Doug Jimerson shows you how to grow fresh and flavorful fruits and veggies at home, whether you have acres for your garden or a just windowsill box. Check out his very fun Garden Fresh: Grow Your Own Vegetables, Fruits & Herbs class on Craftsy.

Doug’s green thumb has grown since he was four-years-old helping his grandparents plant their garden. Since then, he has graced publications like Better Homes and Gardens with his horticultural expertise for over 20 years. He even grew BHG’s first test garden in his Iowa home. Doug was honored with the 2001 American Horticultural Communication Award, and is a fellow of the Garden Writers Association of America.

In Doug’s class you will learn:

• expert gardening secrets
• how to start seeds indoors
• about unique growing conditions
• how to diagnose soil, plant and bug problems
• how to plant everything from the common tomato to the not-so-common rue and lovage.
• to fearlessly explore the world of gardening

With Doug’s help, you will cultivate that green thumb, promise!

If you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy…

markers from Mountains to Sea Art, $14.75

gazing ball garden art from Enchanted Mosaics, $125

hand crafted dibble from BlackHorse Crafting, $15

harvest basket from Misc. K. Designs, $29.50

(The post Craftsy Class: Garden Fresh: Grow Your Own Vegetables, Fruits & Herbs first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Whenever I visit my mom in the Midwest it’s inevitable that I go to a few thrift stores. I seem to be addicted to finding vintage craft books. It’s something about the colors, clothing and photographs that make them drool-worthy.

Knitting Stitches and Patterns by Diana Biggs is a recent favorite. Who can resist the adorable outfits? I recently knit a pair of baby leggings for a friend. It was my first time tackling clothing since making my Icelandic sweater but I have to say knitting for babies does go a lot faster!

What’s your favorite vintage craft book?

If you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy…

vintage lace shrug pattern from Shell Bees Treasures, $3.99

vintage vogue sewing pattern from Quail Hill Treasures, $9.50

large raw brass victorian bead from mermaidsdowry, $4.20

vintage gloves from Girl With A Sword Productions, $7

(The post Get inspired: Baby Leggings first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Summer is right around the corner, and it’s almost time for picnics, enjoying the outdoors and hanging out with family and friends. This tote-able picnic quilt is the perfect choice for a picnic at the park, going to the beach or for watching fireworks. The size even makes it a nice, washable tablecloth for a 6-foot picnic table. Add some extras like handles for carrying and heavy denim for a more rugged quilt. And you want to know my secret? I chose ‘cheater’ quilt fabric (fabric that looks like you’ve already pieced the quilt), and simply quilted over the existing squares.

What you will need:

• 2 1/4 yards of a summer cheater quilt fabric
• 2 1/4 yards of denim (try a colored denim for fun!)
• 2 1/4 yards of batting or a pre-packaged twin size batting
• 5/8 yard of contrast fabric for binding
• 1 yard of strapping for handles
• Coordinating machine quilting thread
• Large machine quilting needle (90/14)
• Quilting safety pins ( to baste the quilt, these are curved)
• Walking foot for your sewing machine

What you will do:

First, trim off the selvages of the summer fabric and the denim. Then, cut 7 strips 2 ½ inches wide for the binding from the contrasting fabric.Cut two 12-inch pieces of strapping for the handles. Next, trim the batting to about 1 inch larger than the fabric piece. Iron all of the fabric to remove any wrinkles or creases.

Make a quilt sandwich. Layer the denim right side down, then the batting, then the summer fabric (right side up).

Pin the layers together. I use large quilters safety pins, they look like regular safety pins with a little curve in the shape.

Time to Quilt

Next, using the lines or shapes on the quilt, fake stitch in the ditch to quilt the layers together. You will be stitching right on the lines so it looks like you are stitching between pieced squares.

Use a walking foot to keep the layers from slipping. I used a longer stitch length of 3.5 mm. Start in the center of the quilt and work your way out to the edges.

Roll the quilt up to get it by the neck of the sewing machine while you are quilting. I sometimes put the other part of the quilt over my shoulder to keep the weight from pulling it while I stitch.

Try to keep your quilting lines no more than 3-to 4-inches apart to hold the batting. The quilting part can be a little tedious, but stick with it! Just take your time and methodically stitch on the lines.

Sew the binding

Sew all of the 2 ½ strips together, end to end.

Iron the entire binding strip in half.

Starting at the bottom edge of the quilt with raw edges even and  leaving about a 9 inch tail, stitch the binding to the edge of the denim fabric all around. Leave a 12 inch opening and tails at each end of the binding so that you can join it together where they meet.

Once the binding is stitched in place, fold the binding over to the front side of the quilt.

Using a zig zag stitch, machine stitch the binding in place all around.

 Add the Handles

Lay out and fold the quilt to mark where the handles will go.

Fold the quilt in thirds the long way.

Now fold each half in thirds to the center. You sort of roll it in thirds to the center of the quilt.

Do both sides, and then at the tops of the folds on each side (before you fold in half to close the quilt), mark to sew the handles as shown.

Pin and Sew the handles on.

Sew an X box on each end of the handle with the strapping laying flat to the quilt. Refold your quilt and tote it by the handles.

This durable, tote-able and handy picnic quilt is ready for any occasion. I really loved my cheater fabric, a fun patriotic print that is perfect for Memorial Day or the 4th of July!
Do you go on picnics?  Do you have a favorite picnic quilt? What do you use?

If you enjoyed this post you may also like…

quilt from Patchwork Mountain, $268

wood basket from Misc. K. Designs, $29.50

2 dozen watermelon cake pops from Ladybugs n Bees, $49.99

color block modern quilt from The Zen Quilter, $500

(The post Make it yourself: the Perfect Picnic Quilt first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

My mom and I are both sellers (I sell crafts, she sells antiques) and we got to talking recently about what to do when products aren’t selling and you start to get stressed about it. I realized that I have a few tactics I fall back on when business is slow, so I thought I would share what works for me:

• Don’t panic! It’s a natural reaction when you rely on sales for all or part of your income, but it never helps to freak out. My mom and I both use the motto “a slow time is always followed by a busy time.” It seems likes sales often come in bursts. One day you’re tapping your fingernails and the next day orders rush in and you don’t know how you could possibly get everything done. So, deep breath. It will get better.

• Use your spare time well. Make a list of tasks you can complete when business is slow. Examples: catch up on accounting, write goals for the year, test new products, bulk up your supply for the holidays or craft shows, work on your web site, order supplies and organize your space so you’ll be ready when business booms. Chances are you won’t have time to do a lot of those things when you inevitably get busy, so you don’t want to miss your chance to work on them.

• Make sure you have more than one income source. That way you will have money coming in from one source when it’s not coming in from another. If you’re only selling online, maybe you can sign up for local craft shows or ask local stores about carrying your merchandise. On-the-side gigs are helpful, too. Maybe blogging, nannying, freelancing, or another part-time job could fit into your schedule.

• Change the way you think about your income. When I had a steady paycheck I viewed my income as one amount that I would have to decide how to divide up. Now everything is different. If I need something that is $50, then I think about what I have to sell to make $50. It’s a more fluid process. But it makes you more self-reliant and creative when you need to be. And that brings me to my next point…

• Keep trying things until something works. Have a pop-up sale, make everything in your shop 20% off or offer a coupon via email or social media. Take new photos, introduce a new product or send out a newsletter. Anything you can do to keep your products fresh in the blogosphere is helpful, too (Pinterest pins, tweets, etc.) Don’t get hung up on something not working because it should have worked (I have been guilty of this a lot). Just move on to something else.

• Review your past year of sales. Analyze what worked and what didn’t. Maybe you need to stop doing something and start doing something else.

