Lark Crafts

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Here you’ll find the templates you need to complete the projects in Shrink Shrank Shrunk.

Download the PDF HERE, and then print out the necessary project templates on your home printer.

 

 

This month Gwen Diehn’s latest book, The Complete Decorated Journal: A Compendium of Journaling Techniques, is available online and in bookstores. The Complete Decorated Journal  is a 240-page compilation of Gwen’s two most popular books, The Decorated Journal and The Decorated Page. For those of you that already own one of those two books, this is an opportunity to get the other one plus new material, all in one comprehensive volume—priced at the cost of one book ($14.78 on Amazon!). The bonus material includes additional techniques such as working with casein, 13 artist profiles along with galleries of their work, and project instructions for creating a unique journal from a butter box (or a cereal box, a Little Debbie’s box, or any similar type box of your choosing).

 

 

 

 

We’re giving away this one one made by Gwen PLUS a copy of The Complete Decorated Journal (see entry details below*)!

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Welcome to Lark Crafts! We hope you are enjoying the Museum Store Association Trade Show, as well as your time in New Orleans. We’re very pleased to share an exclusive sneak peek of our Fall 2012 list with you—from gallery books celebrating ceramics to cutting-edge techniques for letterpress printing, Lark is rooted in creativity. Enjoy your visit!

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The Best of 500 Ceramics

Celebrating a Decade in Clay

September 2012

 

This definitive collection features a decade’s worth of memorable ceramic pieces selected from the prestigious and bestselling 500 series. Juried by a roster of acclaimed artists, including such talents as Cynthia Consentino, Beth Cavener Stichter, Richard Notkin, and Sergei Isupov, each piece captures the power of ceramics at the start of a new century. Ceramicists and art enthusiasts alike will treasure the wealth of knowledge offered in this lavishly illustrated keepsake volume as the experts describe what makes a particular vase, teapot, sculpture, or bowl stand out.

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PUSH Print

30+ Artists Explore the Boundaries of Printmaking

September 2012

PUSH Print is a visual feast that will inspire anyone interested in art, intriguing personalities, and innovative ideas. Survey the work of 30+ contemporary printmakers–from world-renowned names to exciting up-and-comers–each with their own take on letterpress, screenprinting, woodcutting, lithography, and etching, as well as multimedia and digital approaches to print. Featuring a vibrant Q&A section with the Cranky Pressman jurors, plus sumptuous full-color images of the artists’ work, this gorgeous volume is a fascinating survey on printmaking today.

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PUSH Jewelry

30 Artists Explore the Boundaries of Jewelry

September 2012

 

Forget what you think jewelry should be, and consider instead what it could become. Curated by popular jewelry maker and blogger Arthur Hash, PUSH Jewelry profiles the cutting-edge work of 30 top jewelry artists from around the world, including such standouts as Lucy Sarneel and Beppe Kessler. These mavericks are creating a bold new language in technique, materials, and subject matter, boldly crossing boundaries between craft and art. Each chapter features six to eight pages of gorgeous photographs and an inspiring Q&A-style interview.

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Letterpress Now

A DIY Guide to New & Old Printing Methods

by Jessica White

January 2013

 

This information-packed book serves as the first contemporary how-to letterpress book on the market, offering details on all the tools and techniques, 20 modern projects, a resource guide to finding community print shops, and features on a dozen letterpress artists.

Perhaps you recently received a card with that signature relief. Maybe you’re already thinking about joining a studio with a Vandercook press. Or there’s the possibility you lucked out and found wooden type at the flea market. But no matter where you’re coming from, one thing is clear: You want to learn letterpress. This information-packed book will provide everything you need to get started. Inside, you’ll find details on how to operate tabletop platen, full-size platen, and flatbed presses. Author Jessica White, book arts professor and co-founder of Ladies of Letterpress, will walk you through the presses; explain the tools of the trade; teach you how to set metal and wood type; and create linoleum prints, wood block prints, die cuts, collagraphs, and more. The projects will help you move beyond test proofs and make everything from gift tags and cards to calendars and posters. So get your paper and ink ready. Let’s letterpress now!

Featuring interviews and letterpress work from: Hatch Show Print, SpeakEasy Press, Bespoke Letterpress, Blackbird Letterpress, Paper Souvenir, Sycamore Street Press, and Thomas-Printers

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Making an Impression

Designing & Creating Artful Stamps

by Geninne Zlatkis

October 2012

 

Popular illustrator and stamper Geninne Zlatkis has a passion for nature and color that distinguishes her work. These 20 beautiful projects–including cards, an embellished journal and tote, and decorative wall pieces–provide the keys to Geninne’s creative process and image-making process. In addition to technique-specific primers with step-by-step photos of the essentials, Making an Impression includes 50 motifs showcasing Geninne’s signature designs that crafters can copy and use for image transfers, stamp designs, and collages.

