Craftside

How to make shag on knitting from the book Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum

This is such a great idea and wonderfully clear tutorial on how to make shag on knitting. Click on the image to enlarge to get the full directions on how to create shag on knitting (or anything really).

This technique is from the book:

Norwegian Handknits:

Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum   

By
Sue Flanders

and

Janine Kosel

Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa, is one of the premiere centers for Norwegian-American heritage in the United States. As such, it houses one of the country's most extensive collections of the textiles and handknits that have woven ties between Norwegian communities in America and the Old World, between today's culture and a rich past.

Norwegian Handknits collects thirty patterns for handknits from Vesterheim—folk mittens, socks, scarves, hats, wristers, handbags, knapsacks, and sweaters—all inspired by traditional knits housed in the museum. With an introduction reflecting on the history of Norwegian-style knitting and the stories behind the handknits that inspired the patterns, the book is at once a practical guide, a repository of cultural history, and a lovely look at one of the rich traditions knit into the American fabric.

Pop on over to Amazon by clicking on this link to see more inside peeks into Norwegian Handknits.

And I want to congratulate last week's free book winner:
"Snap"
She scored herself a copy of:

Cat Lover's Daily Companion:

365 Days of Insight and Guidance for Living a Joyful Life with Your Cat

By

Kristen Hampshire, Iris Bass and Lori Paximadis

Want to win a free book too?

All you have to do is leave a comment, ask a question or answer one when I pose one and you are entered!

Today's question:

Do you knit in the warm weather?

I knit small light stuff.

I actually have a project coming up (it's actually crochet but close enough!) that I will soon share with you. It is a fun project from an upcoming book that is soooooo beyond cute it is killing me.

Recycled Decoupage from the book Collage Lab: Experiments, Investigations, and Exploratory Projects By Bee Shay

What I made today. This is a soon-to-be-released die cut from Sizzix.

I am participating in a design collective with a whole bunch of other designers to see what we all come up with and this is my first project.

I will post a set of links to all the other designers and you can vote for your favorite at www.eileenhull.blogspot.com, it will enter you to win the Sizzix die!

The die cuts arrived like this:

Please note that my sender recycled the packaging from some specialty paper to protect the contents! Love that!

So I have all these "blank canvases" to express my creativity and our first "assignment" was office supplies. OK I was having a touch of the old creative block as it were.

Solution: Open a book and the one I chose is my latest new arrival:

Collage Lab:Experiments, Investigations, and Exploratory Projects

By Bee Shay

and these pages, specifically the one that contains the sewing pattern paper, jumped out at me and said this is the direction to go!

 

Click on these pages to read all about how to use paper resources in our every day lives, brilliant!

 

This is how I made my little recycled reclaimed material box:

 

I had a stash of sewing pattern paper that had been used as packing tissue (so technically I was reusing it a third time) and decoupaged it onto the box with Mod Podge.

I left the tabs free of material so the tape would have a clean surface to stick to.

Then, since our "assignment" was office supplies I used an over-sized paper clip as my handle and attached it to the top of the box with office binding brads.

To make my closure I was back to the sewing supplies.

I trimmed down an old measuring tape and made a buckle from two safety pins.

My "office" is the same as my "sewing room" so these supplies work "seamlessly" together! Ha! I kill myself with the puns sometimes....you can stop groaning now.

If you need a book that will surely take away any creative block in the funnest way possible grab a copy of:

Collage Lab:

Experiments, Investigations, and Exploratory Projects

By

Bee Shay

Collage Lab offers artists and crafters a fun and experimental approach to making art. The book is organized into 52 different labs which may, but don't need to be explored on a weekly basis. The labs can be worked in any order, so that readers can flip around to learn a new mixed-media technique or be inspired by a particular collage theme or application.

The underlying message of this book is that artists can and should learn and gain expertise through experimentation and play. There is no right or wrong result for a given exercise, yet, readers will gain skills and confidence in collage techniques, allowing them to take their work to a new level.

Collage Lab is illustrated with brilliant full-color images and multiple examples of each exercise, offers a visual, non-linear approach to learning art techniques, and reinforces a fun and fearless approach to making art.