• Network with other sellers. I always feel uplifted when I talk to other people with crafty businesses. We all go through the same ups and downs. Sometimes you just need to vent or find some inspiration. Other crafty sellers always seem to be so open about sharing ideas and offering support.

If you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy…

sign from Misc. K. Designs, $22

gnome or fairy door from banished, $6.50

porch swing from GODs Rustic Workshop, $1099

candle skirt from Finely Wrought, $25

(The post tips and tricks: When business is slow first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Washi tape has become one of my favorite crafting materials. While there are so many adorable varieties of washi tape out there, I didn’t really get the hype at first. But then I started working with washi tape, and I got it. It’s easy to use, what with being repositionable, and it works on any porous surface, like paper, plastic, acrylic, etc. You can even safely stick it on walls. Last week, I shared an idea for a fun washi tape bib necklace, and today, I’ve got some of my favorite washi tape crafts ever to share…

Ever worked with washi tape? What your favorite way to washi?

left to right, top to bottom: washi tape stationery set, candles, decorated pitchers, handmade journal, lamp shade, pirate party decor (all images used are via sources linked)

If you liked this, you may also like…

duct tape purse from Crafts by Bev, $14.99

custom duct tape roses from Custom by Design, $2

handbound book from Renewed Upon a Dream, $45

vintage inspired iPad sleeve from SweetPeaWear, $15

(The post Washi Tape Project Inspiration first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Looking for a different way to make fish? I found this recipe in a Betty Crocker cookbook and found it to be absolutely delicious. The glaze makes it taste so light and fresh.  You can use any type of fish you like. Orange Roughy would also be great with this, but I used tilapia because well, it was on sale. The key in this dish is the glaze. So cook the fish however you like it: grilled, broiled, fried…whatever. I followed the recipe more specifically by lightly frying it in a skillet.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. fish fillets
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1/4 t. salt
• 1/3 c. flour
• 1 1/2 T. olive oil
• 1 T. minced garlic
• 3 T. lime juice
• 2 T. lemon juice
• 1 T. orange juice
• 1 T. chopped parsley
• 2 T. sliced green onions
• 1 T. butter

Start by soaking the fish in the milk for about 10 minutes. This will take a bit of the fishy taste out of it. Remove the fish and sprinkle both sides with a bit of salt, then dredge in the flour. Don’t worry about how long the fish sits while your pan heats up. It’s actually good for it to rest a bit. The flour sort of sticks itself to the fish so that the breading won’t fall off of it while cooking.

Next, heat the oil in your pan and put it on medium-high heat. Cook the fish for about three minutes on each side or until golden and cooked through. For browning, don’t crowd that pan, instead place all of the fish on your serving platter and keep warm in the oven if you like. But it’s probably unneccessary because the glaze will only take a minute.

Wipe that same pan clean with a paper towel, reduce heat to low and put about 1/2 a t. of oil in the pan. Cook the minced garlic for about 30 seconds and then add the remaining ingredients to the pan and stir until creamy. This will only take a minute or two. If you let it sit and simmer, it will reduce too quickly and you will wind up with a too-thick gravy instead of a glaze. You could pour it directly onto the fish on the serving platter, or you could set it aside for everyone to drizzle on their own portion.

Does anyone have any other great toppings for fish?

If you thought this post was a catch you may also enjoy getting hooked on…

punk porcupine fish crochet pattern from angelsunawares, $4.99

wooden puzzle fish from Countryside Gifts LLC, $15.95

bermuda 5 real coin necklace from GIFTS, DECOR AND MORE, $49.95

coconut fish from Coconut Art, $90

(The post Making in the kitchen: Tilapia with Citrus Glaze first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Congrats to Barbra La Bosco, the winner of the Mother’s Day iPad Giveaway!

Barbra is the crafty mamma (and grand mamma!)  behind the Goodsmiths shop, All About the Buttons. When she’s not uploading cute-as-a-button items like fabric-covered pocket measures or colorful cowls, she loves to garden, read, knit,  sew, create and play with her two adorable grandsons. Now that she no longer “works,” she is always looking to plump up her hobbies list, but there’s one stipulation — she has to have a passion for whatever she’s creating, or its a no go. So we’ll let her share her story in her own words. Take it away, Barbra!

So how did you get started with your handmade business?

Briefly, I taught elementary school until my retirement in 2002. I had always tinkered and kept the creative passion alive but gave away my work as donations or gifts. The end of school was followed in mere days with a move from New York to South Carolina. It was a big change but wonderful. Our new home enabled me to have a dedicated studio, which is so convenient, along with time to invest and use my art education background. No more stopping my project because it’s dinner time and the table needed clearing!

What kinds of things inspire you?

I always found myself being attracted to clothing and home décor that featured terrific buttons and they had been a childhood passion. We all experienced grandma’s tin of cast off buttons, right? Well, I had my grandmother’s and my mother’s and hated that they were sitting unused. Buttons can evoke memories and everyone loves them. I started by featuring them on pins and barrettes and it grew to the eclectic selection I have now, also including boxes, clocks and various odds and ends.

Tell us a little about your shop, All About The Buttons.

My original business name was Closings since buttons close things but as embellishments they don’t, so I changed it to All About The Buttons. I have officially been in business for over 7 years and am very proud of my feedback. A sale never gets old. I get tickled every time one happens and love that my work is in over a dozen different countries.

How do you keep your ideas fresh?

I like to vary what I make and keep buttons as the running theme on most everything. I can knit, crochet and embroider anyplace so I love the portability and taking something raw to something useful. My tape measures have been a wonderful seller and are great fun to make. If I don’t love the item, I make mistakes and get easily put off. So if I love it, I want to share. I have been asked what my favorite craft is and that’s kind of like having to pick a favorite child…I can’t! I grew up in a creative atmosphere and have always supported handmade. I can’t imagine life any other way.

If you want to learn more about this always-up-for-a-new-crafting-adventure mamma, check out her blog, and maybe you can give, and take, a few ideas.

If you fancy this post you may also like…

elephant tape measure from All About The Buttons, $7

pin cushion box and tape measure set from All About The Buttons, $15.50

upcycled pin cushion from All About The Buttons, $7

handmade cowl from All About The Buttons, $28

(The post Meet our Mother’s Day iPad Winner: All About the Buttons first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE to follow color trends. I am always looking for new combinations to mull over. As I was researching color trends for Spring/Summer 2013, I was ecstatic to find the color palette from Pantone. It’s so vibrant and bold! With colors like Poppy Red, Monaco Blue, Nectarine, Emerald and Lemon Zest, fashion pieces and interior decor is sure to pop.

We are in luck, because Goodsmith’s very talented crafters have a wonderful line-up of products featuring some of these trendy colors!

{Poppy Red} Chevron Clutch :: Whym

{Nectarine} Demask Pillow Cover :: Mary Littfin

{Monaco Blue} Polka Dot Table Runner :: Marie’s Classic Home

{Emerald} Green Infinity Bracelet :: letterhappy

{Lemon Zest} Button Necklace :: Instinctively Indie

I told you this season’s colors were ah-mazing! What’s your favorite color?

If you love the summer brights you may also enjoy…

earrings from Must Have Jewelry by Carole, $8

damask bird branch from 202 Designs, $32.95

handmade  cards from Embellish by Jackie, $20

ceramic tea bowl from Prairie Jewel, $16

(The post 10 Shades of Spring/Summer 2013 first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Do you have a website, business, or blog that reaches a handmade audience? If so, you can now be part of our Goodsmiths affiliate program and get rewarded for shops you send our way.

With our ShareASale affiliate program, you earn 80% of our paid account subscription rates for the first month. That means you’ll get $4.00 for every Classic shop you send to Goodsmiths and $9.60 for every Rockstar shop. We also pay $.05 for a free account lead — and if the free account user upgrades to a paid account in 30 months, you get the full 80%.

