Craftside

Crafty Links and Judi Ketteler interviews Jennifer Worick with a giveaway of her book Simple Gifts

Over at Judi Ketteler's Blog Sew Retro there is a great interview with Jennifer Worick where they talk about how to put together book proposals. Along with the very insightful interview there is a giveaway of a copy of Simple Gifts: 50 Little Luxuries to Craft, Sew, Cook & Knit.

By

Jennifer Worick

Heartfelt + handmade = the perfect gift. In Simple Gifts, Jennifer Worick offers step-by-step instructions for creating easy and inspired handmade gifts that won’t break the bank. Learn how to stitch a wine bag for your favorite foodie, sew pajama pants for a tried-and-true friend, roast coffee beans for an office pal, or felt a ring for your sweetheart. Also included is Jennifer’s helpful, witty advice on choosing the right gift for anyone -- man, woman, or child -- and how to wrap up your present with style.

From a sweet knitted apron to a hand-embroidered handkerchief, personalized note cards to soothing natural lip balm, a quilted baby blanket to a manly wooden toolbox, these heartfelt, handmade gifts are certain to wow and touch your loved ones.

Now onto the crafty links:

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make a fallen soldier uniform pendant.

Regarding Design

A great post about color and fashion called The Color Collective"

Mixed Media Artist
Have you ever heard of silk fusion or silk paper? It's amazing stuff!

Hosting a Successful Giveaway on Your Blog
Craft Buds shares some tips for handmade bloggers on effective ways to host a giveaway, including how to set the rules, find new followers and work with sponsors.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
See how to make zero-calorie fortune cookies for your next party. Hint: they're made in the craft room, not the kitchen.

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Jane Austen Society becomes sensible ans sensitive to stitchers at its next convention.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a special post honouring an artist's passing.

About Family Crafts
Check out the graduation quilts Sherri designed and made for her kids.

And the stockings were hung with care...using the Sizzix treat bag topper dies, Hello Kitty socks and pretty ribbon

Holiday Goodness Giveaway Day 6! At this time of year, fun ways to give little gifts is on my mind, and that is just what I did with these cute Sizzix Treat bag topper dies combined with a cute pair of Hello Kitty socks and a bit of beautiful ribbon. Ribbon is so versatile! The book The Complete Photo Guide to Ribbon Crafts: Over 700 Photos - Bows - Flowers - Embroidery - Weaving - Jewelry - Fashion - Décor - More shows you tons of ways to use it. And that brings me to the giveaway question that gets you in the running for a copy of The Complete Photo Guide to Ribbon Crafts.

What is your favorite way to use ribbon? How do you use it on gifts? Or sewing or decorating?

Leave your answer in today's comments by Midnight ET Thursday December 23, 2010 and you are entered to win.

This sock gift project was really easy.

All I did was slip one sock into the other, as the pair of socks is part of the gift.

For the red stocking on the left, I put double sided tape on the inside flaps of the card stock topper and sandwiched the sock between them. Then I used a bit of coordinating ribbon to make a hanger.

For the blue stocking on the right, I simply threaded two coordinating ribbons through the holes in the die cut bag topper and put the top bit of the sock between the flaps and tied the ribbon to secure it.

Want tons of ribbon craft ideas now? Then grab yourself a copy of:

The Complete Photo Guide to Ribbon Crafts
Over 700 Photos - Bows - Flowers - Embroidery - Weaving - Jewelry - Fashion - Décor - More

By

Elaine Schmidt

The Complete Photo Guide to Ribbon Crafts provides a reference for all kinds of crafts that involve ribbon. It includes step-by-step photographed instructions for a wide range of techniques as well as projects to accompany each area of ribbon crafting. This is a comprehensive guide as compared to most books on ribbon crafts that are specific by technique or end result (ribbon flowers, silk ribbon embroidery, making bows).

This book explores a wide range of techniques and end products using all kinds of ribbon, making it an essential reference for all craft enthusiasts. It includes ideas and projects for scrapbooking, home décor, general crafting, and fashion.

