RSSArchives: January 2008
January 31, 2008
Bead Simple + Giveaway at Belle Epoque
Nancy at Belle Epoque has a nice treat for one lucky winner! Simply pre-order Susan Beal's new Bead Simple book, then come back to her site to comment to enter a chance at winning a stash of beads and a Bead Simple Necklace kit. Looks like some awesome stuff! Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 31, 2008 10:00 PM
Contests, Jewelry |
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KnitKnit on the radio!
I heard Sabrina Gschwandtner on the radio this morning, talking about her book KnitKnit and rebel knitters of the world. The segment is only a few minutes long, but fun to listen to if you missed her on her book tour! Link
Posted by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith |
Jan 31, 2008 08:35 PM
Bazaar, Knitting |
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HOW TO - Make a Keyhole Sweater Top
Craftster user SmarmyClothes turned an oversized and unflattering sweater into this fitted and saucy keyhole top. Visit the following link for more of her photos, explanations and links to tutorials on making this top and other cool items of clothing. Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Jan 31, 2008 07:00 PM
101, Fashion, Patterns, Refashion, Sewing |
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Appliquéd Deer Quilt
Andrea Zuill has been sharing her appliqué and embroidery tips on her blog, Badbirds, as she explains her work process making this gorgeous "White Deer" quilt. (Be sure to check all her entries under the "Quilting" category on her blog for further inspiration and info.) Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Jan 31, 2008 05:00 PM
Needlearts, Quilting, Sewing |
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HOW TO - Do Stranded Knitting
Erin points us to the 144 Inches of I-Cord blog, which recently featured a three-part series explaining how to do stranded knitting. Very handy! Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Jan 31, 2008 03:00 PM
101, Knitting |
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Blogs We Love: Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories
This week we Craft bloggers are sharing with you our favorite blogs (besides Craft and Make, of course!). I caught up with Lenore Edman from Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories to talk about her philosophies on creativity and what she does at EMSL. She runs her blog and small business with her husband, Windell Oskay, where together they post new and fun DIY projects ranging from racing toothbrush robots to edible googly eyes.
Lenore is an inspiring creator. She writes:
Most people who make things tend to specialize in a certain area, whether it be electronics, yarn, paper or food. Whether you call something shop or home ec. doesn't really change that at the root, you're learning a set of skills for creating things. I'm a liberal arts kind of Jane-of-all-trades: I can do a little of everything, and I apply it all everywhere, but I don't have any specifically marketable skills. I'm not afraid of fitting a fabric cover to a plywood frame or of putting electronics in a plush toy. I think translation stages are cute, and I love vintage packaging materials. I adore bearings and am not afraid to pack them with grease. The most important thing for me is to have someone to brainstorm with and to not be afraid of any ideas, no matter how far fetched or ridiculous they may seem.
Lenore and Windell publish online how-to guides for their projects, and believe very strongly in sharing what they love:
What I do is mash up a bunch of different making techniques to implement ideas. I'm incredibly lucky in that my techniques mesh well with and complement my partner's techniques. We get to combine more methods than most makers. And what we do that sets us aside from most people who make things is to write up what we do and share it with everyone else. It takes more time to make [projects] when you're dedicated to documenting the process; so why do it? What I really love is finding out that someone else benefited from the information I've put out there. It is incredibly satisfying to find out that a project I wrote up inspired someone to try something new. Because that is what it is all about: not being afraid to try something new, whether it be with food, sewing, electronics, or whatever it is that makes you happy.
Lenore comes from a family with a strong do-it-yourself tradition, and was always encouraged to experiment throughout her childhood. Innovation comes from necessity -- Lenore learned to maintain her bike for when she couldn't afford a car. She and Windell want to propagate the confidence to experiment with new techniques to get your ideas out there. Their projects and kits available at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories are an inspiration to anyone skirting the maker/crafter line. - Link.
Related:
- Blogs We Love: A Ervilha cor de Rosa - Link.
- Blogs We Love: Oh Joy! - Link.
- Blogs We Love: Knick Knacks & Ric Rac - Link.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Jan 31, 2008 02:00 PM
General, Interviews |
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Brooch-Covered Mirror
Suzy (aka GeorgiaPeachez) recently posted some colorful work-in-progress photos of a stodgy mirror she's been making over. A coat of fresh white paint and a ton of vintage enamel brooches are turning a ho-hum mirror into a breath of fresh air! Link.
Related:
Brooch Display - Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Jan 31, 2008 01:00 PM
Home Decor, Jewelry |
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HOW TO - Make a Fabric Pinwheel
Chickpea Sewing Studio shares a PDF tutorial for making these eye-catching fabric pinwheels, which she turned into a fun mobile. Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Jan 31, 2008 12:00 PM
101, Fabric, Home Decor |
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Valentine's Day - MAKE + CRAFT Get It Together!
