Craftophile

Combo Pack

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:33:00 +0000

Most creative types will admit that they like to dabble in more than one type of craft. So crafters who are interested in both felting and jewelry making will enjoy author and designer Gail Crossman Moore's kits for making various types of felted jewelry projects. All kits come with everything needed to do the project, including dyed wool roving and illustrated instruction pages on felting. The jewelry kits include beads and findings. Kits can be ordered in a variety of colors including rose, plum, black, rust and gold.

For more information or to order your own kit, visit Moore's website at
www.gailcrosmanmoore.com and click on "Shop." Prices range from $26 for her Felt Acorn Earrings kit to $56 for her felt Treasure Pouch kit.

Upcoming Craft Books: September 2007

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:06:00 +0000

Labor day weekend is coming up! If you have a few extra days off, why not check out some new craft books and get some fresh ideas? Here are some of my favorites being released in the month of September.

With Fall weather on the way, crochet and knitting books seem quite popular for September. Included in the mix are the Pattern-a-Day 2008 Calendars for both knitting and crochet, Everyday Crochet: Wearable Designs Just for You, Contemporary Classics: 24 Elegant Knits with a Modern Twist and KnitKnit: Profiles + Projects from Knitting's New Wave. Those who want to risk the so-called sweater curse can find patterns especially for men in two new books, The Knitting Man(ual): 20+ Projects for Guys and Knitting for Him: 27 Classic Projects to Keep Him Warm.

Jewelry and beading fans will also find plenty of books to love. Author Tair Parnes uses unique items like drawer pulls and fishing lures to create 19 different projects in Jewelry and Accessories from Everyday Objects: 19 Unique Projects Inspired by Found Objects and Ready-Made Materials while Brenda Schweder uses bike chains and a cloth measuring tapes for her found object jewelry book, Junk to Jewelry: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Found Objects in Jewelry You Can Actually Wear. Fabric is the material (get it?) of choice in the book Incredible Fabric Jewelry: Over 40 Ways to Create Fabulous Fabric Necklaces Bracelets Corsages and More. Beaders who love using vintage materials will enjoy Kaari Meng's French-Inspired Jewelry: Creating with Vintage Beads, Buttons & Baubles. Looking to create beaded items for your home as well? Look no further than Mickey Baskett's Dazzling Bead & Wire Crafts, which also contains jewelry ideas.

Crafters looking for a different way to use their skills will enjoy Tom Nardone's wonderfully cheeky Extreme Pumpkins: Diabolical Do-It-Yourself Designs to Amuse Your Friends and Scare Your Neighbors. Creator of the famous puking pumpkin, Nardone's various project instructions include Crime Scene Pumpkin, Cannibal Pumpkin and Electrocuted Pumpkin. Halloween has never looked better.

Japanese craft lovers can look forward to two craft books, the newly translated Beadweaving Brilliance: Make Beautiful Jewelry as You Learn Off-Loom Techniquesby Kumiko M. Ito and expat Robertta Uhl's Holiday Paper Crafts from Japan: 17 Easy Projects to Brighten Your Holiday Season....

Until next time, happy crafting!

How Cool Are Your Jewels?

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 19:21:00 +0000

Teenagers can be a wonderfully fickle bunch. Something that was trendy last week is out this week, never to be seen or worn again. Which is why the hobby of jewelry making is perfect for teen and tween girls. Necklaces, earrings and bracelets can be easily created and then taken apart and made into something else when the mood strikes. And any teen who wants to show off her creative skills will love Naomi Fujimoto's Cool Jewels: Beading Projects for Teens.

But don't let the title fool you, this book is great even for older girls (ahem) who are looking for some fresh ideas or beginners who are interested in jewelry making.

The book starts out with the basics of bead types, findings and tools needed, as well as a section on different techniques used to make jewelry. The rest of the book is divided into chapters concentrating on the different types of projects that can be made: necklaces, bracelets, earrings and a section of 'more ideas' that includes beaded snowflake ornaments, stack rings and a chain belt.