Elaine Schmidt is a freelance designer, consultant, educator and spokesperson in the craft and hobby industries. She is the former design coordinator for a chain of ribbon boutiques and has developed award-winning product concepts for several manufacturers. Elaine’s original designs are featured in a variety of books, magazines, project sheets and TV segments. Elaine enjoys teaching, demonstrating and thinking up new project ideas that make sewing and crafts fun and easy. Elaine lives in Long Valley, NJ and loves being surrounded by her growing stash of ribbons, fabric, buttons, beads and all the “fun stuff.”

Craftside Make and Take Schedule at Unique LA December 11th-12th and Crafty Blogger Links

This coming weekend is Unique LA and here is the schedule for free make and takes in the Craftside area:

Saturday December 11th

12-2 Cathi Milligan of The Glass Studio - Glass fused mosaic pendant

1-4 Nancy Langdon author of Sewing Clothes Kids Love - Torn silk holiday fascinator

 
12-2 and 3-5 Linda Swingle - Fine Artist - Winter Goddess painted card

2-3 Stefanie Girard author of Sweater Surgery - Die cut recycled wool felted sweater flowers

3-4:30 Christi Friesen author of Polymer Clay and Mixed Media—Together at Last - Polymer clay and mixed media Steampunk heart charm

Sunday December 12th

12-2 Cherryl Greene Club Scrap Snowman holiday card

3-5  Cherryl Greene Judikins Stamped Holiday card

12-2 and 3-5 Linda Swingle - Fine Artist - Winter Goddess painted card

1-3 Jeanine Stein author of Re-Bound: Creating Handmade Books from Recycled and Repurposed Materials - Mini envelope book

2-3 Stefanie Girard author of Sweater Surgery - Die cut recycled wool felted sweater flowers

3-5 Lauren Andersen - The ChainMaille Lady™, will be offering a chainmaille make and take project.

I hope you will come and make something with us! Also pick up a pack of free Makeready Wrapping Paper.

Now onto what my fellow crafty bloggers are up to this week in blog land:

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Calling clay and gourd crafters: do you have any suggestions to help Kathy with a cracking problem on her wonderful clay Santas?

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares a Pink Ribbon Necklace project she created live on Jewel School at Jewelry Television!

Mixed Media Artist
The Bead Journal Project is starting up again for its fourth year! Registration ends soon!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make recycled sweater and zipper Christmas trees (or hats).

About Family Crafts
If you are in search of a special gift for a crafter or a wannabe crafter, check this collection of ideas and resources.

Aileen's Musings
Check out part 2 of Aileen's Pomegranate Liquor and download a freebie background while you're at it.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi downloads a cute Christmas graphic to make this fabric ornament.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Ta da! The 10-inch-squares crocheted baby afghan is done!

 

How to make a Tole Painting on a recycled piece of wood from the book Simple Gifts by Jennifer Worick

First I want to say that I simply "heart" Jennifer Worick. She combines two great qualities (well, not just two...a lot is more like it, but two that are way up on my list): she is super crafty and super funny. I love what she makes and what she writes. I have had the pleasure of working with her in person back when she was a guest on Knitty Gritty and then I had a chance to chat a tiny bit with her a year ago at Maker Faire. Well, now I get to enjoy a whole new book of her wit and craftiness.

This modern painted message block is just one of the cool gift projects from her latest book Simple Gifts: 50 Little Luxuries to Craft, Sew, Cook & Knit.
 

Click on the images to read all about how to make a tole painting block on a chunk of wood.

Want 49 more gift ideas? Than grab a copy of:

 

Simple Gifts:

50 Little Luxuries to Craft, Sew, Cook & Knit

By

Jennifer Worick

Heartfelt + handmade = the perfect gift. In Simple Gifts, Jennifer Worick offers step-by-step instructions for creating easy and inspired handmade gifts that won’t break the bank. Learn how to stitch a wine bag for your favorite foodie, sew pajama pants for a tried-and-true friend, roast coffee beans for an office pal, or felt a ring for your sweetheart. Also included is Jennifer’s helpful, witty advice on choosing the right gift for anyone -- man, woman, or child -- and how to wrap up your present with style.

From a sweet knitted apron to a hand-embroidered handkerchief, personalized note cards to soothing natural lip balm, a quilted baby blanket to a manly wooden toolbox, these heartfelt, handmade gifts are certain to wow and touch your loved ones.