's tracked down a favorite designer just in time for Halloween cuteness!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
How to make an easy candle decoration in a jiffy.

Mixed Media Artist
Have you ever thought of visiting the automotive store to pick up collage supplies?

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make a recycled book page pumpkin Halloween card.

About Family Crafts
Check out all of these wonderful craft products that help raise money for breast cancer awareness!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi falls in love with an illustrated 550 page children's novel.

How to make a recycled book page Halloween card inspired by The Cloth Paper Scissors Book

2011-09-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year. It's still mostly warm but there is a slight chill in the air and there is plenty of time to make holiday decorations and crafts. Today I made this card with some inspiration from the new book The Cloth Paper Scissors Book.
The design that was my inspiration was by Kelli Nina Perkins where she incorporated pages from books with watercolor painting.
I like to use translation dictionaries and I just happen to have recently scored a Marvy Uchida Halloween set punch that had a cute pumpkin as part of it.
So I punched out the page that had the translation of pumpkin and then I water colored it.
I added the bat as well (it was too cute not to!)

More about the book from Interweave Press:

The Cloth Paper Scissors Book

by
Barbara Delaney

Find out where paint, paper, fabric, metal, and wax all come to play

Uncover the very best articles and projects from the first six years of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. Barbara Delaney, assistant editor for Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, has assembled a gold mine of the top articles, hands-on art pieces, and mixed-media ideas for the first time ever. Explore the exciting worlds of collage, journaling, encaustic, printing, assemblage, metal work, and more. Discover how to make interesting fabric surface designs, keep a uniquely-you sketchbook, and transform a basic photograph into something unexpected. The only rule in this must-have mixed-media resource is that there are no rules.

In addition to projects and techniques, the artists of The Cloth Paper Scissors Book elaborate on their favorite tools and mediums. Choosing and using just the right paint, fabric, paintbrush, glue, paper, wax, found object, and more is made easy for you with this light-hearted guide. The projects inside are suitable for many skill levels, with opportunities for every mixed-media enthusiast to have fun while enhancing their skills and adding a personal touch to their art. If you are new to mixed-media, you will love the accessible and easy-to-learn projects. And if you are already familiar with mixed-media and Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, you will love the convenience of owning so many great articles and art project ideas in one superb collection.

With The Cloth Paper Scissors Book, you'll enjoy the advice and company of the best mixed-media artists in the convenience of your own home.

September 11 Memorial Ride to the Flags- me and awesome sailors at Point Mugu Naval Base

2011-09-13T11:09:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure of participating in the Ride to the Flags on this past 10th anniversary of 9-11.
I think this is my favorite photo of the day where some of this countries finest took a moment for a photo op with me. Thanks to all who serve. I just can't say that enough!
I also took a moment to write a letter to a service person through the great program Operation Gratitude that was there.

A simple thing as a hand written letter can be special.

Anyone who makes things or gets things hand made knows this.

See what my fellow creators are up to:

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a chance to win a copy of the new book by Misty Mawn - Unfurling along with doodling tips, a Plaid Craft TV episode that features me and Steve making a Mod Podge bird house wind chime with a recycled sweater flower, some paint mixing tips and a recipe for watermelon granita.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi pulls out an older collage to revisit a technique that mixes digital and physical aspects.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Learn how to wind a spool of thread for serging with a Deluxe SideWinder.

About Family Crafts
This week's craft challenge is all about making apples. Do you have an apple craft to share?

Aileen's Musings
Still in the spirit of getting ready for Christmas gift making? Aileen offers you a faux hand blown glass ornament tutorial that can easily be adapted for other holidays as well.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi shares new Humphrey the Elephant 3D cards.

Cindy Gimbrone Beads
Feeling like your craft business isn't taking off like you hoped? You might just be a scrub pine. What's a scrub pine? Come find out on Cindy's blog!

Connie Gee's Designs
Connie's making plans for 2012 - find out what projects she is planning to stitch in the coming year. It's always nice to plan ahead.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy attempts to teach loom knitting to her college craft club.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Look at Eileen’s crafty solution to an accident waiting to happen.

How to use a Simplicity Deluxe SideWinder to wind thread for serging

2011-09-06T16:28:00.000-07:00

I've got a fun little "Tool Time" share today. I scored myself a darling red cotton polka dot sundress at the thrift store but it had a ripped hem and anyway it was too long for my liking. So I thought I'd serge the two hems as it had a lining as well.
It worked dreamy but the "Tool Time" aspect I want to share with you is for some reason I only had 2 spools of red serger thread but I do have a handy dandy Simplicity Deluxe SideWinder and a stash of empty thread spools!
As it turns out thread spools fit on the assortment of bobbin holders that come with the Simplicity Deluxe SideWinder. All I had to do was manually with my finger guide the thread up and down the tall spool to load it as it should be.
Worked like a charm at the slow speed!

Wind on.

How to cover an umbrella with a spiral of ruffles

2011-08-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

My coy little bunny peeks out from behind the ruffled covered umbrella to say, "hi!"
I decided I needed a shade umbrella to use in the summer and I thought I'd try dressing up a plain one with some ruffles.

The first step was to cut an old lace curtain into strips. This was super easy with my Simplicity Deluxe Rotary Cutter. I made them different widths starting at about 1.5-3.5 inches. I then just sewed down the center of each strip with a gather stitch (fancy term for the longest stitch length my machine will do).
I started to hot glue the widest ruffle strips at the outer edge of the umbrella and worked my way toward the center in a spiral pattern.
I sported my new set of Cathie Filian's fab new Hot Glue Gun Helpers which are so necessary when working with lace as the hot glue seeps through the holes in the lace!
I used a bit of dress makers chalk to sketch the placement of the ruffles.
I did make a tiny modification to one of my Hot Glue Gun Helpers as I have long fingernails so I cut a tiny slit in the top to let my finger nail pop out. I totally give these Hot Glue Gun Helpers a "thumbs up!"

Cherub and horseshoe photo du jour

2011-08-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

Good luck little angle!

And good luck to all ya'll readers in your crafting!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a tutorial on how to fold an origami mosquito and enter to win a copy of the book Origami 101, how to treat a dog when its overheating, dehydrated and sunburned, some art from Gary Panter, and how to make your own crackers with a dehydrator.

Cindy Gimbrone Beads
Looking for a unique idea to display your handcrafted jewelry? Cindy's here to lend you a hand!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy looks ahead at the school year that is already filling her calendar with oodles of projects and commitments.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Did you love finger painting as a child? Here’s a – sort of – grown-up version you might enjoy.

Mixed Media Artist
Shrink plastic buttons? Yes!! Consider all the possibilities...

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Spooktacular crochet eyeball pattern!

About Family Crafts
Take a moment to read some crafty money saving tips and then take a few more to publish your own!

Aileen's Musings
This week Aileen offers you a fun Altered Cabinet card tutorial and freebie downloads stop by and get inspired to make some fall art!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a new card featuring a sweet elephant!

How to crochet eyeballs with Debbie Stoller's Washable ewe yarn

2011-08-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

One set of eyeballs says to the other,"________________".
I really don't know what they are saying to each other but they do make me laugh.
Is it crazy that I am giving my Halloween decoration eyeballs costumes now? Howdy partner!
If you like my latest set of eyeballs and want to make yourself a set grab a hook and yarn and get crocheting.

I used a size "I" hook and some of the new Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller Washable Ewe Yarn.

This is the general pattern, I'm not really exact about my crochet and I purposefully made my eyeballs slightly different sizes so they would have a bit more personality.

Black yarn:
Chain 1 and then 7 single crochets in first loop. Slip stitch into first stitch.

Change color to iris color:
Single crochet 2 rounds increasing approximately every other stitch to create a dome shape.

Change color to white:
Single crochet for 2 rounds again increase approximately every 2 to 3 stitches.

1 round of single crochet with no increases or decreases.

Single crochet decreasing approximately every 5th stitch until you have a hole about the size of a marble.

Add stuffing and a marble or two.

Finish crocheting and stitch closed.

Read, Craft, Repeat Spooktastically!

Best combo of car quotes from the Los Angeles Freeways

2011-08-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

This is the most awesome photo! This was a big ol' SUV cruzin' up the 5 freeway with Bad Girl emblazoned across the back window in the biggest type that would fit with an 80's "Baby on board" yellow warning sign on the side window. Doesn't this just crack you up??? And I know you're wondering just what the Bad Girl Momma looked like driving this car....we'll let me just say she was quite formidable looking and I would say both signs we're most likely VERY accurate!

OK, now that I've provided you with a moment in time from the mean streets (uh freeways) of Los Angeles onto craft links:

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a fun article all about Jeannine Stein author of Adventures in Bookbinding which you have a chance to win just by leaving a comment in the post, an idea for using an unusual element as a curtain tieback, a bunny poem and how to create a hierarchy and system for type.

Craft Gossip Recycling

Enter to win a Cricut "Fancy Frames" Cartridge.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a Fancy Framed cartoon greeting card.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi shares a post she wrote for John Bead using embossing powders and metal.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy shows off a luxurious new baby afghan made with organic cotton yarn.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Eileen takes a precious amethyst necklace from dull to dramatic.

About Family Crafts
The current make-it-over crafts challenge is all about teaching math using crafts... Come play along!

Beading Arts
The "Mostly Metal" challenge was a great success, many thanks to Michelle Mach! Come and see all the fun pieces that were made.

How to make a framed cartoon greeting card with a Cricut Fancy Frame Die cut

2011-08-17T15:36:00.000-07:00

Do you have a stash of little things cut from magazines and newspapers like I do? If you you do then why not use them to make greeting cards? The Cricut Fancy Frames Cartridge is the perfect cartridge to have in your craft arsenal to make all those recycled bits into framed art! (Want to win one? Pop on Over to Craft Gossip and leave a comment by August 25th, 2011 to get yourself in the running for a Cricut Fancy Frames Cartridge.)
Here is how I made my framed recycled cartoon greeting card:
I cut out one of the pretty frames from the Cricut Fancy Frames Cartridge.
To make the card I held the frame onto a piece of scrapbook cardstock and scored it.
Next I folded the cardstock in half on the scoreline and cut the card width. All that was left to do was trim the bottom flush to the top flap. I like cutting my cards after I make my top element as opposed to starting with a card and then embellishing it. I'm just crafty like that.
I felt the frame needed a little texture and color in the form of some Plaid paint and glitter to coordinate with the off-white of the cartoon paper and the blue glitter of my background cardstock.
Well, then I just went ahead and changed my mind and thought it ended up "blending" too much and I picked out another cardstock that contrasted a bit more.

If you can't read the cartoon it is one snowman telling another wearing a pair of way-long plaid pants, "They fit around the waist nicely, but you may want to hem them up a bit."

3 T-shirts upcycled using inspiration and techniques from the book 101 Tees by Cathie Filian

2011-08-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun today giving the t-shirts in my closet a "new and improved" look with the t-shirts I had in my stash that had great graphics, a fun Plaid Metallic Iron-On fawn and a whole lotta inspiration from Cathie Fillian's new a-mazing book 101 Tees: Restyle + Refashion + Revamp.
First up I embellished a plain top with a recycled graphic safety pin and a die cut fabric broken heart.
These were 2 t-shirts I have been saving just because I love the graphics of the safety pins but they are printed on heavy t-shirt/sweatshirt fabric and they are pretty short on me so they aren't getting worn as is.

As I say......."scissor time"

This is an adorable top on me but in desperate need of some "uniqueness"
I simply rough cut out the image and pinned it onto the t-shirt (while it was on me so I liked the placement). I think this is really important because the image could look great flat but that's not how it gets seen on our 3-D bodies! I added a die cut broken heart to the safety pin applique just like one of the projects in 101 Tees: Restyle + Refashion + Revamp used a bit of this and that.

Next up I wanted to add the little safety pin graphic to something and I had this great fitting black tank but not loving the words on it I felt this was a perfect use of the graphic!
I rough cut out again the graphic and pinned it like crazy since I was sewing on a ribbed fabric and it's super stretchy. (Please note my punk "rock" literal pin cushion!!!)
"Before" tank.
"After" tank with 2 laps of crazy contrast thread stitching.

Lastly I tried out one of the cool Fawn Plaid Metallic Iron-Ons on a plain t-shirt.
I also used another of the techniques from 101 Tees: Restyle + Refashion + Revamp to add a gather at the neckline just to spiff it up a bit more!
The directions for the iron-on were easy to follow and I simply love the result!

If you are like me and like to make your clothes truly your own grab a copy of 101 Tees: Restyle + Refashion + Revamp and your scissors and get cuttin'!
101 Tees: Restyle + Refashion + Revamp

By
Cathie Filian

The best way to find a t-shirt that suits you to a T is to make one!

Popular craft personality Cathie Filian has dreamed up more than 101 ways to embellish, customize, and transform the everyday t-shirt into something truly fashionable. Beginners will find Cathie's projects wonderfully easy and creative--and the 10 technique-themed chapters give crafters plenty to choose from. Just take a shirt of any type--from crew neck to long-sleeved--and cut and stitch, embroider, paint, dye, image transfer, or add rhinestones, ribbons, and other trim. The result will be gorgeous!

Los-Angeles based Cathie Filian created, produced, and co-hosted the popular lifestyle shows Creative Juice and Witch Crafts on HGTV & DIY Network. She is a National Spokesperson for Plaid Enterprises, one of the largest manufacturers of art and craft products in the United States, and the author of 101 Snappy Fashions (Lark, 2010). Cathie maintains an active blog (www.cathiefilian.com) and website (www.cathieandsteve.com).

Tuskegee Airmen Richard T. Lee, Purple Heart recipient Brian Bennett and myself at Ventura Stand Down

2011-07-31T15:19:00.000-07:00

I volunteered this past weekend at the Ventura Stand Down to sew for the homeless vets. It was truly an amazing experience. Two very special vets I had the pleasure of meeting were probably two of the most different you could possibly imagine. On the right was a Tuskegee Airman! Richard T. Lee attended the event along with his equally adorable wife Madeline who was a volunteer in the clothing area with me. He was so fun to talk to and he sat by me regaling me with stories as I hemmed and repaired clothing at lightning speed! On the left was probably the youngest attendee, Afghanistan vet and Purple Heart recipient Brian Bennett. Another equally charming man who was gracious enough to pose with us and was as thrilled to chat with Tuskegee Airmen Lee as I was!

I was told through out the entire weekend that no one has ever thought to bring a sewing machine to this event and I was so pleased to offer my services to all who came. With just a few stitches new clothing fit properly and beloved garments were back in tip-top shape!
And a very special thank you goes out to Clair Hope (who took a moment for a photo op with me!) for organizing such an amazing event that provides so much to those who served.

I saved all the ends of the pants I hemmed and plan on crafting something special with it to commemorate the event. Stay tuned!

Now onto what my fellow crafty bloggers have to share with you:

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a tutorial on how to make recycled silverware journal handles, a chance to win a copy of 1,000 Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies & Cakes along with a recipe for fondant, an interview with the author of The Urban Biking Handbook and an inspirational quote and art from Camille Kuo.

The Crochet Dude
Drew reviews the Knook - a kit that teaches you how to knit with a crochet hook!

Mixed Media Artist
Continuing with her clothing obsession, Cyndi has taken out her acrylics to use on a summer dress!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Look at this cute coffee can recycling project. It also uses craft stash scraps, so it’s both eco-nomical and eco-logical!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy has some important news about a very popular knitting loom.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a Crafter Companion paper fairy idea to show off this week!

Aileen's Musings
This week Aileen offers you a re post of her Chunky Canvas Bird Cage Tutorial.

About Family Crafts
Now is the perfect time to get a jump start on your holiday crafting and Sherri will help you get a jump start on making your holiday gifts.

Margot Potter's latest bling sensation-New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry

2011-07-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

Margot Potter tops herself every time! Her latest book New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry: Unexpected Combinations, Unique Designs is beyond inspiring. I have almost every book she has written and they are just a wealth of sparkly projects and techniques that every jewelry maker can use as a great tool to kick their designs into fabulous-land! (Oh! and want to win a copy? Pop on over to Craft Gossip Recycled to enter to win one)
This pair of upcycled earrings is my first bit of bling inspired by New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry.
I took my first inspiration from her project titled Amphora. What really caught my eye was her color combo combined with the size and shape elements she chose to work with. I went through my stash to find some square beads to combine with contrasting seed beads.

I used some old plain hoops as my base and wrapped away. I used 3 square beads as Margot did as the rule of 3's makes for a pleasing design and filled the rest of the hoop with the tiny black glass seed beads. I really like light blue and black but I will most definitely be trying the red and sick green combo too!
New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry:
Unexpected Combinations, Unique Designs

By
Margot Potter

Discover 30 stepped-out projects that explore the possibilities for using wire as a dimensional design feature as well as a structural one through combinations of both hard, soft wire and beads. In addition to basic wire-working techniques, inside New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry you'll find a thorough introduction to the various types of wire that popular author Margot Potter uses throughout the book. Projects are organized into five chapters, each with a different focus on the type of wire used. Two chapters focus on hard-wire projects, two on soft wire, and a final chapter combines the two wire types together. Troubleshooting tips are sprinkled throughout the book and three variations per chapter give you great additional inspiration!

Margot Potter has published six jewelry-making books with North Light Books. She's a designer, author, freelance writer, consultant, public speaker, actor and vocalist, video host and TV personality. Margot also creates innovative designs for major manufacturers, books and magazines and teaches popular seminars and classes at major craft and jewelry industry events.

How to make a digital camo quilt block inspired by the book Dare to be Square Quilting

2011-07-18T17:39:00.000-07:00

Dare to be Square Quilting is so awesome! I love everything in it. Right now I currently have one unfinished quilt that I must finish before I start a new one but I just had to make something after savoring every page of Dare to be Square Quilting. So I got my creative wheels spinning and what popped into my mind was my favorite print based on a square is digital camo. I have a small stash of scraps left over from the Fallen Soldier tote bags and the quilt I am currently using is a simple white one so I thought I would add a very special square onto it.
I cut a square of the digital camo uniform scrap and placed it in the center of one of the blocks.
All I did was satin stitch around the camo uniform square twice. It is so amazing that 3 square inches of a very special fabric can transform an ordinary quilt into one with so much meaning and feeling that I will cherish now.

If you like making quilts based on squares I bet you will love:
Dare to be Square Quilting: A Block-by-block Guide to Making Patchwork and Quilts
by
Boo Davis

“Boo Davis is a rock star! Dare to be Square Quilting is the perfect patchwork primer for beginners and a refreshing review for experienced quilters. A must-have book for any quilt or craft library.” --Denyse Schmidt (author of Denyse Schmidt Quilts)

. . . My approach to quilting is an approach for true beginners. I don’t like triangles, circles, hexagons, diamonds, rhombuses, or any shape that makes measuring a chore. (Can we stop right here and ponder the word rhombus? Man, that word is hilarious.) In this book, every project is designed using only squares and rectangles. Why just squares and rectangles? Because straight seams are easy to stitch!

Craft a modern quilt with independent quilt-maker Boo Davis, whose fun, slightly quirky designs take quilts into new graphic territory. Using only simple shapes like rectangles and squares you’ll see robots, skulls, alarm clocks, and owls come to life as fabulous, full-size quilts. With 10 charming quilt patterns, and 15 eye-popping patchwork projects perfect for afternoon or weekend crafting, Dare to be Square Quilting reinterprets quilt traditions such as basket weave, rail fence, and housetop designs in a bold new way. With advice on color and fabric selection, and an extensive how-to section on quilting, Davis teaches the fastest, simplest, and most reliable methods modern quilting has to offer.

Dare to make a quilt that’s funny, fabulous, and from the heart . . . Dare to be square!

BOO DAVIS is a designer, illustrator, and the founder of Quiltsrÿche quilt studio. Her quilts have appeared in The New York Times, Revolver, BUST, HOW, and British Vogue as well as on Boing Boing, UrbanOutfitters.com, and Thrillist. As a graphic artist she has received recognition from Print magazine, Society for Publication Designers, and Society of Professional Journalists, among others.

One final tid-bit, this is not the first time one of Boo's fab quilt designs inspired me, I did a skull quilt based on the one shown above. You can see the tutorial on how I made my skull quilt inspired by her's at Craftside.

I took a break from the scissors to spend some time with an axe at the Burbank Centennial

2011-07-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night was a big Burbank Centennial celebration. There were some amazing flyovers of new and vintage planes and of course the Burbank Fire Department brought out the 1913 Moreland fire engine for fun photo ops. My fellow Burbank Fire Corps member Ginnie and I took a moment for one propped out with some axes. You know me, I love me some weapons of mass cutting stuff up!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a fun tutorial on how to fold an origami fractal geometric, how to create Audrey Hepburn eye makeup, draw and paint Pin-Up Girl lips, two American Flag themed art quilts and Los Angeles Swap-o-rama info.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi's artsy daughter moved to Portland OR last week and kept Cyndi very entertained with pictures from her adventures driving cross-country!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a "deer" card.

The Crochet Dude
Drew has been on tour! Catch up with how it went via his latest blog posts!

About Family Crafts
Want to get a jump start on Christmas crafting? Check out these Christmas in July crafting ideas!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen's gal pal Christy offers up some scrumptious journal backgrounds, and how she achieved each one!

Carmi's Art/Life World
There is a new give-a-way for a jewelery mold that Carmi wants you to know about!

Connie Gee's Designs
Connie shares a free chart based on a saying from Pearl Bailey along with some memories related to the late, great singer.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
There are probably as many art journal techniques as there are artists who keep visual journals. See which ones Eileen chose for her first art journal page.

Deer Card made with a silhouette from the book and disk Silhouette Style

2011-07-06T17:02:00.000-07:00

Today I have a "deer" card design for you using one of the silhouettes included on the disk with the book Silhouette Style: Techniques and Template Sets for Papercut Projects.

I love the deer image and have managed to work it into a lot of my designs so when I got the book and it had a deer silhouette I knew just what I was going to make.
I know it's tough to see but I imported the deer silhouette into Illustrator and copy and pasted it to get a second image. Then I flipped it to get the mirror image. I aligned them along the bottom of the paper and printed it out onto a pretty pink cardstock.

A side note here is that I love doing paper cutout work because it is a twofer, you get the surround and the cut out shape. These two deer will definitely be used in the future.
I placed a fun piece of pine branch paper behind the deer silhouettes kind of ironic "camo" style and got my quote for the card at one of my favorite sources- One Up Me. This one says, "He's like camouflage, when we're together, it's like I'm invisible."

More about the book from North Light Books:

Silhouette Style: Techniques and Template Sets for Papercut Projects

by
Nanetta Bananto
Discover the modern versatility of the classic silhouette. The bold lines and strong contrasts of the silhouette are no longer limited to flat, two-color portraits to be hung on the family room wall. In Silhouette Style, silhouette designs take on color, dimension and the 21st Century. Nanetta Bananto teaches you to bring papercuts to life in more than 40 projects incorporating her beautiful, original designs. Create tea-light lanterns, gift boxes, cards, paper dolls and fashion accessories using papercut designs in themes such as sea life, animals, flowers and fashion.

The book includes:

Step-by-step instructions for 21 stylish projects and more than 20 variations easily created using the same techniques and designs
Tips and techniques on how to cut designs either by hand or using an electronic die-cutting machine
A CD-ROM containing all of the cutting design files needed to create the projects, plus bonus designs to expand your creative possibilities

Pull out your scissors or electronic cutter and develop a passion for silhouettes as you create art, gifts, home décor and more!

To read the pdf files on the CD-ROM included in this book, you will need Adobe Acrobat. To read .eps files, you will need a software program such as Adobe Photoshop or CorelDRAW. You may need to convert .eps files to the correct format for your cutting machine, according to the machine manufacturer’s instructions.

Nanetta Bananto is a beadwork, sculpture, clay, painting, calligraphy, fiber and paperarts artist and author of Creative Techniques for Polymer Clay Jewelry (North Light, 2005). Nanetta designs projects for Polyform Products, sells art to galleries and museum shops, has designed numerous CD covers, flyers, menus and t-shirts. She has been working with Accugraphic and will soon sell designs for their Klic-n-Kut systems on their website.

American Flag 4th of July decoration made from Christmas Ornaments

2011-06-30T15:17:00.001-07:00

I'm in the process of doing a big clean out. While going through my stash of stuff I tend to get ideas. That is just where today's project came from. I didn't plan it, it just happened.

I was going through boxes and one contained Christmas ornaments. Rolling around in the back of my mind was the need to do some 4th of July decorating. My eye happened to catch red, white and blue ornaments and the light bulb went off! Or is it on????

So I grabbed the ornaments, some wire and wire cutters and off to the front gate. I was planning on wiring the ornaments in a wreath shape but as I realized that the ornaments dangled so nicely in the openings of the chain link I thought of doing an American Flag motif.

As I was beginning to wire the ornaments on a neighbor walked by and said, "Christmas in July?" and I pointed out the beginning of my flag motif and he thought it was a great idea!

This ornaments hanging in the spaces of a chain link fence has an added bonus-it shimmers and sparkles like the back of a Sparklets truck!

Have a Happy 4th of July ya'll!

The First Crafty Blogger Links of Summer 2011

2011-06-26T11:22:00.001-07:00

"Car engine on a grocery store chassis"
Filed under yes a grocery store shopping cart can support an engine.

Lindsay Sews
Have you ever tried the quilt-as-you-go method? Lindsay wraps up a rainbow ticker-tape quilt this week and experiments with a disco-floor layout.

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is Year of the Rabbit knit pattern based on the kanji of the Chinese zodiac, a tutorial on how to make a hollow lampwork glass bead along with a chance to win a copy of the book- The Glass Artist's Studio Handbook it's from, a call for entries and a free cute clip art crab perfect for summer art.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has finished piecing and stitching her little bird quilt top, and now she needs advice on what to do with it!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Computer key ATC card inspired by the book Inner Excavations.

About Family Crafts
Learn how you can save money and enjoy quality family time by making your own fun craft supplies.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how she made her old faded patio umbrella festive again!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a new tutorial featuring the sweetest little elephants!

Craft Buds
Sewing with oilcloth is fresh and fun, and these sandwich bags will help you reduce waste! There's a little debate over whether or not laminated fabrics are safe for food. Do you know a food-safe alternative?

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy disovers some retro crochet items and has a brief moment of nostalgia.

Cross Stitch at About.com
You're the Designer! See what Irene did with Connie's Hummingbird Outline chart and try your own hand at designing and stitching too.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Here are a couple of ways to make hybrid cards to match a gift. Gift baskets of all sorts make lovely eye-appealing gift packages. Coordinating the elements is easier than you may think.

Computer Keys are the shape of most of my days it feels like

2011-06-22T14:29:00.000-07:00

Today's ATC and card are inspired by the book Inner Excavation: Exploring Your Self Through Photography, Poetry and Mixed Media. One of the questions that is posed to help a creator make art is " What are the shapes of your day?"
Well, I feel like the computer keys on my desk are often the shapes that I spend the most time with. So they became my starting off point.
These are two additional keys I have added to my keyboard. The other main objective some days is to "find" things. If it were only as easy as hitting a key to make it happen.....
I have a book of clip art images that I love to use in my art and cards and funny enough there was an image of computer keys. Another element that is one of my favorites to include is a translation dictionary bit. I used a Spanish dictionary and the word "find".

Lastly I had this great picture of Brigitte Bardot looking like she is looking for something. Well there is the starting off point from Inner Excavation and where it took me. I look forward to trying more of the explorations in Inner Excavation.

More about the book from North Light Books:
Inner Excavation:
Exploring Your Self Through Photography, Poetry and Mixed Media

by

Liz Lamoreux

This book will guide you through the expressions of photography, poetry/journaling and mixed-media as they pertain to exploring how we not only currently see ourselves, but how we can learn to see new things hiding below the surface. Each of these sub-topics features a different contributing artist (or the author) and includes tips, prompts, meditations and other exercises, along with plenty of full color inspiration.

Liz Lamoreux is an editor, poet, photographer, yoga teacher and mixed-media artist living in the Pacific Northwest. She is the organizer of the Be Present Retreats where she teaches alongside nationally known instructors. She has been writing on her blog, Be Present, Be Here, for five years and has quite a following.

Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head out for a stroll

2011-06-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

This is a little boy in my neighborhood I see a lot as we both go for lots of walks. This day was special as he was taking his Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head out for a stroll in his Jeep stroller. I would also like to point out how the bunny ears have been placed in the form of a mohawk. I love the creativity of kids!

And adults! Which brings me to crafty blogger links du jour!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a tutorial on how to use spray starch to make a hand applique, a recipe for white chocolate cranberry blondies, tips on carving your own rubber stamps from the book Unfurling.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Most silk scarf painting/dying is done with a stretcher frame. But if you don’t want to spend the money on a stretcher and are not planning a detailed design, this easy dye method can yield beautiful results as well.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi continues her experiment using an antique trading card for quilt inspiration!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a tiny scrap fabric dress decoration inspired by the book DIY Art at Home.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Great gifts for Dad for Father's Day or any other day. Do you stitch for Father's Day? Vote in the poll and let us know.

Crafty Princess Diaries
To give her hands a little bit of a break, Tammy is checking out the possibilities of loom knitting.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi debuts her project for the a special Canadian workshop at CHA.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen tells you how she created a inexpensive fabulously fun outdoor chandelier for her porch from a hanging wire candle holder.

About Family Crafts
Check out several Summer themed beaded safety pin patterns can be use to make fun jewelry to wear to celebrate summer and they also make great gifts!

How to make a mini dress decoration inspired by the book DIY Art at Home by Lola Gavarry

2011-06-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

Today's subtitle is "No scrap left behind" because that is what the primary ingredient is-the tiny little scraps of fabric I save.
Pretty cute little dress, hu?
This page from DIY Art at Home: 28 Simple Projects for Chic Decor on the Cheep with big wall dress decorations was my inspiration. Maybe some day I can make some big wall art like this but for now tiny it is.

How I made my tiny dress scrap fabric wall art:

I sketched a little dress silhouette on the back side of sticky back paper and then cut it out.
Then all I did was cut strips of fabric in varying widths and lay them onto the sticky side of the paper touching edge to edge.
This is what it looked like with all the strips of fabric on from the back side. All that was left to do was trim off the excess fabric.
On the right you can see my first mini dress. It was a bit small for my wire hanger so I mad a slightly bigger mini dress. I do have to say it makes me want to make a full size dress just using horizontal strips of scrap fabric!

More about the book from Watson-Guptill Publications:

DIY Art at Home: 28 Simple Projects for Chic Decor on the Cheep
By
Lola Gavarry

DIY Art at Home shows how easy it is to create modern masterpieces by using a few simple art supplies and the full-size templates that are also included. The book begins with The Practical Studio, which outlines the materials and tips that you'll need to get started. The five chapters that follow--Living Room Spirit, Kitchen Inspirations, Bedroom Influences, Office Décor, and Sweet Expressions--offer 28 fresh, beautiful, step-by-step projects for every room, all with a clean, modern aesthetic that will complement virtually every style of decorating.

Lola Gavarry is a designer who creates artwork for residential clients throughout France. Hiroko Mori is a commercial photographer based in Paris.

Chicken with its head cut off illustration and crafty links

2011-06-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

This was one of my favorite t-shirt spottings from Maker Faire (not to mention plaid). So that's your giggle du jour. Now onto linky-love:

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there are two chances to score yourself copies of cooking and crafting books just by leaving a comment, a free eyeglass box template, along with a "ransom type" quote embellished mirror, step-by-step comic drawing and inside peeks into Astounding Knits! in honor of World Wide Knitting Day (this past Saturday).

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you a printable Dad banner for you to download and make for the dad in your life!

Beading Arts
Copper tubing makes wonderful copper beads!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a tutorial for the Crafter's Companion this week.

Craft Buds
Need to whip up a Father's Day gift? Craft Buds has a roundup of free sewing patterns for Father's Day, including a tie, an ebook reader cover and an interesting hat.

Crafty Princess Diaries
And the knitting goes on as Tammy graduates to smaller knitting needles.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Fans of variegated flosses and newbies will both find helpful information in these tips for using it. Also, be sure to vote in the poll!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Here’s a cute idea for personalized ceramic wedding favors. If you don’t want to buy the dye sublimation equipment yourself, find someone who already has it.

Lindsay Sews
A creative way to wrap up a tie for the man in your life on Father's Day, with no wrapping paper involved!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
An interview with Jema "Emilly Ladybird" Hewitt, author of Steampunk Emporium along with a fun gear and Swarovski crystal earring project.

Interview with Jema "Emilly Ladybird" Hewitt, author of Steampunk Emporium

2011-06-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

Today I have not only a fun project to share with you I have an interview with the author of the book the project is from! But wait there's more! If you want to win a copy of the book pop on over to Recycled Crafts at CraftGossip.com to enter to win your very own copy of Steampunk Emporium: Creating Fantastical Jewelry, Devices and Oddments from Assorted Cogs, Gears and Curios.
The cute little gear earrings in the top photo were so much fun to make! And talk about easy! It's one of those instant satisfaction kind of projects. All I did was grab two gears and a hand-full of of Swarovski crystals in assorted sizes and shapes and followed the great directions in Steampunk Emporium and I had a fun pair of Steampunk Gear earrings!

Now onto the interview with Jema "Emilly Ladybird" Hewitt.

How did you first find out about the Steampunk look?

"I trained as a costume designer and always loved the late Victorian bustle era, so I started making my own slightly odd versions of Victorian clothes for dressing up and having tea in, I loved the "almost historical" look of films like Dune and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but it wasn't until I read "The Difference Engine" I realised that a genre name had been invented! I suppose I started to notice the altered steampunk Victorian things creeping into books, films and art more and more over the years and thought wow this is so cool! I want to be more involved."

Have you always crafted and designed or did you start so that you could make Steampunk style things?

"I have always been a crafter, even as a small child I was always sewing, gluing or painting something!Although I did well academically at school I realised that I loved designing and making too much not to do it full time, even if that meant a deeply precarious career. I went to college and university to study theatrical design, and met lots of other wonderful creative people in those early years. The great thing is because we shared interests and admired a similar design ethos lots of them have been quietly creating steampunk style art too over the years, and now we are getting back in touch and going "wow" at each other!"

What did you find to be the most fun part of writing Steampunk Emporium?

"I loved thinking up the themes and the characters, imagining all the gadgets and accessories they might want and then working out what those things might look like. The character photography was great fun too, I got the models in my studio, they had fun trying on different looks for the characters then laughed at me as I snapped away, saying "oh no! there's a dinosaur, look scared, oh no actually look totally unconcerened because you haven't seen him yet..." we had a real fun time doing that, then Julian worked to my brief putting the backgrounds in and aging the pictures till the characters came to life! The models are all real steampunk people too, they weren't just hired for the day, they love steampunk too!"

What is your favorite Steampunk object to make?

"My favourite is making my weird gadgets in pocket watch cases, every single one is a totally unique piece of art, and there's lots of scope for modelling,sculpting and using mixed media in those pieces too which I enjoy. I'm a real experimenter, always trying out new materials and pushing things to their limits. I've got into resin in a big way recently so I'm going to have to think of some ways of combining that with my old favourite polymer clay. I like thinking about the functions of each gadget, what the parts might do, how pieces could move or be read in an imaginary situation."

Since most projects use recycled materials do you ever find it hard to use an object you only have one of in a design?

"Oh goodness yes, especially as most of my work is for sale, I have real problems sometimes letting an object go, it can take weeks for me to put a favourite bit into a piece, but it will just keep coming back to me that it's the perfect thing so I'll give in, then I see it being worn by a new owner who obviously adores it, and I think, I'm glad I used that, it's time it had new adventures with a new owner! It's also what makes steampunk so special I think, the importance of handmade one of a kind objects. I know you can buy mass produced "steampunk style" finished pieces of clothing or jewellery now, but to me that's kind of missing the point, as well as expensive..."

What is next on your "to try" list?

"Well, only today I have been playing with fantasy film and "dip it" film, experimenting with making tiny absinthe fairy wings. I'm going to be making more steampunk style tiaras, I want to play with more moving pieces too, gogs and gears that turn and do stuff. When I started writing the book there was hardly any steampunk specific supplies available, for example I had to beg manufacturers to design stamps for me in cog shapes! but now there's so much steampunk style components and tools to play with, I want to have it all! I would love love love to own a sissex big shot and all the tim holtz cutters and textures, mmmmmm."

What is your favorite swear word? (taken from Ravelry)

"lol! I try very hard not to swear too much, but I do say "pants" a lot, (as in the english "knickers"). I got that one from my friend the fantasy artist Jon Hodgson when we were at college. I'm quite a calm person so I don't often feel the need to swear, but if I mess up with the resin or run out of a certain type of bead then I will let a cross "Oh Pants!!!" fly."

What music is your favorite to have on while creating?

"I love electro swing, so when I'm working on the dining table I'll often have a mix of that with classical and blues too. My husband works from home so I usually let him sort the music out, we have similar taste in the main so that's OK. In my studio I listen to radio four pretty much exclusivly, for which most of my friends mock me. I like hearing peoples voices around, without being expected to answer, I get very focused when I'm working and can't form sentences to chat. Working alone can be lonely at times but radio four is always full of interesting educational programs, and plays and stories, I'm always learning something new! Oh dear, I sound like a crazy lady!"

What books are you currently engrossed in?

"I mainly read novels and historical reference books, and I read voraciously, often two or three books at a time, so my current bedside books are... "Cake and Ale" a history of victorian food and eating habits. "Heartstone" by CJ Sansom, a tudor thriller, and Philip Reeves "Mothstorm" which is a riproaring childrens steampunk adventure. My copy of "The Steampunk Bible" just arrived, (in which i'm a featured artist), so i'll be reading that next and I'm hoping to get "Android Karenina" for my birthday..."

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your answers to my questions!

I hope all you Sweater Surgery readers enjoyed the answers as much as I did!

More about Steampunk Emporium: Creating Fantastical Jewelry, Devices and Oddments from Assorted Cogs, Gears and Curios from the publisher North Light Books:

The steampunk genre takes Victorian charm and steam-powered machinery parts and combines that with modern day elements and technology. In Steampunk Emporium, you are introduced to the rich charm and harrowing adventures of the steampunk world. Follow along with author Jema "Miss Emilly Ladybird" Hewitt as she guides you through several beginning-level jewelry techniques (basic wire wraps, using basic findings and so on) as well as some basic work with polymer clay, resin, shrink plastic and other mixed-media techniques. She then takes you on a jaunt through 20 projects divided between five themed chapters, each its own fantastical story. Projects range from decadent jewelry, medals of great distinction, wine charms for imbibers, and many devices of note, all featuring authentic steampunk style and whimsy.

Jema Hewitt is a freelance craft writer, as well as a costume and jewelry designer. She has written articles for both ?Making Jewellery Magazine? and also ?Craft Stamper? on many projects in the steampunk genre. Jema has been at the forefront of the UK steampunk movement for several years and her alter ego, ?Emilly Ladybird?, has a large social media following. She is a regular lecturer and workshop leader in the UK and has written two books on beading and jewelry making with New Holland and has two best-selling DVDs on tiara making (Rainbow Disks).

Wire hanger sculpture and crafty links

2011-06-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

Watched a fun movie this weekend and this was a wire hanger sculpture featured in a shot. Can you guess what movie I saw?

Makes me want to make one too.

I was going to go for a cheesy "hangin' joke" here but couldn't quite come up with one right now so I guess I'll just move on to the crafty crafty links!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tips on fixing pressing errors, how to write a book proposal interview with Jennifer Worick, 2 free heart clip art images, a fun recycled rebus affirmation project and info on two events with author of Painted Pages, Sarah Ahearn.

Regarding Design
A Q & A with Jay Calderin, author of Fashion Design Essentials.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi explores how to combine soy silk fusion with other backgrounds!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Come along for a virtual visit to Caracas, Venezuela, where artist Patty Sucre decoupages and sells beautifully-crafted trays, boxes and other wooden items. Que maravillosos!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
I share my experimentation with fabric circle pom poms and paint stick stamping, two of the techniques in the book Sharing Stitches.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Connie's free Musical Notes Collection will be the perfect pattern to use for a project to give to a musically-inclined person.

About Family Crafts
Drop by and participate in the current make-it-over craft challenge. What can you create using duct tape?

Aileen's Musings
Heads up all you Steampunk art lovers out there: Aileen is celebrating her husband's art being published in the 1000 Steampunk Creations book that was just released! Stop by and find all the ways you can enter.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Here is a great tip for adding embellishments to summer t-shirts.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Listen up to Tammy's recent interview on FaveCrafts Radio.

Circles of fabric pom poms and paint stick stamping, two techniques from the book Sharing Stitches

2011-06-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

Do like to experiment with new techniques even when you don't have a specific project in mind? Well, that's what I have to share with you today. I tried reverse paint stick stamping on fabric and making little fabric circle pom poms both from the book Sharing Stitches: Exchanging Fabric and Inspiration to Sew One-of-a-Kind Projects.

I loved the idea of using my stamps on fabric by rubbing with fabric paint sticks. I used Pentel Arts Fabric Fun Pastel Dye Sticks. Worked like a charm with one exception, this technique doesn't work with word stamps as the image stays in reverse!
The next technique I tried from Sharing Stitches: Exchanging Fabric and Inspiration to Sew One-of-a-Kind Projects was the fabric circle embellishment. In Sharing Stitches these little elements are used to make earrings but I kind of like how it looks as a 3-d pom pom.
There is so much more fun to try in Sharing Stitches: Exchanging Fabric and Inspiration to Sew One-of-a-Kind Projects!

More about the book from the publisher, North Light Books:

Sharing Stitches: Exchanging Fabric and Inspiration to Sew One-of-a-Kind Projects
by
Chrissie Grace

Swap Stitch Share

Join Chrissie Grace and 15 talented artists as they exchange fabrics, collaborate on an art quilt and swap plenty of inspiration on the pages of Sharing Stitches. Stitch by stitch, Chrissie shows you how to create colorful and eclectic projects as unique as the group that sews them, including a patchwork pullover, a lace-embellished headband, a large-scale collaborative quilt and a round robin journal.

Inside Sharing Stitches, you’ll find:

· 22 step-by-step projects designed specifically for swaps and collaborations

· Tips on swapping fabric, as well as hosting and participating in smoothly run collaborations

· Projects and gallery pieces from your favorite artists, including Claudine Hellmuth, Liz Lamoreux, Ruth Rae and more!

Break out your sewing machine, round up your friends and start sewing!

Chrissie Grace is the author of Wild Tiles (North Light, 2006) and Tiles Gone Wild (North Light, 2008). In addition to honing her skills as an accomplished mosaic artist, Chrissie has recently embarked on licensing and is currently creating designs in stationery and wall d?cor. She has had passion for fabric for years and enjoys sewing for herself and family in her free time.

Fun license plate sighting

2011-05-31T11:06:00.000-07:00

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to make a three-page spread in your art journal, the components of a page layout in grid format, how to make doll hair with yarn and an amigurumi octopus sighting at Maker Faire.

Regarding Design

A great post about color and fashion called The Color Collective"

Mixed Media Artist
Have you ever heard of silk fusion or silk paper? It's amazing stuff!

Hosting a Successful Giveaway on Your Blog
Craft Buds shares some tips for handmade bloggers on effective ways to host a giveaway, including how to set the rules, find new followers and work with sponsors.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
See how to make zero-calorie fortune cookies for your next party. Hint: they're made in the craft room, not the kitchen.

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Jane Austen Society becomes sensible ans sensitive to stitchers at its next convention.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a special post honouring an artist's passing.

About Family Crafts
Check out the graduation quilts Sherri designed and made for her kids.

How to make fallen soldier uniform pendants

2011-05-26T11:56:00.000-07:00

It is important to always remember the soldiers who give their lives for us every day but we do dedicate a very special day to them. So it is this weekend that I bring you my second fallen soldier project. Last year I posted about the tote bags I made for two Gold Star Moms out of their son's uniforms. This year I have to share with you a pendant that I made with scraps from one of the fallen soldier's uniforms, SPC Nick Steinbacher.

If you would like to make one here is how I made the uniform pendant:
I made a little square window the size of the Judikins pendant. I then could move the window around to get just the right bit of digital camo to fill the pendant.

Then I placed a bit of double sided Scotch poster tape on the back to stabilize the fabric, prevent it from fraying when cut and to stick it in the pendant.

I cut out the digital camo uniform piece and stuck it in the pendant.

Then I filled the pendant with Gel du Soleil Sunlight Curing Epoxy.

I am so grateful to all who serve and give me the freedom to do what I do.

Thank you.

My view from the Craftside booth at Maker Faire of the cute Aminekos

2011-05-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Aminekos and I had a great time crafting and chatting with all the creative peeps that attended Maker Faire 2011!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there are fun tutorials on how to make a spinning beach ball invitation greeting card, a gold leaf crackle finish on polymer clay and measuring tape and button bracelets, 6 Steampunk guns, and some "hand crafting".

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi starts a series of experiments with soy silk roving.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a two-headed girl in a cage photo op.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
See how Eileen used a 3D Valentine's Day card template to make a 3D card suitable for many special occasions.

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess has picked up knitting needles! Find out some resources she discovered to help you learn how to knit.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Trying to keep Provence in her life, Carmi makes up a new vision board.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen was back in the kitchen again baking up Peanut Butter & Jelly Cupcakes! Stop by and snag her free printable recipe card!

About Family Crafts
If you are looking for a great family activity, learn how to make garden stepping stones together.

Two headed girl in a cage....yup you read right

2011-05-18T17:06:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is what I crafted up today. Don't you want to be in my brain? All you really have to do is be in the two books Mixed-Media Paint Box: Weekly Projects for a Year of Creative Exploration and The Black Apple's Paper Doll Primer: Activities and Amusements for the Curious Paper Artist and then grab the camera. Really!
First I saw this page from Mixed-Media Paint Box featuring a design from artist Cory Moortgat that I just fell in love with. It is a photo of a girl behind a wire cage.
The next part of my two headed girl in a cage photo comes from the book The Black Apple's Paper Doll Primer which features wonderfully drawn paper dolls. I do have a fondness for two headed girls. See this post.

So I simply grabbed some wire and fashioned myself up a cage and printed the two head paper doll out about half size. Then I snapped some photos. They make me giggle. I think I am going to put them in a box and in my purse so that when I am out and about they might have some more interesting opportunities....will keep you posted on that!

More about Mixed-Media Paint Box: Weekly Projects for a Year of Creative Exploration
Play With Paint All Year Long!

Incorporating paint into your mixed-media art has never been easier or more fun. Open up your paint box and delve into a year of creative ideas from 45 of your favorite artists. Whether you’ve used paint for years or have been anxious to try a new medium, you’ll find great advice and ideas inside Mixed-Media Paint Box. Each week, you’ll be guided with step-by-step instructions through a different project or technique that will add instant depth and drama to your art!

Inside you’ll find:

+ 52 projects and techniques, one for every week of the year, to inspire a weekly dose of creativity.

+ Tips, hints and suggestions from some of your favorite authors, including Ruth Rae, Claudine Hellmuth, Chrissie Grace, Bernie Berlin and Margot Potter.

+ Step-by-step instructions for jewelry-making, assemblage, journaling, collage and a variety of painting techniques to incorporate into your own art.

Discover inspiration and new ways to express yourself every week inside Mixed-Media Paint Box!

and

The Black Apple's Paper Doll Primer: Activities and Amusements for the Curious Paper Artist

Emily Martin

Join the creator of The Black Apple, Emily Martin, on a trip through her magical world of paper dolls, imaginary places, and clever craft projects.

Inside this book you’ll find 21 sweet, mysterious characters with clothes and accessories all their own—from a busy beekeeper’s daughter to a bird-loving librarian. You’ll also find 16 dolls ready to be designed and brought to life by you! Emily will show you how to draw, paint, and personalize your way to a little paper replica of anyone you’d like.

With basic art supplies and the instructions in the book, you’ll also learn to:

• Make a custom wedding invitation or holiday card
• Color, cut, paste, and frame a unique family portrait
• Design your own paper clothes, shoes, glasses, and the like
• Cut and fold an armoire for doll-sized clothes
• Build a paper theater using one of the TK illustrated backdrops
• Direct a stop-motion film with jointed paper doll actors
• And so much more!

So sharpen your scissors and get ready for a unique and wonderful adventure.

Stefanie and The Giant Peter Rabbit at The Burbank Centennial Book Festival

2011-05-09T14:33:00.001-07:00

Now I know the photo is not the best but really, could I not post a photo of me and a giant Peter Rabbit?!?! We're talking giant Peter Rabbit for Pete's sake! I had so much fun at the Burbank Centennial Book Festival making recycled wool felted sweater flowers with the kiddos and Moms and Dads of Burbank! Thanks to all for crafting with me.

And speaking of crafts, here's this week's crafty links:

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a cool tutorial on how to melt foam into a cute doll basket, 10 great "shoe" themed greeting card ideas and a great list of self-portrait ideas from the new book Unfurling by Misty Mawn

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Who doesn't recycle cards and gift bags these days? This was a real simple recycling project. Look at the card Jackie gave Eileen for her birthday; and then see how Jackie received it back on hers!

About Family Crafts
Watch these videos and learn how easy it is to decoupage!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you a slide show demonstrating how to create your own vibrant deli paper backgrounds.

Beading Arts
Don't miss our next giveaway package from the fabulous Cherry Tree Beads!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi shows off three years of hand cut silhouettes!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Find out how you can show your patriotism while you have fun crocheting.

The Crochet Dude
Drew announces tour dates for his Summer Boot Camp Series!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Learn how to make a sock gift card.

I love my Mom from head to "Toe" Mother's Day card

2011-05-04T15:32:00.000-07:00

Yup, the woman who crafted me and had to put up with me at my craziest cutting up moments is to be honored with these absolutely silly socks. My Mom is waaaaaay conservative so there are for sure over the top, but I felt the sentiment was true.

At first I was just going to pop them in an envelope but then I decided to make the card a little more special.

I die cut a few letters "texting" style and taped the socks in with removable poster double sided tape. (I love how the packaging matched the card)
And what Mom doesn't have a stash of handmade cards? Why not get her a special place that she can slide them in without damaging them and flip through them like a book? Sound like a plan? Then score yourself a Card Album!
Here are a few Card Albums that I decorated with the words "Mother's Day Cards" on the front and the word "Mom" with the "o" being a heart die cut on the spine that would show when the Card Album was on a book case.

Spinning tire and mirror sculpture showing a bit of leg

2011-05-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of attending the Cal State Northridge fashion show last week and it was a blast! They had a great display in the court yard of recycled fashion and art to enjoy before the show. So needles to say some photography was in order. It took a few tries but I finally got the timing right to get my legs in the reflexion of this spinning tire and mirror sculpture. I know it's a bit fuzzy but I am sporting zebra striped boots. And on that subject the shoes, both the ones on stage and on the other attendees, were A-mazing!

OK time to get the craft links on!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside we have a Royal wedding post by Natalie from the UK, a fun way to display your mixed-media inspiration elements, a shadow crazy quilt piecing technique and a fun bunny cake decorating idea.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Check out the Mother's Day Parade of Crafts on The Artful Crafter. You're sure to find something to make that will put a smile on mom's face. Kid-friendly projects are indicated by our little Miss SmArty icon.

Crafty Princess Diaries
How the heck do you make holes so you can add some fashionable crochet trim?

Mixed Media Artist
Have you seen Lark Publications' beautiful new book, 500 Raku?

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Book Review: Knits That Fit from Potter Craft

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi's big Fairyopolis card making post is over on the Crafter's Companion site this week.

About Family Crafts
Do you want to learn how to make mosaics? Sherri can help!

Review: Knits That Fit from Potter Craft

2011-04-28T14:57:00.000-07:00

Let me start by giving you a bit of back story. It was about the time that ponchos were all the rage that I was a producer on Knitty Gritty and I was living the knitting every minute of the day. I loved ponchos but alas I felt like I was wearing a sandwich board when I tried them on and I was not really interested in feeling like a walking billboard. Everyone else seemed to look great in them. Bummer for me. The second part of this back story was I also wanted instant knitwear. While I love knitting and do it more as a form of relaxation when I wanted a knit item I went to the land of cast off sweaters and sewed one into my new design, hence my book Sweater Surgery. And that's how it came to be.

Now to today's wonderful book I have to tell you about-Knits That Fit: Instructions, Patterns, and Tips for Getting the Right Fit. As stated in my back story big and floppy does not work on me, I like my sweater action snug and shapely. That is what Knits That Fit is all about. The whole first section is jam packed with great fitting info that is sure to make your sweater be just the way you want it. Then you get a whole bunch of the most lovely sweater patterns that you will love knitting and wearing. I haven't decided what I am going to make because so many of the sweaters have great details and shapes there is everything from hoodies to tanks to choose from! Hmmmm, off to the yarn stash to see what combo I come up with!

More about Knits That Fit: Instructions, Patterns, and Tips for Getting the Right Fit from the publisher Potter Craft:

"Stop following, start knitting! When you lovingly make something stitch-by-stitch, it shouldn’t fit like it came from a department store. However, that’s exactly what happens when you knit to fit a general size instead of your actual measurements. In Knits that Fit, you will learn how to break free from following a pattern word-for-word and start making small changes to tailor your knitwear. It’s not hard, either! You’ll be walked through all the essential ins-and-outs of taking measurements and basic pattern alteration. Before you know it you will be able to tweak nearly any pattern to better fit your unique shape. The accompanying TK patterns in Knits that Fit include short-sleeved tops, pullovers, and cardigans from top knitwear designers like Lily Chin, Annie Modesitt, Berta Karapetyan, Sally Melville, and others. Of course, each of the patterns is ready to be customized by you for the perfect fit—information on shortening or lengthening has been built right in! Whether you’ve knit one sweater or ten, this is a book that will change the way you see patterns and the way you knit sweaters. "

Stefanie and the Bunny Peep drink

2011-04-25T08:57:00.001-07:00

I hope your Easter was fabulous!
It's Monday in in my post Easter glow I bring you some links to craftasticly good projects.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to paint a hatching chick, make a recycled book page egg ornament, and a tilt-shift photography effect along with bunny and squirrel clip art.

Carmi's Art/Life World
A little sachet tutorial for Easter or Mother's day projects.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shares a free printable cupcake for you to download and use in your art!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy is dreaming about her chance to craft and write over her summer break.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Celebrate spring by making a pressed flower card.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has been sharing a travelog of her most recent trip to Guatemala!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Learn how to make a "black sheep" necklace.

Bah Bah Black sheep necklace

2011-04-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

Did I get you giggling? I hope so. If you know me you know I am a black sheep so this necklace is quite appropriate. I have so much fun wearing it.

It was fun to make too!

Makin's air dry clay is a dream to work with.

All I did was roll out some of the black and some of the white clay and cut out sheep with their sheep cutter.

I poked a hole in them while they were still soft and set to dry.

I stamped "ewe" on the white sheep and "me" on the black sheep.

I then coated all the sheep with some Judikins Diamond Glaze and linked it all up with some chain.

Another double plaid sighting and crafty blogger links

2011-04-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

This girl is just too cute in her double purple plaid! If you missed the girl in the double pink plaid check her out here. Oh and the double green plaid dude. I feel the need to document my fellow plaid compadres.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside we are pleased to introduce my UK counterpart Natalie who will be sharing all sorts of crafty goodness from her side of the pond. There is also a free hedgehog plushie pattern and tutorial, a recycled buckle bracelet, tips on how to photograph a horse and info on Simplicity's Great Bandana Quilt Challenge.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Learn how to dye Easter eggs naturally. Not everything needs to come from a kit or a mix!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a stitched back up broken heart card.

The Crochet Dude
Drew met his match when crochet's Boye Toy is interviewed by quilting's Bad Boy!

About Family Crafts
Sherri helps you to plan a creative outdoor adventure!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how she combines, Vintage sheet music, scrap paper, paper napkins and more to create a colorful background on a canvas!

Beading Arts
The final chapter of Cyndi's e-book is now available! "Fibers, Fabrics, and Beads" challenges you to integrate all the fiber arts that you already love with your bead embroidery!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy's BYOC themed craft meeting went very well.

How to make a stitched broken heart card

2011-04-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

Today I have this mixed-media card project to share with you using a stitching idea from the book Flavor for Mixed Media: A Feast of Techniques for Texture, Color and Layers.
I like using the broken heart as a theme. They are super easy to make. I ran a pretty piece of paper through the Sizzix die cutter and then just sniped the heart in half in a zig zag line.

This page from Flavor for Mixed Media: A Feast of Techniques for Texture, Color and Layers was my inspiration to stitch back up my broken heart. It features words and art by Tonia Davenport.
I glued the heart down to the card and poked holes on each side of the zig zag with the needle. I then stitched it back up with a piece of silver Kreinik thread.

I thought it came out looking pretty cool from the back side too!

If you are like me and like compilation books filled with art, techniques and inspiration from a variety of artists then I bet you will like:
Flavor for Mixed Media: A Feast of Techniques for Texture, Color and Layers
by
Mary Beth Shaw

Creative individuals are typically as passionate about food as they are making art. So while this is a mixed-media technique book, there are underlying analogies of cooking. A dinner-party setting has a guest list featuring contributing artists. You will be introduced to five chapters, or "courses": Color, Layers, Texture, Flavor and Combinations. Each chapter features projects with stepped-out techniques pertaining to that chapter, as well as tabletalk (inspiring insights and constructive tips) from the guests, and sidebars (What?s in Your Pantry) for ideas such as using found objects, painting over ?failed? works and stimulating your brain when you?re out of ideas. Techniques for the projects will show you how to do things like develop layers with stencils, create texture with items like a cheese grater or combine different substrates into one project.

Mary Beth Shaw has been exhibiting in galleries and art shows across the country since 2000. Her mixed-media works incorporate acrylics, pastel, ink, maker and various collage materials. Her pieces have been published in Cloth Paper Scissors as well as in Creative Awakenings by Sheri Gaynor (North Light Books, 2009). Her teaching style and classes have been very well received on the art-retreat teaching circuit.

Bishop Pivarunas graces the plaidbunny with a photo op

2011-04-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

It was my niece and nephew's confirmation yesterday and the Bishop Pivarunas was gracious enough to take a photo with me. It truly is a Plaidbuuny shot as I am wearing a bunny fur scarf and clearly a plaid coat. I love when I can put together outfits like this.

Want to see another photo of me with another Bishop, one from waaaay back in 1983? Pop on over to The Card Album Blog to see a few and for a tutorial on how to make a faux Polaroid.

And not onto hoppin' good crafty links!

About Family Crafts
Get a start on your Easter crafting by making homemade Easter baskets!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a free crochet pattern for Easter Bunny ears for your Amineko (or little plushie), a link to a super cute felted egg tutorial, a 1,000 Paper Graphics Call for Entries, how to use words to create an image and a fun knit glasses photo.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has a copy of the wonderful new book "Steel Wire Jewelry" that she is just dying to give away!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
A fun and easy crochet Easter Egg pattern.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Make these darling lamb place card holders for Easter or any special spring dinner. So cute!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy has 4 good reasons why her crafting and blogging and life in general have been interrupted lately.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi re-vamps a plain leather briefcase.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how to make an easy Easter basket cake that's cute as can be!

How to crochet an Easter Egg

2011-04-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

Got some scraps of yarn lurking around and in the mood to whip up a few Easter Eggs for decoration? They are super easy and quick! I was inspired to crochet these eggs after reading the new book Little Crochet: Modern Designs for Babies and Toddlers. I don't have babies or toddlers but I do have Aminekos and they just loved their eggs. If you like Roy's Easter Bunny ears and want to make a pair hop on over the Crocheted Easter Bunny Ears Pattern at Craftside.

This was the page that really inspired me. I loved the concentric circles in pretty colors on this blanket from Little Crochet and they reminded me of the stripes on Easter eggs and I thought how easy it would be to make some.
Here is the rough pattern on how to crochet Easter Eggs as it is quite flexible:

Yarn scraps
Hook to match yarn size.
marbles
stuffing
yarn needle

I pretty much used worsted weight yarn but some of my yarns were smaller so I double stranded.

Chain 3
7-8 single crochets into the first chain stitch
join with slip stitch
Single crochet around increasing about every other stitch until you get to about 15-17 stitches
At this point I started to change colors and make stripes.

Sometimes I did one round and then switched colors other times two rounds. If I planned to use the color again I left the yarn on and just picked it back up when I wanted to use it again. This saved a bit of end knotting etc.

After I did about 6 rows of stripes with no increases I started to decrease about every 3rd or 4th stitch to make the pointier end of the egg.

I should also note after the row of my last color change I trimmed the ends and knotted while the opening was wide.

After a few rounds with decreases I added 3 marbles and some stuffing.

Then when there was only about 3-4 stitches left I cut the yarn and stitched the egg closed.

Pretty easy, hu? Well, if you like crocheting little cute things you will love this book filled with these types of projects!
Little Crochet
Modern Designs for Babies and Toddlers
By
Linda Permann

More about the book from Potter Craft:

Linda Permann, author of Crochet Adorned, brings modern colors and fun-to-work stitch patterns to the pint-sized crowd with this cute collection of over 24 clever crochet patterns for kids.

The adorable designs in Little Crochet are worked in a range of washable fibers and vibrant hues that babies and toddlers are sure to love. Make tiny sweaters, dresses, pants, and accessories while exploring a range of construction techniques, including top-down cardigans, side-to-side sweater vests, motif-based yokes, and traditional seaming. Beautiful blankets, sweaters, soft toys, bibs, booties, and hats employ simple stitches that are sure to steal the show at baby showers. Whether you have a couple of hours or a couple of weeks till the baby's due date—you'll find the perfect project in this book.

And here's the best part: Little Crochet includes size ranging from 0–4+ years, so you can keep crocheting as the little ones in your life grow. Plus, Linda has included lots of wearable patterns for both boys and girls, with swatches showing alternate colorways sprinkled throughout. Each pattern is designed to spark your own creativity, complete with how-to instructions for adding your own crafty touches like sewing, embroidery, and appliqué. Work confidently from Linda's easy-to-follow instructions, clear stitch diagrams ,and schematics, and her illustrated guide to basic and advanced stitches and finishing techniques.

Whether you’re new to crochet or experienced with a hook, you'll find these little designs a joy to stitch and share.

LINDA PERMANN is the author of Crochet Adorned and has published over 50 crochet designs in magazines including Crochet Today, Interweave Crochet, CRAFT, Knit Simple, and Living Crafts. She designs and teaches crochet in San Antonio, Texas. When she's not crocheting, she also enjoys sewing, knitting, gardening and playing with her adorable nephew. Read more about her crafty adventures at www.lindamade.com.

Adele's Rolling in the Deep with crafty links

2011-04-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

I simply love, love, love this song and video!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a recycled plastic stamped heart necklace tutorial, how to use research to spark your creativity and draw three-quarter and frontal vintage style portraits along with a fun way to use plates as a font in signage.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Eileen made a necklace and earring set using shells gathered on vacation and shares the how-tos.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi finished up one of the little fabric books that she's been working on!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Learn how to make a painted dotted line greeting card.

The Crochet Dude
Drew unveils an opportunity to unleash your inner crochet designer!

About Family Crafts
Kits are a great way to buy craft supplies and to try new craft techniques. Sherri shares some advice and tips to help you choose craft kits.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen re-shares a fun and easy tutorial showing you how to colorize vintage and black-and-white images.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi showcases some new products from a Canadian trade show.

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess decides to barter for a baby afghan.

How to make a dotted line and recycled newpaper greeting card

2011-03-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

This is my #6 card in my 365 Greeting card project that I am posting over at The Card Album blog but I thought I'd share the tutorial with you here. I used a technique from the book
Mixed-Media Paint Box: Weekly Projects for a Year of Creative Exploration.
You don't tend to think of your sewing supplies as painting tools but that's what Giuseppina "Josie" Cirincione did by coming up with the idea for using a tracing wheel to paint dotted lines.
I grabbed a piece of pink card stock and tried out this fun way to paint dotted lines.
Now that I had this cool dotted line paper it was time to make it into a greeting card.
I had this page from the newspaper that had some cool illustrations by Katherine Streeter and I picked one to incorporate onto my card and off to one of my favorite sources for quotes, One Up Me, and I picked "She's like bell-bottoms, had a fit over boots."

Pop on over to The Card Album blog to see some of my other cards, mostly made out of something recycled and make something too!

More about the book:
Mixed-Media Paint Box: Weekly Projects for a Year of Creative Exploration
By
The Editors of North Light Books

Play With Paint All Year Long!

Inside you’ll find:

+ 52 projects and techniques, one for every week of the year, to inspire a weekly dose of creativity.

+ Tips, hints and suggestions from some of your favorite authors, including Ruth Rae, Claudine Hellmuth, Chrissie Grace, Bernie Berlin and Margot Potter.

+ Step-by-step instructions for jewelry-making, assemblage, journaling, collage and a variety of painting techniques to incorporate into your own art.

Discover inspiration and new ways to express yourself every week inside Mixed-Media Paint Box!

In Memory of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire 100 years ago

2011-03-25T16:28:00.000-07:00

It was 100 years ago a terrible fire took the lives of so many sewers. So sad. I spotted this wonderful old sewing machine that a charming repair guy had refurbished and gave a new caring case to at the swap meet. Ahhh you can just imagine all the wonderful things this machine has stitched and all the possibilities it still holds.

And speaking of possibilities check out what my fellow crafty bloggers have to inspire your futeure creativity:
Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a free vintage octopus clip art, idea for using steel wool for doll hair, a unique redwork crazy quilt and a tutorial on how to make mini art collages.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Following up on last weeks post Carmi prepared a two part sachet making tutorial.

Crafty Princess Diaries
For those who don't like slip stitching when working in the round, this babay hat pattern discovered by the Crafty Princess is perfect and easy to make.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Eileen shares directions for sewing a secret pockets hanger cover. This clever organizer can also be used to organize outfits.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to get your rubber duckies to take flight with some recycled plastic.

The Card Album
See how to make a jackalope card with a bunny and deer punch.

The Crochet Dude
Drew announced his "Carnation Bouquet Afghan Project" - looks like a FUN way to crochet for charity! There is also a way to win something from his product line The Crochet Dude Collection!

About Family Crafts
Even if you don't have spring weather where you are, you can celebrate spring with these flower coloring pages.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you an Altered Composition Notebook tutorial this week, stop by and check it out.

Punk rock rubber ducky and super sized winged ducky inspired by the book The Artful Bird

2011-03-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

Once a punk rock girl now a punk rock themed crafter. I mean really, don't all rubber duckies need a giant mohawk?
Back in this post I got all my ducks in a row. Now I am putting my crafty touch on them with a bit of inspiration from the fun book The Artful Bird: Feathered Friends to Make and Sew.
At the big box craft store they have these plain white rubber duckies that you can draw on to make them your own. Well, I thought I'd add to them.
Since these little guys were likely to be around water plastic was going to be my material. Off to the plastic bottle stash and I had a nice white bottle to run through the Sizzix die cutter. I was actually thinking a milk jug was going to work but I didn't have one at hand. Imagine that?
This page from The Artful Bird with all sorts of wing surface treatments was my inspiration. Again I had to stick to plastic material to hold up around water and what is great for that?
Why yes, a Tyvek shipping envelope is perfect. And what better way to cut it than with with the Simplicity Deluxe Rotary Cutter with the scalloped or pinking blade to make tons of strips in seconds flat!
I scuffed up the plastic bottle wings a bit with sand paper so the glue would stick better and then laid the Tyvek strips on overlapping them and leaving the outer edges loose so that they would stick up a bit. Then a quick trim for shaping.
Now these guys were too heavy to float without some sponge assistance. I had one wing left and my wacky head thought it looked hysterical as a mohawk, so that is what it became! I had so much fun photographing them floating around.

More about the book:
The Artful Bird: Feathered Friends to Make and Sew
by
Abigail Patner Glassenberg

Join the flock! Create your own aviary of charming, beautifully detailed, one-of-a-kind fabric bird sculptures with basic machineand handsewing, embroidery, and mixed-media craft techniques. The Artful Bird presents 16 incredibly charming, quirky, personality-filled birds for you to make! Through a detailed chapter of step-by-step basic birdmaking techniques and tips, you will not only learn to make these cute creatures, but also discover how to craft your own patterns for almost any bird—real or imagined.

Inside you’ll also find Glassenberg’s creative ideas to give each bird individual character and personality, from using paint and glitter to adding collage elements. Plus, check out an international gallery of birds from other noted fabric bird makers for more inspiration!

Talk about a Super Moon!

2011-03-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

This wasn't a black and white photo but it sure looks that way. I also just love the name "Super Moon" like it wasn't already but it really is phenomenal!

And here on Earth here is what us crafty Earthlings are up to:

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to make a custom car windshield sun shade, carve novelty erasers into cute rubber stamps, paint pale skin tones, some history about sheet music and a crazy quilt made with techniques from the book Designer Bead Embroidery.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Eileen reviews Chapter 4 of Cyndi Lavin's eBook, Every Bead Has a Story.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi found a new product to help out with her fabric books.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make an Easter egg locket necklace.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you a couple of Easter Egg projects to inspire you!

About Family Crafts
Follow these tips shared by Sherri to successfully color on fabric.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi makes a sweet sachet with fabric she printed herself.

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess gives you the scoop on some yarn deals she found at her local Michaels.

Easter Egg Locket necklace

2011-03-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

The first line in the description of the book Curious Dreams is, "It's all about creating the curious." and I have to say the book inspired me to do just that. One of the most "curious" charms is a locket and the new line Fairy Tale from Blue Moon Beads has 3 charming lockets including one of my all time favorite shapes- an egg. The egg locket and some of their other new clasps, chain and bead strands were the perfect elements to make a spring mixed media necklace inspired by one of the pieces in the gallery section of the eye candy filled book Curious Dreams.
Now this book is packed full of really cool casting and molding techniques that I am so going to try when I score some epoxy clay but right now it's the tiny fun details that have my creativity hatching.
So I wanted the egg locket to be the focal dangle and I linked it onto this great big beautiful toggle clasp. Coming off each side I used super sized chain (this is Blue Moon Bead's as well although it's from their Fashion Findings line) and on the other side I used a smaller chain and the Fairy Tail Acrylic and Metal Bead strand.

I attached each side while the lengths were long and then held it up to my neck in front of the mirror to decide how long I wanted it to hang. I used safety pins to mark each length. I opened the links on each side and then linked the two ends together since the clasp is in the front.
Since this pretty little enameled egg is in fact a locket and opens up it needed something in it like the inspiration piece had. A great source for tiny photos is the contact sheet you get when you have your photos printed. I had the perfect photo of me and my cousin from a few Easters back with our bunny ears on.
I trimmed the photo down and glued it into the egg locket on one side. I will keep my eyes out for another tiny photo or something else for the other side or to layer on top of the photo but for now your curiosity will just have to be sparked!

More about the book:
Inspired Remnants, Curious Dreams:
Mixed Media Projects in Epoxy Clay
By
Kerin Gale

"It's all about creating the curious. Inside this book, you will be introduced to 26 very unique and unusual stepped-out projects, each offering new techniques using epoxy clay. Two-part epoxy clay can be sculpted and manipulated in a variety of ways and is extremely durable when cured, resulting in amazing effects that are easy to achieve with no sculpting experience necessary! You will learn the basics of working with this new craft medium and then dive into the projects, which feature sculpted and molded epoxy clay inspired by and often combined with altered remnants. Projects include mixed-media pieces such as a small totem, curio cabinet, fish tank and lighting along with personal style and jewelry items fashioned in a curious, Victorian Gothic style.

