Craftzine.com blog: August 2007 Archive

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Archives: August 2007

August 31, 2007

Smock Style Apron Tutorial

Div Apron
Still Dottie has a pattern and tutorial for making this easy and super stylin' smock apron. Link.

Fuwaridresses 2
Modern Craft is having it's first sale this Labor Day weekend! Modern Craft sells all Japanesee imported fabrics ((Echino, Nani Iro, en plus de) and craft books. All fabric by the yard is 20% off as well as a discount off selected books. Sale starts Saturday at 9am PST and runs to 6pm PST on Monday. Read their blog post for more details. Happy shopping! Link.

Crewel Embroidery Wool

Wool Medium
Wool & Hoop is featuring some new Appleton crewl wool samplers. You can get them in in color groups featuring 10 skeins for $15 or get the entire palette of "The New Crewel" colors for just $50 for 40 skeins. Link.

CRAFT Pattern Podcast: Treeling from Softies: Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals

Patternpodcast Softies
This week's CRAFT Pattern Podcast is a featured pattern from the new book, Softies: Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals by Therese Laskey. This cute Treeling softie by Lynda Lye of Little Odd Forest is a simple little friend you can sew up from felt. You can even use up your old scraps to make up the multicolored leaves.
The Softies book features 25 patterns by famous crafters we've come to know and love such as Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane, Hillary Lang of Wee Wonderfuls, Cassi Griffith of Bella Dia, and lots more! Besides with all the toy recall madness going on, it's it time to start making your own fun, safe toys? For more softies inspiration and projects, pick up the Softies book and visit Therese on the Softies Central blog.

Download this week's CRAFT pattern PDF - Link.

Subscribe to the CRAFT podcast and get this pattern and other CRAFT content delivered automatically via iTunes - Link.

Related:
Safe Toys You Can Make - Link.

Gradient Button Necklace

Shellnecklace
I love craftlog's tutorial on how to make this elegant shell button necklace which is simple to make. It could also look fun with buttons of varying color or color tones. Definitely time to revisit my button collection! Link.

Make Your Own Pattern for In-Seam Pockets

Inseampocket
Nayantara on Burda Style has a complete how-to on making your own pattern for sewing in-seam pockets. Link.

Star Wars Book Bag

Starwarsbookbag

Get ready for the new school year with this tutorial on how to make your own Star Wars book bag from Bonnie at Star Wars Kids. Link.

Using Pixel Fonts for Cross Stitch

When I first got in to cross stitch, I was frustrated with the limited text variations available to me in my mother's collection. I knew there had to be a way to make consistant, interesting text without making it up myself. Then it dawned on me: cross stitch is just a low-resolution image, so what better way to create legible, techy text than with pixel fonts! Pixel fonts are just regular fonts that are designed to be in a low-resolution environment. You can find them for free all over the 'net, and they install just as any other font. When your next cross stitch project comes along, print out your text or just work straight from your computer screen.

You can find a bunch of free pixel fonts here - Link.

August 30, 2007

Safe Toys You Can Make

Maketoys
With al the recent scary news of the toy recall ( list here), now more than ever is the time to take back our children's safety in our own hands and have fun in the process by crafting our own toys!

To get you started, here's a roundup of some great toy projects you can make.

Read full story

Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu | Aug 30, 2007 09:46 PM
Amigurumi and Toys, Crochet, Kids, Knitting, Sewing | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry

CRAFT iPhone wallpapers

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A few people asked for our covers in iPhone wallpaper format (320 x 480) so here there are (MAKE, CRAFT and Halloween images) enjoy! To install them just put the set in iPhoto (Mac) or point iTunes to the folder they're in (Win/Mac). The first person to take a photo with one on their iPhone and puts it in the CRAFT Flickr photo pool gets a special edition MAKE Halloween - Link (zip).

Space Invaders Sweater

Geek Sugar points us to a delightful sweater by Etsy seller n2Imaginations, featuring Space Invaders! The scoring is shown along the sleeve. She also makes binary Christmas stockings (for which you can also buy the pattern).

Space Invaders Sweater - [via] Link.

