I drink a lot of coffee, and my favorite home made variety is the French Roast from Trader Joe’s. After a while, the empty canisters began to build up, but they were so pretty I couldn’t throw them out. Finally, I opted to recycle them and make colorful flour and sugar canisters I could reuse over and over. Materials and instructions after the jump:
Every year, change seems to come my way in late February. It’s been four years since I moved to San Francisco, two years since I moved into my lovely Mission apartment, and one year since I got laid off from my corporate job and started this very blog. This post is coming to you late because I was sequestered in the woods on a meditation retreat, but the sentiments remain the same.
This blog has been an invaluable gift and learning process. I’ve taught myself through lots of Googling, Pinterest boards and trial and error to make beautiful things, do my own graphic design and of course make crafts and patterns. I’ll attempt to share some practical advice from my year in the paint and fabric trenches:
Get it out sooner rather than later: I can’t tell you how many times I was delayed in posting a project for weeks because I didn’t have anywhere to photograph or I needed to just edit the post. I can often breeze through the first 90% of a project, but struggle with the finishing touches. If you have just 10% more to finish and think, “I’ll finish it tomorrow.” Days can turn into weeks and before I knew it, nothing new had been posted on my blog in a while. It doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect. The wonderful thing about the Internet is that it’s a living document; it never stops being changed or rewritten. If you wake up to find a big typo in your post, no matter, fix it then. But at least you got it out there. More Tips after the jump!
Get the Yoga Bag Pattern on Craftsy now →I’m a pretty typical San Franciscan. I love farmers markets, the liberal media, parades celebrating gay people, parades celebrating straight people, expensive coffee, start-ups, gourmet ice cream in 50 degree weather, mindfulness, etc etc etc. There’s one stereotype I haven’t quite bought into until now, and that’s yoga. Why be stuck in a studio when you can jog outside? I resisted until I found out that the studio around the corner from my house offers beginner classes, and now I’m a total convert.
I got tired of schlepping around my yoga mat (even around the corner), so I made this cheerful yoga bag from fabric in my collection, and I’m selling the pattern for it on Craftsy. Some cool things about this pattern:
Thanks to the beautiful Sarah for being my model!
One thing I absolutely love about the internet is the plethora of free resources on every subject under the sun, including sewing! The first 25 Free Dress Patterns post was so epically popular that I decided to compile another. Big thanks to Susan Akers for contributing my community Pinterest board and finding some awesome free patterns. Sew on, bargin hunters, sew on : )
When thinking about the perfect project to post for Valentines Day, I was coming up empty. I could make a pretty card, some heart decorated t-shirts, or better yet, candy. It just felt as if I had seen all these things done a million times before a million times better. Then, when shopping in my favorite reuse center for a craft class I was going to teach, I came across these tiny glass bottles with flimsy plastic lids. “These would be great,” I thought “if they had a prettier cork to top them off.” I could whittle down a cork to fit and make a simple, adorable message in a bottle for Valentines Day.
Not too long ago, my lovely sister, Jill, made her own jewelry tree for her vast collection of necklaces and earrings and she let me post it on this here blog. I guess craftiness runs in the family : ). See materials and instructions after the jump.
2012 was a great year filled with paint, fabric and flour. These are my 12 favorite posts from this year including free dress patterns, painting tutorials and more. Enjoy after the jump : )
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I could have just gone to Paper Source, Target or even Walgreens to pick up some wrapping for my Christmas gifts, but knowing me I just had to get creative and make my own. I headed to Scrap, my favorite reuse center to get the supplies for this project. Scrap is a wondrous warehouse full of paper, wood, fabric, fake flowers, foam and pretty much any other recycled art supplies you can think of. If you’re ever in SF, I highly recommend a visit. I know you might not be able to replicate these some of these exact supplies, but I hope this post will inspire you to get inventive with your gift wrap and give some charming gifts this holiday season. More after the jump!
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It’s the time of year for cozy blankets and books by candle light. I’ve turned cheap glass votives into imitation silver and gold mercury glass with just a couple materials and few steps. It’s an affordable project that adds a little charm to your holiday party! More after the jump.
As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve been a little remiss (aka absolutely terrible) at updating my blog in the last few months. I’ve been working on an exciting new segment of Craft Habit, housewares and pretty things made by me in the style and aesthetic of this very blog. I call my new shop Craft Habit Designs.
I’ve been working endlessly at my sewing machine for months to get ready for this holiday season and I’ve actually done it. I built my etsy store and gotten my work into three well-know craft fairs in the SF Bay Area. The process has been exciting and stressful, but mostly I’m just proud of myself that I launched in such a short amount of time.
I had a great deal of help from Springboard SF, a program that helps creative people get their side projects or businesses launched. I could not have launched Craft Habit Designs without the tremendous amount of clarity and inspiration the program provided me.
You can catch me weekend at the KPFA Crafts Fair or next at the SF Holiday Market, both in San Francisco. If you don’t find yourself in San Francisco at this very moment, you can still do your holiday shopping on my Etsy shop and I can ship all over the world! There will be more tutorials, patterns and general crafty goodness once all this holiday craziness subsites. I’d like to wish all of my readers the best, most fulfilling holidays and a rocking new year!
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