Search results (tags) for: "crafting"

Come Craft With The Uniform Project & Megan Nicolay of Generation T

2009-12-17T14:20:00-05:00

Why stay in and craft all by your lonesome? Come join us for a used clothing reinvention and swap with The Uniform Project and Megan Nicolay of Generation T — whether you're in Brooklyn or anywhere in the world. Stop by for our weekly Craft Night in our online multi-user chat room, the Virtual Labs, for a live online demo at 5 p.m. ET, or in person at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn anytime between 4-8 p.m. at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512 in Brooklyn, New York. (Click here to see what time 5 p.m. ET is in your hometown.) Craft Night is a time to make things, sharpen your craft skills, and connect with fellow crafters.

Have you ever done a 365 day challenge? What's your New Year's resolution? How about starting with giving old clothes new lives! This week, on Monday, December 21, visit the Etsy Labs and the Virtual Labs for a used clothing swap and clothing reinvention project.

The Uniform Project will talk about the 365 day challenge they're pursuing to raise money and awareness about disadvantaged school children. Sheena (see at left in the stylish bob) is wearing one little black dress for an entire year and documenting her inventive outfit customization methods with handmade and vintage accessories. Eliza (pictured on the left) designed the frock, which has turned out to be infinitely adaptable. Read our full interview with the Uniform Project here.

This Monday we'll roll up the sleeves of our used t-shirts and make a project too. Megan Nicolay (pictured below), author of Generation T, will be at Craft Night to demo a no-sew project for turning your old t-shirts into something new and fresh. We're inviting everyone who comes to bring some used clothing you'd like to swap with other attendees, cut up and reinvent with Megan, or if you don't have any clothes that fit the bill, Threadless will be sending us a box of misprinted t-shirts ready for reinvention.

If you are attending Craft Night virtually this week and would like to reconstruct a t-shirt with us along with us, be sure to bring along a t-shirt and a pair of scissors.

Here's a sampling of Megan's no-sew projects:

Upcoming Events at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn:

12/28/09 through 1/18/10: Craft Night Hiatus (No Craft Nights at the Etsy Labs during this time.)

1/25: Stenciling with Ed Roth of Stencil 101
2/1: Matchbox Valentines with Rachel Johnson of Swap-bot

2/8: Heatpress printing with Dari of papismami

Looking for further fashion inspiration? Try these links:

Accessorize This: The Uniform Project | Handmade Portraits: Built by Wendy

Will we see you Monday, ready to reconstruct your old clothing? Let us know in the comments below.

Furoshiki for the Holidays

2009-12-16T17:00:00-05:00

This holiday season, once the gifts under the tree have been ravaged and unearthed, avoid dragging that garbage bag of crumpled wrapping paper and wilted bows down the driveway. Designer and illustrator Jenn Playford offers an environmentally-friendly and irresistibly pretty alternative.

Jenn's interests in colors, graphics, and textile, led her to the traditional Japanese wrapping cloth of furoshiki, and eventually, her own line of reusable fabric gift wrap, called Furochic™. Here on The Storque, Jenn shares some techniques and inspiration from her book, Wrapagami, the Art of Fabric Gift Wrap, along with a fascinating history of this resurrected craft.

I love fabric. Walking into a store where the shelves are filled with beautiful fabrics makes my heart race with anticipation, and the gorgeous colors, textures, and patterns are always invigorating and inspiring. I have always enjoyed making things using my vast collection of fabric, ribbon, yarn, trinkets, gems, and odds and ends — and, especially, using these embellishments to decorate gifts. For years, pages from fashion magazines were my gift wrap of choice, as I felt that wrapping paper was wasteful. Eventually, my love for textiles and concerns about the environment prompted me to try wrapping gifts with fabric remnants from my collection.

An interest in Japanese art and design, especially textiles, led me to furoshiki, a cloth wrap used in Japan since the seventeenth century to wrap and carry items.

History of Furoshiki

Nara Period (Eighth Century): Starting in the eight century, a square piece of fabric called hokei-fuhaku was used to wrap special items of value, including clothing for Buddhist priests and elaborate minstrel costumes. The wrapping was called tsutsumi, and its main purpose was to protect and carry garments.

Edo Period (1603-1868): As bathhouses increased in popularity, the square wrap became known as furoshiki: furo meaning "bath" and shiki meaning "to spread." Furoshiki were used to carry toiletries and clothing to the bathhouses and were also placed on the floor to act as bathmats. During this period, wealthy families commissioned bridal furoshiki of different sizes, decroated with their family crests and symbols of good luck.

1800s: When cotton was introduced from overseas, furoshiki began to be produced on a larger scale. At the same time, people of Japan were traveling more for pleasure, often selling goods along the way. Furoshiki were used for not only transporting the travelers' belongings but also their goods for sale.

1900s: At the turn of the twentieth century, the advances in textile production — mainly automated looms from overseas — made furoshiki even more accessible to the public. Furoshiki became mass-produced, and the tradition of using cloth to wrap gifts was established. Gifts wrapped with furoshiki would often be presented in person; the person giving the gift would unwrap and reveal the gift, and then keep the cloth to take home. The bridal furoshiki also became commonplace, and the bride used the large cloths for wrapping her belongings and the small cloths for wrapping gifts.

Post-World War II: After World War II, the Japanese became more highly influenced by American culture, resulting in the decline of furoshiki. The invention of the paper bag, followed by the plastic bag and the emergence of supermarkets across Japan in the 1970s, contirbuted to the disappearance of furoshiki. Plastic boxes and bags replaced furoshiki as a means of storage and for carrying goods. By the 1980s, the custom of using furoshiki to wrap gifts had declined almost to obscurity.

1990s - Present: When Japan's economic boom ended in the early 1990s, people began to reflect upon the disadvantages and waste in a disposable society. In 2006, Japan's then Minister of the Environment, Ms. Yuriko Koike, launched a campaign to encourage the use of furoshiki, instead of paper and plastic, and bring back the cultural tradition of wrapping and carryin gitems in fabric. She designed a furoshiki called the "Mottainai Furoshiki," mottainai, translating to "waste not, want not." The result has been a renewed and widespread interest in the tradition of tsutsumi and a flowering of creativity associated with it. Furoshiki are beginning to be seen outside of Japan as people worldwide embrace greener lifestyles and adapt different cultural solutions to their own ways of living.

The 4-Tie Box Wrap is simple yet elegant. This wrap can hold almost any square box securely, and it works equally well for small or large and light or heavy packages. You can even carry the box from the top, holding it under the knots as a handle. The knots on top of the box give the illusion of a fancy bow.

What You Need
1 square wrap. The size should be large enough to have 5" (12.5cm) left after tying the knots. A 28" x 28" (71 x 71cm) wrap works well for a 6" x 6" x 4" (15 x 15 x 10cm) box.

Fabric Notes
Almost any fabric will work, but if your box is heavy, it is best to avoid stretch fabric. Stay away from fabrics that are too thick, or the double knots will be bulky.

Tips + Variations
This wrap works well with a scarf that has a 5" (12.5cm) border. The wrap to the right has a solid color border, which looks like a separate element sitting on top of the box — a big, complementary bow.

Tuck a note, card, or photo beneath the first (lower) bow for a surprise when the recipient opens the gift.

How to Do It
1. Lay wrap flat on a diagonal and place box in the center.

2. Pull up "b" and "d" and center above the box while arranging gathers evenly. Tie a square knot.

3. Adjust corners of first knot. Turn box and pull "a" and "c" up, arranging gathers evenly. Tie a square knot above the first knot.

4. Adjust bow corners so that there is one flap in each of the four directions.

The Over-the-Shoulder Wrap is simple yet functional. Three knots (two hidden) hold it in place and leave room for the bag to slide over a shoulder. Inside, there is ample room for items of varying sizes. It's a great way to wrap a gift for the crafty person on your list — fill it with yarns and other knitting and crochet supplies. This wrap can be easily reused because it holds its shape even after the gift is "unwrapped."

What You Need
1 square wrap. The wrap has to be at least 36" x 36" (91.5 x 91.5cm) to sit over the shoulder; otherwise, it will be more of a handbag.

Fabric Notes
A strong, durable fabric such as a thick cotton or denim is best. If the fabric is too flimsy, it won't hold its shape and may tear when carrying heavier items. Try a thick embroidered Chinese silk for a more formal look.

How to Do It

1. Lay wrap flat on a diagonal and fold "c" up toward "a" to form a triangle.

2. Gather corner "d" and measure approximately 1/2 the length of the side of the triangle. Tie into a single knot. Repeat the same for "b."

3. Flip the wrap inside out so that the two knots are sitting inside of the bag. Hold "a and "c" up.

4. Tie "a" and "c" into a square knot. Adjust fabric and gathers and place your gift inside the bag.

Thanks to Jenn Playford and the good folks at St. Martin's Griffin for sharing these projects with us. If you're looking for more reusable wrapping inspiration, check out Wrapagami and Jenn's Furochic website.

More Craftivism Posts | Environmentally Friendly Gift Guide | How-Tuesday Series

How-Tuesday: Sweater Computer Cozy From Refashioned Bags

2009-12-15T10:46:00-05:00

When it comes to tech possessions, we all have to try a little harder to express our individuality. I carry around my computer, phone, and mp3 player, self-conscious of the fact that I am merely one in a sea of identical metallic cubes. I may not be able to customize my electronics quite the way I like, but boundless opportunity arises in their accessories. Why spend money on some uninspired plastic case made in a factory halfway across the world, when you can create your own upcycled masterpiece? This week's How-Tuesday comes from Faith and Justina Blakeney's Refashioned Bags, teaching us how to turn a sweater that's past its prime into a laptop's fuzzy best friend.

Purchase Refashioned Bags from Amazon or an independent bookseller

Recycling and reappopriating everyday items into designer accessories is fun, cheap, easy, and oh-so-eco!

But have no fear; you need not be a seamstress or a metalsmith to make it happen. This book, like recycling, is for everybody. With just a few basic tools and a spare afternoon, you'll be making everyday bags, utility bags, totes and shoppers, clutches, and other small bags for special occasions.

So it's time to get creative, clean out the closets, and discover what hidden treasures lie within. Your wardrobe, your wallet, and your planet will thank you.

We all have mini fashion disasters — buttons falling off of coats, stains, and worst of all, shrinking that fave old sweater in the wash. At the Compai Compound, we have learned to see these mishaps as windows of opportunity. So the next time your favorite wool sweater ends up in the wash, don't use it to clean your bathroom floor — hook your computer up with a new winter wardrobe!

Quick Tip: Make sure the sweater is made of at least 80 percent animal fiber (wool, alpaca, cashmere — you know, the good stuff), or it won't felt. Then machine wash your sweater in hot water and dry it on hot in the dryer.

You'll Need
1 old wool sweater
3 yards (2.7m) yarn
1 zipper, about 20" (51cm) long
Pins

Dimensions
16" x 10" (32cm x 25.5cm)

1. Wash your wool sweater on hot so that it shrinks and "felts." Dry your sweater.

2. If your sweater has a zipper or buttons that open the sweater in front, cut them off. If it does not, cut the front of the sweater open anyway.

