Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood
CraftSanity Podcast producer
P.O. Box 888192
Grand Rapids, MI 49588-8192

Pen Pal Exchange: And because I've been really enjoying receiving letters lately, I thought I'd start CraftSanity Pen Pal Exchange. So, if you're interested in writing to a fellow listener, e-mail your full name, age, interests, and mailing address and I will attempt to match you with a pen pal with similar interests. Please write "Pen Pal Exchange" in the subject line and send me your response by Feb. 29. Samara and I are going to participate in this exchange and we'd love for you to join us.

Fabric Postcard Swap: Okay, here's one more opportunity to get cool mail. I'm also be hosting a fabric postcard swap. If you'd like to participate, e-mail me your name and address by Feb. 29 and I will match you with a swap partner. Partners will be assigned in early March and the deadline to mail your postcard is March 31. The theme is "Spring" so think flowers and sunshine.

Support the show! 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.

To enter, simply copy your post into an e-mail to Jennifer@craftsanity.com. Please include your mailing address in your email so I know where to send your prize if you win. The deadline is Friday, Jan. 18.

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.

I met Dee in December and watched customers flock to her booth at an artist market we both participated in. Her products are wonderful, especially her Goats Milk and Aloe Cream. I was never a chemistry whiz and haven't had a much luck making soap myself, so I decided to take a lesson from a pro. On this episode of CraftSanity, I'm going to take you inside Dee's kitchen where she's going to tell us how she makes her expanding line of soaps and skin products.

So settle in for an audio tour into the world of soapmaking. Throughout the recording, Dee shares many interesting facts about the properties of particular oils and loads of useful information that will be very useful if you want to try this yourself.

I shot video of Dee in action, and will be posting that soon.

Meet Dee: If you're going to be in West Michigan this summer, be sure to look for Dee at the Fulton Street Artisan's Market from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. every Sunday. Below are some pictures of the stained glass artwork she sells at her booth.

This week's project: Dee was kind enough to write a great soap tutorial, so be sure to check it out. Thanks Dee! Download the PDF.

And we have a winner! The winner of Amy Karol's fabulous "Bend the Rules Sewing" book is Beth of Nashville, Tenn. Congrats Beth. Thanks to everyone who posted comments and to Potter Craft for donating the book.

This week's contest: Want to sample Dee's fantastic products? Post a comment about this episode on the blog and copy it into an e-mail to Jennifer@craftsanity.com along with your mailing address, and I'll get you entered in our random drawing for a gift package of great soaps and skin products. Share a soap story or a link to one of your own tutorials. The deadline to enter is July 20. Good luck everyone!

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.

If you want to know more, check out CraftSanity episode 27 and read her FAQ.

"We staged the first production of the KNITTING NELL play in March - with fourteen kindergarten through second graders. We had an absolute riot of a time and, we even had enough boys for the boy roles. We all pitched in and made props, including a tree whose canopy of leaves was made from sculpted thick gauge wire completely covered with multicolored strands and loops of yarn."

Woodburning


Bandana curtain and button mosaic (Jennifer's favorite!)

One letter at a time Ellen, 37, assembles deliberate sentences, locking the text into place before inking and printing limited edition books that contain stories and poems from her life. Not long ago, I had the pleasure of reading several of Ellen's books and seeing the wonderful craftsmanship of their construction when she shipped them my way for a visit.


Ellen is married to a math professor and has a son, Gus. She earned an MFA in book arts from the University of Alabama. She's been a book artist for 10 years and graphic designer for 15. She has worked for The Art Institute of Chicago and The Detroit Institute of Arts and has taught graphic design at Wayne State University and Mississippi State University.

Here are the books we chatted about on this week's podcast. Visit Ellen's site to learn more.






If you'd love to own a letterpress of your own, Ellen recommends Briar Press. It's a great place to troll for equipment and soak up knowledge.

This week's project is a fun Key Ring Necklace jewelry project from Hannah's book courtesy of STC Craft. Download the pdf.

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

Win this book; see details below!

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

* * * * *

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.

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 burning question:

Leave super comment by clicking the link below

This week I’m going to bring you a chat with Heidi Kenney, the crafty woman behind the website and online shop My Paper Crane. She’s a hip 28-year-old, Baltimore-area artist making impressive plush creations. She’s a mother and maker who creates whatever she wants out of fabric.

A mix of attitude and humor, Heidi’s work is as impressive as it in funny. Not everyone can appreciate a smiling tampon doll, but she’s selling them like hotcakes. Aside from the buzz she’s created in online craft circles, Heidi was recently featured in a New York Times Magazine article about artists and crafters selling their work online.

Oh look, she spins, too! Here are some of Heidi's one-of-a-kind yarns.

What to know more about Heidi? Read her blog and shop for fantastic creations here.

