Help for left handed crafters
Are you a lefty who has problems with embroidery patterns? Check out this tutorial of basic embroidery stitches – made specifically for left handed embroiderers.
How to Rescue Family Heritage Photos
Eileen just completed a photo restoration class and made an exciting discovery in the process.
Providing Bird Nesting Materials
The best materials to provide, plus a creative way to house them.

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
The amazing detail packed book Boutique Knits by Laura Irwin provides the inspiration for a half felted/ half non felted bag Sweater Surgery Style.
The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares another fab free jewelry project from her new co-authored book Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed. Leave a comment for a chance to win a free book while you’re there!
About Family Crafts
Are you up for a crafty challenge? Design your own simple Mardi Gras mask.
Aileen’s Musings
Aileen crafts a whimsical birthday banner from rock salt, watercolors and fun embellishments! Let yourself be inspired …read more

About Family Crafts
Over the years I have learned some trick when it some to storing craft supplies and staying organized, and I am happy to share these with you.
Aileen’s Musings
Download some freebie Cabinet Cards from Aileen’s Musings this week, and check out her gouache paint and altered cabinet card tutorial.
Cathie Filian
Cathie Filian has a fun tutorial on recycling jeans into fashion cuffs with personalized patches.
Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Kicking off the new year Craftside will theme each week with a letter from the alphabet and give away a book …read more

Drawer Pull & Pants Hanger Project
Turn these items into a unique photo display via Craftynest.
Gravestone Rubbings for Fabric Art
Mary Emma, at Quilting and Patchwork, discovered instructions for turning gravestone rubbings into fabric art and family history.
How to Make Soap Petals
Soap petals are simply silk flower and leaf petals dipped in melted soap. They are single use and look pretty sitting beside the sink. Let Eileen show you how to make them.
Mapping the layout for a new book
Noreen is working really hard on a new book that she’ll be releasing very …read more

Cross Stitch at About.com
Make some stitching resolutions for the coming year using these ideas from Connie G. Barwick to get you started.
Crafty Princess Diaries
It’s time to get organized for 2009! The Crafty Princess talks about her own battle with the clutter bug.
Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
Jackalopes are real and they love being the motif du jour on a needle felted pillow made from recycled wool felted sweaters.
Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
The last week of 2008 at Craftside brings you a mixed media polymer clay design, a sneak peek into the …read more

Favorite 2008 posts from Tangled Thread
Chloe has gone through the archives and has selected her favorite posts from 2008 to share with you.
Favorite Junk Creation Posts of 2008
Peggy takes a look back at junk artists and junk creations featured in 2008.
Goodbye 2008
Saying farewell to 2008
Inkle loom dimensions
Years ago, Noreen’s husband built Noreen a really wonderful inkle loom using reclaimed wood from old pallets. One of Noreen’s readers asked for the dimensions, as her husband is building her an inkle loom. So, Noreen took pics and measured the loom. Anything to help another …read more

Beaded face panel
by Cindy McCornack
Cindy McCornack was a friend and mentor to beaders, in person and online. She lived in Alaska, but had friends all over the world through the online beading community, especially the Bead Art forum. Among the things she left for for beaders was her book, Exploring Beaded Art Dolls, full of instructions, inspiration, and photographs of beaded art dolls that she and her friends created.
When Cindy was diagnosed with lung cancer, the Forum responded with flowers, gifts, support, and contributions. In thanks, Cindy began the Mystery Image Challenge. Inspired by the Mat-Su Valley Bead Society in …read more

Art Attack Thursday!
I have a suggestion for those of you who are good organizers: think about doing a card deck! I was involved in two different deck projects and they were both fabulous experiences. They were both organized through Yahoo groups, and participants would sign up there for the cards they were to do, could discuss the progress, and make all the arrangements.
The groups that I was in did two Biblically based decks: one was limited to verses from the book of Proverbs, and the other was any Bible verses. These are my entries from the second:

Doing a collaborative project …read more

What’s Up Wednesday
Ning, the place where you can create your own social network for just about anything, has a really nice group that many of you might be interested in: Fiber Arts/Mixed Media. I recognized many names and faces over there, including Arlee Barr, who wrote an artist profile for Layers Upon Layers awhile back!
Ning provides a nice format for a group, allowing for photo albums, videos, event planning, forum discussions, and member pages. Take a trip to visit Fiber Arts/Mixed Media, and if it’s not exactly what you’re looking for, consider creating your own social network!

Peacock Moon by …read more

I’ve only ever gone on one art-related retreat, and it was a fabulous experience. In my case, it was a private affair organized by a few friends. But I have to say that it gave me a taste for more!
Have you ever been on an art retreat? Either one of the biggies or a small private one like mine? Did you enjoy it? What was it like?
Here are a couple links to some well-known retreats in case you’d like to think about a future getaway. Has anyone been to one of these or do you have others you’d like to …read more