Subversive Cross Stitch and So Charmed Jewelry

Bitemepin
Subversive Cross Stitched has teamed up with So Charmed to create the adorably cheeky cross stitch pins and necklaces. Each pin includes a vintage button and tulle bow and each necklace comes with a 36" satin ribbon tie. Check out the So Charmed site for more info. Link.

HOW TO - Make Your Own Bubble Mailers

Bubblemailers
Shannon points us to this great paper craft tutorial by 27 Things on how to make your own pretty bubble mailers! More inspiration can be found at the Handmade Bubble Mailers Flickr group. Link.

Little Monster Market in Studio City, CA next Tuesday, Sept 4th

Littlemonstermarket
Don't miss the Little Monster Market event happening next Tuesday at Sunnyside Preschool in Studio City, CA from 9am - 3pm. Check out the vendor list for all the cool crafty goodies you can buy. There's also a special arts and crafts table for kids to make stuff while moms shop! Link.

The Blaschka Marine Invertebrates

Blaschka Blue Jelly Top 12-15-99 Images-01-056
8-23-01 Blaschka Cornell-03-Web-
Meine Kleine Fabrik has a great write up about the discovery of these glass sea creatures that were found in a locked antique cabinet in the fall of 1957 at Cornell University. Turns out these glass beauties were highly detailed teaching models of ocean invertebrates, made by Leopold (1822-1895) and Rudolf (1857-1939) Blaschka of Dresden, Germany. Read on for this great story. Thanks s.a.! Link.

CraftyPod Interview with Burda Style

Craftypod Burdastyle
I've just finished listening to a great interview by Sister Diane of CraftyPod where she talks to Nora and Benedika of BurdaStyle about open source sewing and community-shared knowledge makes everyone a better seamster. Link.

FrankenToys for Pets

Frankentoys
Aaron writes:

My dog chews through toys rather quickly. In an effort to lengthen their lifespan I've begun cobbling them together with a needle and thread.

I set up a flickr group for me (and anyone else) to post pics of their creations.

Visit the Franken Toys Flickr group to join and add your creation. - Link.

More Sock Monkey Art

Sockmonkeychair
Rebecca Yaker of Hazel and Melvin and creator of the Sock Monkey Dress that we posted about here last year, has since then been creating more Sock Monkey goodness like the Sock Monkey Chair above on display at the Minnesota State Fair. Link.

But wait there's more!
Sockmonkeysblender
Sock Monkeys in a Blender here... Link.

Sockmonkey Meatgrinder
...and Sock Monkeys in a Meat Grinder. Link.

To see more Sock Monkey goodness that you can shop for, visit Hazel and Melvin here. - Link.

HOW TO - Quilted Ball Ornament

I know it's a bit early for holiday talk, but this no-sew quilt-looking ornament would be a great desk accessory, car mirror charm, or doorknob embellishment. It's all about what fabrics you use. And, of course, they look good on Christmas trees, too.

Quilted Ball Ornament Tutorial - Link.

Image: artsyfartsy_crafts eBay store

HOW TO - Make Mosaic Glass Tile Table (Video)

Glasstilecoffeetable
Better Homes and Gardens features this beautiful Ikea hack by transforming an ordinary Ikea Lack table, into this glass tile mosic beauty. A video of the project is there as well as a step by step how-to. [ via ] Link.

Related:
HOW TO - Create a Faux Mosaic Look - Link.

August 29, 2007

Spring Forward Fall Back Raglan

Thriftyknitter Raglan
Nikol of The Thrifty Knitter and author of Naughty Needles has a free knitting pattern available on her site to make this perfect summer to fall transition sweater, the Spring Forward Fall Back Raglan. Link.

Amigurumi Hair Tutorial

Amigurumihair
Owly shows you her special technique to make amigurmi hair in this amazing tutorial. [ via ] Link.

HOW TO - Make a Sash Belt or Scarf

2007-08-27-Belt-2-400
Altered Cloth shows you how to sew up a quick and easy sash belt or scarf in this fashionable sewing tutorial. Link.

