Living Inspired: Nerdigurumi Posted by Autumn

MJ Bailey is the creator of the super-popular amigurumi website, Nerdigurumi.com. She is also a administrative professional, mother to a "nerdy rock n' roll" teenager, and a crochet pattern designer.When did you start to crochet? Is it true you started crocheting because of a videogame?I started crocheting successfully in the fall of 2009.  I had attempted to crochet on a few occasions prior to that, but struggled with various aspects of the basic concepts and techniques and usually gave up.  As [Read More...]

Tags: craft crafts crochet inspiration interest

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A Very Special T-shirt Quilt Posted by Autumn

We at OttLite are honored that so many of you have shared your special craft projects with us. Christening and prayer shawls, baby blankets, DIY wedding decorations, special occasion handmade cards, and more.This particular project came to us through the mail. Not email--the old-fashioned post office kind of mail. We were so touched by the story that we wanted to share it with all of you.Joyce from Dade City wrote that this memory quilt is made of blood donor T-shirts her husband had accumulated [Read More...]

Tags: handmade inspiration quilting

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Pillowcase Shoulder Bag Posted by Autumn

Here's a pretty project from the people at Martha Stewart.com.  Upcycle a solo pillowcase into a stylish shoulder bag!Sleeper of a Bagfrom MarthaStewart.comGive an orphaned pillowcase a new home -- over your shoulder.1. Trim 1/4 inch off the closed end, and cut the case in half on the diagonal. Turn the fabric of each of the four diagonal cut edges over by 1/4 inch, twice; pin, and hem.2. Place one pillowcase half inside the other, lining up bottom edges; pin, and sew at front where fabrics [Read More...]

Tags: craft crafts inspiration sewing

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Lace Water Bottle Posted by Autumn

We fell in love this crafter's blog right from the home page. Carolyn's homework has a subtitle we just couldn't resist. Today's assignment: be inspired. How perfect is that?This upcycle project starts with a regular glass water bottle and turns it into a charming vase. The perfect addition to a side table near a breezy window, or, as Carolyn suggests, DIY wedding decorations.Upcycled Lace Water BottleWhat You Need:a glass water bottlelace (recycle old curtain lace or purchase at your local [Read More...]

Tags: craft crafts modge podge recycle

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Easter Bunny Quilt Posted by Autumn

National Craft Month has us hopping for joy! Here's an absolutely adorable Easter Bunny quilt project from our friends at Hancock Fabrics!Easter Bunny QuiltFinished Size:Approximately 24” squareWhat You'll Need:June Tailor® Ink Jet Printable Freezer PaperJune Tailor® Amazing Alphabet Freezer PaperJune Tailor® Perfect Half-Square and Quarter-Square Triangles RulerFusible WebLight pink fabric for applique bunny and bindingMedium pink fabric for applique bunnyDark pink fabric for applique bunny, [Read More...]

Tags: craft crafts holiday quilting

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I Heart Rubber Stamps & Coloring Posted by Jennifer

I absolutely love rubber stamps and colored pencil. They can serve as an excellent cheat when I don't have time to create an original drawing. Rubber stamps can also come in handy when you want to create a series of color variations.For the card featured in this post I went for the colored pencils, blending pens and added some glitter accents.Once I finished the artwork and the glue holding the glitter was completely dry, I used edging scissors to trim it and the accent color papers I chose to [Read More...]

Tags: 508 Illumination art card color colored pencil craft crafts DIY handmade paper craft

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Living Inspired: Cathy Clark Posted by Autumn

Cathy Clark is a multi-crafter; she knits, sews and makes jewelry. She’s also a big fan of OttLite, and we’re glad she is! It was her amazing knitting that we first noticed, and so she shared with us a little bit about how she became a knitter, what kinds of projects she loves to make, and a funny tip for beginning knitters.When did you start knitting? Who taught you?I started knitting about two years ago. I watched a lot of videos online and went to a local knitting store for help.What made you [Read More...]

Tags: craft crafts inspiration interest knitting

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What We're Reading: Cleopatra Posted by Autumn

Cleopatra: A LifeStacy Schiff Back Bay Books, paperbackIf you like strong female heroes, love stories, treachery and espionage and ultimately, betrayal, this is for you. If you also like biographies that are as well-researched as they are well-written, this is definitely for you!Cleopatra is finally given justice with this artful re-telling of her life. She wasn't traditionally beautiful, but she knew how to put on a good show. She was intelligent, refined, and so wealthy she must have made the [Read More...]

Tags: books interests reading

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A handmade card for your Sweetie! Posted by Jennifer

Why wait until next Valentine's Day to tell someone you think they're sweet? Tell them any time with this cupcake-themed card.The color scheme for this project was really driven by the envelope I selected. I made sure to use my OttLite Folding Task Lamp ***shameless plug*** when selecting the card stock so that all of the colors were complimentary.After I established the size of the card and cut the window opening for the cupcake drawing, I traced the window size onto my drawing paper. Then I [Read More...]

Tags: 508 Illumination art card color craft crafts cupcake DIY drawn embellish folding task gifts giving hand drawn handmade hobby home inspiration interest interests light OttLite paper paper craft pencil scrapbook sweet

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Living Inspired: Janie Davies Posted by Autumn

Jane Davies is a full time artist working in collage, painting, mixed media and encaustics. She offers workshops at her studio and nationwide, focusing on helping people to find a personal and playful approach to creating. She is the author of several books, including Collage Journeys: A Practical Guide to Creating Personal Artwork and Adventures in Mixed Media: Collage, Stitch, Fuse, and Journal Your Way to a More Creative Life. We caught up with Jane to ask her about her work and her creative [Read More...]

Tags: collage craft crafts inspiration interest mixed media

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