Peekaboo! Sneek a peek at the Saturday Tastylinks!

Peekaboo Mixed Media Necklace Copyright Margot Potter 2009

I got bored. So I made a new blog header. I felt like maybe I needed my actual design work in my header. This necklace is featured in my new book Bead Chic. Did you get your copy yet?! I'd put my picture in my header...but maybe that's just a little too much Madge. I'm feeling rather black and white and gray right now, which makes my 'i color outside of the lines' mantra seem slightly ironic. So be it.

I like irony.

I do not, however, like ironing.

Just for the record.

I did enjoy Iron Man though. The movie...and the song.

That about covers that.

How are you enjoying the videos? Do you like them? Is there anything you'd like to see? I've got to make one every single week, so if you've got ideas please, please share with the class. It's Jewel School...get it?

Har har.

And without further drivel, blather and ado... Here's what the fabulous crafty bloggers have for your entertainment, education and edification:

The Artful Crafter
Come one; come all. See The Artful Crafter Parade of Valentine Crafts.

Mixed Media Artist
There are lots of products that will give a translucent finish to paper. Cyndi experiments to see which ones work the best!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares basic beading techniques in this week's video on demand for JTV's Jewel School!

Cross Stitch at About.com
Join in the Cross Stitch Forum SAT, SWAT and don't forget about the January Forum Challenge and the Duh One Challenge. Learn about these opportunities and other stitchy wonderfulness going on on Connie's site.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy is duckie over some baby yarn she's using for a new baby afghan.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a free penguin graphic download, a doll boot pattern and sewing tutorial, a video interview with Carri Hammett author of Mittens and Hats for Yarn Lovers and the pros and cons of petroleum verses synthetic oil.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi tests glitter in a spray format to create beautiful sparkly cards.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how to make a glittery crown any birthday Queen would be proud to wear!

About Family Crafts
If you can't beat winter, celebrate it everyday with these simple crafts and activities!

Saturday TastyLinks and Jenny Harada!

I'm so, so excited to have turned in all of the finalized copy for my next book. It's official! WOO HOO! Let the celebration begin!

Speaking of books I am super happy to share the link and the cover for Jenny Harada's FAB new book Me Make Monster. Jenny is a super talented and super fun lady. We shot a The Impatient Crafter video once for YouTube together and she is as fun in person as her whimsical creations. I'm so honored to have a project in the book upcycled from champagne corks. It was difficult drinking enough champagne to have corks for the step by step shots, but I did what needed to be done. Well done, Jenny!

Mr. Fluffy Cloudman actually lives in our bed. My husband has learned to accept him as part of the family. Begrudgingly. Sorry, Drew.

Having used up my quota of exclamation points in this post, I'm afraid I'll have to bid thee a hearty holiday weekend adieu.

Here's what the craftacular Crafty Bloggers Crew has for your perusal:

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how I restyled a little dress with a bit of inspiration from the pretty book- Sew Serendipity

Mixed Media Artist
Do you like making altered books? Or have you always wanted to try it out? Cyndi's got a series going right now that looks at altered books techniques and altered book artists!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares another post in her series on How to Write and Publish a Craft Book. This time we're looking at PR and Marketing.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Are you looking for ribbon weaving or Homecoming Mum Chain directions? Look no further.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Creative Publishing International, the publisher of my latest book, has a new web site, and it is full of amazing book information.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to make a perfect placement template when die cutting, how to paint a Pop Art cow with a free downloadable pattern, how to combine drawing and collage and 7 pastel drawing techniques from the book The Art of Pastel.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a new sewn paper sample to share.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you a tasty treat with a printable recipe card for delicious cinnamon rolls!

The World's Smallest Chicken Egg and Saturday TastyLinks!

Quite Possibly the World's Smallest Chicken Egg, someone call Guinness!

We're heading out tomorrow morning for a week long road trip. There is so much to do before we go that it's hurting my head. Ouch. It's a combo of business and pleasure, though I could surely use a week long vacation without the business part. I was really hoping to make it out to BeadFest, but it's not looking like that's going to happen. Sigh.

I'll have a few posts set to drip while I'm away...so check back please! Wednesday I'll have a fun teen craft project and Thursday is my final free project from my new book with a final giveaway!

I think we may have the world's smallest chicken egg! What do you think? This is from one of our new hens. They're still a little young to be laying, but I guess we have an overachiever in the bunch. Quel suprise.

It's my 47th birthday tomorrow! Holy crap, how they heck did that happen?! I like to think that my childlike sense of wonder (or my extreme immaturity) has kept me young. That and copious amounts of spackle, hair dye and a smattering of Botox.

Now there's a recipe for you.

Yay for architectural preservation!

I share a birthday with another crafty redhead, the fab Cathie Filian! Happy Birthday, sista!

Oh and...CONGRATS to Eileen Bergen of The Artful Crafter for winning a signed copy of Bead Chic, email me with your snail mail address at margot@margotpotter.com!

xoxo
Madge

Here's what's happening on the vast and mysterious Interwebs:

Cyndi Lavin has the third chapter in her new book ready for download, go see!

I got two really lovely reviews this week for Bead Chic. Big Thanks to Jean Yates and Shala of My Craft Review!

