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Exclusive Interview & Giveaway for Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love!

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Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love

AllFreeSewing is so excited to have Kerry Goulder, creator of Kid Giddy to talk with us today! In addition to running a blog, shop, and more, Goulder is the creative genius behind the new book, Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love: 18 Toy Patterns for the Storytelling Sewist, which was just released this year. True to its name this book offers a fantastic journey that any imaginative sewist should take. See what Goulder has to say about what inspired her to create this collection, the challenges she had while creating it, and more!

When you’re through reading, find out how you can win your very own signed copy of Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love: 18 Toys Patterns for the Storytelling Sewist.

 

Kerry Goulder from Kid Giddy1. Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love is your first sewing book. What inspired the topic?

Everything we do in life has a story behind it. I wanted to capture some of the stories from my own life in a fun and meaningful way for my kids, to have and share later in their lives. I knew I wanted to write a story to go along with each pattern, and wanted the book to have the appeal of an old (but new) story book to be shared with loved ones while making their projects or giving them.

2. The variety of characters and elements in this book is incredible; do you usually design with someone specific in mind to give the toy to, or do these creations come to life as you sew?

Many of the patterns have been inspired by different people, places, or times in my life, as well as from my dreams. Some patterns have also been inspired by trends popping up all around, like the hot air balloon. I have never been in one and probably never will, but the beauty of them floating in the wild blue yonder is certainly tempting.

3. Do you have a favorite toy from this collection?

I’m not sure I can pick a favorite. I tell my girls that it’s not nice to pick favorites because it could make others feel left out. I will say that although some are easier and quicker to make than others, it doesn’t always mean I love those more. Many of these patterns I have held onto for years in the hopes of putting them all together in one book.

4. What was the biggest challenge for you while creating this book?

Keeping the family, church, and life balance was by far the hardest challenge. There were many days I woke up and fell asleep crying from the stress of deadlines and the feelings of being unbalanced in my life. I wondered often if I was doing the right thing, but couldn’t throw in the towel. I’m a perfectionist and wanted what was in my head to show in the book. For me that meant not just one gnome, but four, not just one mushroom or buoy, but multiples of each. I didn’t want the photos to be limited to single samples, so I made a ton of extra pieces for many of the patterns. Looking back, I wouldn’t do anything differently regarding the book or the samples, but would def bring in a sewing helper to help balance my time with my family.

5. Do you have any creative role models?

Other than my retired art teacher mom and my twin sister artist…there are a few designers I have kept tabs on since learning about them many many years ago. I discovered Heather Bailey and her invention, the Trash Ties™ when I invented the Tuck ‘n’ Go™. At the same time, I found her Nicey Jane™ and Pop Garden™ fabric lines which I still hoard in my studio. Around that same time a friend had told me about this fabric she saw recently and thought I’d like it. It was Amy Butler’s Midwest Modern™ fabrics, and yes, I hoard them too. In the past few years I’ve discovered SarahJane – she’s such a sweetheart and her fabrics are equally hoarded here. All three of them have inspired me for years to find my own voice.

6. Do your kids have a favorite toy that you’ve made (either from Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love or otherwise)?

They love all of the patterns but the Gnomes are most loved by all. When working on new patterns I don’t make anything with muslin (I guess you could say it annoys me because it is a boring color). I make all of my samples and patterns in beautiful fabrics, so my girls get to keep any “misfits” and love them despite their quirks! When a pattern works the first time, they are sad they don’t get to keep it.

7. In terms of being a published designer, what’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

I think the best advice I have ever gotten as an artist (not just a published designer) is to be true to myself. There are so many ideas out there, and so many artists are being copied left and right. We each have something to offer without having to copy someone else’s work. Learn new skills and techniques, but stay true to you and your own style. Be original so others can’t help but notice.

