Comment from Ellyn
Time: December 28, 2008, 7:00 pm

favorite craft memory? wow… so many to choose from! I know! It was the day I introduced my youngest daughter to crafting. She was three at the time & we were at a local toy store for their mommy & me time… they gave the kids each a paper plate & “stuff” to glue on it. “A” had a blast gluing feathers, foam shapes, ponpoms, etc onto her plate! We went straight to the craft store from there & she spent years thinking that was what crafting meant… gluing things on paper plates! She’s 12 now & her masterpieces are design boards… she’s going to be on HGTV one day, just you wait! Ok, I’m off to download the podcast. I love Alicia!

Comment from Sarah S
Time: December 28, 2008, 7:52 pm

I was lucky to have a grandmother who owned a small craft supply store. After she retired, we spent many a day in her back room creating things out of the pom-poms, magnet tape, googly eyes, feathers, felt and craft glue. I’ve been hooked on crafting ever since. I can’t wait to hear the new podcast!

Comment from M Marold
Time: December 28, 2008, 8:38 pm

My favorite craft memory is about my mom. My mom is an amazing sewer who always allowed me to sew at her knee. She and my dad also ran a commercial bakery, so were up early and worked late into the night. So, getting time with my mom was precious. I specifically recall that during the beanie baby craz, I decided I could make my own. My mom and I had a grand adventure at the fabric store choosing fabric to match animals (can a pig be orange???). She then spent hours with me working out pattern from scratch using my other animals as models. We had a great time and I still have one of our creations some 16 years later!

Comment from mel
Time: December 28, 2008, 8:56 pm

one of my favorite crafting memories was helping at my daughter’s school last year for their christmas craft day. it was so fun to help the kids in her school create things to give as gifts to their family members. they were so proud of each and every creation, as they should be. i was happy to be part of something that demonstrated to kids that you don’t have to spend a lot of money or any money for that matter to give something special to someone. As a parent, I treasure those handmade gifts above anything that came from a store. :)

Comment from Carm
Time: December 28, 2008, 9:11 pm

Hmmmm… I’ve had the Christmas holiday etched on my brain the past few weeks and so immediately I remembered making ornaments with my Grandmother out of old Christmas cards and toothpicks. We used the toothpicks a bit like logs and glued them log cabin style in a triangle framing a small image from a holiday card. I wish I had some of those. I may have to make a few just to keep that memory alive.

Comment from shannon
Time: December 28, 2008, 9:29 pm

One of my favorite memories are the crafts my mom used to organize for my parties when I was a little girl – making our own chocolate lollipops definitely ranked up there!, and the christmas ritual of cutting out and covering our windows with paper snowflakes with my grandma. :)

Comment from Eva
Time: December 29, 2008, 12:37 am

When I was little my grandmother taught me how to knit. She always had something on the needles and knitted many sweaters for me. When she got older she switched to socks, which were lighter and easier on her hands. I got many pairs from her – I liked them, wore them sometimes at home, but they eventually got packed away in my closet. My grandmother died nine years ago. A few years later I found my lost knitting mojo again, joined a local knitting group, tried sock knitting, knitted my first sweater in many, many years. A few months ago I cleaned my closet and found those handmade socks from my grandmother. I may not be able to talk and ask her about knitting, but at least I’m able to “read” how she was doing it and I feel the connection between our generations. Back then I may not have appreciated those socks very much, but now they are a very treasured keepsake for me.

Comment from Deb
Time: December 29, 2008, 3:23 am

This is a new memory which I hope will become a tradition in my family…making Christmas gift tags with my pre-school aged kids. All of our family loved them and it made the kids so happy to know that.

Comment from Georgia
Time: December 29, 2008, 7:44 am

I had the most incredibly patient and crafty grandmother. She had a whole room full of amazing fabric, yarn, quilt binding and rick rack. She taught me to sew, knit and quilt and never got frustrated with my impatience.