Thanks to Sheri from Just Hanging Out and Creating for citing The Impatient Crafter blog as a fave.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make an apron for an Aminko or an 18 inch doll from the book All Dolled Up

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has one more metalcraft book to give away this summer. Come sign up for your last chance to win!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares the third free project from her new book Bead Chic with a giveaway!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Do you know how to avoid clay shrinkage and distortion with clays baked in the home oven? Let Eileen tell you.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Do you bead? Are you chic? Then you will want a chance to win Margot Potter's latest book!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a tutorial on how to paint faces on natural elements, two chances to win a copy of 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse in a "recycle your Swag contest", the first sneak peek into the new book 1000 Artisan Textiles and an interview with the author of Sew Retro, Judi Ketteler.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi tests a new scoring tool to make a star book in one hour.

Aileen's Musings
Join Aileen's creative torso challenge--you can download and embellish your torso tag and enter to win a free collage sheet.

About Family Crafts
Discover creative ways to personalize your notebooks and text books!

TastyLinks and Madge's Plea for Roll Over Minutes!

Hopewell Furnace Pulleys Copyright Margot Potter 2006

To the person who emailed me about my How To Write and Publish a Craft Book Series...please email me again! You got sent to spam and just as I hit delete I realized you weren't spam! So sorry! Hope you see this message!

The trip to Denver wasn't in my original plans for this summer, we had dates earlier that had to be rescheduled due to issues with the insurance company...so to say I'm feeling the crunch this weekend would be a serious understatement! I am buried!

Here's my 'to do' list:

1. Create and pack 30 step out projects for book photo shoot. Must be done before I leave on Monday.

2. Create a final book variation design, pack and ship out book projects.

3. Create a project with instructions and set teen craft blog post to drip on Wednesday for ILoveToCreate.

4. Plan outfits and pack for CHA (that may mean a new accessory or two...but only if I can find a spare moment!)

5. Plan and sketch a concept for a design for a major craft industry client that is slated for a big PR campaign. I'm already behind on the deadlines because I was away for nine days.

6. Write and set blogs to drip for Wednesday and Thursday. I'll also have Tuesday post, so stay tuned!

7. Finish and fold laundry.

8. Pour myself a glass of wine and exhale.

There were vague hopes of packing and shipping out the variation projects and complimentary books to my contributors for Bead Chic before I left...and those have been dashed on the rocks. I'm hopeful they can wait until I get back home! I really need more hands.

This all leads me to wonder why it must ALWAYS be such a ridiculous convergence of deadlines around here. It's feast or it's snack...there is luckily very little famine around here. If I could just borrow some minutes from the slower weeks on days like today. Maybe I need to speak to the Universe about a roll over minute plan.

Hmmm...

Here's what the craftabulous Crafty Blogger Gang have for your perusal today. "We've got glue guns, and we're not afraid to use them." (tm)

About Family Crafts
Now is the perfect time to get a jump start on your holiday crafting. Discover how you can make a fun and unique holiday gift for everyone on your list this year.

Aileen's Musings
If your anything like Aileen you have a lot of extra embellishments you haven't used. Stop by and see her Altered Embellishment video where Aileen gives you some ideas on altering them to fit your project!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Inspired by an antique find Carmi creates a new piece of wall decor.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's giving away 2 copies of the new book Sew Retro along with a whole bunch of beautiful fabric from the on-line store Sew L.A., a no-pattern tutorial on how to make a triangle tank top, a free Hennya (devil mask) print download, a how-to on drawing an eyeball and wings and our schedule for Make and Takes at CHA Supershow in booth 324.

Crafty Princess Diaries
It's baccckkkk! Tammy is working again on her new jewelry book doing some last minute tweaking before it goes to press.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
The Artful Crafter's motto is "Helping Crafters to Be". To turn a phrase, today we have "The Artful Crafter – and Cyndi – Helping Crafters to Be-ad".

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Kathy Peterson has a new line of Adirondack chairs and five fabulous designers have been challenged to decorate them!

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has 4 books to give away this summer on crafting with tin! Book #2, "Tinwork" is up for grabs this week...come leave you comment and you may win!

Saturday TastyLinks and more Blather and Nonsense!

What I Learned at my Grandmother's Funeral Shoes for Art is Wickedly Good Retreat Class Copyright 2009 Margot Potter (and for copyright infringement FYI the pictures are of my actual grandmother!)

I finished my big project, it looks fabulous...though my anal retentive side wishes I had more crystals to completely cover the toe caps on the tennies...but alas I did not. One must work with the materials one is given. After CHA I'll share pics of the project. There are no teeth marks, FYI. Har har.

I also finished edits on my new book Bead Chic which debuts in Summer of 2010. I still haven't seen the romance pics or a cover and of course I can't wait. Books are a labor of love and so much of it is hurry up and wait. This is my sixth title and I'm just as excited as I was six years ago when I published my first one.

My class proposals for Art is You's October retreat Art is Wickedly Good have been accepted. Yay! I'm teaching among some of the biggest names in mixed media, altered arts and assemblage and my classes are really going to be cool. My classes are part design, part Craft Therapy with plenty of irony and copious amounts of humor. We'll be making a pair of altered shoes and a black hat. The concepts are based on posts from my other blog: What I Learned at my Grandmother's Funeral and The Tao of the Black Hat. The projects will be physical explorations of personal narrative as it relates to the theme. The shoes are about personal empowerment and the hat is about embracing the moments in our lives when we become the bad guy in someone else's story. It is inevitable, no matter how well we try to live that somewhere along the way we'll find someone who sees us as the bad guy. We can see the power and the gift in that role, or not. We all have roles we play in our families, and the shoes are about rejecting those roles and becoming our true selves. We'll do some writing and then we'll dive into the projects and make glorious messes! I can not wait. Everyone's finished projects will be unique to them...so my shoes are just for inspiration.

Clover has a new flower loom that creates Hana-Ami flowers! Check out this video from When Creativity Knocks!

Here is this week's sampling from the craftacular crew of Crafty Bloggers:

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Alexa gets back into her crafty groove with a cool & modern statement ring!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen has a blogoversary coming up and she's offering a fun giveaway!

About Family Crafts
Have a sick kid at home? Check out this collection of crafts Sherri has compiled to help entertain them while they get better.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Connie has a "handy" motif you can adapt for multiple uses. Stitch her suggested saying or choose one of your own.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Even though this crafty princess is from the South, she still needs a warm crochet hat now and then.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
The first week of 2010 at Craftside brings you ho-tos on crocheting broomstick lace and then framing it up to store your earrings, stringing up a ribbon and pearl zigzag necklace, and a call for entries for a new book-1000 Ideas for Decorating Cakes, Cupcakes & Cookies.

The Artful Crafter
Eileen went shopping in her closet and made a 20-something sweater new again. Here’s how to update a dated BIG sweater.

Mixed Media Artist
A new year, a new technique! Cyndi shares the first steps to making a shibori background fabric for a new quilt.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge opens up a rather sticky can of worms in this post about copyright infringement. Right click, save. Done.

TastyLinks and Cookie Chaos Bites

(Vintage French postcard from my personal ephemera collection...Merry Christmas!)

We're all more than a little sad here today because we had to cancel our Cookie Chaos 2009 party. We kept our hopes up that maybe a few folks could brave the snow, but it's turned into a blizzard. Have I mentioned that I don't really like snow? Because I don't. I like to look at snow. I know lots of people love it and they're entitled to that feeling. I'd love to move to Hawaii and look at pretty pictures of snow while sitting in the warm sun drinking a tasty beverage with a decorative umbrella from a pineapple.

Yes, I'd like that very much. Sign me up.

I did call it Cookie Chaos. Perhaps we need a name change!

Avalon is having a friend over for the weekend and they'll decorate some cookies together and I'll console myself with egg nog and fondue. We've decided to host Christmas so that's something.

I shall cease being a Debby Downer now and leave you with your weekly dose of crafty inspiration from the Crafty Blogger's Gang! Huzzah!

About Family Crafts
Find out how you can spread the holiday spirit throughout your entire neighborhood using this fun pass-it-on gift.

Aileen's Musings
As a gift to you Aileen's created 2 beauitful recipe cards for you to download and print.

Cathie Filian
Check out Cathie's quick video on how to make a Christmas tree from a tomato cage.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
The Holiday Goodness Giveaways are in full swing with lots of great answers to fun questions and a week more to enter to win free books along with a free knit placemat pattern with a plaid detail, ribbon and pom pom trimmed dish towel, apron and Christmas tree how-tos, and an inside peek into artist studio with some fun recycled storage ideas.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy has received the first submissions for her book's gallery, and talk about impressive! Wow! Some amazing metal jewelry by Victoria Tillotson.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Wishing you Merry and Bright holidays with a cheerful free pattern perfect for the holiday season.

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
Where did December go? Linda's sharing her mantel decorations as she ponders her lack of handmade gifts this year. Yikes!

Margot Potter-The Impatient Crafter
Know someone bitten by the Twilight bug? Check out Madge's holiday themed Twilight silhouette ornament and pendant project for iLoveToCreate teen!

Mixed Media Artist
Make a stab-bound scrapbook or journal to hold all your Christmas cards and memories this year!

Stefanie Girard's Greeting Card Album Craftiness
How to decorate your Greeting Card Album for Christmas and recycle a card from last year with a fabric die cut.

The Artful Crafter
Eileen’s been elf-ed! Join in the fun and spread some holiday cheer. There’s still time for a few more elf-ings.

The Crochet Dude
Drew reveals his themed Christmas wrap and also announces a fantastic giveaway!

Check out these mini vintage postcard ornaments from When Creativity Knocks. Is it just me...or is everyone feeling Retrofabulous this Christmas?! Hee.

TastyLinks Saturday Giving Thanks Edition

I was thinking about the word Thanksgiving and it occured to me that it's an interesting compound. There's the 'thanks' part and the 'giving' part, obviously. What's interesting is the order of the words and also if you think further the words themselves, and whilst contemplating these things I had a small epiphany. One can give thanks figuratively, but one can also literally give...give something freely as a way of spreading our 'thanks' or gratitude to others. So today in gratitude for your support, I'm sharing with you a permission free image from my personal collection. This is a vintage Clapsaddle postcard, this particular postcard line is highly collectible. I have been collecting ephemera for many years and I find it endlessly fascinating. It never ceases to amaze me to hold a piece of vintage paper in my hands and think about the people who held it 100 years ago. This is a postcard sent in 1910 from Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Davis of Minneapolis to Miss Elsie Munson of Minneapolis. It's in excellent conditon and is embossed and artist signed. You are free to use this image in your design work. On a side note, I had to wonder if this turkey is really all that glad for Thanksgiving...what since he's probably the main course.

FYI-not all of the images on this blog are free for the taking, but this one is. Remember if you do click and save my blog images that they are all under my copyright or the copyright of the artist I've attributed. Everything on the internet isn't free...but this lovely postcard is!

This is part of my contribution to the blog round robin in which I'm participating this week. Please do click on the links and visit the blogs of the participants.

Without further ado, here are this week's Crafty Blogger Links. We're all of us grateful to you, our readers, for your support and encouragement. May you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

About Family Crafts Do you play with clay? If so, please take a moment and share your favorite stories, projects, recipes, techniques, and more.

Aileen's Musings Aileen is offering Vintage freebie images for you to download and use in your art. Get started on those digi holiday cards using some of them.

Cathie Filian Cathie has lots of Thanksgiving recipes, crafts and family activities posted. Plus tips for a smooth Thanksgiving!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Over at Craftside you can enter to win a Mixed-Media Doll by Linda O'Brien, Co-author of Who's Your Dada?, download a free intricate leaf paper cutting pattern, get a fun how-to on making a paper cupcake and a pretty pair of fall leaf earrings.

Crafty Princess Diaries Mix up altered books, glitter, and teenagers, shake well, and voila! You have a fun day of art combined with writing.

Cross Stitch at About.com Stitch a Simple Hanukah Menorah Motif for a card or ornament. Suitable for knitting or crochet projects too.

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style Linda shares one of the first quilts she designed and tells the first of many stories about lessons learned.

Mixed Media Artist Cyndi has finished a second Garden Quilt and is offering her tutorial!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Sweater Surgery attacks t-shirts and cuts them up into some cute gathered tops with the help of Generation-T Beyond Fashion.

The Artful Crafter Check out Eileen’s latest craft finds: lots of free stuff and free advice – well that’s usually free, isn’t it? LOL.

The Crochet Dude Drew kicks off the holiday season with a crochet pattern event!

The Impatient Crafter In this week's teen crafts blog for iLoveToCreate Madge makes a stunning mixed media necklace. You might just want to sport this one yourself!

TastyLinks Saturday!

I'm heading to New Jersey to teach a mixed media jewelry class tomorrow at Suze Weinberg's studio. This is the project which I've shared here before. It's a recycled fashion magazine necklace with sealed paper charms layered with inks and paints. You can use any sort of paper that catches your eye and you can of course make this in a smaller scale if you prefer or use different shapes. I've been obsessed with paper jewelry for several years now and I imagine that obsession will continue!

Here are your weekly crafty links. I'm sad to report that the aforementioned grumpy phlebotomist actually injured my arm with the rubber tie, I don't know what the heck she did but it still burns. I'm officially registering a complaint. I don't allow people to abuse me. Period. So there.

Enough about that for now, I'll be back next week with more fun filled ideas! Until then...craft on with your bad selves.

This week's When Creativity Knocks video is all about the Houston Museum Holocaust Butterfly Project, which I've mentioned here before. Go check it out!

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love Make cool, graphic wall art using Ed Roth's Stencil Decor kit and a little imagination!

The Artful Crafter Eileen shares directions for some lovely polymer clay Thanksgiving napkin rings. You have a choice of one embellished with a cute clay turkey or a more formal looking ring stamped with a fall motif.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery How to make a Sweater Surgery Light up Christmas tree inspired by The Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting Up Your Life

Mixed Media Artist Would you ever do an art show where you knew you wouldn’t sell anything?

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style How did you get introduced to your hobby? Linda shares the story on how she learned to quilt and where those skills have gotten her.

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy reviews a new book full of unique and earth-friendly ways to wrap your gifts this holiday season using scarves.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Over on the Craftside blog there are how-to ideas for casting and making a silver metal clay wing necklace and a recycled wool sweater Christmas needle book. There’s an Mail Art Call Out to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, tips for making a vintage rosary style necklace and a little Jimi Hendrix thrown in.

Cathie Filian Cathie shows you how to make a kids felt book. The book are perfect for airplane trips, car rides and rainy days. They make great gifts!

Aileen's Musings Aileen's on a mission to win a trip to NYC and to see the Martha Stewart show! Check out her under $20.00 Christmas project on Michael's craft site and rate it to help her win!

About.com Cross Stitch Connie's added a new pattern collection - Four Ways to Say Peace. These designs will make great holiday ornaments.

About Family Crafts Come play along with this Make-It-Over craft challenge! What can you make out of candy? This is a great way to use up any left over Halloween candy.

The Impatient Crafter Madge makes a festive Patchwork Paper decoupaged letter for your teen's bedroom door in this week's post for iLoveToCreate

Happy Halloweenie! TastyLinks Saturday!

