Art Bead Scene
Check out what talented reader Mihaela Georgescu of Extravaganza Beading has created in response to our January challenge – a stunning piece of wearable art!

Are You Ready for a New Year of Beading?
Eileen certainly wasn’t. In reviewing the year that was, she noticed that she hadn’t been doing much. Here’s why!

I Love Resin
This post features a step by step created after my resin clay and KLIK class at CHA over the weekend.

Craft-Along Announcement!
Catch up on the latest Crafty Princess Diaries Podcast, which includes the 411 on a Jan/Feb Craft-Along!

Alphabet Letters and Picture Wall
Cherie adds to a picture wall in her bedroom.

Beading Arts
Cyndi has a review of Lisa Kan’s beautiful brand new book, Bead Metamorphosis!

January 18, 2015
by Tammy
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Giveaway Reminder

Don’t forget! Heck, January is already well past the mid-point! Have you entered my January 2015 Giveaway? Do you even know how?

You can find all the details at this link, and then get on it folks! If you don’t enter, there is no way you will get a chance to win some wonderful crafting supplies! The deadline will be here very soon!

January 16, 2015
by Tammy
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Visit + Revisit Craft-Along

I am very excited to announce our first craft-along for the Crafty Princess Diaries Blog/Podcast group on Ravelry. It starton on 1/15/15 and end on 2/28/15.

Ravelry group members are invited to “revisit” a previous craft they have tried before and stopped doing for whatever reason and/or “visit” a new craft or project they have never tried before. For example, if you used to spin but haven’t for years, “revisit” it by picking up the roving again and give it a go. If you have been thinking of trying a new craft, like cross stitch, “visit” it by trying it for the first time.

The official thread for the craft-along is linked here, and we have a chatter thread as well. Participants will start their own post in the official thread and share what they are planning, working on, and how their “revisit” or “visit” is generally going.

Post pictures! Tell us what inspired you. Journal your experiences with us. Keep adding to your own post in the thread as we craft-along together throughout the rest of this month and February 2015 as well.
Finished objects are not required. In this craft-along it’s the process, not the product, that we will be sharing!

I will randomly pick someone at the end of the craft-along who will win a $5 Ravelry giftable pattern.

January 13, 2015
by Tammy
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Book Review: Charms: 20 Beading Projects

Simply Charms: 20 Beading Projects (Simply Pamphlet) is published by Lark Crafts and is a 64 page paperback-style book. As the subtitle indicates, it has 20 projects, and it retails in the US for $9.95 and Canada for $11.95. Considering the number of projects compared to the price point, this book is well-priced. It is a slim volume though, not overly full of technique instructions, which is just 5 pages. However, the projects included are pretty simple, good for jewelry making beginners.

The projects were designed by a variety of jewelry designers, and I am guessing most projects were reprinted from a collection of previously published books. This is just something to keep in mind. I see a pretty good amount of jewelry books on a regular basis, and I can’t say that I recognized any of the designs.

One other possible issue is that some project use very specific materials that not everyone may be able to acquire that easily. For example, there is a really cute bracelet that includes souvenir penny charms. I did a brief search online to see if I could quickly find vendors that sell these and had no luck. I would guess with more time and effort you may be able to find somewhere to purchase these, but they are not supplies you could find at most craft stores for example.

For beginning jewelry makers who like charms and want an economical book to help you with basic techniques for using them as well as design ideas, this book is definitely worth considering.

January 11, 2015
by Tammy
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Book Review: Gramma Nancy’s Animal Hats (and Booties Too!)

Gramma Nancy’s Animal Hats (and Booties, Too!): Knitted Gifts for Babies and Children is published by Potter Crafts and written by Nancy Nielsen. It retails for $18.99 in the US and $21.99 in Canada. Though you will find a few booties and some little mitten sprinkled throughout this book, its main focus is animal hats for babies and children. And, yes, this has a major “cute” factor going for it!

