DIY and handmade craft ideas

Here’s an art show you can enjoy no matter where you live … “Repurposed: Art from Recycled Materials” is an EBSQ (an online art association) juried show that “opened” in April to benefit Environmental Defense. One of the art show pieces that stood out for me was Amanda Hone’s colorful “Postage Stamp Bowl,” which was also won a Member’s Mention …

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Rosie’s Place

I first learned about Rosie’s Place a few years ago when I purchased a couple of vintage button bookmarks from J. Jill as gifts. Rosie’s Place, based in Boston, is a sanctuary for poor and homeless women, and the Women’s Craft Cooperative at Rosie’s Place helps “women help themselves by turning new and vintage buttons into decorative accessories,” including wonderful …

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The Reading Well

by Cross-Stitch Editor

I’m a huge fan of etsy.com!! If you craft or are an artist you’ve probably been there. You can find any kind of craft or art product there that you want, including cross stitch. You can also find tons of patterns and supplies too. One of my favorites is the Reading Well. This is a book site that carries …

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ReadyMade (Recycled) Magazine

Visit the online shop of ReadyMade magazine — “a bimonthly print magazine for people who like to make stuff” — and you’ll find carefully selected must-haves that you probably wouldn’t find offered by other magazines: Blueprints for a small modular dwelling, museum wall text kits and shrinky sheet sets are a few of the unique things you can add to …

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Pricing Your Crafts

One of the biggest challenges of being an Indie Crafter is knowing what your work is worth in the larger craft market. As a good starting point for those of you who are just beginning I found this About.com article called Pricing Your Crafts Beating the Walmart Mentality. A great little read to start your craft business off on …

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~Sun Kissed Bud~

by Bath and Body Editor

Working as a pasrty chef for many years in some of the busiest restaurants in NYC, Sun Kissed Bud owner Ayelet started making her own natural products to help with her aching back, neck and feet.

Now, 5 years later Ayelet is making Sun Kissed Bud products from scratch using natural pure ingredients, botanical extracts, essential oils and paraben-free preservatives, …

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A Tote for the Inner Geek

What can you do with old floppy disks — I mean the REALLY old oversized, bendable floppies? Instructables contributor imanalchemist (yes, you read that right) shows us how he made a dashing tote bag from 18 old 5.25-inch floppies, canvas backing, machine-sewn stitching and recycled tote handles.

Unlike the smaller floppies, the 5.25-inch floppies are much more flexible, so you …

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Repurposed Rolodex

Love to organize? Would you love to become organized? Christy Petterson at getcrafty.com transformed a hand-me-down Rolodex into a craft organizer. Sheâ€™s especially fond of dyeing fabric and making jewelry, and she finds that she can keep track of tiny jewelry parts and their part numbers by attaching them to flip-through Rolodex cards.

This would be great for any craft, …

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Ruby Re-Usable

Ruby Re-Usable, a.k.a. artist Diane Kurzyna, is the diva of the Olympia Dumpster Divers in Olympia, Wash. She dedicates her life to art and craft made from recycled materials, which she also blogs about. Her website includes a portfolio of offbeat works of recycled art, including human form sculptures made entirely of used plastic bag material. Shown is a detail …

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First Ever KAL with SWTC Karaoke Yarn

I have finally done it, I have committed to a[tag] KAL[/tag]. I joined the [tag]South West Trading Company[/tag] [tag]Knit a Long[/tag] using [tag]Karaoke yarn[/tag]. This is a [tag]soysilk and wool blend[/tag] sold at [tag]SWTC.[/tag] The knit a long is held at [tag]yahoo groups[/tag]. [tag]Joan Somerville[/tag] designed a gorgeous mitered square sweater for adults that we are going to …

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What’s Up Chicken Butt?

These charming Chicken Butt cards appeal to the chicken lover in me and will get most people to crack a smile. They are handmade with a a Gocco screen printing machine by Dixie and Clint of Young and With It Industries on Etsy.…

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Mafia Made 2007

The San Francisco Craft Mafia are at it again with their successful Mafia Made trunk show! Get your holiday shopping started early and beat the rush! The Mafia Made Winter Trunk show will be held October 21, 2007 at the Hall of Flowers (County Fair Building) in Golden Gate Park, 9th & Irving, San Francisco, California 12pm to 5pm
Vendor …

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Back-to-School Notebooks: Part 1

Make schoolwork a bit more exciting by studying with Cap’n Crunch, Count Chocula or (shown) Toucan Sam! Etsy member Nature Made Scents has created a few fun notebooks using cereal boxes as covers. How about using Alpha-Bits for English class? Or Life cereal for sociology?

