Stefanie's version of Happy Bunny

Mixed Media Artist
Let's do the twist! Cyndi demonstrates a fun way to paint fabrics with a surprise ending.

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen gets crafty with wallpaper! A review, how-to project and contest to win a copy of Wallpaper Projects.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside has the latest episode of Look, Learn & Create featuring William F. Powell showing us some great methods of mixing paint colors, and there is an explanation of the different types of clay, how to plan a business, draw an outline for an illuminated letter, and finally how-to's for beading and embellishing filigree jewelry from Karen and Ann Mitchell.

The Artful Crafter
Eileen helps a reader who needs to start her Christmas crafting early with instructions for a beaded glow-in-the-dark star ornament.

The Impatient Crafter
Ranger has a three day intensive university and Madge has the 411 after spending a weekend getting fully certified! Inky and crafty goodness was enjoyed by all!

About Family Crafts
Check out photos of home-made Father's Day cards and submit your own photos to this gallery.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you another printable freebie...a word sheet for you to download and use in your art . . .

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Alexa shares several craft projects that she has every intention of eventually making.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Have you heard of the book Weekend Sewing? Tammy offers some tips for making copies of the patterns in this new book by Heather Ross.

CraftyPod
Sister Diane's latest podcast is all about how to write a great craft blog.

Cross Stitch at About.com
An unsettling project has Connie in a contemplative mood. What do you think of this project?

Sweater Surgery Toilet Paper Cozy Inspired by the new book- Felt Furnishings by Anne Kyyro Quinn

Felt never looked so modern and stylish!
Felt Furnishings: 25 Accessories for Contemporary Homes

By
Anne Kyyrö Quinn

High style with an irresistible texture–in a fabric you love!

The contemporary creations of Anne Kyyrö Quinn are not your traditional pillows and throws. Following her sculptural approach to home décor, each piece has an appealing tactile quality that makes it truly stand out. Quinn’s fabric of choice, felt, is soft, durable, and easy-to-find, making it perfect for home sewing. Best of all, felt holds its shape, making it possible to turn any home accent into a striking multidimensional accessory. Whether folded, sliced, ruched, or gathered, these bold pieces are sure to add designer style–and cozy comfort–to any living space.

Felt Furnishings brings Quinn’s designs to the home crafter with 25 beautiful, easy-to-sew projects that will update the look of any room. From one-of-a-kind cushions and pillows to blinds, lampshades, wall panels, curtains, bedspreads, and more, there is something here for every home. And with 200 full-color photographs and comprehensive step-by-step directions, these designs are as easy to create as they are gorgeous to look at.

ANNE KYYRÖ QUINN established her studio in 1999 with a portfolio of six core designs. Her collection has expanded to include blinds and window screens, wall panels, table accessories, and upholstery fabrics. She is one of Britain’s leading manufacturers of handcrafted interior textiles, and her products and custom textile services have been distributed to design showrooms and retail outlets around the world. Anne lives in London.

As I stated in my opening line, making felt look contemporary can be quite the challenge. I found this out working on a design that is possibly the kitchiest item imaginable-the toilet paper cozy. But I think I did a pretty good job of un-kitching and making it modern with the help of Felt Furnishings.

Let me know what you think!

Here is how to sew a toilet paper cozy using a adaptation of one of the techniques from
Felt Furnishings.

This being sweater surgery, off to the stash for a recycled wool sweater that has been felted.

I think the bold stripes here are a good start.I cut a piece off the bottom edge of the sweater so I would have the finish edge of the sweater be the bottom of the toilet paper cozy.
Then I cut out little ovals with half being each color of the stripe. I then pinned them on spiraling up the cozy. This is the part where I must have tried a million locations to sew the ovals down and most options looked "cutsie" and not modern.
In the book she sews the ovals down along the center line and then attaches them closed but I only needed to sew them onto my base fabric since mine stayed closed because they were next to each other.Well here you have it one mod toilet paper cozy.

Crafty Blogger Links and a great Maker Faire Maker with what he made

As I was walking (make that running) around Maker Faire to try to see all I could, I saw this kid caring his masterpiece. I asked Dad if I could photograph them and he said yes. You may be wondering why I was particularly captivated by this particular piece, well I'll tell you. Right in the center is an orange pom pom stuck on a popsicle stick. I just loved the juxtaposition of all that electronic stuff and one of my favorite crafty elements! I really love this photo for 2 other reasons, the look on the kid's face and how he is still with all the motion behind him. It really sums up the day and event.

The Artful Crafter
How to make a wall hanger for a heavy plate or tile.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside wins Editor's Choice at Maker Faire-see lots of pictures from the fabulous event, the latest episode of Look, Learn & Create has a tutorial on how to make needle felted flowers from recycled wool sweaters, some excellent exercises to relieve back stress (what crafter couldn't use those), a free knitted leaf pattern and some cool quilt dish!

The Crochet Dude
Drew reviews Vickie Howell's new book "Pop Goes Crochet" and shows off his design for a driver's cap from page 18.

Vickie Howell
Hey, stitch fanatics! Dig movies? Love knit & crochet wear? Check in with Vickie's blog every week for Movie Mondays; posts with pictures from your favorite flicks and pattern suggestions for making similar, show stopping pieces. This week's feature: The Shining!

