Craftsanity

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Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-11-11T04:43:03-05:00

I am in the process of moving my web site..... the web site will still be craftsanity.com ... so check back at craftsanity.com later. Email me if you are having trouble.

CraftSanity Episode 41 A Chat with Quilter Weeks Ringle

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-11-03T19:11:58-05:00

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In this episode of CraftSanity, Weeks Ringle, 45, of Oak Park, Ill., shares the story of how she launched a home-based contemporary design studio called FunQuilts with her husband and business partner, Bill Kerr.

Together Weeks and Bill design and make quilts for individuals and galleries, They’ve co-authored three quilting books and travel around the country teaching and lecturing on quilt design. They have also designed more than 100 fabrics for FreeSpirit. Look for their new Mendhi fabric designs for FreeSpirit (pictured at the top of the page) at your local quilt shop by mid-December, or find them here.

And perhaps even more impressive than their beautiful quilts is the commitment Weeks and Bill have to serving their community. They could easily make more money than they do, but instead donate quilts to charity organizations and fundraising efforts. For every 10 quilts they sell, they donate one to charity.

And few quilters can say they've created jobs in their community, but that's exactly what Weeks and Bill did when they designed the "Many Hands Blankies" (pictured below). These quilts are made by developmentally disabled adults at a vocational training and job center in Chicago. The sale of the quilts keep adult workers creatively employed.

Read Weeks regular posts on the whipup.net website. The site is fabulously addictive and wonderfully inspiring. It's all about "handcraft in a hectic world," and a place for artists and crafters to share ideas and pass along information.

Get your quilting fix. Here's the link to the quilt block swap I belong to. It's fun. Check it out.

This week's project is a lovely FunQuilts pattern called "Between the Lines" that you can try out at home. Download the pdf. (Thanks Weeks!)

This Week's Contest: THREE lucky CraftSanity listeners will win a copy of “Color Harmony for Quilts” donated by the authors. It's and great guide for rookie and experienced quilters wanting to learn more about quilt design.

Please type “quilt contest” in the subject line of your e-mail and include your mailing address so we can get the book to you if you win.

You can enter to win a couple different ways.

1) E-mail a photo of a finished quilt, quilt block or work in progress to Jennifer@craftsanity.com. (The idea is to create an inspiring photo gallery or quilts and fabrics. I’ll post your entries on CraftSanity.)

2) Or, if you have never quilted before but want to learn, send me a sentence or two about why you’d like to learn.

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday Nov. 14. Abby, CraftSanity’s Vice President of fun, will randomly select three winners.

CRAFTY NEWS:
Calling all AntiCrafters! The AntiCraft staff scored a book deal and is collecting project submissions. Click here to check out this goth style craft web magazine and here for submission details. (Congrats Renee and Zabet!)

Congrats to Anu of Lake Park, Fla. You were randomly selected to win a free copy of "Our Lady of Weight Loss" by last week's guest Janice Taylor. Check out Anu's artwork.

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley. Or, buy a CraftSanity T-shirt or button.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

CraftSanity Episode 40 Janice Taylor Tells Us How to Craft Ourselves Thin

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-10-27T09:52:12-04:00

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Win this book; see details below!

Diets and support meetings didn't work for Janice Taylor.

So when she heard a wise voice in her head, she listened to it and turned her obsession with food into an art form. She began making delicious foods the focus of her art instead of her dinner plate. Today she refers to the voice as "Our Lady of Weight Loss," the muse that inspired her to creatively shed 50 pounds and invent a new profession for herself as a weight-loss artist.

Tune in to this week's show to hear how Janice, a "woman of a certain age" living in New York City, set to work crafting off the pounds. Janice, now an author, weight-loss artist and weight-loss coach, has a fantastic sense of humor, so prepare to burn some calories as you laugh and craft along to her story.

Her first piece of weight-loss art was "Ms. Red Pepper," a selection from her sexy vegetable series. Below is one of her more recent creations, an impressive work created with stained glass.

ENTER THE DRAWING TO WIN a copy of "Our Lady of Weight Loss." All you have to do is make a piece of weight-loss or food-related art and e-mail Jennifer a photo of it along with your name and mailing address. The deadline is Thursday, Nov. 2. Abby, CraftSanity's V.P. of Fun, will randomly select the name of the winner from a hat. Entries will be posted on CraftSanity. Have fun and good luck! (Thanks to the publisher, Viking Studio, for donating the book.)