Crochet Apple Pattern

Crochetapple
Back to school starts soon and Annie's Attic gets you in the mood with today's feature free pattern of a crochet apple by Ann Parnell. [ via ] Link.

Crafty Daisies: Embroidery Lesson #3

Embroidery62
This week's lesson in embroidery on Crafty Daisies shows you the art of the basic knot, scallop chain, and satin stitch. Link.

Related:

Crafty Daisies: Embroidery Lesson #1 - Link.
Crafty Daisies: Embroidery Lesson #2 - Link.

Offset Square Wrist Pincushion

Pincushion00 Sml
June at Craftybits has a cute Zakka project ot make this offset square wrist pincushion. Just look at that cute pig printed fabric! Link.

Button Embellished Flower Garden Skirt

Buttonskirt
Craftlog has tutorial on how to give an old skirt a new facelift by embellishing it with buttons in a flower garden embroidery scene. Link.

Bumbershoot in Seattle, September 1-3

Bumbershoot Ucu
Lots of stuff happening this Labor Day weekend and if you are in Seattle, don't miss Bumbershoot Seattle's music and arts festival happening at the Seattle Center, September 1-3. While you're there, visit our friends at the Urban Craft Uprising table where you can also pick up some free CRAFT and MAKE goodies! Don't forget vendor applications are due September 7th for the big holiday Urban Craft Uprising event in December 1-2. Link.

Etsy Labs Last Fridays Trunk Show in NY - Etsy Green and Clean Guild, Friday August 31

Etsygreen
The Etsy Green and Clean Guild makes soaps, bath and body products, makeup, and scents. On Friday, August 31 from 6-8PM, EGCG will be hosting a trunk show shopping party at Etsy Labs (325 Gold St., 6th Floor. Brooklyn, NY 11201). Come by and browse the wares for sale, listen to 80's music, enjoy blender drinks, and play with samples of these fabulous products: Coffin Color, Lollibomb, Magickal Realism, Martinsville Emporium, Soap, and Xiane. Please RSVP to rsvp@etsy.com if you're interested in attending! Link.

Team Sibley at Variety Fair in Tokyo

Variety Fair is an doll art exhibit featuring one of a kind Blythe dolls wearing amazing handmade outfits created by the doll community's most talented customizers. The show kicks off on September 11 at the Junie Moon shop in the Daikanyama neighborhood in Tokyo. Visitors will be able to purchase dolls as well as a limited amount of clothing sets created by the participating artists. Team Sibley (comprised of artists Melissa Cabral, Christina Gordon and Paul Kaiju, profiled in CRAFT 03) have created this stunning blonde farmgirl Blythe for the show. Everything you see here has been created or customized by Team Sibley, from her eyes, makeup and hair to her hand-stitched clothing and sweet little lamb friend. Read more about the process on the Team Sibley blog. Link.

Variety Fair, September 11-30
@ Junie Moon/Gallery LeLe
4-3, 1F Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Related:

• PuchiCollective site - Link.
• PuchiCollective Flickr - Link.
• JamFancy Flickr - Link.
• Paul Kaiju site - Link.
• Junie Moon/Gallery LELE site - Link.

From the pages of CRAFT:

CRAFT: 03 - "Queen of the Misfit Toys" by Jenny Ryan, pgs. 40-42. Digital Subscribers can read the full article here. - Link.
Don't miss an issue! Subscribe to CRAFT Magazine today and get 4 quarterly issues delivered to your door. - Link.

Easy-to-Sew Micro-Fiber Suede Coasters

Microsuedecoasters
DIY Maven on Curbly has a easy sewing project for you that looks perfectly luxe with her micro-fiber suede coasters. I love the contrast stitching detail! Link.

"Bias" Knit Scarf

A pattern for you all on this lovely Wednesday!