My grandmother is gone now but her craftiness has lived on in me, and to this day, the old pair of orange and white acrylic mittens that she knit for me as a child is among my most treasured possessions.

Comment from Kristin
Time: December 29, 2008, 10:06 am

I’m not sure, but one that happened just the other day ranks up towards the top. I gave my three old a quilt for Christmas and he was sooo happy and excited! He gave me a big hug and told me how much he loved it!

Comment from coffeechris
Time: December 29, 2008, 10:10 am

I am so excited for this interview, Santa brought me Alicia’s book this Christmas! One of my favorite craft memories is getting my first sewing machine when I was in sixth grade and making all my presents, for everyone.

Comment from Renee
Time: December 29, 2008, 10:44 am

My favorite crafting memory is one that recently happened. It happened when I was finishing up a quilt and my daughter asked if I would teach her how to sew. As we gathered supplies for her to make a pillow my youngest son chimed in with “When are you gonna teach me to sew mom?” Santa was kind enough to bring sewing supplies to both children! I’m thrilled that my children have sparked an interest in sewing and I look forward to all the things we will learn and create together!
Thanks for another great podcast, I look forward to what 2009 brings to Craftsanity.
Renee

Comment from Laurie May Coyle
Time: December 29, 2008, 11:54 am

My favorite crafty memory has to be learning to sew around age 10 with my Grandma on her old sewing machine back in the late-80s. She helped me make a reversible fluorescent purple, black and white vest and matching scrunchies. That my Grandma knew how to make a scrunchie was such an amazing revelation. I felt so empowered to make anything I wanted to wear and I can’t wait to teach my kids and grandkids someday!
Wonderful interview this show — I always enjoy your shows. Happy New Year!

Comment from Turtle
Time: December 29, 2008, 12:48 pm

I so have been drooling over this book! Now that santa got me a bobbin winder my sewing machine and i may make friends easier. So I can get back into sewing again!
My favorite craft memory is sitting with my Gram while she crocheted squares for granny afghans while i worked on small cross stitched ornaments. I had just learned cross stitch in girl scouts and we were working on xmas gifts. This memory is now even more dear to me as my gram passed away this past year. I so wish i had asked her to teach me to crochet but never got the chance. But i do have all her needles and old buttons and cherish them!

Comment from kimberly/tippytoes
Time: December 29, 2008, 2:51 pm

I thought I was getting Alicia’s book for Christmas, but I didn’t. Huge letdown! My favorite craft memory is making horribly awful hair scruncies at a teenager, but I thought they were really cool at the time and I was so proud of myself. On a positive note, it gave me confidence with a sewing machine.

Comment from susie
Time: December 29, 2008, 5:26 pm

Making a book bag for my mom when I was ten years old. I sat on the back porch with an old sewing machine and figured out how to do this on my own. Looking back, it really was serendipitous that the tension didn’t mess up, because it seemed to every time after that project!

Comment from jmbmommy
Time: December 29, 2008, 5:34 pm

My most favorite recent craft memory was staying up really late on Christmas eve sewing AND sewing AND sewing a bunny bag for one of my friends. I didn’t really feel how tired I was until I stopped and stood up…I totally felt it then and made a beeline for my bed.

Comment from beinred
Time: December 29, 2008, 6:11 pm

My Granny needed someone to help her in her home at a time when I could help. She suffered from dementia and didn’t know a lot of things, but she still knew how to quilt. I learned to quilt at her house, with her’s and my great aunt’s guidance. Now I usually just learn to make things from the internet, but having my grandmother as a teacher was nice.

Comment from Carol
Time: December 29, 2008, 7:27 pm

My favorite craft memory is going to a knit out an crochet event near my home, accepting the offer of a lovely older woman who was willing to teach me the knit stitch- she started to show me the motion, and I realized that I already knew it. A flood of memories came back to me of my high school sweetheart’s mother taking the time one afternoon to teach me to knit. I had no conscious memory, but sub -conscioius or muscle memory, or something like that-30 years later!