This week's project is a fun measuring tape bracelet how-to from Janice's book. Don't stress over measurements when you can accessorize!

Need a little extra motivation to stay on track? Don't worry Janice has your back. Sign up to recieve her weekly newsletter for fun and inspiration.

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley. Or, buy a CraftSanity T-shirt or button.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

CraftSanity Episode 39 Meet Handbag Designer Laura Buzard

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-10-20T11:14:25-04:00

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Before Laura Buzard created her own line of Laura Bee Designs handbags and opened a fabulous store and working studio in Seattle, Washington, she was crafty woman with a dream. Now she's a successful business owner specializing in custom designs made from fabrics customers select from her stash.

Tune into this week's show to hear the story of how the little girl in the photograph has progressed from sewing on a toy machine with Grandma Doris to running a fun and inspiring business that caters to every woman in search of the perfect handbag.

This week's project is a fabulous tutorial by Laura that will help you become a better designer and make color selections with ease. Download the PDF.

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley.
Or, buy a CraftSanity T-shirt or button.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

CraftSanity Episode 38: The Making of a Glass Bead with Nancy Puffer

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-10-13T12:05:21-04:00

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This week the CraftSanity podcast visits the home studio of Grand Rapids, Michigan glass artist Nancy Puffer. She's a 49-year-old stay-at-home mom turned artist who makes the vibrant beads she uses to make fantastic one-of-a-kind jewelry. Tune in to hear how she fell in love with lampwork and how it's changed her life. (She made all the beads in the photo above.) Click here to see what she created during the taping of this show.

Click below out to see Nancy's work and view some of her favorite glass bead havens:
www.nancysellsglass.com

www.wetcanvas.com

www.lampworketc.com

www.justbeads.com

www.beadandbutton.com

CRAFTY ANNOUNCEMENT: The West Michigan Bead Expo III that Nancy organizes is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids. Admission is $3. I hope to see you there!

Photos by Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley.
Or, buy a CraftSanity T-shirt or button.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

CraftSanity Episode 37: Natalie Zee Introduces MAKE magazine's CRAFTty little sister

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-10-06T22:59:49-04:00

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Believe the hype. CRAFT magazine will rock your craft room.

First, they brought us MAKE, the quarterly DIY magazine for people who can't stop tinkering around with the technology in their lives. Now the creative minds at O'Reilly Media, Inc. have answered our crafty call with a sister, publication called CRAFT that's all about "transforming traditional crafts."

The CRAFT staff successfully created a crafty buzz for the new publication billed as the first projects-based publication of it's kind, and it's likely to satisfy the growing legions of DIYers caught up the alternative craft movement.

From knitted robots to embroidered skateboards and a programmable LED tank top, this magazine aims to push readers to craft way outside the box. One of my favorites is a knitting project that involves drilling holes into a pair of high heels to create these deceptively comfy-looking "Groovy Boots" (left) stitched onto a pair of old high heels.

This week's episode of CraftSanity features a conversation with Natalie Zee, the associate editor of CRAFT magazine and writer of the publication's blog. Zee, 33, of San Francisco, is a crafter, fashion trend spotter and tech expert. Check out her books, her personal blog and her her flickr gallery. We chat about CRAFT and crafting and how you can get your work into this fine publication.

CRAFT magazine is headed to a newsstand near you Oct. 17. The only bad news is it's quarterly, so we're going to have to wait a little while for Issue 2.

THIS WEEK'S PROJECT: Learn how to make a cell phone charm in this tutorial Natalie wrote for the MAKE blog. A similar project appears in the premier issue of CRAFT.

"HIP TO STITCH" WINNER'S: Two lucky stitchers won autographed copy of Melinda's "Hip to Stitch" book courtesy of Interweave Press. Abby, CraftSanity's 2-year-old vice president of fun, randomly selected the names of two lucky stitchers from entries we mixed up in her jack-o-lantern pail. Tune in to this week's show to see if you won. Visit the gallery of entries here.

CRAFTY ANNOUNCEMENT: The West Michigan Bead Expo III is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 14 at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids. Admission is $3. Maybe I'll see you there!

