Archive for May, 2009

Happy Friday!

In my haste to hit "publish" yesterday afternoon, I left out the last organization tip. Whoops! This helpful hint is from Mary Ann Wilson, a recent publishing grad who's with us as an intern in the copy department.

• "A tool parts cabinet is the perfect organizer for all your smaller craft supplies. Choose one with clear plastic compartments in a variety of sizes to make it easy to see what you need and maximize your storage options. For additional organization within the compartments, line them with pieces cut from an egg carton or the plastic tray from a box of chocolates. Make sure your cabinet can be mounted to the wall, which not only keeps your supplies neatly out of the way when you’re not using them, but also creates a bit of extra shelf space. Replace the removable rubber top with a decorative runner, and your cabinet will fit in wherever you keep your crafting necessities."

Thanks, Mary Ann!

PS There's still time to leave a comment on Monday’s post for your chance to win The Unibind PhotoBook Creator Starter Kit and coupon for two free products (with free shipping) from RocketLife. Tell me your favourite craft to take on a road trip and your answer could be featured in an upcoming Q+A post.

Hello folks,

It's crafty Q+A time again!

Nicole V. wrote: I have very little space, and I do not have the money to buy an expensive craft organizing bag/system. Do you have any ideas for organizing that are inexpensive and that I can put into as little space as possible?

And Cathy asked: I don’t like clutter. How can I keep all my craft contained in one area, when I don’t have one area?

This is a big topic. Because I know that Make+Do readers are interested in a variety of crafts, I was looking for a variety of organizational solutions, so I turned to my co-workers and fellow crafters and asked them to share the ways they organize their crafting spaces. They came through in spades, offering tons of advice for those of us who are looking for affordable craft storage solutions for small spaces.

Beverly Renahan is our Senior Food Editor and an accomplished crafter with lots of different projects on the go, from stained glass to needlework to sewing. Here's how she organizes her materials:

• "Stained glass (usually bought in 1-foot squares) are stored upright with colours separated by newspaper in an old sideboard. Larger pieces are stored flat between newspapers in upper silverware drawer. Equipment and smaller pieces of leftover glass go in small cardboard boxes in lower drawer.
• Wool and leftover fabric is stored in old trunk (which is a “bench” at the front door). Needles and hooks are in zippered cases with all sizes marked.
• Sewing supplies (thread, needles, pins, scissors, patterns, etc.) go in a small 1-drawer-and-cupboard unit (now with a TV standing on top). Pins are kept in small plastic boxes and on magnetic pincushion; needles in original plastic containers with array of sizes; bobbins in curved bobbin storage trays; thread spools in single layer in topless gift boxes (shirt size) piled on each another."

Tina Anson Mine is our Managing Editor and quilting maven, with a newly awakened passion for all things knitting-related. She's also an organizational queen, with lots of good advice to share.

• "I use hanging canvas shoe bags to store fabric. I took the doors off the closet in the craft room/office and have three of them hanging on one side. I sort roughly by colour, though sometimes I just group stuff together that needs to stay together (‘30s feedsack prints, batiks, my extensive collection of vegetable and fruit fabrics fat quarters that I was once obsessed with).
• I keep small scraps separate from larger cut-able scraps in clear Rubbermaid totes on the overhead shelf in the closet. Then if I need a scrap of a certain colour or size, I can root through and find one. If I need just a tiny piece, I take a look in the small scraps bin; if I need a larger piece, I don’t bother getting distracted by the too-tiny bits I can’t use.
• Over my cutting/sewing table, I attached two floating shelves. I pile up pin cushions and jam jars full of pins and other notions on them. I also have a bunch of tea cups from my grandmother’s china set with other notions in them. (The cups were too grubby or chipped to drink from, so they’re perfect for this.) Then, below that, I installed one of those IKEA metal kitchen rods. On it, I hung three of their plastic hanging cups (I keep more pins/tape measures/marking pencils in them) and a bunch of hooks, on which I hang my rotary cutters and scissors. This keeps them up off the table and safely away from my fingers when not in use. This is my favourite organization trick ever.
• I hang my rotary cutting rulers on little cup hooks attached to the wall next to the craft table.
• My craft table is my grandmother’s old kitchen table, and it has a couple of drawers (and a fabulous enamelled tin top — perfect for pinning a quilt top). In one of them, I tossed a cutlery organizer (an ugly one that didn’t fit my kitchen drawers and was destined for the garbage). I keep spare presser feet, bobbins and other sewing machine tools (e.g., the tiny screwdriver for changing the foot) in there. That way they’re always accessible when I’m in the middle of sewing. I don’t have to go hunt for them, and the organizer keeps them from getting too jumbled. It also prevents them from rattling around and possible getting damaged.
• I also have some of those wooden IKEA mini-drawer things I keep other craft supplies in. The small stuff is perfect in those drawers – scrapbooking scissors, beading supplies, paints, cross-stitiching thread, etc....
• For my cross-stitiching thread, I use those baggies on a metal ring devices. Each colour is in its own bag marked with the DMC number. I can keep whole skeins or small scraps in the bags, which I like much better than those bobbin things some people use to organize embroidery thread."