Both individuals and companies are invited to be affiliates. So what are you waiting for? Learn more about our paid shop plans, and visit goodsmiths.com/affiliate to get started!

(The post Introducing the Goodsmiths affiliate program first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Need some embroidery excitement? Check out Terry White’s fun Free-Motion Machine Embroidery Class on Craftsy. Terry teaches you to bring “Springy Flowers,” “Scallop Circles,” “Mod Flowers” and the “Painted Egg” together in your final masterpiece “The Painted Bird.”

Terry began exploring free-motion, also known as thread painting, machine embroidery techniques when she developed carpal tunnel in her hands. This made it hard for her to hand embroider, so she found another way. Terry loved it so much, she wrote about it in her book, Thread Painting Made Easy.

In this class you will learn to:

• Take control of your machine — whether it’s a sewing or embroidery machine
• Set up and trouble shoot problems with your machine
• Use stabilizers
• Transfer your design to the fabric
• Do free-motion stitching
• Maneuver the hoop

 If you liked this post you may also enjoy:

dreaming robot from The Sara Initiative, $15

sleep  mask from Made By Me Embroidery, $8

survivor koozie from Lil Bit Sassy, $3

galaxy embroidery from letterhappy, $30

(The post Craftsy Class: Free-Motion Machine Embroidery first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Whether we realize it or not, the Mad Men craze is inspiring more than just fashion trends. Researching for this post, I came across dozens of 1960s-inspired living rooms, bedrooms and even office spaces.

Here are a few of my favorite 60s-inspired home decor trends:

Painted Furniture

I LOVE this trend! Painting pieces of furniture bright colors, which creates a whole new dimension to any room or piece. I have done this with a few pieces of my own, by taking a garage sale coffee table, sanding it down and then giving it a fresh coat of paint! Now I am just plotting my next project!

Resin and Owl Lamps

Brightly colored or silver resin lamps are re-staking their claim on end tables. From yellows to wooden owls, retro-inspired lamps come in a wide range of shapes, colors and sizes. Sidebar, I always wondered where the owl craze originated, so I guess we can thank the 1960s!

Retro Color Palette

I am sure you have seen these colors in a vast array of textiles, paint colors and wall decor recently. This is because the 60s color spectrum is making an appearance again in a variety of patterns and mediums! Let’s just hope the pea green carpet doesn’t make a come back next!

What are your fave retro-inspired home trends?

If you liked this post you may also enjoy…

owl necklace from Very Enchanting, $30

shelf from www.threebearscrafts.com, $75

bag from Designed from Scratch, $40.50

retro gamer bag from BagNabit Bags, $25

(The post Roundup: Retro Home Decor Trends first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Lately I have been having a lot of fun knitting legwarmers for my baby girl. They’re an adorable accessory for chubby thighs, of course, but they also keep you from having to take pants on and off 10 times a day during diaper changes.

Knit leggings also make a great shower gift for new-mom friends, and they’re easy for beginners to knit. If you’d like to make some,

here’s my pattern:

Materials:

• Lion Brand Jiffy yarn, one skein each of
• Violet (A)
• Country Green (B)
• Silver Heather (C)
• Dark Grey Heather (D)

• Size 10 1/2 knitting needles
• Yarn needle

Cast on 18 stitches with A. Knit in stockinette stitch (knit a row, purl a row) for six rows. Change to B.
The stripe sequence for the rest of the legwarmer is as follows:
4 rows B
2 rows C
3 rows D
2 rows A
5 rows C
1 row B
4 rows D
3 rows A
2 rows C

Bind off, leaving at least a 12-inch tail.

Finishing up:

Weave in all the ends from the color changes on the purl side, except for your 12-inch tail. Thread the tail through the yarn needle and, folding the legwarmer inside-out, seam up the side using mattress stitch or your favorite stitch. Weave in the remaining tail. Turn the legwarmer right-side-out.

Repeat pattern for the second legwarmer.

This pattern works just as well with solid-color yarns. Just make your legwarmers 7 inches long. If you want them in a bigger size, increase to 20 stitches with an 8-inch length or 22 stitches with a 9-inch length.

If you liked this post you may also enjoy…

ceramic knitting bowl from IslandGirlPottery, $38

big bow ear warmer from Rachel Laine Designs, $22

spring scarf from ClaraRuthScarves, $25

baby brain slug hat from HU Creations, $25

(The post Make it yourself: stripey baby legwarmers + free pattern first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Uh oh. It’s 5:15, everyone’s starving and I have absolutely no idea what we’re going to have for dinner. I open the fridge to find some old salad dressing I never use (and no lettuce of course), eggs and a little container of leftover mashed potatoes. Most people in this situation grab the phone and order take-out. Trust me, I would do just that, but while living in the country brings me peace, quiet, and loads of beautiful nature,  it does not offer me pizza delivery. Oh what I would give for pizza delivery. Since this is not an option, it forces me to get creative at times (and I’d like to think organized, but not today apparently). Scrambled eggs and potato cakes it is! Ever had them? They are actually great. They’re sort of a different form of hashbrown I guess.  Here’s how you make them:

Ingredients:

• 2 c. leftover mashed potatoes
• 1 egg
• 1/2 t. garlic powder
• salt to taste
• pepper to taste
• 1 t. dried parsley
• 1/2 c. shredded cheddar–optional
• 1-2 slices of bacon–optional

Simply stir all of the ingredients in with your mashed potatoes. I happened to have some bacon in the crisper so I cooked a strip up real quick and crumbled it in with the mix. This looks really yellow due to my egg. It’s fresh from the coop, so the yolk color is much deeper than store-bought eggs.  I bet diced bell peppers or a little onion would be good in this too.

Next, simply heat up some oil in a skillet just like you’re making pancakes. The “batter” won’t pour like pancakes because it’s so much thicker. So you kind of have to grab a chunk with a spoon and gently form it into a flat round cake.  This recipe made about eight small cakes. I liked them just fine on their own, but my kids dipped them in some ketchup.

And what did we have for dinner? What else? Scrambled eggs. I saved the salad dressing for another day.

If you liked this post you may also enjoy…

peanut butter balls from Ladybugs n Bees, $19.99

pot holders from Patchwork Mountain, $14

cutting board from Outside In Woodworks, $25

vintage inspired apron from Vintage Galeria, $28

(The post Making in the Kitchen: Mashed Potato Cakes first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

I’ve always hated how much cute necklaces cost, particularly considering how quickly styles change. So I took the Washi Tape Challenge, a call to use tape to create less expensive versions of every day items, and made a bib necklace that is super easy to make, so  you can update the colors every season. Your friends will never guess that this beaut  is made with washi tape and a $2 sheet of plexiglass.

What You’ll Need

• x-acto knife
• ruler
• flexible plexiglass (mine is .06 inches thick)
• washi tape
• scissors
• really strong hole puncher – I used the Crop-a-Dile.
• Mod Podge
• paint brush
• jewelry making pliers
• 7mm jump rings
• necklace chain & clasp

What You’ll Need to Do

Begin by scoring your plexiglass with an x-acto knife, cut along your ruler an inch from the edge of the plexiglass, bend along the scoring, and snapping the edge off. It creates a clean and unsharp edge.

Cut yourself one 4 x 1 inch piece, two 3 x 1 inch pieces and two 2 x 1 inch pieces using the scoring and snapping method. Mark a spot for two holes on one end of each piece of plexiglass. Using your punching tool, punch your holes as marked.

Wrap each plexiglass piece in washi tape. If it’s patterned, you might want to take care to line up the pattern so it flows nicely. I recommend cutting your washi tape with scissors to have clean ends as well.

