Craftzine.com blog: November 2006 Archives

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Archives: November 2006

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November 30, 2006

NPR Holiday Contest: Make a Menorah, Create an Ornament

Hey Crafters! Our own Carla Sinclair from CRAFT and Phil Torrone from MAKE are judges for a fun DIY contest @ NPR. Here's the scoop:

"Make a timely ornament (or a menorah, for the Jews!). NPR's First Ever Holiday Craft Contest. Design either a handmade menorah or a Christmas tree ornament. We are looking for designs that reflect the news of 2006. We also welcome quirky, funny and/or offbeat designs." - Link.

What do you win? Swag from the NPR Shop: The Hanukkah Lights Gift Set for the menorah winner; an NPR Jazz Christmas Collection with Marian McPartland for the ornament winner.

How to do you enter? Post your creation on Flickr.com with the keyword: NPRHOLIDAYCONTEST. Be sure to include a short artist's statement and a way we can contact you. If you have any questions, please email holidaycontest@npr.org

It would be great to see one our makers and crafters win!

Sewing Machines We Use

A few of us from the CRAFT and MAKE team have volunteered to show off our sewing machines and tell you why we like 'em and how we use them.

This is my sewing machine, a computerized Euro-Pro 9120 I bought this back in 2001 for around $499. I had a mid-range Singer before (and still have that) but as a gadget girl at heart, I wanted all the cool computerized functions for embroidery and stitches to play with, but wasn't looking to shell out over $1000. This sewing machine also looks like the old iMacs with it's clear blue flip lid top. Maybe that's why it was calling to me? I love the programmed stitches though. There's about 300 and you can program it to remember up to 100 settings. My favorites are not just the type (only an Arial style and a script style font), it can also embroider fun borders like hearts, flowers, curly circle shapes and more. Everything works well on this machine and nothing has ever broken. I've sewn thick jean material to light silk and its' worked with all fabric perfectly. My one annoyance is that it beeps everytime you take your foot off the pedal, but I've really gotten used to it by now. Heidi Kenny of My Paper Crane had the same issue. I've made a lot of things on this machine everything from making a skirt or totebag to hemming pants. I am in the market to upgrade from this to a better machine possibly one where you can attach a laptop to in order to do custom designs, but I'm in no rush. This sewing machine continues to serve me well for my craft projects. Link.

Arwen Sewingmachine
Arwen O'Reilly, Staff Editor
My parents got me this portable Singer at an antique store when I graduated from college because I was moving around so much. It drops right into this little carrying case with all the attachments and the original instruction booklet. I love it because it's absolutely gorgeous (who wouldn't love the gleaming black metal with gold lettering?) but also because it's so old-fashioned. It's electric, but otherwise so simple I've been able to figure out how to fix it every time something's gone wrong (which isn't often). Plus I like the idea that I'm somehow connected to the people who owned it before me. It's in great condition, so they must have loved it, too. Link.

Terrie Sewingmachine
Terrie Miller, Online Manager
This is a teeny sewing machine, the Euro-Pro Shark. I bought mine at Target for around $20-30, and they're available on Amazon, too. It was perfect for doing some simple sewing to make a dog bed. I had every expectation that I'd return the thing, but I decided to try it before buying something more expensive, and I'm glad I did. I thought I'd need to bungee-cord it down to the desk to keep it from moving around, but it worked just fine. It only does simple stitching, but for sewing parts of projects for someone who doesn't plan on doing lots of fabric work, it's been great. Link.

Bre Sewingmachine
Bre Pettis, Media Maker
I love my old singer. It's a hand me down from my step-grandma and it's been through a lot and if something ever breaks, which has never happened, I could just go to the goodwill, buy another for 20 bucks and be good to go. I had a second one as a backup for a while, but never used it so I gave it away. It can be a bit fussy if I don't get the bobbin tension right, but I made a few hundred rag dolls and hand puppets on this thing to support myself as an artist back in the day and it shows no wear. This one has all the bells and whistles and there are a bunch of pattern disks available, but I gave those away since I never used them. I took it apart once to see how it works and there is actually quite a bit of clever mechanics in this thing. Link.

Let's Talk about Sewing Machines!

