The Crafty Princess Diaries

Tammy Powley’s Crafty Weblog

January 16, 2011
by Tammy
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Holiday Weekend Craft Links

Normally, this would be a major crafting weekend for me because in the US we are celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, which means a three day weekend for me. But, of course, the stars were not aligned correctly and instead I’m battling a heck of a nasty cold! I literally languished on the couch all day yesterday and did zero crochet or jewelry stuff or anything! Hopefully, things will be better today. There is much crafting to do!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares basic beading techniques in this week’s video on demand for JTV’s Jewel School!

Mixed Media Artist
There are lots of products that will give a translucent finish to paper. Cyndi experiments to see which ones work the best!

The Artful Crafter
Come one; come all. See The Artful Crafter Parade of Valentine Crafts.

About Family Crafts
If you can’t beat winter, celebrate it everyday with these simple crafts and activities!

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen shows you how to make a glittery crown any birthday Queen would be proud to wear!

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi tests glitter in a spray format to create beautiful sparkly cards.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a free penguin graphic download, a doll boot pattern and sewing tutorial, a video interview with Carri Hammett author of Mittens and Hats for Yarn Lovers, and the pros and cons of petroleum verses synthetic oil.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Join in the Cross Stitch Forum SAT, SWAT and don’t forget about the January Forum Challenge and the Duh One Challenge. Learn about these opportunities and other stitchy wonderfulness going on on Connie’s site.

January 12, 2011
by Tammy
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The “Ah” of Crafting

Of course, knitting seems to continue to get all the press these days, but I still really enjoyed a recent article in the New York Times that talked about the way knitting can make you feel good. It’s called “Crafting a Recovery” by Ann Hood. It’s a super short article and totally worth a read for any crafter.

As you read it, you could substitute “crochet” for the word “knit,” or really just about any type of craft such as beading, stamping, embroidery, and I think you would totally agree with the way she talks about how crafting can make people feel good.

January 11, 2011
by Tammy
4 Comments

Duckie Yarn is So Duckie

I normally don’t start more than one project at a time when it comes to crafting, or at least I try not to. I’m really deadline driven. When I start a project, I have a reason to finish it because 99% of the time I’m giving it to someone, or it’s for a writing project. That said, I wanted to try something different as far as yarn for the many baby items I crochet. I’ve been in a Berant Softee rut and decided I needed to try something different for a change. In fact, that was one of my new year’s resolutions when it comes to crochet, to try different yarns and branch out some on stitches.

Thus, I started this V-stitch baby afghan. The pattern is number 70119A from the Lion Brand site. While the pattern calls for cotton-ease, Vanna’s Choice Baby yarn was on sale in this beautiful bright yellow called “Duckie.” This is a 4-ply versus the 3-ply that I normally use, and it is a super bright color, not the typical pastels I’m used to.

The V-stitch works up very quickly. It basically is a form of double crochet, so it is very easy to learn if you are already a fan of double crochet stitch. I have not spent a huge amount of time on this blanket, and I’m already close to being about half finished with it already.

I’m looking forward to using more of this yarn and making more baby afghans with it.

The pattern is a keeper, and the yarn is great to work with as well. It is soft and chunky, so even though there are lots of holes in this blanket, it still feels pretty substantial.

January 10, 2011
by Tammy
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Knitting Video Discovery

While I was lurking around Ravelry, someone mentioned a web site called Knitting Help.com. Now, of course, I’m really a dedicated crocheter right now, but I have not totally given up the idea of trying the pointy sticks again at some point down the road. I have tried knitting two or three different times and found it to be so opposite of crochet that I never really got the hang of it. Having two tools in my hands and no hook on the end of either of them feels totally weird and uncomfortable to me. So I decided to go back to my hook and really learn to master that better before I tried taking up another yarn hobby. I still have a heck of a time with reading crochet patterns, but I have seen some progress with that over the past year or so.