If your washi tape ends up wider than your acrylic piece trim the excess off with your x-acto knife. Make sure to protect your work surface from scratches.

Mark where the holdes are in your acrylic pieces and punch out the washi tape with your puncher. Paint a layer of Mod Podge over each side of each pendant to seal. Let dry completely.

When all of your pieces are covered, connect them with jump rings.

Attach the whole bib piece to a necklace chain and clasp to finish.

I dare you to get creative and take the Washi Tape Challenge. Show us pictures of your washi tape DIY on Facebook  for the chance to be featured on our washi tape DIY blog post.

If you liked this post you may also enjoy…

garland from Inspiration Nest, $4.50

duct tape bow from KSG Fashions, $3

collar necklace from Dedanya Design, $85

thread wrap necklace from Coral and Stone, $45

(The post make it yourself: Washi Tape Bib Necklace first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Spring is in the air and so are weekend makeovers! I have the itch to makeover a couple of rooms in my house but I also have a budget to follow, so I started with my down stairs half bath. To begin with, it really wasn’t an awful room, however it was not my favorite color and it seemed a bit dingy for my liking. First things first — paint.

Paint can change EVERYTHING. I chose a light grey which I had left over from previous makeover projects. I have now used this same color in four different rooms in my house, and it looks different in every room. This particular paint is Behr Paint Ocean Pearl 780C-3. In some lighting is looks bluish and in others it looks grey. Either way, it definitely brightens up a room.

Next, I tackled the door knobs. From the before picture you can see that the knobs match the wood cabinets. I found these wonderful white distressed knobs at Hobby Lobby for half price! They went from $3.99 down to $2! By changing out the knobs, it broke up the large amount of wood used in the cabinets, window trim and mirror! Speaking of which, I painted the mirror next.

Painting the massive wood framed mirror really converted the room and did I mentioned it saved a bunch of mula? The mirror was in great shape and was a perfect structure, but it really just blended into the wall, cabinets and window trim. It also made the room darker even though a mirror should brighten up a room. Brand new mirrors can be very expensive, so with a little paint and creativity, I spruced up the one I had on hand. It doesn’t even look like the same piece. I first was able to remove the mirror from the trim which helped, but if you aren’t able to remove the glass, use tape and paper to cover the mirror. You can check out a previous mirror transformation where I used tape to protect the glass here. Since the frame was stained and had a lacquer on it, I chose to use a paint called Zinsser Cover Stain Primer. This eliminated the step of sanding or stripping the stain. Next I used a metallic spray paint and then went back to my white Zinsser paint and lightly brushed around the edges and center to give the frame a more distressed look.

In addition to making the room brighter, I changed the light above the sink to a simple outdoor light I found at Home Depot. You can find it here, it comes in white and black. This made a huge difference with the lighting and it was so simple and inexpensive!

And then the fun part came around to find the accessories! I purchased the canvas picture at TJ Maxx and the clock on the wall at Target. The clock was originally silver but I took some craft paint and painted it yellow. I also purchased the canister for the toothbrushes, tooth paste and lotions at Target and a new towel ring at Wal-Mart.

That leaves a grand total of $61.02!

• Paint: previous project
• Knobs: $2 x 6 = $12.00
• Zinsser paint: $8.88
• Metallic Spray paint: previous project
• Light: $4.97
• Canvas print: $12.00
• Clock: $3.99
• canister: $11.99
• Towel ring: $ 7.19

If you liked this post you may also enjoy…

soap dish from andrewsreclaimed, $17

woodland soap from RaineyBlue, $5

(The post weekend makeover: half bath first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Three cheers! Our app is here.

We’re so excited to announce that Swipe by Goodsmiths is now available for download in the Apple App Store. We were at Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago last fall when we realized we could build a mobile payments app tailored specifically to handmade vendors. Swipe is made to sync with your Goodsmiths inventory and let you manage goods on the road.

So what exactly can you do with Swipe?

• Access your published Goodsmiths inventory on an iPhone or iPad.
• Choose items from your phone when a customer is ready to check out.
• Take credit card and cash payments with the PayAnywhere card reader.
• Sync inventory while you’re at shows.
• Get events reports at the end of the shows.

You need to have a Goodsmiths Rockstar account to use the app, but there are no Goodsmiths fees on Swipe transactions — and PayAnywhere is offering $1,000 in free transactions in your first 30 days of using the app. After that, you’ll pay only a low 2.69% transaction fee.

To learn more and snag a reader for yourself, visit goodsmiths.com/swipe. Happy selling!

(The post The app has landed! Check out Swipe, powered by Goodsmiths first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Beckah Krahula, a mixed media artist, loves Zentangle because it puts her in the zone. “In the zone, your intellect, your intuition and your knowledge are all working together as one,” she says. “That’s when we produce the best stuff.” Zentangle is a style of drawing where you first create large shapes with deliberate strokes, then fill them in with smaller and smaller shapes until your swatch is full of an intricate design.

This style of drawing was initially created by Rick Roberts, the Zen, and Maria Thomas, the Tangle. The two put their meditation and art backgrounds together into one art form, and “Zentangle” was born. Beckah is a Zentangle master and has written a book on the subject, One Zentangle A Day: A 6-Week Course in Creative Drawing for Relaxation, Inspiration, and Fun. I sat down to chat with her about how the art helps in her art, career and mind.

Zentangle is an incredible tool that every artist should know, according to Beckah. “It teaches you to make your mark confidently. There is no eraser in Zentangle,” she says. “Perfection gets in the way of a very good job.” Every day, Beckah starts with a 10-minute, meditative tile to help center her mind. “How empowering is that?” she says. In her book, Beckah outlines the 11 steps of Zentangling — and the first three are to stay centered: relax, breath, and appreciate the time to create. For the rest, you’ll have to check out the specific techniques in One Zentangle A Day.

How did you start Zentangling?

At one of my lectures, sitting in the front row was Patty Earl (she takes a class from me). She was drawing, and I said, “You give me such a hard time every time I make you draw, and look at you over there drawing.” She said, “I’m not drawing Beckah, I’m Zentangling.” So she gave me a little lesson. I didn’t think about it much after that until I found myself ill and tethered to a bed for six weeks. I used Zentangle during that period to keep the big white elephant out of my head — to forget that my life had just changed, and I’d get it back but it would be a while. When I was in the studio I realized Zentangle was incredible, not just for the ups and downs of life, but for my work. Now I use it as a tool, and sell it as art.

Any advice for new Zentanglers?

Really get those 11 steps. They put you in that meditative zone. You’re going to learn the pattern and how to get that beautiful piece of art, that’s a given, that’s a side benefit. Learning those steps to help your work flow. Having [the meditative state] as a tool, you are going to get the side effect of the cool art. If you are a real tight artist, it is going to help you loosen up. If you are a real loose artist, it is going to help you tighten up, because it is the attention to each stroke that teaches you to look at things anew, and to break them down to simple patterns that then become very complex. It gives us new vision for our art.

What inspires your artwork?

I find inspiration everywhere! I find inspiration when I’m walking my dogs (and art consultants) Iggy and Ike. (The pups even get chairs when it’s time for art critiques at the end of the day and sit with the other artists in Beckah’s studio). Inspiration is everywhere if you open your eyes; there is something to be seen or explored in a new way. As artists, we are always watching and looking. It could be “Oh my gosh, that wild-dressed person walking down the street with those color combos — I never thought of using that red with that purple color, and green, this is a great combo.” Life every day gives us stuff, and as artists it is part of our job to collect that little snidbit and magnify it into some part of our art.

Where do you sell your Zentangle works?

I sell through my own company. Also, I have taught nationally and internationally  for about 20 years, so I have students who come to my studio. Between that and the shows I do every year, I sell works at those. Those are nice because those are direct sales, and that means you make the greatest profit. Having collectors is a great thing, because with collectors come commission work, and with commission, a larger percentage of the sale is yours.