3. Cut the sleeves of the sweater off.

4. Stitch both armholes closed.

5. As shown, fold the sweater on its side so that one of the stitched armholes lies center-front. Place your laptop computer onto the sweater. Mark the length of the computer with pins on the sweater. Cut the collar and the bottom off of the sweater so that the remaining piece is 1/2" (13mm) longer than the computer on each side.

6. Sew the top edges of the bag together with a clean finish.

7. Pin the zipper onto the open edge of the case, wrapping it around the open corner of the sweater. Stitch the zipper into place and then whipstitch any remaining openings closed if the zipper doesn't reach the bottom corner of the case.

8. The pom-poms on our design were originally part of the sweater that we used, but if you'd like to add pom-poms to your design, wrap the yarn in a figure 8 around your index finger and thumb, in small loops, about 70 times. Pull the looped figure 8 off your fingers, then wrap the yarn around the center of those loops several times, tie a knot. Cut the loops open and throw the pom-pom in the dryer. When the dry cycle is complete, tie the pom-pom to the hole in the zipper pull.

Thanks to Faith & Justina Blakeney and the good folks at Potter Craft for sharing this project with us. For more upcycling inspiration, check out Refashioned Bags.

More How-Tuesday Posts | Supplies Category | The Do-It-Yourselfer Gift Guide

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: December 10, 2009

2009-12-10T16:15:00-05:00

"Nothing risqué, nothing gained." — Alexander Woollcott

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has costumed spiritual messengers, animations to make your eyeballs dilate (with fashion!), minerals as art and an inspirational stone house that makes being a Flintstone an appealing prospect.

Read on!

Reed + Radar's freaky deaky animated GIFs marry fashion editorial and Paper Rad-style animation. I prefer my fashion consumption in eye-dilating doses. [Via Style Bubble]

This bulbous stone house is reminiscent of Fred Flintstone's cavernous cottage. Located in the mountains of Fafe, Portugal, this modern sculpture makes me ache to be a cave dweller! Check out this video for a view of the home's interior. (I wish I knew Portuguese!) [Via FlyLyf]

The brightly costumed wooden katsina dolls of the Hopi and Navajo tribes are a serious source of fashion inspiration: the textures, the layers, the patterns and prints! These beautiful dolls are also believed to be spiritual messengers with supernatural powers. These powerful symbols are thought to have the ability to bring the rain, punish offenders of ceremonial or social laws, and, in general, to function as messengers between the spiritual domain and mortals. These vibrant paintings by Raymond John Poseyesva revive these icons for a new century. [Via Nothing is New on Art 21]

Nature is a curious sculptress, and these minerals and gems salute the skilled hand that is time's gentle progression. But wait — these are actually not photos at all, but mind-meltingly realistic mineral paintings by the very talented Carly Waito. [Via Design*Sponge]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Come Craft Plush Toys With Wendy Gardner at Etsy Labs

2009-12-10T15:30:00-05:00

Why stay in and craft all by your lonesome? Come join us for a teddy bear workshop with Wendy from Scary Stories — whether you're in Brooklyn or anywhere in the world. Stop by for our weekly Craft Night in our online multi-user chat room, the Virtual Labs, for a live online demo at 5 p.m. ET, or in person at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn anytime between 4-8 p.m. at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512 in Brooklyn, New York. (Click here to see what time 5 p.m. ET is in your hometown.) Craft Night is a time to make things, sharpen your craft skills, and connect with fellow crafters.

This week, on Monday, December 14, Wendy Gardner will show you how to turn any old shirt into an adorable teddy bear for a great holiday gift idea. There's no better way to clear out those closets and gain a handmade gift in the process! So, pinch a nice cotton button-down from the closet of your husband/boyfriend/grandpa and come on down to the Etsy Labs for some fluffy stuffy fun!

Wendy Gardner is the founder of Scary Stories Inc., and she loves dogs, cats, chickens, and pets of all kinds. An artist originally from Toronto, Canada, Wendy began her career as a painter. She studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design and moved to New York City to work as an illustrator. She soon fell in love with a pug named Ivan and formed her company, Scary Stories Inc., and began selling Dig Ivan Dig and other characters in her line of unique plush toys, all playfully scary with angry eyes and growling teeth. The toys are sold in boutiques, design stores, gifts shops, and museums throughout the world. Her work can also be found in her Etsy shop, HappySugar.

If you are attending Craft Night virtually this week and would like to create teddy bears along with us, you'll need to gather the following supplies:

Mens' shirts
Sewing machine
Thread
Pins
Embroidery thread
Embroidery needles
Buttons
Teddy bear byes (snap in)
Stuffing (poly fiberfill)
Holiday adornments such as bells or little Santa hats
Blue, red, green, or silver fabric
Sequins
Ribbon
Glitter trimmings

Upcoming Events at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn:

12/21: TBA
12/28/09 through 1/18/10: Craft Night Hiatus (No Craft Nights at the Etsy Labs during this time.)

Looking for further crafting inspiration?

Make a Donkey Stuffie | How-Tuesday Projects | The Do-It-Yourselfer Gift Guide

Will we see you next week? Let us know in the comments below.

Guest Curator: The Long Thread

2009-12-09T16:37:00-05:00

Ellen Luckett Baker lives with her husband and two daughters in Atlanta. A self-taught sewer, Ellen found creative inspiration and began to sew when her older daughter was born seven years ago. She is the author of The Long Thread, where she can be found sewing, crafting, and making things with her children. Her sewing patterns have been featured in several publications, and she is currently working on a sewing book for Chronicle Books to be published in 2011.

Good things come in small packages. There's something special about tiny objects — like a secret that you can slide into your pocket. I'll always remember the magic I felt as a child watching the little
ballerina twirl inside my music box. I recall the wee wooden doll that my great-uncle painted by hand, the miniature chalet with rotating figures, and the small, brightly-colored Christmas ornaments. My mother spent a lot of time working on my dollhouse — weaving a rug of felt, painting miniature plates, and taking me on frequent trips to the magical world of the dollhouse shop. It seems that my childhood
memories are filled with tiny treasures.

Share the magic of the miniature this holiday season with these little gifts and holiday decorations. Each of these objects can fit in the palm of your hand and would be easy to ship to friends across the country or around the world...or you could just slip one into your pocket.

This bear is under 4" tall and handmade in Spain. Migu the Bear would make a perfect stocking stuffer or gift for anyone who likes tiny cute things. (And who doesn't?) By knittingdreams, $22.50.

The Little Red Door features itty-bitty ceramics perfect for adding whimsy to a desk or mantel. $11.

Look out! The gnomes are loose again. This little fellow is less than 3" tall. Naturally, I love everything in this shop. By allthingssmall, $18.

Everyone needs a miniature winter village, don't they? Start your collection with this vintage Christmas Putz house made from sturdy paper. A collection of these would make a great centerpiece for the
holiday table or sideboard. From efinegifts, $16.95.

Slip this calendar into your pocket and keep track of your busy schedule with this silkscreened 2010 calendar with hand-lettered pages. By jenhewett, $13.

Celebrate the season retro-style with these vintage snowman cupcake toppers. From bostonbaglady, $5.50.

This pair of wintry wooden dolls would make a nice decoration or stocking stuffer. By goosegrease, $18.

Little things mean a lot. These Forget-Me-Not Earrings offer a sweet sentiment. By Bijoutiful, $36.

Baby shoes definitely top the list of tiny cute things. These holiday baby booties from Out of the Box are hand-stitched of wool for size 3-6 months. By outofthebox, $24.

Baa la la la la. This ceramic ornament would add character to any tree. By mudpuppy, $16.

I love the graphic hand-painted face on this 3" tall Japanese matryoshka-style doll from Stefanie Style. A sweet little gift for young and old alike. By stefaniexu, $9.50.

Smaller is better with this tiny hand-embroidered ornament or pendant. By SeaPinks, $17.

You couldn't complete a list of tiny things without mentioning The Small Object. The Good Wood Magnet Set would make a nice stocking stuffer for kids and adults. By thesmallobject, $8.

If this teddy bear doesn't make you say "Awww" then you are heartless. This tiny guy from Martha's Makes is under 2" small. By marthasmakes, $32.

This holiday season, spend time with your friends and family and cherish the little things. Happy Holidays!

Looking for past Guest Curators? Check out our archive!

How-Tuesday: Gingerbread Man Puppets From Felting for Baby

2009-12-08T15:50:00-05:00

Craft projects provide ample opportunities to spend time with your family and build anticipation for the holiday in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The sound of slippered little feet scrambling down the stairs will be irresistible! Saori Yamazaki's Felting for Baby offers beautiful inspiration to create everything soft and warm your baby needs. For this week's How-Tuesday, Saori shares the fundamentals of felting three-dimensional forms along with her pattern for Gingerbread Man Puppets to get your baby's first Christmas started off just right.

Purchase Felting for Baby from Amazon or an independent bookseller

Felt work involves taking fluffy wool fibers and working with them until the fabric is just the way you like. The items you can make vary widely, and there's no limit to what you can do with your ideas: making cute accessories, practical bags, and items for everyday life.

Making something by hand for someone else is a lot of fun, but a special joy is found in making something for a tiny, tiny baby. For example, if you're making booties, you can't help thinking of the cute little feet that you are making them for, and you find yourself smiling. A regular population explosion has been happening among my friends in recent years, and even though I enjoy buying baby gifts in a store, most of the time, my friends expect something handmade. At times like that, I get excited about making something.

I'm confident that my friends are pleased with the warmth of fine handmade felt items. I'd like all of you to try your hand at making felt items, too, whether for an infant, for someone else, or even for yourself.

Getting Started

The basic principle behind felt work is taking fluffy, raw wool fibers and intertwining them to create a stable form. This process is the act of felting. Wet Felting: In this technique, you take a small amount of liquid detergent, add it to hot water (this mixture is referred to simply as hot, soapy water in this book), moisten the wool fibers with it, and push and rub the fibers into shape. The chemical properties and heat of the liquid detergent, and the vibration and friction from your hands, cause the wool fibers to entwine and mat evenly, resulting in a smooth, strong fabric. This efficient technique is appropriate for making sheets of felt or felt with a lot of volume.

Tools and Materials:
The main type of wool used in this book is known as roving, which is raw wool that has been cleaned, carded, and gathered into long strips.

Shallow Basin: A shallow basin or container of some kind is useful when making a sheet of felt as it helps to contain the water used in the felting process. Alternately, you can use the kitchen sink.

Hot, Soapy Water: Add 3 or 4 drops of dishwashing detergent to about 1 quart of hot water. Adjust the amount so that it will foam slightly when you apply it to the wool, and rub. The hotter the water is, the faster the felting process will occur. Lukewarm or cold water takes more time.

Watering Can: Use this to sprinkle the carded wool lightly with hot, soapy water so that it doesn't separate. A spray bottle also works.

Waterproof Pattern Paper: Make patterns for your projects from a material that will not lose its shape when wet. Plastic sheeting and bubble wrap work well, but you can use the coated cardboard from milk cartons, too.