Today was a dismal, rainy, dark and dull day. Perfect Gothically delicious Hallowe'en weather...unless you're trick or treating. We hit a favorite local antique shop that specializes in architectural salvage. We're searching for the right mantle/shelf/frame for our large gold Buddha in the Zen TV room. I mostly don't watch TV, but I love the room. It's warm cinnamon infused red with gold and off white accents...very cozy. I'm slowly adding an array of empty vintage gilt frames to the walls. It's very simple and chic.

We also scored a huge sign for the living room, a small sign for Av's room and a really neat rustic wooden shelf cubby dealio that's going to be PERFECT for my burgeoning collection of rubber stamps and inks. Every new craft skill brings a crap load of new supplies. We saw a spectacular vintage gas station sign that we coveted until we saw the 675.00 price tag...we talked them down to 475.00 and it's a piece of history that is sure to increase in value...but...that's a big chunk 'o change...so we're sitting on the idea. We need to save our money and finish up some big projects around the house.

Oh heck, I need an entire house just for my studio.

Is that asking so much?!

We also scored some great Halloween decor on super sale at Michael's. Our kitchen is bright orange and acid green, so Halloween stuff actually works in here year round. This house is a 130 year old former Union Hall and Amish School house...so it's got a primitive country vibe. I'm more of a mid-century modern kinda gal but I'm learning to love a quirky country decor. I'm ever mindful of not turning our house into a TGI Fridays...Drew said we're starting to get too much 'wall flair.' One of these days when we get it all together...I'll share some pics.

But enough about our shopping excursion...

Here's the All Hallow's Eve version of TastyLinks...all the good blogs wrapped up in one!

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love Vickie shows how to customize photo mats to go with your favorite photos!

The Artful Crafter Make some romantic mood light candles with decorative tissue paper and decoupage medium.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Halloween Decoration using my craft supply stash to make Jack O' Lanterns

Mixed Media Artist Cyndi has started another small quilt, this time featuring pears!

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy found out crocheting chemo hats is trickier than she thought, but she found success.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world On the Craftside of things there is a free Japanese bunnies and moon piece of clip art, a cool video full of tips on altering a pattern, a how-to on folding paper ricrac, a cool source for vintage style findings and using research magazine pictures as ATC canvases in an altered book.

Aileen's Musings Aileen offers, just barely in time for Day of the Dead or Halloween, an easy peasy earring tutorial!

About Family Crafts Sherri gives you an excuse to craft every day during the month of November using this calendar of events.

The Impatient Crafter This is a story of a refugee who found her strength in creativity. Though she recently died, her story lives on. Please read and share the story of Haiffaa Ali.

Saturday TastyLinks™

Rainbow Road copyright 2009 Margot Potter. Rainbow Calsilica beads courtesy of HHH Enterprises

This week has not flown by for me, it has crawled by like a giant sea slug. I've been juggling a variety of looming deadlines, quietly saying goodbye to a longtime job that I love and dealing with an unneccesarily complex professional situation.

No matter what they tell you, everyone has an agenda.

I'd like to believe I've been transparent about mine. My agenda is to succeed by doing what I love and sharing that passion with others and to do that in a way that doesn't require screwing other people over in the process. My vision is far bigger than crafting. My plans are far bigger than the job that I lost or the situation that arose last week. Sometimes these growing pains are what we need to experience to propel us to take bigger risks. Sometimes we have to do the dirty work and face the tough stuff. Sometimes the things that feel like the end are really a beginning.

Actually all things that feel like an end are really a beginning. It's just that when we rip off a band-aid, we're going to feel sore for a bit afterwards. Then if we're smart, we'll be stronger and we'll embrace those changes and let go of the need to have everybody like us. No matter what we do, other people will view us through their own lenses and we can't fix that. We simply have to let go and trust that the universe has our back.

Life isn't a popularity contest. It's a journey. Even when you're tired and you feel like saying, "F*^% it!" and giving up, you have to find the strength to stay on your pathway. You have to cheer yourself on. You have to love yourself enough to make up for those times when you're misunderstood or not feeling the love from the world around you. No one can give that to you.

Then if you're wise and compassionate, you will pay what you've learned forward without ever expecting a return on that investment. That's a tough one, but an important one to remember.

I don't mean to be opaque here. I'm merely sharing with you, gentle reader, the bumps in my road so that when you hit yours perhaps my words will help you get around them with whatever grace and dignity you can muster.

Crafty shout outs to:

Christopher Nejman for his delightful reworking of our Oo La La Pendants Video!

When Creativity Knocks has a fun new upcycled water bottle hummingbird feeder video!

And so here is this week's generous serving of TastyLinks™ from the Crafty Bloggers:

About Family Crafts If you are trying to find creative costume ideas for couples or groups of peoples, check out the lists I have compiled with the help of visitors like you.

Aileen's Musings There is less then 14 days until the Ties That Bind Art Doll Raffle is done. Stop by and read how you can help us spread the word !

Cathie Filian Dry hands and feet season is just around the corner...Time to whip up some handmade lotion bars. Cathie has a yummy DIY recipe!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Craftside's got a chance to win a copy of Nature Inspired along with some original artwork by the author Tracie Lyn Huskamp, a fun Halloween ghost decoration delivered to you by Fedex, creatively photographing your shadow and a sneak peek into the soon to be released 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse.

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy shows off the preemie baby blanket she started not that long ago. If you are looking for a super easy crochet project, this is a good place to start.

Cross Stitch at About.com Go Team! Make some sports-themed gifts or decorations using the free Sports Motifs Pattern Collection. Your fans will think you are "Number One"!

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style What did I find at the Wisconsin Quilt Expo? Check it out!

Mixed Media Artist Cyndi shares her finished quilt...and swears she is ready to start the next one!

Naughty Secretary Club If it will sit still long enough Jen will find a way to make it into jewelry, even iron-on T-shirt transfers are not safe.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery See how to make a patch with a rubber stamp project inspired by the Super fun book- Bend The Rules With Fabric by Amy Karol

The Artful Crafter If this isn't a green craft, we don't know what is! Let Eileen show you how to make desktop organizers from junk mail. Saving the planet - one catalog at a time.

The Impatient Crafter Madge talks about crafting a life of joy, which is a crafting of a sort indeed. The best sort.

TastyLinks Saturday!

Stay Tuned for More Info!

We're heading into the city of brotherly love today to explore some cool products with the folks from Viva Decor. I'm super excited because they're odor free (great for a gal with asthma), incredibly innovative and the colors are to die for fabulous. I love vibrant, saturated, technicolor tones. As much as I dig old rusty things, I dig pop art and mid century modern...and art nouveau...and art deco...and impressionism... I'm a woman of many moods, how about you?

Give me the entire spectrum so I can play freely and break the rules, please and thank you.

My studio looks even worse today than yesterday. Why can't I be as good at cleaning and organizing as I am at making messes? It's such fun when you're in the creative mode and the glitter is flying and you're pulling every last paint color and brush out of your closets...then you wake up the next morning and it feels like a crafty hangover.

How did this happen?

Where are the magical helpers to clean it all up for me when I'm finished?

Here are this week's links from the Crafty Blogger gang and I'll see you Monday. Until then...craft on with your bad selves.

xoxo
Madge

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love Get a signed bookplate for your copy of Vickie's book, Pop Goes Crochet!

The Crochet Dude Drew talks about the crochet conference he just returned from and you can listen to a podcast interview with him and Zontee from Lion Brand Yarns!

The Artful Crafter Eileen just took her new Zutter Bind-it-All out of the box. Woohoo! Look at what a bona fide binding newbie can create with the Bind-it-All.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Yoga ball never "looked" so fun, How to paint a yoga ball to look like an eye for a lawn Halloween Decoration

Naughty Secretary Club Jen shows how to transform old lace curtains and a cheap wooden embroidery hoop into a one of a kind earring holder.

Mixed Media Artist Have you ever used an online publisher to create your own artist book?

Cross Stitch at About.com One of Connie's friends is really big into Egyptian history and culture, so she has some pattern ideas for gifts. If you like Egyptian-themed decor, you will love these charts!

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy talks about booth set ups for art shows as well as trade shows.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Craftside has tutorials on how to make two punk rock scarves one with yarn and one with fabric, info on participating in the Good Mail Day Challenge, One Person's Oddity and a Polaroid Postcard design, a bunch of mixed element jewelry and tips on laying a pattern out on plaid fabric.

Cathie Filian Cathie is holding a charity dog costume & book auction. All the costumes were handmade by Cathie and featured in her book Bow Wow WOW! The proceeds benifit the Humane Society.

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner Alexa visits the San Francisco Zine Fest and gives a recap of what she saw!

About Family Crafts Who are your favorite popular characters? Are they included in this collection of free coloring book pages?

The Impatient Crafter Check out this Haute Couture inspired felt, ribbon and glass bib necklace Madge made for I Love to Create teens!

Saturday TastyLinks™!

We interrupt the regularly scheduled blog post for a moment of Shameless Self Promotion. The fabulous Brini Maxwell and I are hosting a crafty cruise that is going to blow your ever lovin' crafty minds. In October 2010, we'll perform our Crafty Cabaret show, teach four fabulous classes (I'll be teaching a tiara class!), have an open craft studio for 24 hour crafty fun and you'll visit some of the best locations in the Caribbean. Nine craftacular days of fun in the sun with two delightful, divalicious hostesses. Here's the story, Mornin' glories. You go to the ScrapMap site to sign up. All you need to do is put down a small deposit and make monthly payments, you are not locked into the cruise and can pull out and get your money back up to 120 days before the ship sails. So...what on earth are you waiting for? We want you...we need you...let us craftertain you!

I now return you to your regularly scheduled blog post...

It's time once again to spread the Linky Love across the Blogosphere! Woo hoo! I'm back in the saddle big time this week. I've been assembling kits for my new book shoot, selling and shipping stuff from the newly replenished Etsy shoppe, doing freelance blogging and design and lots of networking post show to maximize my new connections.

Phew.

I woke up this morning with my head spinning like a ball in a bingo cage...

