DIY crocheted coasters

14 May

cups on coasters crocheted coaster stacked

The greatest thing about these crocheted coasters is that you don’t really need to know how to crochet. You only need to know how to make a crochet chain, which is basically a series of slip knots.  I like this quick tutorial.  To make these coasters, you will need the following materials:

  • Thin yarn for crochet chain (embroidery thread or slightly thicker is best)
  • Thin cork board
  • Craft glue

Step 1. Crochet a very long chain (several yards long).

crochet chain stitch

crochet chain stitch

Step 2. Cut out  3″ to 4″ diameter circles from thin cork board.

cork coaster

Step 3. Glue the crochet chain to the cork.  Start from the center and circle out until the entire surface of the cork is covered by the crochet chain.

Here are my final products! I used two colors of yarn for my chain– double up the thread when crocheting the chain to achieve the same look.

crocheted coasters

needle felted creations

30 Aug

I have always been intrigued by needle felting.  Check out some of these clever creations!

macaroon cakes

felt cats

needle felted peeps

needle felted pee pods

Infused Vodkas

14 Aug

Infused spirits are always a hit.  This past Sunday I brought these homemade vodkas to a dinner party.  They were received well by the crowd!

infused-vodkas

coffee-infused vodka & peach-infused vodka

Why stop at coffee and peaches?  Check out some other great infusions.

herb-infused vodkas

herb-infused vodkas

infused vodkas

jalapeno-cumin, lemon grass-kaffir lime & cucumber-dill

fruit-infused vodkas

fruit-infused vodkas

Kollabora’s Blog

13 Aug

Just discovered Kollabora‘s amazing tumblr blog! Kollabora is a new social platform for DIYers, consisting of a craft supply marketplace and multiple maker communities linking projects, supplies, and how tos. Check out my favorite posts- they take the simple and make it into the beautiful.

DIY wire bow

DIY wire bow by Skunkboy

fork flower pom poms from Pretty Haven

Fork flower pom poms from Pretty Haven

String Art States DIY

String Art States DIY from Southern Belle Soul

 

 

 

breakfast-inspired fabrics

31 Jul

Spoonflower is an amazing online fabric store based in North Carolina that custom prints anything you design onto premium cotton or upholstery fabric. You can also buy other people’s designs. Here is a selection of my favorite breakfast-inspired fabrics from the site.

breakfast fabric

A perfect breakfast by Scrummy

Flapjack stack

Flapjack stack by Pattysloniger

soft boiled egg

Egg and spoon stripe by Scrummy

donuts and coffee

Donuts and coffee by Jaydesign

breakfast food fabric

Retro kitchen by Leighr

Mod breakfast fabric

Mod breakfast by Cynthiafrenette

my lucky jade plant

30 Jul

My mom gave me this beautiful jade plant over the weekend.  She propagated it from steam and leaf cuttings belonging to a 35 year old jade plant!  You may know this plant by its other names: friendship tree, lucky plant and money plant.

jade plant

my jade plant

A little more jade inspiration…

jade plant

Deconstructed jade plant ink by Slyia Nickerson

jade plantlet

Jade Plantlet by Lisa Teas

jade plant

Vintage wooden box and jade plant – stitched photo card by Pretty Neat Designs

Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn!

24 Jun

Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn

I just returned from the annual Renegade Craft in Brooklyn. It was pretty great. The fair showcases handmade work and wares of independent craftspeople, artists, and designers from all over the country.  Each year the quality of the crafts and goods gets better and better.  Here are a few photos I quickly snapped earlier today.

stuffed animal pillows Stuffed animal pillows by Broderpress

Acrylic jewelery by Brevity Acrylic jewelery by Brevity

Rope necklaces by Homako Rope necklaces by Homako

Embroidered artwork on linen by Coral & Tusk
Embroidered artwork on linen by Coral & Tusk