Lisa Fielding, one of my fellow copy editors, likes to sew and crochet – and does a mighty fine job of it. (I can't wait to show you the crocheted bow-tie she's making for her dachshund, Douglas!) Her organizational tips are short but sweet.

• "I’ve appropriated one corner of my unfinished basement as my craft nook. I bought a cheap work table, lamp and bookshelf from Ikea, put down a rug that would have otherwise sat rolled up in a corner, and arranged things as pleasantly as I could. Since it’s out of the way of our everyday living, I can leave things a mess when I feel like it.
• I use Gutterman thread, and I keep it in a clear plastic case (in colour sequence) hanging above my sewing machine. Means I don’t waste thread by having to cut apart a jumble of spools tangled in a drawer, and I can easily and quickly find the right colour."

Annette Waurick is the art director of Homemakers magazine, our sister publication, and is known for her beautiful handmade jewelry and handknit sweaters and accessories. She writes:

• "For the knitting projects I am working on, I use these beautiful fabric storage containers by Jenna Rose.
• The jewelry supplies I keep in Semikolon boxes, which don’t have any compartments in them, but look pretty and come in all different sizes and shapes."

As for me? I keep my pins and needles in recycled jam jars and my other sewing notions in old biscuit tins. My scissors and rotary cutter hang on a bulletin board over my desk. And as far as my ever-growing fabric stash is concerned... Well, that's why I love my ottoman-with-hidden-compartment so much!

Phew! Nicole, Cathy, I hope this helps. As you can see, we're big into recycling, repurposing and rearranging around here, proving that you can organize it all - without spending a big chunk of change. (Of course, if you're looking for something a bit more elaborate, Martha's got your number - and a label-maker, of course. Check it out.)

How do you organize your craft supplies?

PS Don’t forget to leave a comment on Monday’s post for your chance to win The Unibind PhotoBook Creator Starter Kit and coupon for two free products (with free shipping) from RocketLife. This week, I’m interested in hearing about your favourite craft to take on a road trip.

Hello there,

Continuing with yesterday's theme of crafting for a good cause, today I'd like to share some inspiring words and pictures with you.

Sharon Watson of Wool 'n' Things, a quilting and yarn shop on Manitoulin Island, wrote in to tell me about a great fund-raising event she sponsored last weekend. Here's some of what she wrote:

"The Quilt is a registered charitable organization dedicated to proving emotional and physical support to cancer survivors and their loved ones. (Not just breast cancer, as it was in the beginning about 11 years ago).

I issued a challenge last year to my customers here at Wool 'n' Things, on Manitoulin Island, to make a 12-inch quilt block for this cancer fundraising project.

Myra and Sharon with the finished quilt (from www.woolnthings.org).

We had such a good response that we decided to have our own 30 hour marathon for The Quilt in order to raise more funds for this worthy cause.

Quilters of all ages got in on the fun.

Early in the spring we gathered teams of 6-10 quilters that would donate 3 hours of their time to hand quilt and seek pledges from family and friends. In the end we had 10 teams and 65 quilters registered to help out.

Sharing a laugh.

We started at 6am Friday May 22nd and worked through until midnight, continuing for another 12 hours on Saturday May 23rd. Besides having fun dressing up in various attire, our quilters were pampered with gifts, refreshments and a souvenir t-shirts during the event.

Local politicians lend a hand.

They also had to share their seats with local dignitaries and onlookers who were encouraged to put in a few stitches. Other attractions during the event were a silent and a chance auction, local musical talent and even some dancing in the street.

Look at that - three times the goal!

Our 30-Hour Marathon was a great success. Our goal was to raise $5,000, and we reached over $15,000 for our charity."

Sharon, thanks so much for telling us about this great event - it's so inspiring, and it sounds like it was so much fun. Congratulations on your success! I'm sure someone somewhere is going to get great comfort from that beautiful quilt.

(Have you participated in a community crafting event that you'd like to share? Please, send me an email (agilliland@canadianliving.com) and tell me all about it!)

Have a great night, friends.

PS Don’t forget to leave a comment on Monday’s post for your chance to win the The Unibind PhotoBook Creator Starter Kit and coupon for two free products (with free shipping) from RocketLife. This week, I’m interested in hearing about your favourite craft to take on a road trip.