Are you looking for the perfect Valentine's Day gift for the special one in your life? This time for Valentine's Day on February 14th, spread the DIY love with a gift subscription to CRAFT or MAKE Magazines! We've made it easy with a PDF Valentine gift card you can print out and send to your special one, your best friend, mom and dad, or anyone you wish!
CRAFT Magazine:
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 31, 2008 11:00 AM
Announcements |
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Embroidery Video Library at Needle 'N Thread
Judy points us to Needle 'N Thread a site that has an amazing video library of embroidery stitches. Pictured above is the mini sampler of chevron stitches (one of my favs). Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 31, 2008 10:00 AM
Needlearts |
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Bottle Cap Beads
Cathy Collison of Glass Garden Beads solders bottle caps together to make bottle cap beads! [ via ] Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 31, 2008 09:00 AM
Bazaar, Jewelry |
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DIY Birds Nest Ring Pillow
Mrs. Radish on Weddingbee makes this adorable birds nest ring pillow for her wedding and shares her tutorial here. Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 31, 2008 08:00 AM
Weddings |
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My Neighborhood - Victor Osborne
The neighborhood where I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn has a really high concentration of crafty people and shops. I started visiting these people so I can share their stories and work with the readers of the Craft blog. Last time was Lisa Levine from Lisa Levine Jewelry. This week we are going inside Victor Osborne's amazing hat store.
Victor opened his store and design atelier in Williamsburg in August of 2006. Victor Osborne's hats are made on location and the store is a place for neighborhood locals to drop in on weekends to buy a hat or watch the design process. During the week, Victor sells his hats to stores and designers for fashion shows.
Victor got interested in hats from an aunt he describes as "very Breakfast at Tiffany's." He attended FIT for women's wear and majored in knitwear, but found that he kept gravitating towards accessories and hats. His favorite hats to work on are blocked hats because they are very sculptural. Blocked hats are made by using steam to mold felt to wooden hat blocks. According to Victor, only one major hat manufacturer in the US still uses this traditional technique.
Inside the store is a mix of Victor Osborne's current designs, unique vintage hats and tools of the trade like wooden hat blocks and books. It would be hard to walk around without trying on a few hats. I have to admit that I bought 2 hats before I left.
Victor Osborne
364 Leonard St
Brooklyn, NY
victorosborne.com
• See all my Flickr photos from Victor Osborne - Link.
• Victor Osborne's Flickr - Link
• How to Block a Felt Body on a One-Piece Block - Link
Posted by Michelle Kempner |
Jan 31, 2008 07:00 AM
Fashion, Interviews |
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DIY Retro Canister
Design Sponge posted about a great how to sent in by a reader. D*S reader Heather Smith-Prisco made her own version of retro kitchen storage containers and posted photos and instructions on Flickr. [via] Link.
Posted by Michelle Kempner |
Jan 31, 2008 06:00 AM
101, Home Decor |
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Indie Fixx Valentine's Day Gift Guide
Check out the Valentine's Day Gift Guide on Indie Fixx for lots of ideas on gifts you can give on V day. I love this 10 ct Diamond Felt Brooch by My Imaginary Boyfriend. Also, take a look around the newly redesigned site! Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 31, 2008 03:00 AM
Bazaar |
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January 30, 2008
DIY Gradient Tights
Jennine at The Coveted shows off the latest trend of gradient tights and gives you the steps on how to dye your own tights at a price that won't break the bank. Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 30, 2008 09:00 PM
Fashion |
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The Lone Knitta's Yarn Tattoo
Okay, so I know we've covered craft-related tattoos before, but look at this this thing--it's amazing! The Lone Knitta posted this in the CRAFT Flickr group and says her ink was done at Peacock Tattoo in Jacksonville, FL. Be sure to check out the other pix in her photostream as well for some extra-cool knitting photos. Link.
Related:
• Crafty Tats - Link.
• HOW TO - Make a Fake Tattoo with Pantyhose - Link.
• DIY Tattoo Flash Print - Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Jan 30, 2008 07:00 PM
Knitting, Yarn |
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ROUNDUP: Cool Bookplates
My friends and I are always loaning each other books, and I've started using bookplates so I'm sure to get mine back afterwards. Here's a roundup of nice bookplates I found on Etsy.
Retro Homes by The Paper Princess - Link.
Don't Be a Blowhole by One Good Bumblebee - Link.
Kitty Library Cards 'n' Pockets by Phoebe1 - Link.
Mother Goose by boygirlparty - Link.
Matroyshka by Corrabelle - Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Jan 30, 2008 05:00 PM
Bazaar, Roundups |
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Glitterbead Animation
Michael Mouris made this stop-motion animation featuring a glittery piece of art. It's just mesmerizing. - [via] Link.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Jan 30, 2008 04:00 PM
Arts, Video |
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Repurposed Wool Owls
The CRAFT Flickr pool is always full of inspiration and eye-catching fun, and these rustic owls by Old School Acres are no exception. They were created from a repurposed wool jacket, with vintage button eyes and fabric scrap feathers. Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Jan 30, 2008 03:00 PM
Amigurumi and Toys, Refashion |
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