Cool Jewels also contains concise instructions and full-color photos of each project in several stages, which makes it helpful for beginners. Many different styles are illustrated, including a long and girly "Pretty in Pink" necklace, a simple pendant hung on a cord, a chunky wooden bracelet using memory wire, a bracelet bursting with charms and funky earrings made from chains. So whether your teen is princessy, crunchy or punky, she'll find something in this book to her liking. Fujimoto also includes instructions on how teens can host a cool jewels party and get creative with friends.

Although the book provides listings of internet sources, the majority of materials can easily be found at your local craft or beading store, making it perfect for those teens who are anxious to get started on these fun projects.

Difficulty: Newbie to Advanced Beginner.

ETC: Check out one of the book's projects with this PDF for the Round & Round Necklace!

Wake Up!

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 15:45:00 +0000

I'm not a morning person. I never understood those people who sprung out of bed bright eyed and cheerful, ready to take on the world. Even if I'm technically awake, I'm not really fully conscious until at least 9 or 10 AM. That's why I absolutely love Hambone and Jennicakes eye quilts.

Each eye shade is handmade and has a cloth-covered elastic band to fit a variety of head sizes. They are hand-embroidered with a variety of sayings including 'sod off,' 'hung over,' 'love coma' 'dream,' 'do not disturb,' 'piss off' and the ever popular 'f*** off' (uncensored on the actual product). Apparently I'm not the only one who doesn't like being woken up unexpectedly! They run $24, but some of them are on sale at Funky Utopia. Hambone and Jennicakes also sells cupcake quilts and retro-inspired aprons.

Decisions, Decisions. . .

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:25:00 +0000

Yarn making you yawn? Bored with beading? Feeling scrapped out? Sick of sewing? Maybe your problem is that you need a new hobby. But with so many out there, how do you chose? ReadyMade contributing editor Tina Barseghian wants to help narrow your new hobby search with her book Get a Hobby! 101 All-Consuming Diversions for Any Lifestyle.

The book starts off with a (rather tongue-in-cheek) hobby personality quiz to help determine which of the 101 hobbies listed in the book best suit the reader's personality. The rest of the book devotes itself to a two page synopsis of each hobby, listed in alphabetical order.

Many of the 101 hobbies described are pretty common, but there are several unique ones as well. These include composting, dumpster diving, gravestone rubbing, mushroom hunting, olive oil infusion, seed trading and storm chasing. Each hobby description includes a list of the supplies needed, an overview of what the hobby is, its history, how to get started, additional resources, what type of personality is best suited for this hobby, and a beginner project. Some of the entries also include short profiles of those that practice it.

My only complaint about the hobbies listed is that some involve the use of live animals. While Barseghian provides ample warning of time and effort involved, I would hate to see anyone give these hobbies a "try" only to decide that it wasn't for them.

The cover of Get a Hobby! is a wonderfully attention-getting photo of two models piled high with accessories and clothing suited for different activities, but unfortunately the inside design isn't as well done. The pages are pretty easy to read, but only use two ink colors, green and orange. It also would have been nice to see photos of the projects instead of simplistic illustrations.

While not meant to be a comprehensive source, the book is a great starting off point for anyone interested in learning a little something about a hobby they might not have considered before.

Upcoming Crafty Books: July 2007

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:03:00 +0000

July is almost here and new craft books are on the horizon! Next month's selections range from knitting to art cards to everyone's favorite childhood building blocks, Legos. And of course where would we be without at least one Japanese craft book?

Girls who love purses should enjoy Marie Enderlen-Debuisson and Caroline Laisne's Chic Bags: 22 Handbags, Purses, Totes, and Accessories to Make. It promises bags to suit every occasion, from shopping to an evening out. Fabrics used include cotton, felt, taffeta, fleece, and even a pattern made using a tablecloth.

Embellishing and reconstructing clothing is still a popular craft, and Sonya Nimri adds her ideas to the mix with the book Just for the Frill of It: 25 Flirty, Fabulous Styles to Make from Clothes You Already Own. Projects aren't just limited to clothes, however. Nimiri shows readers how to make purses, shoe clips and even something for your furry friend. Although no sneak peek of her book is available, she seems to have some similar ideas on her website.