Bee Shay is a print maker, collage and mixed media artist, and longtime instructor. She has contributed to magazines, including the Artistic Stenciler and Somerset Studio. Her work has also been featured in several Quarry Books including:True Vision ,Collaborative Art Journals and Shared Visions in Mixed Media, The Creative Entrepreneur, and Re-Bound. Bee lives with her husband in the Philadelphia area and is mother of three beautiful souls. When she's not inciting the muse in her students or working in her barn studio she lovingly calls her nest, she can be found roaming outside seeking the wonders of the natural world for inspiration.

Hoppin' good Crafty Bloggers Links

Exciting news from Tammy:

Crafty Princess Diaries

Tammy was thrilled to discover her new book is available for early ordering on Amazon. This is the first time she got to see the final book cover too!

The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making

By Tammy Powley

This book is a comprehensive how-to book about all aspects of jewelry making. It serves as a reference and technique guide for all the common methods and styles of jewelry: beaded jewelry, wire, crystals and gems, polymer clay, PMC. The organization provides easy access to information with step-by-step directions and 600 full-color photos for clear understanding. Easy projects allow the reader to try the techniques in each section. Galleries of jewelry by a various artists offer the reader examples and inspiration to pursue the hobby for themselves.

Tammy Powley is a writer, designer, and teacher. She has been a longtime crafter working in all kinds of media from fiber arts to glass. After spending eight years on the art show circuit selling her jewelry designs as well as supplying small boutiques with her work, she began writing about her crafting experiences and focused on teaching others how to make jewelry. She is the author of numerous jewelry making books, has an extensive background in writing for the web, and has been About.com’s Guide to Jewelry Making since 1989. Tammy has her Ph.D. in Texts and Technology, and as her "day job," she teaches college English, primarily composition, literature, and technical communications. See her web site at http://www.tammypowley.com for more information.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Wanna be a 'trashionista?' Join Madge as she turns old magazines into a fabulous decoupage purse in this week's project for ILoveToCreate Teen Crafts! 

Mixed Media Artist
Learn a more subtle approach to using the pointillism filter in Photoshop. 

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make a dress from a recycled tank and skirt inspired by one in the book Built By Wendy Dresses.

The Artful Crafter
Read some glass etching tips from master etcher Eric Robert.

About Family Crafts
Find out how to get creative while making prints with kids by using a variety of supplies you already have on hand. You can share your ideas too!

About Family Crafts
Find out how to get creative while making prints with kids by using a variety of supplies you already have on hand. You can share your ideas too!

Cathie Filian
The Easter Bunny has been busy over at Cathie's workshop! Check out all the fun Easter Craft Ideas.

Craftside Authors Make and Take schedule at Spring 2010 Unique Los Angeles

Craftside booth schedule at

Unique Los Angeles Spring Show April 24-25

11am - 6pm both days
Where: California Market Center's Penthouse (110 East 9th Street)
Cost: $10 at the door or in advance (kids 12 and under are free)

In addition to all of the authors hosting Free Make & Takes listed below, there will be:

-Copies of their books available, which they will sign for you

-Samples of projects from their books for an up-close-and-personal look

-More of their designs and creativity available for purchase

-Free makeready journals and makeready wrapping paper (made from recycled paper from when the books are being printed and color adjustments are made)

-A chance to enter to win free Quayside Publishing Group books!

Saturday April 24, 2010

11:00 AM -1:00 PM Stefanie Girard, author of

Sweater Surgery: How to Make New Things from Old Sweaters

will have her stash of recycled wool felted sweaters and her Sizzix die cutter there for you to craft up a cute and colorful custom accessory.

12:00 PM -2:00 PM Barbe Saint John, featured designer in

Steampunk-Style Jewelry: Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings

will guide you through the steps in making a steampunk-style accessory.

1:00 PM-3:00 PM Nancy Langdon, co-author of

Sewing Clothes Kids Love:

Sewing Patterns and Instructions for Boys and Girls Outfits

will take you through a super cute stitching project.

2:00 PM-4:00 PM Lisa Engelbrecht, author of

Modern Mark Making:
From Classical Calligraphy to Hip Hand-Lettering

(which comes out in paperback as Modern Calligraphy and Hand Lettering this fall) will be writing your name or your fabulous touchstone word in her own bling-a-licious colorful style for free! Pens to try and buy along with her book!

