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Forget those frumpy crochet patterns of old, and  let twin fashion designers Erika & Monika Simmons help you sass up your stitching.

On this episode of CraftSanity, Erika shares the story of how she and her sister built a custom crochet apparel design business from their Chicago home. We also chat about the fun designs in their book “DoubleStitch Designs For The  Crochet Fashionista” (Interweave 2008), that includes several patterns guaranteed to stop traffic and several others that are just plan fun. (I made the “tube apron top” on p. 18 and LOVE it.)

Thanks to Erika and Monika the crochet world will never be the same. Awesome.

Win the Book! Listen to my chat with Monika, then post a comment below to enter the random drawing for a copy of “DoubleStitch.” The deadline to enter is November in Nov. 29.

A special thanks to episode sponsor Michele Young of Extremely Crafty, an online e-zine and blog. Sign up for the Extremely Crafty club at  www.extremelycrafty.co.uk and receive free instructions to make a teddy bear toy and bag. Become a member and receive free special members only cool stuff.

Want to promote your craft business? Visit the sponsors section if you’re interested in sponsoring an upcoming CraftSanity episode.

Support the show! Buy a CraftSanity T-shirt or button. Or leave a comment about the show on iTunes.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send me your comments, guest and show topic suggestions.

Aren’t these little guys delightful? My friend Debbie made these happy little cork people for my daughters. I had the girls sit and cover their eyes when I gave them each a bag of four. They were super excited when they saw them. The first thing they did was race them across the floor, then they loaded them into Amelia’s little dollhouse. After they calmed down a bit they lined their little cork people up and Abby asked me to take a “family photo.” It’s so wonderful to be the mother of two little girls who LOVE handmade gifts. Thank you so much, Debbie. We have been delighted and entertained by these little cork people.

If you, dear reader, would like to knit some happy cork people of your own, you can find instructions  to here.

Okay, now for the news you’ve been waiting for. The last two winners of the Amy Butler giveaway have been randomly selected! These winners will each

Congrats to the authors of the following posts:

8. Julie - Thanks for a great interview! I am so appreciative of your work, Jennifer. The info was fascinating, and Amy’s voice captivated my son as he played with toys throughout the podcast. You sparked both of our creativity/ies. Thank you. Oh, and I recently made a yoga bag (pattern from Amy’s website) and it was a success, one of my first pattern-following experiences. I’d recommend it. Nov 2, 3:48 PM

82. Karissa -Yay! Thanks for a great interview. Keep up the crafty good work! Nov 4, 11:59 AM

Both winners will receive a copy of Amy’s new book, “Amy Butler’s Little Stitches,” an individual pattern and a fat quarter stack.

Previously announced winners of this giveaway include Sarah who also won the BIG package of Amy Butler goodies listed above. And Risa, Kari and Janey each won a selection of Amy Butler patterns. Congrats to all of you. And, winners, if you haven’t already, please send me your mailing address so I can ship out your prizes. 

Thanks to everyone who listened to the podcast and entered the contest. And a very special thanks to the amazingly talented and generous Amy Butler for donating all the great prizes.

CraftSanity episode 89 is on the way folks so get ready!

I’ve stitched with a lot of people, but only recently did I get an opportunity to craft with a daredevil.

Today my GR Press column is about Rocky Hauri, aka Rocky Hardcore. He’s a 53-year-old stunt man from Owosso, Mich. who embroiders the uniforms he wears to crash cars. I met Rocky at the Thriller! Chiller! film festival here in Grand Rapids.

Rocky was in town to promote “Hell Drivers: America’s Original Crash Test Dummies,” a documentary that traces the history of stunt driving and features Rocky and other modern-day daredevils. I worry too much to enjoy stunts that can result in serious injury, but I got over it when I learned about Rocky’s embroidery skills. I can’t help but respect a man who can jump a car over a school bus and then embroider a photo of the stunt on the back of his uniform. That’s undeniable talent and totally hardcore.

Check out this short video clip of Rocky talking about his art.

And here’s a trailer for “Hell Drivers: America’s Original Crash Test Dummies”

Thanks Rocky! It was a pleasure to stitch with you!

Below is the video from my appearance on “Take Five & Company” on WZZM-13. Check out the directions for these projects.

Hello everyone. Here’s the scoop on the craft projects I demonstrated today on “Take Five,” the WZZM Channel 13 Grand Rapids morning show. (Check out the video).

Turkey Noisemaker: (Download PDF of these instructions) This is a favorite in my family. I adapted a chicken design idea my mom got from my Aunt Mary Lou to make this Turkey Day noisemaker. It’s a fun way to entertain the kids while the bird is cooking.