The Yarn Girls are releasing their fifth book in July, The Yarn Girls' Guide to Knits for All Seasons: Sweaters and Accessories for Men and Women. This book contains over 40 projects, centered around a seasonal theme for those that want to wear their knitted creations year round. Each chapter has patterns for six women’s sweaters, two men’s sweaters and one accessory for spring, summer, winter and fall.

Although it would be labeled more creative than crafty, who wouldn't love to build a Lego catapult that shoots M&Ms or a paper airplane launcher? In Forbidden LEGO: Build the Models Your Parents Warned You Against authors Ulrik Pilegaard and Mike Dooley (both former LEGO employees) show you how to build fun items like these combining LEGOs and household objects like plastic spoons and rubber bands. They also devote a chapter on how to start building your own LEGO designs.

Featuring projects no bigger than 3.5 x 5 inches, Teeny Tiny Cards: Little Projects That Make a Big Impression is a collection of cards from various artists using different techniques such as stamping, painting, stitching, painting, and altering found objects. Over 40 different projects are featured, including place cards, gift tags, bookmarks and business cards.

While publishers are just now beginning to translate Japanese craft books into English, author Kumiko Sudo has been writing books on Japanese crafts for English speaking audiences since the 1990s. Her latest, Wagashi: Handcrafted Fashion Art from Japan, is a collection of 20 handcrafted fabric jewelry projects (necklaces, bracelets and earrings) made from silk or cotton. Sudo also provides step-by-step instructions for the Japanese knot work, beading and fabric origami used in several of the designs. If her other books are any indication, even people not interested in making the projects shown will enjoy the many beautiful photos and author comments throughout the book.

Remember, if you have any suggestions for craft-related books, magazines, products or websites you think I should review, drop me an email at jodigrrl(at)gmail(dot)com!

Do You Like Me? Do You Really Like Me?

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:26:00 +0000

Hey crafters and creative types! Craftophile is now on MySpace! That's right, Craftophile has joined one of the largest social networking sites around. So wander on over and add me as a friend! You can find me here: http://www.myspace.com/craftophile

Attention New England Crafters!

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:20:00 +0000

The Creative Bazaar is an indie craft fair taking place October 13, 2007 in Cape Cod, MA. They are currently looking for independent crafters.

Vendor applications are being accepted now through July 15th, 2007. Each space is $100 and comes with a table and chairs. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by August 1st, 2007.

The Creative Bazaar is taking place during justBe...Connected; a weekend gathering for Creative Bloggers.

For more information, visit the Just Be Connected website, or email organizer Melba McMullin with any questions at melbamcmullin@comcast.net

Needle Knows

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:27:00 +0000

Thanks to Jenny Hart, embroidery is now trendy. Julie Jackson's Subversive Cross Stitchlets you produce sayings like "Babies Suck" and "Bite Me" in cross stitch. The organic inspired designes of Wool and Hoop's Katherine Shaughnessymake doing crewl cool. But needlepoint still conjours up images of elaborate seat covers and pillows covered with cat hair. Dimensions' Savvy Stitches line could change that.

Savvy Stitches offers kits for 12 different cuff bracelet patterns, incuding leopard print, stripes, paisley and several cute mod-inspired designs. The bracelets are done in needlepoint, lined with ribbon for comfort, and edged with beads. The closure is made from a silvertone button included with the kit. Each bracelet kit contains a printed 14 mesh canvas, thread, beads, ribbon, button, and instructions written for those with little to no needlepoint experience. Girls with larger wrists may run into problems however, since the finished product comes out to about 7 3/4"(20cm). Like with most kits, you'll be required to buy your own needle.

The kits, which retail for $9.99, can be purchased online or at your local craft store.

Shiny Fun Amigurumi

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:02:00 +0000

What is Amigurumi? The Japanese word for crochet/knitted dolls with a definite "kawaii" (super cute) appeal. Three different books on the subject (Mr. Funky's Super Crochet Wonderful,Amigurumi! Super Happy Crochet Cute and Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts! Amigurumi) are coming out in the next few months, but if you can't wait that long, there are places on the internet where you can find free or inexpensive patterns as well.

