Support & Contribute

Sure, getting a paypal donation of any size is always welcome in any size (by sending money to kristinroachoriginals (at) gmail (dot) com and buying kits and such from the shop is really great too! … but there are so many other ways you can contribute to and support Craft Leftovers that don’t involve giving me cold hard cash. (Did I mention that is always welcome, haha)

Moral Support
Leaving comments, emailing me notes and pictures about craft leftovers projects you’ve made, and writing letters. These are the things that really make Craft Leftovers worth it for me. Seriously, this is hard work. It may seem like all fun, and a lot of it is, but I work on average 10+ hours a day writing patterns, doing paper work, emailing, and then other random jobs trying to make enough to keep going. Hearing that you like such and such pattern, or found such and such link inspiring, it really makes it all worth while, like an extra log on my creative fire :)

Pattern Testing:
This is huge for me, just email me and let me know what you would like to test out. All experience levels are welcome. Knitting, crochet, sewing, no-sew, paper crafts. It’s all good. The way it works is I’ll send out a call for pattern testers, the first two people to respond will get a free kit for the pattern, everyone else is welcome to test it, but I can only afford kits to the first two replies. I’ll send on the pdf to anyone else who is interested. The more eyes on each pattern the better.

Submissions:
Guest patterns - are always fun and welcome. Although I can’t afford payment I can give you free marketing for yourself, your blog, your projects. I don’t have any stipulations as to copyright, first publishing rights, or anything like that. You can have posted it in the past on your blog. Anything that you think would fit well with the idea of Craft Leftovers. Scraps of this and that, recycled materials, leftovers and stash materials. Not just sewing, crochet, knitting either, I love hand built projects of any kind. If you want to make a pattern specifically for Craft Leftovers, send me your idea and we can work together to write it out

Book Reviews - Book reviews are great! But unfortunately I can’t get to all the books I would love to review. If you have read a book that you want to share with craft leftovers readers, send me a review and I’ll post it up on the blog. I’ll link back to your site (where you can feel free to post the review there too!).

Interviews - Similar to book reviews, if you know someone that you think CL readers would like to hear from, send me your idea and I’ll say “sound great” or “it’s great but not for Craft Leftovers” and we can take it from there.

Post ideas - Do you have a website/blog/crafter/artist/book/project you think Craft Leftovers readers would love to know about? Do you know someone who does? Send me some links! I’ll spread the word! Would you like me to review, go over, show something specific like “wood turning” “paper filigree” “tapestry weaving techniques”, let me know! I’ll look into anything you would like to learn about. I’m open to suggestions!

Materials:
There are some supplies that I am constantly having to purchase to keep the studio going and any donation of the following would be wonderfully welcome:

Sewing - Sewing thread, all purpose and heavy duty sewing machine needles, zippers, clasps, handles, etc.

Knitting and crochet - yarn (no less than 25g balls) and natural fibers (or no more than 25% synthetic)

General supplies - rotary cutter blades (45 mm), hot glue sticks, Tacky glue, wood glue, staples, X-acto knife blades, utility knife blades

Super wish list - large cutting mat (mine is so tore up), mini rotary cutter, storage unit and door,

Books and magazines:
Reference and continued learning books mainly. They are great to help me learn how to do things “correctly” and write better patterns. Also business books (to help me to get this self employed thing right) and programming books (I’m trying to learn so I can improve the site and maybe, eventually, build one).

I compiled a list on amazon, anything on there would be greatly appreciated. If you have a book on my wish list that is just taking up space, send that my way. Used is preferred actually. Gift subscriptions to craft publications are also really great, they help to keep me up to date and inspired. I’m already subscribed to CRAFTzine, so I’m covered there.

Thank you so much to all of you!

My contact info for submitting:
Craftleftovers@gmail.com

Craft Leftovers
217 Welch Avenue, Suite #101
Ames, IA 50014