The designs are based on a rolled-brim hat and an ear flap hat, which are the first two projects in the book. From there, all the various type of animals hats included additions two either of these two patterns. So for example, if you are making the bunny hat, you will add ears and a snout. In the techniques area before the projects, it covers the different additions you would make to add the animal face to the different hats. There are a total of 19 different animals created with the hat designs, such as birds, frog, turtle, monkey, and so on.

Though there are technique instructions, you need to either have some experience or are ready to learn how to knit in the round with both circular needles as well as double pointed needles. Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice yarn is used for all the projects, so that means you will be using worsted weight yarn. The variety of animals are both girl and boy friendly, and they range in size from new born to child size (prob around 6 years old).

I can’t wait to attempt one of these adorable hats!

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

January 10, 2015
by Tammy
4 Comments

Episode 12: Not Giving You the Finger

This is my first attempt at editing my podcast video. Transitions are kind of rough, but generally, I think it turned out pretty well.

Intro and Thank Yous end around 4:15

Crafty Princess Diaries Blog/Podcast Ravelry Group

My Youtube Channel

Stashless Podcast

tinyknit.com

Finished Objects start at 5:25

Baby hat patterns are from the Craftsy.com “Circular Knit Lab: Hats Four Ways” class.

Noro Knit Cowl – Pattern inspiration from Simple Twisted Cowl pattern

I have the flower instructions posted on my Noro Flower Earrings project on Ravelry.

Works in Progress start at 12:19

M. Richard the Whale

Fan Shawl from Totally Simple Crochet: Over 30 Easy Projects for the Home and to Wear

Future Projects start at 16:45

Lion Brand Baby Kimono Pattern #L10465

Craft-Along Info starts at 19:15

Thanks for watching!

January 5, 2015
by Tammy
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Craft Challenges, Giveaways, and Pinterest Tips

Pinterest Tips and Most Pinned
Pinterest is terrific if you know how to use it efficiently and how to avoid spammers, like fake followers trying to get information about you. If you have a business website, Pinterest is a goldmine of market information.

Craft Supply Giveaway
In this 11th episode of Crafty Princess Diaries Podcast, find out about a new crafting giveaway for Jan. 2015.

Art Bead Scene
Check out our last challenge recap of 2015! Erin has made a beautiful slideshow.

January 4, 2015
by Tammy
0 comments

2 Knit Hats

Squee! My second knit hat is off the needles! Alas, my holiday break is ending tomorrow, but I’m very happy to report that I had some major knitting success as I worked through my second knitting class on Craftsy.com. This class is the Circular Knit Lab: Hats Four Ways class, which covers 4 different ways of making hats: 1 circular needle, double pointed needles, 2 circular needles, and magic loop. It also includes 3 hat patterns that you make while learning the various techniques, and I finished 2 of the 3 hats. The hat pictured above is the Wheeler Hat, and I made the smallest size. I added the crochet flower myself (not part of the pattern). Below is the Sweet Pea Hat, which I made an adult size version of.

There is one more hat to do, and though my progress will be much slower on that since I’m going back to work full-time, I have decided to go ahead and get started on it soon. So far, of the techniques I’ve tried in the class, my favorite is using 1 circular and then switching to double pointed needles. We shall see what magic loop hold for me!

December 31, 2014
by Tammy
3 Comments

Episode 11: Giveaway Info & Craftsy.com Knitting Success

Happy New Year (Almost)!

Giveaway info starts at 1:06

Crafty Princess Diaries Podcast/Blog Ravelry Group

Crafty Princess Youtube Channel

You can find complete details about the giveaway at this weblog post.

Finished Objects and Works in Progress starts at 6:06:

Craftsy.com (Circular Knit Lab: Hats Four Ways) Patterns include the Sweat Pea Hat and the Wheeler Hat

Crochet Fan Shawl from Totally Simple Crochet: Over 30 Easy Projects for the Home and to Wear

Noro Knit Cowl – Pattern inspiration from Simple Twisted Cowl pattern

Trip to the Yarn Shop starts at 21:50: Knit and Stitch Boutique

The Crafty Princess Diaries

Tammy Powley’s Crafty Weblog

Episode 13: To See, or Not to See, FOs

Beads, Resin, Paint, and More Beads