RSSArchives: October 2007
October 30, 2007
Inside-Out Blythe Guts Costume
Flickr user Girlontherocks created a hilarious yet gross "inside-out" costume for her Blythe doll, including a removable magnetic heart and i-cord intestines. Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Oct 30, 2007 03:00 PM
Halloween |
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Wrap Art by John Boak
John Boak's wrapping magic appears on the cover of our latest issue of CRAFT: 05 (on newsstands next Tuesday, Nov 6). He's got a brand new book called Wrap Art which shows and describes a variety of wrapping tactics, using everything from recycled paper and ribbon to junk-mail stickers. It's a great way to gear up for the holidays with new eco-friendly wrapping. The book is a print-on-demand book available from Blurb.com. Link.
You can also join in on the fun and become a member of the community at John's site for wrap artists. - Link.
CRAFT: 05 celebrates the wonderfully diverse world of paper projects. This 33 project-packed issue also shows how to sew your own party dress, transform a T-shirt into a sleek skirt, make a modern heirloom quilt, build an optical-illusional mirror, and much more! - Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 30, 2007 02:00 PM
Bazaar, Holiday projects |
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Craft Biz Q+A: Queen Puff Puff
This week's interviewee is Nicole Vasbinder of Queen Puff Puff. Nicole's super-colorful booth is a fixture on the craft show circuit, and her gorgeously-crafted bags and accessories straddle the line between retro and modern beautifully. In addition to cranking out a wide variety of hand-sewn goodies, Nicole also finds time to teach others to sew, at a few select venues around the Bay Area. Nicole's love of everything vintage comes through clearly in her work, so it's no surprise that this Mary Tyler Moore lookalike enjoys hitting up estate sales and cocktail parties in her (precious!) spare time. 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 your time/make time for crafting?
NICOLE: Well, the Queen Puff Puff business is my day job but then I have a part-time gig teaching sewing classes at Stitch Lounge in SF and also at Stonemountain and Daughter Fabrics in Berkeley. To keep on schedule, I put everything on a calendar. This includes classes, shows, order deadlines, dates to order supplies, dates to start projects and dates to ship. Each morning I simply check the calendar to see what needs to be done and where I need to be.
JENNY: How did you make the transition to working for yourself? How do you structure your days when you're the boss?
NICOLE: I used to have a part-time job working at a fabric store. It was great to be surrounded by fabric all day, plus that employee discount sure came in handy when I was starting up my company. As my business grew I went from 4 days to 3 days a week and then eventually down to 2 and then last year I made the break.
Structuring my days has been my biggest struggle. It's very easy to get sucked in to Golden Girls reruns on TV or the rabbit hole of the internet. So self-discipline has been my big challenge. I get up at 6:30 in the morning, have my coffee and surf the net, check email, print out orders. Then around 8 am I start sewing product. Around 1pm I usually stop and take a break for lunch and a shower. After lunch, I sew some more and then around 5pm I pack up any orders that need to go out and drop them off at the PO.
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?
NICOLE: It's been huge!!! I've picked up so many wholesale accounts from people who have seen my website! My biggest revenue stream is wholesale, then craft shows, then my website and then a bit of consignment.
JENNY: Is there anything you wish you'd done differently when starting your business, knowing what you know now? BONUS: Any resources for upstart craft businesses that you'd care to recommend?
NICOLE: The Switchboards has been an invaluable resource. I've met SO many other indie business owners on that site and have learned an incredible amount about running a small business. Small Time Operator by Bernard Kamoroff is a great book about starting a business.
JENNY: How would you compare the challenges of working for yourself with working for "The Man"?
NICOLE: The biggest challenge about working for yourself is that when you slack off, you're not making any money! When I worked an office job I could surf the net, take a coffee break and I was still getting paid. But now my most enjoyable hobby has turned into the thing that pays my rent! I don't get depressed on Sunday nights because I'm dreading going to work!
JENNY: Any tips on how to keep your business fresh and thriving/growing?
NICOLE: Don't hole up in your studio and get cut off from the rest of the world. Get outside, check things out and talk to people. Working from home can be lonely and the days can run together. Keep your spirit and mind fresh and your work will continue to be inspired.
Related:
• Queen Puff Puff site - Link.
• Stonemountain and Daughters - Link.
• Stitch Lounge - Link.
• The Switchboards - Link.
• Small-Time Operator by Bernard Kamoroff - 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.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Oct 30, 2007 12:00 PM
Craft Business, Interviews |
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Craft Organization Design - Survey
Katie Larson, the industrial designer at RISD specializing in craft culture organization, has another survey for the next phase of her design process. She's created a few storage solution concepts, both static (furniture) and mobile (totes), and she could use some feedback from crafters like you! Fill out her survey - Link.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Oct 30, 2007 10:00 AM
Announcements, General, Organizing |
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Tuna Nigiri Sushi Costume
Melinda of Mookie Moo made herself a last minute costume and transformed herself into a Tuna Nigiri Sushi, complete with a wasabi hat, pickled ginger scarf, and nori cummerbund.
Melinda writes:
While this costume was not obvious to everybody, when people figured it out there was a very satisfying moment of "AHA!" that passed over their faces. It helped that my boyfriend dressed up as my sushi chef.
Check out Melinda in her Tuna Nigiri Sushi costume at her blog, Mookie Moo. Link.