"Get drivers's license photo...do something about my hair first.
Make appointment to take daughter to doctor for vaccinations and school required check up
Finish packing supplies for book photo shoot
Take pics and load new designs into Etsy Shoppe
Work on proposal for big event
Create widget for cruise
Fine tune idea for pitch
Write some pages for my e-book
Plan a new The Impatient Crafter™ video
Herd dust bunnies out of studio
Finish follow up emails post CHA
Pay bills
Work on design and blog post for manufacturer."

Damn...it's Saturday...and my straw pile is still HUGE! Enough whining about all of the work I have to do...it's better than having none at all!

My friend and colleague 'Daliciuus™' Fernando DaSilva is running a great contest on his blog. He's looking for a few good followers...Go see!

Here's what the Crafty Blogger Gang has for your education, entertainment and edification this week:

The Crochet Dude Drew is giving away all his latest designs that are included in his new line of patterns that just launched nationwide! To enter you just leave a comment on his blog!

The Artful Crafter Eileen blogs about learning photography - one frame at a time.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Earrings made with something old, something new and a how-to from the new book- Simply Gemstones by Nancy Alden

Naughty Secretary Club Jen dishes up a recipe for making a pin cushion out of vintage tin.

Mixed Media Artist Cyndi has an imaginary friend named Jim...from 100 years ago!

Cross Stitch at About.com Help Connie decide a caption for her free Bat Cross Stitch pattern.

CraftyPod SisterDiane interviews a top Etsy seller who decided to downsize her business.

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy has a bag full of fun crafting ideas for the crafter with a birthday.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Craftside has a how-to on making a Traveling Mail Art Kit from the soon to be released book-Good Mail Day, a tutorial on how to line a flap and step by step directions to make a painted fusible web postcard. Be sure to answer the week's questions to be entered to win free books while your getting your fill of crafty goodness.

Cathie Filian Join Cathie Filian on HSN August 17th where she will be showcasing the new formulas of Mod Podge, Chalkboard Paint and Texture Paint.

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner Alexa shares 3 great photography tips for taking better photos of your crafts. You don't even have to have an expensive camera!

Aileen's Musings Aileen is offering a book giveaway! See how many ways you can get your name entered in her drawing to win a Ties That Bind Collaboration of Love book...

About Family Crafts Hurry on over and submit your photos and ideas! Sherri is now accepting Halloween submissions. Share your costumes, haunted house ideas, more and browse through the photos everyone else has submitted.

The Impatient Crafter Make a super cute pair of flip flops with your kid or teen for your end of summer vacation! Madge shares the 411 in this post for I Love to Create

Saturday TastyLinks™!

Image Copyright Enoch Bolles

Well hell, Maybelle, has it really been a week? Really? I'm almost ready to leave for Orlando, just a few more things to do before I go on Monday morning. I'll have an I Love to Create post for you this Tuesday, but that's probably going to be all she wrote until the following Monday. I promise to give you a peek at my CHA Show trip.

I wanted to send a little Linky Love shower to my dear friend Fernando DaSilva for the glowing review he posted yesterday of Beyond the Bead. He's an amazing designer, and if you've not visited his blog and website you're really missing out. I truly appreciate his high fashion sensibility and effervescent personality. We're on the Beadalon Design Team with Katie Hacker and I think we make a great team. I'm a lucky gal for sure!

Here's this week sampling of TastyLinks from The Crafty Bloggers! Open wide and say, "Ah!"

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love 25 Signs that you love to create!

The Artful Crafter Do you know what a bead board is? No, not the kind you nail to the wall. LOL.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Check out a A Floral-tasticly good project from the new book- Kanzashi in Bloom

Naughty Secretary Club Jen takes some of her favorite free embroidery patterns on the net and transforms them into plush dolls.

Mixed Media Artist If you get inspired by seeing fabulous work by other artists, check out some of the fabulous profiles that Cyndi has posted!

Crafty Princess Diaries If you have always wanted to make your own crafting video but didn't think you had the techie know-how, then you'll love this new free software the Crafty Princess recently discovered.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to do recycled paper napkin casting, make a movable fighting girl element, an interview with Norma V. Toraya author of Paper Puppet Palooza, a video on how to die cut and needle felt a bookmark from a recycled wool sweater and how to create a window for pressed botanicals in your gathering journal.

Cathie Filian Whip up a custom belt buckle with a little paper, creativity and Dimensional Magic.

Aileen's Musings Aileen has an exciting announcement! She's just finished creating a book for Project Ties That Bind benefiting Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). 100% of all proceeds from the book are going to OCRF. Stop by and take a sneak peek at this beautiful 68 page book filled with beautiful vivid pictures and inspirational quotes and stories.

About.com Cross Stitch Can You Stitch and Ride? Connie barely can and she wants to hear what your situation is - be sure to read the comments and add your own.

About Family Crafts Is it too early to start thinking about Halloween crafting? How early do you start your Halloween planning?

The Impatient Crafter Madge shares a couple of sneak peeks of some mixed media jewelry she's created to wear to the CHA Show!

Saturday TastyLinks™

“Ain’t it funny how time slips away?”

It could not possibly have been a week since I last posted these links! Have I somehow and without my knowing entered a wrinkle in time?! I feel as if summer is flying at the speed of light, which makes me a little blue because winter seems to last forever. I simply must move somewhere warm and balmy.