This week's project is a recipe from Heidi. This recipe calls for a wild sense of humor and a creative appreciation of toilet jokes. (Heidi makes toilets, too.)

Visit Betz's blog and find out how to order her creations here. Or better yet, stop by her booth at Craftstravaganza July 8 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

This week's project is a Shibori Scarf tutorial by Betz. Scrounge up a an old wool sweater and get to work.

Loose Ends:

* And the winner of the "You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening" book is .... Sandra Tournemille of British Columbia, Canada! Sandra edged out the competition by crafting her way through a wardrobe disaster. Instead of crying for days after her husband accidently washed her favorite angora hoodie, she just cried a little and then got out her scissors and got crafty. Read the story of how she survived the sweater tragedy with a little good, 'ol craft therapy. Congrats Sandra. Way to turn a bad situation around.

This beloved sweater...



became a vest, a pillow and a baby bonnet. Fantastic!



Emma Dines submitted another noteworthy entry -- a set of shelves she made from a discarded refrigerator door. This you have to see. Check it out!



* The Red Thread Project: Visit my blog for photos and a short report about Friday's Red Thread Project performance in Grand Rapids.

Caroline Clark, 43, of Grand Rapids, was just one of the hundreds of people who participated in the June 30 Red Thread event. She's a cancer survivor who knitted four hats for the project.

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 project is a sock pattern from Brenda inspired by the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

by Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood

This Weeks' Project: Click here for my instructions for making a pair of rustic knitting needles out of twigs. (They're much easier to make than a crochet hook.) I do not knit with twig sticks very often. But it's a comfort to know that I'd be able to fashion some out of a tree limb, unravel a sweater and knit away should I ever get stranded out in the woods without needles. These rustic needles actually look cool as a decoration. So make a pair, and knit a small swatch to leave out on the coffee table as an interactive conversation piece.

This week's CraftSanity project is a Katherine Shaughnessy-inspired art sampler exercise that will get you thinking about making art with just about everything you see.

Before she created "Whip up," Kathreen launched the popular Self Portrait Tuesday website, that has encouraged people from all over the world to document their lives and publish their photos on the web. Also, check out her Self Portrait Challenge site. Obvioulsy, Kathreen is on a roll. Tune in to this week's CraftSanity podcast find out more about her and where she gets these fantastic ideas.

Check out Kathreen's Red Current and Handy Projects blogs to read about the creative life she's living. (Her husband cooks with the mud oven above that he constructed in their yard.) And view some of her photographs here.

This week's project is a tutorial from Kathreen that shows how to make super cute pants for kids. The project is a great way to use that fabric you have stashed away while creating a one-of-kind look for a special child in your life.

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break." - Chinese Proverb


Lindsay Obermeyer and her daughter, Emily.

So have you heard about the Red Thread Project yet? On this episode you'll hear from Chicago fiber artist Lindsay Obermeyer, creator of the fantastic Red Thread Project, which is under way in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Hundreds of people throughout West Michigan are knitting and crocheting hats that will be connected to the red thread Lindsay is busy knitting. She estimates the the thread will stretch about a half mile when completed. This community art project is being organized locally by ArtWorks and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA).

Once all the hat making is complete and all the hats are connected to the red thread, hundreds of people will gather at 7 p.m. Friday, June 30 at Rosa Parks Circle, in downtown Grand Rapids and put on the connected hats to share in a community wide performance art experience.

After the performance and subsequent exhibition of the connected hats at the UICA, the hats will be distributed to cancer patients who have lost their hair.

Inspired to make a connected garment of your own? You're in luck, Lindsay kindly submitted a fun and easy pattern for an 8-foot tubular hat you can share with a friend.

Below are pictures of some of Lindsay's other work that we discuss in the podcast. Visit her gallery to view more and check out her Red Thread blog.

MAKE A HAT BY JUNE 1, AND GET CONNECTED.

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley

This week's crafty announcements:

* I just joined a Quilt Block Swap organized by Kristin Roach who writes the blog Overextracted. Click here for info on the swap.

* Sister Diane recently posted a new episode of CraftyPod featuring Leah Kramer, founder of Craftster.org. Leah was featured on CraftSanity episode 16.

* Click here for my review of the ColdHeat Freestyle Glue Gun.

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

This week's project is a very simple crochet coaster pattern from me. Whip up some new coasters in fun summer colors to give your favorite glass a cozy place to chill.

And here's an easy etched glass how-to from Leah.

Contest wrapup

To my fellow crafty podcasters...

Here is Leigh's pattern for the Indian Summer Jacket first published in Fall 2004 issue of Interweave Knits magazine.

Photos used courtesy of the Knitta's & Debora Smail.

Check out AKrylik's recipe for graffiti knitting success.