Wooden Dowel: You can advance the felting process by wrapping the wool around a wooden dowel or rolling pin. The larger your project is, the thicker the rolling pin should be.

How to Make Bag-Shaped and Three-Dimensional Forms

1. Arrange Side A
Take about 1 ounce of wool and divide it into eight equal strands. Make two layers, one horizontal and one vertical, on the pattern paper, using one strand of wool per layer. Even out the area, and spread out the wool so that it's a bit larger than the pattern area. (I refer to the front of the bag as side A and the back as side B.) Apply hot, soapy water to the two layers of wool and work it in thoroughly with your hands.

2. Work Side A
Turn the whole project over, along with the pattern paper. (If the piece is large, remove the pattern paper before turning it over and then replace it on the new top side.) If any of the fibers are sticking out, fold them over the pattern paper and work the edges and corners thoroughly.

3. Arrange Side B
Make two layers, one horizontal and one vertical, on another piece of pattern paper, using one strand of wool per layer. Then place side B on top of side A, pattern papers together.

4. Work Side B
Work the surface of side B with hot, soapy water, then turn the whole project over again. Turn it gently to make sure that the part you worked doesn't come apart or tear away.

5. Make a Bag Shape
As in step 2, fold over any wool fibers that stick out. Repeat steps 1 through 4 on both sides so that both sides have four layers of wool each.

6. Continue Felting
Put plastic bags over both hands, and start rubbing the felt in circular motions around the center, first gently, and then with more force. You can increase the pressure by pressing with the very tips of your fingers. Be sure to work the edges and corners thoroughly.

7. Pinch Test
Pinch a bit of the surface to see whether the fibers are firmly intertwined. (Be sure to check both side A and side B.) If the fibers come lose or break off, then the felting process is incomplete; repeat step 6.

8. Cut an Opening
Use scissors to cut an opening on the side that will be the mouth of the bag. (You'll felt the cult in step 11 to strengthen it.)

9. Remove the Pattern Paper
Slide the pattern papers out. Because the felting process is not yet complete on the inside of the bag, hold the bag carefully so that the insides don't stick to each other.

10. Turn It Right Side Out
Turn the bag right side out, taking care not to tear or stretch any of the felted fibers.

11. Felt the Edges and Opening
Flatten out the side edges of the bag and carefully rub and work them so that they felt. Since the opening cut in step 8 may be weak, work it for a while so that it's straight and sturdy.

12. Roll Up All Sides From Four Directions
Use a wooden dowel to roll up both side A and side B from the top, bottom, right, and left. Each time you unroll the felt, smooth out the wrinkles. If it starts to dry out, apply a little more hot, soapy water. Repeat this step until the whole piece has shrunk evenly and to the desired dimensions.

13. Shape the Bottom
Fold the bottom so that it's like a paper grocery bag, and rub and work it to form and stabilize the shape. Do the same with both side A and side B.

14. Make It Three-Dimensional
Stand the bag up, insert your hand, and flatten the inside bottom. Consider the proportions of the entire bag as you carefully felt the interior sides, angles, and opening, so that no distorted or uneven surfaces remain.

15. Adjust the Opening
Adjust the opening so that the bag is a uniform height. Apply some more hot, soapy water to the cut edges of the opening and work it in.

16. Stabilize the Shape
Rinse the bag in lukewarm water and briefly run it through the spin cycle of a washing machine. Stabilize the shape by ironing it, using a towel to keep the bag's shape.

17. Finishing
Let the felt dry naturally, and you will end up with the main body of a bag.

Finished Size 5 1/2" x 9 1/2"

Materials:
Wool for the main body: Natural or camel, 1 ounce
Wool for the face and buttons: Brown, small amounts

Instructions:
1. Divide the wool for the main body into eight parts.

2. Cut out a piece of pattern paper (download pattern here). Felt four layers of wool on both sides of the pattern paper to make a bag shape.

3. Cut an opening across the bottom, remove the pattern paper, and turn the puppet right side out. (Carefully use a rod to turn the arms and neck inside out.) Felt the puppet by rolling it up from all sides until it reaches the size indicated in the diagram.

4. Rinse and spin the puppet, iron it, and let it dry naturally.

5. Put a sponge inside the puppet and use a needle to felt the face and buttons onto the puppet.

Thanks to Saori Yamazaki and the good folks at Trumpeter Publishing for sharing this project with us. For more sweet wool, check out Felting for Baby.

More How-Tuesday Posts | Supplies Category | The Do-It-Yourselfer Gift Guide

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: December 3, 2009

2009-12-03T16:03:00-05:00

"All my hummingbirds have alibis and a 100 profound virtures cover my body." — Max Ernst

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has sophisticated anoraks, jodphurs and suspenders (with horses, to boot), pleasantly bizarre illustration, gently decaying wax beauties and white on white interiors.

Read on!

Oh, sweet equestrian fantasy! Dace's fall line is delicate and lovely (with a touch of masculinity — my favorite combo), and the lookbook makes for dreams of an equine companion and azure fog. (Coats on horses: also welcome in my book!)

I'm kind of obsessed with Native American artwork, as well as creatures that remind me of wookiees, so Dantes Wharf is an ideal melting pot of weirdo tubular proboscises, geometric masks and bowl haircuts. As Picdit says, it's like "Russian prison tattoos meets R. Crumb meets Star Wars. Happy nightmares!" [Via Picdit]

When I first laid my eyes on Barbara Abel's photos of antique shop-window mannequins, my heart began to beat a little faster. Part of a series she calls "Tragic Beauties," the photos were taken in a a "dimly lit mannequin warehouse in downtown Detroit, [where] they sat, covered in plastic for decades, until a few years ago when they were sold to collectors." These vividly realistic wax busts were modeled for by actual women at the beginning of the twentieth century. (Check out the last photo to see these ladies in their natural habitat, circa 1920.) Their expressive visages are complemented by human hair and glass eyes. What I wouldn't give to own one of these beauties! [Via Morbid Anatomy]

As time goes on, I get closer and closer to identifying what the perfect room is. Natalie from So Much to Tell You seems to be on the same page as my own endlessly evolving interior aesthetic.

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Come Craft With KnitKnit at the Etsy Labs

2009-12-03T14:00:00-05:00

Why stay in and craft all by your lonesome? Come join us for a needle felting workshop with KnitKnit — whether you're in Brooklyn or anywhere in the world. Stop by for our weekly Craft Night in our online multi-user chat room, the Virtual Labs, for a live online demo at 5 p.m. ET, or in person at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn anytime between 4-8 p.m. at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512 in Brooklyn, New York. (Click here to see what time 5 p.m. ET is in your hometown.) Craft Night is a time to make things, sharpen your craft skills, and connect with fellow crafters.

This week, on Monday, December 7, join us for a needle felt ornament Craft Night! You'll learn how to "sculpt" with a felting needle and wool with Nguyen Le from KnitKnit (pictured right). We'll start out with the basics, and let your imagination go from there — the possibilities are endless! This craft is not recommended for children due to the sharp needles.

If you are attending Craft Night virtually this week and would like to felt up some ornaments along with us, you'll need to gather the following supplies:

Felting needles
Wool
Foam cushion to felt upon
Ribbon or embroidery thread for ornament

Upcoming Events at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn:

12/14: Plush toys with Wendy of Scary Stories
12/21: Bottlebrush trees with Daniellexo
12/28/09 through 1/18/10: Craft Night Hiatus (No Craft Nights at the Etsy Labs during this time.)

Looking for further crafting inspiration? Check out the video we made with KnitKnit!

How-To Needlefelt a Turkey | How-Tuesday Projects | The Do-It-Yourselfer Gift Guide

Will we see you next week? Let us know in the comments below.

Handmade Holidays With the One of a Kind Show

2009-12-02T14:12:00-05:00

As we all know, once Thanksgiving passes, it can feel like a freefall through the holiday season, rushing from one event to the next and desperately cramming shopping in between. Before you let yourself get carried away on that manic bandwagon, Etsy and The One of a Kind Show have something to say about it!

Lisa Simonian, the vice president of marketing for the One of a Kind Show and Sale — now in its 35th year! — joined us to talk about the inherent value of handmade items and the fun of getting to know the people and stories behind them.

Here at Etsy, we take this message very much to heart, and we are excited to be partnering with The One of a Kind Show and Sales® in Chicago and New York this December to present The Etsy Artist Pavilion for emerging artists. This dedicated area of each show will feature more than twenty Etsy artists — just a fraction of the incredible and diverse talents on the site itself, but a welcome alternative to that four-letter word, "mall." We hope you can join us!

Now, on to our interview with Lisa...

Can you tell us a little about the One of a Kind Show? Where did it start?

Similar to most brilliant ideas, the One of a Kind Show was born out of a simple desire for something more! The show is the brainchild of Torontonians Steven Levy, Martin Rumack and June Bibby. It was 1975 and June: an artisan couldn’t find a place to sell her work before Christmas. So she, along with friends Steven and Martin, decided to create a holiday shopping venue. After a great deal of legwork and countless all-nighters, the trio launched the first One of a Kind Show at Toronto’s Queen Elizabeth Building in December 1975. Today the show is a wildly popular annual event that runs in Toronto, Vancouver, Chicago, and soon to be New York.

[Vases by Christopher Mosey]

This is the first year the show is appearing in New York — what can people expect at this show?

They can expect to find the unexpected and things they won’t be able to find anywhere else! They can expect to find truly unique gifts items from the 275 talented artisans who will set up shop at the show. They can expect to meet in-person every artist, artisan and designer represented, and they can expect to find a fun and easy shopping experience with cafes, lounges, fashion shows, artist demonstrations, expert presentations, craft workshops, live music, coat and package check, and giftwrapping.

What are your goals for the OOAK Show?

True to the founders, our goal is to create the ideal venue for artisans to sell their work and the ideal venue for shoppers to buy artisan work.

[Sculptures by Dailey Woodworking]

The One of a Kind Show has been around for thirty five years. That's a long time! What's your favorite memory from OOAK shows past?

I’ve been with the Chicago show for six years and I have six years worth of wonderful memories of working with my One of a Kind colleagues and with our One of a Kind artisans. What stands out most in my mind when I think of past shows is that the show is always such a happy event. You walk through the aisles and somehow it’s smiles and laughter everywhere. People who don’t even like to shop love the show! I think the concept and environment make people feel good.

What's your favorite item that you've purchased? What does it mean to you?

A beautiful seafoam green handknit wool sweater and matching hat that I bought for my daughter before she was born. She’s now well outgrown it — but it is still in pristine condition and we’ll keep it forever… for her daughter, perhaps!

[Ceramics by Lois Aronow]

What do you think is the draw of handmade items? Besides the obvious beauty, why should people buy handmade for the holidays?

As you know at Etsy, people are more conscious these days about how and by whom things are made. There’s a newfound appreciation for craftsmanship. When an item is handmade there’s heart and soul behind it. Someone (not a machine!) had the desire, and took the time and effort, to create it. Holiday gifts should be meaningful — so it’s the perfect match.