Though admittedly I’m not ready to try knitting again in the near future, when I do decide to try it again, I think sites like Knitting Help will be great to use. This site is full of very to the point videos. It also has a forum, and oh, many of the videos are free. I watched a few and found them very easy to follow. Now whether or not my fingers will do what it demonstrated on the videos, that’s another story!

January 9, 2011
by Tammy
0 comments

Crafty Link Time

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 this 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
Stef offers a book review-The Knitter’s Guide to Hand-dyed and Variegated Yarn.

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

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.

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.

January 7, 2011
by Tammy
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Portable Craft Stash Idea

My mom enjoys going on cruises (for some weird reason), and whenever she goes, she usually brings me back a little something, often purses or totes since she knows how much I like them. I’m kind of a purse-a-holic.

On one of her recent cruises, she brought me back this fairly large purse. While I don’t mind a little flash now and then, I usually keep to a fairly conservative purse during the school year, so this wasn’t something I could see myself using as an actual purse. However, I immediately realized it would be great for carrying around craft projects. Right now, it is housing a baby afghan I’m working on, but this would also be good for jewelry supplies or other types of crafts.

I’m not sure how much she paid for this, but normally, she will get these pretty inexpensively, anywhere from five to ten dollars. So if you plan to take a cruise sometime or know of someone who is, this is a great souvenir that you can get some use out of.

January 5, 2011
by Tammy
2 Comments

My Book is Officially Out and About!

Finally, I got my official box of books from Mr. UPS the other day, and I’ve been hearing via Facebook and Twitter that contributing artists have also gotten their copies and so have those folks who ordered early via Amazon. It really has been about a year from start to finish on this project, and these things never truly seem official (even if you have gotten paid) until you get the hard copy in your hands!

Now I wait and keep an eye out for reviews. Hopefully, they are all good!

January 3, 2011
by Tammy
0 comments

Share a Square Looking for Crochet Squares

Do you have a square to spare? Even one square? The group Share a Square is made up of volunteers who are putting together 150 afghans for children with cancer. Here’s the info from the group’s Facebook page:

We are looking for crafty folks with BIG hearts! Share A Square will be putting together 150 crocheted afghans to give to children with cancer. These kids will be attending three different summer camps in 2011 (Camp Quality in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas). WE are going to blanket them with love from around the world.

They need crochet squares only, no knitted ones accepted due to stretching problems they have had in the past, and they should be 6×6 inches with 12 inch tails. I believe the tails will be used to stitch the afghans together. You can find out more details at the group’s FAQ. Even if you don’t crochet, they are asking that you pass along their information via social networks to help get the word out. These folks need a ton of little squares!

January 1, 2011
by Tammy
0 comments

Some Good Luck and Some Good Craft Links

In keeping with your New Year’s tradition, we are having black-eyed peas today. We also threw in some kale and carrots as well. The greens are supposed to represent cash and the peas coins. Hopefully, you and your family are enjoying a relaxing holiday weekend as well.

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi downloads a gorgeouss et of graphics to make a 2011 calendar.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at a Happy New Year Craftside there are tutorials on how to paint dots with watercolors, redo a scarf with nuno felting, a video tutorial from Traci Bunkers, a fun poster idea that combines two iconic bands and using your stuff to decorate in a fun way.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Find out the most popular free patterns from 2010. Add them to your stash and stitch one or two up to ring in the New Year!

Eileen – The Artful Crafter
Eileen made some lovely earrings from a kit by Tammy Powley and dubbed it “A Kit that Delivers”.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge revisits a favorite New Year’s Eve mixed media jewelry project.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has finished a fun little quilt made from her hand-painted fabrics!

December 30, 2010
by Tammy
2 Comments

Jumping Jasper the Dog Video

This is one of my dogs. He loves to jump like Tigger the Tiger, and I finally got a little of it on video, though he moves pretty darn fast! Normally around this time of day a few squirrels like to come by and get chased by both my dogs, but today, it was probably a little too cold out for them. So Jasper is looking for those guys!

Right after this, I called them in for dinner, and he showed up with a pine cone in his mouth, tail wagging, such a crazy dog!