Comment from Michelle
Time: December 30, 2008, 1:20 am

My favourite craft memory is probably the day in 1991 I worked out how to sew pants legs. It was a Eureka! moment to be sure! I lived with a craft mama, but I was a very uncrafty daughter and taught myself when I left home.

I have to say I loved this podcast, Jennifer and Alicia. I listened to it last night while I was sewing a shirt. I’m going to have to find this book somewhere in Australia!

Comment from Debbie (fiberfriend)
Time: December 30, 2008, 3:29 am

My favorite craft memory has to be when I was in grade school, probably about 6th grade.
I was in love with trolls and felt especially lucky to own 2 of them. I started making clothes for them out of felt, and I was so good that the other kids wanted some outfits for their trolls. So I started making more and selling them.
What is amazing is that the love never stopped.
I now own over 300 trolls, and I proudly have them displayed in a beautiful hutch. but it dosn’t stop there….. I still play with felt, only it is from my 2 alpacas which I also feel very lucky to own!

Comment from Emily
Time: December 30, 2008, 8:49 am

Lots of favorite memories, but I’d have to say the biggest impact was when I taught knitting to fourth graders every Friday. It was a blast to see those small hands working away!

Comment from Martha Winger
Time: December 30, 2008, 12:16 pm

It’s so hard to choose one so here’s a list: Holly Hobbie decoupage, paper beads, homemade Christmas ornaments with felt and glitter glue, sewing for 4-H, and leather stamped bracelets.

Thank you so much for this podcast!

Comment from Heather H
Time: December 30, 2008, 1:04 pm

My favorite craft memory has to be going through my grandma’s craft *room*. Sure it doubled as laundry room, but it held the most amazing treasures- buttons, bobs, and ribbons galore. What I remember most was that while she would assist in how to make my vision real, she allowed me to do all of the crafting and figure out the best way myself. Her tradition was to make an ornament a year. I carry on that tradition.

Comment from Jennifer
Time: December 30, 2008, 5:02 pm

I have a really strong favorite craft memory. I must have been in 4th or 5th grade and I had recently learned that my vision was bad and I needed to wear glasses. I also started wearing contacts at about the same time. My grandmother was visiting us in California from Buffalo, New York and she taught me how to sew a drawstring bag to carry my contact lens stuff in. I remember the bag vividly – I had chosen a yellow dot fabric for one side and a red fabric for the other. I wish I still had that bag.

Comment from Jill
Time: December 30, 2008, 6:15 pm

Growing up, Mom always had a bag of fabric scraps for my sister and I to create from. All sorts of interesting and wonderful things were made from those scraps. As a treat, she bought us a yard of lace fabric, and our imaginations went wild with ideas and projects!

Comment from Thien-Kim
Time: December 30, 2008, 8:05 pm

That’s a tough question. My earliest crafting memory was when my great-aunt taught me how to crochet. Just a basic chain stitch and then she taught me how to crochet circles.

That started a booming business! I crocheted yarn rings and sold them for 25cents a pop on the school bus!

Comment from leslie
Time: December 30, 2008, 8:47 pm

My favorite craft memory is knitting my first sweater learning ten different patterns from my friend’s mom. She spent numerous hours with me listening to me and teaching me to knit.

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Time: December 30, 2008, 9:34 pm

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Comment from Ellen G.
Time: December 31, 2008, 9:51 am

I enjoyed this show a lot! One of my favourite craft memories is from when I was about five years old. Me and my older sister went to a friend of my Mum’s to make Christmas ornaments. We used old prescription bottles, made out of glass then, and put little pictures inside. We covered the tops in glitter and secured a piece of wool under the lid – ready for the Christmas tree. Some of my most distinct early memories are from times of crafting.