What kind of workshops and seminars are offered at the OOAK Show?

There will always be something going on at the show stage. We’ll have fashion shows showcasing wearable art from the show, artist demonstrations, presentations by Hello Craft and ReadyMade magazine, a panel of editors discussing “The Evolution of Craft” and live music by up-and-coming musicians. ReadyMade and Hello Craft will also be conducting various how-to workshops at their booths on the show floor. Etsy will be hosting a handmade ornament workshop with fabric from Spoonflower at their booth at the show in New York.

[Sculpture by Dolan Geiman]

What's the number one reason to attend the OOAK show?

To shop for wonderfully unique work and to support the artisan community while doing it!

Check out the One of a Kind Show Artists Guide and the Related Items below for a sneak peek of Etsy artists selling at this year's show. Will you be attending the One of a Kind Show in Chicago or New York? Let us know in the comments!

How-Tuesday: Jam Jar Gift Toppers From A Rainbow of Stitches

2009-12-01T16:19:00-05:00

While most of my gifts for Hanukkah this year will be coming from Etsy, I still try to look for ways in which I can add my own handmade touch, whether it's in the gift wrap, cards, or embellishments. The encyclopedia of embroidered design, A Rainbow of Stitches, offers over a thousand motifs to inspire you to add personal details to your holiday gifts. For this week's How-Tuesday, the authors share the fundamentals of cross-stitch along with a PDF of holiday cheer motifs to get you in the mood. Besides the lovely jam jar toppers above, how else would you put these seasonal patterns to use? Leave your ideas in the comments below!

Purchase A Rainbow of Stitches from Amazon or an independent bookseller.

If you haven't tried embroidery or cross-stitch before, a quick look through this book will give you overwhelming proof that you can stitch on virtually anything made from fabric. More than eighty inspiring ideas for stitched embellishment are shown, from wearables and personal accessories to a variety of decorative items for every room in your home.

So dig through your closets and open your dresser drawers to find an item that needs a little extra "something," then take a trip to your local crafts or fabric store to get some basic supplies. A rainbow of stitches awaits!

Before You Begin

Before you start, make sure your fabric is well prepared so it won't fray as you're stitching it. You can either hem the edges with a large basting stitch, or simply apply fusible web strips around the fabric's perimeter. Keep in mind that the piece of fabric should always be larger than the pattern to be stitched.

Working With Fabric

Fold your fabric in four to find its center point. Make large basting stitches along both the horizontal and vertical folds to serve as guidelines as you stitch. Align the center point of your motif with the point where the two lines of stitching intersect. Remove these guidelines once you've finished embroidering your motif.

To help stitches stay even, use an emboridery hoop. Gently stretch your fabric on the hoop, making sure to reposition it frequently — or to remove it at the end of each stitching session — to avoid damaging its weave.

Working With Embroidery Floss

Two or three strands of six-strand cotton floss were used to stitch all of the projects shown in this book. Whenever you start a project, you'll find it helpful to make a sampler of stitches on the fabric you're planning to use to determine how many strands of floss you'll need. As a general rule, lower-count Aidas — a type of counted thread fabric that's traditionally used for cross-stitch projects — require more strands, while higher-count Aidas and linens need fewer. For example, most projects stitched on 14-count Aida require three strands of floss, while those stitched on a 28-count linen, which has a much tighter weave, would probably need just two strands, and even one might look fine.

Transferring Motifs

To transfer motifs to your fabric, use carbon transfer paper, which is specially made for embroidery and is available in several colors. Choose the one that works best with your fabric. For example, white transfer paper is best for dark fabrics, while blue or red work best on lighter ones.

Start by photocopying the motif, which you can enlarge or reduce to get it to just the right size. Trace the photocopied motif on a sheet of tracing paper, following its outline and making sure to include all its details. Prepare your fabric according to the instructions on the previous page, then iron it carefully before spreading it out on a flat surface, such as an ironing board or clean work table.

Place the transfer paper between the fabric and the tracing paper, making sure to put the colored side of the transfer paper face down. Keep the papers in place by pinning them to the fabric. With a hard pencil or a pen, carefully trace the motif, pressing down so that the entire image transfers properly. Once you've finished, separate the papers and fabric carefully to avoid smudging the fabric.

Starting and Ending Off

This method of starting and ending off avoids having to tie knots on the back of your piece. To begin, take about a yard of floss, using as many strands as you need for your project. Fold it in two, then thread the needle. Bring the needle up through the fabric, leaving the loop created by the folded floss at the back. Bring the needle back down to start your first stitch, passing it through the loop, then pull gently to lock in the thread. Once you're done stitching, slip your thread under your last three or four stitches.

Essential Stitches

Cross stitch method 1
Cross stitches are typically worked on counted-thread fabric. This method is especially useful for lines of cross stitch.

Come up through the fabric at point A, then go back down at point B, up at C, down at D. Come back up at E and, working in the opposite direction, go down at B to form an X.

Cross stitch method 2
This method can be used either for lines of cross stitch or to make individual stitches.

1. Come up at point A, go down at B, come back up at C, then down at D to form the first cross stitch.

2. Come back up at B, go down at E, come up at D, then go down at F to the second cross stitch.

Stem stitch
Stem stitches create a continuous yet slightly staggered line.

1. Bring the needle up at point A, then into B and up at C (midway between A and B). Note that thread should loop under the needle.

2. To make the next stitch, go down at D and come back up at E, above the previous stitch and midway along its length.

Download a PDF of holiday cheer motifs here.

Thanks to Agnès Delage-Calvet, Anne Sohier-Fournel, Muriel Brunet, Françoise Ritz, and the good folks at Watson-Guptill Publications for sharing this project with us. For more inspired stitching, check out A Rainbow of Stitches.

More How-Tuesday Posts | Supplies Category | The Do-It-Yourselfer Gift Guide

Coast-to-Coast: Craft with Etsy Labs in Brooklyn and San Francisco

2009-11-26T10:30:00-05:00

This week we are pleased to announce crafting events across the United States! Join the Etsy Labs in both Brooklyn and San Francisco (and online!) for free hands-on workshops.

So, read on for double the crafty events this week...

Crafting in Brooklyn, NY:

Open Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn, NY

This week we're hosting an open Craft Night, as we usually do on the last Monday of each month. Instead of an organized project, this week we are throwing the doors of the Etsy Labs wide open and letting you dive into any project that strikes your fancy.

Bring along any project you'd like to develop during this week's Craft Night, or start a brand new project using our tools and extra supplies. To craft-finity and beyond!

When: Monday, November 30; drop in any time between 4 to 8 p.m. ET.
Where: Etsy Labs at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY

Upcoming Events at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn:

12/7: Needle-felted ornaments with Nguyen from KnitKnit
12/14: Plush toys with Wendy from Scary Stories
12/21: Bottlebrush trees with Daniellexo
12/28/09 through 1/18/10: Craft Night Hiatus (No Craft Nights at the Etsy Labs during this time.)

A photo of Susan and Amy from a recent needlepoint Craft Night at the Etsy Labs.

Crafting in San Francisco, CA:

Student Night + Craft Bar With Etsy Labs at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco

Escape winter’s chill at the Museum of Craft & Folk Art! Join us for Craft Bar with Etsy Labs @ MOCFA, a free event co-sponsored by Etsy. MOCFA is throwing the gallery doors open for you to brush up on your knitting skills with a quick and easy hat project that will keep you warm and stylish during the winter months — it's perfect for gift-giving. Sessions are free and open to all skill levels, from beginner to expert. Materials and instruction will be provided.

Local artists Jackie Huang will be on hand for a plushie felting demo, and fiber store, A Verb for Keeping Warm, will share techniques for spinning yarn. Sip locally brewed Trumer Pils at the custom-built Craft Bar, visit the Open Source Embroidery Exhibition and pick up a new hobby.

Don't live in California? Fear not, MOCFA will also host a live demo of the evening's craft projects via webcam in Etsy's Virtual Labs for all of our faraway friends. If you would like to knit along with us, please download this free pattern.

When: Thursday, December 3 from 6 - 8 p.m. PT. Online demo at 1 p.m. PT in the Virtual Labs.

Where: Museum of Craft and Folk Art at 51 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA

Looking for further crafting inspiration?

How-Tuesday Projects | Supplies Category | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide

Will we see you next week? Let us know in the comments below.

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: November 19, 2009

2009-11-19T15:00:00-05:00

"One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem." — Alexander Jodorowsky

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has human forms breaking from within their porcelain constructs, rustic and moody country interiors, a jaunty take on the alphabet, master + pet daguerreotypes, and surreal visions of Hansel and Gretel.

Read on!

I'm always so impressed by the variety of forms porcelain can assume. Kate MacDowell's organic sculptural style is at once fragile and challenging. I love the intersection of anatomy and nature (birds in lungs!). [Via Blood Milk]

Be still, my heart! Miss Amy of Emerson Merrick fame recently ventured to the summer home of Moon River Chattel's owners (which is basically my favorite store in Brooklyn, ever). It is my idea of heaven: historical tidbits, structural decomposition, complete with simple furniture and decor, and — a hayloft. Sigh.

Another week, another rendition of the alphabet! Photographer Julian Hibbard's The Noir A-Z gives a blithe, "adult" take on an abecedary, pairing images with words representing each of the 26 letters. Provocative and a tad bit racy! Love it. [Via Flavorwire]

Fairy tales are my jam (especially the Brothers Grimm's macabre versions). This fantastical Hansel and Gretel Vogue editorial has combined my love of fables and fashion, with surreal results. [Via Haute Macabre]

The Beloved Pets — From Daguerreotype to Digital Flickr set makes me squeal like none other. I love animals, but antique photos of men posing with pet roosters — well, that trumps all. (See also: cats with banjos.) [via photo_history]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Come Craft With the Etsy Labs & Esther K. Smith: Rolling Ball Books and Ornaments

2009-11-19T10:30:00-05:00

Want to test out our latest How-Tuesday project with us at the Etsy Labs? Come join us for a free workshop with artist and author Esther K. Smith— whether you're in Brooklyn or anywhere in the world. Stop by for our weekly Craft Night in our online, interactive classroom, the Virtual Labs, for a live demo via webcam at 5 p.m. ET, or in person at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn anytime between 4-8 p.m. ET at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512 in Brooklyn, New York. (Click here to see what time 5 p.m. ET is in your hometown.) Craft Night is a time to make things, sharpen your craft skills, and meet new friends.

This week, on Monday, November 23, Esther K. Smith will show us how to make rolling ball books and ornaments. Is it a book or a toy? You decide!

Esther K. Smith is Purgatory Pie Press designer and author of How to Make Books and Magic Books & Paper Toys. She handcrafts artist books and limited editions at Purgatory Pie Press in New York City, collaborating with typographer Dikko Faust and other artists and writers. Keep an eye out for her new book, The Paper Bride, in December 2009.

Looking for more paper projects? Try these how-to's:

Paper Flowers | Do-Si-Do Books

Will we see you on Monday? Let us know in the comments below.

