I’ve been trying my best to stay the heck away from bad food. I did pretty well not stuffing my face with one hundred cookies over Christmas, but now I’m facing New Years! How do I indulge and celebrate when I’m trying to keep my alcohol at a minimum and […]
Crafty Business
Crafty Business: Kick Starting 2010 with an Up-To-Date Schedule!
The Crafty Business series has been dormant for awhile now so I’ve decided to bring it back just in time for hitting that reset button. Since being self employed entangles work and personal life so much, I’m going to address both sides: establishing a daily schedule you can actually stick […]
journal
Another Mac Update
So this whole Mac dying, then resurrecting has been quite the adventure. And I’m sure you are all really sick of hearing about it, so my last digression from crafty life :) First of all, it really threw my week into chaos. I had to reschedule everything on Monday to […]
journal
My Little Mac Baby is back! WOO!
I have been pretty torn up since I spilt coffee on my macbook yesterday. I went through all the phases of grieving. I was upset with myself. I was upset with the day of lost work and being behind. I cried. I got depressed. I got optimistic and pessimistic and […]
journal
Mourning my MacBook
I’m posting this from Jason’s computer… This morning a tragedy struck our home. I tripped and dumped my coffee right on to the keyboard of my Mac. It clicked off never to be restarted again. Thankfully, Jason has an old PC at the office and we are working on freshening […]
journal
Christmas Leftovers: Save that wrapping paper and ribbon!
I’m excited to announce, that come January 1st, 2010, I am releasing my first ebook: Christmas Leftovers! In great Craft Leftovers form, this book shows you a new way to look at your leftovers, with a focus on Christmas gift giving. I love tearing into gift wrap just as much […]
nosew - patterns & tutorials
How To: Pomanders!
Though I’ve always thought pomanders were a great idea, it wasn’t until yesterday that I actually made my own! It was one of the activities at the Winter Art Camp at the Octagon Center for the Arts. I was invited to stay after my activitiy was over and join in […]
journal
Yule Logs @ the Octagon Art Camp
{Beth is the in the middle here and is the art education director at the Octagon. She’s a super talented resourceful artist and it has been a pleasure getting to know her. She is an Ames C.art member too :) } I love helping with art camps at the Octagon! […]
crochet - destash - patterns & tutorials
Free Crochet Pattern: Lanel’s Mitts
I wear fingerless mittens so my fingers can be fidgety while wearing them and warm. It never fails that while I can use my fingers without gloves, my hands are freaking cold. No more. Taking inspiration from my nerdy star trek loving side, I made fingerless mittens that make my hands feel like Riker’s must have while disguised as a Malcorian.
journal
mixtape Giveaway! We have a winner!
Spreading some of that mixtape lovin’! Amy P stated, “I just hear fabulous stuff about Mixtape everywhere I go!” And now she happily will have her very own copy. Hooray for giveaways! I’ll be back a little later today with a free pattern for fingerless, crocheted mittens. See you soon! Kristin
thrift kitchen
Falling Out of the Kitchen & Falling Back In
Well, I have to admit, I fell out of my Thrift Kitchen. Not only was I eating junk food and fast food on a regular basis, but I also have not been cooking as much as usual. When I did eat at home, it was crap. Chicken or the egg. […]
book review - journal
Drawing and Painting: Crafty Buddies
Do you remember awhile ago how I made the Crafty Buddy embroidery set? And the little freebie thimble guy? Well, I’ve had a lot of fun playing around in the studio lately and wanted to show you what I’ve been up to. I have to say, that I really wouldn’t […]
book review
Mail Day! Goodies to watch for in the Mail!
I am such a sucker for mail of any kind, but when it’s as neat and well put together as these two zines, well… I don’t know how to end that sentence, I guess I’m speechless? Love them! Love mail! Swapping is a load of fun and in exchange for […]
howto - nosew - patterns & tutorials
12 Days of Christmas: Free Advent Calendar
I had so much fun making this little advent calendar. Unfortunately, I didn’t think to make one until Monday! So now you need to get on it and make one today to have it ready to tomorrow ;) It’s a really fun project to do with a friend or your […]
fabric - howto - journal
Playing Around the Christmas Tree: Mini Tree Skirt
I nabbed this super cute piece of Christmas fabric while I was at the Ames C.art Sew n’ Swap. I had entertained many project ideas. This week I finally made the leap and jumped feet first into tree skirt making.
journal
Snow Day: Getting Back to the Studio
I am so happy I live in an apartment right now. You know why? I’m bundled in a quilt with a cup of coffee and eating warm spoon fulls of oat bran with apples and honey. Outside my sidewalks are shoveled and my feet are not even wet. When we […]
journal
Playing with Paper
Lately I have been loving paper crafts. Maybe it’s that you can get a lot done in a short period of time. Or that it combines my love of illustration, xacto knives, and glue of all types. Or that there have just been some really freaking cute projects floating around […]
fabric - patterns & tutorials
Pattern::Sewn Christmas Stocking!
I’ve been in such a holiday crafting mood lately. I need a larger tree–it’s getting loaded down with handmade ornaments. Time to switch to home decor Christmas crafts :) Here’s a free sewn stocking pattern just for you (and for me too!).
thrift kitchen
Thrift Kitchen: Spinach Lasagna Done Right
Over the course of my life I have tried many lasagna recipes. Think of Garfield the cat’s love of lasagna, that’s me. Ever since I was a kid. And spinach lasagna is my favorite. A few weeks ago I finally tried my hand at my own recipe for lasagna. You […]
journal - nosew
A few of my favorite things: Ornaments!
I love making handmade ornaments and this week, the internet craftdom has been ripe with great ornament patterns! Aren’t these just beautiful? The way the fabric is cut up and pinned makes them wonderful for using up scraps. You can get the tutorial on Knitty Gritty Thoughts. This one is […]