Thank you, Kerry!  All of the editors at AllFreeSewing are beyond excited about this treasure trove of toy patterns. If you’d like your very own copy of Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love: 18 Toy Patterns for the Storytelling Sewist, we’re giving away a copy! Even better about this copy? It’s signed by Kerry Goulder herself! Enter once a day, every day until December 16th! Best of luck to everyone!

Tell us, what was your favorite toy when you were little?

Featured Quilt Designer: Shana Kreikemeier

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Today we want to spotlight one of the talented designers from our latest FaveQuilts eBook, Shana Kreikemeier!

Shana blogs at Needyl, where she writes about knitting, quilting, and various other DIY projects she takes on. She has also published an impressive collection of knitting patterns and baby quilt patterns that are available free on her blog. Shana especially loves designing patterns for babies; who can resist a snuggly crib quilt or a pair of knit baby booties?

We’re especially fond of Shana’s baby quilt patterns because of their clever quirkiness. Her Tetris Baby Quilt Pattern is a throwback to early computer games, and her Archipelago Baby Quilt  is an inventive interpretation of geography in patchwork.

14 Easy Baby Quilt PatternsIt’s Shana’s adorable, creative, and well-written patterns that led us to feature her in our latest free FaveQuilts eBook, 14 Easy Baby Quilt Patterns for Boys and Girls. Shana contributed four of her awesome patterns to this collection of simple baby quilt tutorials. We selected some of Shana’s easiest, cutest quilt patterns for this free eBook. You’ll find her Tetris Baby Quilt Pattern and Archipelago Baby Quilt included in our chapter of Baby Boy Quilt Patterns (although you can easily make these patterns for little girls, as well). Her playful quilts featured in our Animal Quilts section use fun prints of sea creatures in Gavin’s Marine Life Quilt and monkeys in the Simple Monkey Baby Quilt.

Shana’s featured baby quilt patterns use simple square patchwork designs to create adorable and unique patterns without any complex piecework. Even a beginning quilter can make Shana’s clever quilt patterns without too much trouble.

When Shana isn’t designing baby quilts and knitting patterns, she likes to cook, crochet, and tackle other diy projects. She also enjoys playing with her dachshund Pico when she can spare some time from her crafty endeavors!

To learn more about Shana and connect with her through Facebook, Twitter, or Ravelry, you can visit her designer profile on FaveQuilts.com or contact her at Needyl.

Meet and Make: Rebecca Grafton

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Rebecca started making jewelry as a bored kid during the summer who needed a hobby to keep her busy. After many years of self-teaching and experimenting, Rebecca has become an experienced jewelry maker who loves to bead for herself and others. While jewelry making is her favorite hobby, Rebecca dabbles in all different kinds of arts and crafts and shares her projects on her blog My Girlish Whims, which is all about beading, crafting, and general life as a girl! She also offers many of her beaded creations for purchase in her etsy shop, Your Girlish Whims, where she lists handmade accessories to match all of your girlish whims! Keep scrolling to find out more about Rebecca and learn how to make a simple necklace!

 

10 Fun Facts about Rebecca:
1. When I was a little kid I had this one little container full of plastic beads I loved to look at and play with. I would dump all the beads and put them all back to where the were just for fun to play with them!
2. My newest favorite craft besides jewelry making is embroidery – this needle craft is so fun and definitely not just for grand-moms!
3. I’m currently planning for my own wedding! Hubby-to-be and I will tie the knot on February 25th, 2012
4. I spent a semester of college studying abroad in France. While abroad I had a chance to travel to Italy, Ireland, Spain, and England. Best decision of my college career ever!
5. My favorite food is anything that has cheese in it. You don’t need to impress me by cooking a fancy meal, a simple bowl of Mac and Cheese is fine by me!
6. Hubby-to-be and I are currently house hunting for our very first home together. The biggest requirement I have? That there is space for me to get a craft room!
7. I live in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I love where I live, and plan to stay here as long as God let’s me!
8. I’m currently taking classes to become a licensed real estate agent.
9. While I plan on working for awhile, I secretly hope down the line I’ll be able to be a stay-at-home mommy with lots of spare time to craft!
10. My favorite things to bead are earrings and long chunky necklaces.