Kristie's Kids offers several of free patterns for creatures diverse as mice, hippos and turtles. She also has some non-animal patterns of mushrooms and an adorable chocolate kiss. All of her patterns contain pictures of the finished project. The patterns don't seem to have individual pages, however, so you will have to scroll down the pages to see each one.

Ana Paula Rimoli has some free patterns on her appropriately named site, Free Amigurumi Crochet Patterns, including a teddy bear, fried egg and cupcake. She also has an etsy store where she offers several adorable high-quality downloadable patterns that start at only $3. I'm seriously considering the Prince from the video game Katamari Damacy.

Vegan blogger Bittersweet has some free knit crochet patterns that are food-related including a toast purse and tofu pin cushion. But even if you don't crochet or knit, her commentary alone is worth the blog visit!

One of the original English speaking amigurumi pattern makers, Roxycraft offers patterns for sale on her site as well as free patterns.

For those of you up to a challenge and who also know how to read crochet charts (or better yet, understand Japanese) this Japanese site has some cute patterns, click on the project picture to access them.

Other good general sites to check out are Crochetville's Original Pattern forum, Craftbits' Crochet area and Craftster's crochet section.

Adorn magazine also has a sneak preview from the book Mr. Funky's Super Crochet Wonderful, get it here.

Felt Up

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:17:00 +0000

Although the craft of felting has become very popular, those felt squares that you see in craft stores seem to have a taint of elementary school craft project about them. But in Fabulous Felt: Over 30 Exquisite Ideas for Sophisticated Home Decor and Stunning Accessoriesauthor Sophie Bester manages to take out felt out of classroom territory to make several unique and creative accessories.

Originally published in French, project directions are written using both standard and metric measurements and consist of supplies easily found in craft or fabric stores. The book's introduction explains the difference between synthetic felt (usually craft squares)and wool felt (usually found on a bolt and sold by the yard) and when you should use each kind. Bester also explains how to transfer the designs found in the book, illustrates some basic embroidery stitches and shows the many ways felt can be decorated using items like fabric paint, colored chalk, glitter, etc.

The rest of the book is then divided up into themes with matching projects. Into the Woods consists of pieces with a folk-art feel and inspired by nature, including a decorative three-dimensional cuckoo clock and an Iris-decorated throw blanket. Shades of white with a holiday theme make up the book's Back to Nature section which has patterns for an elegant wreath made from a lampshade ring, felt, feathers, beads and ribbon as well as a Christmas stocking and several ornaments. Bester's Pastel Palette chapter mainly contains children's projects, including a flower cushion and a small round toy box decorated by detailing white felt shapes with colored chalk pastels. The Over the Rainbow section consists of a mixture of projects, all made with brightly colored felt. Bester's Saharan Treasures chapter has some of the book's more interesting ideas, all of which are built around an exotic Moroccan theme where tassels, seed beads and jewel-toned colors are used in abundance. A floor cushion, tea glass holders, decorated slippers and jeweled candle holders are some of the patterns available.

This book has many unique and interesting projects I haven't seen anywhere else as well as new ideas in the different ways felt can be used. Everyone should be able to find at least a few projects that they will like.

Difficulty Level: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate. A sewing machine will need to be used in several of these projects. Users should also know basic hand-sewing techniques and basic decorative embroidery stitches.

Soap Box

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:19:00 +0000

One of the most popular sites on the Internet is Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia that is edited by its users. Sites that are using Wiki's open source software (called Wikimedia) have been popping up everywhere and are devoted to several different topics.

Soap makers will be delighted to know that a site devoted exclusively to their craft has recently been started. Called Saponaceo (a play on the chemical process in soapmaking called saponifaction), its mission is to concentrate soap-related information into tutorials and guides and build a cohesive network of like-minded, knowledgeable peers and mentors.

Saponaceo is divided up into several different areas: Soapmaking Resources & Technical Data, a Glossary, "How to" Guides, Soap Lye Calculators, Recipies and Scenting & Coloring Tools. It also includes directories for various companies, organizations, and individual soapmakers.

