Category Archives: crafting

Craft Book Review: Desire to Inspire

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I picked up “Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World” by Christine Mason Miller (2011, published by North Light Books) this summer after spying it in a picture… in a magazine. (Keen eyes, eh?) I thought, “That looks interesting.” Actually, the magazine article was about Miller’s creative space – I wish I had that creative space. Rephrase: I’m wishing and hoping that I get my act together to make a creative space.

Miller brings together a body of artists, creative writers, entrepreneurs to showcase the ways we can impact the world through sharing and making art – nineteen contributors plus the author, in all. The book intertwines stories, exercises for the reader, and includes pull-out inspirational quotes.

The personal quotes, photos, original artwork… beautiful and nicely organized. Sometimes I found the book theraputic, sometimes as an art journaling manual, helping corral your thoughts on paper, artistically. Sometimes, I just found myself drooling at the pictures. I used to journal like the one in the picture below.

You might think it’s a “new age” book… not spiritual, but it kind of is. All the contributors speak of their creative passions… sharing them to inspire others.

This book would be great, not just for all you creative types, but for those of you who want to be creative but don’t think you are… does that make sense? Everyone’s creative – just different levels. It doesn’t have to be all paint, drawings, sewing, paper and scrapbooking. The book helped me take time to rediscover, review qualities that I sort of know are there, but just haven’t thought about in a while… I found the book at a good time when I was talking to my husband about using my talents to help others, to do good.

“Being of service to others starts with being exactly who you are. The world needs your gifts.” – Jamie Ridler

Craft Book Review: The Star Wars Craft Book

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The Star Wars Craft Book | project-in-progress

“Dedicated to Geeky Craftsters everywhere. May the glue gun be with you!”

I received The Star Wars Craft Book by Bonnie Burton (Del Rey, 2011, 156 pgs.) as a Christmas gift last year. Galactic ideas here. Clever projects use material you can probably find around your house, and if not, they aren’t too pricey. Like usual, I devoured the book and earmarked some projects, (like this R2-D2 beanie!), but only recently started my first project.

If only I knew how to crochet…

I found the book tone very casual unlike a Martha Stewart craft book – very precise. That’s not a bad or good thing… just an observation. The patterns for all the projects are located at the back of the book and online (if you don’t want to cut up your book, or need to copy and enlarge the patterns).

Jar Jar in-progress

My son asked me for Jar Jar Binks Jedi Mind Trick Doll. Not my first choice. My husband asked him if he might like some other project: the Bith Band puppets, a Bantha… maybe Han Solo in Soaponite. Nope.

“Jar Jar. Because he’s cute.”

One issue with the Jar Jar project material list: red felt is missing. You need it for Jar Jar’s tongue. The directions are easy to follow, but the directions fail to include a step for the arms. They are included in the pattern.

So as of this post, the project is in-progress. Since I didn’t have any felt on hand, I decided to use what I had: cotton and some flannel. I always seem to drift away from patterns (craft apron), directions (t-shirt quilt) and recommended materials. They’re just suggestions, right?

I’ll post the finished project as an update… and, would this book be a welcome addition to the Geek Crafter in your life? Yes, yes it would. It’s fun for the whole family, it’s fun if you’re a Star Wars fan… just plain fun!

Craft Book Review: Sewn Hats by Carla Hegeman Crim

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Sewn Hats: Cover

UPDATE 9/30/2014: The author states at her website, The Scientific Seamstress:

IMPORTANT NOTE:
The original publisher, Wiley, sold this title to Turner Publishing. Please send an email to: info@scientificseamstress.com to get a copy of the patterns

I vowed I’d only sew square or rectangular things like napkins, blankets and such. But this book may have changed my mind. Sewn Hats (Wiley; 246 pgs.) by Carla Hegeman Crim features thirty-five fun and stylish hats! (You may know Crim from scientificseamstress.com.) That’s enough of a variety for anyone to find the perfect style. Carla brings together twenty-nine fabric and pattern designers and bloggers in this hand-held hat shop. Reading the book was like browsing through a modern day millinery, and I’m thumbing along saying out loud – I like that; Ooh, that would be nice; Oh, let’s try that one; and perfect for my baby niece!

Pictorial Table of Contents

What great timing for this book too – fall, a perfect season for donning on a hat. And while I might grab my hat more often in cooler weather, this book covers hats for all seasons. And, types for all skill levels.

Sewn Hats: Having Fun

The instructions are easy to follow with illustrations by Carla herself. Patterns are located online and print onto letter-size paper. No tissue patterns – Bonus (unless you don’t have access to a computer and printer).

Sewn Hats: Collage Cloche figure

And, the photography, well, that’s what pulled me in. My favorite hat: the fleece beanie!

Sewn Hats: Fleece Beanie

Have you bought this book? It’s available on Amazon.com, retails for $21.99 and, we’re 90 days to Christmas… I’d say this would be a lovely gift for the crafter in your life.

