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November 12, 2009
Felted Wool Dryer Balls
Recently I heard that felted wool balls are great alternative to dryer sheets. Apparently they reduce your drying time, soften your laundry, and eliminate static cling. There are places like Stoney Mountain Farm who sell handmade wool balls made from the wool grown on their farm. But for folks who want to try their hand at making their own, there are some good tutorials online. Diane Gilleland recently posted pictures of ones she made using a tutorial by Judy Coates Perez. Both ladies offer great advice and pretty pictures, like the one above by Judy. I suppose for the dryer, I would use natural, undyed wool. Can't wait to try this and see how well it works.
Posted by Goli Mohammadi |
Nov 12, 2009 05:00 PM
Fiber Art |
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DIY Stroller Handle for Toddlers
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Whitney at The Rookie Moms explains how you can make a simple stroller handle for your older child (3 yrs and up) to hold onto when you are toting around your little one.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 12, 2009 04:00 PM
Kids |
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Victorian Gothic Lolita Mini
I can't get over how fun this skirt by blackmirrordesigns is. Not that my booty needs any more volume, but I'd still totally rock it! Coveting.
Posted by Brookelynn |
Nov 12, 2009 02:00 PM
Fashion |
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BurdaStyle: Lindsey Cape
Sew up this Lindsey Cape with the pattern from BurdaStyle that's available for download for only $4. I love the look and I think it's probably way easier (and faster) to sew than a coat with sleeves.
From the site:
This Cape, made out of maroon herringbone wool (lined with red herringbone) has this great English country living feel, that makes you think of a walk in the woods, followed by sitting by a crackling fire with your friends. A creative transition piece from a light jacket to your big wintercoat, this Cape can be made out of any weight of wool.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 12, 2009 02:00 PM
Fashion, Patterns, Sewing |
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How-To: Marzipan Animals
Marzipan Animals
By Sonya Nimri
Marzipan is a paste made out of finely ground almonds mixed with sugar. The result is a pliable, edible, non-toxic crafting material, ideal as a substitute for modeling clay. With marzipan, the only potential side effect with accidental ingestion is a sugar high. An incredibly malleable alternative, whatever you can dream up, you can make with marzipan. These farm animals are a good start. With a single tube of marzipan, a small amount of food coloring, and a whole lot of fast little fingers, this project is sure to turn your countertop into a barnyard.
Marzipan can be found at the grocery store or the craft store in the baking department and is easily dyed by adding a tiny amount of food coloring to a clump of marzipan. When dying the marzipan pink, use just a tiny dot of red food coloring, because a little goes a long way with red. One tube of marzipan is enough to make all five farm animals if you are accurate with your measurements of the different colors.
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 12, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Super Crafty Kidz |
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Get Cozy with Vaska Contest
Berkeley-based Vaska, makers of botanical-based laundry soap, is holding a Get Cozy With Vaska Contest, which sounds like it's right up our alley.
Twelve winners will get $300 in cash and a page in the 2010 Vaska Cozy Calendar, sure to be a collector's item (or so they claim). The contest ends at midnight Jan. 4, 2010, with winners announced on Jan. 10. So now's the time to get making cozies! The cash would be a nice help in paying off some of my holiday debt, is what I'm thinking.
And I appreciate the fact that their PR efforts are focusing on crafters and our mad crafting skills:
"The Get Cozy Contest is a way of introducing the crafts community to laundry care products that conserve the integrity of their designs and, at the same time, we can reward them for their creativity. We know crafters will appreciate Vaska's softer, brighter, greener results," says Julia Fry, Vaska creator. Fry is a former fashion designer, whose love of textiles led her to create the herb-based detergent.
All the details, contest rules, and info on where to buy Vaska detergent can be found on their website.
Posted by Shawn Connally |
Nov 12, 2009 11:00 AM
Announcements, Contests, Fiber Art, Green, Homemade, Refashion, Yarn |
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How-To: Edible Flying Spaghetti Monster
Dot at Dabbled shares how to make these awesome edible Flying Spaghetti Monsters. I'm particularly fond of the peas for eyes.
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 12, 2009 10:00 AM
Food |
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Longcat Scarf
Longcat is long, and so is this longcat scarf by Etsy seller xHezaChanx. [Thanks, Sarah!]