At the moment, several of the areas don't contain information. But like any type of user-contributed website, the information and the website itself should continue to grow over time. So if you have some soapmaking knowledge or recipes that you would like to share with your fellow crafters, why not show it off by writing your own entry?

Sk*rting the Issue

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:41:00 +0000

Social bookmarking sites like Digg, del.icio.us, Furl and Stumbleupon allow you to mark favorite internet sites and articles and access them from any computer by simply logging in with your member name and password. Site members can then share these bookmarks with other users and vote on which ones are their favorites.

Unfortunately, these sites are often dominated by technical, sports or hard news topics. So where can a crafty gal go for bookmarks a bit more to her liking?

Enter Sk*rt, a social bookmarking site that advertises itself as "For Women. And the men who want to get into their heads." Launched just this month, the site has been so successful that they already have had to switch to a larger server to keep up with visitors.

So what can you find at Sk*rt? Their topics include Around the House, Fashion, Entertainment, Out & About, Mind/Body/Spirit, Worldwise, Parenting, Food and Arts, Crafts & Design. Similar to Digg, users can vote on how much they like particular bookmarks, with the most popular ones rising to the top of the heap.

Although created for women, the site itself is free of the stereotypical cutesy fonts and flowery designs found on many other sites aimed at females. Those familiar with social bookmarking should be able to jump right in. But if you're new to how these sites work, Sk*rt has a great FAQ section as well as a video tutorial to help you get started.

Rating: 9/10

Websites We Heart: Craftbits

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:44:00 +0000

Free craft project websites appear on the Internet with the frequency of starlets checking into re-hab. But these sites can sometimes be an exercise in frustration. They often require your email address before allowing you pattern access, only contain links to other sites (which only contain links to other sites, which only contain links...etc) or have projects that even kids at summer camp would be embarrassed to make. Finding a site that is well organized, pleasant to look at, easy to navigate and actually contains projects you want to make isn’t always easy.

Craftbits, founded by the Australian mother/daughter team of Rita and Shellie Wilson, is one of the good ones. The site itself is illustrated with cute mod graphics, is easy to navigate and best of all, is updated on a regular basis.

The homepage features the top ten most popular crafts, with various project categories listed on the left. The craft projects do not require registration to access (although registration is required for anyone wanting to post a project or enter contests). Project categories include Bath & Body, Beading, various holidays, Crochet, Knitting, Recycled Crafts, as well as Therapy Crafts and a listing of sites that accept craft for charity. The projects on the site range from trendy (knitted food, juice wrapper coin purse, bath jelly) to whimsical (bra evening bag, crocheted poo, monster puke bubble bath) to classic (sock monkeys, dish scrubbies, dammit dolls).

Each project (as far as I can tell…I don’t have the time to look at the hundreds listed! ;-)) has an accompanying picture of the finished product as well as instructions. They are available in an easy-to-print format by simply clicking on the “print” button in the left-hand corner. While the majority of the instructions are thourough, some of the user-submitted ideas could use more detail.

Besides projects, the site sponsors contests to win various craft-related products, articles that range from interviews with crafters to how to sell your stuff at craft shows and an advice section where site members can submit questions.

A unique feature not found on most craft sites is the Craft Videos section (would that fellow redhead be Aussie Craftbits Founder Shellie?). It only contains a few videos at the moment, but I hope to see this feature expanded in the future.

Rating: 9/10 You’ll lose track of time while visiting!

Are You Readymade?

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 03:52:00 +0000

The first thing the reader will notice about ReadyMade: How to Make (Almost) Everything: A Do-It-Yourself Primer is the design of the book itself. It has natural board covers and the spine has been turned into a handy ruler. And in typical ReadyMade style, there are random humorous suggestions on the cover and in various parts of the book.

The book is divided into sections by the materials used--metal, glass, plastic, wood, etc. These sections are then divided into articles and projects, including (interestingly enough) a failed project, where they explain why they felt the project was a good idea but then realized it wouldn't work. Several of the projects shown can be found in back issues of the magazine, but it is nice to have them all gathered in one place.

