Blog posts by category: Crafting
Category: Crafting
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 12:49 PMEnjoy The Art Experience in Pontiac
Learn to make altered books, fabric postcards, artist trading cards and more, all at The Art Experience, located at 175 S. Saginaw St. #109 in Pontiac. For more information, call (248) 706-3304 or visit their website.
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: 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: Crafting
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Fri, May 29, 2009 at 2:22 PMFree classes available to unemployed at My Craft Room!!!
I recently received the following information:
Troy, Michigan, May 27, 2009 -- In an effort to give something back to the community that has so generously supported them for the past 6 years, My Craft Room is offering special free classes to anyone who has lost their job within the last 12 months. This offer also applies to those whose spouse may have become unemployed within that same period. All materials are provided for each class which include:
Card Making, Thursday, June 11th, 5-6 p.m.
Knitting Part 1, Tuesday, June 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Part 2, Tuesday, June 30, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jewelry Making, Wednesday, June 24, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Those attending the cardmaking class will go home with more paper, envelopes, ink and a rubber stamp to make additional cards. Knitters will be given yarn and needles to use during class that they may also take home. Jewelry makers are invited to return to the store anytime during the following month to use the store's tools.
Those interested in participating should reserve their space by calling My Craft Room at (248) 879-3360. Proof of unemployed status will be requested.
My Craft Room considers itself a crafter's boutique of supplies and inspiration and offers more than just a little bit of many popular items. For beaders, there is Bali silver and Swarovski crystal. Knitters love the Plymouth, Brown Sheep, Tahki/Stacy Charles, Muench, and Debbie Bliss yarns. Paper crafters will find rubber stamps and all the goodies, stencils (Dreamweaver, Lasting Impressions), and scrapbooking materials (Basic Grey, My Little Yellow Bicycle, My Mind's Eye).
Day and evening classes are offered on a wide variety of subjects.
My Craft Room is located on the northeast corner of Rochester & Square Lake Roads in Venus Plaza (6020 Rochester Rd) in Troy.
Category: Crafting
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 11:19 AMBe part of the 'Crafternoon' book giveaway
Looking for ways to enjoy creating arts and crafts with friends? If so, "Crafternoon, A Guide to Getting Artsy and Crafty with Your Friends All Year Long" (Simon Spotlight Entertainment/$16.95) by Maura Madden is filled with fun ideas and even a few recipes for tasty snacks to serve.
Projects are presented in a month-by-month order and often include items reflecting that month's holiday(s). For instance, chapter two, "February, Love in the Crafternoon" includes love-related projects -- making a heart, putting together a collage of vintage Valentines, and using a fabric pen and puffy paint to decorate a pair of underwear. The month of March is devoted to a "charitable crafternoon" whereby you make things like a "group hug blanket." What a clever way to introduce ideas for creating arts and crafts with or without friends!
If this book sounds like something you'd be interested in, then just email me at jbrown@detnews.com for your chance at winning a copy. Please put the word "Crafternoon" in the subject line, and remember to include your name and address.
Good Luck and Happy Crafting!!!
Category: Crafting
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 3:49 PMKnitting with City Knits and the DSO returns
From City Knits:
"Again, our friends at Orchestra Hall in Detroit are offering you an elegant musical interlude on selected Sunday afternoons with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
On the following dates: Sun., Nov. 2 and Nov. 23. Performances start at 3 p.m. You can knit with your friends and the DSO for nearly half the face value price of a ticket. A special setting has been reserved for us under lights at the rear of the main floor.
Purchase your tickets at least two weeks in advance directly from Chuck Dyer (at)(313) 576-5130 at the DSO.
Wooden needles a must, and mindless projects advised. And, again your ticket stub is good for 20% off at any City Knits Detroit location for the week immediately following the performance.
Contact information -- Fisher: (313) 872-9665; Mt. Clemens: (586) 469-9665; Guardian: (313) 965-9665."
Category: Crafting
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Fri, Sep 5, 2008 at 11:55 AM'Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Fort Gratiot Store Unveils New Look'
This just in from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, the leading fabric and craft specialty retailer in America, will reveal a newly remodeled store in Fort Gratiot, MI on Sept. 11, 2008. In addition to the wide selection of fabrics for apparel, crafting, quilting and home decorating that customers expect from Jo-Ann, this refreshed location will offer an expanded assortment of crafting, floral, and seasonal products, and finished home-decor items. With brighter lighting and a new layout, it will be easy for local creative enthusiasts to find merchandise and inspiration for projects ranging from scrapbooking, sewing and knitting, to beading, cake decorating and more.
The 20,000-square-foot store is located at 4405 24th Avenue in Fort Gratiot. The Remodel Celebration will begin Sept. 11th and run through Sept. 13th, with doors opening at 9 a.m. each day. During the celebration, the first 100 guests each day will receive a free Jo-Ann gift card. And, beginning at noon on September 11-13, guests who spend $25 or more will receive a free Jo-Ann tote bag, while supplies last.