**Update: This post is #300. Here’s to another 300. Thanks for following! Cheers.**

My Monster T-Shirt Quilt

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… is FINALLY done! Countless hours, countless seam rips, startovers, facepalms… but it’s done, and it’s a beauty. (Really, don’t ask me how long it took – I first mentioned the t-shirt quilt way, way back.) Can’t say I’d ever do a king-sized quilt again, but I’ve been known as a repeat offender of crazy crafting projects.

The quilt entertains and keeps us warm, the perfect summer-weight cover. It makes me smile remembering some high school and college memories. I love it.




The quilt is hand-tied and hand-embroidered with binding finished by hand. I could have sent it to a full-arm quilter, but I had come so far on my own investing time and intended careful planning. Too much emotional attachment, I guess. Besides, I like crooked lines. Adds charm.



Don’t forget to sign your quilts, right?! This was done with a silver paint marker. The two little dots were completely accidental from shaking the pen. Lucky placement.

Sixty-one t-shirts make up the front, and each square has its own story.

I love the backside of the quilt – sort of makes it reversible, right? And, the colors for the wonky squares are significant. Each represents a school I attended.

So there you have it. The quilt took time, but it was worth the effort. It’s definitely not the prettiest quilt, or the most artistic…It holds memories and it’s remarkable to me. I dare you to pull out those unfinished projects you’ve stashed away. (I have many. Ha!) Or start those projects that you’ve always wanted to do. Everyone has some… do it. Do something remarkable!

Summer Blur :: Almost Wordless Wednesday

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Who knew that it’s been over a month since the last post? No one but my family and a few close friends read this blog anyway… so, it’s okay, right? No, no. I know friends out there are reading. I’m sorry I’ve been away. I always seem to let too much time pass between posts in the summer months. With the kids and husband home, every day is an adventure – except when outside feels like a sauna and we hunker down in our basement and play video games and ping pong. (Not very into the pool scene. I don’t buy pool passes. No chance to break even.)

Forgive me for the lack of posting? Facebook and Twitter have been easier to update on the road and on the fly.

Since I last posted…

For neighbor kids and friends, we hosted a week long art camp in our garage.

Made some great projects during art camp.

Ssampled Brazilian Brigadeiro – chocolate truffle with sea salt and lime zest

Made cake again to make sure the recipe wasn’t faulty.. happy to report that it was not.

Managed to sew some burp cloths for expecting mom friends

Found this little guy on a garden walk which inspired me to get back into my own garden.

Made some Model Magic baked goods with the kids on a “too-hot” day

Checked out the Lego Kids Club

Celebrated 4th of July with family :: cakepops by my cousin

Tasted roasted purple cauliflower at a friend’s home

Worked on a Subway Art sign for a friend

Survived my first t-ball season

Visited an awesome bed and breakfast

Got to hang out a little at the beach, too

… and turned 39.

Craft Book Review: With Fabric & Thread by Joanna Figueroa

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You know the feeling when you’re waiting for a package in the mail, or waiting for Christmas Day? That was me a few weeks ago. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. published With Fabric & Thread by Joanna Figueroa this Spring – and I was thrilled to receive a review copy.  I’ve read this book twice since receiving it. How would I describe the book? Hmm… fabulous for every level whether you quilt or sew.

If the “by-project” pictorial table of contents isn’t enough eye candy for you, just thumb through the book and you’ll find plenty of reasons why you should pick it up. Ms. Figueroa opens with personal stories of discovery. I was so touched by her introduction; she reaches out to all of us. Her delivery is so personal that she made me feel like I was sitting across from her, having a cup of coffee with an old friend. More than that, her story resonated with parts of my own journey of reinvention and I have a feeling that other readers feel the same.

Figueroa includes two chapters on basics: quiltmaking and sewing. And for a beginner like me, it’s nice to learn about the differences – and not in a snooty way either.  The chapters are nicely thought out. Besides the projects, my favorite section is her chapter on color. I love that she says, “…throw out everything you have ever learned about the color wheel.” It’s not about completely reinventing the wheel, but rather, not to let yourself be bound by rules or theories. Time to break out your fabric stash and rearrange or just come up with new color combinations!

About the projects, there are twenty-two (patterns included in the back of the book) to tantalize you. She breaks it up in three parts, sewing, dual projects (both sewn or quilted), and quilting projects. In a way, they are broken into a basic difficulty level, but it may have been helpful to have some sort of written or drawn difficulty level associated with the projects. Like any project, read through the instructions all the way… Figueroa’s instructions are complete with illustrations.

Can’t wait to start on these projects! With Fabric & Thread is sure to inspire you, too!

Joanna Figueroa is a fabric designer, pattern designer, active quilt instructor and owner of Fig Tree & Co. Her beautiful blog, Fresh Figs, offers more quilty and fabric fun.

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