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley.
Or, buy a CraftSanity T-shirt or button.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

CraftSanity Episode 36: The Story of Etsy

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-09-29T19:16:20-04:00

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It started with this guy, Rob Kalin (left), and his big idea to create an online marketplace where handmade goods could be bought and sold. Some thought it couldn't be done. But Rob assembled a crack team of dedicated programmers, coders and designers and made Etsy happen.

The site launched on June 18, 2005 and has been growing rapidly ever since, boasting roughly 90,000 registered users and more than 160,000 items sold to date.

On this episode of CraftSanity, Etsy's PR and marketing guru Matt Stinchcomb, former guitarist for the French Kicks, takes us behind the scenes of this rapidly growing, online craftopia.

Tune in to find out how Rob teamed up with Chris Maguire, Haim Schoppik and Jared Tarbell (pictured left to right below) and built Etsy from scratch and hear how a seven-person staff now keeps it running 24-7.

Etsy artists and crafters can reach a global market without leaving their homes, meanwhile those in the buying spirit can sort through the shop's roughly 200,000 items by color, date and category. Customers can also request custom goods.

If you make stuff, or like to purchase handmade goods from people who do - tune in for the inspiring story of how the creative minds at Etsy are using technology to empower DIYers around the globe.

PROGRAM NOTE: This week's podcast begins with the voice of Gus Reyes, an Etsy seller and one of Rob Kalin's biggest fans. I met Gus at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair in August. The wood rings he makes are beautiful, but don't take my word for it. Stop by his Etsy shop and see for yourself.

WIN A COPY OF MELINDA BARTA'S "HIP TO STITCH" BOOK!!! Two lucky stitchers will win an autographed copy of Melinda's "Hip to Stitch" book courtesy of Interweave Press. E-mail me a photo of your favorite embroidery project and get in the random drawing. The deadline for submissions is Monday Oct. 2. Please include your name and address with your entry. Project photos will be posted on CraftSanity.

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley.
Or, buy a CraftSanity T-shirt or button.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

CraftSanity Episode 35 Stitchin' with Melinda Barta

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-09-22T10:30:57-04:00

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"First Decade," detail shot of a work in progress by Melinda Barta. The piece is a postcard-sized documentary of the first 10 years of her relationship with her husband. This is the camping scene.

Tune in for this week's chat with Melinda Barta, 26, of Fort Collins, Colo.The author of "Hip to Stitch: 20 Contemporary Projects Embellished with Thread," Melinda will share the story of how she landed her crafty gig as an assistant managing editor at Beadwork and Stringing magazines published by Interweave Press.

You may want to have your embroidery supplies nearby because after you hear from Melinda you just might find yourself itchin' to get stitchin'.

Above is a picture of a table runner Melinda stitched for Piece Work's March/April 2006 issue. Photo by Joe Coca, used courtesy of Interweave Press.

Melinda made this embroidered knitted hat that will be pictured in Interweave Knit's Holiday Gifts on newsstands Oct. 17.

Melinda loves the outdoors and often retreats to the mountains. Here Melinda is pictured in front of Mt. Evans, the where she once led nature walks at 14,000 feet.

WIN MELINDA'S BOOK!!! Two lucky stitchers will win an autographed copy of Melinda's "Hip to Stitch" book courtesy of Interweave Press. E-mail me a photo of your favorite embroidery project and get in the random drawing. Never embroidered before? No problem. Give the project below (or another design of your choice) a try. Snap a photo and The deadline for submissions is Monday Oct. 2. Please include your name and address with your entry. Project photos will be posted on CraftSanity.

This Week's Project: Here's a sneak peek inside Melinda's book. The folks at Interweave Press are letting us post her velvet ribbon embroidery project. This is a simple way to add a special touch to a homemade gift. Enjoy! Here is the pdf to download.

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley.
Or, buy a CraftSanity T-shirt or button.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

CraftSanity Episode 34 Get your Knit Fix with Lisa Kartus

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-09-13T15:03:21-04:00

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When Lisa Kartus makes a knitting mistake, she revels in it. Tune in to this episode of CraftSanity to hear how this financial reporter turned knitting writer has emerged on the crafty scene with her debut kniitting book "Knit Fix: Problem Solving for Knitters"

Drop a stitch or cross your cables in the wrong direction? No problem, Lisa is here to help. Her book is a wonderful resource for DIYers looking to repair those annoying knitting mistakes and get on with their stitching. Lisa, 53, of Wheaton, Ill., details a variety of common knitting mistakes and their remedies. This is a great book to read, then keep on hand for those inevitable knitting emergencies.

