Written by Becky Striepe
Published on February 3rd, 2010

This amazing video tutorial is a lesson in more than just sewing. Annika Sanders of UK clothing shop Junky Styling shows that green crafting is all about your mindset.
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Written by Kelly Rand
Published on January 15th, 2010

By now you’ve heard all about the devastating earthquake that struck the capital city in Haiti. It is overwhelming, scary and getting the supplies, relief and money needed to make a dent in the utter devastation seems like an insurmountable task.
But us makers are a crafty bunch, running sales, donations and silent auctions to raise money to help. So here are a few ways to rise to the occasion with the craft community:
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Written by Wenona Napolitano
Published on October 16th, 2009
Green Guide for Artists: Nontoxic Recipes, Green Art Ideas, & Resources for the Eco-Conscious Artist
is the one book all green crafters and artists should have. It lists craft and art supplies that are green (and at a minimum less toxic) as well as gives recipes to make your own green supplies like natural paints and glues.
I had no idea that Gorilla Glue is “green”. My husband uses it all the time and I figured it was just another glue from the hardware store but it is actually non-toxic and VOC free. Though when I have performed searches for green supplies it never comes up.
That’s just one reason why this book is so great. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Lucille Chi
Published on September 27th, 2009

Craft Hope is a faith-based, love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those in need, and their goal is to combine love for crafting with desire to help others into a project to make a difference around the world. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Becky Striepe
Published on August 19th, 2009

Got a closet full of clothes that just need a little love? Or maybe you’re thrifting-obsessed and just need some motivation to turn your finds into something really special! Either way, Wardrobe Refashion might be just the thing you need!
So what is Wardrobe Refashion?
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Written by Becky Striepe
Published on August 11th, 2009

When the Los Angeles County Museum of Art announced that it was deaccessioning part of its textile collection, artist Robert Fontenot was on the scene. He hit up three separate auctions and acquired 50 pieces, almost half of the items the museum was getting rid of. The resulting work is sometimes arty, sometimes functional, and all beautiful! He embroiders the accession number into each finished piece.
The project is still a work in progress, and I just love this quote from his artist’s statement: “Although each item has not yet been used, each item can have a use.” Yes! I think that can apply to materials in a much larger sense, and his work is a fantastic reminder that old pieces can take on a whole new life with just a little bit of love.
Want to get your upcycle on? Thrift stores and even the back of your closet are full of textiles that can take on a whole new life! Here are a few ideas to get you going:
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Written by Becky Striepe
Published on July 29th, 2009

We’re officially in the thick of summer, and that means cookouts and BBQs galore! Here are some crafty ideas to fancy up your next cookout and divert some trash from the bin all at the same time!
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Written by Becky Striepe
Published on July 28th, 2009
Last week, Craftzine linked to an awesome tutorial for deconstructing cans over at Adaptive ReUse. Since then, I’ve been sort of obsessing with ways to reuse the metal that would normally hit our recycling bin.
Some of these projects involve taking the tins apart, while others use the entire thing to create something fun and new. There are project ideas for a bunch of different skill levels, so don’t fret if you’ve never done any metal crafting before!
Ready to get reusing? Me, too!
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Written by Wenona Napolitano
Published on July 24th, 2009
Here’s a way to tie a pretty bow or add a little something extra to your project while being eco-friendly.
Cream City Ribbon has a nice selection of biodegradable cotton ribbons made from cotton grown and processed in the US. The ribbon is made without using chlorine bleach and uses water based soy dyes making the ribbon very, very eco.
Even the packaging and ribbon spools are made from biodegradable materials.
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Written by Julie Finn
Published on July 16th, 2009
Waaaaaaaay back in December, you might remember I wrote my representatives a letter about the CPSIA of 2008. As a small crafter of children’s items and a consumer of handmade goods for myself and my children, I was extremely worried about the stringent testing requirements called for in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Specifically, I envisioned a future in which only a few huge manufacturers (the same ones, perhaps, whose outsourcing caused the lead scandals in the first place?) could afford to put children’s items on the market, and in which thrift stores and libraries were cleared out of children’s items entirely. Considering I only buy handmade or second-hand, that’s a problem for me. Read the rest of this entry »