Book Review – “Microcrafts: Tiny Treasures to Make and Share”

Posted on April 3, 2013 by kmore

“For the person for whom small things do not exist, the great is not great.”
~Jose Ortega y Gasset

Microcrafts: Tiny Treasures to Make and Share compiled by Margaret McGuire, Alicia Kachmar, Katie Hatz and Friends (Quirk Books)

Take a regular item, make it smaller, and what do you get? Something that’s just plain adorable! Miniatures have always been popular for their “cute-factor” and this book is BIG on cute. Prepare yourself for the dilemma of deciding which of the twenty-five unique and completely different projects you will want to make first. Will it be the scrumptious looking candy charms, the adorable little spool dolls, or perhaps the itty-bitty houseplants and terrariums? Whatever you choose to make, you will have something to decorate your dollhouse, give as a gift, wear as jewelry, or simply add some charm to a darling little shelf. Each project comes with simple, easy-to-follow directions as well as diagrams and illustrations that will make craft-time a joy. The photographs are lovely, and the overall feel of the book a blend of sophisticated whimsy. You will want your own copy of Microcrafts to turn to again-and-again– if for nothing more than to get your daily-dose of cute! We want to extend a big thank you to Quirk Books for sharing the “Book” and “Deer Head” projects from Microcrafts with us for this issue. Go ahead, give them a try, and don’t be surprised if you start dreaming up your own microcraft ideas!

(This review was first published in the Christmas issue of Amy Powers’ Inspired Ideas. The publisher, Quirk Books, was generous enough to share two amazing projects from the book with readers of the magazine. The images below come from the magazine, not the actual book. Hop on over to Amy’s site to check them out, and then grab yourself a copy of the book to see all of the other amazing projects!)

Hello Bunny!

Posted on March 27, 2013 by kmore

“For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born.”

~Alice Freeman Palmer

I was wrapping up a gift yesterday, and I wanted to give it an extra-special touch. Lucky me, I found this free pattern and whipped up this sweet little bunny to give it some Easter flair. It worked up quickly and was super easy! I used Caron Simply Soft yarn and a size I crochet hook. I think I will make more in pink, green and white. Won’t that be festive?

The pattern came from Love the Bluebird but I changed the tail and used the tutorial from Vivid Please.

Happy Easter and Happy Stitching!

“Inspired Ideas” Spring Issue – It’s Here!

Posted on March 25, 2013 by kmore

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. ~Hal Borland

I loved working on the spring issue of Amy Powers’ Inspired Ideas. Once again, I helped edit the articles and wrote several book reviews. This issue includes several more book reviews for craft titles as well as three amazing fiction titles. This time I chose three novels with a flower “theme.” All of them are very different, but very good! Isn’t this the perfect time of year to settle in a sunny window and crack open a good book?

My favorite non-fiction book review this go-around was a fantastic little book by Lilla Rogers called I Just Like to Make Things. This book is just a treasure-trove of advice and inspiration for those of us who want to maximize our creativity. It’s especially for those who want to turn their creative passion into a career. Pick up a copy soon. You won’t be disappointed!However, it’s really the crafts that make Amy’s publication so special. Each unique craft idea is full of cheer and whimsy. You’ll have a hard time deciding which project to try first! To be honest, Amy’s bird nests are at the top of my list, as well as the sweet little Easter cloches designed by Ashlee Park.

If you’re in the mood to bust some of the stashes in your craft closet, head on over and check out all of the great ideas in this issue. It’s quite an amazing deal for so much loveliness! Be sure to stop back by and let me know if you read one of the recommended books or whip up something special for spring!

Happy crafting and happy reading!

Still Feeling the Love

Posted on February 24, 2013 by kmore

“Everything’s coming up roses– for me.” –Ethel Merman

I’m still feeling the February love. It’s such a short month, and I haven’t lost my mood for red, pink, roses and of course, chocolate. There are so many lovely crochet patterns floating around online for flowers, that I decided to try a rose in honor of February. I love the way it came together, and I think I’ll try some more. Hey, there are still a few days left in the love-month!

Many thanks to Hille Knits for sharing the free rose pattern. ( I altered the leaves somewhat from the pattern so that it only had three leaves instead of four.) So much less expensive than the florist, right?

Happy February, and happy stitching!

Birthday + Beads = Beautiful

Posted on February 3, 2013 by kmore

“At the age of 20, we don’t care what the world thinks of us; at 30, we worry about what it is thinking of us; at 40, we discover that it wasn’t thinking of us at all.” -Author Unknown

I thought I would share my latest project…. a 40th birthday gift for a friend who loves bold jewelry and bright, cheerful colors. I loved the combination of red, black, purple and green with a few gold accents. This was such a quick, easy crochet project using a heavy-duty thread purchased at my local bead shop. It reminds me of a pricey necklace in the recent J.Jill catalog, and it makes me happy to have made it for less, but also to be able to say, “Here’s something I made for you!” That’s the best part.