Materials:
Two size 9 (5.5 mm) straight needles
Three skeins of Koigu (I used two yellow and one varigated green), I got it at Purl

How to 'knit on the bias':
Cast on three stitches.
Next row: Increase by one, p1, k1, p1, increase one.
For each subsequent row, increase by one stitch at the beginning and end of the row and continue in k1, p1 rib for all stitches in between. Continue in this pattern (your work will be a triangle) until the side of the triangle is as wide as you would like the scarf to be.
Next row: *knit 2 together, continue in k1, p1 rib to the end, increase by one stitch.
Next row: increase by one, continue in k1, p1 rib until two stitches from the end of the row, then knit 2 together.*
repeat pattern between *s, decreasing by one on one edge and increasing by one on the other edge, for the length of the scarf.
Finishing the last corner: instead of increasing on one edge, start knitting 2 together at each end of each row, continuing in k1, p1 rib, until only three stitches remain. slip one, k2tog, pass slipped st over.

My color pattern:
27 rows yellow, 13 varigated green.

Weave in ends from color changes, add fringe, and voila!

Home Carbonation System

Kevin Kelly published a tutorial on making your own carbonated beverages by Alastair Ong.

In this really terrific tutorial he writes,

"I drink a lot of seltzer. So much that my fiancee says I couldn't survive without bubbles in my water. After trying a SodaClub home soda maker (picture above right) and realizing it would cost $70 to buy a special part for it, I found a really detailed resource for building my own, simple home carbonation system for under a $100 using a CO2 tank, regulator, hose and a carbonator cap. It took ten minutes to build. I love having very good homemade soda on the cheap and not having to lug around seltzer bottles or worry about it going flat. With a scuba-like tank in the kitchen, guests always ask "What is that?!" and I really love demonstrating."

Home Carbonation System at Cool Tools - Link.

HOW TO - Revamp a Shapeless Sweater

Carrie from Sommer Designs did a fabulous job turning a shapeless old cardigan into a whole new sweater, with the help of strategic chopping and sewing and the addition of sweet lace trim and vintage buttons. Read all about how she did it on her blog. Link.

Related:
• Wardrobe Refashion on Flickr - Link.
• Refashioned Projects on CRAFT - Link.

Frayed Flower Pin Tutorial

Flowerpin Maize
Maize of Maize's Diary shows you how to make the perfect accessory for any outfit or bag -- the frayed flower pin. Link.

August 28, 2007

Handmade Puppet Fun in L.A.

L.A.'s hometown treasure Charles Phoenix--a retro-obsessed "histotainer" known for his irreverent and hilarious slideshow performances--has an amazing new show coming up that's sure to be of interest to all you crafty types out there. Bob Baker: This is Your Life is a "colorful tribute to the world's greatest puppeteer...and puppet show extravaganza". If you don't know about the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, you're missing out on one of L.A.'s greatest hidden treasures. As Charles explains:

The Bob Baker Marionette Theater is one of the most wonderful, bizarre time warp-ish places I've ever been. When you walk in the door you will ask yourself "What decade am I in?" The Los Angeles-sun-soaked exterior is a stark contrast to the timeless classic red velvet interior where countless audiences have enjoyed the puppet parade since 1961. This place is as authentic as it is timeless. Then the show starts and...well, its difficult to explain. You're in another world--Bob Baker's world. It's all from the heart. He is a king of creativity; dean of arts and crafts. After all, these puppets didn't make themselves.

You'll marvel at the amazing handcrafted vintage marionettes as Charles tells the story of Bob's life and career via slides, photos, and film clips. After his presentation, there will be a special performance by Bob Baker himself, culminating in a cake 'n' ice cream social in the festive Party Room. Don't miss this retro-fun (and super crafty) experience! Shows happen August 30 & 31, September 1 & 2. Show times, info and tickets are on Charles's site. Link.

Bird Embroidery Pattern

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Magda of Little Thing has a beautiful free embrodiery pattern to share with all of us. I love the design and it's perfect for embroidering tea towels, pillows, and more. Link.

Downloadable Project Info Cards

Pquecards
A free download from Lime & Violet, printable cards to carry with you to the yarn store so you never forget how much yardage you need for a specific project! It's great to keep note of all the future projects you are working on or are currently working on on so you are always ready when you happen to see a yarn store. Link.