Supplies:

Plastic cup, brown paper bag or craft paper, clear-drying craft glue, a handful of craft feathers, 18′ of  red felt scrap, yellow felt scrap, two googly eyes, cotton string, and sponge, soldering iron, breathing mask

1) In a well ventilated area, put on your breathing mask and turn the plastic cup upside down and use the soldering iron to burn two holes about a half inch apart. When you melt the holes through the plastic there will be fumes, so it’s best to do this step away from the kids.

2) Thread the string through the hole and knot. Position the string so it hangs down through the center of the cup. Cut a 1″ x 2″ piece of sponge and tie it to the end of string hanging out of the cup.

3) Cut or tear small pieces of a brown paper bag. Coat the outside of the cup with craft glue and layer apply overlapping pieces of brown paper, covering the whole surface. Set aside to dry.

4) Glue the feathers to the back of the cup and set aside to dry. Then glue the googly eyes, beak and wattle to the front of the cup. Let dry.

5) Wet the sponge slightly, then pinch it around the string just under the cup to make an obnoxious screeching turkey sound.

Turkey Bread Basket: (Download PDF of these instructions) This is a staple at my parents house. My mom always keeps the rolls warm in a the basket she fashioned into a turkey using wooden spoon, feathers made of magazine pages and wooden skewers. Here’s how to make one of you own:

Supplies:

Basket big enough to hold dinner rolls, wooden spoon, 24 wooden skewers, 24 feather shapes (proportioned to fit your basket) cut from magazines, 24 slightly larger feather shapes cut from construction paper, clear drying craft glue, piece of 2″ thick floral foam cut to fit inside the bottom of  basket, two googly eyes, yellow felt scrap for beak, and red felt scrap for wattle

1) Fit floral foam inside basket. Glue turkey face to back of wooden spoon. Set aside to dry.

2) Make the feathers by centering skewers between a piece of construction paper and a magazine page. Set aside to dry.

3) Poke the wooden spoon into foam at the very front of the basket and arrange the feathers, poking them into the foam along the back of the basket. To use, place a cloth napkin or hand towel inside the basket, place rolls, then cover with the fabric to keep the bread warm.

Heirloom Gratitude Tablecloth: (Download PDF of these instructions) This is the season to share our gratitude. Buy a plain table clothe and pass a pen along with the potatoes at this year’s holiday meal. Have your guests jot down what they’re thankful for and then embroider it after your guests go home. I’ve loved this idea ever since I read a tiny blurb about a woman who did something like this in “Colorful Stitchery,” by Krisitin Nicholas.

Here’s what you do:

Have guest sign with a water soluble pen if you’re confident no one will spill during the meal. I used a fine tip Sharpie for a tablecloth I just started on my daughter Amelia’s third birthday and a large tip water soluble pen in the Thanksgiving sample pictured. Both methods work, so take your pick.

When the guests go home you get to stitch all the words penned by friends and relatives. It’s fun, but a lot of work. So do yourself a favor and ask guests to write big and recruit some people to help you stitch. Then, pull the tablecloth out for some fun reading during next year’s holiday meal.

* If you don’t want to embroider the table cloth, buy some permanent fabric pens to create a beautiful holiday graffiti tablecloth.

Felt Leaf Garland

Use the template provided (download PDF) to cut out felt leaves in a variety of colors, then thread them onto a piece of yarn. Hang it above a door or mantel to add some fall cheer to your home.

I’m stitching like mad tonight to prepare for my second TV craft segment appearance on  WZZM-TV (Channel 13) “Take Five & Company.” The program airs live here in Grand Rapids at 9 a.m. Friday.

If you’re local, I invite you to tune in to see how to make a simple felt leaf banner, a squawking turkey noise maker (a kid favorite) and a turkey basket to keep those rolls warm on Thanksgiving. I’ll also be sharing a great holiday tradition idea I picked up from “Colorful Stitchery,” a great book by Krisitin Nicholas. (You can listen to my interview with Kristin on CraftSanity episode 70.)

If all goes well, I’ll post a link to tomorrow’s TV segment here after it airs. I’ll also be posting directions for making all the projects. So stop back and check it out.

I have a billion things on my to-do list this week and I shouldn’t have removed the magazine from the plastic until Friday afternoon to avoid all possibility of distraction. But I got totally sucked into the December issue of Martha Stewart Living, specifically the short feature on paper clay ornaments on p. 98.