How-Tuesday: Rolling Balls From Magic Books & Paper Toys

2009-11-17T14:14:00-05:00

As a lover of both books and crafts, I have a very difficult time letting my coffee table volumes or National Geographic issues sit on the shelf for long before I'm ripping, cutting, folding, and gluing. Pages sticky with mod podge, my collection of paper transforms into a vault of materials and inspiration. Paper guru Esther K. Smith will be hosting Craft Night at the Etsy Labs next Monday, November 23. As a teaser, she shares her Rolling Balls project from Magic Books & Paper Toys for this week's How-Tuesday. This would make a great project (with or without the kids!) as you get ready to decorate for the holidays.

Purchase Magic Books & Paper Toys

Long before I ever thought of making books, I got a hexaflexagon in the mail from Dikko. Other men send flowers, jewelry, or chocolate, but he wooed me with paper. (It worked — we've been collaborating on art and our family for many years now.)

He had read about them in Martin Gardiner's math column in Scientific American and made one for a grad-school course at the University of Wisconsin. The flexagon was cool. I made them for a while — sent one to my mathematician cousin (he was not impressed) — and then forgot about them. Years later, teaching a class at Cooper Union called Instant Artist's Books, I found that hexaflexagon again and decided to include flexagons in my class. Then I got a photocopy of a page from a Victorian children's book that showed magic wallet construction. Those two forms were so easy and interesting that I built a curriculum around them. I developed my Magic Books & Paper Toys weekend workshop, which started at New York's Center for Book Arts. I've taught it at Long Island University, The San Francisco Center for the Book, and Penland School of Crafts.

When I began teaching design for CUNY, I used flexagons with my CUNY undergrads for design and color-theory problem solving. Since their designs split and reverse, they make an interesting design challenge. They also keep me amused.

I added flip books, strip animations, and spinners with wonderful results. One student rendered a paint can that sprays graffiti, another made a subway car with cut-out windows that show the stations changing.

I've seen flip books of fingernails growing, T-shirts changing designs, and all kinds of winking, blinking spinners. I wish I could see the cool things YOU make!

I've seen these made from holiday cards as ornaments, but they are also interesting books. And it's fun to roll them. You could even put a simple pop-up inside.

You Will Need
Heavy, foldable paper
Compass or round object (glass, bowl) to trace
Pencil
Scissors
Bone folder
Adhesive
Drawing and collage materials to embellish
Velco, magnets (optional)

1. Trace circles onto the paper using a compass, or trace a jar or small bowl. The heavier the paper, the fewer circles.

2. Cut the circles out with scissors or a knife.

3. Fold them in half and burnish.

4. Adhere the folded circles back to back, lining them up with care and burnishing until you have enough to create a full ball shape when you open up the ball.

5. Place Velcro or magnets on the covers so that the ball can stay open.

6. Roll your book to be sure it works.

7. Embellish with drawing, rubber stamps, or collage.

Rolling Faces: You can put whatever appeals to you on the pages of your rolling book. Faces can be fun. One student thought faces of politicians would be nice rolling away. Cut them from magazines or newspapers and collage.

Thanks to Esther K. Smith and the good folks at Potter Craft for sharing this project with us. For more paper inspiration, check out Magic Books & Paper Toys.

More How-Tuesday Posts | Supplies Category | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide

Come Craft With Bags for the People & Katherine Bell at Etsy Labs

2009-11-12T17:00:00-05:00

Why stay in and sew all by your lonesome? Come join us for a bag-making workshop with Bags for the People and Katherine Bell — whether you're in Brooklyn or anywhere in the world. Stop by for our weekly Craft Night in our online multi-user chat room, the Virtual Labs, for a live online demo at 5 p.m. ET, or in person at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn anytime between 4-8 p.m. at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512 in Brooklyn, New York. (Click here to see what time 5 p.m. ET is in your hometown.) Craft Night is a time to make things, sharpen your craft skills, and meet new friends.

This week, on Monday, November 16, we will be making bags with Bags for the People and Katherine Bell, author of Quilting for Peace. (Check out a bag-making how-to project from her book here.)

Bags for the People is a non-profit organization that provides the public with a sustainable alternative to plastic bags. They use all repurposed materials and give bags out for free. Bags for the People also perform community building workshops and events (like this one!) to convince people to make the switch from plastic to reusable and inspire the public to take an active and creative role in life. Learn all about Bags for the People and what they do here.

We'll have all the materials you'll need to sew a bag of your own here at the Etsy Labs, including beautiful surplus fabrics donated by Serena and Lily! If you have any other fabrics or old clothing that you would like to turn into bags, please bring them along.

If you are attending Craft Night virtually this week and would like to stitch up some bags along with us, you'll need to gather the following supplies:

Fabric (an old T-shirt would do the trick)
Sewing machine, or a sewing needle
Thread
Scissors
Pins
Iron
Download Bags for the People's instructions

Upcoming Events at the Etsy Labs:
11/23: Rolling Ball Book Ornaments with Esther K. Smith
11/30: Open Craft Night
12/7: Needle-Felted Ornaments with Nguyen of KnitKnit
12/13: Plush Toys with Wendy of Scary Stories

Looking for more bag-making projects? Try these how-to's:

Quilting for Peace: Stitch Your Own Shopping Bag | Lunch Bag | Eco-Friendly Bags

Will we see you on Monday? Let us know in the comments below!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: November 12, 2009

2009-11-12T15:00:00-05:00

“My look is either very baroque or very Zen — everything in between makes me itch.” — Legendary tastemaker Iris Apfel

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has mellow Swedish interiors, fashionable menfolk, an organic alphabet, bright and cheerful botanical prints and style inspiration from photo album friends of the near to distant past.

Read on!

I gain inspiration by analyzing fashions of the past, and the many stylish ladies featured on vielles_annonces's Flickr stream make me want to get out the old Polaroid and document my ensembles. [Via Me Melodia]

Visual representations of the alphabet need not be a boring Times New Roman affair. Elka Dopludo's Organic Alphabet illustrations show off the many flexible shapes and materials characters can assume. [Via Ana Montiel]

I love me a fashionable dude, and Street Etiquette makes my toes curl with joy! Be it corduroy, pocket squares or Cowichan knit sweaters, the men behind this street style blog are always forward-thinking with their clothing choices and the trends they pursue (and they make sure to tell you where similar styles can be found).

The bold floral patterns of Jobs Handprinted Textiles remind me of vintage botanical specimen posters. [Via Ungtblod]

These mellow and monochromatic interiors were photographed by Swedish photog Stellan Herner. The mixture of textures (concrete, slate and fuzzy rugs) reminds me of Abigail Ahern's pleasant home. [Via Style Files]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

How-Tuesday: Miniature Stocking Ornament From Sweater Renewal

2009-11-10T14:30:00-05:00

As the season of bulky fibers descends upon us, I inevitably must clean out my sweater drawer for new finds. Pulling out fistfuls of thick wool, I mourn moth holes, shrunken sleeves, oil stains. The colorful knits, even flawed, nevertheless feel enduring, and thus when I came across Sharon Franco Rothschild's Sweater Renewal, I was already inspired. For this week's How-Tuesday, Sharon shares her wool felting technique, along with a template to make a cozy upcycled Christmas ornament. You could even enlarge the template to make a full-size Christmas stocking.

Purchase Sweater Renewal from Amazon or an independent bookseller

I am, always will be, a self-confessed sweater junkie. Whether I am designing, knitting, buying, felting, cutting, or wearing sweaters, I can never get enough of them. Sweaters provide comfort, warmth, and a certain sense of style.

We all have our favorites — some that make us feel fabulously stylish, some that make us feel incredibly comfortable, and those that offer a coziness and warmth that no other piece of clothing can compete with. As we collect and add sweaters to our wardrobes year after year, memories also attach themselves to each piece.

I will forever remember one of my all-time favorite sweaters, and its quick demise. I was sixteen years old, and the sweater (I can remember it like it was yesterday) was a pink mohair cardigan, the exact color of cotton candy. When I wore this sweater, I felt transformed. I felt grown up, stylish, even beautiful. But one of my father's first attempts to do the laundry for our family ended in disaster for this cherished piece of clothing. After some washing-machine agitation (in hot water, no less), my beautiful sweater shrank down to one-third its original size and was suddenly and completely unwearable. But my love affair with this sweater was not yet over. I kept it in my top dresser drawer, and every time I opened that drawer, I would look at my pink sweater and remember instantly how good it had made me feel. It was years before I could actually part with it. How I wish now that I had made something else out of it, something that I could have continued to use in my daily life, to remind me of my dad and the wonderful feeling that sweater had given me.

Fortunately, I have discovered that damaged sweaters, old sweaters, out-of-style sweaters, and sweaters that once belonged to a loved one can have a second life. So clean out your closets, start your washing machines, sharpen your scissors, and get ready to redesign, recycle, and renew your wool sweaters.

Miniature Stocking Ornament

It's never too soon to start thinking about the holidays. These tree ornaments are just waiting to be stuffed with tiny treasures and placed on your tree or above your fireplace. The stocking is made from a brightly colored mohair sweater.

Finished Measurements
3" (7.5cm) x 5 1/2" (14cm)

Materials
Yellow-green sweater made of mostly feltable fibers, at least 8 3/4" x 16 1/2" (22cm x 42cm)
Stocking template (download here) and tracing paper
Sewing needle and yellow thread
1 skein each Rowan Classic Cashsoft 4-ply yarn, 57% extra fine merino, 33% microfibre, 10% cashmere, 1.75 oz (50g), 197 yd (180m), in light brown and dark green, plus fuchsia for crochet flower (optional)
Crocheted fuschia five-petal flower (optional)
Four 10mm nugget beads, 3 amber, and 1 translucent white (2 amber beads and the white one are optional)
Small box of straight pins
DMC embroidery needle #5
Beadalon big eye beading needle 2 1/4" (5.5cm)
Tapestry needle
Size G-6 (4mm) crochet hook (optional)

Techniques
Washing and felting
Embroidery: Blanket stitch, running stitch
Crochet (optional): Silp stitch, chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet

Felt the Sweater

There are three methods for felting sweaters: in your washing machine, by hand in your sink or tub, or at your local dry cleaner. The washing-machine method is the easiest and fastest way to felt, especially if you are washing a whole sweater or blanket. If you are doing a small piece, such as a sock, hat, or a cut piece of a sweater, you may find the hand-washing method easier. If you do not want to deal with the actual washing and felting yourself, your local dry cleaner is a good alternative.

Washing-Machine Felting
1. There are two types of washing machines — top loaders and front loaders. Top loaders open at the top of the machine, and you put your clothes in a basket-like container that has a cylinder in the middle. Top loaders work best for sweater felting for two reasons. The first is that you can open the top at any time during the wash cycle and check your felting. The second is that the cylinder in the middle provides a lot of agitation, so your sweater will felt very quickly, often in one cycle.

Front loaders have a door that opens in the front of the machine, and they provide a much larger, more open space than a top loader. Once the wash cycle begins, the door automatically locks and cannot be opened until the cycle is finished. Because there is no spin basket in the front loader, there is less agitation. So with front loaders, I suggest that you begin any felting project using a very short cycle (hand-wash is best) and know that you may need to go through a few cycles before your sweater will felt the way you want it to.

