Lark Crafts

Every Friday, I post a set of project instructions.

You would think, with a zillion craft books at my disposal, that it would be easy to pick which project instructions to give away as a freebie. Such is not the case. Maybe I’m just overwhelmed by so many choices… While pondering what to post today, I remembered that 500 Felt Objects releases next month, and that book has a lot of cool jewelry in it. Problem solved! Today’s free project instructions are from Candie Cooper‘s book Felted Jewelry: 20 Stylish Designs, followed by a sneak preview of just a few of the very cool jewelry pieces featured in 500 Felt Objects.

First, the project instructions for African Sunset Cuff. Click here to get your free PDF.

And now settle in to view other adornment by jewelers/designers who use felt:

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Wow, what a response to our giveaway for 100 Pretty Little Projects! If you missed out on it, don’t worry: We’re planning on starting a new one next Friday. But this week it’s back to the projects inside the book. And today we decided to post a pattern from another one of our favorite designers, Aimee Ray!

Scorchin’ is a potholder that’s easy to make, and the perfect little project to use whether you’re at the stove or the grill.

It may cool off over the next few weeks, but we’ll be on our porches and cooking outside until winter forces us back in. How about you?

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I love the Fall, but oh, how I hate to feel the end of Summer. I wish it could go on forever, sometimes. And nothing says summer, and wishes, quite like dandelions do. For your enjoyment, I’ve pulled together some lovely dandelion-inspired arts and crafts from some very talented Etsy designers. These images might inspire you to make some wishes (or at least wish lists) of your very own!

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All is Full of Love, a fine art print by sixthandmain.

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Captured Dandelion Wishes Necklace by starsb117

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Dandelion Wall Decals by ParisDecals

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There’s a new book hot off the press that if you’re a female between the ages of 10 and 75 you should take a look at.  It’s called 101 Tees: Restyle*Refashion*Revamp, authored by uber-talented crafter and co-host of Creative Juice, Cathie Filian.  Cathie uses simple techniques like painting, dyeing, stenciling, cutting, stitching, and embroidery to transform a plain tee (or camisole, tank, etc.) into totally cute fashion reflecting the latest pricey trends.

Take a look at some of the fun designs, and keep reading for details about the giveaway!

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We’re so excited about the release of Masters Art Quilts, Vol. 2 by juror Martha Sielman. This inspiring collection features the work of masterful quilt artists and is chock full of inspiration! To celebrate, we’ll share insights from Martha, post some of our favorite images from the book, and go on a little blog hop! That’s right: follow along to the blogs listed below on the appropriate days for multiple chances to win a signed copy of the book. And scroll down for details about how you can enter to win right here, on LarkCrafts.com.

8/17: Terry Grant-www.andsewitgoes.blogspot.com
8/18: Linda Teddlie Minton-fiberreflections.blogspot.com
8/19: Cheryl Sleboda-blog.muppin.com
8/22: Terri Stegmiller-http://stegart.blogspot.com
8/23: Stephanie Forsyth-thefibernation.blogspot.com
8/24: Janice Paine Dawes-http://thedistoriatedquilter.com/
8/25 Karen Stiehl Osborn-http://stiehlosborn.blogspot.com
8/26: Kathleen Loomis-artwithaneedle.blogspot.com
8/29: Diane Lochala-http://dianedoodles.blogspot.com
8/30: Sue Bleiweiss-http://www.suebleiweiss.com/blog
8/31: Gerrie Congdon-gericondesigns.com/weblog
9/1: Marilyn Wall-http://www.marilynhwall.blogspot.com
9/2: Laura Wasilowsk-http://artfabrik.blogspot.com
9/6: Sherryl Buchler-http://skb2000.blogspot.com
9/7: Cheryl Lynch-http://www.CherylLynchQuilts.blogspot.com
9/8 Deborah Boschert-http://DeborahsJournal.blogspot.com
9/9: Brenda Gael Smith-http://serendipitypatchwork.com.au/

So hop along with us, have fun, help us spread the word, and good luck to you! And don’t forget to check back with us this month for more art quilt inspiration.

Okay… on to the good stuff! An autographed copy of Masters Art Quilts, Vol. 2 can be yours! To enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Masters Art Quilts, Vol. 2, please leave a comment on this post by 9 p.m. EST on Wednesday, August 31st. One winner will be selected at random from among all eligible entries and notified by Thursday, September 1st. Comments are now closed for this giveaway and the winner will be announced soon. Thanks to everyone who commented… and be sure to continue following the blog hop for more chances to win a signed copy of Masters Art Quilts, Vol. 2!

Click here for the official rules.

When I attended Bead&Button, I was absolutely bowled over by the pieces on display in the Bead Dreams showcases. One necklace that really wowed me was Helen of Troy, by French beader Anneta Valious. Not only is it luxe and gorgeous, but it uses a technique I’d never seen before.

Back at home, I found Anneta’s website, clicked through it, and discovered she describes her designs as being soutache jewelry. That still didn’t tell me much. I resolved to find out more and emailed the artist, proposing to share this technique with all of you. She accepted. Here’s a translation of our Q & A. All photos in this blog are by permission of the artist, and any errors in explaining what she said are mine!

What is soutache?

Soutache is a type of trim or gimp, and more specifically a flat braid with a groove down the center. Soutache began to be embroidered onto garments beginning in fifteenth-century France, becoming quite popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. [Think of the military uniforms of that era, festooned in braid. --NM]  Soutache enjoyed a brief resurgence during the macramé craze of the 1970s. Today, it’s used mostly to embellish lampshades. It’s less well known for making jewelry.

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For the past few years, Lark editors curated and published eight books in the Pretty Little series, showcasing the work of some of the most talented craft designers in the world. So it was an “a-ha!” moment when an editor looked back and realized there were so many pretty little projects, it was time for a best-of compilation: 100 Pretty Little Projects was born.

We still hope that pincushion fans will seek out the pincushion book. Or if you’re looking for the perfect pillow project you’ll flip open Pretty Little Pillows. But for the dabblers, for those who want a wide variety of sewing projects at their disposal, we have a book, and a giveaway, for you!

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Every Friday, I post a set of free instructions.

 

Joanna Gollberg has done it again! She’s helped Lark Crafts produce another volume full of fun, creative jewelry projects. This one, co-authored with yours truly, is called Chains Chains Chains, and it’s just come out in stores.

In this book, you’ll get instructions for 25 unique but totally stylish chain projects made from silver, copper, gold, steel, even palladium—there are necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, too.

Because I’m always thinking of you, dear reader, I saved an extra-special project to give away as a bonus, so you’d have a sneak peek at what you’ll find inside the book.

What do you think we called this riveting, er, riveted bracelet of large copper rings, made by Vicki Cook? Why, Rosie, of course! Click here to get the free PDF containing the instructions for making it. Don’t forget, this is a project you won’t get inside the book.

You can wear a chain with anything because you don’t have to match it to your clothes. But the real reason you’ll want this book is because of all the cool designers who contributed projects. Talk about a stellar group. Raissa Bump! Babette von Dohnanyi! Kristin Mitsu Shiga! Sadie Wang! Nina Dinoff! Brenda Schweder! Marina Massone! And a dozen more! Feast your eyes on just a few of the projects: