Hot new Veil Bellydance How to Video by Leela

Do you like to have fun and workout? I do. And that is what belly dancing is. My troupe leader and teacher for just about all the time I've been dancing has a new fabulous veil choreography tutorial video. Let me also say veil work (or play as it were) is simply great for your arms!!! Check out this sneak peek:

And now craftistic links:

Mixed Media Artist
Give your photos a delightful old-fashioned look, while still keeping the color!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a tutorial on how to make recycled tape measure bracelets, using portmanteaus in your designs, vampire legends from a bunch of countries, Squam registration info and how to draw cute and crafty ladies such as you might be.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a flattened coil and recycled sweater bound journal inspired by the book Creative Bloom

About Family Crafts
The current make-it-over craft challenge is all about making Valentine card and treat holders. Do you have a favorite to share?

Aileen's Musings
Aileen has a new product announcement and giveaway!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi uses some free digital files to create new cards.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy's done some crafty Valentine's shopping, wee!

Cross Stitch at About.com
The road to success is not an easy path, but the journey is certainly worth it. Stitch the free Road to Success Sampler as a colorful reminder.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Have you ever crafted by camplight? Come on a crafting adventure with Eileen.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Learn how to make custom handcrafted ear wires in this week's video on demand for JTV's Jewel School!

Recycled Sweater wire bound Journal inspired by the book Creative Bloom

OK, I'm giggling. I am so inspired by the new book Creative Bloom: Projects and Inspiration with Fabric and Wire I can't stand it. It combines something hard and rigid-wire- with something soft and flexible-fabric- in such cute and endearing ways. So many of the projects and designs in this book were so unexpected. I, of course, had to try something right away!
I gave the flattened wire coil binding a shot. I combined it with my signature recycled wool felted sweater and some big embroidery floss for the stitching. I love the look of the scale of the loops with the thickness of the sweater.
It was pretty easy, although flattening the loops was a bit of a "mind-bender" yeah, pun intended there. If you haven't tried this particular combo of materials, wire and fabric, I bet you will love it like I did. I most assuredly will be trying more techniques as I have yet to really get fabric in my jewelry much and there are some great ideas in Creative Bloom: Projects and Inspiration with Fabric and Wire for just such a need.

More about the book from the Publisher-North Light Books-

"Creative Bloom: Projects and Inspiration with Fabric and Wire
By
Jennifer Swift

Cultivate Your Inner Artist!

Prepare your own garden of self-expression with the creative fabric and wire projects inside Creative Bloom. The seeds of inspiration will be planted as you learn how to make a butterfly-adorned lamp, a sweet bird sculpture, an inspired canvas bag and a sparkling cloud cuff. Each project features innovative techniques that you can use again in your personal artwork.

Creative Bloom features:

· 21 pretty projects for your art studio, home and wardrobe

· Vignettes and advice on gathering the right tools, forcing creative growth, finding inspiration in the seasons and staying motivated

· Step-by-step techniques that show you how sculpt wire, stitch fabric to wire, make fabric pages and more!

Grab some wire and rummage through your fabric stash. It’s time to unearth your creative potential!

About the Author

Jennifer's work has recently been published in Somerset Home and Sew Somerset. She is involved in local craft shows and has an active Etsy shop. She is currently a member of the Fab 5 design team for Singleton Studios, for which she will be creating projects using their lines, as well as developing lines of her own."

Stefanie, The Crochet Dude's Groupie at TNNA 2011

Yup! That's me with The Crochet Dude live and in person at TNNA 2011! And as the T-shirt states "Every Girl need's a BOYE". We had so much fun seeing all sorts of great yarns, knitwear and all the fun people who are a part of the yarn industry!

About Family Crafts
Play along with this week's make-it-over craft challenge by submitting craft projects made using bowls.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a chance to win a 26 pack of Gutermann thread and a copy of 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips, a free Valentine cherub shooting hearts graphic download, a link to a free "How to Draw" app for the iPad, tips on painting shadows and some apple recipes.

Aileen's Musings
Find out what an Artist Trading Block is and sign up for a Valentine swap with Aileen!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi uses a new punch to create these cute word sentiments.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy's new jewelry making book is totally official now, finally!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Jewelry closeout items at deep discount and a few things from your stash can make wonderful jewelry on the cheap. Check out Eileen's Serenity Bracelet.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Never get burned by a glue gun again! Check out these FABULOUS Hot Glue Gun Helpers from Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza!

Mixed Media Artist
Have you ever wanted to try combining collage with quilting?

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Book Review: The Knitter's Guide to Hand-dyed and Variegated Yarn

Book Review-The Knitter's Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn: Techniques and Projects for Handpainted and Multicolored Yarn

I don't know about you but I love variegated yarns.
I tend to buy multicolored yarn over solid colors. This then poses a challenge because often times the stitches I want to use won't show up with the mixed colored yarns. Well, The Knitter's Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn to the rescue! The Knitter's Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn if filled with stitches and patterns that include a single yarn and multiple yarns that really feature and accentuate all the great colors. There is even a Checkered Fair Isle pattern that comes out looking like a fabulous plaid!!! And even better it is a simple stockinette stitch! So if you are ready to kick off 2011 with some knitting projects that feature hand-dyed and variegated yarns I'll bet you will find just what you are looking for in:

The Knitter's Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn: Techniques and Projects for Handpainted and Multicolored Yarn
By
Lorna Miser

More about the book from Watson-Guptill:

"Cast on for your next variegated yarn project with new skills and renewed confidence

Do you covet the gorgeous colors of multicolored yarn but have been disappointed by patching, pooling, and other unintended “designs” that develop as they’re knitted?

In The Knitter’s Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn, hand-dyed yarn guru Lorna Miser transforms the experience of working with these beautiful yarns, whether they’ve been dyed by hand or commercially produced.

This informative stitch dictionary includes 10 simple, accessible techniques, 65 stitch patterns, and 20 projects that make the most of the dazzling color combinations and creative possibilities that variegated yarns have to offer.

LORNA MISER is the founder and original owner of Lorna's Laces, a well-known brand of hand-dyed yarns. She teaches classes and workshops on knitting technique and knitwear design at yarn stores, knitting guilds, consumer knitting shows, and yarn industry trade shows around the country. She is also the author of Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting. "