Why not have fun with your sewing tools after all?

This teensy little sewing kit from Polly Danger Notions is tucked into a little tin - and comes complete with almost anything you need to do a repair on the fly.

How about adding some vintage needle cards to your collection?  These ones are from Lakeway Candles and come from several different countries:

Let’s face it - “frogging” is inevitable.  We all need to rip out stitches and rework projects.  So why not use a cute tool for it?  Studio Twenty’s frogging tool may not make it less frustrating, but it’s sure fun to look at

images: Etsy

Post from: Blisstree

Little Goodies for Crafters

Image: sxc.hu

There are many do’s and don’t for arts and craft fairs.  There’s no sure fire solution for success because you’ll usually have many variables.  However, there are some guidelines or suggestions that help you gain success and sales.

• What have you found that works and doesn’t work? 
• Do you do many craft fairs?
• At which type do you have the most success?
• What is your art or craft work that you promote at craft fairs?
• Do you find fairs valuable for future sales?

Those are just a few questions to guide you in sending me suggestions.

Post from: Blisstree

Call for Craft Fair Suggestions

• StudioWERX has a great series of video tutorials on creating image transfers using acrylic gel medium (easy and non-toxic!)
• Moda has a ton of lovely free quilt & craft patterns on their website - I’m so tempted to make their “Funky Monkey” quilt

• Do you need a new skirt for summer?  Sew Mama Sew has dozens of pretty patterns, all in one post.
• Are you a musician, or do you have friends & family who are musicians?  Make this great bag to safely stash sheet music and more from Purl Bee.

Happy Crafting!

image: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

Crafting Around the Web

This article for Threads magazine, by Lois Ericson, shares many great tips, the materials lists, step by step instructions, and photos so that you’ll know exactly what you’re doing and so you’ll take all the proper safety precautions.  Please, be careful when working with bleach!

Image: Threads/David Coffin

Post from: Blisstree

Dyeing fabric with bleach

Image: sxc.hu

Worried about your quilts being stolen from a shop or gallery? Embedding a microchip isn’t a sure fire way to prevent this, but you can determine ownership if the quilt is recovered.  Also, if the microchip identification method is more publicized, perhaps thieves will think twice about taking such art objects.

These microchips can be placed in the layers of the quilt or fabric art before quilting or embedded after it’s finished.  There’s a number in the chip that’s registered in your name.

The quilt can be identified by scanning the chip and matching the numbers to the registered owner.  These microchips can be used with other valuables and family heirlooms. 

For more information about microchips and quilts, visit:

The Pinewater Quilting Company

Soft Expressions

Have you had experience with microchips in your fabric art?

Post from: Blisstree

Microchips for Quilt Security

I have been crafting for some years now and I’d like to share some of the things that I’ve made over the years. I love to give home made gifts to people at Christmas, but my crafting projects are great all year. If you’re interested in taking some unique ideas and turning them into a finished craft like me, follow me on this blog. I will have a new and exciting project every week for you to try. Please leave comments before and after you try you hand at my crafty ideas. If you have a better way of completing a project you see here, please share!

The first project I will share with you is a candy cake. It’s not a conventional cake, it’s made with mini Hershey bars. Here is a four tier candy cake that I have made.

Image: Kathy Zengolewicz

You will need:

• Approximately 90 mini-Hershey bars. You can buy a big bag at Costco’s or Sam’s Club.
  • 12 bars for the 4 inch disc
  • 19 bars for the 6 inch disc
  • 25 bars for the 8 inch disc
  • 31 bars for the 10 inch disc
• A large bag of Hershey kisses
• Four styrofoam discs – from any craft store
  • One-4 inch disc
  • One 6 inch disc
  • One 8 inch disc, and
  • One 10 inch disc
• A glue gun
• Double sided tape – if you are personalizing the candy bars, to tape the wrappers to the bars.
• Wooden skewers – available at any craft store
• Spool type spacers – also available at any craft store
• A graphics program if you want to personalized the candy bars, which I did.
• Heavy medium sized rubber bands
• Cardboard cake rounds

The first step that I take is to cover the discs with pretty paper. Just get scraps of paper, place the discs on the paper and trace and cut out. Next, glue the paper to the discs and let dry. If you are going to personalize the candy bars, you will need to print and cut that paper to fit your bars. If you don’t have an application to print the candy wrappers, don’t worry they looks just as nice with just the Hershey paper showing. Okay, here goes.

Take your candy bars and start gluing them around the sides of the 4 inch disc. If you want, you can place the bars around the disc and hold them in place with a large rubber band and glue them one at a time. That’s the way I do it. Make sure that the candy bars are tightly together. Repeat this step with the other discs and let them dry completely.

Once the candy is secure take a spool and glue it to the center of each disc except the 4 inch disc. In turn, glue the 8 inch disc, with candy, to the spool on the 10 inch disc. Then glue the 6 inch disc to the 8 inch disc, and lastly the 4 inch disc to the 6 inch disc. When you have the four tiers assembled, be careful it is fragile, take your skewers and run them through the four tiers to stabilize the cake. Place the skewers toward the middle of the cake. Glue the cake onto a 10 or 12 inch cardboard cake round.

There will be a slight space between the tiers, just enough room to put some kisses in there. Decorate the top with a bow and you’re all set. You have a candy cake to give as a gift or to enjoy yourself.