Check out the rest of Lisa's"Get Your Knit Fix" Blog Tour.

WIN LISA'S BOOK!!!

WIN A COPY of "Knit Fix: Problem Solving for Knitters" courtesy of the folks at Interweave Press. All you have to do is e-mail me a photo and brief desciption of your knitting problem by 5 p.m. Sept. 19. I'll enter your name in the random drawing and forward your knitting problem on to Lisa, and she'll consider it for a possible write up on her website www.knitmaven.com,

Starting in October, she’ll also broadcast and discuss this weekly knit fix on Cast-On: A Podcast for Knitters, hosted by Brenda Dayne. (Brenda was featured on CraftSanity episode 22.)

We Have "Sweet" Challenge Winners!
We have four winners for collage artist Claudine Hellmuth's books. Check out the gallery of fabulous entries and see who won!

Get your craft on at the Renegade Craft Fair from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 16 & 17 at Chicago's Wicker Park.

CraftSanity Episode 33 Samplin' Crafty Goodness with Marie Kare

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-09-09T10:06:25-04:00

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Looking for an easy way to get the word out about your crafty creations? You're in luck! On this episode of CraftSanity we're going to meet the one and only Marie Kare, the brilliant creator of the Sampler, a marketing and promotional tool designed to help indie business folks get exposure.

Since 2004, artists, crafters, zine makers, record labels and other creative entities have been shipping samples of their products to Marie, 28, of Sacramento, Calif. She photographs the samples to post on her website and then packages them up to ship off to subscribers, other Sampler contributers and the media.

Tune in for a fun chat with Marie (pictured to the left from a few years ago) honoring the second birthday of the Sampler, then head over to her website and see what you've been missing. Whether you have a crafty business or indie band to promote, or you just like the idea of getting cool stuff in your mailbox -- the Sampler is a crafty venture worth supporting. Is there really anything better than getting crafty goodness delivered straight to your door? Subscriptions are free for contributors, so it's a fun way to promote your business and enjoy samples from your crafty peers.

Be sure to read Marie's fun interviews with movers and shakers of the crafty world and check out some fab how-tos submitted by some fantastic crafters. And find out how to contribute and subscribe here.

WARNING: The Sampler IS VERY ADDICTIVE. Marie and Jennifer are not liable if you end up drooling on your front porch, awaiting delivery of your next Sampler. So, please Sample responsibly, folks.

This Week's Project: As a crafty haiku expert, Marie was kind enough to share this impressive how-to written in, you guessed it, haiku.

WIN FREE BOOKS! There's still time to enter the giveaway for one of collage artist Claudine Hellmuth's books, The folks at North Light Books have kindly donated copies of both Claudine's fabulous books for a CraftSanity giveaway, so don't miss your chance to win one of four prizes.

Bust out your craft supplies and take Claudine's 20-minute quick challenge. Make a piece of art in the medium of your choice (collage, knit, felt, sew, crochet, quilt, sculpt, whatever... ) inspired by the word "SWEET" and e-mail it to me along with your name, address and anything you'd like to say about your entry. Abby, a.k.a. CraftSanity's 2-year-old vice president of fun, will randomly select four lucky winners. Entries will not be judged, but celebrated in a gallery posting on this website.

The deadline is 12 p.m. EST, Monday, September 11. (Since this podcast posting was late, I'll let a the stragglers sneak in their entries if they arrive in my in-box by Tuesday.) So get to it! Have fun and good luck!

Get your craft on at the Renegade Craft Fair from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 16 & 17 at Chicago's Wicker Park.

CraftSanity Episode 32 Collage Fun With Claudine Hellmuth

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-08-31T13:40:51-04:00

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Laughter comes easy for Claudine Hellmuth, 31, a mixed media collage artist and author living the ultimate creative life in Orlando, Fla. Her humorous and whimsical artwork is fantastic, with her latest pieces including collage scenes featuring back and white photos. (Above are some of her recent commissioned pieces.) She travels the country teaching art workshops and makes art, including several commissioned pieces, in her home studio.

Claudine has worked very hard to make a life for herself as a professional artist and the cool part is she’s willing to tell us how she did it. In this episode, Claudine is going to share the story of how she became a professional artist. She’ll also share some tips about finding your artistic voice.