"We are excited to offer the Fort Gratiot community a remodeled Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store that offers the wide array of fabrics, sewing and craft items that we are known for in an easy to shop location," said Darrell Webb, chairman and CEO for Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. "Our hope is that customers will come into the Fort Gratiot store and feel inspired by our selection, impressed by our new look and pleased with our team members' knowledge and helpful service."
(For additional information, visit their website).
Category: Crafting
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Wed, Aug 9, 2006 at 10:12 AMShop For Beads at Summer Jewelry Sales
Well, I'm still very excited about my recent find at a jewelry sale the other day! Like a magnet, I was suddenly drawn from the other side of the store to the sign that read "25% Off Already Reduced Prices." After catching my breath, I found, beneath the sign, leftover jewelry items from the store's spring and summer collection.
As a beader, I've learned in recent years to take advantage of such sales because you can find unusual beads, rarely found in bead shops, at ridiculously low prices. I don't mean acrylic beads, but those made from natural elements, like wood, shells (sea and cowrie), mother of pearl and bone. If you're really lucky, you may even find jewelry with solid brass beads and findings. You'll also want to be on the look out for jewelry made with glass beads. If you're a somewhat experienced beader, you shouldn't have any problem recognizing these types of beads from their weight, texture and appearance. They make perfect filler beads for semi-precious stone jewelry designs, and can be used as an inexpensive way to add to your growing bead collection.
Well, in case you're wondering what my purchase was at the sale, it was three beaded necklaces, two had about 20-millimeter bone beads combined with quarter-inch thick bone rectangle beads over an inch long. I've never seen anything like them in the bead stores where I shop. The other necklace was made with much smaller bone and about four-millimeter silver-look beads. I got all three for less than $22 !!! Unfortunately, there were only three of these necklaces on the rack.
I couldn't wait to get home to cut them apart and create an entirely different look. I combined the bone and silver-look beads from the two different necklaces with eight-millimeter crystal (clear) beads from my collection to make a 32-inch-long necklace. Since I haven't learned to use crimp beads (please see my Aug. 5th entry), it's the kind of necklace you put on over your head. Oh, don't laugh, it's on my list of things to learn.
Now, I have one more large beaded necklace which I can't wait to redesign with a more colorful look. I'm thinking amber, amethyst or jade, along with maybe several brass abija beads.
The sale was at a chain store, so I'll be on a mission this weekend looking for several more of these necklaces at different locations.
Category: Crafting
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Sat, Aug 5, 2006 at 7:15 AMAfter-Five Jewelry-Making Book Giveaway
For the past couple of years, I've dabbled in the art of jewelry-making, using memory wire to make chunky, beaded bracelets. It's fun and easy because I don't have to fuss with tiny crimp beads and closures. I'll admit, every now and then, I get the urge to design bracelets and necklaces with closures, but the thought of using crimp beads makes me crazy.
When it comes to my choice of beads, I like semi-precious stones in earthtones and unusual shapes. I love to combine them with crystals and charms. While some of my bracelets are a bit on the dressy side, most are what you'd call casual chic and just plain fun to wear.
If you're a jewelry-maker, maybe most of your creations are more elegant, and lean toward what we baby boomers use to call "after-five," something worn only during evening hours for a night out on the town. And maybe the thought of using crimp beads doesn't leave you feeling nauseous. You've mastered it, and now life as a jewelry designer is wonderful. Well, if that's the case, and you've room for just one more jewelry-making book, you might want to email me at jbrown@detnews.com for a chance at winning a copy of "Glamorous Beaded Jewelry, Bracelets, Necklaces, Earrings and Rings" (Creative Homeowner/$19.95) by M.T. Ryan. Please include your name and address, and put the words "beaded jewelry" in the subject line.
With More than 175 color photographs, the book gives a lot of information on making jewelry using chains, wire, ribbon, pearls, crystals and teardrop-shaped stones. It also includes instructions for making unusual rings with center-drilled stones and circles of wire wound together. These look absolutely fabulous.
Good Luck, and Happy Beading!
Category: Crafting
Posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Thu, Aug 3, 2006 at 11:07 AM"Alternative Crafters" Featured At Fair Aug. 5
Handmade has become a hot new trend with everything from clothes and jewelry to rugs and pottery. Manufacturers try to imitate the look, but it's just not the same as the original, hands-on creation by an artist or crafter.
If you're big on that handmade, one-of-a-kind look, then you might want to be there for the inaugural Detroit Urban Craft Fair, scheduled for Saturday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave. in downtown Detroit.
Presented by Handmade Detroit, "a crafty collective for anyone who adores hip, handmade goods," the craft fair serves as an outlet for "alternative crafters" to sell their goods. For sale will be a variety of handmade items, including hand-stitched clothing, jewelry, soaps, glassware, wallets, silk-screen neckties, room dividers and cards.
The fair features 50 vendors, most from Southeastern Michigan, and several from such areas as Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Kalamazoo, Chicago, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Montreal.
The fair is free and open to individuals of all ages. For more information, visit the fair's website, or call (248) 835-6982.