About Family Crafts
Have you played along with my Make-It-Over Craft Challenge yet? What would you make out of this ordinary object?

Aileen's Musings
Aileen is very excited to announce that the Ties That Bind Art Doll Raffle has begun! Its an amazing project, with contributions by over 100 artists. Stop by to find out how you can purchase raffle tickets to win this amazing art doll, and help us reach our goal!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Swelldesigner shares all week on her blog tales from SF Bay Maker Faire 2009 starting off with her Bizarre Bazaar experience!

Blisstree Arts
You can never know too many tricks for painting background fabrics!

Cathie Filian
You still have time to whip up a handmade gift for your Pop, Grandpa or Hubby and Cathie Filian has over 12 ideas!

Crafty Princess Diaries
What are your thoughts on retail and the off-line world today when it comes to craft stores and just in general?

CraftyPod
Sister Diane muses on how we crafters can help keep our favorite websites, magazines, and TV shows alive in a tough economy.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Check out Connie's Photo of the Week - it's one of her recent finishes and in her favorite medium - variegated floss.

Naughty Secretary Club
It's terrarium week over at Naughty Secretary Club and Jen is celebrating with a kitschy terrarium style picture frame tutorial! Grab your mini garden gnomes and glitter and stop on by!

Recycled Sweater Necklace brought to you by the new book-Feltique and the letter "O"

You know how sometimes a book just jumps out at you and you fall in love with the project on the cover and you don't even need to see anymore? (But there is sooooo much more!) That is the case with this book:
Feltique: Techniques and Projects for Wet Felting, Needle Felting, Fulling, and Working with Commercial Felt
by Nikola Davidson
and
Brookelynn Morris

What can you make from felt? What can’t you make from felt! Feltique shows you step by step how to master this versatile material. In one simple guide, you’ll have everything at your fingertips to create charming projects using a variety of felting techniques: wet felting, needle felting, fulling, and sewing commercial felt.

You’ll learn:
•Wet felting, a process involving heat, moisture, and agitation, require only a little soap, hot water, and elbow grease.
•Needle felting, in which you turn wool fiber into needle felt by merely pricking it with a felting needle, is like sculpting with wool.
•Fulling—the process of knitting or crocheting a garment and then agitating it in hot water and soap—creates a strong, durable wool fabric.

More than 45 unique projects offer quick and simple designs for beginners as well as fun and challenging endeavors for experts, and the techniques are perfect for creating everything from warm and fuzzy clothing to useful household items. For limitless inspiration in making all things felt and beautiful—from bauble earring to baby rattles, hats to handbags—you need this definitive guide.

NIKOLA DAVIDSON is the founder of Sticky Wicket Crafts as well as the cofounder and first president of Urban Craft Uprising.

BROOKELYNN MORRIS’s work has been featured on the cover of Craft magazine, where she is also a contributing writer.
OK-so the cover necklace was made with just a bunch of pretty circles of felt. I went to my die cut stash and poked though to see what I had that would work. I found a letter "O" and cut out a whole bunch out of lavender and army green recycled felted wool sweaters.

Here is what I made. I linked the "O"s to a chunky ball chain and the inside of the "O"s I stitched together with a silver bead on the center and then glued to a blank ring.

Whether they are the center of donuts or "O"s, nothing goes to waste!

In a blissful state post-Maker Faire I bring you Crafty Blogger links

CraftyPod
Sister Diane's been making some interesting stuff with her Cricut and Cuttlebug...

Cross Stitch at About.com
Meet Mr. X Stitch - Learn more about the man who helps put the X in x-stitch. Mr. Cross Stitch aka Jamie Chalmers designs and supports modern Cross Stitch and embroidery.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's got the latest episode of the video series Look, Learn & Create with Amy Hanna author of Rejuvenated Jewels, 1 of the tips from the book: 100 Habits of Successful Freelance Designers, a sneak peek in Book-Art with more info about Swap-o-rama-rama at Maker Faire this weekend and how to make a stencil portrait from L. K. Ludwig's book: True Vision.

The Artful Crafter
Eileen shows you how to make beautiful roses from paper clay. Paper clay is fun to work with and very easy on the hands. For this project the only molded shapes you need to make are balls and cones. Then you flatten them to make either rose petals or leaves.

The Crochet Dude
Kick off summer with Drew's latest free pattern, "Brain Freeze"!

The Impatient Crafter
It's Flip Out Flip Flop Summer madness at The Impatient Crafter. DIY a pair of lace up Goddess sandals with Madge!

Vickie Howell
Download a free Pop Goes Crochet pattern for the "Doris" summer scarf!

About Family Crafts
Find out how easy it is to create your own tie-dyed masterpieces!

Aileen's Musings
Are you looking for a new party invitation idea? Aileen has a mini tutorial for a banner invitation in a tin! Stop by and download your own freebie banner!

Blisstree Arts
Cyndi has been featuring some awesome polymer clay artists recently. Check out Dayle Doroshow's work!

Cathie Filian
Whip up some flirty summer fashions with Cathie as she dyes slips.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy reviews a book that may have answers for your crochet questions.