She’s written two books “Collage Discovery Workshop” and “Collage Discovery Workshop: Beyond the Unexpected.” She has also produced two instructional DVD’s. Her work has been featured in fine art poster designs, in numerous magazines, and her designs have been fashioned into fun rubber stamps and scrap-booking supplies.

Check out Claudine’s web site, blog, and podcast.

This Week's Project & CraftSanity Giveaway: This week I'm going to bribe you to get crafty. The folks at North Light Books have kindly donated copies of both Claudine's fabulous books for a CraftSanity giveaway, so don't miss your chance to win one of four prizes. Bust out your craft supplies and take Claudine's 20-minute quick challenge. Make a piece of art in the medium of your choice (collage, knit, felt, sew, crochet, quilt, sculpt, whatever... ) inspired by the word "SWEET" and e-mail it to Jennifer along with your name, address and anything you'd like to say about your entry. (Tune in to this week's episode for more info.) Abby, a.k.a. CraftSanity's 2-year-old, vice president of fun, will randomly select four lucky winners. Entries will not be judged but celebrated in a gallery posting on this website. The deadline is 12 p.m. EST, Monday, September 11, so get to it! Have fun and good luck!

CrafSanity Episode 31 Rhonda Simmons Introduces Us to "Art in a Box"

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-08-23T12:54:47-04:00

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Rhonda Simmons is a 43-year-old artist living in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada where she documents life with plaster castings and empowers other women to celebrate themselves in their own artistic ways. And it's Rhonda's whimsical spirit that led her to convert feminine hygiene dispensers into colorful "Outsider Art in a Box" dispensers. Who would of thought those dispensers could ever be so fun?

Tune in for our chat about art parties, body casting, using art as therapy, artist trading cards and art vending.

Rhonda sells body casting kits. Below is one of her embellished creations.

After you listen to the show check out Rhonda's "Altered Anything" and art vending sites. Rhonda is going to be starting and "Outsider Art in a Box" subscription soon, so be sure to contact her through her website if you're interested. You'd be getting cool stuff like these samples she send me.

This is the box the art comes in.

I got a chalk board necklace by Rhonda, a mini-watercolor painting by Rachel Daws and a coffee condom by Kathy Braun.

Check out these other art vending sites:

Art-o-mat
Button-o-matic
Hayvend
vendart.org

This week's project is an artist trading card how-to from Rhonda.

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley. Or, buy a CraftSanity T-shirt or button.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

CraftSanity Episode 30 Knitting Author Melanie Falick Tells Her Story

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-08-16T13:27:04-04:00

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Since her debut book “Knitting in America” captivated a new generation of knitters in the mid-'90s, legions of yarn loving fans have grown to recognize Melanie Falick’s name on the front of a book as a symbol of quality. Like so many others, I’ve collected and enjoyed her books over the years. Therefore, I'm especially pleased to feature a conversation with her on this week’s show.

Melanie didn’t disappoint this long-time fan and she’ll likely engage you, too. We talked about how she got her start as a writer, knitter and editor and how this crafty combination of skills led her to her current gig as the editorial director for Stewart, Tabori & Chang (STC) Craft Melanie Falick books.

The former editor of Interweave Knits, Melanie, 43, lives with her husband and son in Beacon, New York. Tune in for an insider's view of the publishing world and hear some valuable advice about becoming the next best-selling crafty author. Should you get an agent, or fly solo through book contract negotiations? Check out the podcast for some great advice.

Two clarifications from Melanie
* During the interview Melanie said she wrote an article for Interweave Knits on knitting in the Orenburg region of Russia. She remembered later that she wrote that story for Piecework, another Interweave magazine.
* In the beginning, Melanie talked about STC's kids craft series. She mentioned "Kids Weaving" and "Kids Crochet," but she wants you to know there's a third book "Kids Embroidery", which she does mention at the end of our chat.

Recognize these? If you knit, you probably have a couple of Melanie's lovely knitting books on your shelf.

* Photo of Melanie Falick courtesy of STC Craft.

Coming Soon: Check back later for this week's project.

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley. Or, get some cool CraftSanity gear.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

CraftSanity Episode 29 Three Weavers Converge

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-08-09T19:41:23-04:00

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Tune in for three perspectives on a fabulous art form.