What are your favorite shows to attend and sell at?

I like shows that give me the opportunity to teach, because that helps me show my product line. When I teach, I often sell products I helped develop or used in my classes. Also, there is always some way to diversify what it is you do from the standard, “I make this necklace, in these versions, and they are all $89.95.” We have to be diverse and approachable to all markets. There are people who wouldn’t pay what it would cost for one of my carved metal pieces, but they would pay for one of my little pieces because that fits in their budget, and they are drawn to it.

In 1980, you walked out of law school and opened your studio. What advice do you give to those who want to take the risk of striking out on their own?

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket — have classes, or do other things. Make sure you are someone who can get up, brush your teeth, and get into that studio at 8 a.m. Especially in the beginning, you are the whole company. As an artist starting out, it’s important to do what you are supposed to be doing — you’re in the studio, you’re getting your work out and you’re advertising. You have to have the passion to work the extra hours. When you leave that 9-5 job, you leave everything. You can’t just say “I’m going to produce a lot of art and trust in the universe to send me buyers” — no — you are going to starve. You have to let the universe know you have this great stuff, and here is where to buy it.

The number one thing, though, is to keep the studio organized and get your inventory out and get it moving. Spring and fall, clean the studio up. Organization makes your inventory accessible — you’re running it, it’s not running you.

Your art has taken you all over the world. Tell us a bit about traveling? 

For 15 years I would be out 47 weeks of the year lecturing about art. I will never do that again, but I think that was a great opportunity. I loved being in the trenches. You’re with the locals, and I see snidbits of the city through the shop windows and where they put me to sleep at night. In going to place-to-place, there is a lot of communality from Maine to California. It’s a very gypsy lifestyle, and it’s not for everyone. Now, because of my writing commitment, I am divided between touring and my studio.

You mentioned more books. What are your plans for those?

Book two will be more instructional, but book three will be a combination of mixed media with various other things. My second and third books will be coming out in 2014. Also, I will be touring more. I will be at the International Quilt Festival this fall. Next year I will start back on the national tour Art and Soul and some other shows.

I’ll be touring for One Zentangle a Day while I’m writing book two. I’m running pretty hard right now, but, “tangling keeps me untangled.”

Beckah’s favorite Zentangling tools:

• Fabriano’s Artistico 140 lb paper
• fabri castel pens
• permanent India Ink
• Gelatos acrylic
• Perfect Pigments by  US Art Quest.

If you liked this post you may also enjoy…

card from Paper Phoenix Stationery, $3

lace pen drawing from Stellar Grace, $20

butterfly magnet from Bazangles, $8

crane mobile from White Crane Gifts, $55

(The post Zentangle with Beckah Krahula first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

The first sign of spring in my herb garden  is a beautiful green growth of chives. This clump of grass-like herb has a wonderful mild onion flavor and adds a needed boost of color to your dishes early in the season. It is a perennial herb, so it comes back every year.  Here is a little information about chives and how to harvest them. Also, learn how to make savory chive butter — one of my favorite chive recipes.

Chives are part of the onion family called Allium. They have grass-like stems that are hollow. Mine grow about a foot tall. They grow in a nice little clump with little bulbs just like onions, and you can divide them by splitting up the clump when it gets large.

Chives will flower with very pretty pink or purple blooms in late spring. The flowers make a nice edible garnish for potato salad, lettuce salad or a cheese plate.

These herbs are even nice to grow decoratively as a border around your home or garden. I have even used them as cut flowers. If you want to do this be careful to not crush the stems, and use very fresh water. I tend to trim  any blossoms I am not using off the plant so they don’t go to seed. This keeps the plant focused on the growth in the stems for cooking.

Harvest chives all season by taking some kitchen shears and just snipping them off a few inches above the base. I just snip around the outside edge. Don’t worry the plant will just grow back.

I also have a patch of garlic chives, sometimes called Chinese chives. These grow taller than the normal chives and the grass-like leaves are flat like a blade. You can snip them with scissors too, but the flavor is more of a mild garlic taste. It has white flower heads that are also very pretty.

Cooking

I think chives are best used fresh, so they are such a nice addition as one of the first green things of spring.

Some of my favorite uses for Chives:

• Add to salads or soups
• Sprinkle on a baked potato, mashed potato, or hash browns
• Liven up an omelette or scrambled eggs
• Add to cream or goat cheese
• Use them to make herb butter

Here is my quick and versatile recipe for  Savory Chive Butter.

What you need for Savory Chive butter:

• 1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
• 2 T finely snipped chives (regular or garlic)
• 1 tsp of lemon or lime zest
• Sea salt, to taste
• Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
• ½ tsp garlic powder

First, in a mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients.

Mash the butter with the other ingredients until it is combined.
Then you can use it as is to spread on French bread, a sandwich or toast.

Or

Dump the butter out onto a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper.

Roll it into a log.

Wrap it up in the wax paper or plastic wrap and put it in the fridge to harden.

Slice the chive butter up and add to steak, roast chicken, salmon or maybe even corn on the cob.

I hope I have inspired you to plant a patch of chives in your garden and to butter up your favorite food.

If you liked this post you may also enjoy…

plant marker from Sharongraydesigns, $11.25

gift tote from Pamela Fugate Designs, $14.95

gardening flats from andrewsreclaimed, $35

chalkboard herb pots from Handmade By LeeAnn $14.99

(The post Grow it yourself: chives for savory chive butter first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Have you been looking for something to really amp up your spring wardrobe? Gretchen Hirsch, “Gertie,” has the throwback va-va-voom your style is begging for. Learn to customize the included vintage dress pattern into the bombshell dress of your dreams in  her Craftsy class.

Gertie is both a passionate sewer and a lover of retro. She combines these two hobbies into her blog, Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing, and her book, Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing. Gertie was also featured on the PBS show It’s Sew Easy, and teaches at The Sewing Studio in New York.

By the end of this class you will have the skills to:

• Sew and design a dress that looks like it’s painted on 
• Customize a dress pattern
• Make a muslin to check fit
• Make a molded bodice
• Create A waist stay and convertible straps

How are you planning on customizing your dress pattern?

 If you liked this post, you may also like…

pendant from Jewelry by Patterson, $95

camera crew from i heart analogue, $30

Mexican senoritas pin up girl dress from Vintage Galeria, $49

earrings from Stalking the Wild Snark, $10.25

(The post Craftsy Class: Sew Retro Perfect Bombshell Dress first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

If I had to pick one channel that I had to watch for the rest of my life, it would be ESPN. Just kidding. Of course it would be food network. But, as I was typing out that sentence I felt that it was so predictable I ought to switch it up. I think I could sit and watch it all day long, show after show and never be bored. So when The Chew started this year on ABC I became an instant fan. The hosts are usually pretty funny and light-hearted, but mostly I love it because you learn SO many new recipes and learn a lot about how to cook smarter, healthier and more delicious food.  I’m planning on trying many of their recipes, and I promise that when one is especially good, I will share it with you. I know not all of you can watch The Chew every day, and I have decided to make it part of my job description. The meal that I have recently tried was something very new to me and I didn’t quite know what to expect. But, I found it to be quite tasty and a nice switch from my normal meals. It’s Clinton Kelly’s Ginger-Orange Chicken with Coconut Rice (that’s right…coconut rice…YUM). Here is how you make it:

• 1 c. orange marmalade
• 1 piece of fresh ginger (about 1″ peeled and grated) (or 1/2 t. dried ground ginger)
• 3 T. extra virgin olive oil
• 6 chicken thighs, skin on, bone in
• 1 1/2 c. freshly squeezed o.j. (of course mine came from a carton)
• 1 c. white wine
• 1/4. c. brown sugar
• salt and pepper to taste
• peanuts, toasted and chopped to garnish

