<Living Crafts Blog

Our Living Crafts Friday Gallery winner for this week: Kristen

Kristen's Hand Dyed Play Silks

Susie`s Spring Girls

“What I appreciate most about making this craft is how the process centers me and just feels “right” from start to finish. I love that I am taking minimally-processed materials from and of the earth, and gently molding them into another type of perceived beauty. People off all ages can love dolls – and dolls that are handmade, with natural materials, are the ones that make it for the long haul in our home. Not just because the materials hold up well, but I sincerely believe that, when one holds in their hand an item carefully made with love, made of natural fibers, there is some sort of connection to the life that surrounds us. My kids know their dolls’ hair comes from a sheep, or a goat. That the cotton dress began in a field. That the special yarns were carefully spun by another artist. It’s an honor to be part of the crafting community, and making dolls has allowed me a connection to this community and the life around me in ways I never expected.“
Susie Hendricks from Treehouse Wonderland


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 …

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.

Our Living Crafts Friday Gallery winner for this week: Katja Magus

Katja's Gnome Hat and Cape

“What I love about this craft is that it keeps him warm and happy! He hates “crunchy” coats, so wears a sweater or this wool cape if he can get away with it! Gnome hat from the Fall 2009 issue of Living Crafts and cape from Oliver + S Little Things to Sew.” Katja Magus




“What I appreciate most about making this craft was the sparkle in my daughter’s eyes when she kicked up her heels in her new outfit and did a crazy little rumba dance of her own creation! We had fun choosing the cottons at the fabric shop for this outfit –she chose them all and I absolutely love her sense of vibrant color. The pattern was from the book Little Girls, Big Style by Mary Abreu published by Stash Books. Love it! It is so gratifying to me to sew a garment that my daughter loves so much and that she had a part in the making.” Suzanne Lovejoy at UndertheMulberryTree

Joy's Wooden Boats

“Here is a picture of the boats that the children made at summer camp.
This project was the most rewarding project I have ever made at camp. The children enjoyed playing with them throughout the entire week.
I am looking forward to geting more fantastic ideas from Living Crafts for this years camp.” Joy Williams

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 …

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 …

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.

We’re heading for Santa Clara and Stitches West this week!  We’d love to have you join us at our community craft  table!

We’ll have felt flowers for you to needlefelt,  and Chrtistine Shreier will have her wonderful peg loom from Winter 2012 available to try, plus we’ll have lots of lovely goodies available for sale- Puppenstube toys, dolls and knits, Kattikloo Yarns, felting supplies, and best of all- a Living Crafts magazine subscription special, only available in person during the show- $10.00 for a one year subscription, and $2.00 each for back issues!

This is an amazing show with fabulous yarn vendors from all across the country, plus an fantastic schedule of classes- some with room still available.

We’ll be in booths 1043,1045,944,946 all day, Friday, Saturday and Sunday!  Please  come by and say hello and make something with us!

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.

artwork by Michelle Edwards

To welcome this New Year, we thought it might be fun to talk to some of our Living Crafts friends- present and past contributors, all very creative people, and see what goals, visions and dreams inspire their craft resolutions for 2012!

This is the last post in this series… and an appropriate one that holds an invitation for Living Crafts readers to contribute and particpate.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this series and that these posts have inspired some of your own craft resolutions for 2012!

Maggie's prayer bead necklace from the Winter 2008 issue of Living Crafts

Maggie Oman Shannon’s Craft Resolution for 2012:

  ” My most immediate 2012 craft resolution is to finish the manuscript for my new book, which has a working title of With Hands and Heart: Crafting as a Spiritual Practice.

  It is scheduled to be published later this year, and I’d love to invite Living Crafts readers to be a part of it.   I would love to hear from you if you have had the experience of your particular craft activities becoming something more, something sacred—a form of prayer or spiritual practice. If you’d like to submit a story, a thought, or a quotation that’s meaningful to you about how crafting can be a spiritual practice, please leave a comment here and also send it to me at maggie@thenewstory.com by March 1, 2012.

  Many thanks to you and Living Crafts—and wishing each of you a happy, healthy and creative new year!”

Rev. Maggie Oman Shannon, M.A., is an interfaith minister, spiritual director, workshop and retreat facilitator, and author of five books: Prayers for Healing; The Way We Pray; A String and a Prayer: How to Make and Use Prayer Beads; One God, Shared Hope; and Prayers for Hope and Comfort. Oman Shannon currently has the honor of serving as Spiritual Director of Unity Spiritual Center of San Francisco.

artwork by Michelle Edwards

To welcome this New Year, we thought it might be fun to talk to some of our Living Crafts friends- present and past contributors, all very creative people, and see what goals, visions and dreams inspire their craft resolutions for 2012!

Annie's easy knit shoulder bag design for Oat Couture

Annie Dempsey’s Craft Resolutions for 2012:

“My craft resolutions for this year border on fantasies.  I’d love to complete a sweater for my dear husband.”

Annie's Yurt Office-a wonderful space to create!

  “I am going to try to make time for embroidery again (that was my ‘gateway’ needleart); as well as needlepoint (Christmas stockings in progress) and spinning (pure relaxation).  I have to admit I’ve given up on getting organized for now, but do hope to strike a better balance between work and play.”


Annie Dempsey of Oat Couture has been knitting and crocheting since she was a young girl.  Annie always designs with real people in mind, creating projects for all skill levels. Her life-long passion for all the needlearts has led to to the knowledge that knitting is fun, relaxing and sometimes challenging–just like life.

Annie lives and works in rural Southern Oregon with her wonderful husband, two lively dogs, one not-quite-wild-anymore peacock and an extremely hardy goldfish. You can see her patterns and places to purchase them at her website: OatCouture.com

artwork by Michelle Edwards

To welcome this New Year, we thought it might be fun to talk to some of our Living Crafts friends- present and past contributors, all very creative people, and see what goals, visions and dreams inspire their craft resolutions for 2012!

Tara's cardigan design in the Winter 2010 Issue

Tara Jon Manning’s Craft Resolutions for 2012:

  ” 2012 is a year of making. Making making making – making art, making felt, making garments,  making paintings and drawings.  Whatever I see in my creative imagination, I will make it in the media best suited for it – some I know, some that I may not even know about yet.

   In all this making I am most interested in continuing to explore the blending of “craft” and art, to mix things up and to continue to work with the idea of craft/handwork as an expression of spirituality.  Letting go and acting without agenda, in 2012 I will explore the ways we are transformed through what we make. 

   With a strong nature connection, I endeavor to be stay simple and inspired.  It is so easy for me to go off the rails with ideas and complexities – sometimes loosing the essence of whatever I was inspired to do in the first place.  My intention is to get out of my own way and watch the process and the project evolve. 

  In 2012 I resolve to spend more time in the studio, even if it is just to drink a cup of tea or sweep the floor.  The rhythm of discipline is easy to jump out of, very difficult to get back into.  I also resolve to publish more small projects.  Handwork folios, a small knitting collection, or whatever arrives, I want to share and inspire as I have been gifted and inspired.  Best wishes to all for a beautifully creative and inspired 2012.  Make and make and make and share and share and share.”

Author, artist, handworker, mom and maker Tara Jon Manning lives in Boulder, Colorado with her two sons, husband and dog Roxy.  She is often found playing with sticks, mud, cookie dough, wool, paint and fabric.  Visit Tara at tarajonmanning.com.