(From left) Jane Patrick, Richard Ashford, Nilda Callanaupa)

Sometimes the craft gods smile upon us and we just have to soak it all up. That's exactly what I did when Convergence 2006, the Handweavers Guild of America international convention, made a stop in Grand Rapids, Mich. last month. I grabbed my recording equipment and headed downtown to tape some mini-interviews with weaving enthusiasts from around the globe.

Nilda Callanaupa weaves to preserve history. As the founder and director of The Center for Tradicional Textiles of Cusco, Peru, she is on a mission to celebrate and pass on the 2,000-year-old weaving traditions still practiced in villages where Andean weaving traditions documenting the weavers' connection to nature have been handed down for generations.

In 1996, Nilda, 46, established the non-profit organization to encourage the survival of the region's rich Incan textile traditions. Nilda is an accomplished weaver, who like the weavers she teaches, can weave and knit beautiful complex designs from memory. Below Nilda's assistant, Maria Ester Quispe, 30, is knitting an amazing piece without the benefit of a pattern.

Nilda will be leading an Andean Textile Tour of Cusco, Peru from April 28 to May 12, 2007, so check out the details. And you can purchase the amazing textiles of weavers organized by her weaving center via this site.

* * * * *

Next, Richard Ashford, the managing director of Ashford Handicrafts in Ashburton, New Zeeland, chats about his life running the family business and traveling the globe to sell looms and spinning wheels and many other products to fiber enthusiasts. He almost sold me this loom. I tried it out at the convention and loved it, but ended up walking away from temptation... for now at least. In an act of clever marketing, it's called the "Ashford Knitters Loom." It's light, and portable and easy to use. Knitters who want to learn to weave would probably enjoy this loom.

* * * * *

Now we’re going to conclude with a chat with Jane Patrick, the former editor of Handwoven Magazine, and author of the new book “Time to Weave: Simply Elegant Projects to Make in Almost No Time" published by Interweave Press. Jane is also the sales manager of Schacht Spindle Co., a friendly competitor of Ashford Handicrafts, so it’s only fair that I let her make the pitch for the slick loom her husband, Barry Schacht, created to compete with Ashford’s Knitters Loom. (They both retail for about $200.) Personally, I'd like to own them both. (It's true, I have a weaving addiction.)

Tune in to the podcast to hear Jane recount the story of how she and Barry met, and click here to read about how their business got started.

Jane's new book, "A Time to Weave" is a great primer for those looking to get into weaving without spending hundreds on a loom. The book guides readers through a number of interesting and relatively simple weaving projects that use a fabulous mix of materials ranging from traditional fibers to brown paper bags, sticks, canvas and cork. While the book includes basic information about weaving on simple looms, it still offers plenty of inspiration for experienced weavers looking for a portable project.

This Week's Project: Here are Jane Patrick's instructions for this fun and easy Pocket Weave Sachet (pdf download) that is woven on a piece of cardboard. This is a bonus project you won't find in her book. (Thanks to Jane and all the Interweave staffers who made this possible!)

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

CraftSanity Episode 28 Stitch 'N Bitch with Debbie Stoller

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-08-03T00:20:27-04:00

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Tune in this week for a chat with Debbie Stoller, the co-creator of Bust magazine and author of the "Stitch 'N Bitch" books that have inspired thousands to pick up their needles and start knitting and crocheting. Many of you are probably familiar with her wildly popular knitting book "Stitch 'N Bitch Nation" that was joined recently in bookstores by her latest crafty publication, "Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker."

Debbie has some impressive credentials. She earned Ph.D. in the psychology of women from Yale in the late 1980s, but decided not to lock herself in an academic ivory tower. Instead she set out to do something about one of the things she thought was jacked about the world: the media. Since her research was on women and media, she’s dedicated her career to doing what she can to make it better for women.

Today you’ll hear how she made her way from an entry level job at Nickelodeon to become a successful indie publisher who helped grow Bust from a homemade zine to the sassy magazine you can find today at your local newsstand.

This Week's Project... is a free scarf pattern from Debbie's "Stitch n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker." Thanks to Workman Publishing for letting me post the pattern and photo to the left.

CONTEST RESULTS: And the winner is of the free copy of the "Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker" is... Shannon in Las Vegas!

Her best friend, Emily, entered her name in the contest, so Shannon you have Emily to thank. Thanks again to Workman Publishing for donating the book. Congrats Shannon!