Coconut Rice:

• 2 c. white rice
• 2 1/2 c. water
• 1   13.5 oz. can coconut milk
• 1/2 c. shredded sweetened coconut, lightly toasted
• 1/2 c. golden raisins, soaked in warm water for 5 minutes (or nuked with water for 2 min.)
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced on a bias for garnish

Okay, so first make sure you’ve dried your chicken with something so that it will brown nicely for you. Season both sides with s&p. Then combine the marmalade with the ground ginger in a little bowl.  This is the flavor that will be infused in your chicken! Find a big pot that is oven-safe and heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Put each chicken thigh skin side down and sear (that means don’t move it!) for 3-4 minutes or until the skin is crispy. Flip the chicken over and dollop the marmalade mixture on top of each piece. Next  pour the orange juice, wine and stir in the brown sugar just until dissolved. Don’t let the liquid cover the chicken. If it’s starting to, just don’t pour in as much. Now put the pot of chicken in your oven uncovered for 40 minutes at 375 degrees. When it’s done, remove and allow it to cool slightly before serving. Next comes the delicious coconut rice, which you have plenty of time to make while the chicken is baking. Combine the rice, water, coconut milk and a t. of salt in a pan. Then bring it to a boil and cook the rice using the directions on the box. Keep the lid on until it’s done. After it’s done and fluffy, you can stir in the toasted coconut (To toast, just sprinkle it in an even layer on a sheet pan and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. Watch it closely.) drained golden raisins and sliced scallions. You can garnish with toasted peanuts(dry toasted in a skillet for a few minutes on medium) and more scallions. This was so delicious. Thank you Clinton! Try it out and tell me what you think?

If you liked this post you may also enjoy:

crock from Ellison Bay Pottery Studios, $38

mug from Winding Road Studio, $15

fork ring from Forking Queen, $24

kitchen organizer from andrewsreclaimed, $35

(The post Making in the kitchen: Clinton Kelly’s Ginger-Orange Chicken with Coconut Rice first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Joe Kopler is the sculpture/painter behind the Goodsmiths shop KOPLERART. Just talk to Joe for two minutes, and it’s be obvious that he’s living his passion, ”I’m like a little kid with clay with this stuff,” he says. He wants to help fellow artists follow their dreams, so he sat down with us and shared advice on art, networking and resilience.

Kopler also runs a gallery out of his home in Torrington, CT (he invites you to stop by if you are ever in the area).

Tell us a little about your craft? 

My craft is a combination of sculpture and painting.

I came across what I call “sculpted paintings” by accident. About seven years ago, the ceiling of my bathroom kept leaking. So I primed it, but it kept leaking. Finally I said, “To hell with it,” and grabbed some joint compound and swirled the whole celling — it looked like cake frosting. Now when people come over to my house and use the bathroom they start freaking out, and are like, “Wow, this is pretty cool.” So, I was like, “Why can’t I do pictures?”

I take a photo, and then draw the whole scene on a piece of sanded down plywood. Then I use Durabond, work with it wet, like the consistency of cake frosting, and then wait until it hardens. After it hardens I hit it with white acrylic primer, because it makes the paint colors true to color. Next, I paint the sculpted painting according to the photo. Finally, I spray the whole thing with sealant.

After the bathroom, I began going around town and painting local landmarks in my hometown. I made a little collage. At that time, I drove a transit bus with a whole bunch of seniors (they are my best critics). So I brought one of the paintings on the bus, and they were amazed. They told me I should keep this up, and that’s what really lit my fire.

Photo courtesy of Joe Kopler

Where do you find inspiration?

I’m really into movies, and I look for characters you don’t really see anymore. You sculpt Frankenstein from 1931, and people are like, “Whoa! where’d that come from?” But I never want to get stuck doing just one thing.

What does a typical day look like for you?

In the morning I work from 6:30 am until 9:30 with autistic children, then I go back around 1:30 pm until 6 pm or so. In between those times if I’m not with my kids I am strictly focused on my art. If I’m not doing art I’m networking on Facebook or adding items on Goodsmiths. If you want to be successful at something you have to devote some time to it. I could do this stuff 16 hours a day.

Photo courtesy of Joe Kopler

How do you market yourself?

I brought that collage of my hometown into the local library, and the curator wanted me to do one for them. So I did, and now it’s hanging there. I like talking to people and developing a friendship that way. Online, Facebook helps with that — it’s my number-one networking tool. On Facebook I’m doing my artwork, talking about my artwork or helping someone else pursue their dream.

Joe’s marketing advice:

• Really use the internet to its fullest. Get people to see your stuff, and it will take off.
• Word of mouth is the best advertising you can get. If someone’s looking at your artwork and they tell their friends, who tell their friends — how can you beat that?
• Actively go after your audience — if you sculpt Marilyn Monroe, check out Facebook groups that focus on her and post your stuff on there.
• Put your card on the back of  your piece. That way instead of just your name, they have all your information.

Photo courtesy of Joe Kopler

What is the most important aspect of shop owning?

Passion. If this is your passion, don’t give up.

Do you have any photo advice? What do you do to show off your pieces?

My work looks much better from 3 feet away, because they are 3D. Try for different angles — get some long shots and closeups of detail if you are painting on a flat surface. If you are doing 3D, get some side shots.

Photo courtesy of Joe Kopler

What makes your really passionate about your craft?

One of the ladies from my  bus wanted to buy one of my pieces, and you can’t solicit on a transit bus. I lost the job — after nine years — for my craft. Now I have a new job, and I told my boss straight off the bat, “I’m doing this artwork, and I’ll be here every day for whatever you need, but I’m still doing this artwork.” I made that very clear, because this is my dream and I’m protecting it. I love this, and I want to do it full time.

I desperately want: to be doing this full time as a living and making people feel great for owning my artwork.
My favorite site on the world wide web: Facebook
When I wake up I look forward to: picking up my paintbrush.
If I could be anywhere right now I would be: Hawaii. I know I could get some great pictures for my artwork.

steam engine  sculpted art from KOPLERART, $555

jaws  sculpted art from KOPLERART, $470

the joker  sculpted art from KOPLERART, $525

Iwo Jima sculpted art from KOPLERART, $425

(The post Meet the shopkeep: Joe Kopler first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Change is a good thing. I am re-purposing and rearranging all the bedrooms upstairs so that my son can have a larger room now that he is in high school. So, I’m turning his old, and very small, bedroom  into our new office/ guest room. With a little hard work, some savvy shopping on Craigslist, and a few DIY projects, this room has turned into a cozy retreat and office.

Clearing out the old stuff

before

before

My son took a lot of his things to his new room and we did a lot of cleaning. I repurposed his large old bookcase in the basement to hold childhood books he did not want to part with, but that he did not have space for in his new room. And I sold his old loft bed, dresser, and small book case on Craigslist. I love Craigslist, it is like a virtual garage sale and you can find almost anything you could ever want.

Freshening up a bit

Oreo the cat supervising

The walls needed a little help and a little paint goes a long way to clean up the appearance and get a clean look.  I just happened to have two gallons of pale blue paint laying around that would go nicely with the blue carpet. (OK, it is a long story, but suffice to say you should really get those little trial size paints before you decide to start painting a room and then figure out you don’t like the color). The ceiling and trims only needed a couple of touch ups.

I rented a carpet cleaner from the local grocery store and scrubbed and scrubbed. I guess it had been a while since I did that, but now the carpet looks brand new. You can rent one of these buddies for 24 hours and clean all the carpets in your house.

Bring in the furniture

I had two bookcases from my old sewing room that I decided fit perfectly in the office. Yes, I am still removing the sewing things from the shelves, but that is another project.