Rebecca’s tutorial:

Learning how to use crimp beads is by far the easiest and most important thing to learn when starting to make jewelry. After you learn how to crimp you can make endless different kinds of necklaces, bracelets, and ankle bracelets. Once you learn how to crimp you can experiment with different patterns and types of beads and make all kinds of jewelry just in your style!

To demonstrate how to crimp I whipped up this simple but elegant strung necklace:

Here’s how to make it!

Supplies Needed
Beading wire
Needle nose pliers
Wire cutters
Crimp beads
Clasp
Beads of your choosing. I choose to use rose quartz beads and metal spacers.

I’m using tiger tail as my beading wire, which you can get at Michael’s or Joann’s. It’s strong and cheap, but kinks easy so beware of that. Beadalon or Softflex are higher quality beading wire, but also a little more expensive.

Steps
Step 1: Cut a piece of beading wire using wire cutters a few inches longer than your finished product will be. My finished necklace is about 19 inches, so I cut my wire to 22 inches. It’s ALWAYS better to have to more to work with!!

Step 2: String on a crimp bead and one end of the clasp of your choosing.

I choose to use a pretty heart toggle clasp.

Step 3: Loop the beading wire back over the clasp and through the crimp bead.

Step 4: Squeeze the crimp bead shut using needle nose pliers. There are also tools out there called crimpers that allow you to crimp the bead twice, but in my experience when I use a crimper my crimps tend to break. Once and done with pliers will just just as good, if not better.

Step 5: Trim the excess wire off using wire cutters.

Step 6: String on beads.

Step 7: Crimp the other end of the necklace the same way shown above, just use the other end of the clasp. Be sure to leave a little extra wire before the crimp bead so the beads have a little room to move around and don’t grind on each other so much.

Trim off the excess wire, and you are done!

A beautiful necklace in only 15 minutes.

Now that you can crimp, the possibilities of different kinds of necklaces and bracelets are endless! I love sitting down with a specific color pallet of beads and playing around until I find a pattern I like and then I string them.

FaveCrafts Blog Giveaway Contest

GIVEAWAY
We are giving away a prize a day every day here on our FaveCrafts blog for National Craft Month. It is so easy to enter. Just go to our Project of the Day post and comment to enter! You have 31 chances to win and a new special prize each day. Tune in every day to see if you are the winner!

Meet and Make: Lisa DeNardi

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Today’s Meet and Make is Lisa DeNardi, a craft designer for AllFreeHolidayCrafts.

Lisa’s passion lies with creating something awesome from something neglected. For her, it’s all about time-honoured, classic possessions that never really go out of style. Sometimes she restores them to their original loveliness, other times they are re-purposed and reused into something fresh and fabulous. What started as a hobby and has turned into a small part-time business for Lisa.

Lisa lives in a home that she lovingly refers to as ‘The Money Pit’ since there’s always something to fix, paint, sand down, build up or move around.

Lisa created her blog, Recaptured Charm, when she lost her only sister to breast cancer in 2006. She wanted to turn to something that would occupy her time and her mind. She started with small furniture makeovers and within a year moved to a fixer-upper home and started a blog to chronicle her renovations and furniture transformations. She has been busy ever since.

You can find more about Lisa on her designer profile page.