An article in Time.com this week, "Circling Back to Sewing", declared the sharp rise in popularity in sewing. Ok, we knew that already! Next was an article where I was interviewed for in the Washing Times called "Sewing the threads of CREATIVITY" which talked about sewing machines and technology. I also got a big holiday mailer from Bernina where you could buy one of their sewing machines and get a free iPod. This got me thinking more and more about sewing machines as the holiday's approach. These handy machines help us create our latest craft project, from sewing plushies, clothes, handbags, totes, to fixing hems, and more. With so many machines on the market and with more touting computerized technology, where do we go? Which ones do we choose? Which ones do we like?

Starting today on the CRAFT blog we will start this interesting discussion and I invite everyone to help participate. For the next few weeks before the holidays (and ongoing), let's talk sewing machines! We'll show you the one's we use, talk to sewing crafters and makers about their own machines, see what's out there...and we want to hear from you too!

So upload the photo of your sewing machine to our CRAFT flickr pool and write a little blurb on why you like it (or hate it). There's also a Sewing Machine topic in our CRAFT forums. You can also email me as well. I'll be posting up the interesting finds from those places to the blog. So just know as you post, that your comments and photos could end up here to help everyone. Most people nowadays are looking to upgrade sewing machines (I know I am) and this would be a great resource. Who knows, maybe you'll find the sewing machine you want under the Christmas tree!

(Photo of the Singer Symphonie 300.)

No Coast Craft-o-rama

Allison Thrash tells us, "It's not "west coast", nor "east coast", it's "No Coast" as in No Ocean! Super funky craft show in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Saturday, December 2, 2006. Come purchase lovely handmade stuff and get in the holiday spirit with live local music and entertainment - even a kissing booth with the MN Roller Girls!" CRAFT is one of the sponsors of the event too! Come by if you are in the area and say hi to Arwen O'Reilly at the CRAFT table. Link.

Meet Us at Urban Craft Uprising in Seattle this Weekend

Bre and I will be at the Urban Craft Uprising fair this weekend in Seattle. The event features over 100 indie crafters who will be there selling their wares. Just head over to the Seattle Exhibition Hall from 11am to 5pm on December 2nd and 3rd. There will also be lots of events that are scheduled to happen throughout the days as well, including a fashion show on Saturday and free giveaways! Yes, free crafty things! Come by, do your holiday shopping, and say hi to us at our CRAFT table! Link.

Win a Lifetime Subscription to the Sampler - Deadline Today!

We love the Sampler and founder Marie Kare! Now you can get yourself a lifetime subscription to this fabulous subscription-based mailing of wonderful samples from a variety of small, independent businesses, sent straight to your door just about once a month! Just check out the Sampler Gallery for a peek of what's inside.

As part of fundraising for the upcoming Felt Club XL Holiday Fair, just buy a $2 raffle ticket to be a part of the fun! Proceeds from the raffle go directly towards putting on FELT CLUB: XL Holiday event in LA on Dec 9th where CRAFT is one of the sponsors. Hurry up and get those tickets now, November 30th is the deadline. That's today people! The winner will be announced on Dec 1st. Also, look for an interview with Marie Kare of the Sampler on the CRAFT blog next week. Link.

Holiday Project: Make a Scrap Fabric Ornament

Melissa has added scrap fabric ornament to the CRAFT flickr pool. The full tutorial is included and easy to make. Link.

Old G5 Monitor is now a plush hamster pad

Posted in the new CRAFT forums - Bjornyeo of MacHam figured out how to reuse his old G5 monitor. He cleverly turned it into a modern den for his hamsters, Gucci and Prada. Link.

Grow Some Winter Bulbs

Sarah over at Pink of Perfection has a great project on growing bulbs, which she can watch grow over the cold winter days. Check out her post and how you can make these great looking bulb holders from old soup cans and fabric. Just beautiful! Link.

HOW TO - Knit a Tissue Cover

Karrie at Girl on the Rocks has created a great knit pattern for a tissue cozy. Perfect for cold and flu season. Link.

November 29, 2006

Get CRAFT vol 1 in our Maker Store!

Hi Crafters! Just in time for the holidays! If you can't seem to find CRAFT on your local newsstands and aren't sure yet if you want to subscribe, buy CRAFT: Vol 1 from our Maker Store online for only $14.99. Link.

Need a great gift idea for the crafty friend or family member in your life? Give a gift subscription to CRAFT magazine. Link.

Holiday Project: Make a Snowman Ornament from a Light Bulb

Now there's no need to throw away your light bulb when they burn out. Why not transform them into a cute snowman ornament for your tree? Thanks Mark D! Link.

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