[tags]cereal box crafts, recycled notebook, school supplies, Froot Loops, back to school[/tags]…

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Meet UK’s Craftiest…

The Leeds Craft Mafia was founded in Autumn 2006 when Michelle Duxbury-Townsley got together a group of crafty ladies who are dedicated to spreading the word of the crafting revolution and DIY ethos across the fair city of Leed. They are proud to be the first UK member of the Craft Mafia family! Their mission is to unite and promote …

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Celebration Of Needlework – Kentucky

by Needlework News Editor

2007 Celebration of Needlework Louisville, Kentucky held September 12 – 16

Check the schedule of classes as it’s posted for more details.

Pamper your creative self for 3 days surrounded by needleworkers

Shop the merchandise mall filled with quality vendors (Entry fee $17.00 per day or $18.00 for the 3 days)

Participate in Classes taught by 15 nationally known needlework …

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Is your gent a smart squid?

These hand screened ties by toybreaker on Etsy are a great idea for indie office wear! According to the artist “This original illustration with a human brain superimposed on a cuttlefish will tell the world that you got smarts. Cuttlefish…cuddlefish…too cute, no?” They come in a variety if ink and tie colors for $30 USD. Get one here…

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Maker Faire Comes to Austin, Texas

This past May, a jaw-dropping 45,000 people gathered at the San Mateo Fairgrounds in California for an event some called, “The Woodstock for inventors.” — A one-of-a-kind event for tech geeks, crafty hipsters, DIY lovers, and basically, anyone who builds anything — from 7 year-olds to 70 year olds — Maker Faire brought together people from over 10 different countries …

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Amigurumi Patterns for Knitting

According to [tag]Wikipedia[/tag], [tag]Amigurumi[/tag] is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small animals or anthropomorphic creatures. Amigurumi are typically cute animals (such as bears, rabbits, cats, dogs, etc.), but can include inanimate objects endowed with anthropomorphic features. Amigurumi can be knitted, but the vast majority of amigurumi are crocheted. They are also worked with a smaller size needle …

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Shoshona Snow Ceramics…

Shoshona has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in ceramics and proclaims “I’m a huge design freak and am inspired by the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. Most of my work has a wonderful tactile quality…you just want to touch, touch, touch. I love clean lines and clean colors.” Her latest creation “Modern Tea Pot” captures her love of texture …

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Silver Dollar Ring

MAKE magazine (the older sibling of CRAFT magazine) offers a video podcast on creating a one-of-a-kind hardy hand-crafted ring from an old silver dollar.

Even I (who has zero background in jewelry making or silversmithing) feel as though I could accomplish this in under an hour. All you need is a hammer, anvil, drill and Dremel tool, along with …

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Kitchen Kitsch Patterns

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Crochetroo.etsy.comÂ Â has some fun crochet patterns from Downunder

From kitchen kitsch patterns and Aussie NativeBirds

Check out the finished projects or the very inexpensive patterns to make your own.

…

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Tahki Stacy Charles Announces Fall/Winter Books

[tag]Tahki Stacy Charles[/tag] has prepared 4 books for this fall / winter: Tahki Yarns Fall / Winter Collection, Tweed Collection, Filatura di Crosa Fall / Winter Collection and S. Charles Collezione Fall / Winter Collection.

Tahki Yarns Fall / Winter Collection [tag]knitting pattern[/tag] book features 26 classic and fashionable knitting patterns using Angel, Baby, Baby Print, Bunny, Bunny …

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Worlds Largest Yarn Stach

I do have a stash of yarn at my home. I also have some in my son’s basement. I am always looking at yard sales, garage sales, resale shops and yarn shops. However . . . .

I will never in my lifetime amass this much yarn! Look through these pictures and be humbled, appalled or amazed.

I’m jealous because …

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Peng Peng Bears and Sock Monkeys