Comment from Monica
Time: December 31, 2008, 10:55 am

I have so many craft memories – one of my favorites was from when I was young. My mom did a lot of crewel work and cross stitch in the 70′s and she let my sisters and me draw pictures on scrap fabric and then stitch them with her leftover threads. I drew a woodpecker and, thirty-some years later, I still vividly remember choosing the threads I was going to use and deciding how I would stitch it. I worked so hard on it and was so proud of it. Mom still has it!

Comment from Debbie M.
Time: December 31, 2008, 2:30 pm

I first learned to knit when I was in the 5th or 6th grade. I made slippers with my church group. Lots of mistakes were made and i was always calling my mom to help me fix them. She would straighten things out for me and then I had a hard time getting the knitting back from her! She just got in the groove and didn’t want to give it up.

Comment from Cara
Time: December 31, 2008, 4:25 pm

So many memories… One is when I was about 11 or 12 years old. I made a scarecrow with my two younger sisters. We then made a “how-to” video together and described the “techniques” we used to make it (this was pre-Martha).

Comment from tena
Time: December 31, 2008, 5:03 pm

My favorite crafting memory involves crochet…..I grew up with my grandpa and my great uncle crocheting. They were brits…in general men in the US aren’t big crocheters, but as former coal miners they were “guys” guys…not that it’s an issue but you know what I mean!—in any case they were always there….crocheting …in the background. So i was an adult when I realized that men don’t really crochet….but it makes me smile to think of what they might say about that. As a result of all this crocheting they had scads of afghans–oh yeah and that’s all I remember them ever making… My mother also crochets and I started about 8 years ago (in addition to many other crafty pursuits), you couldn’t have caught me dead with yarn up until then! I have an afghan from each of them and I love them (even if their wildly colored acrylic tackiness isn’t my choice they are the warmest throws I have), and someday I will teach my daughter and son! to crochet, just like their grandpa and great, great uncle.

Comment from tia
Time: December 31, 2008, 8:05 pm

i remember my mom teaching me to sew when i was four or five. she gave me all these scraps and I sewed them onto a larger scrap. i am now doing similar things with my five year old, who is eager to learn to sew.

Comment from Sarah from Create
Time: December 31, 2008, 8:29 pm

I have great memories of learning how to sew with my mom as a little girl. She would let me sew with any of her scraps. My dad is also excellent with the sewing machine and has made a giant tent for us for when we go to the beach. I have learned lots from the two of them!

Comment from Kate Craig
Time: December 31, 2008, 11:16 pm

Growing up in a home with a mother who sewed and crafted and a father who did woodworking projects it was easy to have craft moments. My favorite memories are of when I first learned to sew and got to use my mother’s new Singer sewing machine to make doll clothes. I also made a doll from an old stocking by hand when just a little girl. Very primitive looking but I was so proud of it. I still have it 50 some years later. I still have Mom’s “new” sewing machine too.

Comment from Dawn
Time: January 1, 2009, 9:45 am

My favorite craft memory is sitting at the sewing machine with my Grandma. I’m thinking I had to have been in Elementary school at the time. I would stay the night and my Grandma and I would sew matching nightgowns for my and my barbies!

Comment from Chris
Time: January 1, 2009, 11:30 am

My favorite memory is of me and my mother going to the pottery store and getting greenware, bringing it home and painting it for firing. My mother loved to cook and sew, and she didn’t care for painting, but she loved to paint greenware, and I loved doing that with her. She had me when she was 37 and passed away when I was young, but I have a couple of her pieces and cherish them forever.

This podcast (like others you’ve done) was awesome, and I love Alicia’s site. I follow it religiously, even though I don’t sew or embroider!

Comment from Janis
Time: January 1, 2009, 11:31 am

I remember getting a toy spinning wheel for Christmas when I was a little girl and loving it. I also remember making felt clothes for my troll dolls. Finally, my mom hired the high school girl next door to teach me how to sew and I was off and running.