Related:
Last Minute Halloween Costumes: Sushi by Diana Eng - Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 30, 2007 09:01 AM
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Vintage Hair Archives
Planning to be a flapper for Halloween? Donna Reed? Priscilla Presley? The Vintage Hair Archive is here to help! There's a great collection of hairstyles from the 20s through the 70s, many with styling instructions. (Holy cow are they a lot of work! But what else is Halloween for?) Link.
Posted by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith |
Oct 30, 2007 08:00 AM
Fashion, Halloween, Vintage |
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Frida Kahlo in the House
Elsita has posted another great project. She made this Frida Kahlo dollhouse for her daughter so that she would learn about the Mexican artist. Link.
Posted by Michelle Kempner |
Oct 30, 2007 07:00 AM
Amigurumi, Arts & Design, Homemade |
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Dia de Los Muertos - Sugar Skull Tutorial
Thanks to Jason for pointing out this Sugar Skull tutorial for Dia de los Muertos on These Foolish Things. Good instructions including where to buy supplies. Dia de los Muertos is on November 1st and 2nd. Link.
Posted by Michelle Kempner |
Oct 30, 2007 06:00 AM
Food, Holiday projects |
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October 29, 2007
Holiday Softie Awards
You have only 2 days left to enter the Holiday Softies awards! All entries must appear in the Holiday Softie Awards flickr group by midnight on Halloween, Oct. 31st EST. Here's one of my new favorites in the "Let it Snow" category - a winter Guggenheim by blueblythemonster. Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 29, 2007 07:29 PM
Amigurumi, Contests |
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HOWTO - Convert a MacBook to Dvorak
Jonathan made a great instructable on how to reorder your keyboard keys on a MacBook if you prefer a Dvorak layout (an alternative to the standard QWERTY layout, the Dvorak keyboard requires less finger motion as you type). He also points out that it's helpful if you just want to give your keyboard a good cleaning. He'll show you the proper delicate technique for removing and replacing your keyboard keys without damaging them; the MacBook keyboard is quite unique. - Link.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Oct 29, 2007 06:30 PM
Technology |
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Knit Pencil Scarf
Zakka Life has a pattern showing you how to knit this absolutely adorable pencil scarf. Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 29, 2007 05:30 PM
Fashion, Kids, Knitting, Patterns |
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Apron Contest
Just a reminder that our Prairie Girl-inspired apron contest is still running until November 12th, so get stitching!
Here's the scoop again!
We know there are lots of wonderful homemade aprons out there, and we want to see them. Taunton books has generously offered a copy of Prairie Girl to each of the five winners, and we'll be featuring the aprons in the Curio section of the next issue of CRAFT. Send photographs of the aprons you've been working on to curio[at]craftzine[dot]com by November 12th. (Be sure to include your website or Etsy shop!)
(Aprons above from Golden Green Bird and Okano Designs, both at Etsy.)
Posted by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith |
Oct 29, 2007 04:03 PM
Contests |
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Felt Club: XL Holiday Event featuring Maker Square
The vendor gallery for November's upcoming Felt Club: XL Holiday event is now online and ready to view! In addition to showcasing crafts by a variety of talented folks, Felt Club will host "Maker Square", a mini version of Maker Faire featuring about 12-15 Los Angeles-area Makers. There will also be hands-on craft classes, book signings, and mini-seminars (such as a Craft Biz talk by Craft, Inc. author Meg Mateo Ilasco). Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Oct 29, 2007 03:00 PM
Events |
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Bunny Pincushion Ring
This bunny may not look too thrilled about being stuck with pins, but it sure makes me happy! This stuffed bunny pincushion ring by Flickr user Dottyral is a very clever way to keep pins handy during sewing and mending projects. Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Oct 29, 2007 02:00 PM
Sewing |
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Green Eggs and Ham Soap
Etsy seller Mollycoddle makes these hilarious green eggs and ham-shaped soaps. What a wonderful way to get your kids to wash their hands--which is so important, especially during cold and flu season. She also offers lemon-iced bread soap, tropical loofah soap, and more. [via] Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Oct 29, 2007 01:00 PM
General |
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HOW TO - Make Spider Cakes
Not Martha shows you how to make these yummy spider cakes that are perfect to serve on Halloween! Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 29, 2007 12:00 PM
Food, Halloween |
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Holiday Knits - USPS Stamps
I've waited a year for these (post here) and now the knit holiday stamps featuring the work of NYC illustrator and knitter Nancy Stahl is available! Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 29, 2007 11:30 AM
Bazaar |
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Lego Costume Hack
OK, so Natalie and I just returned home from Saturday's CBS Early Show taping last night, and already one of our Craftzine readers has made a costume from the segment! Jennifer Ramos of Textile Fetish created her own adult-sized version of Diana Eng's Lego costume, and put a new twist on things by adding criss-cross straps at the back. Awesome! If anyone else makes a costume from the segment, feel free to add pix to the CRAFT Flickr pool. Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Oct 29, 2007 10:00 AM
Halloween, Recycle |
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Crochet Candy Corn Pet Sweater Pattern
DIY Maven on Curbly has a pattern on how to crochet this cute little candy corn sweater, perfect for your pet! Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 29, 2007 09:00 AM
Crochet, Halloween, Patterns, Pets |
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Punkpins!
The time is upon us...time for spooky-kooky crafty fun! Jenny B. Harris of Allsorts is getting in the spirit with this grey pumpkin-shaped softie, adorned with Shrinky-Dink eyeball "punkpins". Eek! Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Oct 29, 2007 08:00 AM
Halloween |
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