It’s so simple….

1. String all of your beads onto the thread. It takes a lot of beads, so just keep stringing until you have about three feet of continuous beads!

2. Tie a knot in the end. Start with a little bit larger bead and move it to the end. Move the rest of the beads over and start a loop right next to your first bead with your very, very tiny crochet-hook (I used 1.75mm).

3. Chain one, then pull a bead down. Chain OVER that bead and then chain 3-4 times before sliding down another bead. Keep going. My necklace was simply one very long rope. I then made a couple small little bead chains about 4 inches long and attached them towards the end of each side to make little “tassles.”

4. The necklace is meant to be wrapped around the neck like a scarf, so no need to connect the two ends.

5. Wear it with confidence. (Especially if you are “40 and Fabulous!”)

“Buttoning Up” My Christmas Gifts!

Posted on December 11, 2012 by kmore

“Each day provides its own gifts.” -Marcus Aurelius

I just whipped up a lovely necklace to give as a Christmas gift to a special friend. My inspiration came from the amazing designs of Molly Bernier from Whimsy House. Looking at her jewelry reminds me of being a kid in a candy store! These antique buttons are hard to come by, so I was lucky to get one in a grab bag of buttons from the thrift store. Score! This was so easy! 1. Break off the wire attachments on the back. 2. Use E6000 to glue on a jewelry bail (easy to find on Etsy or Ebay.) 3. Cut a ribbon or cord to length and add clasp hardware. 4. Enjoy all of the compliments you receive! I hope you’re finding time for handmade this holiday season!

It’s Finally Here! Amy Powers’ Inspired Ideas: The Christmas Issue

Posted on November 28, 2012 by kmore

I am so excited to announce that the Christmas issue of Amy Powers’ Inspired Ideas has finally been published! If you’ve never had a chance to experience her beautiful, inspiring online publication, it’s time to head on over to her website to take a peek! Once you start looking at this issue, as well as back issues, you will become enamored and will want to read them all! This publication is a unique mixture of craft ideas and tutorials with a vintage feel that is strong on whimsy. Christmas is right around the corner, and I know you will be heading to the craft store right away so you can whip-up an adorable vintage mesh stocking (just like the one you got as a kid!), some shiny tin ornaments for your tree or perhaps a miniature deer mount as a gift for the friend who has it all! All of the directions, along with fantastic pictures, are provided to make it a piece-of-cake to create something delightful to get into the holiday spirit!

I was thrilled to contribute to this issue by reviewing some heart-warming holiday reads. Furthermore, I served as the editor of this issue, and was able to lend a scrutinizing eye for typos and other small nit-picky details that perhaps only someone with an English degree would even bother to notice!

To experience some unique craft ideas and be introduced to some adorable new products — and of course, read my inspiring book reviews — hurry over and take a look! If you read (or have read) any of the book titles that I recommend in my article, I sincerely hope that you will stop back and leave me a comment with your thoughts. It’s so much fun to talk books!

Happy Holidays, happy crafting, and happy reading!

For the Creative Book Club: “The Thirteenth Day of Christmas”

Posted on November 21, 2012 by kmore

“Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.” –C.S. Lewis

(This is a quote from the book. Marva gives Charlee’s dad his own special apron with this saying to honor his penchant for storytelling.)

“This new Christmas novel by New York Times bestselling author Jason F. Wright is filled with laughter, tenderness, and of course, hope as these delightful characters watch an old Christmas favorite turn into a true Christmas miracle.” Shadow Mountain Press

I recently reviewed this book for my upcoming article in Amy Powers’ Inspired Ideas. It’s not too early to start thinking about a good book for your book club’s holiday gathering! This book is a fast read, and would be perfect for the busy season when many of us are caught up with holiday preparations. So, if you want to make your next book club gathering extra-special…. here are some fun ideas!

Food:

One of Marva’s favorite aprons from her collection was embroidered with the quote, “If life gives you lemons, throw them through the candy shop window and grab some taffy.” That’s not the only reference to candy in the book! Charlee’s father describes her hair as the color of “Hershey’s Kisses.” Miss Marva fills her advent calendar with gumdrops (except for the 26th day, of course). Oh, and Charlee receives some yummy Milk Maid caramels as one of her secret gifts. Why not fill some sweet little candy dishes with saltwater taffy, Kisses, gumdrops and caramels and place them around the room for your guests to enjoy?

If your plan is to just serve munchies, don’t forget to fill some big bowls with popcorn. After all, Marva and Charlee spent a beautiful afternoon decorating for Christmas which included stringing, and eating, popcorn!