Comment from kristen
Time: January 1, 2009, 7:57 pm

one of my favorite craft memories is very recent: the first craft project i did with my 4 yr-old son. i picked up a little plastic loom kit at a thrift shop, and we made a potholder together. he picked out the colors (pink, purple, and red, his favorite colors :)), and pulled the loops through with the hook after i wove them. and it brought me back to making potholders with my mom when i was little—most of which she still has and uses still, 25 years later.

Comment from Nicole
Time: January 1, 2009, 8:36 pm

When I was 6 my little brother and I stayed at a babysitter’s while my mom worked as public school teacher. We’d actually had a few different ones, but this woman was my favorite. One day while my brother napped, I was informed that we would do something special since I was now “too big” to take a nap. She taught me how to make paper snowflakes and they were just pure magic to me.

Comment from Katie P.
Time: January 2, 2009, 6:33 am

My favorite craft memory is from 3 yrs ago – I had only been quilting a few months. Yet I felt compelled to make 2 baby quilts for my soon-t-be-born niece and nephew. One was a “kaleidoscope/ spider web” pattern and the other was a moon and stars checkerboard pattern with applique. They were so cute and turned out so well! Looking back, it was lot to bite off as a new quilter, but I loved the whole process.

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Time: January 2, 2009, 7:49 am

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Comment from Jennie Dollar
Time: January 2, 2009, 9:40 am

Sitting with my mother while she would knit. Hearing the needles click together.

Comment from joyce
Time: January 2, 2009, 1:27 pm

One of my favorite crafting memories was when I was in 6th grade. My best friend and I were really into horses…we decided to be a horse and rider for Halloween. Since she took lessons she had the whole outfit to be the rider. We spent several weeks in her family room creating a huge paper mache horse head mask that I could wear over my head and shoulders. Complete with bridal and reins. It was magnificent and we had a blast trick-or-treating on halloween -getting our picture taken at many of the houses.

Comment from Wendy
Time: January 2, 2009, 2:26 pm

Happy New Year!
My fav memories are sewing with my Mom. I’ll never forget making my first stuffed animal. It was a very tiny mouse. I proceeded to make it a bed from a box then sewed a cover and pillow. Next came the room from a shoe box and rug, curtains etc. I kept myself very happy and busy.

Comment from Chris
Time: January 2, 2009, 2:26 pm

Probably one of my favorite crafting memories is the 4 or 5 years – after college and before children starting arriving – that my sister, 2 friends, and I made a rule of only giving handmade Christmas presents to each other. Our first year’s gifts were rather pitiful; but each year we got better, even the one of the group who would NOT call herself crafty. Seeing or using those gifts bring back such great memories.

Comment from sUsAn
Time: January 2, 2009, 2:39 pm

Great episode! I love Alicia’s blog and look forward to seeing her book. Now for my favorite craft memory…when I was in elementary school I was very into Shrinky Dinks! I made a billion of these and still have some today. I loved the whole shrinking process. So fun to recall these because my children are old enough now to enjoy doing them too so I better gather some supplies. Thanks for the chance to win Alicia’s book!

Comment from Janelle
Time: January 2, 2009, 3:02 pm

Favorite craft memory: One year when I was about 4 or 5 years old, my mom made me a sewing basket for a Christmas gift. It was an actual basket – one of those round red ones that people used to put apples in – with a handle like a bucket. She made a lid for it out of a circle of cardboard that she covered with fabric (red with big white polka dots), and she made a big white pom pom for the lid handle. Inside were balls of big cotton thread, big tapestry needles in a little folded pocket thingie, an embroidery hoop, and my first big girl sewing scissors (which I still have and use today). She made me squares out of an old sheet with designs pencilled on, and I stitched over them. Later she sewed those squares together and made a small quilt, which hung at the end of my bed for years and years. When I was pregnant with my first child, I rebound and finished that quilt (in a color that matched my son’s bedroom) and hung it over the crib. Smiling…thanks for the memory!

