Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter, has a video out to help your artistic dreams come true. Oh, and she also shows you how to use Cricut Expression machine that offers all kinds of artistic crafting fun.
September 23, 2009
by Tammy
1 Comment
September 22, 2009
by Tammy
2 Comments
Crochet Granny Squares Hit Red Carpet
I had to share this funny fashion story about actress Cate Blanchett and the granny square dress, designed by Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett. Of course, did they actually make the dress? Nope. Guess who did. No, not the grandmother but close, it was Sales’ mother who did the stitching.
Now, Cate Blanchett could look good in a potato sack, but I think this dress is kind of cool. I would have liked to see it in a lighter-weight yarn; though, I guess it’s probably cold down under in Australia right now where this event was held.
So does it look like someone wrapped her up in an afghan or is this some kind of new fashion statement for the future?
September 21, 2009
by Tammy
1 Comment
Yarn Bomb Book & Video Peek
Yarn bombing is the wacky, weird, and wonderful practice of adorning outside spaces with knitted and crocheted artwork. I love this idea, though I have to admit I can’t imagine myself with so much time that I would actually do this. Plus, down here in the South, yarn bombed items probably wouldn’t last very long. However, for those who think they may like to become part of the yarn bombing movement, there’s now a book out about it, which includes knit and crochet projects to get you going.
Here’s a video of one of the book launches where authors Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain show off some of the finished items from the book. My favorite has got to be the monster feet for the mailbox.
September 20, 2009
by Tammy
1 Comment
Craft Bloggers Unite 09/20/09
The Impatient Crafter
Madge talks about crafting a life of joy, which is a crafting of a sort indeed. The best sort.
About Family Crafts
If you are trying to find creative costume ideas for couples or groups of peoples, check out the lists I have compiled with the help of visitors like you.
Aileen’s Musings
There is less then 14 days until the Ties That Bind Art Doll Raffle is done. Stop by and read how you can help us spread the word !
Cathie Filian
Dry hands and feet season is just around the corner…Time to whip up some handmade lotion bars. Cathie has a yummy DIY recipe!
Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside’s got a chance to win a copy of Nature Inspired along with some original artwork by the author Tracie Lyn Huskamp, a fun Halloween ghost decoration delivered to you by Fedex, creatively photographing your shadow and a sneak peek into the soon to be released 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse.
Cross Stitch at About.com
Go Team! Make some sports-themed gifts or decorations using the free Sports Motifs Pattern Collection. Your fans will think you are “Number One”!
Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
What did I find at the Wisconsin Quilt Expo? Check it out!
Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi shares her finished quilt…and swears she is ready to start the next one!
Naughty Secretary Club
If it will sit still long enough Jen will find a way to make it into jewelry, even iron-on T-shirt transfers are not safe.
Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
See how to make a patch with a rubber stamp project inspired by the Super fun book- Bend The Rules With Fabric by Amy Karol
The Artful Crafter
If this isn’t a green craft, we don’t know what is! Let Eileen show you how to make desktop organizers from junk mail. Saving the planet – one catalog at a time.
September 17, 2009
by Tammy
6 Comments
Preemie Baby Blanket Finished
I finished the preemie baby blanket I blogged about recently, and I’m about half way through making a second one. The final size turned out to be about 20 inches, which includes a few inches of yellow trim around the variegated yarn. I used double crochet all the way, including the trim.
I have to laugh now when I think about how I wasn’t sure if I’d have enough yarn for making this. It actually just took one 4oz skein! I’m so used to making larger baby blankets, that I didn’t really get that preemie blankets are way smaller, duh, because the babies are way smaller. Obviously, I have plenty of yarn to make at least another one, maybe even two more.
September 16, 2009
by Tammy
0 comments
Lands’ End Knitting Chat w/Vickie Howell
Looking for some free knitting fun and chit chat? If you are on Twitter then you are in luck because yarn crafter Vickie Howell is hosting a tweeting chat tonight for Lands’ End. It runs from 7 to 9pm tonight, so you can pop in anytime between then in Tweet-ville and see what’s up.
For more information as well as how to get to the Tweet chat, go to this post over at Vickie’s weblog.
September 15, 2009
by Tammy
0 comments
Heartmade Website Back in Business
Yeah! The Heartmade Blessings website is back in business! I say “business” but I mean the business of giving. This is one web group I joined awhile back when I was looking for organizations to crochet items for. They are an amazing group of stitchers who make comfort afghans for all kinds of people who need a hug or two. Members of the group make 12×12 inch squares in whatever patterns they want and send them to other members who assemble them into finished afghans. It takes 12 squares to make one afghan. Then there are also members who sew up tote bags for the ghans when they are given to the recipients. Some members also make 6 inch squares to be assembled into bear-ghans for children.