10 Fun Facts About Lisa:

1. I am most comfortable in my work clothes that smell like Downey but are splattered with paint.

2. My father owned a Queens Plate winner in 1983;The Most Coveted Horse Racing Trophy in Canada.

3. I must see the opening credits of a movie or else I can’t start watching it.

4. I truly believe that square pizza tastes totally different than round pizza.

5. I try to convince all my friends and Mr. Charming that ‘all you can eat sushi’ is good for you.

6. When I hear my daughters come in at the end of the night, I silently thank God for another safe day.

7. I am the sister of a breast cancer victim. She was my best friend and is never far from my mind at any given moment.

8. Can recite every line from When Harry Met Sally and any Bugs Bunny Cartoon.

9. I have severe arachnophobia.

10. I have a hard time convincing my friends that despite my age I don’t have a grey hair on my head.

 

Lisa’s Craft Tutorial: Make a Coffee Filter Wreath

Materials:

  • Styrofoam wreath form
  • Approximately 200 coffee filters
  • Hot glue and glue gun
  • Decorations of your choice (ornaments, pine cones, branches, etc.)

Instructions:

1.  Fold the basket shaped filter in half.

 

2.  Run the filter through your hand to make a flower. Flatten the bottom and apply hot glue.

 

3.  Start gluing filters to the inside of the wreath and work your way out. No need to go all the way around. Leave the back as flat as you can.

 

4.  Using sharp scissors trim any areas that are uneven.

 

5.  Hot glue on any decorations you like.

 

Question:  Have you ever crafted with coffee filters before?  What did you make?

 

Meet and Make: Maya Kuzman

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Maya Kuzman
Today’s Meet and Make is with the wonderful Maya Kuzman! She is an English teacher and translator by profession, but also a devoted knitter, a struggling crocheter, and an aspiring seamstress by choice, desire, and necessity to create. She is driven and nurtured by all things beautiful surrounding her. Keep scrolling to learn more about Maya and learn how to make some fun crochet beads!

 

 

10 Fun Facts about Maya:

  1. When I grow up I want to have a line of children’s clothing.
  2.  I love all colors except for white and black.
  3.  I am addicted to chocolate.
  4.  I have huge collections of postcards, Christmas cards and stamps.
  5.  In the past I corresponded with pen-pals from more than 50 countries.
  6.  At university my favourite subjects were English Literature and the Course in Shakespeare.
  7.  In reference to the above, every female student was in love with Mr.Darcy, yours truly included.
  8.  In elementary school I won the fastest reader competition (reading aloud).
  9.  Being a book worm I can get lost in libraries and bookshops for hours.
  10.  I love to look for images in coffee mugs, clouds and trees.


How to Make Crochet Beads:

This is a tutorial you are really going to like because the finished product is adorable!
How to make crocheted beads in a few easy steps.
Here we go:

Crocheted Beads

Terms used: stitch (st.), single crochet (sc), single crochet 2 together (sc2tog)

Start by chaining three chains. Join with a slip stitch with the last chain from hook to make a ring.

Row 1: 6 sc in ring
Row 2: 2 sc in each stitch for 12 stitches
Row 3: 1 sc in one stitch, 2 sc in the next; repeat until you get 18 st.
Rows 4 – 5: sc around for 18 st. (You may stuff it here)
Row 6: 1 sc, sc2tog for 18 st.
Row 7 – end: sc2tog until end.
Tie the end, thread an embroidery needle and hide the tail inside the bead.

Crocheted Beads

Crocheted Beads

Crocheted Beads

Tips: For the blue bead I used a six-stranded yarn and a 3 mm hook. The red bead from the intro picture is made by a thinner yarn and a 1.9 mm hook. You can see the difference in size. Hence, by combining different yarn and hooks you can have beads in different sizes.
Also, if you want to make bigger beads, just repeat row 4 until you achieve the desired size.

As you can see, I used filling for my beads, but you can use this pattern for wooden (plastic) beads too, only you have to insert it earlier and again employ the row 4 instructions.

I usually stuff it after row 6, but you may find it difficult, thus I thought that it may be wise if you stuff it before. Anyway, try both to find out what works best for you.

Meet and Make: Divya N.

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Divya N.
Today’s Meet and Make designer is Divya N. who is a freelance fashion apparel & jewellery designer from Chennai, India. She creates and sells jewelry & gifts under the brand name‘Sayuri’ – and you can find her frequently blogging at Jewels of Sayuri.

