Foraging Tote

I recently made this "foraging tote" for a friend's birthday after spending a week in the woods with her gathering sticks and stones for crafting projects. We wrapped sticks with wool thread, painted fun nature-y things on big dark rocks and laughed a lot the whole time. I came home and inspired by this project, decided this handmade carryall would be a great gift for our next outing.

I made it all up as I went along, but was originally inspired by this photo on Pinterest:

As cute as the found sticks are, I thought smoother handles would be more sensible. I found this tutorial, too, but didn't quite feel like following directions and doing things like measuring! But they're there if you want a place to start. Happy summer gathering, friends!

Book Business Tuesday: Small Craft Skillshare

This month's Small Craft "skillshare" gathering is happening in Ann Arbor in the picture perfect event space at local flower and garden shop, pot & box. It's happening Saturday, February 8 and the afternoon features wonderful crafty book lady Amanda, of Dang Argyle fame, showing the crew how to make book sculptures!

She’ll show us how to cut, fold and glue unwanted paperback books into attractive sculptures. Books, scissors, X-Acto knives, glue guns and glitter will be provided but feel free to bring along your own books, tools and supplies. There will also be hot beverages and homemade vegan baked goods. And it's all free! Hooray for Small Craft!

The Nomadic Pickle Project

Did you happen to notice the pickle in my post a few days back?  I hinted at him, but didn't want to reveal too much too soon. You see, the pickle blogs and I wanted to give him time to get his posts together. Yep, that's right: A blogging pickle. Now that he's ready… ahem… I'd like to formally introduce Mr. Pickle, aka the Nomadic Pickle. He was born out of crafty genius by Amanda and now travels the land with whomsoever will have him — friends and strangers alike. And then he blogs about it.

I had the pleasure of Mr. P's company two weekends in a row. You can read about his fishing adventures with my family in South Carolina here and follow his crafty journey with me to Indianapolis for the Indieana Handicraft Exchange here.

So how 'bout it? Wanna have a pickle friend along for your next adventure? Mr. Pickle is quite organized and keeps a tight schedule here. Find out how you can participate and sign on to the pickle project here. Hooray for pickles!

On the road again…

Where does the time go, I ask you?! Some of you may know that in the spring and summer I take on a couple of gardening clients and that is exactly where most of last week went hence the humming silence of crickets here on the blog. With all the rain we've had this spring, it's been weed and mulch city for me. But I think I'm caught up for the most part and my other excuse was a quick jaunt for a long weekend down in South Carolina for a family fishing trip in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains — gorgeous! 

I took a special friend along for the ride and can't wait to share details about that later once it's live elsewhere on the interwebs.

In other crafty news, you can now find a selection of Sloe Gin Fizz prints and cards at Naka in Ferndale.

And, last but not least, I will be back at it this weekend in Indianapolis for the Indieana Handicraft Exchange Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. Come on down and buy some handsome handmade handicrafts.  How bout it?

Come get crafty at Blue House!

I was going to start this post by saying that now that it's getting cold out, isn't it time to find a new activity to occupy you while sitting cozy inside on a blustery day sipping cocoa? But then… it happens to be close to 70ºF here today. But we all know those days are coming soon enough! If you're in the Ann Arbor and are interested in that cozy indoor activity perfect for blustery winter days, why not learn to knit? I just so happen to be teaching a couple of workshops at Blue House Ann Arbor in the coming months.

Knit One

Just the basics to get you started: Learn to cast on, knit and cast off.

• Sunday, October 31: 1 - 3 p.m.

• Monday, November 8: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Knit One.2

Did you take Knit One but ned a little help remembering what to do next? Need a little refresher or helping starting a project? No problem, this session will get you back on track and started on an easy knitted hat that you can finish in time for the worst of the chilly Michigan winter.

• Tuesday, November 30 • 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

And if knitting's not you're thing, don't worry! There are plenty of other workshops to suit a wide range interests. 

• Learn to sew with uber-crafty Amanda Schott of Dang Argyle 

• Sign up for one of the new metal jewelry design classes with the oh-so-talented Courtney Fischer 

• Experience an amazing printmaking workshop with Marcy Davy of All Things Grow 

Check out the full listing of workshops on the Blue House web site!

And if you're not that into taking a class or don't have time, you can find handmade items from all of these artists in the consignment area at Blue House. Okay, that's my plug for today. As you can tell, I am smitten with the BH and want everyone to know it! 

Come be social & crafty at the Blue House

What are you doing with your bad self tomorrow evening? I know what I'll be doing to stay out of trouble: I'll be curled up in a comfy chair over at the Blue House gettin' my craft on. If you're in the Ann Arbor area, how about stopping by for a little crafty socializing? We're having a casual drop-in "MakersMEET," so pull up a chair with that project you've been working on, come start a new one you've been meaning to get to, or just come and chat and chill. Feel free to bring some wine, beer, snacks, what have you... or nothing at all but your sweet self. Now I just need to decide whether to bring the little sewing project (top photo) I started at the June MakersMEET and haven't touched since -- or my latest knitting project (bottom photo). Hope to see you there!

Blue House Ann Arbor

It's open! This week Ann Arbor welcomes an exciting new addition: Blue House Ann Arbor. It's a creative studio dedicated to the handmade — studio spaces, workshops, even a small retail shop. The lovely and talented Siobhan Lyle has great vision and has been working hard since last summer renovating and planning. And now, the Blue House is ready and open to the public. The space is so beautiful and warm.

There is a whole crew of enthusiastic local artists involved (including yours truly — wink, wink) and the enthusiasm has been contagious. We're all getting together March 20th to say howdy-do and break in the space with a crafty spring show from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The lineup of vendors is fantastic. So if you're in the area — it's right on the corner of Main Street and Pauline — drop by, say hi, have a peek around and pick up some local art, dang it. Or check out the web site for the roster of workshops and details about the space.

Welcome, Blue House!!!