How to Felt Using the Washing Machine

Place your item in a pillowcase. This will protect your piece and provide more friction (which is a good thing).
Select a very short cycle to begin. The hand-wash cycle is always a safe bet.
Set the water temperature to Warm.
Add about 1/4 cup (60ml) of Ivory liquid soap, or any dishwashing liquid with a low pH balance.
Select the shortest spin cycle and the gentlest wash cycle. Spinning the item for too long can distort the shape of the piece, but it needs to spin a little so all the water comes out.
Place the pillowcase with your item inside in the washing machine. Start your washing machine. Do not felt more than one piece at a time. After each cycle, take your piece out of the pillowcase and check to see if you need to wash it again.
When you have achieved the desired results, put your item in the dryer (still in the pillowcase). Run the dryer on a very low- or no-heat setting until the item is dry.

Make the Stocking

2. Trace and cut out the Stocking template (download here), enlarged at 200%. Pin the template onto the felted sweater and cut it out.

3. Pin right sides together. Machine-stitch around the sides of the stocking, using a 1/2" (13mm) seam allowance. Leave the top edge of the stocking open. Turn the stocking right-side out.

4. Turn under 1" (2.5cm) at the top of the stocking. Using light-brown yarn, the tapestry needle, and running stitch, stitch around the stocking to secure the top hem.

5. Blanket stitch around the machine-stitched edges of the stocking, using light-brown yarn and the tapestry needle.

Appliqué & Embroider

6. If desired, you may crochet a five-petal fuchsia flower.

Chain 4, leaving a tail 3" to 4" (7.5 - 10cm) long. Join with a slip stitch to form the loop. (Chain 3, single crochet 1 into the loop) 4 times. Chain 3. Using a slip stitch, join to the base of the first chain 3. You now have five petals. Fasten off, leaving a tail 3" to 4" (7.5 - 10cm) long.

Pin the crocheted flower in place on the front of the stocking. WIth the beading needle, sew an amber nugget bead in the center of the flower, simultaneously sewing the flower to the stocking front. Be careful not to sew the front of the stocking to the back while doing this. If you do not wish to use the crocheted flower, simply sew the amber bead to the front of the stocking at the same point where it would be if the flower were there.

Crochet Loop (Optional)

7. This loop will attach to the bead center of the flower, closing the stocking. Using dark-green yarn, join the yarn to the top center back of the stocking with a slip stitch. Chain 32, slip stitch into the 22nd chain to form the loop, work a single crochet in each chain from that point back to the edge of the stocking. Tie off the yarn and weave the end under the hem of the stocking.

Crochet Strap (Optional)

8. Using two strands of light-brown yarn held together, leave a 3 1/2" to 4" (9-10cm) tail and tie an overhand knot with the two strands used as one. Attach yarn to the upper left corner of stocking (on the heel side). Crochet a 7" (18cm) chain. Chain 10 beyond the 7" (18cm) point. Form these 10 chains into a loop and slip stitch to the end of the 7" (18cm) chained strap. Sew an amber nugget bead onto the upper right corner of the stocking (on the toe side). The chained strap will come over the stocking and attach to this bead by the loop. At the end of the strand of yarn you left as a tail at the beginning of the strap, tie an amber bead. Tie the white translucent bead at the end of the other yarn tail.

Thanks to Sharon Franco Rothschild and the good folks at Potter Craft for sharing this project with us. For more upcycling inspiration, check out Sweater Renewal.

More How-Tuesday Posts | Supplies Category | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide

Rock 'n' Shop With Lenka

2009-11-09T13:35:00-05:00

Australian singer-songwriter, Lenka is best known for her single, "The Show," which gained her worldwide popularity. Lenka's music is synonymous with a whimsical, crafty visual style, almost always created with her partner James Gulliver Hancock and can be seen in her album artwork, videos and stage sets. After majoring in sculpture at art school in Sydney and performing with Aussie film projection indie rockers, Decoder Ring, Lenka sees the visual aspect of music as having the utmost importance. Lenka has become known for her live shows, which create a world that quickly became known as Lenkaland — filled with child-like motifs and fun, flirty vintage clothes. It was natural for Lenka to be a fan of Etsy, so today she's here to share her Etsy picks. She'll also be sharing her latest singles and music video and sharing more of her favorites in Etsy's interactive chat room, the Virtual Labs, on Thursday, November 12 at 6:30 p.m. ET. This means it will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday in Sydney. Mark your calendars!

I have always been a craft kid. I remember making fabric-covered books as a 9-year-old and I still enjoy embroidery, Fimo and papier-mache. But I've always loved entertaining people and making music too, which kind of took over as a career choice. Now I try to mix the two together! And my personal style is definitely influenced by my inner "craft kid." Selecting these items for Etsy has been really fun for me as I love and appreciate all the other craft kids out there!

SALE Mod Flower Necklace

I have one from her just like it; my boyfriend bought it for me! By MushkaDesigns, $37.50.

View Item | View Shop

Black Skeleton Key Hand Embroidered Wall Plaque Hanging Art

I love embroidering and I love simple silhouette imagery. By Samskiart, $40.

View Item | View Shop

Deluxe Mixtape Pouch - Love Songs

I love this — it's the cutest thing ever. And I miss cassette tapes! I'm nostalgic... By BraveMoonman, $50.

View Item | View Shop

Nesting Doll Owls- Set of 3 - Forest Spirits

Absolutely beautiful. I love owls and I love knickknacks! By SavageArtworks, $47.

View Item | View Shop

Brass Solo Flight Bracelet- Customize your Swarovski Crystal Color

Very sweet jewelry, lots of cute bird pieces — you can never have enough! By threebirdsdesigns, $19.

View Item | View Shop

Birds of North America Collage Audubon Painting Colorful Graphic T-shirt (S,M,L,XL,XXL available)

More birds! I loved the old educational wildlife posters we had in Australia and this reminds me of them. By isotope, $20.

View Item | View Shop

Mushroom Tea Set

You could pretend you're Alice In Wonderland drinking out of these. And they'd go well with my mushroom set pieces. From Hindsvik, $40.

View Item | View Shop

Set of Two Retro 70s Embroidered Mushroom Linen Towels

Again with the mushrooms! I have some vintage tea towels and I love them. These ones are just adorable. From estateofmind, $10.

View Item | View Shop

le loup / the wolf necklace

Sweet, old-fashioned, strange animals — right up my alley! By PetitesCuriosites, $44.

View Item | View Shop

Boho Flora Green Dress Crochet Sleeves

Great vintage dresses! Can't get enough vintage dresses — I usually wear them on stage. From LoveItShop, $48.

View Item | View Shop

Zumba the monster necklace

I love laser cut stuff and I am diggin' monsters at the moment — goes well with my Trouble Is A Friend imagery (watch the video below!). By Mariska, $24.

View Item | View Shop

Don't forget to join us on Thursday, November 12 at 6:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. on Friday in Sydney) in our Virtual Labs for a chat with Lenka live from the Etsy Labs!

Quilting for Peace: Stitch Your Own Shopping Bag

2009-11-06T10:15:00-05:00

Stitch-by-stitch throughout the decades, the art and craft of quilting has long held a quiet power to gather communities together — whether it be through quilting bees, wartime efforts, painstakingly creating heirlooms and gifts, or resourcefully gathering together fabric scraps to mend a garment or create an object of comfort.

Katherine Bell's new book, Quilting for Peace, explores the the stories, social causes, and common threads of making the world a better place one thoughtful stitch at a time. She also includes a plethora of projects and inspiration for reclaiming peace and meaning in our world, using your own two hands and a few basic craft supplies. Below Katherine Bell has generously shared with us the 30 Minute Shopping Bag project from her book.

Purchase Quilting for Peace from Amazon or an independent bookseller.

Project: 30 Minute Shopping Bag

Use recycled fabric or leftover scraps from quilting projects to make this bag extra
eco-friendly. If you want to use small scraps of fabric, read the patchwork instructions at the end of the pattern. Double seams make the bag more durable for heavy groceries, giving it a longer life.

Finished Size:
Approximately 15 4/4" z 16 3/4"

What You'll Need:
- 3/4 yard of 44 inch wide quilting or home decorating weight cotton (preferably recycled)
- Knitting needle or chopstick
- Matching cotton thread

Sewing Instructions:

1. Cut two 18-inch x 20-inch pieces of fabric for the front and back of the shopping bag, and two 18-inch x 4-inch strips for the handles.

2. Fold and press a 1/2-inch hem on one long edge of one handle strip. Fold and press a 1-inch hem on the opposite long edge of this handle strip. Fold and press the side with the narrow hem so it overlaps the side with the wide hem by 1/2 inch (see Diagram A).

3. Edge-stitch the edge of the overlapped hem, and then topstitch 1/4 inch on either side of the ﬁrst seam.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to make the second handle.

5. Working with one of the 18-inch x 20-inch rectangles, fold and press to the wrong side a 1/2-inch hem on one short end. Fold and press this hem edge another 1 1/2 inches to the wrong side. Next position each end of one handle 4 1/2 inches from each side edge of the rectangle and tuck the handle ends under the double-folded hem, snugging them to the base of the hem (the handle will now face into the center of the rectangle), as shown in Diagram B.

Pin the double-folded hem and handle ends in place, and edge-stitch as close to the edge of the hem as you can, taking out the pins as you come to them. Fold the handle up over the hem, and press it in place (see Diagram C).

6. Topstitch a box with an X inside it on each end of the handle, covering the bag’s hem (see Diagram D).

7. Repeat steps 2-6 with the second fabric rectangle and handle.

8. Place the bag’s two sides with wrong sides together and the edges aligned. Sew a 1/4-inch seam along both sides and the boom of the bag, backstitching at the beginning and end of the seam to secure it. Turn the bag wrong side out, using a knitting needle or chopstick to gently push the corners fully out. Press the bag’s edges, and, with a 1/2-inch seam, sew around the three closed sides, again backstitching at the beginning and end of your stitching. Trim any loose threads, turn the bag right side out, and press it again.

Patchwork variation:
Piece together strips or scraps of fabric, and trim your patchwork to create the two -inch x -inch rectangles. Then follow steps 1-8 above to make your shopping bag

Thank you to Katherine Bell and the good people at STC Craft for sharing this project with us. For more ideas on how to improve your world through quilting, check out the website, Quilting for Peace.

More Craftivism Posts | Quilts Category | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide

Come craft with author Katherine Bell at two upcoming events in Brooklyn, NY:

Saturday, November 14 (12-6 p.m.): DIY Design Day at 303 Grand. More details here.

Monday, November 16 (4-8pm): Bag-making Craft Night with Bags for the People at Etsy Labs

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: November 5, 2009

2009-11-05T16:00:00-05:00

“This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.” — Dorothy Parker

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has cozy homes, experimental embroidery, skulls composed of yarn and Red Vines, and a fashionable Etsy seller you should know about.