All of the sections start off with an interesting history of the materials used (glass, wood, etc) as well as their environmental impact. There are also whimsical articles which encourage the reader HOW to do something as opposed to an actual physical project (including writing a love letter, financing a new business with credit cards and breaking through that glass ceiling at work). The least interesting of these section articles is called "Why Don't I Do This Every Day?" which consists of profiles of different people as well as a project made by them. While some of the projects are interesting, the instructions on how to make them are limited at best.

Although recycling is emphasized in the book, several of these projects using found materials seem downright ugly. The beer can room divider seems a bit too drunk fratboy chic, and a coat rack made of detergent bottles resembles something thrown together at a kid's summer camp. And while the room screen made of shoe boxes looks great, it requires the Carrie Bradshaw-sized feat of having 18 corrugated cardboard shoe boxes of the exact same dimensions.

Some of the better projects are a clothespin dormat, martini bird feeder, collandar lamp, plastic grocery bag rug, CD-jewel case mural and water-bottle chandelier.

Like the magazine, the book also falls into the habit of the projects sometimes costing more than going out and buying a similar or same item brand new--which often defeats the purpose of making something out of recycled items.

ReadyMade: How to Make [Almost] Everythingwill probably be enjoyed by some and dismissed by others, depending on their sense of style and their willingness to put time and effort into the various projects.

Difficulty Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Sew What?

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Thu, 31 May 2007 00:46:00 +0000

Names like Simplicity, Vogue and Butterick are all familiar names to people who buy and use sewing patterns to make clothing. But there are a lot of lesser-known names out there as well. Some are designers who are just getting started and others are those who feel that working for a large company would compromise their designs. Many of the patterns fit speciality niches because they are reproductions of vintage clothing or are aimed at a particular group. Some worth checking out after the jump.

Hot Patterns: Advertised as "Patterns so hot their smokin'" This company has several different styles of modern and fashionable clothing by various designers. Patterns can be found by item (skirts, pants, suits, etc.) or by styles such as Deco Vibe, Plain & Simple, Artful Dodger and Classix Nouveau. Sizes range from US 6 to 26. Their website also offers handbag patterns as well as several free patterns.

Decades of Style reproduces vintage patterns from the 1920s to the 1950s. The patterns have been completely updated to modern sizing, fit and notions. The patterns consist mainly of dresses, but blouses, purses, capes and aprons can be found as well.

From Quebec, Canada, Jalie Patterns most unique feature is that many times children's and adult clothing are combined into one pattern. Items range from casual outdoor wear to classic skirt, pant and shirt patterns. Many of her patterns are also devoted to the sports lover including those for bicyclers, equestrians and ice skaters (I'm thinking the pirate costume has several possibilites beyond figure skating--ahem).

ETC: Anyone want to buy me the Hello Kitty Sewing Machine shown in this post? :-)

Puppy (& Kitty) Love

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Mon, 28 May 2007 22:28:00 +0000

Do you sew, crochet, quilt or knit? Why not put those skills to good use? How about using your crafting talent to help shelter animals?

Most shelter animals are kept in cages or crates with hard plastic flooring or bare concrete floors. The Snuggles Project, started in 1996 by Rae French, provides "security blankets" for shelter animals, so they have something that is both comforting and comfortable.

The site provides several patterns for crocheted, knitted and sewn blankets and toys as well as a list of shelters that accept Snuggles items. For more information, go to their website at http://www.snugglesproject.org

Lost in Translation: Japanese Edition

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Thu, 24 May 2007 18:38:00 +0000

Romanji is the term for Japanese words written using English letters. When you are looking for Japanese craft books on sites like Yes Asia or Fujisan, searches can be made easier if you know a bit of 'crafty' Romanji. Terms are after the jump.