 

 

 

Let’s meet Divya!

10 Fun Facts about Divya:

  1. My jewelry brand Sayuri means a small lily in Japanese.
  2. I am a photo junkie and love taking pictures.
  3. I do a lot of trend research and write regularly for Fashion columns.
  4. Though my working style is very kitsch (I like mixing a lot of things together) my personal style is very classy…I wear plain boring clothes!!
  5. I love to read – mostly fiction and I love to write too.
  6. I hate girly colours like light pink and blue.
  7. I watch a lot of TV…I mean a lot!
  8. I get completely lost in a craft/fabric stores.
  9. I hate routines.
  10. I am home bird, I prefer to hang around at home rather than heading out into the city.

Here’s Divya’s Project:

Repurposed Jewelry – Gold Spiral Pendant

India’s love of gold is legendary and every Indian woman longs for a special piece of gold jewelry that is distinctly hers… For me it is a coiled pendant. Ever since I saw one in the D’damas ad in the mid nineties, I fell in love with it. So when I finally learned how to make jewelry I decided to make my own design of a Spiral-coiled pendant with lengths of shiny chain. This project is perfect to utilize all the bits of chain that you have leftover from your other projects.

 

Gold Spiral Pendant Tutorial

Materials:

  • A long gold chain(those cabled – close looped ones are good- the size of your pendant will depend on the length of your chain – so choose accordingly)
  • Clear glue (I use fevibond – it sticks fast and the bond is really good)
  • A piece of  fabric felt – in flesh/skin colour
  • Some jump rings (I used 3 apart from the one that was already attached to the chain)
  • Any other matching chain or cord to string the pendant on
 
Instructions:
  1. It is an effectively simple process. Fold the chain in two and lay it out after removing the clasp(leave the jump ring on) to make sure it is flat without any turns and knots.
    Gold Spiral Pendant Tutorial
  2. Now lay it as is on a piece of felt. (I prefer to cut the felt only after sticking down the chain..its much easier that way). Make sure that the strands are always parallel to each other.
  3. Apply a dab of glue in the centre, hold the chain in place (with  pliers or your hand) and start twirling the chain in the glue. Now you have got the centre of the pendant.
    Gold Spiral Pendant Tutorial
  4. Apply a concentric trail of glue and continue to twirl the strands strictly one at a time. If you turn both strands together, you’ll lose the shape and there will be gap in the middle.
  5. Keep twirling till you come to the end of the chain where there is (or you have pre-attached) a jump ring.
    Golden Spiral Necklace Tutorial
  6. Let it dry for at least an hour.
  7. Cut off the extra felt around the pendant as carefully as possible (the glue would have hardened your pendant by now) and set it aside for some time. Then add as many jump rings as your want (I added 3) to make a good bail.
    Golden Spiral Necklace Tutorial
  8. For all purposes you pendant is ready.
  9. Now you can string it to a piece of heavy braided cord or multiple cords or like me on another chain and you can keep changing it as per your mood 🙂

Have fun making it
Cheers
Divya N

For more of Divya’s projects on AllFreeBeadedJewelry.com check out her designer profile!

Designer Feature: The Simply Fun Jewelry Projects of Alicia from Dismount Creative

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At AllFreeBeadedJewelry.com, I mainly work with amazingly talented and creative bloggers who create gorgeous jewelry pieces. Alicia from Dismount Creative is no exception.

The DIY jewelry projects on her blog are easy to do if you’re a beginner to jewelry making and they’re super cute and trendy! Making your own runway and magazine inspired jewelry is the way to go if you don’t have $500 to spend on a bracelet (I know I sure don’t). This Houston based blogger makes it easy to steal ideas from your favorite magazines and make them for yourself.

