The Crafty Princess Diaries

Tammy Powley’s Crafty Weblog

April 1, 2015
by Tammy
2 Comments

April Crafting and Free Knitting Book Opportunity!

Come join the Crafty Princess Diaries Blog/Podcast Raverly group and show off your finished craft objects during the month of April. Those who participate (you can get the details here) will get a chance to win a copy of a new book that’s coming out this month by master knitter Lee Gant entitled Love in Every Stitch: Stories of Knitting and Healing.

ALL types of crafts are eligible…yarn, needlework, beading, whatever you make…post a photo of it in the April FOs thread in the Ravelry group and give us a little info about it. You must be a member of this group to participate. However, you can post as many finished objects as you like.

[Note: Winners for March have already been contacted and their prizes are heading out to them. Congrats to winners lmecoll and asimplehomestd!]

March 29, 2015
by Tammy
0 comments

Free Pattern, Pillows, Pipe Cleaner Rings, and Easter Ideas

Art Bead Scene

Take a trip Inside the Studio with Erin and read how she work with clients to create special, OOAK pieces just for them.

Best Crochet Hook?

This video from the Crafty Princess discusses the various types of crochet hooks available.

New Pillows

Cherie makes some pillows to go with her new slipcovers.

Free ABCDiamond Cross Stitch Pattern

Connie has added a new freebie over at Connie Gee’s Designs that was inspired by motifs from antique sampler patterns. Since the design is full cross stitch only there are many options for stitching it up.

Pipe Cleaner Ring Tutorial

Here is a fun video showing how to make pipe cleaner rings…these are great for parties, fish extenders, etc….

Embossed Spring or Easter Card Designs

Embossing adds a special touch to cards. Eileen shares four examples with directions. Change the words for cards to welcome spring.

Beading Arts

Want a quick little project with big rewards? How about these cute bead and wire earrings?

March 28, 2015
by Tammy
0 comments

Book Review: Q & A a Day, 5-Year Journal

Q&A a Day: 5-Year Journal is a five year journal published by Potter Style, retailing for $16.99 in the US and $18.99 in Canada. If you have ever attempted and failed at keeping a daily journal, this is a great solution because it requires very little writing and offers daily prompts in the form of fill in the blanks, questions, or commands. Here are a few examples:


“Today you’ve got too much _________________.

What do you want to remember about today?

Pick a color for today.”



These are placed at the top of the page, and then there are 5 sections below it to write in, one section for each year. This mean after you have completed the first year, you will be answering the same questions the next year and also able to see what you wrote in previously.

Each section is just four lines long, so if you want to write a lot, there is not enough room for that. However, that is kind of the point I think of how this diary is formatted. Who doesn’t have time to write four lines a day? Plus, even if you miss a day (I have forgotten a few times), you can catch up very easily since it doesn’t take a lot of effort.

Even though this is a quick way to keep a personal journal, I have to admit that the prompts have made me stop and think over my day a few times. It has made me slow down and sort of be in the moment, so I have really enjoy it.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

March 23, 2015
by Tammy
0 comments

Hemp and Bead Crochet Bracelet

I often think of design ideas when I’m half asleep. Sometimes this can be in the middle of the night when I really should be sleeping, but sometimes it will happen as I’m waking up. This past Sunday morning the latter happened, and lucky for me, I was able to clearly remember my idea instead of having a foggy recollection of it. To make sure I did not let the day get too far gone without having the chance to at least start my jewelry design idea, I pulled out some hemp and glass beads and set them in front of me to see as I sipped my morning cup of tea. This was going to happen!


Soon after breakfast, I located a size B crochet hook, and I got busy. I used about 4 yards of thin purple hemp and slipped on 30 glass beads onto it. Using chain and single crochet stitches, I start creating what I had envisioned a few hours earlier.




After a few stops and starts, I finally finished the crochet part and added a clasp. I have some ideas to improve on this design, but for the prototype, I’m very pleased with the results.

March 22, 2015
by Tammy
1 Comment

Beads, Bargains, Glass, and Threads

Art Bead Scene

Take a peek inside Heather Humblebeads’ studio, and see her new sgraffito inspirations!

From Dollar Store Plastic Bargain to Elegant Easter Eggs

How to transform inexpensive plastic eggs into lovely Easter ornaments. Place them on stands, hang them as ornaments or display several in a bowl or basket.

All About Glass Sculptures

Cherie has taken her glass sculpture obsession to a new level!

Comfy Quilt Cross Stitch Pattern

The free Comfy Quilt pattern was one of the first patterns Connie added. She chose her favorite colors for the design but it is easily changed to reflect your own color selections.

Bead a Pirate and Crush Some Yarn

This latest Crafty Princess Diaries Podcast is packed with fun crafting: beaded pirate dreadlocks, yarn love, knitting, and crochet.

Beading Arts

Have you fallen for the allure of twin beads yet?

March 18, 2015
by Tammy
6 Comments

Beaded Pirate Power & Yarn Love – Episode 17

I have a new video podcast up. This is full of fun crafts from beaded pirate jewelry (to become fish extender gifts when I take a Disney cruise this summer) to adorable amigurumi (can never get enough). Plus, I give you little virtual tour of a yarn shop located in Florida, and oh, yes, there’s some knitting chatter too.



Crafty Princess Diaries Blog/Podcast Ravelry Group

My Youtube Channel

Scarfutopia Pattern

Freshstitches Patterns

Tappingflamingo’s Fish Extender Work in Progress

March 16, 2015
by Tammy
0 comments

Book Review: Hattitude by Cathy Carron

Hattitude: Knits for Every Mood (Cathy Carron Collection) is published by Sixth and Spring Books and retails for $19.95 US and $25.95 CAN. It includes 40 knitted hat patterns. Each project includes at least one page of instructions, and then two color photos, one full-page and another smaller image, but the two photos help give you an idea of the various elements of each hat.

The designs are definitely feminine in style, so do not expect of find many that could be considered gender neutral. A few designs that I especially liked include the first project in the book called “Theatrical.” It sort of has a beret affect going on with it and interesting seaming at the top. “Vivacious” is another standout design. It has a woven pattern around it with a trim at the top. With 40 designs, I think it would be hard not to find at least a few that you may want to try making. I also like the fact that an assortment of yarns are used from various companies.

For anyone who wants to move beyond the basic beanie style hat, this has a lot to offer. There are very little basic-type instructions as far as how to do the stitches, so you will either need some experience or will want to supplement with a stitch dictionary if you are not already an experienced knitter.

March 15, 2015
by Tammy
0 comments

Yarn Score!



I will give you the full scoop on my yarn score during my next video podcast, which I plan to film in the next day or so, but here is a peek into my bag of goodies!

March 15, 2015
by Tammy
0 comments

Craft Tutorial, Shamrocks, and Stitching Storage

Art Bead Scene

Check out what Dawn of La Touchables made in response to our monthly challenge – wow!

Organizing Embroidery Floss

Connie’s craft room may look like a disaster zone, but her embroidery floss is neat and organized at least – find out all about the floss storage options she uses.

Shamrock Card Embellishments

Here’s a versatile card technique to add to your card making toolbox. Use green paper to form lucky shamrocks or four leaf clovers. Use pastel to make pansies, violets or other simple leaf flowers. Use your imagination.

Craft Show Time!

See some simple craft projects to make that work great for craft shows in this new podcast episode.

Beading Arts

Cyndi shares a brand new tutorial for a bead embroidery pendant that lets the focal take front and center stage!