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About
I started CraftLeftovers.com back in 2006 as a way to keep myself accountable to using up my leftover craft supplies and ever growing stash. Now four years later, it’s a place for others to find patterns, resources, and inspiration to live their lives creatively too!
I am driven to create, but not to create more waste. From the studio to the kitchen, I make a point to look at what is on hand first before running to the store.
How did Craft Leftovers get started and where did I learn to knit, crochet, and sew? Well…..
The Long Story: My grandma always let me use her sewing machine to make “creations” and had a huge stock of craft supplies that she let me use when I was growing up. As soon as I went to high school I dropped craft like a bad habit, it wasn’t “cool” enough for me. Being a painter, not a seamstress like my grandma, was my dream. But when my grandma passed away I hoarded her supplies, I felt it was my last connection to her. What to do with it? I hadn’t made anything with “craft” supplies in years. I started to teach myself to sew, then crochet. Knitting always alluded me. Enter Jason, my partner. He taught me to knit and that really got things rolling. I started Craft Leftovers shortly after that, I needed a way to keep mine and my grandma’s stash accountable.
My grandma’s influence on my life lasted long after she passed and continues to this day. Art and craft have combined in my life, just like her life. I graduated with a BFA in Painting this past May. I am still working through my grandma’s stash, but with the help of Craft Leftovers, I am making much headway. My sister says that she knows our Grandma would be proud of me. I hope so, I think of her all the time, especially when I have a question that I know she would have an answer for!
Monday are random
I make a point to post, maybe my most recent swap loot or an interview with a friend. Sometimes the newest book that’s inspired me.
Tuesdays are for The Home Redress project.
Most Tuesdays I focus on projects I’m working on for the house. Maybe a round up of the weekend projects I’ve worked on. From painting a mailbox to make it like new all the way to building a chicken coop for our new chickens. A lot of it is projects you can do with what’s on hand to fix up, shape up, and make your living area more enjoyable too.
Wednesdays are focused on Crafty Business.
From shop updates to how I’ve jumped my latest self employment hurtle.
Thursdays are in the Thrift Kitchen.
I’ve always felt that the Thrift Kitchen project was in the same vein as Craft Leftovers – the same thing only applying it to the kitchen. Each Thursday, I’ll take a look in my cupboard and see what I can come up with – then share it with you! Come join me in the kitchen the day before grocery day!
Patterns and project tutorials on Fridays.
Project techniques include just about any crafting technique you can think of. From knitting to woodworking I pretty much just take a look around and say “what do I want to make”, make it, then show you how I did.
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Want to send me a random note in the mail?
I have a mailbox… and fantasies of getting craft leftover related mail, haha.
Questions, Comments, Fun Things :: Mail to:
Craft Leftovers
2321 N. Loop #102
Ames, IA 50010
Email to: kristin (at) craftleftovers (dot) com
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Some other random facts about Kristin Roach:
Living in Ames, IA USA
Bachelor in Fine Arts from Northern Illinois University, Minor in Art History
Participant in The Gas Station Fiber Arts Collaborative project, 2007.
Published works in Knit Scene, Interweave Knits, and Craft Magazine.
Guest designer Button it UP by Susan Beal 2009
Participant in Craftwerk 2.0: New Household Tactics for the Popular Crafts – Jönköpings läns museum, Sweden, 19 September 2009–16 January 2010
Mentioned on: Craft, Crafty Pod, Craft Sanity, One Pretty Thing, Craft Gossip, Whipup, Knitting Crimes and other Adventures, more coming soon, I need to look it up and figure it out and make the lists and link up :)