Besides creating fun DIY projects for us to run home and try out and hosting regular crafting events in Houston, Alicia also recently started Whimseybox! What is it you ask? Well it’s an awesome idea for one and perfect for crafty people! It’s a little box that gets shipped to your house every month with 5 sample craft products inside. There is just enough for you to make one small craft project and test out the products. If you like them, you can go ahead and pick up a boatload from your local craft store. If not, you won’t have a ton left over and sitting around that you don’t know what to do with. It’s a great way to test out craft products without committing yourself to a whole bottle, box, etc.

Whimseybox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you like this idea, you’ll love her projects, but don’t just trust me see for yourself!

Celine Inspired Green Cuff

The original version of this Celine Inspired Organic Green Cuff will run you about $500. This version will fun you about $3. Win? I think so.

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Chunky Cocktail Ring

This DIY Chunky Cocktail Ring is easy to make, but packs a big punch. Don’t let your fingers go unadorned any longer!

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Colorblock Necklace

 

I have to admit that this is my favorite project. This DIY Colorblock Necklace is just pieces of clay connected with eye pins, but it created a classic and trendy piece that you can wear over and over again.

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Leather and Metal Pyramid Necklace

 

Another simple and classic, yet trendy idea is this Leather and Metal Pyramid Necklace. It’s also a very cool way to make some mixed media jewelry.

 

 

 

 

Metal Collar Necklace

 

This DIY Metal Collar Necklace is pulled right from the fashion magazines and you’ll be surprised how incredibly easy it is to make (and how much one of these runs!).

 

 

 

 

Studded Wrap Bracelet

 

The Studded Wrap Bracelet is a fun twist on the traditional wrap bracelets that have been taking over the internet and stores.

 

 

 

 

Gilded Clay Jewelry

 

Take some clay and some gold paint and you have some gorgeous Gilded Clay Jewelry! Can it get easier? Only slightly.

 

 

 

 

 

Modern Geometric Pendant

 

Simple to make and a great finishing touch to an everyday outfit, this Modern Geometric Pendant is a must-make! Play around with shapes and colors to see what works best for you.

 

 

 

Paper Bead Tribal Neckace

Who knew that paper beads could make such a great looking tribal inspired necklace? If I was any good at making paper beads, I’d definitely give this one a try.

 

Simple Chevron Necklace

 

Get out your metal snips! With a few cuts and some nail polish you can make your own Simple Chevron Necklace!

 

 

 

 

 

I hope that you were inspired by some of Alicia’s projects! What inspires your jewelry making?

 

Meet and Make: Mikey aka Michael Sellick

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Mikey akA MichaeL Sellick at The Crochet Crowd StudioI am Michael Sellick, online I’m known as Mikey. I am totally consumed by the crafting ideas that bounce in my head. I social network most of the day, every day, and end up crafting in bed at night time watching Netflix. I am the creator of The Crochet Crowd . My website is dedicated to giving away free patterns and tutorials on how to create projects.

10 Fun Facts About Me

  1. I’m addicted to two things; spending a lot of time on the computer creating content and crafting. Thus making what I do true passion.
  2. I listen to the same music playlist on YouTube virtually everyday to fill in the white noise of a quiet house as I work.
  3. Kraft dinner is the best meal ever invented.
  4. When teaching live in person, I’m known to “Queen out and break creativity wide open”.
  5. I sometimes go grocery shopping with my Crocs on… please don’t call the fashion police.
  6. I struggle to back a car into a parking space. Ironically, I used to be a truck driver and could do that fine.
  7. The sound of the cat licking itself is a sound that drives me up the wall.
  8. I love dry, sarcastic and witty humour.
  9. If I could start a collection right now, I would collect high heel stilettos.
  10. Netflix is the next best thing to sliced bread.

Here’s Your Project Today

Beanie Hat For Men with Style

The Crochet Crowd's Design Hat

A new pattern released by Michael Sellick.