CONTEST INFO:
Enter to win a copy of Leigh Radford's new book: “One Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit and Crochet”

Next week's interview is with Radford, a graphic artist and knitwear designer and the folks at Interweave Press have agreed to give away a copy of Leigh’s new book, to one lucky CraftSanity listener. The book is packed with projects that can be created with just a single skein of yarn. To take the theme of Leigh’s book one step further, I’m collecting short how-to’s and photos of projects you’ve made with the little bits of yarn that are left over after the big knitting projects are done.

If you’re anything like me you have a stash of yarn and then a mini-stash of left-over yarn. What do you do when you have less than a skein left and there’s too little to knit a scarf, but too much to dump in the trash?

To enter the contest e-mail photos and project ideas of what you’ve done with those little bits of left over yarn to Jennifer@craftsanity.com. Please include your name, and mailing address so I know where to send the book if you win. I’ll post photos and project ideas on the website. The deadline to enter is noon Saturday, April 8. So, if you haven’t made anything out of your leftover yarn yet, there’s time to whip something up and take a picture. Good luck everyone!

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

Visit Kathy on the web and be sure to check out her cool embellished bottle cap magnet how-to.

Here's a postcard project to keep your hands busy while you listen to the interview with Deirdre.

Here's a pattern for Violette's Creative Spirit Doll.

cheating boyfriends
caddy girlfriends
condescending freaks
disease
death
materialistic society
war

It's okay to be mad about this stuff. With patterns like the "Curse Your Boyfriend Sweater," "Snowballs Chance in Hell" and "Flowers On A Grave," The Anti Craft can provide you with plenty of patterns to make you smile despite whatever ails you.

So what's up with these crafting Anti Craft chicks? Are they weird goth girls that hate everything? I'm not going to dignify those questions with an answer, it would only make them more angry. Either you get what they're doing, or you don't. The dark poetic verses that accompany several of the patterns are not for everyone, but neither are other artists' frilly doilies and rainbow dog sweaters. If you must know, Renée, a 26-year-old stay-at-home mom and writer, and Zabet, a 30-year-old graphic designer, are both married Stitch'n Bitch members who craft out their angst in Lexington, Kentucky. They're glad crafting is all rage. They just don't believe every craft has to be cute and perky.

So, forget what society tells you about managing your anger and not making a scene. Bottling it up only leads to bulging forehead veins and heart attacks. Instead of feeling pressure to smile with your teeth clenched while feeling like you just might implode, craft out your angst, discontent, disenchantment or whatever else is stewing inside. Own it. Make it your craft supply. Turn it into something dark and spectacular.

Then write down the pattern and submit it to Renée and Zabet. Who knows, your anger might just be enough to catapult you into one of their upcoming issues. Pretty cool, eh?

Here is an Anti Craft Valentine's Day surprise from Renée and Zabet.

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

Music in this podcast was used courtesy of freeplaymusic.com.

This week meet John Murphy the artist, illustrator, comic author and sock collector. John lives in Asheville, North Carolina where he makes stuffed monsters out of castoff socks.

No joke. You can send your socks to his home studio and he will make you a "stupid sock creature." Or, all you crafty types can make your own following the detailed instructions he published in his book: "Stupid Sock Creatures." (There's even a preview to "Crafting Disaster," a comic series he's working on with a friend at the end of the book.)

John studied illustration and ceramics at East Carolina University. After college he worked as a newsroom artist for the Wilmington Star News in North Carolina, and eventually took his art on the road to California where he worked in the ceramics industry. When a layoff left him jobless in 2003, he didn't stay idle for long. He quickly crafted himself a new gig. He learned to sew and started making monsters out of socks. Since then he estimates that he's stitched hundreds of them, and just recently hired an assistant to help keep up with the orders. This summer he even plans to hire an intern.

For more info on how to get a monster of your own, check out John Murphy's site. There you'll find more awesome creatures like the ones below.



Photos used courtesy of John Murphy.

Like what you see? Check back here for one of John's sock creature patterns. I'll be posting that as soon as I get it.

Feeling inspired to re-fabricate your worn out socks? Do it! It's really fun. I'm no John Murphy, but below is a photo of the creature I managed to create following the instructions in his book. Send me a photos of your sock creatures and I'll post them on CraftSanity.

I went from this:


To this:

I named him Detective Friday after the day I made him. I'm not sure where the "Detective" came from, but I'm very pleased that he can stand by himself. That happened by accident.

Also, check out who won last week's contest.

Coming soon: John shares a pattern

Want a free copy of "52 Projects"? Email me at jennifer@craftsanity.com with a photo of a project you are working on, and I'll post it online. One of the lucky contributors will get a copy of the book. Deadline is noon Eastern time on Sunday, Feb. 5.

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

Music in this podcast was used courtesy of freeplaymusic.com.