“The yarn was developed with the idea to offer a yarn that comes in colours as you find it on the animal on the farm,” says the Farm Yarn website. What’s so great about alpaca? If you’ve ever used it, you wouldn’t be asking that question. Unspeakably comfortable and versatile, Farm Yarns uses baby alpaca wool – “it is warmer than wool, but has a soft feel like silk,” they say....
As with any new exercise, please be cautious and consult your doctor before trying anything too terribly strenuous. This week we’re taking a look at the aches and pains that come with hours of knitting or crochet. From what you guys had to say on Twitter, it sounds like all that yarn work hits ravelers hardest in the wrists, fingers, neck and chest. Never fear! Here are some poses to help you recoop a little bit....
Get your closet spring-ready with these DIY skirts made from upcycled fabrics. I know, a lot of you probably are still digging your way out of that last round of crazy snow. This late-winter cold snap has me dreaming of spring like nothing else. I can’t wait for bare legs, open-toed shoes, and skirt weather! Do you have a favorite skirt tutorial that didn’t make this list? I hope that you’ll share a link in the comments!...
Asymmetry. Bold, unusual color choices. Gradients. Popular novelty trends. Remixing the classics. Of course, classic quilt patterns are classics for a reason–they’re timeless, and they always fit. But if you’re looking for brand new patterns, or inspiration to play with unusual colors, or permission to riff on your favorite pop culture themes, then look below for my list of my favorite FREE modern quilt patterns. And remember, when you make your favorite quilt pattern, below, don’t feel like you have to follow it exactly!...
A spaghetti sauce jar makes a great vase, but not necessarily when it looks like a spaghetti sauce jar, you know? The best upcycled vases don’t look like you’ve just scrounged them out of your recycling bin, even though you have. But the BEST upcycled vases, the ones that you can actually use to hold, you know, flowers, are also washable. That’s why you’re not going to find any hot glued, painted on the inside vases in this round-up....
Need a present for a kid’s birthday party? Skip the mall, and let your kids make their own gifts to give to their friends. The hands-on problem-solving is good for them, and putting real time and effort into a gift (not just your money) is a good lesson on friendship. And that’s not to mention: Make vs. Buy? No contest. Now, we’re not talking cheezy gifts that no other kid would actually want–no handprint paintings here, or clay animals, or shoddily constructed bird houses....
And so has your recycling bin (especially if, like me, you’ve already started doing a little Christmas shopping, ahem…)! Cardboard is one of my favorite crafting supplies because it’s so accessible and so versatile. It’s easy to cut with a craft knife or a sturdy pair of scissors, it holds great with hot glue or duct tape, it takes paint like a champ, and it’s got great structure to support all kinds of weird, costume-y elements and accessories....
Make wall art with vintage lace Embroidery hoop photo display Colorful embroidery hoop wall art Embroidery hoop pumpkins Hang them from the ceiling Embroidery hoop Easter eggs Make an embroidery hoop pendant light Musical wall art Create a pin cushion (consider using these eco-friendly polyfill alternatives) Embroidery hoop orbs (try using an eco-friendly stain instead) DIY hanging planter St. Patrick’s Day embroidery hoop wreath Black lace earring holder Embroidery hoop ornament Embroidery hoop spider web DIY canning lid and embroidery hoop wind chime Embroidery hoop thread rack Create a DIY bird feeder DIY hanging laundry hamper Embroidery hoop snow man DIY hoop cake stand (try to use recycled cardboard instead of the foam board though) Embroidery hoop name banner DIY embroidery hoop brooch display Embroidery hoop mobiles DIY hoop clocks A lot of these projects require fabrics, so try using eco-friendly fabrics from our fab fabrics series to make the project as green as possible!...
Recycled champagne cork earrings Mason jar St. Patrick’s Day vases Make a recycled green garland DIY t-shirt headband Art with food: pepper stamps Shamrock heart hair clips (eco-friendly swap: use recycled felt or a felted sweater) Simple St. Patrick’s Day banner Penny jar pot o’ gold Recycled shamrock brooch Upcycled cardboard garland St. Patrick’s Day coffee cup sleeve St. Patty’s rag wreath Recycled bottle cap rainbow Toilet paper roll bracelets Recycled pudding cup St....
