Oh this one hurts. I’ve been sitting on a razzy-snazzy knitting tutorial for the Pirate Queen’s Booty Bag for almost a year, waiting for international Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19).  I can’t BELIEVE I missed it! Well, actually I can believe it, it has my brand of absent-mindedness all over it. Regardless, I am kicking myself. But I present it here to you, in case some of some of you out there in craft land have a whole week’s worth of pirate-y festivities planned, you can still add this project to your agenda. And if not, well then print it and save it for next year, that’s the best I can offer ya skalley wags.

 Photo copyright Pat Kight and talklikeapirate.com

Who says you have to wait till November to enjoy a little Dia de los Muertos folk art? Normally, I’m drawn to the skull imagery of the Mexican Day of Dead inspired artwork because of the bright, vibrant colors associated; and the fun, cartoon-like interpretation of death makes the subject matter uplifting instead of depressing. In fact, I love this kind of piece so much, that I suggested stocking up on some pieces now, and enjoying them all season. And why not start with the whimsical skulls by KittyMoon13? My favorite (Voo Doo Magic Skulley, $18) surprisingly does not involve any of the traditional neon colors that I typically go for, but rather a Nightmare Before Christmas, black and white effect. And the zany eyes and demented grin remind me of some kind of ’90s Nickelodean cartoon. Aaargh!! Real Monsters, anyone?

photo copyright KittyMoon13

If you’re a crafty crafterson, you probably have some fond memories of Home Ec. Unless you’re like me and had a super uptight Home Ec teacher who was all over your case about your home made pasta noodles. Anyway, time has healed some wounds, and I wish I could go back and do it all over again, this time paying attention to all the skills I missed out on. But, since I can’t, I guess it’ll just pay some visits to Home Ec 101. I’m already all over their granny square tutorial, and I have a weak spot for stain and spot removal tricks, of which there are many. So give yourself a refresher. And who knows, you might learn something new too!

photo copyright: Home Ec 101

At my last job, my co-workers and I spent an inordinate amount of time talking about cheese. Someone would say, “You know what I love? Feta.” And from there the next half hour would be spent recounting our favorite types of cheeses, cheese dishes, places to get cheese, etc. One of the ultimate comfort foods, only the most extremely lactose intolerant can resist it’s charms. So color me excited when I found this video from Food Wishes by Chef John, giving a simple step-by-step demo on how to make cheese at home. As Chef John readily admits, making your own cheese this way is neither cheaper nor more time efficient, but if you truly love a food, how can you not want a behind-the-scenes experience unlocking it’s mysteries?

As the seasons are beginning to change, and the smell of autumn enters the air, I find myself longing for the cow fields and apple orchards of my childhood. But, since the city is a little light on rolling pasture land, I’ve taken a shine to the little geometric designs of Layer By Layer. The case is made of cardboard reinforced with bees wax, and the wells are full of earthy delights, like more bees wax, dirt, or moss. The effect is a bit urban architecture meets woodland grove. My favorite is called Object – three x 2 ($24), which would make a fantastic desktop getaway, when you need just a bit more nature without the high maintenance of a potted plant. Or, for an even more affordable variety, check out the $5 magnets.

(photos copyrighted Layer By Layer)

Hiya craft stars! The weekend is nearly upon us, so for those of us looking for a little creative diversion, here’s a few craft festivities going on this weekend.

The Renegade Craft Fair is taking over the windy city. Saturday and Sunday, September 13-14 from noon to 10 p.m.  Be prepared for over 300 vendors, live music, food, and a darn good time, Chicago style.

Or, for those of us here in the north east, check out the Handmade Cavalcade in Beacon, NY on September 13. from 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. Hosted by the {New, New} York Etsy Street Team, this indie craft fair will coincide with Beacon’s Second Saturday Art Walk. Lots of art, lots of D.I.Y. crafts, and lots of fun.

Check out indiecraftshows.com for more crafty fun in your area. And get ready for the Knit-Out 2008 & Crochet & Weave too, coming to Lexington, MA on October 5. Full of vendors, demonstrations, knitting for charity and more, it’s going to be a textile bonanza.

    This one goes out to all the indie moms out there (and dad’s too). I came across Cool Mom Picks blog today, and I have to say that these moms are pretty darn cool. The one of a kind toys, plates, boxes, and whatnot that they dig up on a daily basis are so well designed, that I found myself writing down a few of the websites for, uh, a friend. Yeah that’s it. I’m not going to buy myself toys, shut up. Any way, they have a great eye for what’s new and cool and not the same old boring Babys/Toy ‘R Us crap. A great resource for those of us too, who may be looking for good gift ideas.

Even though summer is winding to a close, I am going to go ahead and recommend a t-shirt that lets you wear your crafty nature on your sleeve. Or, more accurately, over your heart. The Singer Tee ($20), sings the message of stitching bliss with a silk screened logo of a sewing machine, accented with ascending, colorful buttons. What I like about this piece by Petals is that it’s straight-forward and fun.  It tells the world what you’re all about without any frills or frou frou. No muss, no fuss, all craft.

I think anyone who is drawn to making things with their hands has had a project go horribly, horribly awry. It can be devastating when the failure is fresh, but after some time, and a bowl of ice cream, usually we can look back on those mistakes and laugh. Or, if you want to feel better immediately, go to Cake Wrecks and revel in other people’s misery. I’ll be honest, I actually don’t wait until I’ve made a boo-boo to enjoy the ridiculousness that is the cakes featured on this blog. I incur all sorts of bad karma by laughing at them now. A few words on some of my favorites below: the first does actually strongly resemble one of my all time favs, Tom Selleck–but in a creepy, unnatural way. The second cake just makes me guffaw, there’s nothing better then a happy looking cake with a crappy message on it. Some of my other favorite cakes are not shown here, but they run amok over at the blog; these are the cakes where the decorator has taken the client’s suggestion and translated the request word for word onto the cake. Such as a cake top that literally says “Welcome Baby in Pink.”  Nothing better than to see a misunderstanding spelled out in icing.

(Photos property of Cake Wrecks)

Some people hate cute. They act like cute equals sappy, or sentimental. But by golly, some times things are just aesthetically pleasing in a way that invites you to go “awwwwe,” and I think tough guys around the world should just get over it. I’m bringing back cute! It’s not just for grandmas and little kids, it’s not just for weird, middle-age women who are obsessed with Winnie the Pooh. Cute is for everyone. It’s a universal, something we can all share. Let’s all start by agreeing that Babee, the Fat Rabbit of the eponymous Fat Rabbit Farm is one of the cutest things going. My pick of the day is the Whoaa! t-shirt ($25) from their line of clothing. I laughed aloud when I saw this shirt. Comic gold. What’s not to love? The motion lines are the best.

(photo copyright Fat Rabbit Farm)