Kathy Zengolewicz is an author, ghostwriter, editor and proofreader. To learn more about Kathy and her services, visit her website at kathyzengolewicz.com.

Post from: Blisstree

How to Make a Candy Cake

Summer festivals, gardening, farmer’s markets, the beach, camping… so many things to do, instead of sewing.

So what can you do when you want to sew, but just can’t seem to get into the studio?

How about…

• Browse through the crafts section of your local library and see if there are some interesting sewing books to borrow.  Or your favorite book store, depending on your budget.
• Spend some time exploring different sewing blogs.  Seeing what everyone else is working on may inspire a spark in you.
• Go see an art exhibit - it doesn’t have to be fiber, but checking out creative work can be good for inspiration.
• Start sketching or drawing - but try and not judge what you produce.  Just draw like you did when you were a little kid.
• Browse through a fabric store and check out their new patterns and fabric.  You don’t need to spend a mint, but a little treat can be fun for perking up a tired fabric-aholic.
• Give yourself permission to take a sewing vacation!  When you’re ready to head back into the studio, you’ll be refreshed and relaxed.

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

Got The Summer Sewing Blahs?

Mixed Media Artist
Using two very different book pages, you can create a found poem for an altered book…or just because!

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen shares clever and crafty uses for suitcases that have nothing to do with holding clothing. Side tables, laptop cases and portable craft studios oh my!

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
Drink Mermaids take the plunge into some silver paint and get transformed into some swimmingly fun necklaces inspired by the wonderfully innovative book- A Charming Exchange.

The Artful Crafter
Eileen shows you how to make a multi-strand fiber bracelet.

The Crochet Dude
Drew reviews the new Simplicty Rotary Cutting Maching - offers up a free crocheted project using fabric strips - and he’s giving away a Rotary Cutting Machine to one lucky commenter!

The Impatient Crafter
Madge shows you how to make a quick and easy Altered Chinese Paper Lantern in her first post on Kid/Teen Crafts for Duncan I Love to Create!

About Family Crafts
I need your help! Be the first to submit a photo of this completed craft and be featured on the Family Crafts site!

Aileen’s Musings
Your help is needed…Please take a moment to help make a difference We have a chance to get our ovarian cancer charity project on the cover of a northern CA magazine. Your vote is needed! The project benefits the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Deadline for voting is July 23rd so hurry and cast your vote!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Alexa shares the mentall process behind creating a post on her swell craft blog

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside’s got a how-to’s on bleaching photos and juxtaposing images, a mixed-media journal out of a wide variety of recycled materials and a video with Scatha G. Allison where she shows the incredible designs from her book Jean Therapy. Be sure to answer the day’s questions to be entered to win a free book!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Have you thought about taking your craft hobby to a different level? Tammy has some thoughts to consider before crossing over the hobby/professional line.

CraftyPod
SisterDiane is thrilled to unveil her new ebook, Weaving Un-Loomed: Simple Ways to Weave Cool Things.

Post from: Blisstree

Artsy blogging round-up!

Image: sxc.hu

There also are ready made labels you can purchase and then simply sign your name with permanent ink.  Applique these to the back of your quilt or fabric art.

Computerized labels have come into vogue and enable you to add more information to your quilt.  Simply print directly on inkjet fabric sheets, then stitch to the back of your fabric art.

Label designs are available online at quilting websites.  Print these off and use for your template.  Sometimes you can print them directly on the fabric sheets available for your printer.

There are quilt books, too, that offer label suggestions and designs.

(Also, keep the information about your quilts and art work in a journal that refers to the items you’ve made.)

How do you label your quilts and fabric art, as well as other craft work?

Post from: Blisstree

Quilt & Craft Labeling Suggestions

Image: Spunky Scrappers

Calling all Spunky, funky, unique Scrappers. Want a place to kick back and scrap away,inspiring others with your quirky style and unique sense of art,then this is the team call for you!I am looking for a few great girls(or guys)to add personality to this new site.

Whats the catch?
all you gotta do is submit a weekly layout or project to go with the Spunky Challenge of the week,once the site gets going the design team will swap weeks coming up with great new challenges for the scrapping community!
Forum participation is highly encouraged, but not required.(call is accepting international along with the good ole US, creative minds come from all over!)

Whats in it for you, you say?
You get your face plastered on this great new page,adding your name and place in this scrapping community,and a link to your blog.You get the opportunity to show the world what your brain can do with scissors,paper,and great personality and style!
All you have to do to be part of this fun new team is email me 3 of your favorite layouts and if you have it 1 great project of any sort.If you have a blog,please include the link in your email>If you are chosen You will be asked to submit a layout about whats makes you a spunky scrapper that I a can showcase with the announcement of the new designteam,and your best attempt at a spunky artistic photo.Deadline for DT call is August 11th @ midnight(and since the 12th of August is my baby girls first birthday and I will be in an extra great mood,all that make the team will be happily notified no later than this day….August 12th)and the team will be announced on this site on Monday,August 17th!

Email all submissions to creativedesignsbybrianna@gmail.com.good luck to all that apply and I look forward to hearing from you!!

Post from: Blisstree

Spunky Scrappers Challenge Blog DT Call