4:00 PM-6:00 PM Christi Friesen, author of

Polymer Clay and Mixed Media—Together at Last

wants to steampunk you! Join her for a free make & take project where you’ll create your own steampunk heart pendant from polymer clay and mixed media.

DAY 2

Sunday April 25, 2010

11:00 AM-1:00 PM Christi Friesen, author of

Polymer Clay and Mixed Media—Together at Last

wants to steampunk you! Join her for a free make & take project where you’ll create your own steampunk heart pendant from polymer clay and mixed media.

12:00 PM-2:00 PM Stefanie Girard, author of

Sweater Surgery
How to Make New Things from Old Sweaters

will have her stash of recycled wool felted sweaters and her Sizzix die cutter there for you to craft up a cute and colorful custom accessory.

1:00 PM-5:00 PM Tally Oliveau, co-author of

 

Mixed-Media Dollhouses: Techniques and Ideas for Doll-size Assemblages

will guide you through the fun process of making a paper doll and easel. Participants will create a paper doll combining vintage or modern bodies and animal heads. They will then learn how to create a paper easel so they can stand anywhere. You don't need to be an artist to create this project, just bring an open mind and a sense of humor!

2:00 PM -4:00 PM Barbe Saint John, featured designer in

Steampunk-Style Jewelry: Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings

will guide you through the steps in making a steampunk style accessory.

More about Unique Los Angeles Spring Show April 24-25:

Your admission gets you:
• Your very own collectible tote bag, exclusive-to-the-show and designed by a guest artist
(the last tote was designed by Shepard Fairey's Studio Number One!)
• Free drinks (IZZE, Honest Tea, water, beer, wine and more!)
• Unlimited re-entry for both days and access to giveaways all weekend long
• Free workshops and DIY Den with crafty handmade activities
• New! Family/Kids play and seating area
• Plus UNIQUE LA donates a portion of proceeds to a local non-profit partner each show!

How to make a recycled zipper necklace inspired by the one in 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse: Remake, Restyle, Recycle, Renew By Garth Johnson

Back in this post I showed a beautiful necklace using the whole zipper from the book

1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse: Remake, Restyle, Recycle, Renew By Garth Johnson

and I made a necklace using just the sliding pull part of the zipper. Today I have a necklace that I made using the whole zipper!

What you need:

• A separating zipper (like the kind on a jacket, not the kind on a pair of pants)
• A lighter or candle
• Button thread
• Scissors

How to make the zipper necklace:

1. Trim off the excess fabric on the zipper (as close as you can get to the teeth).
2. To seal the fabric, VERY CAREFULLY hold the zipper fabric near the flame and it will melt and seal itself.
3. Determine how long you want your necklace and trim the ends with about an inch overlap.
4. Tie knots with heavy button thread between each tooth of the zipper.

To put on and take off, simply unzip the zipper! If you end up using a non-separating zipper you can attach a clasp in the back. Want more inspiration for recycling the things around you? Grab a copy of:

1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse
Remake, Restyle, Recycle, Renew
By
Garth Johnson

Artists and crafters have always been recyclers, but for many, it has not only become a thrifty choice, it has become a moral imperative. 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse contains a cutting edge collection of the most inventive work being made with re-used, upcycled, and already existing materials. The work in this book ranges from clever and humble personal accessories to unique and important large-scale works of art, including paper art, fashion, jewelry, housewares, interiors, and installations.

Garth Johnson is a studio artist, writer and educator who lives in Eureka, California. In addition to maintaining the website "Exteme Craft" (www.extremecraft.com) Garth writes about a variety of topics, including art, craft and creative reuse.  He and his wife Claire are currently writing a blog for Readymade Magazine called "Keeping Up With the Johnsons (http://readymadeblogs.mydevstaging.com/blogs/johnsons/). His DVD, ReVision: Recycled Crafts for Earth-Friendly Living was released by Eyekiss Films earlier this year (www.reconstructdvd.com). His artwork was recently featured in solo shows at Gallerie Maxim in Cologne, Germany and the Clay Studio in Philadelphia. Garth received a BFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an MFA from Alfred University. He has taught at Georgia State University, Columbus State University and is currently an assistant professor at College of the Redwoods in Eureka, CA. In addition to teaching, he is a sought-after lecturer and visiting artist, with recent lectures at Ohio State University, Louisiana State University and the Pottery Workshop in Jingdezhen, China.