These terms are listed with Romanji first and English second:

emburoidori = embroidery
masuktsuto = mascot
fueruto = felt
handomeido = handmade
kawaii = cute
batsugu = purse/bag/pocketbook/tote
nuigurumi = stuffed toy
amigurumi = stuffed crochet toy
zakka/zatsuka = craft/crafts/handicraft
homumeido = homemade
tezaiku/tedukuri = handicraft/handmade/hand crafted
faburikku = fabric

Crafty Cakes for a Cause

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Wed, 23 May 2007 16:08:00 +0000

I have an insatiable sweet tooth, especially when it comes to baked goods. I've rarely ever met a cake or cookie I didn't like. That's why I can't get over these absolutely darling crocheted key chains ($5.50) and tape measures ($10) that look like miniature cakes!

And better yet, these adorable accessories are sold by Lantern Moon, an organization that works directly with Vietnamese craftswomen to help them support themselves and their families. So now you can have your cake, and eat it too!

ETC: They also have a variety of hand-crafted knitting needles and cases.

You've Got Pursenality!

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Sun, 20 May 2007 17:41:00 +0000

Pursenality Plus: 20 New Felted Bags is the follow-up to Eva Wiechmann's successful book, Pursenalities: 20 Great Knitted And Felted Bagspublished in 2004.

In addition to the 20 purse patterns, she also includes bonus patterns for a cosmetics pouch, cellphone holder and eyeglass case.

The book is divided up into two parts, the first consisting of felting instruction and illustrations of binding and finishing techniques and the second part containing bag patterns.

The purses shown are a variety of styles, from fluffy and girly, to elegent and chic, to subdued classics that would feel at home in an office setting. The purse handles consist of I-cords, chains, and beads as well as purchased rattan and acrylic handles.

Although all of the projects listed in the book use basic knitting stitches--garter, stockinette and reverse stockinette--Wiechmann's classification of the skill level of the projects often falls short. All but one of the purses labeled "easy" (her lowest skill level) require changing yarn colors or types several times. And every one of the patterns require the use of circular and double pointed needles as well as various increases and decreases, which beginning knitters may not feel comfortable doing.

Knitters will also need basic sewing skills to assemble their purses. Many of the projects also have pockets, zippers and buttonholes.

Difficulty Level: Advanced beginner to expert. While this is not a book for those who are just learning to knit or beginners with little experience, knitters with a bit more experience under their belts will enjoy the many different stylish options available for them to knit and felt.

ETC: Hey crocheters! Apparently, Wiechmann has a book of crocheted and felted purses coming out this Summer. It is available for pre-order from Amazon.

Crafting Japanese: I Really Think So!

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Thu, 17 May 2007 17:14:00 +0000

After years of crafters having to scour online Asian bookstores or buying overpriced Japanese craft books on auction sites like e-Bay, publishers are finally releasing a tiny trickle of Japanese craft books translated into English.

The most prominent of these books is the Aranzi Aronzo series, which includes several craft books and children's story books as well. All the Aranzi books consist of patterns for making felt and cloth characters.

The book Sock and Glove: Creating Charming Softy Friends from Cast-Off Socks and Gloves has been out since Summer 2005 in Japan. The English version was released just this month.

Another set of craft books that looks like they could be the first in a series is Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts! In November 2007, both an amigurumi (stuffed crocheted toys) and a crocheted accessories book are going to be available in English.

Let's hope that more publishers start following this trend!

ETC: See also Kawaii Crafting

Yarn Gone Bad

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:19:00 +0000

Have you ever picked up a knit or crochet pattern book or looked at patterns on the Internet and thought: "what the @#$%! were they thinking?"

In the tradition of the popular snarky celebrity fashion blog Go Fug Yourself, sister websites What Not to Crochet and What Not to Knit (slogan: Because there’s always one more crochet/knit design that shouldn’t be made!) gathers the best of the worst from the web and presents it for your viewing pleasure.

Definitely two fun sites to browse when that complicated intarsia pattern has got you down.

Creature Feature

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Mon, 14 May 2007 16:09:00 +0000

Who hasn’t had a craft project gone awry? But while many of us would simply abandon the project or throw it away, illustrator and ceramic artist John Murphy took the opportunity to turn a messed-up sock monkey into a Stupid Sock Creature. He hasn’t looked back since.