Yesterday I dropped my daughter off at her last day of Shakespeare camp and I took a little side trip to one of our local antique malls in search of ephemera. I emerged triumphant! I found two magazines from the early 1900s in pristine condition overflowing with great images, one adorable postcard, a bag of slightly disturbing 1950s circus themed cardboard stand up cut-outs and this absolutely amazing photograph. I ask you. Is this a girl or is this a boy? I can not for the life of me decide. Note the hands and feet...and the awkward body language...and the hair which may or may not be short. I love it! This is a delightfully quirky picture!

I’ve been collecting these old photos for years. My former roommate Melody and I used to tell our guests they were our ancestors and concoct stories about them. I’m particularly fond of pictures of women and young girls wearing hugantic bows. In fact, I think I may need to create a collection of these bows for myself.

Ah, I blather on too much again. Good grief. Here’s your weekly sampling of TastyLinks™! Open wide and say, “AH!”

About Family Crafts I need your help! Be the first to submit a photo of this completed craft and be featured on the Family Crafts site!’’

Aileen's Musings Your help is needed...Please take a moment to help make a difference We have a chance to get our ovarian cancer charity project on the cover of a northern CA magazine. Your vote is needed! The project benefits the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Deadline for voting is July 23rd so hurry and cast your vote!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner Alexa shares the mental process behind creating a post on her swell craft blog.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Craftside's got a how-to's on bleaching photos and juxtaposing images, a mixed-media journal out of a wide variety of recycled materials and a video with Scatha G. Allison where she shows the incredible designs from her book Jean Therapy. Be sure to answer the day's questions to be entered to win a free book!

Crafty Princess Diaries Have you thought about taking your craft hobby to a different level? Tammy has some thoughts to consider before crossing over the hobby/professional line.

CraftyPod SisterDiane is thrilled to unveil her new ebook, Weaving Un-Loomed: Simple Ways to Weave Cool Things.

Cross Stitch at About.com Have fun trying out these new free Candlewicking patterns Connie's sharing. If you use one, send in a photo to show it off!

Mixed Media Artist Using two very different book pages, you can create a found poem for an altered book...or just because!

Naughty Secretary Club Jen shares clever and crafty uses for suitcases that have nothing to do with holding clothing. Side tables, laptop cases and portable craft studios, oh my!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Drink Mermaids take the plunge into some silver paint and get transformed into some swimmingly fun necklaces inspired by the wonderfully innovative book A Charming Exchange.

The Artful Crafter Eileen shows you how to make a multi-strand fiber bracelet.

The Crochet Dude Drew reviews the new Simplicity Rotary Cutting Machine - offers up a free crocheted project using fabric strips - and he's giving away a Rotary Cutting Machine to one lucky commenter!

The Impatient Crafter Madge shows you how to make a quick and easy Altered Chinese Paper Lantern in her first post on Kid/Teen Crafts for I Love to Create!

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love Check out Vickie's free pattern for a knitted lace iPhone cozy!

Image Copyright Gil Elvgren

Hello My Lovelies!

Is it just me or is time flying even faster these days?! Where did my week go?! If you see it, will you be so kind as to return it to me?

I managed to finish the last of my new book designs yesterday, which is a minor miracle. I’m working on instructions for a little while today and then I’m clocking out. It’s a picture perfect day outside and we plan to enjoy it.

Happy Fourth! Before you fire up the grill, here are some no calorie TastyLinks™ for your enjoyment.

Cheers,
Madge

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love Learn how to finger knit with Vickie's step-by-step how-to, featured on the CRAFT website!

The Impatient Crafter Madge shares the clip from her recent appearance on Lifetime TV's The Balancing Act for Beadalon.

The Artful Crafter Eileen suggests you go shopping for craft supplies in your jewelry box and closet. Make an old accessory into something new and fresh.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Old plastic bead necklaces go under the knife (and in the toaster oven) to make Melted Plastic bead Star Earrings perfect for the patriotic holidays

Naughty Secretary Club Thinking about starting up your own craft business? Jen has a few suggestions of things you might consider first. Plus learn how you can take a Crafty Business Seminar with Jen from anywhere in the world!

Mixed Media Artist Cyndi reports on her experiences with using the new CopprClay. This stuff rocks!

Cross Stitch at About.com Why no knots in Counted Cross Stitch? Find out why and how to secure your floss in alternate ways.

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy shows off her cool new sewing cabinet that was surprisingly inexpensive.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world At Craftside there is a bling-tastic video on hand lettering with Lisa Engelbrecht, from the new book The Crafter's Devotional a how to make a leather book cover and flag cuffs made from a book cover, an "actual size" silver heart using PMC, and a fun snack recipe.

Cathie Filian It is summer and that means beach & pool time! Visit Cathie Filian's blog to learn how to stitch up a terry beach throw.

Aileen's Musings Ever wonder how to get that cute copyright symbol or better yet, how to put one on your artwork or photographs? Aileen offers a easy tutorial using PSP.

About Family Crafts If you are looking for a creative way to celebrate every day during the month of July, check out this special events calendar!