Read on!

Intricate embroidery always captures my fancy, and these embroidered antique photos by Maurizio Anzeri make for a compelling visual interpretation. The old is new again. [Via Today and Tomorrow]

I instantly fell in love with Nadinoo's spring line when I first saw it: the feather prints, bright tights and styling made it all too irresistible. When I discovered her corresponding Etsy shop...that's when I started to hyperventilate. [Via Greedy Girl]

The light and airy homes highlighted in Tim Clinch's portfolio have that neutral-minimal-primitive mix that is always so enticing. [Via Desire to Inspire]

Skulls, gorgeous skulls! The skull artist, Jim, makes these sculptures from a wide variety of materials. I am fascinated by the many cultural and tribal references evident in his works, as well as the licorice looking skulls. [Via Beautiful Decay]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Come Craft With the Etsy Labs & AMH Design: Needlepoint Gift Tags

2009-11-05T10:30:00-05:00

Why stay in and craft all by your lonesome? Come join us for a free needlepoint workshop — whether you're in Brooklyn or anywhere in the world. Stop by for our weekly Craft Night in our online, interactive classroom, the Virtual Labs, for a live demo via webcam at 5 p.m. ET, or in person at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn anytime between 4-8 p.m. ET at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512 in Brooklyn, New York. (Click here to see what time 5 p.m. ET is in your hometown.) Craft Night is a time to make things, sharpen your craft skills, and make new friends.

This week, on Monday, November 9, we will be making needlepoint gift tags with artist Amy Holbrook of AMH Design. (She is also our neighbor here on Washington Street.) Make your own needlepoint gift tags for the upcoming holiday season. This project is an easy and fun way to learn the basics of needlepoint while making some cute gift tags. Needlepoint adds a personal touch to your gift without a lot of effort!

Amy Holbrook, the founder of AMH Design, is bringing needlepoint into the 21st century with her collection of contemporary needlepoint kits. Easy, stylish, portable and all-inclusive, AMH Design needlepoint kits are perfect for beginner and veteran stitchers alike.

If you are attending Craft Night virtually this week and would like to stitch needlepoint gift tags along with us, you'll need to gather the following supplies:

Perforated paper sheet
Perle cotton floss size 5 (embroidery floss is okay)
Tapestry needle — size 24
Needle threader
Scissors
Colored cardstock paper
X-acto blade
Paper glue
Hole punch
Download the instructions

Upcoming Events at the Etsy Labs:

Saturday, November 7: Sock Monkey Workshop at the Etsy Labs

Join us this weekend for an afternoon of creating original sock monkeys for Fresh Art's Sock Monkey Program.

Fresh Art is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing expanded artistic, personal development, and entrepreneurial opportunities to New York City artists with special needs. The sock monkeys we create this afternoon will be sold to raise funds to support Fresh Art's programs. All skill levels are welcome, though basic hand sewing skills are helpful.

When: Saturday, November 7, 2009; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Etsy Labs at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY

Please RSVP for this free workshop at rsvp@etsy.com or on the Etsy Labs Meetup page.

Additonal Upcoming Events
11/16: Bag-making workshop with Bags for the People
11/23: Rolling Ball Book Ornaments with Esther K. Smith
11/30: Open Craft Night
12/7: Needle-felted Ornaments with KnitKnit

Looking for more holiday craft projects? Try these how-to's:

Felt Garlands | Snowflake Gift Wrap | Holiday Table Decor

Will we see you on Monday? Let us know in the comments below.

DIY Wedding Crafts Contest Winner and Finalists

2009-11-04T14:00:00-05:00

Thanks to all who entered and voted in the DIY Wedding Crafts Contest with Etsy and Martha Stewart Weddings.

After carefully reviewing more than 3200 beautiful entries, a panel of judges from both Etsy Admin and the editors of Martha Stewart Weddings completed a secret ballot judging to select one winner and an additional 19 finalists. The winner and finalists are featured in an exclusive slideshow on Martha Stewart Weddings.

Congratulations to The DIY Wedding Crafts Contest winner, Ashley Anna Brown from fernanimals.etsy.com with her patchwork bird toppers, as seen above.

However, choosing a winner was no easy feat! Here are but a few of the talented finalists.

Better Together Wedding Topper by lollipopworkshop.etsy.com

Handmade Felt Bouquet by nestings.etsy.com

Wedding Sixpence Book by sweetscarlett.etsy.com

Bird House Boutonniere by HeartFelted.etsy.com

To see entries from the rest of the finalists, check out the DIY Wedding Crafts Contest slideshow on Martha Stewart Weddings. Thanks again to all who participated!

Looking for more Handmade Weddings posts? Check out our archive!

Wedding Invites and Favors Guide | Weddings Category | Wedding Attire Guide

How-Tuesday: Rose Petal Tee From Appliqué Your Way

2009-11-03T16:07:00-05:00

Picking through the scrap bins at fabric stores is my cherished scavenging adventure for texture and pattern. In every nook of my craft storage, strips of vibrant textiles bloom forth. When I find projects made for these sweet trims, I'm not only reinventing a T-shirt or a tote bag, I'm also creating something completely new out of my neglected bouquet of materials. Kayte Terry, who has shared many a resourceful embellishing how-to on The Storque, has come out with a new book, Appliqué Your Way. These projects will inspire you to root your way through not just your own pile of discarded cloth, but your neighbor's as well.

Purchase Appliqué Your Way from Amazon or an independent bookseller.

I came to appliqué through my love of fabric and patterns. I adore the contrast of rich velvet on linen or a sweet Liberty print mixed with tweed. My heart goes all aflutter when I score a stack of feed-sack fabrics on eBay or unearth a set of vintage Marimekko curtains at a flea market. Doing appliqué is a way for me to highlight these special fabrics in my work and to play with textures and colors.

The beauty of appliqué is that you can use small amounts of gorgeous fabric to make a statement. It's a great way to use scraps from your other sewing projects or to put old clothing or linens to new use. You can transform everyday clothing and household items into one-of-a-kind works of art with the addition of some simple appliqué. There's really nothing more satisfying than answering the question "Where did you get that?" with "I made it myself!"

While I love the comfort of a T-shirt, sometimes a basic tee just won't cut it. Romantic rose blooms and leaves, also made from T-shirts, gracefully trail down the neckline of this tee. A monochromatic palette makes this tee super sophisticated. Hit up your local thrift store for extra-large men's tees (they give you more fabric to work with) in different shades of one color.

Materials
Boatneck T-shirt
3 T-shirts in assorted shades complementary to the boatneck tee
Quilting ruler
Self-healing cutting mat
Rotary cutter
Pencil
Card stock
Tailor's chalk
Fabric scissors
Sewing machine and thread in complementary colors
Needle and thread in colors to match T-shirts
Straight pins

Make the Flowers and Leaves

1. Use a quilting ruler and work on a cutting mat using a rotary cutter to cut from the assorted T-shirts the following strips of fabric:
One 6" x 24"/15cm x 60cm
Five 3" x 14"/8cm x 36cm
Three 2" x 9"/5cm x 23cm
Note: You may have to sew a couple of strips together to get a 24"/60cm strip.

2. Trace about a dozen leaves onto the assorted T-shirts. Cut with fabric scissors. Mark simple leaf veins on the leaves with tailor's chalk.

3. Set your sewing machine to a straight stitch and sew veins on the leaves, backstitching at the beginning and end.

4. To make the flowers,
a. Thread a needle with a thread color that matches the T-shirt strip. Knot the thread end and set aside.
b. Fold a T-shirt strip in half lengthwise. Holding each end of the strip with your hands, with the folded edge at the top, fold the upper left corner down so that the raw side edge of the strip meets the bottom edge of the strip, forming a 45-degree angle. (See figure 1.)

c. Start rolling the first few inches of the left side of the strip to make the center of the rose. (See figure 2.) Sew through the bottom edges of the flower center to secure.

d. Fold the strip at a 45-degree angle next to the flower center and roll flower center onto the fold. (See figure 3.) Sew bottom edge to secure. Repeat folding the strip, rolling the flower onto fold, and stitching to secure, until there's no fabric left.

e. Tuck the final end of strip under the flower and sew to secure.
f. Repeat all the steps to form flowers from each T-shirt strip.

Assemble the T-Shirt

1. Lay the boatneck T-shirt out on a flat, clean surface. With the T-shirt facing you, pin the largest rose just slightly left of the center of the shirt. Pin two leaves below the rose. With a needle and thread, hand-stitch to the shirt to secure. Remove the pins.
2. Cluster four roses to the left of the large rose and accent with leaves as desired. Pin, hand-stitch to secure, and remove the pins.
3. Pin clusters of leaves trailing up the neckline of the T-shirt to cover the rest of the left side of the neckline. Hand-stitch to secure, then remove the pins.
4. Cluster four roses to the right of the T-shirt in a different formation than the one on the left and accent with leaves as desired. Pin, hand-stitch to secure, and remove the pins.
5. Pin clusters of leaves trailing up the neckline of the T-shirt to cover the rest of the right side of the neckline. Hand-stitch to secure, and then remove the pins.

Thanks to Kayte Terry and the good folks at Chronicle Books for sharing this project with us. For more modern embellishments, check out Appliqué Your Way.

More How-Tuesday Posts | Supplies Category | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide

Coast-to-Coast: Come Rock and Craft With Etsy Labs

2009-10-29T16:33:00-05:00

This week we are pleased to announce crafting events across the United States! Join the Etsy Labs in both Brooklyn and San Francisco (and online!) for free hands-on workshops to kick off a crafty month of November.

So, read on for twice the fun...

Crafting in Brooklyn, NY:

Open Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn, NY

This week we will stitch pincushions with Elizabeth from the band Elizabeth & The Catapult (pictured in the red dress above). The band will perform a very special live acoustic set of songs from their new album, Taller Children, at 6 p.m. ET in the Etsy Labs. For a preview of their music, be sure to listen to the songs streaming on their website.

When: Monday, November 2; drop in any time between 4 to 8 p.m. ET. Live acoustic set at 6 p.m.

Not in Brooklyn? Be sure to tune in to the Virtual Labs at 5 p.m. ET to catch the pincushion demo.

Where: Etsy Labs at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY

A big thanks to Spoonflower for donating the custom printed fabric we will be working with this evening!

Upcoming Events at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn:

11/7: Sock Monkey Workshop (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) with Fresh Art
11/9: Needlepoint with AMH Design
11/16: Bag-making workshop with Bags for the People
11/23: Rolling Ball Book Ornaments with Esther K. Smith

A photo of rawfish from last week's Craft Night at the Etsy Labs.

Crafting in San Francisco, CA:

Student Night + Craft Bar With Etsy Labs at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco

Get off campus and out of the cubicle! Come to the free Student & Young Professionals Night at the Museum of Craft & Folk Art, co-sponsored by Etsy. Join us for Craft Bar with Etsy Labs @MOCFA SF, see the Open Source Embroidery Exhibition, listen to a live performance by Bay Area artist, Beep!, and enjoy tasty refreshments from local artisans. Stroll through the gallery, visit the museum store, relax with your favorite drink, dance to the music or even pick up a new hobby. Crafting sessions are free and all materials will be provided.