Comment from Michele
Time: January 2, 2009, 3:56 pm

Watching my grandmother quilt by hand. She made everything crafty look so effortless!

Comment from Teresa
Time: January 2, 2009, 5:51 pm

One of my favorite craft memories is of cutting out snowflakes with my mom. “Snow” season was almost bigger than Christmas in our house, and I loved it. I hope to continue the tradition with my own children.

Comment from Aileen
Time: January 2, 2009, 9:47 pm

Another entertaining, informative and inspiring interview. Thanks Jennifer and Alicia!

Comment from nancy
Time: January 2, 2009, 9:54 pm

My favorite memory was one I shared with my crafting inspiration – my mother. She was a den mother of a group of lively and craft challenged kids. She invisioned had them making a large america flag stuffing crepe paper in chicken wire.
While they ran around the garage and after they left her and I spent hours stuffing red, white and blue crepe paper in the chicken wire. The flag was displayed in a local store and the kids took the credit.

Comment from Tara
Time: January 2, 2009, 10:54 pm

I cannot remember a time that crafts were not a part of my life.
My memory: When I was a girl, my mom made many of my clothes. Over time she trusted me to pick out the patterns, pick out the fabrics, dictate design changes, and while she worked, I would sit nearby on her huge cutting table, chatting and keeping her company while she sewed up the dresses of my dreams.

Comment from vera b
Time: January 3, 2009, 1:11 am

i have been looking forward to this episode. i just adore Alicia and her blog- she is so inspiring. can’t wait to listen!
the first knitted gift i ever gave was a gorgeous garter stitch scarf for my grandmother. she absolutely adores that scarf, and out of all the various things i have ever knitted, it is still one of the loveliest things i have made.

Comment from Anne
Time: January 3, 2009, 5:58 am

When my children were in elementary school, I would make gifts for all of their teachers for Christmas. One year I made padded fabric baskets that were a big hit. My children had graduated from college when I ran into one of their elementary school teachers who was still using the basket in her bathroom – still remembering my child each time she saw it.

Comment from Gayle in TN
Time: January 3, 2009, 7:55 pm

Love your podcasts! Thanks for your giveaway opportunities and all your crafty goodness. A favorite memory was also my first clue that I would be ‘craft obsessed’. Someone gave me a weaving loom and the nylon(?) loops to make potholders. I used all the loops that same day and wanted more. I was totally hooked on crafts at a very early age. My current obsessions are quilting and crochet. All the best to you and your family in 2009.
Gayle in TN

Comment from Lynn Mercurio
Time: January 4, 2009, 4:57 am

My favorite craft memory has to be the hours and hours I would spend watching my Grandmother either quilt or crochet. Grandma was a widow and spent many hours passing her time creating items that would be such wonderful memories for years to come. The time, care, and attention to detail seems to be a lost craft today, but those memories of my Grandma crafting “love” will always live on.

I have been listening to your podcasts for a looooong time now and I’m never disappointed because even if I don’t do the particular craft your guest is discussing, I always enjoy hearing about their process and your questions always bring out the best in your guests. Thanks Jennifer!

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Time: January 4, 2009, 9:49 am

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Comment from Megan
Time: January 4, 2009, 11:34 am

I actually ordered a copy of Alicia’s book last week, so if I win this I’ll give it away as a gift. Some of my favorite craft memories are from childhood, sewing with my mom and doing “artsy fartsy” things with my babysitter, Amy. I named my blog Penny Carnival (www.pennycarnival.typepad.com) after the penny carnivals Amy would hold in our garage for my sister and me and all the neighborhood kids. I always appreciate how she’d lead us on creative adventures rather than plopping us in front of the tv.