If you want something more substantial, and you don’t want to try to recreate Miss Marva’s entire Thanksgiving dinner with all of the trimmings, perhaps you would like to make “Anything Goes Nachos” that the Alexander’s they enjoy when Charlee comes home from the hospital.

Decor: This one’s easy! Since the book is a Christmas story, it’s fitting to decorate for the holidays. However, in the book, it’s important for Marva to have Christmas lights and her nativity, so you won’t want to forget these.

In decorating for this book, you absolutely MUST have an advent calendar. Can you find one with 26 days? If so, that would be the ultimate tribute to Marva and Charlee! If you don’t have one, perhaps you might want to splurge and give yourself an early gift. The one pictured here is available from WilliamMarie Designs on Etsy. Check it out!

Any decorations that pay homage to the “Twelve Days of Christmas” would also be appropriate. I might not be able to resist this set of drinking glasses from The Sisters Pick on Etsy.

Finally, Miss Marva is very proud, both of her apron collection, and also her habit of hanging her clothes on the line to try. How about hanging a string or wire across an open area, and using clothespins to display a collection of vintage aprons, or perhaps some cute ones made with lovely scrapbook paper. Better yet, have each guest come to the meeting wearing an apron of her choice – with a prize for the one that Miss Marva would have appreciated the most! Like this one from CreativeMama213 on Etsy….

Or this one from Sweet Magnolia’s Farm…

Discussion:

* Let everyone in the group share a special holiday tradition. Each of us has such unique and special ways to honor the season. Why not share them with others?
*Talk about the ways you can, or already do, extend the attitude of Christmas beyond December 25.
*Tell about a special adult mentor or friend who made a difference to you when you were young.

Activity:

In Charlee’s family, it was a birthday tradition to gather after dinner, and before cake, to say something that they had learned that year from the person celebrating his or her birthday. This would be a fun, easy activity for book club. Have each person choose another member of the group and share something they learned from her this past year.

Ask each member of the club to bring a gift inspired by the Traveling Elves during the “Thirteen Days of Christmas.” Gather these gifts and deliver them to a children’s Christmas charity in your community. What could they bring? Rubber ducks, stuffed toy dogs, kazoos, a Big Bird stuffed animal, purple gloves, or perhaps even a stuffed monkey like Charlee’s beloved Melvin.

Gifts/Favors:

I’m sure everyone in your group would be honored to receive a lovely apron with a cute or wise saying on it. Each time they put it on, they would be reminded of Marva and her selfless acts of kindness. Or, you could create some of these mini-aprons from the blog Hostess with the Mostess in Christmas fabric and they could be used as little favors.

Feeling Crafty? I’ll bet you could make something simple and special with these charms from Etsy shop Jewel Be Charmed.

Final Thoughts:

I hope your book club will enjoy this heartwarming book during this holiday season. Ideally, each person who reads it will be inspired to do something kind for someone in need, and if it leads to your own version of the “Thirteen Days of Christmas” all the better! Perhaps a new tradition will begin this year — as a tribute to Marva Ferguson!

Final Thoughts: I hope you and your book club will enjoy this sweet, holiday story. I would love to hear from you about your group’s discussion, and whether or not any of these creative ideas worked for you! Happy Reading, and Happy Holidays!

Photo Credits: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/veggiefrog/2145862702/”>veggiefrog</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/”>cc</a>

<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/unprose/67242158/”>unprose</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>cc</a>

<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/sebastian_bergmann/334297130/”>Sebastian Bergmann</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/”>cc</a>

<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/375042268/”>Thomas Hawk</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/”>cc</a>

photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/mukumbura/4180968389/”>Mukumbura</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/”>cc</a>

Loving the Library

Posted on August 22, 2012 by kmore

I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library. ~Jorge Luis Borges

Yes, I am a librarian, and love that I get to spend each day in “paradise.” I found a little time to get crafty earlier this week, and I made a little desktop sign for my dear friend and colleague who just finished her master’s degree in library science. It was a lot of hard work, but now she is done! I hope she will display this proudly and remember how lucky she is to work in the greatest profession in the world!

This craft project is seriously easy and you may remember my post from earlier this year when I made a similar one for a friend’s birthday. Anyway, I took some recycled game pieces that I gathered from the thrift store and a little “tray” that came from a vintage game…. glued them with some E6000 glue…. and there you have it!

Happy crafting, and happy reading! I hope you make time to visit your library TODAY!!

Let’s Hear it for the Girls!

Posted on April 1, 2012 by kmore

“A toddling little girl is a center of common feeling which makes the most dissimilar people understand each other” –George Eliot

My creative side has been having fun with all of the little girls in my world. Here are some pretties I have been stitching up for sweethearts like Greta, Allison, Sydne and a little baby-to-be that we haven’t met yet! Here’s to spring and to all the sweet little girls out there!