CraftSanity with Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood

After nearly a decade as a print journalist, the major craft window I've been waiting for has finally opened to me. I'm writing craft blog called "Running with Needles" for my newspaper, The Grand Rapids Press, and a weekly column that will appear in print on Sundays.



The good news for curious CraftSanity listeners is that all my craft related articles will be available online for you to check out.

It's taken me a very long time to convince my editors that adding a craft column and blog is a good idea, so I'd really appreciate your support. Please visit my newspaper blog and help me stir up a little traffic so I can prove to my editors that there really is a demand for craft-related content. Leave a comment and make my day.

Monday you'll be able to download the instructions I wrote for five simple children's Halloween costumes including a bat, mummy, butterfly, flower and lady bug. The instructions were written as part of a holiday feature about homemade costumes. My column is expected to launch Sunday. Every week I plan to feature a West Michigan artist or crafter and give readers a free project related to what that person does to try at home. Every now and then I do plan to profile artists from outside our circulation area because I want to introduce local readers to some of the great people I've "met" through my podcast.

So, if you listen to CraftSanity from a craft room or art studio in Michigan, or anywhere else for that matter, feel free to contact me and tell me what you do. Feel free to send your comments, suggestions and story ideas to me at jennifer@craftsanity.com or write me at Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood, The Grand Rapids Press, 155 Michigan St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. I can't wait to hear from you.