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A Year of Pies

A Seasonal Tour of Home Baked Pies

by Ashley English

August 2012

 

What’s better than pie? How about recipes for 60 delicious pies and tarts from cooking maven Ashley English and top food bloggers like Beatrice Peltre, Aran Goyoaga, and Jessie Oleson? These beautifully photographed seasonal recipes include such delights as a Chocolate & Orange Marmalade Tart in winter and a classic Lattice Top Triple Berry Pie in summer. A Basics section offers six piecrust recipes, troubleshooting tips, and advice on selecting seasonal ingredients.

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Crochet Boutique

30 Simple, Stylish Hats, Bags & Accessories

by Rachael Oglesby

September 2012

 

Sometimes the simplest accessories are the most stylish. That’s true of the 30 delightful items in Crochet Boutique. Crocheters will love this fashion-forward collection, with such projects as hats, scarves, shawls, trendy bags, a laptop cover, a granny-square pillow, and a lovely shell afghan. With a short basics section, irresistible photography, and an informative stitch guide, Crochet Boutique is simply indispensable!

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Sock Yarn Studio

Hats, Garments, and Other Projects Designed for Sock Yarn

by Carol J. Sulcoski

October 2012

Knitting socks and knitting with hand-painted yarns are two hot knitting trends. But what are knitters to do with leftover sock yarn? Or when they burn out on knitting socks? Sock Yarn Studio comes to the rescue with a delightful mix of projects–from one-skein hats, mittens, and scarves to multi-skein wraps, sweaters, and more–created with fingering or sport-weight sock yarns. And there’s plenty of helpful advice for selecting yarns and knitting smart with tricky hand-paints and self-patterning yarns.

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Return of the Stupid Sock Creatures

Evolutions, Mutations, and Other Creations

by John Murphy

October 2012

 

They’re back! John Murphy is famous for his weird and wacky sock creatures. In this follow-up to Stupid Sock Creatures, John shares the spotlight with guest designers in 20 projects that push the boundaries of stupid with crazy-cute quadrupeds, two-headed beasts, pop-eyed monsters, and more. The wide range of difficulty–from a simple one-sock monster to a four-sock extravaganza–means this book will attract all levels and types of crafter. And thanks to John’s clear and humorous instructions, absolutely nothing is intimidating. Well, except for Piethagorus. But don’t worry, he only eats pie (we think)!

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Decorating Cookies

60+ Designs for Holidays, Celebrations & Everyday

by Bridget Edwards

October 2012

 

Let cookie guru Bridget Edwards guide you through more than 60 delicious cookie-decorating designs for every occasion and holiday, from luscious springtime daisies to spooky spider webs to personalized birthdays. Cookie dough and royal icing recipes are included, and every iced design features easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step photos. Five guest-star baker-bloggers each share a special decorating technique: Amanda Rettke of i am baker, Marian Poirer of Sweetopia, Gail Dosik of One Tough Cookie, Meaghan Mountford of The Decorated Cookie, and Callye Alvarado of The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle.

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Jill Wiseman’s Beautiful Beaded Ropes

24 Wearable Jewelry Projects in Multiple Stitches

by Jill Wiseman

September 2012

 

Join popular teacher and designer Jill Wiseman as she presents 24 beaded rope designs in this wonderful entry in Lark Jewelry & Beading’s popular Beadweaving Master Class series. From dainty to heavy, and from simple to outrageously textured, these beautiful and wearable necklace, lariat, bangle, and bracelet projects (plus a few earrings!) utilize such popular stitch techniques as spiral rope, peyote, netting, herringbone, right angle weave, chevron, polygon weave, and oglala.

Beginning and experienced beaders alike will love these high-quality projects from one of the most fun and innovative beaders on the scene today!

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Pretty in Patchwork: Holidays

30+ Seasonal Patchwork Projects to Piece, Stitch, and Love

by John Q. Adams

August 2012

 

Happy patchwork holiday! Celebrate the season with the second in our Pretty in Patchwork series. It’s a very merry collection of absolutely adorable projects from the popular “Quilt Dad” blogger and friends, including pieced polar bear and penguin pillows, a too-cute pillowcase and matching hedgehog stuffy, stockings, ornaments, tree skirts, and more. Of course, there are assorted quilts of all sizes, too. With a robust basics section, color step-by-step illustrations, and color variations throughout, Pretty in Patchwork: Holidays will help you deck your halls in style!