Vintage Underwood Typewriter Softie

Typewritersoftie
Terry of Softies Central has posted this cool softie typewriter made by blueblythe on Craftster. The details are amazing from the hand-dyed felt, embroidery, and actual screws tarnished in vinegar. [ via ] Link.

Craft Biz Q+A: Little Friends of Printmaking

In my article "Business Basics" (CRAFT 04), we take a look at the ins and outs of starting your own indie business. I interviewed around a dozen crafty entrepreneurs about how they got started and how they keep at it, but there were many valuable insights I just wasn't able to fit into the article. So for the next several Tuesdays, I'll be sharing these extended interviews with you here with the hope that they might inspire those of you looking to take the leap from hobbyist to small business owner. We'll also be talking with Meg Mateo Ilasco, who penned the book Craft, Inc. (out now from Chronicle), so stay tuned for that too.

This week's interview is with The Little Friends of Printmaking. The Little Friends are Melissa and JW Buchanan, a husband-and-wife art duo based in Milwaukee, WI. Their fresh and playful silkscreened posters, notecards, and other treats have become sought-after collectibles, and their booth is a crowd favorite at events like Renegade. They also provide the memorably cute artwork for Milwaukee's own Art vs. Craft indie craft fair. Read on to find out what doing it yourself really entails.

Jenny: Do you run your indie business full time, or do you have a day job to help keep you afloat? BONUS: If the latter is the case, how do you balance things and still make time for crafting?

Little Friends: We both work in addition to what we do as Little Friends. We're still out there, crafting that perfect CV for a job that couldn't possibly ever exist. The good news is that our freelance business gives us the independence to take work that is interesting to us. For example, Melissa runs a print and publishing lab at a museum and James just accepted a position teaching graphic design at a university. We have difficulty with balancing our time. The best we can do is try our hardest to create a daily routine for ourselves and not overbook ourselves. We're not awesome at this. We did just put up a little sign by our computer that says "LEARN TO SAY 'NO'."

Jenny: How important has the internet been in relation to the growth of your business? Also, would you say the bulk of your business comes from your own website, or from wholesale accounts and/or craft show sales?

Little Friends: Without the internet, Little Friends wouldn't exist in the same way that it does. The internet accounts for the vast majority of our sales, which is important to us because we want to keep our prices low. A lot of our sales come from overseas and without the internet that would be an impossibility.

Jenny: Is there anything you wish you'd done differently when starting your business, knowing what you know now?

Little Friends: We wish that, when we were getting started, we did a better job at keeping an inventory. We're still really bad at this. The other thing that we wish we did and we still don't do is create a long-term business plan.

Jenny: How would you compare the challenges of working for yourself with working for "The Man"?

Little Friends: It's a little lonely. You feel a little unsocialized. It's easy to get into a funk. You don't get vacations or holidays and there's no free coffee. The vacations thing is a major issue. We can barely go to the movies without feeling enormous pangs of guilt that we should be working instead. Also, when you need a sick day it's awful instead of an indulgence.

Jenny: Any tips on how to keep your business fresh, thriving and growing?

Little Friends: Focus on who your core audience is. People make a big deal over diversifying, but on a small scale it can be suicide. There is such a thing as growing too fast. You do have to stay a little ahead of the demand. You also have to create the demand. We just make what we want to see and we don't worry about what else is out there on the market.

Related:
Little Friends on Livejournal - Link.
Inkblot Academy Silkscreen Classes - Link.
Art vs. Craft Totebag by Little Friends - Link.

From the pages of CRAFT:

CRAFT: 04 - "Business Basics for Crafty Types" by Jenny Ryan pgs. 42-43. Digital Subscribers can read the full article here. - Link.
Don't miss an issue! Subscribe to CRAFT Magazine today and get 4 quarterly issues delivered to your door. - Link.

Etsyearrings
Linda of Lindamade has some cute crochet earrings in her Etsy shop. [ via ] Link.

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Cute bird skirt ($30) by Basho Apparel spotted on Etsy's Most Wonderful Things blog. [ via ] Link.

O Smitironon
Antler Girl iron on ($8) by i'm smitten available at Cut+ Paste. Link.