<Living Crafts Blog

This week’s Friday Gallery Winner: Heather L. Jacks



This is the most perfect photo of the most perfect little gnome!

The gnome hat was created using our sewn Gnome Hat pattern from the Fall 2010 issue of Living Crafts. Absolutely adorable!
Congratulations, Heather!


Every Friday is Gallery Day at our blog. Please provide us with a link to you recent craft project in the comments section below or email us (fiona@livingcrafts.com) with a photo and description of your projects. They don’t have to be Living Crafts projects (but of course we LOVE to see those too!). We’ll feature our top picks of readers’ projects selected from the previous week to feature on our blog and select one winner who will receive a free one year subscription to Living Crafts Magazine. Please spread the word and don’t forget to leave a link below to your recent project- we love to see what you make! Please send with a comment starting with: What I appreciate most about making this craft is …

Our Living Crafts Friday Gallery winner for this week: Jamie MacKenzie

Jamie's Rag Rug

“What I appreciate most about making this craft was reusing materials. I bought quite a bit of fabric for table cloths for my son’s first birthday. I was sorting my fabric stash and decided it would make a nice rag rug. The colors match my son’s room and now it is a cozy spot for him to read.” Jamie MacKenzie

Kelly's Tree Sprites

“If you go into the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise… you may come upon some Tree Sprites…” Kelly Hart at HappyWhimsicalHearts

Katja's Cushions

“What I appreciate about this is I used only leftover fabric and buttons from other projects for these three “couch” pillows for a reading nook for my three boys. They have since “ordered” more pillows based in their favorite animals from the sheet fabric, I’ll have to get sewing!” Katja Magus, Living Crafts contributor

Carrie's Linen Bunnies

“What I appreciate most about making this craft is … creating an something sweet for someone else to love and enjoy. That makes me happy.
I love handcrafting and knowing that each piece will be just a bit different than the next. Carrie Root at The Root Studio

Every Friday is Gallery Day at our blog. Please provide us with a link in the comments section below or email us (fiona@livingcrafts.com) by midnight, a photo and description of your projects- they don’t have to be Living Crafts projects (but of course we LOVE to see those too!). We’ll pick our top four to six pictures of readers’ projects selected from the previous week to feature on our blog and our top pick will win a free one year subscription to Living Crafts Magazine. Please spread the word and don’t forget to leave a link below to your recent project- we love to see what you make! Please send with a comment starting with: What I appreciate most about making this craft is …

Winner:  Spring Garden Wren by Nancy

Nancy's Spring Garden Wren

Hallie's Wooden Egg

“What I love about this craft is the detail. I love the detail that goes into these creations and the total joy I see on my girls’ face while they are playing with them and going on fairy adventures! On a selfish note, I really thrive on the challenge of getting more detailed than I did on the last one… it’s a challenge to be the best I can be!”
Hallie at Our Broken Road

Katja's Cozy Socks

“What I appreciate most about this craft is the sound of cozy little toes pitter pattering on the hardwood floor.”
Katja Magus, Living Crafts contributor

Kristen's Spring Animals

“What I appreciate most about making this craft is … how proud my kids are of me! They are always making suggestions for new toys for me to make… I also love the material. I’ve always loved wood. I did a few carvings many years ago, and have just recently come back to it, although the process is much different. My favorite pieces that I make are the unpainted ones. The wood can feel so soft and smooth with nothing on it except for the natural wood cream.”
Kristen at Two Raccoon Hollow

Helga's Community Quilt

“What I love about this craft is that it is a collaboration of dedication to our children’s school and also to our school’s garden. “The Enchanted Garden”, a quilt for our school gala auction fundraiser, each square was home-sewn by different women, mothers and grandmothers.”
Helga Conklin

Every Friday is Gallery Day at our blog. Please provide us with a link in the comments section below or email us (fiona@livingcrafts.com) by midnight, a photo and description of your projects- they don’t have to be Living Crafts projects (but of course we LOVE to see those too!). We’ll pick our top four to six pictures of readers’ projects selected from the previous week to feature on our blog and our top pick will win a free one year subscription to Living Crafts Magazine. Please spread the word and don’t forget to leave a link below to your recent project- we love to see what you make! Please send with a comment starting with: What I appreciate most about making this craft is …

We want to celebrate the beautiful crafts you make each week! We know our readers make amazing crafts- and it’s time to share them and get inspired!
Every Friday is going to be Gallery Day at our blog. Please provide us with a link in the comments section or email us a photo and description of your projects- they don’t have to be Living Crafts projects (but of course we LOVE to see those too!).  We’ll pick our top four to six pictures of readers’ projects selected from the previous week  to feature on our blog and our top pick will win a free one year subscription to Living Crafts Magazine. Please spread the word and don’t forget to leave a link below to your recent project- we love to see what you make!  Please send with a comment starting with:  What I appreciate most about making this craft is …

Apple Basket by Leila at Alice-Louise Designs

“The apple baskets are my original design. I have an affection for all things fiber- I basically learned to knit and crochet for the purpose of being able to felt pieces. I have always loved baskets for both their form and functionality. “
Leila Cook at Alice-Louise Designs

Little Grass Doll by Jennifer at Dark Blue Dragon

“I created a Little Grass Child to use on our Spring Equinox table a few years ago, but she has since evolved. Taking inspiration from the Living Crafts Guardian dolls (from Living Crafts Fall 2010), I made her shape a bit more round, to fit better into little hands. The softness and warmth of the wool feels good and encourages little hands to play. I love the green roving she is created with and bought it simply for its freshness. It seems like a perfect fit for a Spring doll.”
Jennifer DeWolfe at Dark Blue Dragon

Needlefelted Pin (with model!) by Jessica at Cairnish Knits

Jessica made this wonderful pin at the Living Crafts Community Craft table at Stitches West, based on this most lovely of models!

“After a just few instructions, I was hooked (or should I say barbed?) on needle felting. Fiber sculpting was a fascinating discovery and I can’t wait to apply the technique to new creative projects!”
Jessica Owen Day at Cairnish Knits

Please note- so many of you are talented creatives and have your own blogs and businesses. Our Friday Gallery posts are intended as a place to share works made for yourself or friends and family.  (We love promoting your businesses too - but have other places to showcase your work!). Please join us and link below from your blog/website or email us at fiona@livingcrafts.com. We’re looking forward to seeing and sharing the projects you love making!

Visit next Friday for our top reader’s craft pics and links,  plus the announcement of our first Friday Gallery winner!

How much fun we had this past weekend at Stitches West in Santa Clara, California!

We had the pleasure of meeting so many of our readers- some subscribers from the very first issue! And some very talented designers and producers of beautiful patterns, accessories and yarns. A fiber feast!

We set up our Community Craft tables and invited people to join us to do some needlefelting.  We made lovely little felt pictures, using wonderful supplies provided by Clover, using National Nonwovens 100% wool felt as a canvas for our creations.

We had lots of Living Crafts projects available to see and feel, and got to share some tips in how to make them.

Stitches West was so well organized, and had a busy, lively, yet relaxed feel to it.  It was  a delight to be there.  Thank you to Stitches West, and to all our readers who attended, whether long time, or newly subscribed!

Fiona Duthie is a regular contributor to Living Crafts.

In her studio on Salt Spring Island, BC, she creates in a bountiful beauty of color, wool, and texture, inspired by the natural world. Fiona designs fine feltwork, felting and knitting patterns, gives workshops in natural craft, and runs her hand dyed, artisan fibre company, Kattikloo. You can read more about her fibers, projects and creative living at www.kattikloo.com and on Facebook.