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.

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

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

Mixed Media Artist
A report on using the new CopprClay. This stuff rocks!

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!

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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

Nancy Judd of Santa Fe is brilliant!  She creates what she calls “eco trash couture” as her statement to the world about conservation, and shows them at Recycle Runway.  Nancy has been commissioned by major corporations to design fashions for them too.

Nancy teaches workshops that aim to have the participants create functional pieces, with the goal of at least 90% recycled material going into each project.

Each of Nancy’s original hand sewn garments like the ones shown below take between 100 and 400 hours to make.  Her work is exhibited in airports all across the country:

Fan Mail Dress, 2000.   Junk mail.

Plastic Bathing Beauty, 2004.   Detergent bottles.

Images: Nancy Judd

Big hats, little hats, fancy hats, plain hats (this is starting to remind me of a Dr Suess story…), all hats are welcome as entries in the juried exhibition sponsored by TLD Design Center and Gallery.  Hats 2009 is open to all artists and designers doing original work. Only hats of your own design and individual effort are eligible. All entries must be wearable.

High quality photos or slides which are tightly focused must be submitted by July15, 2009 with a non-refundable entry fee of $3.00 per hat entry. Up to 5 entries per person.

All information on submission

Tammy L Deck, gallery owner

Altered Couture
A hand-me-down sweater … a raggedy old skirt from the thrift store … a plain T-shirt … Using just a few tools coupled with your creativity, all of these items can be transformed into fantastic works of wearable art! The publisher of Belle Armoire and Somerset Studio invites you to submit your own altered and embellished clothing and accessories to be considered for the second volume of this exciting publication. Chapters will include Skirts & Dresses, Pants & Overalls, Jackets & Vests, Shirts & Tops, Children’s Wear, Sassy Shoes, and Accessories.

Deadline for artwork to be received: June 15, 2009. Please read submission guidelines before sending your submissions to: Stampington & Company · C/O: Altered Couture · 22992 Mill Creek, Suite B · Laguna Hills, CA 92653

1000 Fabulous Knit Hats
Editor: Annie Modesitt
Quarry Books
Deadline for submission: July 1, 2009

Quarry is looking for submissions of images for possible publication in 1000 Fabulous Knit Hats, a definitive and inspirational collection of hand knit hats presented by Annie Modesitt.

There are cash prizes for original designs!
Publication date: July 2010

More information and submission forms

Image: Quarry Books

Stampington & Co is getting ready to publish another issue of their special publication Haute Handbags. The deadline is May 15, 2009, so get out your supplies and get going!   Here’s all the important submission information.

How do you carry it? That’s the question Somerset Studio would like to help answer through our new and exciting special publication titled Haute Handbags. Whether we use purses, clutches, totes, portfolios, sacks, bags, or attachés, there are many styles made with an astounding array of materials emerging from all corners of the creative world – all vying to be carried and used with style. You are welcome to construct a bag from scratch, or to purchase one that you embellish and alter with paints, beads, rubber stamps, ribbons, buttons, transparencies, and more. No medium or material is ruled out so use your imagination to make bags of leather, wool, fabric, paper, plastic, wood, glass, or any other materials that you love. Deadline for artwork to be received: Bi-annually every November 15th, and May 15th.

This is one of my favorite tutorials - I actually wrote it a few years back, but the photos got eaten - ack!  I’ve re-written it and dug up all the photos from my old computer - boy, thank goodness for portable hard drives

Click the image for the complete tutorial:

Fiber fusion is a great way to use up little scraps of yarn, thread trimmings - or even scraps of fabric left over from fussy-cutting motifs.  You can make fiber art, wall hangings - even clothing or jewelry with it!

image: © C Findlay-Harder

I get a kick out of seeing what designers bring to fashion week - it’s a chance for them to show off their creations.

Now, I’m not sure how wearable these clothes are right now (which isn’t the point of fashion week anyhow) but they put a smile on my face, so I just had to share!

The collection shown here is from Agatha Ruiz De La Prada’s Spring & Summer 2009 collection:

images: PicApp

Lark Books has put out an artist’s call for a new book in their “500″ series;

“500 Wearable Art Pieces”

Doesn’t that sound amazing!

Just click on the link to get all the details & to submit your own work!

I haven’t had a chance to attend the RAGS Gala & Sale benefiting the Washington YWCA, but I’ve seen some amazing photos!

It’s a fiber art/mixed media wearables/jewelery show & draws some wonderful work…

And it’s time to enter!

Click here to get the details & see the photos from last year