I even rushed over to the House On The Hill website to order some cookie molds to make both cookies and ornaments with Abby and Amelia this holiday season. We had fun picking out the molds together and looking forward to finally making the Springerle cookies on p. 118 of the “Martha Stewart’s Cookies” book I received on Mother’s Day.

It’s almost embarrassing how captivated by these paper clay ornaments. I even called House On The Hill last night to find out if you can use the molds to make cookies after using them to make ornaments. Connie, the company owner assured me that this is in fact safe to do this. Awesome.

I’m not usually an impulse buyer, but I’ve been looking for cookie molds for a long time now and totally caved when I saw how lovely they look. Connie said she was flooded with orders, so I’m not the only one who fell in love with those ornaments.

The cool part is the cookie molds are made in the USA, so Martha has done a very “good thing” for our economy. And if you’re reading, dear husband, I was just doing my part to help out. Yeah, that’s what I’m going to keep telling myself. :  ) You can read more about my latest obsession here.

Have any of you used cookie molds for crafting before?  I can’t wait to make some gingerbread cookies with them. I’m so looking forward to holiday baking.

And here’s another Amy Butler Giveaway winner (Sorry I kept you all waiting.):

Comment from Kari
Time: November 2, 2008, 6:46 pm

Just before heading out for a walk today with my 4 month old I checked my computer and told my husband “hooray, this is going to be a great Craftsanity”. I told him it was an interview with Amy Butler and asked if he knew who that was. He did! And he is not crafty but countless times has heard me mention her, has seen her fabrics that I buy, and has observed me pointing out other people wearing things made with her fabric. Anyway, it was a great interview-thanks to Jennifer and Amy! I’m crossing my fingers for goodies.

Congrats, Kari! Please send me your snail mail address and I’ll send you your prize!

Today my weekly Grand Rapids Press art & craft column is about fiber artist Heather Weathers, 25, of Grand Rapids. Her booth was one of the highlights of the Eastown Street Fair back in September.

She makes the cutest hand-painted voodoo dolls she calls voodoolls, stuffed monsters and impressive hand-embroidered pillows and wall art. A fan of human anatomy, hearts, brains and cells are frequent subjects of her work along with beetles and butterflies. Heather hand-paints much of her fabric with acrylic paints to achieve lovely color combinations.

I was really inspired by Heather’s creative journey and I hope you are, too. Here’s a look at some of Heather’s art. Enjoy! Read more »

Most of the leaves have blown off the trees around here, so I’m doing what I can to savor that last bit of fall. Photography helps. :  ) How do the trees look out your window?

Like a giant squirrel sporting baggy flannel pants, I’m trying to stockpile holiday craft traditions and handmade gift ideas to get inspired to share some of my own. I’m signed up to do another local TV segment next week, so I’ll be very busy preparing this weekend. It’s going to make for a hectic week, but it’s all in the name of spreading the love of craft. What’s your favorite DIY holiday tradition or easy-to-make handmade gift? If you have a rockin’ idea, please e-mail me.

Okay, now for the next batch of Amy Butler loot winners. The CraftSanity vice president and her associate were sleeping, so I used a computerized random number generator to pick winners this time and it worked out well for Janey and Risa. Each of you will receive two Amy Butler patterns to try out at home. Congrats! (Please e-mail me your snail mail address and I’ll ship your patterns.)

And if you didn’t win, do not despair. There are are more goodies to disperse.  Just post a comment at the end of the entry about CraftSanity episode 88 by Nov. 15. If you’ve already posted, you’re all set. We’ll pick a couple more winners soon. Good luck!

I bought a simple rug loom at a weavers guild garage sale about eight years ago, back when motherhood was my hope. “It’s for kids,” I told my husband.  When I bought it, I could only imagine how fun it would be to weave with our children  one day. And I’m oh-so-happy to report that Thursday was the big day. I taught Abby to weave.

I cleaned the spider webs off the old frame loom and set it up in the living room. Abby, 4, took to it right away. (She said she might even like it more than stitching.) We skipped the sample-making and started right in on a rug using the thickest yarn in my stash. (Lion Brand Big) She said she wanted to correct her mistakes as she goes, so we’ve done a lot of reweaving and she still likes it.

The plan was for Amelia, 3, to try her hand at weaving, too, but instead she asked to do some stitching. So Amelia graduated from the plastic stitch board she was practicing on and selected some fabric scraps from Abby’s stitch box. She’s watched Abby and I with our embroidery hoops, so she seemed to naturally know what to do. It was fantastic to watch her make random stitches to secure a tiny piece of a yellow and blue floral print to a green polka dot background.

