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December 16, 2009

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Last-Minute Gifts

While you can still get things shipped in time for Christmas on Amazon as late as December 23rd, most independent sellers are closing up shop after the weekend, if not sooner. Here are a few last-minute gift ideas, for crafters of all types!

Mailbox Monthly ($48-$144)
If you have a letterpress lover in your life, look no further: Satsuma Press will send them a delightful package of stationery, prints and off-cuts--different each month--for either three, six, or twelve months. Getting mail is almost as good as sending mail, and this gift means both!

Hue Yang Pottery ($20 and up)
As I type, I'm drinking out of a beautiful mug made by Hue Yang that I picked up at Bazaar Bizarre last weekend. In winter, a hot cup of tea or coffee (or hot chocolate, or cider, or...) is a true comfort, so treat someone to a mug or teapot. She only has a few items in her Etsy shop, but her contact info is on her website above.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Beekeeper Gift Guide

by Cameo Wood

I opened my beekeeping store in downtown San Francisco in June, and I've found that everyone loves beekeepers or bees, and that beekeepers are serious makers. What they can't find to buy, they generally end up building. I've also been stocking my store with the beekeeper in mind, and here are some of the top sellers, at my store and abroad!

8-Frame English Garden Hive

If you're just getting started in beekeeping, choosing the type of hive can be confusing. The only hive I use or sell is the 8-Frame medium Cypress hive, called the "hive of the future" by Bee Culture Magazine's Kim Flottum. Having one consistent size for all your equipment is a huge time saver, and is ideal for beginners and experienced beekeepers alike. There are two problems with the traditional 10-Frame shallow/deep sized box methodology.

If your bees decide to make honey in your deep, you don't really have any recourse. You now have a 100+ pound box of honey that you need to lift every time you work your hive.
If you get brood (bee larva) in your honey shallows (hive box usually intended for honey only), or honey in your brood deeps (primarily intended for larva), there's no way to switch the frames around -- you're stuck with a mess.

The 8-Frame medium garden hive solves all of those problems. This is a beautiful hive that is all set up. You only have to paint/lacquer it, and you're set to go. Also, get a load of that gorgeous copper A-Line top... Fancy!

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Apidan Overalls with Air Openings and Detachable Hood ($175)

The one thing that every beekeeper tends to buy eventually is a full sting-proof suit, for the days when the bees are cranky. Bees tend to sting if something is wrong in the hive, if the queen has died, if there was a recent invader, or if it's really cold and rainy outside. In these cases, the bees would really prefer if you didn't come barging into their home, making a mess of everything they've been building. For all these reasons, but mostly for the ones I can't anticipate, the full sting-proof suit is at the top of my list. These are the best I've found, and they look darn cool to boot. Find them in HMSBeekeeper or in the UK from beeproofsuits.

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December 15, 2009

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Knitting & Crochet

Cz Webbanner Knitting&Crochet
Each winter especially around the holidays, I can't seem to get enough of knitting and crochet projects. I've always got one, (ok at least 3 or 4 projects) going on. To keep your knitter or crocheter happy this holiday, here are some gift ideas I know they would love.

Babygrapeyarn
Baby Grape - South American Merino by UrbanGypZ ($30)
I love handspun and dyed yarn and this Baby Grape yarn is calling me. This yarn would knit up some of these most adorable socks or crocheted arm warmers.

You can also search for yarn on Etsy to find more handmade yarn goodness.

Lotta Knittingtote
Lotta Jansdotter Tote & Zipper Set ($48)
I've been using Lotta Jansdotter totes for my knitting and crochet projects for years now. I love this tote with matching zipper set which can hold your notions such as stitch markers, large eye needle, and tape measurer.

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December 14, 2009

Gift Guide: For Boys and Girls

When thinking of crafty gifts for kids, especially for boys, it's easy to be stumped. Do I really want to be that aunt, the one who gives educational gifts or boring gifts or wildly inappropriate ones for the recipient's age?

Heck no, I don't, so I scour the web, the craft shops, and the toy stores for ideas. Here are some of the best crafty gifts I've come across, most lightweight kits geared toward maximum fun with a little bit of accomplishment-based confidence building thrown in. And some are just plain cool.