All of the members’ time and yarn and stitches are donated. However, what I like about this group is that even if my squares aren’t super fancy (like granny squares or just double crochet which is mainly what I do) and even if I can’t do more than a few a month, because there are so many other members participating, even my small contribution is appreciated and helpful to the larger goal of the group.
Crocheting simple squares is a wonderful way to chill in the evening with one eye on the TV, so if you have thought about donating somehow with your yarn crafting, this group may be perfect for you. To find out more about donating squares or even yarn, go to the donations page of the group’s site.
September 14, 2009
by Tammy
0 comments
Click & Support Your Fav Blogger
My husband and I have started a new book project together that is going to require us to take a great deal of photographs. Now, we did this same thing for Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay Jewelry
As part of your new and improved set up, we knew we needed more lighting, so I was eyeballing a light tent kit available through Amazon. DH kept going back and forth about what he wanted to do, and I was getting impatient because we really need to start taking pictures, so yesterday morning, I went ahead and purchase the kit without his go-ahead.
As soon as I finished the last “click” to purchase it, I realized something I totally forgotten about….I should have gone to one of my many blog buddies’ sites to enter into Amazon before making the purchase. Instead I gone directly to the site. Dang it! Granted, bloggers like myself who have these Amazon ads don’t make a ton of money from them, but every little bit ads up.
Of course, a few hours later, DH finally said to purchase the kit (which I had already…ha ha..) and to also purchase a new tripod (ours was not sturdy enough) and a book he saw about taking photos of collectibles. Thankfully, this time I remembered to go through a blog when purchasing these smaller items, but I’m still really bummed that I didn’t think of this when buying the almost $100 tent kit!
Between books and other items, I’m a regular Amazon customer, and I would be many of us are since it so convenient and they sell just about everything. Plus, I like the customer reviews too. So next time you plan to purchase something via Amazon, remember to click and support your favorite blogger, even if it’s not me 😉
September 12, 2009
by Tammy
1 Comment
Craft Bloggers Unite 09/12/09
I just had to share this monster package of mushrooms my DH brought home from the store. I put a table knife at the top to give you an idea of how large these suckers are. This is just one example of why it’s dangerous for husbands to go to Sam’s! There are only two of us living in this house, so I’m not sure who he thinks is going to eat these. Needless to say, we are eating in this weekend, and mushrooms will be on the menu! At least I have plenty of blog links to check out a keep myself busy as I’m eating 104 various mushroom dishes this weekend!
Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
I may have to tackle a t-shirt quilt—I’m getting ideas from all directions.
Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has a copy of “The Art of Fabric Collage” to give away!
Naughty Secretary Club
Jen is in the midst of wrapping paper week with clever how-to idea, uses for wrapping paper that have nothing to do with gifts & a Wrapagami book giveaway.
Cross Stitch at About.com
Do you find solace in your stitching? Vote in the poll, read the comments, and share your own experiences.
The Artful Crafter
Do you know how to make a secret box book? It’s not hard – well – except on your fingers. Eileen shows you how. She took lots of photos since she won’t be able to type for a while. LOL.
Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
How to make a Cone Candy Holder Candelabra inspired by a pretty project from Paperie for Inspired Living by Karen Bartolomei
About Family Crafts
September is National Sewing Month! Why not celebrating by making one or more of these easy sewing projects.
Cathie Filian
Melt up some soy wax and make some easy candles with Cathie.
The Crochet Dude
Check out Drew’s super cool Crochet Word Search that he has as a free download on his blog! I wonder how quick I can finish it!
The Impatient Crafter
Get your teens ready for Back to School with these recycled denim book covers from The Impatient Crafter for I Love to Create!
Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love
Join Vickie & Lands’ End for a Twitter Party to celebrate the FeelGood campaign to benefit the homeless!
Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
It’s the return “Terrorific Tuesdays” on Swelldesigner’s blog! Learn about how you can participate in all the fun, spooky Halloween action!
CraftyPod
Check out Sister Diane’s newest ebook – Creating a Blog Audience: An Unconventional Marketing Guide
Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside’s got a fun skull quilt tutorial inspired by a quilt in the new book Quilting Art, how-to’s on painting rocks like skulls, eyes and more for Halloween, tips for re-purposing in the studio and the correct terms for the parts of a book.
Aileen’s Musings
Have you heard the term Altered Art or Altered Artist and wondered what exactly that means? Aileen has given her explanation of what Altered art is and how YOU too can become an Altered Artist!
September 11, 2009
by Tammy
0 comments
Patriotic Jewelry Mood
I know many of us in the US are remembering today. For obvious reasons, I’m in a patriotic jewelry wearing mood, as I’m sure many other are.
If you are looking for some ideas to beef up your red, white, and blue jewelry designs, I have lots of ideas in a new project list I put together. Many of these designs can also be adapted to different countries by simply changing the colors.