Comment from Beatrijs
Time: January 4, 2009, 12:08 pm

I was embroidering tea towels for my mom today and remembering when she taught me how. My girl scout troop was making a quilt – I think of different badges on each different square. We all took home sections and I had to embroider some words onto mine. My mom was helping me and we got it done in no time.

I have many favorite craft memories, but today this one is on my mind! I’m almost done with mom’s tea towels and will give them to her soon on a family vacation!

Comment from Kari
Time: January 4, 2009, 12:10 pm

I am now dying to make the photo memory cards. These will be awesome for my out of town niece and nephew. Great demo on TV Jennifer! I cannot wait to see all the other projects in Alicia’s book.

Comment from Kari
Time: January 4, 2009, 12:12 pm

Oh yeah, favorite craft memory. Probably the enjoyment I found making my own coloring/activity books in grade school. I would spend hours on coloring pages, connect the dots, word puzzles. Too much fun!

Comment from lisa platt
Time: January 4, 2009, 2:20 pm

when i attended my 20th high school reunion (many years ago!) one of my friends reminded me that i wrote many letters to her when we all went off to college. these letters were elaborately made – embellished with sewing and embroidery, perhaps some paint, glue and glitter, i might write in on and around a photograph… these pieces were always sent in a toilet paper roll. she kept them all – the memory is a fav.

Comment from Deila
Time: January 4, 2009, 7:01 pm

My favorite craft memories are too numerous. My most recent one was last november when I had my 3 nieces over at my house to sew. Their age ranged 6,9,and 12. They each went through my stash and picked some fabric and then they sewed a back pack. they all completed their project and when I took them home that evening, they were so PROUD of what they accomplished.

Comment from Gretchen (brownbear on rav)
Time: January 5, 2009, 12:57 am

My favorite crafting memory is when my mom let me try batik. She is very into making things and has lots of supplies around, so I got to try out lots of crafty things. Doing batik with her is one of my favorites.

Comment from HeidiMonkey
Time: January 5, 2009, 9:51 am

I remember learning crochet from my mother when I was very little. Every year I would get to crochet a garland to go around the Christmas tree and I still do that today!

Comment from elizabeth
Time: January 5, 2009, 2:14 pm

One of my favorite craft memories is when my Gran and I made a dog stuffed animal together. My Gran had the pattern and the fake fur fabric and we cut and sewed the toy together. It was a wonderful time to get to spend with her – we didn’t live close to one another, so I have always treasured that time together. I kept the toy for many a year until it was lost in Hurricane Andrew. But I will always have the wonderful memory of that time together.

Comment from leslie
Time: January 6, 2009, 7:38 am

My favorite craft memory is knitting my first scarf as an adolescent. I spent hours with my best friend’s mother who taught me all kinds of knitting techniques. It was so relaxing and rewarding and I have continued knitting thirty five years later.

Comment from Judy
Time: January 6, 2009, 8:18 pm

My favorite craft memory is the crazy quilt I made before I went away to college. My 16 year old son has it on his bed now & I love to look at all the fabrics…leftovers from the sewing projects that my mom & I did: Baby Steph’s seersucker dress! my old bedspread! Liberty fabric I bought in London when I was 16! and on & on.
PS Loved the interview with Alicia.

Comment from chelsea
Time: January 6, 2009, 8:52 pm

just finished listening to this one, alicia is pretty awesome. favorite crafty memory… the summers I spent as a girl getting together with my grandmother, aunts and cousins on sunday afternoons to work on our projects. everyone made something different, but being together was so sweet — and inspiring to actually finish things, as well.

Comment from Louise
Time: January 7, 2009, 11:18 am

Thanks for another great interview. Her book sounds awesome! Love the memory game idea!
My two favourite craft memories would be learning to sew with my Mum when I was about 6 – she would turn down the speed on her Elna sewing machine and let me slowly sew “sheets” for my barbie dolls (basically squares of fabric that I hemmed around). My other favourite memory was at about the same age – my grandmother teaching me to knit and I remember being amazed at how some yarn and a couple of sticks could turn into a scarf!