In the first part of his book, Stupid Sock Creatures: Making quirky, Lovable Figures from Cast-off Socks, Murphy goes into detail on what supplies are needed, the correct way to stuff your creations and how to sew and attach various creature “parts”—lips, teeth, limbs, tails, etc. The section is illustrated with both detailed diagrams and photos as well as Murphy’s quirky drawings. Most of the supplies are those that many crafters will already have on hand—socks (of course), buttons, and basic sewing supplies like a needle and thread.

The second part of the book consists of eight different patterns that are varying degrees of difficulty. Because of details like lips and eyes, crafters can use a combination of sewing machine and hand-sewing, or simply sew the entire creature by hand. Each pattern includes a diagram showing how to dismember the sock(s) into the various creature parts and provides photographs of the creature from several angles. Murphy also provides a humorous biographical sketch of each creature.

For anyone who is looking for a fun and quick project to make out of supplies they probably already have on hand, Murphy’s book will provide both inspiration and ideas.

Difficulty: Beginner to advanced beginner. Basic sewing skills required.

Upcoming Crafty Books: June

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Sun, 13 May 2007 02:26:00 +0000

Lots of new crafty titles are coming out in June. Listed below are a few that caught my eye. Look for some of these books to be reviewed in the coming months!

The craft of T-shirt reconstruction is still going strong. Three new books are due out, Deconstruct Reconstruct T-Shirts (Deconstruct Reconstruct)by Annika Sanders and Kerry Seager, Save This Shirt: Cut It. Stitch It. Wear It Now!by Hannah Rogge and T-Shirt Style: Super-Easy New Looks in No Time by Gabrielle N. Sterbenz. The Save This Shirt book actually comes bundled with its own t-shirt.

Amy Karol of the highly successful blog Angry Chicken has her first book out, Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew,which includes 30 different projects.

Former Vogue Knitting editor and founder of Loop-d-Loop Teva Durham has decided to release a book of crochet patterns. Like her projects in Loop-d-Loop Knitting, I suspect that this one will be for Intermediate to advanced crocheters. Crocheters can also look forward to Sasha Kagan's third crochet book,Crochet Inspiration and Kooky Crochet: 30 Remarkably Wacky Projectsby Linda Kopp.

Although I'm not a fan of the overused phrase 'diva' Margot Potter's Sparkletastic: 50 Dazzling Jewelry & Fashion Projects for the Discriminating Divalooks like it has some unique and cute ideas for those that enjoy working with beads and other jewelry supplies.

Remember, if you have any suggestions for craft-related books, magazines, products or websites you think I should review, drop me an email at jodigrrl(at)gmail(dot)com!

Kitschy Krafting

noreply@blogger.com (JODI) — Sat, 12 May 2007 01:19:00 +0000

If the alt-craft universe had rock stars, one of them would be Leah Kramer. Not only is she founder of one of the most popular craft websites in the world, Craftster, but she is also part owner of Boston indie craft shop Magpie as well as organizer of the Bazaar Bizarre in Boston. Now with her The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts: Fifty Fabulous Projects from the Fifties and Sixties author can be added to the list as well.

In her book Kramer includes actual craft patterns from the Fifties and Sixties with updated material lists, as well new projects with a vintage kitsch asthetic. Each project features full-color and vintage photos as well as a list of tools used. She also provides a resource guide where crafters who want to explore their kitschy side further can find vintage patterns, projects and fabrics.

Several of the crafts may be familiar to readers who perhaps saw them in their own or relative’s houses while growing up—beaded fruit or crocheted poodle toilet paper cozies, anyone? Others like gold macaroni tissue boxes and piggy banks made from bleach bottles may be reminders of summer camp projects.

Although recycling was not a buzzword during the time period the crafts come from, many of them use household items like foil, records, baby food jars, towels and old light bulbs. Kramer is obviously having fun, and it shows. Some projects are wonderfully cringe-worthy items like an egg-carton lantern, popsicle-stick purse and after-shower terry loincloths. So whether you buy the book to make fun of the projects or to actually make them, Nifty, Thrifty and Kitschy Crafts should be a fun addition to your crafting library.

Difficulty: Newbie to advanced beginner.