Category: Handmade column
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 2:34 PMCrayon apron perfect for holiday gift giving
In today's Handmade column Mary Horvath of Lincoln Park shows you how to make an adorable crayon apron for that special little person in your life.
Category: Craft Shows
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 2:39 PMFrost Holiday Craft Show set for Saturday
Frost Middle School PTSA will present it's 33rd annual Frost Holiday Craft Show Nov. 7th.
Featured will be nearly 200 exhibitors. There will be a bake sale and lunch room available.
Show hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and admission is $2. "No strollers, please."
The school is located at 14041 Stark Road, west of Farmington, north of I-96) in Livonia.
Category: Crafting
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 2:29 PMCraft Night Nov. 6th at Merriman Road Baptist Church
Why not spend time crafting with others tomorrow night at Merriman Road Baptist Church?
Take your craft project(s) and meet other crafters at this free craft night for ladies.Light refreshments and tables will be provided. Hours are 6 p.m.-midnight. A quilting demonstration is set to begin at 7 p.m.
Merriman Road Baptist Church is located at 2055 Merriman, south of Ford Road, in Garden City. For more information call (734) 421-0472.
Category: Giveaways
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 1:42 PMBook giveaway helps you 'Design-It-Yourself'
If you've searched high and low for sewing patterns that appeal to your fashion sense and can't seem to find what you're looking for, then "Design-It-Yourself Clothes, Patternmaking Simplified," (Crafts & Hobbies/$29.99) may help you create the one-of-a-kind garments that reflect your style.
The book's author, Cal Patch, a former designer for Urban Outfitters, guides you through the steps for making a pattern. She offers numerous helpful tips throughout the book, like always make a muslim version of the garment before cutting your expensive or vintage fabric, always label your pattern pieces, and how to take exact measurements of your body to design the perfect customized pattern.
Projects featured in the book include instructions for making a T-shirt, an A-line skirt, a button front shirt and pants.
If you'd like a chance to win a copy of "Design-It-Yourself," just email me at jbrown@detnews.com and tell me a little about your sewing projects. Please put the word "clothes" in the subject line, and remember to include your name and address.
Good Luck and Happy Sewing!!!
Category: Quilting
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 12:53 PM'Operation Kid Comfort' hosted by Huron River Quilts Nov. 15th
Here's a fun way to use your quilting skills to help others.
"Quilters and crafters looking to use their skills for a good cause can sign up for Huron River Quilts' Nov. 15th "Operation Kid Comfort" by calling the downtown Milford shop at (947) 570-1129.
Two sessions are available: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-6 p.m.
The project is a national program developed by the Armed Services YMCA that works with local quilting groups to make charity quilts for the children of military parents. The quilts completed on Nov. 15 will be sent by Huron River Quilts directly to a child for the holidays.
The lap-size quilts feature the child's name as well as 10 photos of their military parent and family.
A materials fee of $20 is required for one kit, with additional kits for $15. Each contains 10 pictures, all necessary pre-cut fabric, batting, backing and yarn to tie. Participants only need to bring their sewing machine and standard supplies. Each quilt takes approximately 1.5 hours to make and quilters are welcome to stay for one or both sessions.
'We were looking for a charitable quilting project to participate in, and heard about Operation Kid Comfort from a customer. Anything we can do to help our troops and their families is a wonderful thing,' said Kathy Fournier, co-owner of Huron River Quilts.
Participants must sign up by Nov. 7th to attend the Nov. 15th event, but kits can be purchased anytime from the store. Additionally, non-quilters can sponsor a kit to be completed by a Huron River Quilts volunteer.
'We want to make as many as possible for these children to have at the holidays,' Fournier said.
Huron River Quilts is located at 431 N. Main St. in downtown Milford. Hours of operation for the store are: Mon.-Wed. and Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thurs. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information, or to register for, call (947) 570-1129."
Category: Yarn Works
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 1:17 PMStorewide sale at the Knotted Needle today through Nov. 11th
Put down those knitting needles and hurry on over to the Knotted Needle. To double its space, the shop is moving next door!!!
You can help with the big move by taking advantage of a 30% off sale on all yarn on the store's shelves -- no special orders, all sales final, no holds, no returns, no notions.
The Knotted Needle is currently located at 20237 Mack Ave. in Grosse Pointe Woods. For more information, call (313) 886-2828.
Category: Handmade column
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 3:16 PMNatalie Bandele will help you stick to crafting
Learn how Dearborn resident Natalie Bandele recycles popular product bags/labels into usable items crafted with duct tape in today's Handmade column.
Category: Giveaways
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 3:30 PMLearn to 'Crochet in Color' with this book giveaway
Fiber artist Kathy Merrick, who's been knitting and crocheting for over 30 years, shares some of her most interesting patterns for crocheting with color in "Crochet in Color: Techniques and Designs for Playing with Color" (Interweave Press/$22.95).
Unlike crocheted garments from days gone by, these are soft and drapey because of the exquisite yarns and large size needles she recommends, making them comfortable to wear.
In addition to wearable art, other featured projects include decorative items for the home, like afghans (no, not the kind your grandmother use to make), a pillow, a table topper and even a colorful footstool.
This is the perfect book to help you find ways to use up some of that gorgeous yarn you've been hiding in the attic from family members. Just think, not only will you add to your wardrobe and home decor, you'll be creating more space for collecting more fiber from your favorite yarn shop!!!
If you'd like a chance to win a copy of the book, just email me at jbrown@detnews.com and tell me an interesting story about when you first learned to crochet. Please put the word "crochet" in the subject line, and REMEMBER to include your name and address.
Good Luck!!!
Category: Crafting
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 2:50 PMTwo days at home can be a lot of (crafting) fun!!!
I had a wonderful stay-at-home weekend filled with hours and hours of uninterrupted crafting!
It started early Saturday morning when I finally decided to try my hand at turning a pair of too short (black) jeans into a skirt pieced with black, brown and ivory mudcloth. I'm quite pleased at the results; I just need to decide on the length for the hem which I plan to leave with a frayed edge. This was a project I'd been meaning to do for over a year. I can't wait to do another one.
Then yesterday, I started knitting a black wool vest with yarn I found in my stash. I ended the day by working on a crochet project which I plan to write about in an upcoming Handmade column, probably in early December.
Hmmm, could there be such a thing as too much crafting in 48 hours?
Happy Crafting!!!
Category: Material Things
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 11:39 AMDetroiter Richie Campbell shows how to create art with knotted fabric
Last Friday's Handmade column features artist Richie Campbell of Detroit who demonstrates a fun and exciting way to turn old or unwanted fabric into works of soft-sculptured art.