Kerin is part mad scientist, rogue artist, goddess of software quality, teacher, writer and explorer of all things curious. When not in the studio or garage sailing, she can be found frolicking about deserted beaches seeking out windswept treasures and watching inspiring tales wafting by in a remote area of the southern Oregon coast.

Kerin loves to work with many art materials including resins, found objects, clays of all sorts and metals.

Another great love is sharing with other artists. To that end she has launched an online mixed media art site with their own etsy team, a huge collection of art images, online workshops, featured artists, book reviews and artistic challenges.

She, along with her gifted husband, Charley Slaughter, create mechanical art (automata), sculpture and jewelry and are represented in several galleries. They also teach at national art retreats as well as local venues. Kerin's work can be found in Somerset Studio magazine, Altered Bits Zine, 1,000 Steampunk Creations (Quarry Books July 2011) and 500 Pendants and Lockets (Lark Books May 2008)."

Brackets are Crafty!

2011-03-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

This past Christmas my family was all together and my parents have a ping pong table. My little nephew wanted to have a tournament which meant brackets were needed. I bring this up now as one of my FBF posted that she was going to be filling out one for the first time tonight. I really had no idea about any of this not being too much of a sports follower. Within minutes of his arrival he had us drawing numbers for our initial positions and my Mom was the "bye". I am assuming that the WPPC stand for The World Ping Pong Championship and I don't have any idea who the announcers are but he clearly felt the need to include them on the bracket page. It made a crafty aunt so proud when he instantly gathered up the ruler, paper and pen and started drawing this bracket page. Needless to say he won the championship :)

OK now what my crafty peeps are up to this week:

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there are videos on how to use henna stencils in your art journals and the 365 skull a day project and tutorials on how to make a recycled sweater clover for St. Patrick's Day and a stitched 2 fold postcard book.

About Family Crafts
Looking for some St. Patrick's Day printables? Sherri has some coloring pages, games, cards, and more!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi makes a gatefold card...with a gate embellishment!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Black Dog is offering 50% off on two books that paper-artists will enjoy.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Eileen shares some of the pleasures and perils of working from home.

Mixed Media Artist
Bicycles as art! See what happens when an avid cyclist gets snap-happy with his cell phone camera!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to lengthen the straps of a tank top with a recycled t-shirt and little help from a Simplicity Power Rotary Cutter.

How to add stretchy straps to a tank top to lengthen it

2011-03-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

Today's post is brought to you by the motto "If you cut it up, it will come" Summer that is! I am "D", "O", "N" ,"E", done with the cold!!! I was chatting with someone who originally lived here but now was in New England and they made a snarky "oh you are having weather" out there comment. I don't live here to have "weather"!!!! Come on mother nature work your magic!
A girl can dream of wearing her little fun tank tops and skirts can't she? I pulled out some of my summer tanks and while I love this gray tank for the studded details it is a bit short in the waist so I thought I'd lengthen it at the top straps.
Pretty easy, I just cut along the top seams.
Next to make some new and improved long straps I went to the scrap stash and found a nice chunk of gray t-shirt that had enough fabric to use for new straps.
I cut the sleeves open and after a few passes under the Simplicity Deluxe Rotary Cutter at the 2.5 inch setting I had 4 new straps for my tank. (After I first trimmed off the sleeve hems.)
In keeping with my new "trying to do things more rock n' roll" less rigid I opted for a crazy top stitch to sew the new t-shirt strips onto the tank.

Try as I might to be all irregular about this I ended up with almost perfect 5 point stars by the 4th strap. I just can't do things with out some order creeping back in after repetition sets in.
I would like to note I used my zipper foot because I had to work around a metal stud under the top fabric which I later trimmed so as to expose the stud underneath.
All that was left to do was try on the tank and have some fun tying the straps different ways! This was my favorite with a knot tying the front strap to the back seam and the back strap at the front seam. I tried bows at the shoulder and a few other places but the knots with the double strap effect seemed to win.

Happy cutting all y'all!

Giveaway, Interview and Review of Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing

2011-03-08T09:10:00.000-08:00

Let me say that I love reading books by crafty peeps about creative people that I wish I could hang out with in real life. That's what Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing is all about.

Don't believe me?

Well leave a comment in today's post and you are entered to win a copy of Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing or Kathy's first book Waking Up in the Land of Glitter: A Crafty Chica Novel. I will randomly select two winners who will receive one of her books. Enter by midnight Pacific time March 15th, 2011 and you are in the running for some good reading!
Two of my favorite quotes from Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing:

"....she was, being made to feel like a misfit minx by the one person who should have been holding her pincushion."

and
"I think it is doggone silly that people wait until January 1st to adjust the volume on their optimism."

Kathy was gracious to take the time to answer a few questions I posed to her on her busy blog tour. (This photo is from her product launch at the Michaels awhile back but I just had to share it.)
Here are her fun answers:

When do you make time to write in your crazy (in a good way life) full of family and crafting?

"I LOVE to write, it is my escape and it calms me. It is a sacred thing, it sounds goofy, but I swear it is the truth. I always write late at night after the family has gone to bed. Even with my very first book, Making Shadow Boxes and Shrines - that was in 2002, I had already settled into my habit of night owl typing! It works well with my novels because my mind is free and clear of "kathy" or "crafty chica" and my world transforms into that of the characters."

Do you scribble ideas on napkins and bits of paper when they come to you? Or do you remember them by emailing them to yourself from your phone? Or.....

"Just like with ideas for projects to make, I do anything and everything. I take a lot of pictures, I carry a mini journal in my purse, sometimes in my bra! I email and do voice memos. They all come in handy because I'll forget. I hate it when I finally go to bed and I get all snuggled in and close my eyes - and then a scene pops in my head. I absolutely have to get up and write it down so I don't forget! Just like with any creative project!"

Do you indulge in retail therapy? If so what are your favorite stores?

"You know, I'm not a big power shopper. I'd rather make my own designer purses than buy them. I'm not a big fashionista. I do love big rings and chunky bracelets. Someday when I die and they read my will, someone will ask "Who did she leave her costume jewelry collection to?"

Are the musical tastes of your characters your own? If not what's hot on your current ipod playlist?

"For the first book, Star's music was the music I listen to. But with Miss Scarlet, I forced myself out of my comfort zone. The music ranges from Glenn Miller to John Coltrane to Perez Prado! As far as what I listen to, right now on my play list I have Bomba Estereo, Michelle Blades, Marina and the Diamonds, Pato Banton and Florence + The Machine"

Have you ever made a "Ten things no on else has probably done list"?

"Here's a few!
1. Thought I had a ghost bugging me only to find out it was a baby lizard stuck in my hair. It fell on me while we were cleaning the backyard shed!
2. Woken in my car up by Ziggy Marley.
3. Fell asleep in the wrong tour van and woke up to find a band of Caribbean musicians all around me! (long time ago!)
4. Honked at a happy couple walking down the sidewalk to startle them out of their bliss because I was mad because I was single. (long time ago)
5. Put glitter on my husband's painting when he wasn't looking.
6. Drinking wine to calm my nerves at my mother-in-law's birthday party, only to get "too calm" and jump in the pool with all my clothes on in front of everyone (it wasn't a swim party). My husband told me that he said "Was that my wife who just did that?"
7. Wrote a love note to my dad's leg with a Sharpie on his leg, right before they took him into surgery to have it amputated due to cancer.
8. Got kicked out of the office chocolate club for accidentally eating all the chocolate. (I didn't know it was the group's coveted stash!)
9. Interviewed Matthew McConaughey right after he got out of the hotel shower, he wore nothing but his fluffy white bathrobe and still had water droplets on his chest!"

More about the amazing book that makes me torn between reading it and sparking my creativity so that I want to go make something!

Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing
By
Kathy Cano-Murillo

The founder of popular www.craftychica.com pens her second Crafty Chica novel, following Waking Up in the Land of Glitter (2010). Scarlet Santana has abandoned a promising engineering career to follow her passion for sewing. To raise money to attend a prestigious design academy in New York, she works for a local designer, teaches a sewing class, and sells clothes on her web site devoted to Daisy de la Flora, the flamboyant designer who inspired Scarlet's retro look and bubbly approach to life. As Scarlet works herself to exhaustion, the women in her sewing class become their own an unofficial support group. When her big break turns out to be a big bust, Scarlet must consider whether following her dream is worth losing herself. Cano-Murillo lays the quirkiness on thick, but the story amidst the gimmicks has a lot of heart. --Aleksandra Walker

The Aminekos get a ride and "remove before flight flags"

2011-03-07T10:23:00.000-08:00

The gracious volunteer "Bob" at the Edwards Air Force Base museum let the Aminekos pose on one of the bombs displayed. This is after a trip to the museum store to get their "remove before flight ribbon tags"
They had so much fun that day posing.
OK crafty link time!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to make a yarn wrapped bead necklace, create a story and art about your favorite thing and sketch a sitting woman, a podcast about the book I "heart" design, and a font made from allen keys.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make a recycled t-shirt and wire hanger St. Patrick's Day shamrocks.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Writing and journaling, whether prose or poetry, can help you move forward as an artist. Here's an example from Eileen that turned out to be quite prophetic.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi explores mixing traditional embroidery with her beadwork.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how to make a colorful springtime tote.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi gives herself a Graphics 45 paper challenge!

Crafty Princess Diaries
The baby afghan granny square is done! Here's what I will change next time.

Giant Recycled T-shirt Shamrock craft decoration for St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-01T14:30:00.000-08:00

I love crafting "green", both eco-friendly and for St. Patrick's Day
I like working in all different scales. I did two fun crafts for St. Patrick's day. One tiny little recycled wool felted sweater shamrock pin and these big shamrock wall decorations out of hangers and t-shirts. Read on for the recycled t-shirt and wire hanger wall St. Patrick's day shamrock. I'll be posting the tutorial soon for the recycled sweater shamrock!

First I went to the old t-shirt stash for some green t-shirts and to the closet for some wire hangers.
To cut the t-shirts into strips I ran them through my Deluxe Rotary Cutter. This made the job so easy and quick. I set the Rotary Cutter to about 2.5 and I got about 5 yards of t-shirt strips from each shirt. I just kept cutting around and around.
I bent 4 hangers each in kind of a "heart" shape.
Then I taped them together with a bit of packing tape and wrapped them with the t-shirt strips. I wrapped with one color to cover the hanger and then with the other color loosely to make a candy can like stripe. The big shamrock took 2 t-shirts to cover. So I had one t-shirt all cut into a strip so I bent one more hanger and made a little shamrock.