Learn to Crochet D.I.Y Night

This next D.I.Y night we are going to take the plunge into learning how to Crochet as well as maybe start creating an Apple Cozy for those who are ready for a little challenge.

I will confess I have not made the cozy ever before but have been aspiring to and I feel this would be a great time to try to figure it out. I purchased one to use as a pattern and have ended up loving taking my apple in my lunch to work with me. It's a perfect little case.

This pic is from Pigatopia Studios

For those of you who have not ever crocheted before, don't you worry. Crocheting seams to be simpler than knitting if you are intimidated by it. When I learned to crochet many years ago I thought I would never be a knitter because knitting was to confusing and took to long. But I was wrong, I did eventually pick up the knitting needles but I would have to save crocheting is a good place to begin in the needle craft department.

So here are the supplies you will need to bring:

1. Crochet Hook 2.5 mm (from my experience the Susan Bates brand is my favorite type of hook. The 3 pack I have linked here would be a good one to purchase because the sizes here will work for our project.)

2. Apple Cozy Pattern Printed out here from the web (ok, that link doesn't work and I can't figure out the pattern so I tried this one and with a few alterations have gotten it to work.)

3. 1 skein of Yarn (bring a simple 100% cotton in a light color. I say light because then you will be able to see what you are doing. If you get black or navy or something else dark like that it will be hard to see your stitches.)

4. Scissors

5. Button

If you are further interested in more fruit cozies patterns take a look here at The Indigo Phial blog.

I hope to see you this coming Tuesday May 19th, at Mars Cafe 7-9 pm!

p.s. if you don't feel like crocheting feel welcome to bring any other project you might want to work on and join us for some good banter.

Sneak Peek....

The house is a mess with all sorts of creative clutter. Sarah and I are working on getting all our new products up and ready for their unveiling this coming Saturday at Craft Saturday and Sarah has posted some great pictures of the sketches she has done for some of our designs. Go check them out here.

Lisa Hannigan - I don't know

You may notice there has been a theme lately to all things crafty + music video. I am sure glad someone is being creative out there in the music industry!

B.Y.O.P. D.I.Y. Night

When I started the idea of D.I.Y Nights I wanted to have nights that we do not have an organized project and instead everyone brings their own project they are working on. We can socialize with each other as well as get ideas and inspiration from all the different types of crafts each and every person is doing. Sometimes I need to just have a dedicated time that I work on a project that I have been trying to finish forever or I just need to get a shot of creativity from someone else.


So please come join us for the next "Do it yourself night" when you get to actually do it yourself by bringing your very own project, Tuesday, April 21st 7-9 pm at Mars Cafe. Don't worry if you don't have a project to work on, we always enjoy having your company.

Dream of paper

LOVE IT and all things paper!

In process

I am working on making my hutch that I purchased a few weeks ago much more attractive. I've been painting the cream color shelves as well the worn out drawer fronts gloss white. You may see what it looked like in the beginning here on my past post.

Here's what was accomplished this evening after I got home from work. It's starting to shape up!


Also my brother David and I went out thrift shopping last Saturday afternoon and stumbled upon these great finds.

The Hair Pin coffee table and kitchen table are mine as well as the black wire record player stand. David was excited about his night stand and alarm clock. We even where able to fit all of this and more in my car! Another great reason why the Toaster is the BEST car ever.

what a mess at D.I.Y night!

Book Altering was a popular D.I.Y event to be at last night. We had a fantastic turn out of many people interested in how to alter a book. Some new beginners and some experienced. We only skimmed the top of what you can do with books and only just begun projects that I hope people will continue with. It's a great craft/hobby to build upon.

I have made several books throughout the years. Books for projects assigned to me at college, books for presents for my friends, books for themed craft swaps, the list goes on.

Oh gosh what a wonderful mess we made, paper scraps flying everywhere! You can see more pictures of the mess we made at my Flickr account.

There where several new folks that came to join us last night, so glad you did! I hope that everyone had as much fun as I did and really enjoyed seeing the ideas that come out of each and every person. I like how everyone has their unique ways and ideas that they come up with, I always come out with new inspirations of what I can do in the future.

I hope you are able to come and join in on our next D.I.Y night Tuesday, April 21st. Let me make sure I have this date right.... "Yes!", because I got this last one wrong some how.

how to Wallpaper

How to Wallpaper from ferm LIVING shop on Vimeo.

Check out Ferm LIVING for some wonderful wallpaper as well as other home products.

Craft Saturday

My good friend Sarah and I have been working hard on a new collaboration: UrbanPosture. Please come and suport all the handmade artist and see the unveiling of all our new merchandise!

Recession what?

New Furniture

Found this wonderful hutch last week out thrifting. I've claimed it as my own and today set up some of my merchandise on the shelves. The poor guy needs some tender loving care but for now this will do.