A couple weeks back when I thought my column writing days were numbered, I had a bit of a panic because I came very close to blowing my opportunity to write about one of the nicest people on the planet. A newspaper reader had sent me a tip about Bob Roskamp, an 82-year-old West Michigan [...]

Let me start by saying that I don’t have any firsthand experience with military service. All I know about it is what I’ve learned from talking to people in the military, hearing family stories about relatives who have served, interviewing veterans, reading books and watching documentaries. But when it comes to social awkwardness my level [...]

OK, so I just have two more big steps before my public swan dive. In 14 days, I have to turn in my finished ArtPrize entry to be installed on the wall at the David D. Hunting YMCA in Grand Rapids. There is still plenty left to do, but I’m going to make my deadline. [...]

First of all, THANK YOU to all the fabulous people who made aprons for the first-ever CraftSanity Apron contest and show to benefit Safe Haven Ministries! Today was the deadline for entries and WOW! More than 50 one-of-a-kind aprons featuring men’s neck ties were entered into the contest and I’m so impressed. Many of the [...]

My oh my. I’m insanely busy and kind of loving it. I’m exhausted and I don’t really know what day it is, but, wow, am I having fun! I’m very excited to report that awesome apron designs have been submitted to the first-ever CraftSanity Apron Show to benefit Safe Haven Ministries. Thank you to those [...]

I’m happy to report that Sunday’s Apron Sew-In was a lovely success. It was slightly less intense than my husband’s video implies, but we had a lot of fun. Thank you to the kind ladies who joined me for an afternoon of apron design. It was a pleasure to see some familiar faces and meet [...]

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks filled with creativity and color, teaching  and talking art and craft. So while I’ve been away from the keyboard creating, this blog as been a bit neglected. So it’s high time for a CraftSanity update. I’ve been training for the 25K I’m running in May and working hard [...]

This is my contribution to the Margaret’s Hope Chest Hope Squared quilt drive to benefit homeless children living in the Grand Rapids Public School District this holiday season. I interviewed the charity organizers, Carin Vogelzang, and her mother, Carol Peters, for the podcast and my column and wanted to do more than encourage everyone else [...]

Get the <a href=”http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/mp3″ mce_href=”http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/mp3″>Google Audio Widget</a> widget and many other <a href=”http://www.widgetbox.com/” mce_href=”http://www.widgetbox.com/”>great free widgets</a> at <a href=”http://www.widgetbox.com” mce_href=”http://www.widgetbox.com”>Widgetbox</a>! Not seeing a widget? (<a href=”http://docs.widgetbox.com/using-widgets/installing-widgets/why-cant-i-see-my-widget/” mce_href=”http://docs.widgetbox.com/using-widgets/installing-widgets/why-cant-i-see-my-widget/”>More info</a>) This episode is about spreading hope one quilt at a time. Tune in to meet Carin Vogelzang, and her mother, Carol Peters, two women who turned a [...]

Calling all quilters! Margaret’s Hope Chest, a Grand Rapids-based quilt charity, needs your help to make 400 quilts to give homeless children living in shelters over the Christmas holiday. Today my art & craft column is about Carin Vogelzang, and her mother, Carol Peters, the women who turned a family tragedy into an inspiring cause. [...]

I have several projects in the works, including this rag rug. It’s a sample for Friday’s TV craft segment. This segment was inspired by a wonderful handmade effort at St. Andrew’s School in Grand Rapids where parents and volunteers are crocheting rag rugs out of donated bed sheets to raise money for a school emergency [...]

There’s a massive effort underway to help the survivors of the bushfire that devastated parts of Australia over the weekend killing more than 180 people.  I’ve read the media reports online and the destruction is hard to fathom. According to Reuters, the disaster area is more than twice the size of London and encompasses more [...]

A beautiful thing happened last Tuesday night when more than two dozen women gathered before a pile of donated fabric for the first meeting of a new community quilt bee. As you may recall, I accepted the fabric on behalf of the Craft Club I organize at the YMCA in Grand Rapids. The donor was [...]

I’ve had three boxes of fabric piled up in my dining room for weeks now. It’s been sitting there urging me to do something with it, reminding me daily of the commitment I made to do my best to transform it into something wonderful. I accepted the fabric on behalf of the Craft Club I [...]

Hello, fellow knitters! I have good news. Melanie Falick, the famous STC Craft editor I interviewed for CraftSanity episode 30, is offering this lovely Alternating Current mitten pattern from “Knitting New Mittens & Gloves” by Robin Melanson as a free download on her blog. Giving away this great pattern is a very nice thing for [...]