Materials

  • Size H or 5.5 MM Crochet Hook
  • 2 Ball of Bernat Mosaic Yarn

Notes

  • I used 2 balls of yarn at the same time to double up the thickness of the yarn to provide better insulation and texture.
  • When using two yarn at the same time, it’s cooler to not have the yarn shade colours to not match each other. This creates a more interesting and unpredictable look to your beanie hat.

Definitions

  • sl st – Slip Stitch
  • beg – beginning
  • sc – single crochet
  • rep – repeat
  • ch – chain

Pattern

    • Chain 4 and sl st to the beg ch.
    • R1: Ch 1, work 6 sc in ring, join with sl st in beg ch.
    • R2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc, join with sl st in beg ch, 12 sc.
    • R3: Ch 1, *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 18 sc.
    • R4: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 24 sc.
    • R5: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 30 sc.
    • R6: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 36 sc.
    • R7: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 42 sc.
    • R8: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 48 sc.
    • R9: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 54 sc.
    • R10: Ch 1, *sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch, 60 sc.
    • R11-22 : Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch.
    • Fasten Off. Weave in ends.

 

Meet and Make: Mark Montano & GIVEAWAY

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Today’s Meet and Make designer is Mark Montano. Mark is a designer, crafter, television personality, author, DIY pro and all around cool guy. Mark was on several television shows like “While You Were Out” and “10 Years Younger.” In his books, Mark shares crafts that cover almost every craft genre. His latest title, The Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2, includes over 150 projects with step-by-step instructions for each one. Mark also has a few projects on our site as well and you won’t want to miss those!

 Let’s meet Mark!

 

10 Fun Facts about Mark Montano:

  1. I am a trained American Indian dancer and can do traditional Navajo, Sioux and Kiowa dances including the rain dance.
  2. I once got caught in an elevator with Vanessa Williams and she was more freaked out about my excitement than possibly dying in the elevator.
  3. I have about 300 pairs of shoes.  It’s almost my biggest extravagance.
  4. Green is my favorite color but I almost always wear blue.
  5. I can’t sew while wearing shoes ever.
  6. I’m still friends with people from 1st grade and they all (across the board) think we still look the same as we did in high school which is really scary because I think they look terrible!
  7. My parents gave up on telling me what to do when I was about 8 because I thought being grounded was awesome.  I had a sewing machine in my room and I loved to read.  I also have 5 younger brothers and it was a nice break from the chaos.
  8. It scares me how much I enjoy eating and watching TV.
  9. My grandmother was only a little over 3 feet tall and I thought I was a super hero because I was so tall at such a young age……compared to her.  Now everyone is taller than me including my 12 year old niece.
  10. I want a pet skunk.

Here’s Mark’s Project: Virgin Mary Suitcase

I grew up with images of the Virgin Mary all over my house and I felt this was the perfect way to honor that part of my upbringing. My grandmother is either going to slap me silly for making this or she is going to insist I send it to her immediately, but one way or another I know she’s going to have something to say about it.  (By the way, she won’t even utter the name of my book.  That woman is bound for sainthood, I’m sure of it!)

Materials:

  • 1 hard suitcase (check your local thrift stores)
  • Damp cloth and dry towel
  • Newspaper
  • Masking tape
  • Red Krylon Fusion spray paint
  • Scissors
  • Fabric with a couple of large images that you like
  • Fabric with small matching flowers that match your images
  • Elmer’s Spray Adhesive
  • Minwax Polycrylic Clear Coat
  • 1” wide paintbrush

 

Instructions:

Thoroughly clean your suitcase to get off all of the dirt and grime, and towel it dry.

Cover the parts of your case that you don’t want painted  with newspaper, and tape the paper in place.

Take the case outside and spray it red.  Let the paint dry.

Cut out the fabric images that you want to put on the suitcase, and lay them on the case to figure out where you want them to go.

Spray the back of each cutout fabric piece with the Elmer’s Spray Adhesive, and stick them to the suitcase.
When the entire case is decorated, generously coat it with Minwax Polycrylic Clear Coat and let it dry.