Posted by Becky Stern |
Nov 12, 2009 09:00 AM
Bazaar |
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How-To: Miniature Patchwork Pincushions
These pincushions made from tiny patchwork from Molly at The Purl Bee are beautiful!
Each one is like a tiny version of a larger quilt, but they are a lot quicker to make. Plus despite their delicate appearance they are really useful. They are stuffed with cotton and steel wool which will keep your pins and needles nice and sharp!
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 12, 2009 08:00 AM
Sewing |
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Susan Collis' Splatter Embroidery
Susan Collis made this piece, called "Paint Job," and another, called "Better Days." Both are hand-embroidered to look as though they've been splattered with paint. Incredible! [Thanks, Andrew!]
Posted by Becky Stern |
Nov 12, 2009 07:07 AM
Arts & Design, Hand Embroidery |
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How-To: Felt Harvest Meal
I'm a big fan of rendering food in felt, so I'm loving this harvest meal set from Dana at Made. The tutorial was a winner in the So You Think Your Crafty contest, and she shows how to make turkey drumsticks, bread with butter or jam, broccoli, grapes and pumpkin pie (complete with removable whipped cream topping). A set like this could be a great way to keep the kiddos occupied while the big Thanksgiving meal is being prepared!
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 12, 2009 06:00 AM
Kids |
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Winners of The Shrinky Dinks Book
Congratualtions to Joyce in Iowa City, IA, Jennifer in Jeffersonville, IN, and Debra in Marshal, MN for each winning a copy of The Shrinky Dinks Book by Sheri Haab & the editors of Klutz as well as a refill set from last week's giveaway. Thanks to everyone who entered!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 11, 2009 09:00 PM
Contests |
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Beginner's Guide to Gourd Crafting
It's decorative gourd season, peeps! I just can't wait to get my hands on some gourds and arrange them just so. They look so very seasonal. Reputable gourd shop Welburn Gourd Farm is offering a free download of "The Beginner's Guide to Gourd Crafting." It contains some great tips and how-tos to get your started with the wide world of gourds. Keep an eye out for the next issue of our sister publication, MAKE, Volume 21, which will feature a great DIY by Diane Gilleland on how to make a gourd lamp.
Posted by Goli Mohammadi |
Nov 11, 2009 05:00 PM
Crafting with Nature, Home Decor |
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Alex Rider Book Giveaway: Scorpia and Ark Angel
As a special preview for MAKE's upcoming Alex Rider Dream Gadget Contest, we're giving away two copies of Scorpia and Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz, the fourth and fifth books in the Alex Rider series. Just leave a comment in this post and tell us why you or your kid(s) needs one of these books. Please make sure you include your email address in the comment form field (it won't be published). All eligible comments will be closed by Noon PST on Sunday, November 14th. The winners will be announced next week on the site. Good luck!
More:
- Alex Rider's Radio Mouth Brace
- Alex Rider's Smokescreen Bike Pump
- Alex Rider's Geiger Counter Game Console
- Alex Rider's High Tensile Yo-Yo
Posted by Becky Stern |
Nov 11, 2009 04:00 PM
Books and Magazines, Gadgets |
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Denim After Dark With Embroidery by Rachel in Austin
Getting a pair of awesome jeans - and discounted, no less - is great. Add to that experience drinks, music and custom embroidery by me, and it's a rocking night! Folks in Austin, come out to Madewell in the Domain Thursday, November 12 from 7 to 9 PM for the Denim After Dark event. They'll have discounts on jeans, a DJ, and drinks, and I'll be there to stitch up a little something special on your new jeans!
If you aren't in Austin, there will be Denim After Dark events all across the country tomorrow night. Check their Facebook events page to see if your city is lucky enough to have one, and if custom embroidery will be part of the occasion.
Denim After Dark with Embroidery by Rachel at Madewell
Thursday, November 12 from 7:00-9:00 pm
Madewell Austin
11501 Century Oaks Terrace
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 11, 2009 03:00 PM
Events |
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This Week In Craft Fairs
Here are the upcoming craft fairs. Shop local! If you know of an upcoming event, please add it to our online calendar. If you have a call for entries you want listed in this weekly craft fair post, . Click on the jump to see the call for entries.