Don't live in California? Fear not, MOCFA will also host a live demo of the evening's craft projects via webcam in Etsy's Virtual Labs for all of our faraway friends. If you'll be crafting along with us, be sure to download this knitting pattern.

When: Thursday, November 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. PT

Where: Museum of Craft and Folk Art at 51 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA

Looking for further inspiration?

Handmade Instruments | Handmade Portraits: Armor Guitars | Etsy Finds: Smells Like Teen Spirit

Will we see you on Monday for sewing and singing? Let us know in the comments below.

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 29, 2009

2009-10-29T14:00:00-05:00

"But you see in dealing with me, the relatives didn't know that they were dealing with a staunch character and I tell you if there's anything worse than dealing with a staunch woman... S-T-A-U-N-C-H. There's nothing worse, I'm telling you. They don't weaken, no matter what." — Edith "Little Edie" Beale

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has spacey dyed clothing, illuminating evidence on what folks hold dear, photobooth kookiness and drool-worthy interiors.

Read on!

Mociun is, hands down, one of my favorite up-and-coming designers: the dye techniques, the Navajo prints, the spacey prints and flattering silhouettes are very of the moment. I love the vibe of their fall line, as well as the images by Kara Healey. [Via Slow Progress]

You can tell so much about a person by what they deem important enough to carry. Francois Robert's photographs speak to this notion, showing how much (or little) individuals need to exist. I love the inclusion of the hands. [Via SeeSaw Daily Inspiration]

UK photographer Lucinda Symons has an eye for interiors. These photos make my urge to decorate short circuit. [Via Desire to Inspire]

The photobooth portrait is an indomitable medium that opened up photography to the masses. Within the confines of little more than a curtain enclosed closet, you can be anything your heart desires: the vamp, the weirdo, the mysterious one. View more quirky, sincere and memorable portraits at Square America.

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

How-Tuesday: Gore-Fest 2009 3D Blood Spatter Effect

2009-10-27T14:00:00-05:00

Friend Etsy on Youtube & Blip.tv | Subscribe to Etsy's iTunes Podcast | MP4 Verson

We are so excited to be collaborating with Meg, a.k.a. Enderby, of Threadbanger fame for this creepy-cute Halloween how-to! Horror movie buffs and fans of television's forensic blood splatter analyst (and serial killer) Dexter are sure to be inspired. Here's Meg with all the gory details...

This October, let's take on new and unique creepy Halloween decor instead of the same old orange and black motif. In today's How-Tuesday, Etsy and Threadbanger team up to create a 3-dimensional blood spatter effect. These murder scene recreations are blood-chilling decor, and they make a fun and interactive backdrop for your Halloween party's photo booth. This will surely creep you and your guests out and will go over quite well with the serial killers in attendance.

For this project you will need:

Red felt
Red yarn
A needle (with an eye large enough for the yarn)
Red tacks
Recycled cereal box or cardboard for the template
Pen, chalk and/or pins

Instructions

1. Sketch out the shape of your pool of blood and create a template. If you don't want to draw your own, click on the spatter image on the right to open the full size file in a new window. Right click to download.

2. Using the template as a guide, trace and cut out the pool of blood from your red felt.

3. Cut out 50-80 pieces of red yarn that measure 50 inches long, and tie two knots at one end of each piece. The number of pieces of yarn will be determined by the perimeter of your red felt.

4. One by one, thread and pull through each piece of yarn around the perimeter of the blood pool. The yarn pieces should be about 1 centimeter out from the edge, and 1 inch apart from each other. (Tip: We had a little bowl of water on hand to make threading the needle easier.)

5. Take red tacks, or flat-head metal tacks you painted red, and attach your piece to the wall making sure the edges are flat and that all of the yarn hangs loose.

6. Take the pieces of yarn, and pulling them taut, attach to an old microphone stand or tripod. You can use another piece of your red yarn to tie the pieces together and then to the stand. This acts as the point of contact of the wound that created the bloody scene. Stab away and enjoy!

To see more of Meg's DIY home decor projects, check out Decor It Yourself every Wednesday on Threadbanger.com.

More How-Tuesday Projects

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 22, 2009

2009-10-22T17:48:00-05:00

"I can see beauty where others see ugliness. That either makes me an artist, or a person of very poor taste." — Anonymous

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has an invisible man, mirrors to provoke the mind and challenge the eye, modern interpretations of Renaissance fashion, and youth revisited.

Read on!

When you really stop and think about it, mirrors are like magic. They reflect their surroundings, and looking into them provides an alternate reality. These installations are seemingly simple, but visually stunning. [Via The Look See]

The bristling ice queen is the original femme fatale. I adore this fashion editorial from Dazed and Confused magazine. The creative reinventions of what a duchess might have worn circa Henry VIII's reign carry me away to heights of "Could I actually wear that?" (while slick puffer coats and stacked platforms are inspired additions to the period costuming). I'm also a sucker for poor Yorick. [Via Haute Macabre]

Photo blog My Parents Were Awesome shows off the many inspiring, stylish and amazing young people of yore...before they had children. Wild, young and without a care in the world, it's hard to believe these folks might ever settle down. [Via Rackk and Ruin]

Miu Miu's latest line brings to mind many different reactions: a. CATS! b. naked people! c. I adore this. The collars, the silhouettes, the warm and nubby fabrics: it all completes the picture. [Via Style Rookie]

Look closely. Do you see what I see? Chinese artist Liu Bolin is an invisible man, literally painting himself to blend in to his background. It's a rare sight to see unaltered photographs such as this these days. See the whole set here. [Via Automatism]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Come Craft With the Etsy Labs and Rawfish

2009-10-22T16:16:00-05:00

Bring along any project you'd like to develop during this week's Craft Night. (Might I suggest working on your Halloween costume?) You are also welcome to start a brand new project using our tools and extra supplies, or finish a Craft Night project from a past week.

As a special spin on this month's open Craft Night, Laila of rawfish fame will be on hand with her Lendrum Double Treadle spinning wheel, shown at left. She will demonstrate the twists and turns of a variety of techniques for creating artful handspun yarns throughout the evening.

When: Monday, October 26; drop in any time between 4 to 8 p.m. ET.

Not in Brooklyn? Be sure to tune in to the Virtual Labs at 5 p.m. ET to catch the demo!

Where: Etsy Labs at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY

Upcoming Events at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn:

11/1: Church of Craft meeting
11/2: Sewing Pincushions with Elizabeth & The Catapult
11/7: Sock Monkey Workshop with Fresh Art
11/9: Needlepoint with AMH Design
11/16: Bag-making workshop with Bags for the People
11/23: Rolling Ball Book Ornaments with Esther K. Smith

A photo of from last week's Craft Night at the Etsy Labs.

Looking for further fiber inspiration?

Stella Pixie Hat | Tatami Socks | Frog Suit

Will we see you on Monday? Let us know in the comments below.

How-Tuesday: Spooky Shadow Puppets by Crankbunny

2009-10-21T16:30:00-05:00

MP4 | YouTube | blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

We're resurrecting this eerie project from last year — crankbunny's shadow puppets are still full of dark delight!

[Originally published October 28, 2008.]

This week on Etsy How-Tuesday, Norma, a.k.a. crankbunny, shows us how to make spooky shadow puppets for Hallow's Eve! MUAHAHAH! crankbunny, a talented animator and artist, often works with layers of paper in her projects. Her animated short, "Robot Gets Its Wings," won 2nd place in our Handmade Moment Contest (and garnered the prize of Community Favorite!).

Today's project is about dead guys and cemeteries! crankbunny has provided the templates for making her signature Gravestone Shadow Puppet and Dead Guy Shadow Puppet. You can use these templates, or come up with your own designs — either way you will most certainly have your own spooky Halloween shadow show.

Things you will need for the Gravestone Shadow Puppet:

Download the template and print it out: Gravestone Shadow Puppet Template
Scissors or Craft Knife (Exacto Art Knife)
Rod (can be bamboo skewer, chopsticks, thin wooden dowel, a stick — the longer, the better)
Tape or Glue (non-toxic please)
Stiff Paper (card stock, cardboard, chipboard, etc.)

How to make the Gravestone Shadow Puppet:

Transfer the puppet template onto stiff paper stock.
- Tip: Print out the template on regular paper, use spray adhesive or glue to adhere the print out onto the stiff paper stock.
Cut out the gravestone puppet using scissors and a craft knife. Remember to also cut out the white areas inside the gravestone puppet.
Attach one end of the rod to the dotted area on the gravestone template using glue or tape.
- Tip: Customize the gravestone shadow puppet by cutting away shapes from it.
By making a few of these, each customized and cut differently, you can make an entire cemetery scene.
Project the shadow puppet by shining a flashlight onto it in a dark room.

Things you will need for the Dead Guy Shadow Puppet:

Download the Dead Guy Shadow Puppet Template and print it out:
- Dead Guy Shadow Puppet Template (page 1)
- Dead Guy Shadow Puppet Template (page 2)
Scissors or Craft Knife (Exacto Art Knife)
Rod (can be bamboo skewer, chopsticks, thin wooden dowel, a stick — the longer, the better)
Tape or Glue (non-toxic please)
String (cotton warp, yarn)
2 Brads (paper fasteners)
Hole punch (regular or 1/8th if you want to get specific)
Drinking Straw
Stiff Paper (card stock, cardboard, chipboard, etc.)

How to make the Dead Guy Shadow Puppet:

Transfer the puppet template onto stiff paper stock.
- Tip: Print out the template on regular paper, use spray adhesive or glue to adhere the print out onto the paper stock.
Cut out the puppet parts using your cutting tools. Punch holes over the indicated circles with Xs. Use the punch and cutting tools to create your own eye shape on the puppet's head.
Attach one end of the rod to the dotted area on the puppet's body shape using glue or tape.
Cut a one inch (3cm) piece of straw. Align the end of the straw with the line found on the lower part of the puppet's body shape. Have it rest against the rod vertically and tape it down securely to the puppet.
Cut 2 pieces of string. Each should be 12" (32cm) in length. Tie the end of each string to the outer hole on each puppet arm.
Make a spacer out of some scrap paper. A spacer is basically a small square of cardboard/heavy paper with a wedge cut into its side.
Join the arms to the body of the puppet with a brad using the spacer. Match the arms by each letter, the uppercase letter part always over the lowercase part. Remove the spacer once the brads are fastened. This will make each joint loose.
Run each string through the top of the straw. Make a looped knot to join both strings together. When you pull the end of the strings, the arms should move up. When you release the strings, the arms should move back down.
- Tip: Customize the shadow puppet by cutting away and adding shapes to it. Adding fangs, horns, buck teeth, pirate hats, hooks, top hats, etc. to customize your puppet.
Project the shadow puppet by shining a flashlight onto it in a dark room.
Have a spooky Halloween!

See more how-to videos on Etsy!

More How-Tuesday Posts | Supplies Category | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide

Halloween Decor Guide | Halloween Category

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