Coat the case a second time to make sure that it has a nice protective finish.

Giveaway:
Mark was so gracious to give us two copies of his new book, The Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2, to give away to two lucky blog readers! To enter to win a copy of the book just answer this question in the comments once in the section right below this post:

What is your best DIY project or idea you would like to try?

We can’t wait to hear from you on this one! This will give you one entry. But wait, there’s more…

Optional Bonus Entries

Earn additional entries for each of the following:
■ Tweet about the giveaway using the share button below or writing your own tweet to tell all our friends! (example): I entered the @MarkMontano #giveaway from @FaveCrafts and you can too! http://www.favecraftsblog.com/meet-and-make-mark-montano-giveaway/

■ Link to the this giveaway on Facebook! Here’s the link for ya – http://www.favecraftsblog.com/meet-and-make-mark-montano-giveaway/ or click the Share Link at the bottom of this post.

■ Blog about our Mark Montano interview and giveaway.

Contest closes Monday, October 17th at midnight CST. 

 

 

Meet and Make: Wanda Epps

by

Wanda EppsToday’s Meet and Make designer is Wanda Epps!

With a love of crafting that shows no signs of stopping, Wanda Epps is the publisher of Making Beaded Jewelry.com, a website dedicated to showing others how to make jewelry the easy way.

Her love of crafts can be traced backed to childhood when she used to embroider a favorite jean jacket until it fell apart.

Let’s meet Wanda!

10 Fun Facts About Wanda Epps:

  • I grew up in a great small town called Louisa, VA where not much newsworthy happens but it was recently the epicenter of a 5.8 earthquake.
  • My favorite decade is the 70’s, so I loved watching That 70’s Show. I also love the biggest seventies disco group The Bee Gees. I loved them in the eighties too even though some thought they were no longer cool.
  • Besides jewelry making, I’ve had a few other hobbies – flower arranging, painting floor cloths and crocheting. My next crafting adventure will be quilting.
  • My favorite color is red and when I make jewelry for myself I try to incorporate red beads.
  • Robert De Niro is my all time favorite actor.
  • I have a ton of craft books and beads…You could say that I’m addicted. Okay, I admit it, I am!
  • In high school I was student council president and a member of the Honor Society.
  • My favorite classes in junior high and high school were art class and home economics – loved those macrame plant hangers.
  • I do not have a nick name and cannot swim.
  • I have lived in three different states – Virginia, South Carolina and California.

Wanda’s Project: Simple Bead Earrings

Have fun with this quick and easy beading project. Make these simple bead earrings in less than ten minutes!

How to Make Simple Bead Earrings

Jewelry Making Supplies

  • two 8mm round beads in your favorite color (I used dyed red bamboo coral)
  • two 1 1/4 inch (3.2 cm) lengths of small link chain
  • two 1 1/2 inch (3.8 cm) head pins
  • two earwire jewelry findings (I used two Sheppard’s hook earwires)

Jewelry Making Tools

  • wire cutters
  • round nose pliers
  • chain nose pliers

Simple Bead Earrings Jewelry Making Instructions

1. Using wire cutters, cut two 1 1/4 inch (3.2 cm) lengths of small link chain. Set aside for use in Step 3.

 

2. Sting one 8mm bead onto a head pin. Using the chain nose and round nose pliers, make the first half of a wrapped wire loop.


3. Slide the first link of one of the lengths of chain into the half wrapped wire loop.

 

4. Using the chain nose and round nose pliers, complete the wrapped wire loop.

 

5. Using the chain nose pliers, open the loop on of one earwire. Slide the last link of chain onto the loop.

 

6. Using the chain nose pliers, close the loop.

How to make a simple bead earring

 

7. Repeat Steps 2 through 6 to make a second earring.

 

Enjoy wearing your new quick and simple bead earrings!

Crochet

Jewelry

Knitting

Paper

Sewing

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