Hello friends,

One of the perks of my job is the number of craft books that arrive on my desk. There's just something about a brand-new craft book, so filled with possibility, that makes me very happy. Late last week something a little different landed in my inbox: Knitting for Good! by Betsy Greer. I was just heading out for the weekend, and, intrigued, I scooped it into my purse. I'm glad I did.

Betsy Greer is the person behind the website craftivism.com, a site that's built around the idea that, as she puts it:

"...activism + craft = craftivism. That each time you participate in crafting you are making a difference, whether it's fighting against useless materialism or making items for charity or something betwixt and between.

It's about the not-so-radical notion that activists can be crafters, and crafters can be activists."

Knitting for Good explores the notion of using knitting to reconnect with yourself and your community, and as a way to do some good in the world, one stitch at a time. Current events – wars, economic crises, natural disasters – can seem completely overwhelming, so big and so complicated that there's no way for one person to do anything. Knitting for a good cause, Greer points out, is a very real, very hands-on way for a person to make a difference, whether it's by knitting items to donate to a charity, teaching knitting to young people, or using your knitting to foster relationships with elderly or marginalized members of society.

At a time when I have ideas for crafts coming at me from every direction, when the focus on crafting can seem more about material acquisition than on human achievement, I found this book to be a gentle push toward looking at knitting – and crafting in general – as more than just a hobby. The writing is friendly, conversational, and never preachy, and the book is peppered with anecdotes from well-known craftivists, as well as knitting patterns suitable for making and donating to charity. It was a refreshing read that made me look at my yarn stash in a whole new light.

If you're looking for a different perspective on an age-old craft, I'd recommend giving this book a read. Let me know what you think! And if you're already involved in knitting (or crafting) for a good cause, I'd love to hear about it.

Have a great night!

PS Don't forget to leave a comment on Monday's post for your chance to win the The Unibind PhotoBook Creator Starter Kit and coupon for two free products (with free shipping) from RocketLife. This week, I'm interested in hearing about your favourite craft to take on a road trip.

Hello and happy Monday!

Thanks so much for submitting all those great suggestions for craft-inspiring movies to watch. I'm going to keep that list handy for the next time I've got a big hand-quilting project to work on – that's a job that's always easier when there's something good playing in the background!

Without any further ado, congratulations to...

...Helen Watkinson! She likes the creative inspiration provided by Gone with the Wind. Helen, keep an eye on your inbox.

For this week's giveaway, I've got something new and a little bit out of the craft-ordinary. It might be just the thing for those of you who are looking for a way to preserve memories of your summertime adventures.

The Unibind PhotoBook Creator Starter Kit is a printing and binding system – everything you need to create quality photobooks at home. The kit comes with computer software, two hardcover book blanks, and the easy-to-use book-binding machine. In just a few clicks, you can transform your digital photos into beautiful hardcover photobooks – perfect as mementos of your summer vacation. The starter kit retails for about $100.

In addition to the PhotoBook Creator, the winner will also receive a coupon for two free products (with free shipping) from RocketLife. Use it to print out photo pages, or make another photographic memento (there are some really cute options!). (Please note: You'll need to be using a PC, not a Mac, to take advantage of the coupon.)

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post detailing your favourite road trip craft project. Comment by 5 pm on Friday, May 29; I'll post a winner here next Monday.

Good luck!

Hello!

Holy smokes, I am enjoying reading your ideas for movies to craft to so much! They run the gamut from The Ten Commandments to Gone With The Wind to Pan's Labyrinth to Pretty in Pink (just to mention a few). I can't wait till my Friday-night trip to the video store!

One of the things I'll likely be watching this weekend? A little bit of Battlestar Galactica, as is only fitting for knitting Viper Pilot socks. After all, life can't be all-quilting, all-the-time.

Don’t forget to leave a comment on Tuesday’s post to add your favourite crafty movie to the list, and for your chance to win this week’s giveaway book, The Perfect Apron (35 fun and flirty designs for you to make), by Rob Merrett.

Hello!

Whew! It's been a busy day here, but I wanted to pop in and say hi. I was charmed by the story of a British knitting club whose members worked together to knit a scale model of their town. The whole set-up (which includes phone booths and the town cricket team) is amazing. Pop over and have a look!

Do you have a community crafting story to share? I'd love to hear it.

Also, don't forget to leave a comment on yesterday's post for your chance to win this week's giveaway book, The Perfect Apron (35 fun and flirty designs for you to make), by Rob Merrett.

Hello, crafters!

I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend and got to spend a little time outside, maybe watching some fireworks or working in the garden. I went on a little fabric shopping spree (thank you very much, Canada Revenue Agency) and came home with 6 metres of Kona cotton and 31 fat quarters. Just look at that teetering stack of fabric!