These aren't the usual knitting, beading, or Shrinky Dink kits, because I'm pretty sure we can all find those, or teach the crafts better on our own. I tried to go off the beaten path and at the same time keep these fairly gender neutral. But since I have two boys and no girls it may be slightly weighted on the guy side. If you know of some amazing kits that any girl would love, please post the deets in the Comments, or for that matter, any other kits for kids that rock.

Build Your Own Rocket

I would have loved this when I was a little girl, and I'm sure kids of both sexes and various ages will enjoy this wooden rocket kit, that comes with 14 easy to assemble parts, stickers, paint and brushes, varnish, glue, and even a splash mat to protect your surfaces.
At $14, this seems like a steal.

Handprint Plaster Kit

There are lots of plaster handprint kits out there, some cuter than others. Whichever one you choose, I've found that kids love making these; my teenager still baffles at just how small his hand was when he was 4 years old.

Some of the nicest looking to me have been an oval-shaped ornament, a heart-shaped plaque from Jo-Ann Fabrics, and the one shown here, which includes watercolors and ribbon so the kids can decorate their handprint.

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December 13, 2009

Felting Gift Guide

Felt is a soft, warm, and beautiful material that is easy to make and use. Natural wool, simple tools, and a rewarding process have brought feltmaking into the repertoire of many artists. The creative results captivate crafters with very diverse aesthetics. As with any hobby, there are tons of wonderful fibers and supplies that make creating felt even more satisfying. Consider this Felting Gift Guide a wish-list for the fiber artist in your life.

One of the best things about working with wool is that it comes in so many lovely colors. This Outback Fiber Color Palette is the ultimate in roving. With a minimum of 50 different colors, this is a deluxe present that would be a fun surprise for any felter.

Needle felting is my prefered method of making felt, and my prefered supplies come from Made by Moxie. Get anyone started, or just make them very happy with this Mega Kit of Ultimate Felting Enjoyment.

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December 11, 2009

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Gifts for the Outdoor Enthusiast

Got folks on your gift list who would much rather be outside exploring the great outdoors than pretty much anything else? Here's a little gift guide to get your idea juices flowing. There are so many stripes of outdoor enthusiast that we can't possibly cover them all, but here's a little sampling. And since knowledge is essential in the woods, we'll get started with a list of books.

Books

Made for the Outdoors: Over 40 Do-It-Yourself Projects for the Great Outdoors By Len McDougall (starting at $17)

McDougall offers one of the cornerstone backcountry DIY books, with clear and simple instructions on how to make anything from fires to snowshoes.

Don't Forget the Duct Tape: Tips and Tricks for Repairing Outdoor and Travel Gear By Kristin Hostetter ($8)

I was first introduced to this book by our own Arwen O'Reilly Griffith, who reviewed it for MAKE's Toolbox section, and I've kept it handy ever since. Kristin Hostetter is the gear editor for Backpacker magazine, so you're guaranteed she knows what she's talking about. She tells you what to carry in your hiking repair kit and what not to use duct tape for. Bonus point if you gift this bundled with a roll of duct tape.

Sew and Repair Your Outdoor Gear By Louise Lindgren (from $13)

Although this book first came out 20 years ago, you'll still see it on every recommended reading list for making and repairing gear. Lindgren extensively covers sewing technique for technical fabrics, and provides a great resource, even if you don't take her instruction verbatim. After all, she did write it in 1989, but it still contains some gems.

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December 10, 2009

Creativity Tools Gift Guide on MAKE

Marc de Vinck over @ MAKE has a nice gift guide up full of things to inspire creativity in the recipient. I'm adding a few of the books he recommends to my list right now!

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December 9, 2009

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Gifts for Gardeners

While I love what I call "indoor crafts," sometimes there's nothing like digging in the dirt to soothe my soul, and growing things--whether it's a bonsai, an orchid, or a tomato plant--really is a craft. Most of us gardeners spend the winter months dreaming of summer and plotting for spring, so reward the green thumb in your life with one of these garden gifts.

Box of Ladybugs ($40 for 4,500) I have always secretly wanted a box of ladybugs. How cool is that? The mailman drops off a box of thousands of live, beautiful, wish-bestowing ladybugs! And then they clear up your aphid problem. Enough said. (You can even buy them a cozy house.) Read full story »

December 7, 2009

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Craft Kits

Craft kits are a perfect gift for crafting newbies or crafting veterans. Having all the supplies you need to complete a project in one handy gift is priceless, and when you give the gift of a kit you give the gift of creative expression along with the project they will complete. Here are a few of our favorite craft kits for holiday gift giving.