We had had a challenging afternoon, so it was very nice to spend a peaceful evening crafting together in the living room. I’m so thankful that I get to be the mother of these two little girls. They inspire me so much and I can’t believe what a kick I get out of crafting with them. I’m a very lucky woman. :  )

I’ve had a bit of computer trouble this week, but I think I’m back in business. Later today I will announce some more winners of Amy Butler goodies, so enter the contest if you haven’t already. Good luck everyone!

*** P.S. If any of you locals are in looking for some knitting fun tonight, Knitwear designer Jared Flood is town. Check out his Brooklyn Tweed slide show and presentation from 7-8:30 p.m. tonight at East Grand Rapids Library (lower level) 746 Lakeside Drive SE. The cost $10, or $5 and a handmade washrag or potholder for charity. He’s also teaching a workshops at City Knitting today and tomorrow. Call 454-9276 to reserve tickets.

My fellow crafty Americans, it’s time to head to the polls. But before you do, don’t forget to stuff a small project into your bag and maybe even load up your mp3 player with a CraftSanity podcast because there’s a good chance that you might have to wait in line for a while. I don’t know about you, but having a project to work on really takes the edge off when I’m stuck in line and feeling a bit agitated.

I’m a journalist and independent voter, so I won’t be publicly endorsing a presidential candidate. However, I will say that I’ve been enjoying the election-related art and craft that has been created. Check some of it out here and here. I finished stitching my “craft the vote” apron tonight and plan to wear it tomorrow.

And, before I hit the hay, I want to announce the first winner of the Amy Butler giveaway extravaganza. My little Amelia, 3, picked this winner winner who will receive a copy of “Amy Butler’s Little Stitches for little ones: 20 Keepsake Sewing Projects For Baby and Mom,” a stack of fat quarters and an individual pattern.  Are you ready? Okay, here we go… And the winner of a book, individual pattern and fat quarter stack is the author of this  blog. If you’re reading, dear winner, please e-mail me your mailing address and I’ll ship your prize.Congrats!

And if you didn’t win, don’t dismay. I will be giving away two more packages like this and several more winners will receive individual pattern prizes. Everyone who leaves a comment by the Nov. 15 deadline will be entered into each drawing with the exception of the winners. Sorry, only one prize per person.  Another winner will be picked very soon, so check back again to see if you won. Good luck everyone!

Oh, and if you missed my interview with Amy, check it out.

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Like many of us pursuing our own creative dreams, Amy Butler built her business one small step at a time. She designed and stitched and designed some more and before long fabric lovers across the country knew her name.

On this episode of CraftSanity, designer Amy, 42, of Grandville, Ohio, takes us back to her creative roots and shares her story, one sure to inspire those of you working to build a creative business of your own.

Win Amy Butler Prizes! Not long after our chat, Amy sent me a massive box of goodies to give away to CraftSanity listeners, so comment away folks. Leave a comment about episode 88 below this post to enter to win the drawing for one of several Amy Butler prizes. From now until Nov. 15 I will be giving away fabric stacks, patterns and copies of “Amy Butler’s Little Stitches for little ones: 20 Keepsake Sewing Projects For Baby and Mom,” so check back often to see if you won.

A Special Thanks to the Episode 88 Sponsors!

This is episode is sponsored by Jill Zielinski of the Knitterella shop and blog. Jill specializes in unique stationery for knitters and crafters. Visit www.knitterella.com for great stocking stuffer ideas, sweet stationery and one-of-a-kind gift tags to add a perfect finishing touch to your handmade gifts.

This episode is also sponsored by Penny Carnival, a blog written by Megan Cooley. Read her blog and check out her etsy shop at pennycarnival.etsy.com, where she sells handmade items for children.

Want to promote your craft business? Visit the sponsors section if you’re interested in sponsoring an upcoming CraftSanity episode.

Support the show! Buy a CraftSanity T-shirt or button. Or leave a comment about the show on iTunes.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com

I started knitting this Harry Potter scarf a couple years ago and put it aside about three stripes in. I’m not sure why I didn’t finish this thing because I’ve found it very relaxing to pick it up again. I’m knitting in the round on size 7 circulars, so I can mindlessly stitch until it’s time to switch colors. I just love projects that don’t require me to concentrate, so my mind is free focus on other things like editing the audio from my interview with designer, Amy Butler. Yes, this means I’m very close to finally posting this long-awaited interview. And I’m very excited about this because many, many listeners have asked for a CraftSanity episode featuring Amy.