Between gifts and a night out on the town, Valentine’s day can get pretty pricey, but it doesn’t have to be! Instead of heading out to dinner this year, why not whip up a romantic meal for two and transform your living- or dining-room into a perfect Valentine’s day date spot? Of course, romance is all about ambiance, so here are a few tips to up the lovey-dovey factor:...
My awesome friend Betsy Greer – the woman who coined the term craftivism – is doing a weekly historical craftivism feature on her blog. And it’s brimming with inspiration. Craftivism is a relatively new term, but as an action it’s been around for a long time. Using your crafty skills to effect positive change isn’t a new concept, and Betsy’s series is highlighting craftivism from a time before we used that word....
If you do a little research, however, which I was eventually fed up enough to do, you will discover that plastic mesh produce bags are an excellent crafting material. They’re versatile, easy to craft with, and can be used for a variety of durable and useful projects. There are tons of projects around that use these bags, and tons more that I know you’ll invent for yourself, but here are five exceptionally good craft projects to get you started:...
1. Braided Bracelet This video shows us how to create a very simple and easy braided fabric strip bracelet. Make some for your friends and bring back the days of friendship bracelets. 2. Woven Rag Rug If you’ve acquired tons of strips then a good way to use them up is to create a nice rag rug for your home. Over on Craft Passion, there is a great how-to on creating a no-sew, woven rag rug....
You don’t have to have kids to ruin a deck of playing cards (although it sure helps!). Playing cards like to lose themselves. Playing cards tend to get bent or creased in mysterious ways. Dogs occasionally munch on playing cards, and red wine spills on them, and, yes, if a kid gets a hold of your playing cards, you might as well kiss your full deck goodbye. When your deck loses its spades, however, there’s no need to toss it....
Just because you love books doesn’t mean that you can’t subject them to the (craft) knife. Check out these book page craft projects to give old books a new life. That ratty, old, outdated encyclopedia, that paperback romance from the 70s, that gorgeously illustrated hardback with half its pages torn out–they don’t need to sit, gathering useless dust on your living room bookshelves, not when you could use them for book page craft projects instead, like Christmas ornaments, luminaries, or scrapbook embellishments!...
Cosa Verde is a new marketplace where green crafters can showcase their goods to eco-minded shoppers. Liz Grotyohann and her fiance, Jeff Fein-Worton, launched Cosa Verde to focus on green crafters, and they’re committed to “not just walk the walk, but talk the talk.” They donate 10% of their profits to charity and plant ten trees for every new shop that opens on the site. Liz says that means they’ve planted almost 1000 trees already!...
We’ve talked about the dirty side of cotton here before. Conventional cotton is an issue that’s really close to my heart, so when I read the latest battle between big ag and Indian farmers, I thought I’d share it here. Conventional – aka non-organic – cotton is full of problems. It takes tons of toxic pesticides to grow which pollute waterways and harm workers. It’s water-intensive. It’s usually genetically modified....
The oil was collected from Grand Isle, Louisiana beaches and New Orleans printing company Purple Monkey Design create the prints in their studio. They use heat to set the design once it’s printed. Here’s a peek into the process: All profits from poster sales are going to benefit the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. Each framed, signed, and numbered poster goes for €150, which is around $207. [Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by lagohsep]
I love the idea of making vibrant meaningful art from materials that are locally, organically, and safely sourced– and was shocked to find that we have things in our back yard and grocery that create quality art that’s sure to make your heart thump and hands clap. These videos are of the painting process using poke berry & turmeric paints, made easily by boiling each with some kosher salt for about 45 minutes....
The right accessories can really complete an outfit, can’t they? There’s something about finding that perfect pair of earrings or a sassy scarf that just makes you feel put together. Of course, it’s easy and often pretty cheap to hit up the big box store for cute accessories. Those mass-produced pieces might be super adorable, but they come with a pretty hefty carbon footprint. From the materials to make them, the carbon footprint for shipping from factory to store, and the conditions that those factory workers often endure, you’re getting a lot more than a cute necklace when you go store-bought....