Yes, I finally started the Single Girl quilt by Denyse Schmidt (the title is derived from the design, a play on the traditional Double Wedding Ring pattern). Did you manage to fit any crafting in?

Now, on to the important business of the day. The winner of last week's giveaway, the book Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot by Mary Beth Temple, is...

...Lorraine, who claims to be "crochet challenged." Congratulations, Lorraine, and here's hoping that this book sets you on the right path!

For Weekly Giveaway #5, I've got a treat for the apron enthusiasts in the crowd. The Perfect Apron (35 fun and flirty designs for you to make), by Rob Merrett, is jam-packed with ideas for aprons. I think there's something in there for just about every occasion, whether you're hosting a cocktail party, having a special guest over for high tea, or having a bake-along with your favourite wee one.

(Or maybe you're looking for something new to make before the next Tie One On deadline? The summer theme is "Pie Makin' Apron," which reminds me of the wonderful movie Waitress. Now there's a way to spend a weekend: watching movies, making aprons and eating pie. I think I'd start with Rhubarb Sour Cream Pie. Yum!)

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post telling me your favourite craft-inspiring movie by Friday, May 22, at 5 p.m. Do you take a second glance at your drapes every time you watch The Sound of Music? Do you go crazy for the cut-and-paste scenes in Amelie? Do you reach for your sewing basket, not the Kleenex box, when you see that Stepmom is on?  I’ll round up the answers in an upcoming inspiration post, and, as usual, I'll post a winner next Monday.

Have a great week!

Hello, crafters!

It's another rainy May day here in Toronto (blech). While I wait for the sun to reappear,  I thought I'd answer another question from the list I gathered during last week's giveaway. Last week, Jeannine asked:

I want to make a bag out of plastic bags. I have so many plastic grocery bags…so rather than throw them out, I’d like to crochet a bag. How would I do that?

Well, Jeannine, today's your lucky day! I did a little searching around the Canadian Living website, and found you not one, but two, patterns for crocheted carryalls made with recycled plastic bags.

If you're interested in making this project but don't know one end of a crochet hook from the other, you'll probably find this crochet tutorial handy.

Like the idea of recycling yourself a new totebag, but fancy a sewing project instead? Why not try this juice-bag totebag?

As always, I'd love to see what you make with these directions – leave a link in the comments, or send me an email (agilliland[AT]canadianliving[DOT]com).

Don’t forget about this week’s giveaway: Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot by Mary Beth Temple. Leave a comment on Monday’s post for your chance to win. Entries are open until tomorrow at 5 p.m.

Have a great day!

Hi there,

I spent the summers between my years at university working at Fort George National Historic Site in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. I loved getting all togged up in period clothing (reproduction, of course). I wasn't much of a seamstress back then, but I was fascinated by the different pieces of my "uniform," and I loved trying to figure out how each one was pieced together, and thinking about how long it would have taken to make a skirt or a shirt – or a corset! – in the days when everything had to be hand-sewn.

So, imagine my delight when my friend Erika (of the Friends of Fort George) emailed me a notice about an upcoming historical costuming workshop. Scheduled for Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. 'til noon, workshop attendees will learn all about the ins and outs of getting dressed back in 1812.

Red coats – the height of fashion! (Thanks to the Friends of Fort George for the image.)

Here's a bit more detail:

"The 'Once More Into The Breeches' costume workshop is a chance to learn about the clothing worn by Niagara townsfolk in the early nineteenth century. The 1812 Bicentennial’s Committee has organized this event...as part of the preparation plans for the celebration of 200 years of peace between Canada and the United States.

Sheridan Alder will describe women’s clothing, how it was made and where it was worn, while Peter Twist will cover men’s clothing.

In the expectation that many residents will wish to take part in the celebrations, information will also be given on pattern sources and available seamstresses and tailors for the craft-minded and the craft-challenged. A fashion show of costumes will help you choose a suitable outfit.

Refreshments will be offered by the Friends of Fort George. Everybody is welcome. Free admission. Please register with Leah Wallace at (905) 468- 3266 and don’t forget to visit the 1812 Bicentennial’s website."

The Fife & Drum Corps: snazzy dressers. (Thanks to the Friends of Fort George for the image.)

It's sure to be a fascinating morning. And while you're learning about clothes, why not send the rest of your family up to check out the goings-on at Fort George ? (Just make sure that you rejoin them in time to check out the gift shop!)

Have a great day!

• Is there a craft-related seminar/workshop/conference coming up in your area that you'd like to see on Make+Do? Please, drop me a line with the details!
• Don't forget about this week's giveaway: Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot by Mary Beth Temple. Leave a comment on Monday's post for your chance to win.