Comment from T2
Time: January 7, 2009, 4:15 pm

I just bought this book as a post-Christmas present to myself. I bought it sight unseen, something I never do. But I figured it was a pretty safe bet after listening to this interview and being a regular reader of her blog. The book exceeds my expectations. I want to make everything NOW! Is it too early to start making next year’s Christmas presents?

Comment from Cindy Moore
Time: January 8, 2009, 6:36 am

You got my attention when you said you were interviewing Alicia Paulson! That’s my cousin’s name only it’s spelled “Polson” which is my maiden name. Enjoyed the interview as always.

Comment from Heather
Time: January 8, 2009, 8:35 am

My favorite craft memory was making my wedding reception centerpieces out of waxed fall leaves, acorns, driftwood, moss and candles with a bunch of ladies in my family. They weren’t sure what to do at first, and leary of making a mistake. Soon though they all got into it and it is still talked about to this day. the centerpieces, BTW, disappeared before the food had even arrived at the tables. I still see them sprinkled around relatives homes. Such a great memory.

Comment from alison
Time: January 8, 2009, 6:51 pm

My parents have always been hard workers. The money that earnt was put into making a wonderful home for my brother and myself. A consequence of that was that they never had spare money for flash holidays or up to the minute technology. I remember when I was a little girl I always wanted bedroom furniture for my Barbie doll. Do you remember the 1970′s style white plastic bedroom suite you could buy with gold trim? Well, that’s what I wanted for Christmas. I never did get that suite but what I did get was the most stunning alternative made out of used yoghurt pots, boxes and sticky backed plastic edged with pretty trim. My Mum had spent a couple of hours each evening throughout December, making this for me. You know what? It’s one of the presnts from my childhood that I remember the most vividly. I love my Mum for that.

Comment from Karen
Time: January 9, 2009, 8:22 am

My favorite craft memory is when I was about 4 my grandmother and I made Christmas scenes – a round piece of styrofoam, some little deers, tiny little pine trees, and other miniature stuff – it was wonderful working together. Of course the added bonus was that my sister was judged to be too young – so it was just me and grandma. Wow 39 years later the memory still gives me a happy feeling.

Comment from Louisa
Time: January 9, 2009, 9:48 am

My favorite craft memory is of making a crazy quilt using left over fabric from dresses that my mom made for my sister and me when we were kids. It was lots of fun to revisit my childhood by making a quilt. It is fun to see so many familiar fabrics all together.

Comment from kelli
Time: January 11, 2009, 9:38 am

Dang. I just missed this contest. I finished listening to the interview this morning while walking the dog…

My favorite crafting memory was when I was totally obsessed with the Little House on the Prairie books. For a class project I built a log cabin out of a box and furnished it with tiny quilts and cornhusk dolls and other furnishings. Best Sunday afternoon fun ever — and it was homework!

Pingback from CraftSanity » At last we’re announcing the winners of books by Daniel Vosovic and Alicia Paulson
Time: February 4, 2009, 9:36 pm

[...] Latest podcastsCraftSanity Episode 93: Translating the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act with the help of Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Walter OlsonCraftSanity Episode 92: A Conversation With Fashion Designer Daniel Vosovic, ‘Project Runway’ Finalist and Author of ‘Fashion Inside Out’CraftSanity Episode 91: Catching Up With Alicia Paulson, Crafter, Blogger and Published Author [...]

Pingback from CraftSanity » Unauthorized Clotheslines & the Rebellious Spread of Apron Love
Time: July 9, 2009, 1:42 pm

[...] CraftSanity Episode 91: Catching Up With Alicia Paulson, Crafter, Blogger and Published Author [...]

Comment from UN55C8000
Time: November 18, 2010, 12:00 pm

What country do you think represents ECOTOPIA in the world?