Craftside

3 Authors Will Be at Craftcation this April 3-6, in Ventura CA

Are you in the mood for a fun long-weekend filled with crafting, learning about the crafting business, hangin' out with crafty people? Well then you should check out Craftcation!

I am so tickled to share that 3 of our authors will be there teaching, speaking on panels, and signing copies of their books:

20 Ways to Draw a Tulip and 44 Other Fabulous Flowers: A Sketchbook for Artists, Designers, and Doodlers by Lisa Congdon

The Complete Photo Guide to Clothing Construction by Christine Haynes

Playing with Image Transfers: Exploring Creative Imagery for Use in Art, Mixed Media, and Design by Courtney Cerruti

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And what some of my favorite bloggers are posting about:

Whole Home News

All about Angora rabbits

Quarry SPOON

Recipe for blueberry cake doughnuts

Body Mind Beauty Health

Recipe for a Winter Waltz cocktail

Rock Paper Ink

Sketchology: Orange is the new sketch color

Walter Foster

Pictura: Art for everyone to color and collect

Fave Crafts

How to make 17 different types of paper and fabric flowers.

 

    

Recipe for Chow Mein Sandwiches from the Book, Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day

I never would have thought of making a sandwich that included noodles...that is, until I spotted this recipe for a chow mein sandwich from the book Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day! Revolutionary New Takes on Everyone's Favorite Anytime Meal.

Click on this page from Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day! to enlarge and read the full recipe for the chow mein sandwich and sauce.

More about the Fair Winds Press cookbook:

Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day! Revolutionary New Takes on Everyone's Favorite Anytime Meal

by Tamasin Noyes and Celine Steen

101 Colorful Sandwiches Your Brown Bag Never Saw Coming

What’s the best thing since sliced bread? The sandwich of course! Layered with flavor, simple and portable, and full of endless variety, sandwiches have been stealing the show for as long as they’ve existed.

But it’s time for the traditional, calorie-laden, meat-centric sandwich to move over, because there’s a new sheriff in town—the vegan sandwich! Filled with healthy, natural, plant-based ingredients, vegan sandwiches are your one-stop shop to total breakfast, lunch, or dinner satisfaction.

Inside Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day!, you’ll find 101 amazing combinations to suit any time, any craving, and any occasion, including:

—Berry-Stuffed French Toast Pockets

—Apricot Breakfast Panini

—Puff Pastry Pot Pie Sandwiches

—Mango Basil Wraps

—Portobello Po' Boys

—Mediterranean Tempeh Sandwiches

—Mango Butter and Ginger Whoopie Pies

Whether you're vegan or just looking to incorporate more meatless meals into your diet without spending hours in the kitchen, you'll find the tasty solution you're looking for—no fork required!

Tamasin Noyes is the author of American Vegan Kitchen and Grills Gone Vegan. She is the founder of http://www.veganappetite.com and has worked as a committed cookbook tester for many well-known vegan cookbook authors including Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Terry Hope Romero, and Robin Robertson. She resides in Ashtabula, OH.

Celine Steen is the author of several books and the founder of the award-winning blog Have Cake, Will Travel (http://www.havecakewilltravel.com). After over a decade of vegetarian eating, she decided to switch to a vegan lifestyle. Fearing it might mean the end of all good desserts, she decided to start making her own, for lack of ready-made and affordable options offered in her hometown. She lives in Bakersfield, CA.

   

Crocheted Buckle Bow Pattern from the Book, Crocheting Clothes Kids Love

Little crochet details are one of my favorite projects, and that is just what I have for you today. This cute heart shaped buckle bow detail is featured on a pair of slippers from the book Crocheting Clothes Kids Love: 28 Fun-to-Wear Projects.

For the entire slipper with heart buckle bow pattern from the book, Crocheting Clothes Kids Love
28 Fun-to-Wear Projects, click on the download button. 

Download

To get you started on the cute crocheted heart buckle bow embellishment that would be darling on just about everything from head bands to gifts, read on:

More about the adorable crochet pattern CPi book:

Crocheting Clothes Kids Love: 28 Fun-to-Wear Projects

by Shelby Allaho & Ellen Gormley

Whether you have kids or are a kid at heart, you’ll love making the fun and kid-stylish projects featured in Crocheting Clothes Kids Love. This easy-to-use book features twenty-eight designs for garments and accessories for school-age kids.. Projects include:sweaters, vests, a capelet, dress, skirt, tank top, and slippers in styles kids are certain to love.

 

Crocheting Clothes Kids Love also includes patterns for accessories, such as: hats, scarves, mittens, wristers, hair bands, jewelry, leg warmers, a backpack, belt, and messenger bag. Creative, fun photography by Nancy Langdon, who also co-authored and photographed Sewing Clothes Kids Love and photographed Knitting Clothes Kids Love shows kids wearing and using the projects to give you added inspiration.