After our recent chat, Amy followed up by sending me a HUGE box of Amy B. goodies. So prepare yourself, people, because this next giveaway is going to be loads of fun. There will be chances to win fabric, patterns AND Books! I know, it’s totally out of control, so I suggest you check back often during the next couple days to find out how to enter to win some fabulous stuff. Don’t ask me how I’ve managed to resist the urge to lock myself in my room and sew every pattern in the box.

Apparently, I have more self-control than I thought, but I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out. Must get prizes to winners ASAP! Okay, time to go tape the podcast intro… the goal is to post the podcast this week.

Franklin Habit’s book, “It Itches: A Stash of Knitting Cartoon” (Interweave, $12.95), landed on my welcome mat last week and, wow, what a treat! I’ve heard Franklin read his knitting related essays on the podcast circuit, so I was well aware of his skill in the humor department. But I had yet to realize his fantastic skills as a cartoonist and illustrator.

“It Itches,” is a small and wonderful book that you and the other knitters in your life will appreciate.  A quick read, it made me laugh and oh, so glad I knit. I can’t wait to pass the book around to my fellow knitters at Craft Club. As an experienced knitter, Franklin speaks our language and was able to serve up the perfect blend of artistic wit to make knitters around the globe chuckle.

Mixed in with dozens of clever knitting cartoons are short humor pieces including those about men knitting, a long forgotten poncho, royal underpants and the fight to resist a skein of handpainted sock yarn. Franklin also tackles one of life’s big art vs. craft questions, a question I’ve probably asked more than I should on my podcast.

I found this book most enjoyable and recommend it to all the needle clickers of the world. Keep a copy in the knitting bag to pull out when you’re in need of a ergonomic break or want to come to the aid of a knitter friend in desperate need of comic relief.

Congrats, Franklin, on a wonderful first book!

My hair was fixed. My makeup was on. I was even sporting a new purple apron and ready with my little wheelie cart of craft goodness.

Sure, I was nervous about doing live TV, but I was in the craft zone and things were going great. I was ready to be a guest on the local morning show “Take Five & Company.” Everything continued to go great until I cut a corner a little too close near the green room. One moment I had a festive little “Boo Tree” decorated with ghosts hanging out of my cart, then, “SNAP!” One of the branches got caught on the wall and the entire top of the tree busted off.

I knew this was not a good way to prepare for my big four-minute segment, but I didn’t panic. I expected to run into a glitch or two and was kind of relieved to get the first one out of the way before I was wired for sound. I took it as a good sign that I had just ruined one of my projects and I was still standing, not crying and finding it all rather funny.

I had brought more than enough projects to talk about, so I could afford to trash the tree if my immediate MacGyver plan to fix it with packaging tape failed. (Tape was the only adhesive I had in my cart.) But thanks to a nice guy named Rex Bonner, I didn’t have to humiliate myself with a feeble attempt to tape my tree back together.

Someone got word to building services that I was having a craft emergency and Rex emerged with a fast acting super glue in one hand and a spray adhesive accelerant in the other. In a matter of minutes he reconnected the top the little tumble weed tree and I was back in business. Thanks, Rex!

I told him he was my hero and insisted on taking the his picture with my phone before continuing to set up the rest of my projects. It was a real trip.

The rest was a blur. When I watched the clip online, I noticed that I forgot to plug Craft Club and tell people to look for my art and craft column on Sundays in the Press Home & Garden section. The only major cringe moment came when I told people to buy quarter inch cuts of fabric instead of quarter yard cuts to make the fabric banner. Ah, well, that was still better than pouring gesso all over the floor and then slipping in it. (I think I dreamed every possible mishap last night.)

When I told my mom I was going to be demonstrating some basic Halloween crafts on TV, she gasped and said: “You’re going to be the next Carol Duvall!”

Well, probably not. But it was fun to be in front of the camera with fabric and gesso for four minutes. (If you’re interested you can listen to my chat with Carol here. She’s the best.)

Today I learned a lot about what not to do on TV. There’s room for improvement, but I think that’s part of my charm. If I can do this stuff, you definitely can. Seriously.

It was particularly fitting that my little tree broke again while I was loading it back into to the car. The super glue held, but couldn’t prevent a break further down the stem. That totally cracked me up.

A special thanks to the nice people at WZZM for saving my “Boo Tree” and giving me the opportunity to spread my love of craft.

You can download the pdf for the fabric banner and read my craft column about them on my “Running With Needles” newspaper blog. You can find the instructions for the newspaper banner and read about more DIY decorating ideas to spook up your home here.