My old modular desks and printer stand (yes I got them from Craigslist too),  just got a new configuration.

Finally, I found a Lane Sleeper sofa with a twin sizebed on Craigslist in a nice neutral tan/gold velour that just fits in the room and will be handy for when guests visit.

Some quick diy touches

 A Quick Valance

I scoured the red tag bins at Jo-Ann Fabrics and found some gold decorator fabric on sale for $6 a yard and all red tag fabric was 50 percent off, so I got a whole yard to sew my valance for only $3.

I used some muslin on the back to line it and help create the rod pocket. I made it just long enough to hide the rolling shade underneath.

Pillows

I had a vintage butterfly pillow from my Grandma with tans and blues that looked good with the room, so on the chair it went.  I love the embroidery and hand painted fabric detail.

I have been wanting to make one of these flower petal pillows for a while, they look so fancy but they could not be easier to make. This  pillow tutorial from Cluck Cluck SEW shares how to make it.  Allison Harris used felt for her flower petals, but I chose to use fleece. I had a lot of scrap fleece on hand and I thought it was be easier to wash than felt, and it is soooooo soft. I just used a cute blue cotton floral print from my stash for the pillow foundation.

You just cut out circles in two sizes from the fleece, cut them in half and sew them round and round on your foundation fabric.

 the reveal

after

Here is my cozy space, a perfect place to relax and read or have a cup of tea.

What remodeling projects are you working on?

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Pillow cover in plum and aqua from Mary Littfin, $18

custom embroidery portraits from Keeping Notes Studio, $80

dandelion 18 x 18 pillow cover from barrelandaheap, $27

vintage turquoise bookcase from Aliyah Rose Home Furnishings, $450

(The post Spring cleaning: home office remodel first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

I don’t know about you, but for me the hardest part of finding the perfect Mother’s Day DIY gift is finding the right quote or saying to use on it. Well, I have put together a roundup of some great mom-related quotes to make this task just a bit easier!

The only thing better than having you for a mom is my children having you for a grandma. – Anonymous

Men are what their mothers made them. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Question authority but never your mother. – Coffee Cup at Caribou

Mother [muhth-er] – noun : One person who does the work of twenty. For free. (See also: ‘saint’ ‘looney’) – QuotesGratitude.com

To the world you are a Mother, but to your family you are the World. – QuotesGratitude.com

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love. – Mildred B. Vermont

There will be so many times you feel like you’ve failed. But in the eyes, heart, and mind of your child you are super mom. – Stephanie Precourt

A mother knows what a child does not say. – Anonymous

Now that you have the perfect quote, you need the perfect gift! Check out these perfect DIYs to feature your Mom-quote!

Coffee Quote Mug

This is quick and easy DIY from A Beautiful Mess. All you need is a basic mug and a sharpie for this perfect gift!

Stenciled Quote On Pillow

Love, love, love this idea from DIY Hub Spaces. Another super simple DIY involving a Sharpie, stencil and burlap or other fabric. Perfect way to insert some home decor with some mommy love.

Mom Quote on Canvas

A new take on stenciled canvas from Southern Belle Soul, Mountain Bride Heart makes for a unique and thoughtful Mother’s Day gift for that special lady in your life. This tutorial uses magazines, spray paint and vinyl letters to take this canvas project extraordinary!

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Canvas from Canton Box Company, $38

Mother’s Day Card from letterhappy, $3

Key to my Heart Necklace from Impressed Art, $45.50

Personalized Mom Necklace from Molly’s Monograms, $29.99

(The post Roundup: Great Mom Quotes and Quick DIYs first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Jam out with preserves. Rachel Saunders, the mix master behind the Blue Chair Fruit Company,  shows you innovative and easy techniques to make flavorful preservatives in her  Jam and Marmalade class.

Other than redefining the art of perserving as the mind behind Blue Chair Fruit and the Blue Chair Fruit Cookbook, Rachel teaches perserving classes internationally. In May she will be leading a jam course in Belcampo Belize where she will teach adventurous jam lovers how to make preserves from tropical fruit.

If Belize is a bit far, don’t worry. In Rachel’s Craftsy class you will learn how to make jam the Blue Chair Fruit way from the comfort of your own home. In this class you will learn:

• How to use seasonal fruits to create flavorful perserves
• Artisanal, homemade preserving techniques using simple ingredients
• Recommendations on the best equipment
• An easy canning method using your oven
• The basic elements and definitions of different preserves
• How to make wonderful and unique gifts that can be enjoyed year-round

By the end of the class you will have jars of Blackberry Jam, Strawberry Jam and Lemon Marmalade.

So pop some bread in the toaster, brew your tea and enjoy these delicious jams for the months to come.

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Honey from Bee-Real Co. $9.50

Strawberry Jam from Kj’s Designs, $15

Labels from Go Against the Grain, $17.25

Cranberry Tart from Sweet Southern Scents, $1.50

(The post Craftsy Class: Jam and Marmalade first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

If your Mom has a green thumb she will love this handy little caddy. It will carry her seeds and row markers for planting. It is designed to hold the standard little seed packets and the handles make it easy to carry all the essentials to the garden in a nice, neat package. I added a few extra goodies in this bag for my mom including row markers and pens and some terrific DIY garden scrub. Read on for my tutorial on how I made it?

what you will need:

• Natural Canvas or Duck               13 x 26 ½
• Contrasting Canvas or Duck        5 x 26 1/2
• Contrasting cotton fabric             6 x 10 3/4
• Pellon Peltex Interfacing              ¼ yard
• Strapping                                       1 yard
• Thread

what you will need to do:

Note: Use a stitch length of 3.5 mm and a heavy duty needle

Cut the fabric

First, cut out pellon interfacing.

• Cut 2 – 3 ½ x 5 for short sides
• Cut 2 – 3 1/3 x 8 for long sides
• Cut 1 – 5 x 8 for the bottom of the tote.

Sew the Caddy

Iron under ¼ inch on the long edge of the contrasting canvas.

Next, place it over the bottom long edge of the natural canvas and top stitch it in place.
Note: You may want to trim the natural canvas under your contrast canvas to cut down on bulk.
I discovered this after sewing it all up. You still have a double bottom with the method of construction. If you don’t trim it, you have a triple bottom to your bag and there will be a lot of bulk in the bottom of the tote.

Fold the canvas in half wrong sides together and mark your stitch lines.

Measure across from one end and mark a straight line at:
2 ¾”
10 ¾”
15 ¾”
23 ¾”
You should have 2 ¾ remaining, trim off any excess.

Open the caddy back up and stitch a ¼ inch side seam, wrong sides together.

Then refold the tote in half lengthwise into a big circle, wrong sides together.
Stitch across your marked stitch lines. These will create the pockets where you will place the interfacing.

Slide the peltex interfacing into each pocket.  If the interfacing is a little too wide, take off 1/8 of an inch at a time until it slides in snugly. Be sure to seat the pieces all the way to the fold.

Measure 3 1/3 inches from the top fold and mark all the way around.

Stitch on your marked line to hold the peltex interfacing in place. Carefully pop the caddy inside out.

With the seam centered on one end, stitch ½ inch seam in the bottom.
Then zig zag or overcast the seam again to prevent the canvas from raveling.

Pull the end and using the side stitching as a guide, matching seams to the center of the side seam, create a triangle flap in the bottom of the caddy.

Stitch across the triangle aligning with the side stitching.
Stitch both sides.

I trimmed the flap off to about an inch and then zig-zagged the edges.  Note: You might want to just leave the flap alone and flip it to the inside of the caddy.

Flip the caddy right side out.

Make the Caddy Bottom

First, take the cotton and right sides together, sew along the long edge.
Center the seam and stitch ½ inch along one short edge.
Turn right side out.