For the Knitter:

Double Scoops Custom Kits from Lee Meredith ($18 - $24 depending on kit choice)

I love Lee's designs of ice cream cones with big, yummy scoops on top. They make brilliant headbands and earmuffs. Choose your scoops and you're all set!

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December 4, 2009

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Getting Started in Wearable Tech

Sew a circuit, knit a sensor, electrify your wardrobe, it's CRAFT's Getting Started in Wearable Technology Gift Guide! Check out our Soft Circuit and Fashion Tech archives for project inspiration, and then look here for all the supplies to get your holiday shopping done!

Conductive thread (~$20)

There are many different places to get conductive thread. My favorite is Lame Lifesaver, since their thread doens't fray as much as other kinds I've tried, but you can also pick it up from Sparkfun and LessEMF. If you're looking for a little more than just thread, you might try the LilyPad E-Sewing Kit that also comes with some sewable LEDs to get you started.

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December 3, 2009

CRAFT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: DIY Gift Ideas for Guys

Make a handmade present for the deserving guys in your life. We've all heard it before, but it bears repeating: Handmade gifts are the best kind. Here are some do-it-yourself ideas. Please chime in in the Comments if you've got more ideas!

A music mix
At the beginning of 2009, I gathered up some favorite songs and put together a mix CD for my friends. A good mix can be an amazing gift. Songs have the ability to bring out emotion, and by arranging the songs just so, you're essentially an emotional puppeteer! Of course, you don't want to swerve wildly all over the musical map, but I think people are often too conservative when making a mix. Don't get caught up in genre segregation. Just remember: Transitions are key. Listen to the end of one song and the beginning of the next to see if they work well next to each other.

More inspiration: Angelica Amesquita wrote a fantastic mix tutorial in CRAFT, Volume 10 (Available in the Maker Shed). Finally, to house the CD, fold an origami CD case and decorate it. Don't forget to write out the track list. Done!

Here are the tracks off the mix I made, which I called, "2009: Year of the Ox:"

1. Fidelity - Regina Spektor
2. All the Money or the Simple Life Honey - The Dandy Warhols
3. Mellotron 1 - Apples in Stereo
4. The Harder They Come - Jimmy Cliff
5. Electric Feel - MGMT
6. 1234 - Feist
7. Silver Lining - Rilo Kiley
8. Amsterdam - Peter Bjorn and John
9. Underwater (You and Me) - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
10. Mirando - Ratatat
11. Blind - Hercules and Love Affair
12. Mi Viejo - Ratatat
13. Lights & Music - Cut Copy
14. I'm Good, I'm Gone - Lykke Li
15. Since We Last Spoke - RJD2
16. Vocoder Ba Ba - Apples in Stereo
17. Fake Palindromes - Andrew Bird
18. King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1 - Neutral Milk Hotel

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December 2, 2009

CRAFT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Green Gifts

Admittedly, Green Gifts is a really broad category, and we could spend hours discussing the intricacies of being "green." A good resource I found is Planet Green's "Shop Sustainably with 3 Simple Questions" post. Basically the questions are: 1. Is it upcycled or made from sustainable materials? 2. Is it resource saving? 3. Is it vintage or pre-owned? With your eco-crafter in mind, you could either shop for sustainable craft supplies to provide them with ammunition for their projects or you could buy gifts that are made sustainably. Here I will offer just a sampling, just the tip of the iceberg (thank goodness it hasn't all melted yet), to get your eco-gift-giving wheels turning!

Crafting Supplies

Artemis Pastel Crayons and Plant-Based Colored Pencils ($33.50 and $35)

The crayons, from Denmark, are made of a completely natural plant base and come in 10 lovely colors. The 10 medium-soft colored pencils have leads colored by natural plant extracts. Both add gorgeous natural hues to your favorite eco-crafters artwork.

Earth-Friendly Yarns (various prices)

The choices available today for eco-friendly yarns are kind of mind-blowing. Earth-Friendly Yarns has one of the most extensive selections I've seen, from corn fiber to viscose from recycled sarongs to banana silk and bamboo — and they come in stunning, rich colors or au naturale.

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