Crafty Announcement: Mark your calendars. The Detroit Urban Craft Fair is coming up Aug. 5 at the Majestic Theater in Detroit. Visit the website to learn more about this one-day alternative craft show, and check out the cool Handmade Detroit blog, too.

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

CraftSanity Episode 27 "Tie One On" with Artist Amy Karol

Jennifer%20Ackerman-Haywood — 2006-07-26T11:17:25-04:00

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Amy Karol knows what it’s like to land a great job, only to go work and feel like something is seriously wrong. After graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in interior architecture, she landed an impressive job as a commercial interior designer and got to work. But she’s wasn’t feeling it.

She was the new girl with purple hair in the office full of corporate types with mustaches. After dying her hair back to a more natural shade, she quickly realized that wasn’t going to change the fact that she would never enjoy meaningless water-cooler small talk. At her core, she could not conform to the norms of the corporate world. Tune in to find out how she made the transition from corporate to a crafty.

It took a few years, but Amy eventually reclaimed an artistic life for herself. She started making art again – jewelry, mono prints, and quilts – and let go of the job that didn’t suit her.

Today she is a 34-year-old artist, wife and mother of two pre-school aged daughters living with her husband in Portland, Oregon. She showcases her art quilts, prints, paper goods and paintings on her King Pod site and documents her creative life in her "Angry Chicken" craft weblog. Amy also runs Mailorder, a subscription-based, craft activity club that has involved ID cards, merit badges, fake money, secret passwords and decoder rings. Here are some of Amy's small quilts.

She also runs the Tie One On website that serves as a fantastic gallery of homemade aprons made by enthusiasts all over the globe. Every month she cooks up a new theme and invites participants to make aprons to showcase on the site. Yes, aprons are hip, if you haven’t noticed. Here are some of Amy's apron creations.

The lovely music at the end of the show is by Amy’s husband, Pete Matern. The song is called “Cedars.” Thanks, Pete.
Here's a link to his old band, the Ex-Hustlers. He is currently working on a solo project.

This week's project is Amy's redwork embroidery pattern. Download the PDF and here is a larger photo of the finished piece.

Book giveaway: If your craft budget is low, but your love of crafting is great - don't fret! Enter the latest CraftSanity book giveaway. I'll be posting my interview with Debbie Stoller next week and will be giving away a copy of her fabulous crochet book, "Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker," courtesy of Workman Publishing Company. To enter, simply e-mail me your name and mailing address and I'll enter you into our random drawing. The deadline to enter is July 29. Good luck!

Mark your calendars... The Detroit Urban Craft Fair is coming up Aug. 5 at the Majestic Theater in Detroit. Visit the website to learn more about this one-day alternative craft show, and check out the cool Handmade Detroit blog, too.

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

This week’s burning question:

If you could be a superhero, what kind of superhero would you be? What kind of super power would you possess? What would your costume look like? Just for kicks... check out this superhero generator.

Listen to Amy describe her superhero project in this week’s podcast then leave a comment at the end this entry with details about your superhero aspirations. Come on, you know you wish you had the power to zap, fly, and make homemade Christmas presents faster than a speeding bullet.

Craftsanity

Web site is moving

CraftSanity Episode 41 <br>A Chat with Quilter Weeks Ringle

CraftSanity Episode 40 <br>Janice Taylor Tells Us How to Craft Ourselves Thin

CraftSanity Episode 39 <br> Meet Handbag Designer Laura Buzard

CraftSanity Episode 38: <br>The Making of a Glass Bead with Nancy Puffer

CraftSanity Episode 37: <br>Natalie Zee Introduces MAKE magazine's <br>CRAFTty little sister

CraftSanity Episode 36: The Story of Etsy

CraftSanity Episode 35 <br> Stitchin' with Melinda Barta

CraftSanity Episode 34<br>Get your Knit Fix with Lisa Kartus

CraftSanity Episode 33<br>Samplin' Crafty Goodness with Marie Kare

CraftSanity Episode 32<br>Collage Fun With Claudine Hellmuth

CrafSanity Episode 31<br>Rhonda Simmons Introduces Us to "Art in a Box"

CraftSanity Episode 30<br>Knitting Author Melanie Falick Tells Her Story

CraftSanity Episode 29 <br> Three Weavers Converge

CraftSanity Episode 28 <br> Stitch 'N Bitch with Debbie Stoller

CraftSanity Episode 27<br> "Tie One On" with Artist Amy Karol

This week’s burning question:

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