 

All projects are designed using a variety of yarn types in fibers that are easy to care for. Yarns used represent selections from both LYS and big box brands, with generic descriptions, gauge and hook sizes to allow you to easily substitute comparable yarn. 

 

New to crochet? No worries. General crochet instructions are provided to make it easy for new crocheters to follow along.

 

Shelby Allaho has won numerous design awards, and her work has been published in Interweave Crochet and Inside Crochet, as well as in books from Sixth and Spring Books, and Sterling Publishing. She specializes in designing unique accessories for women and children, in traditional and freeform crochet.

 

Ellen Gormley stitched more than 80 afghans before beginning her design career in 2004. Now, Ellen has sold more than 200 designs, and been published numerous times in many crochet magazines including Interweave Crochet, Crochet Today, Crochet!, Crochet World and Inside Crochet. Her designs have been shown on the PBS show Knit and Crochet Now! Her two books are Go Crochet! Afghan Design Workbook and Learn Bruges Lace.

 

Shelby Allaho's blog: www.stitch-story.com ; also as StitchStory on Twitter and Stitchstory on www.Ravelry.com.

Ellen Gormley's blog: www.GoCrochet.com ; also as GoCrochet on Twitter and www.Ravelry.com

    

How to Draw Hedgehogs from the Book Drawing Cute Animals in Colored Pencil

A while back, I posted a cute page from 20 Ways to Draw a Cat and 44 Other Awesome Animals that featured 20 ways to draw a hedgehog, and today I have another inside peek into the new book Drawing Cute Animals in Colored Pencil that features how to draw a hedgehog in colored pencil.

Click on this page from Drawing Cute Animals in Colored Pencil to enlarge to see the details on how to draw a hedgehog walking and curled up using colored pencil.

And if you would like to get yourself in the running for a copy of Drawing Cute Animals in Colored Pencil pop on over to Goodreads:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Drawing Cute Animals in Colored Pencil

by Ai Akikusa

Giveaway ends February 28, 2014.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

 

Enter to win

More about the adorable how-to-draw Quarry book:

Drawing Cute Animals in Colored Pencil

by Ai Akikusa

Drawing Cute Animals in Colored Pencil offers simple step-by-step drawing instructions that help you to learn how to draw your favorite animals.

Adorable animals like rabbits, squirrels, deer, and pigs come alive with vibrant color and beautiful detail. Using colored pencils learn tips and techniques to easily draw an elephant, polar bear, lion, alpaca, hippopotamus, and several others.

The instructions are simple to follow, but detailed enough so anyone can easily achieve great success in replicating each figure. Author Ai Akikusa loves animals and she shares interesting details about each animal in each section.Drawing Cute Animals in Colored Pencil as a guidebook to animals and drawing in color!

Ai Akikusa is a Japanese artist, illustrator, and picture books author based in Tokyo. After graduating from the Graphic Design Department of Tama Art University, she started her career as a designer in a design office. After becoming a freelancer, she started to publish picture books for children and how-to-draw books which showcase her soft, warm, and friendly illustrations.

   

Art Prompt: Sketch a Sandwich at Katz's Deli from the Book Citysketch New York

Happy Tuesday! I love weeks that start with a Monday Holiday - only 4 days left to the weekend! For your creative inspiration today, I have an art prompt from the new book Citysketch New York: Nearly 100 Creative Prompts for Sketching the Big Apple. Try sketching a sandwich from Katz's Deli. Maybe the one you are going to have for lunch? Instead of taking a photo of it, sketch it.

Click on this page from the book Citysketch New York to enlarge and read the full creative prompt about sketching a sandwich.

More about the fun Race Point travel art prompt sketch book:

Citysketch New York: Nearly 100 Creative Prompts for Sketching the Big Apple

By Melissa Wood

Part aspirational, part creative, and all doodle. Citysketch New York is a compilation of creative prompts geared to immerse you in the marvels of brilliant New York City.  Finish partially created Manhattan skylines, sketch accessories to accompany a chic 5th Ave wardrobe, doodle your own uniquely styled versions of Times Square, and loads more. With guided tips from a New York-based artist on the contours of New York architecture and art, from a fashion designer on the subtleties of New York fashion, and from a cultural expert on the people of New York as well as the food and culture. This is a complete course in Big Apple culture for the enamored. Be inspired. Get creative. After all, drawing a little will help you dream big.

Melissa Wood is an illustrator and architectural planner.  She regularly travels to cities all over America and the world and doodles her way through them.  Her clients include Crate & Barrel, Trader Joe’s, Neiman Marcus Direct, Nordstrom’s, Kate’s Paperie, John Grisham, George Lucas, Nikki Hilton, and Oprah Winfrey.