Coming Up This Weekend:
Bg Craft Fest
Walnut Creek, CA
Saturday, Nov. 14, 12pm - 4pm
Crafter's Holiday Faire
San Jose, CA
Saturday, Nov. 14, 10am - 5pm
Sunday, Nov. 15, 10am - 5pm
Torrance Craftsmens Guild 40th Annual Fall Faire
Torrance, CA
Saturday, Nov. 14, 9am - 4pm
Sunday, Nov. 15, 9am - 3pm
Holiday Swap & Clothes Swap Party and Marketplace
Santa Ana, CA
Sunday, Nov. 15, 12pm
Handmade Holiday
Grand Junction, CO
Saturday, Nov. 14, 10am - 4pm
22nd Annual Altar Society Craft Festival
Mustang, OK
Saturday, Nov. 14, 9am - 3pm
From Scratch
Allentown, PA
Saturday, Nov. 14, 10am - 5pm
Twist
Northampton, MA
Friday, Nov. 13, 6pm - 9pm
Saturday, Nov. 14, 10am - 6pm
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Posted by Laura Cochrane |
Nov 11, 2009 02:00 PM
Events |
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Thanksgiving Feast: Side Dishes
Thanksgiving Feast: Side Dishes
By Katie Goodman
Some might argue that the Thanksgiving sides are really the stars of the show. There are so many good recipes to choose from and every family has that special dish that better be on the table — or else! For me, it's hard to decide. I like so many side dishes for different reasons, but I've picked a few of my favorites to share here.
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 11, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Food, Holiday projects |
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How-To: Velcro Catch Ball
Velcro Catch Ball
By Marie LeBaron
This DIY game of Velcro Catch Ball is super fun and super affordable. Using winter knit gloves and velcro balls, little hands never had it so easy in a game of catch.
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 11, 2009 11:00 AM
CRAFT Projects, Super Crafty Kidz |
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Flocked Fauns
How cute! These adorable deer would be perfect for just about any holiday craft, right?
Posted by Brookelynn |
Nov 11, 2009 10:00 AM
Holiday projects, Home Decor |
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Ask CRAFT: Buying a Dress Form
If you have a question for Ask CRAFT, shoot me an email at becky@craftzine.com, or drop us a note on Twitter! We'd love to answer your crafty questions on any topic: technique, projects, crafty culture, or anything else! Each week the answers are here; include your name, where you're from, and your website or blog if you have one!
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Farrah writes in:
My boyfriend was trying to buy me a dressmaker's doll for my birthday. He finally had to confess total confusion after surreptitiously taking my measurements. It seems none of the sizes he found fit me exactly. Is it better to have a doll that's slightly smaller than myself in one area, but fine in the others? Are there dolls that I could order to fit my measurements? I know I could make one from duct tape and an old t-shirt, but I hear homemade ones tend to collapse.
Since it's cheap and fun, I'd try to make your own dress form first. True, they may not be as sturdy as the store-bought ones, but they're certainly not as expensive! If it collapses, it's because it's not densely packed enough with support material. You could try stuffing it with a whole pile of plastic grocery bags to provide adequate filling. Instead of duct tape (or on top of the duct tape), you might try using papier-mâché or paper tape to stiffen the form and make it more durable.
The next level up is to get an a plain form that approximates your measurements. Yes, as you suspected, it's better to get one that is smaller than your body in some places, but fits you in others. You can always add padding to the form, but you can't make it smaller. I'm no brand expert, but if you order online, you can expect to pay between $150 and $300 on a one-size form. You can customize your form to make it more like your own body.
The third thing to consider is getting an adjustable form. This is the kind I have, and I'm thoroughly satisfied with it. It has dials at the bust, waist, and hips, and even has an adjustable torso length and neck measurement. It's not as easy to pin to as a standard form, but I've had it since I was a teenager, and it has changed size with me over the years. They come in different "body types," so check the ranges on the measurements before getting one.
Do you have dressmaker form advice for Farrah? Share it in the comments!
Posted by Becky Stern |
Nov 11, 2009 09:00 AM
Ask CRAFT, Sewing |
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