Insert the last peltex piece, and trim it to fit.

Fold the raw edged in and top stitch around the bottom.

Fit the bottom into the body of the caddy.

Make the Handles

Cut the strapping into 2″ x 18″ pieces.

Positioning about 1 inch from each edge of the long side, fold under the raw edge and pin each end to the inside of the caddy about 1 inch down from the top.

Next, stitch the strap in place.

I stitched a square and then sewed a cross in the square to secure it.

Sew both straps.

Fill your Seed Caddy with Goodies

I used this old Nestle Nesquik plastic container to hold plant markers and Sharpies.
I also added several packets of seeds that my mom would like.
Next, I made some awesome diy sugar garden scrub. I found the recipe on the blog, One Good Thing by Jillee.

I made some for myself and loved it. The best part? It only has two ingredients!

I tried making it with Dawn® Hand Renewal with  Olay® Beauty – Lavendar Silk Dish Soap and the Walmart similar product in Pomegranate. Both smell wonderful. The other ingredient is regular, normal, Sugar.

The ratio of sugar to detergent varies by the consistency of the dish soap. But in general, the mix was about 5 parts sugar to 1 part dishsoap. For example 1 1/4 C Sugar to 1/4 C of dishsoap.

You just mix them together, and if it is a little too gloppy add a tad more sugar.

I found 1 cup containers by Rubbermaid TakeAlongs® Twist & Seal™ that were a great size.
I made some fun stickers to label the scrub and added it to my caddy.

A beautiful, practical, and thoughtful gift for Mom!

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(The post make it yourself: seed caddy filled with garden goodies first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Inspired by a recent printing workshop with Swedish designer Lotta Jansdotter, I decided to make my mom some new hand towels to hang in her kitchen. Only handmade gifts are given in my family these days. Like quilter Thomas Knauer says, “the things we make by hand, now have more meaning than an electric blanket from JCP.” Of course!

Try this easy, stencil project and create your own design for tea towels, napkins, lampshades, skirts…you name it!

Supplies

• Paper
• Acetate (to make your own stencil) Note: I used a flower and polka dots from Lotta’s Printing Studio Kit (Chronicle Books)
• Exacto knife
• Masking tape
• Fabric paint
• Craft sponge
• 100% cotton linen hand towels (or tea towels, washed and ironed)

TIP: You can even buy a variety of stencils at hobby/craft  or hardware stores.

Lotta’s Printing Studio Kit (Tools, Projects & Inspiration for 5 DIY Printing Techniques) Chronicle Books

1. If you’re making your own stencil, draw it on a piece of paper and tape it down to table or desk. Tape a piece of acetate over paper and trace the shape.

I used 100% cotton linen hand towels, red dimensional fabric paint, a sponge, and 2 circle templates from Lotta’s kits

2. Tape the stencil/stencils onto the towels. Pour ink into a small dish (don’t worry, dishes are washable), and dab with lightly moistened sponge.

3. Dab…dab…dab…dab…and dab some more.

Dabbing. Done. Bam. Didn’t get any paint on the towel outside of the stencil. Whew!

4. Let dry for three days (or according to the paint instructions).

Two hand towels for Mom! Done! What will you stencil?

(The post Stencil on Fabric: Make a modern tea towel for Mom first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

I have a little problem with buying hand soaps. When I see the ones I love (current favorite: the Orla Kiely/Method line), they seem to jump into my shopping cart, whether I need any soap or not. But hygiene is important, so I suppose there are worse products to be addicted to.

My husband really likes foaming soaps, so I was wondering: can any soap become a foaming soap? I already have a collection of cute dispensers, thanks to my soap-buying habit, so I figured it was worth a try. Turns out it really is super simple to make your own. All you need is an empty foaming soap dispenser and a small amount of regular hand soap. I had a sampler bottle of Honest Company hand soap, which smells divine, so I thought I would use that.

I poured 2 ounces of hand soap into the 10-ounce bottle.

Then I filled it the rest of the way with water.

It worked! In fact, I think my homemade soap made even better foam than the original stuff. I doubt this discovery will keep me from stockpiling soap, but at least I can enjoy them as foaming soaps!

If you like this, you may also like…

handmade calming herbal soap, from Untitled Gems, $4.00

Rose Petal Bath Bomb 4 oz from iBeauty Gifts, $1.35

Moon Soap Dish from IslandGirlPottery, $17.00

key lime soy mason jar candle from Blackberry Thyme, $8.00

(The post Make it yourself: Foaming hand soap first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

Spring is here and it’s time to use up some stash fabric! These modern napkins are super fast and easy — just choose a selection of four fabrics to make a mix-and-match set Mom will love.

Supplies

• 8 fat quarters of 100% cotton or linen fabric (approx. 18 x 11 inches)
• Sewing machine and thread
• Iron
• Color catcher (optional: found at most grocery stories)

Instructions

• Turn under edges 1/4″ and sew at about 1/8″. Sew from edge to edge.
• Repeat step one and trim threads.
• Press.
• Wash in cool water with color catcher sheets to ensure color stability!

My selection of fat quarters for Mod Napkinds from Little Apples (Aneela Hoey, Moda)

Cheery palette of fat quarters for Mod Napkins

Finger press the fabric over 1/4″ and then sew at about 1/8″

Four napkins done, four to go! Wrap in a selvedge strip for a special package Mom will love.

I decided to whip up another set of napkins for myself! Table set, woo hoo!

(The post Make it Yourself: Mod Napkins for Mom first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

The time has come, my best friend’s baby has arrived! It is so exciting to welcome a healthy new baby girl into the world. Besides showering the babes with ribbons and bows, the parents need to eat! And who doesn’t like having food prepared and delivered to them? A food gift is the perfect thing for new parents (or really for anyone)!

I scouered my cookbooks and then went to my trusty Pinterest board of goodies. Recipients of a food package are typically grateful for anything, but you might not want to go too far off the “normal” spectrum of food menu. I also decided it might be wise to do freezer friendly meals so nothing spoils and they can use it anytime they’re in a pinch for a quick meal.

Banana bread was my first prospect for the menu. I have found an amazing recipe on a blog, Cannella Vita. The bread turns out so moist, and I have found that it freezes amazingly well. This has become a staple in our household. It serves two purposes — breakfast or dessert.

The first meal I created has a mexican vibe. I provided chips and salsa and found this tasty recipe for Chicken Taquitos at Annies Eats. The recipe is so simple and is a hit. The best thing is you can eat it on the go, which is great for new parents.

Next meal is plain and simple. Frozen ravioli, spaghetti sauce and salad. You can find frozen or refrigerated ravioli in any grocery store, and it can be prepared in 10 minutes.

And for the finale I threw in a snack of humus and veggies.

Now, for the presentation of the package. I used an old diaper box and wrapped in wrapping paper, placed in all the items, and away we go to visit the new family. Oh, and don’t forget to provide the recipes of the items. It adds a little extra touch and most importantly, how to prepare the meal!

(The post Food Gifts for New Parents first appeared on The Good Weekly.)

I recently shared an embroidery project and pattern with you all, and thought I’d follow that up by sharing some of my favorite recent embroidery projects from the crafty internet. Embroidery is really a fun craft because you can learn the basics relatively easily and make projects (like those shown in the third and fifth photos below) right away. Those projects can be done the very day your start embroidering even if you’ve got only the slightest knack for handing a needle and thread. Any stitchers out there? What are your favorite things to embroider?

left to right, top to bottom: ombre embroidery / handmade gift with embroidery details / embroidered button cards / embroidered folk art bird / easy baseball embroidery / fitzgerald floral embroidery

(The post Embroidery Inspiration first appeared on The Good Weekly.)