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Necklaceology

How to Make Chokers, Lariats, Ropes & More

by Candie Cooper

September 2012

 

From collars and chokers to princess-length baubles and ropes to twirl and spin, here is a wardrobe of 40 necklaces to make and proudly show off. Expert crafter Candie Cooper shares her “necklaceology” secrets in an informative, gorgeously illustrated how-to guide that covers tools and materials, all manner of techniques, making components like wrapped loops and jump rings, and combining beads with wire, chain, silk cord, ribbon, and other materials. These accessible, sophisticated projects will inspire and delight.

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Artful Halloween

31 Frightfully Elegant Projects

by Susan Wasinger

September 2012

 

These 30+ costume, pumpkin, and home-decorating ideas are not just beautiful–they are scary beautiful. From unique pumpkin decorations to a “blood”-splashed dinner-party centerpiece to a Yard Specter made from two poles, a string of lights, and torn, draped fabric, these creepy but stylish Halloween projects will give your home a spooky, sophisticated look . . . with gothic flair!

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One + One Hats

30 Projects from Just Two Skeins

by Iris Schreier

November 2012

 

Knitters love to make hats–and One + One: Hats, the second book in Iris Schreier’s exciting new series, gives them a stunning array of fashionable, functional, and beautiful projects. Best of all, each one uses only two skeins of yarn! The hats come in a broad range of colors and textures, and Schreier explores a variety of knitting techniques, from knit and purl to lace; stranded colorwork and slip stitch; and double knit.

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A Bounty of Bead & Wire Bracelets

50 Fun, Fast Jewelry Projects

August 2012

 

A Bounty of Bead & Wire Bracelets, the latest in the acclaimed Bounty of Bead & Wire series, features 50 projects from Lark Jewelry & Beading’s most popular books. From radiant crystals and ladders of pearls to dangling bangles and copper jangles, these stunning pieces come from standout jewelers like Kaari Meng, of French General fame; Candie Cooper, of DIY Network and PBS; renowned instructor and designer Mary Hettmansperger; and award-winning stained-glass artist Geri Omohundro. Their beautiful work will appeal to every crafter!

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Quilt It With Love: The Project Linus Story

20+ Quilt Patterns & Stories to Warm Your Heart

by Mary Balagna and Carol Babbitt

October 2012

 

When a child is seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need, Project Linus comes to the rescue with a new, lovingly handmade blanket or afghan. With this precious gift, a volunteer quilter can bring a little warmth, security, comfort, and joy into that child’s life. Quilt It with Love tells the story of this wonderful organization, sharing stories from both recipients and donors and showcasing fabulous projects–often made with easy-to-use fabric precuts–that even beginners can make. Designed largely for children and teens, these quilts feature fun extras, like pockets for storing stuffed animals or a pattern that doubles as a game board.

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I CAN Herringbone

From Basic Stitch to Advanced Techniques, a Comprehensive Workbook for Beaders

by Melissa Grakowsky

November 2012

 

Oh yes you can!  Whether you’re an experienced beader or just starting out, the I CAN series has been designed especially for you. I CAN Herringbone teaches herringbone stitch in all its forms, guiding readers with the aid of hundreds of step-by-step illustrations. These 25 accessible, wearable, and beautiful projects–including earrings, necklaces, chokers, pendants, and bracelets–feature techniques ranging from the simplest version of the flat stitch to embellishment, tubular herringbone, and completely three-dimensional forms.

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I CAN Right Angle Weave

From Basic Stitch to Advanced Techniques, a Comprehensive Workbook for Beaders

by Mabeline Gidez

November 2012

 

Right angle weave (RAW) is one of the two most popular beadweaving stitches, and this entry in the new I CAN series serves as a comprehensive primer for the novice as well as a refresher for beaders with more experience. High-profile teacher Mabeline Gidez presents 25 instructional projects covering every aspect of the technique: flat RAW, increases and decreases, embellishing, making curves, tubular RAW, polygon stitch, and RAW beaded beads. As the topics become more advanced, so do the projects!

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Fleece Hat Friends

25+ Easy-to-Sew Projects

by Mary Rasch

September 2012

 

Soft, warm, comfy, and durable, fleece has taken the crafting world by storm–and the hottest new trend is animal hats. Whether you’re already a fleece junky or a first-time fleece sewer, this fun collection will have you making oh-so-cute hats in no time. Thanks to a few basic templates, the hats are easy to make. But there’s plenty of room for variety! Whether you choose an owl, kitty, dinosaur, or monster, every hat includes custom templates for unique facial features.

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Hand Appliquéd Quilts

Beautiful Designs & Simple Techniques

by Tonye Belinda Phillips

September 2012

 

Quilter Tonye Belinda Phillips’ passion for folk art inspired her to develop a simple method for making stunning hand-appliquéd quilts. In this beautiful volume, Tonye reveals the techniques she’s discovered on her quilting journey: ideas for choosing fabrics, working with color, and creating the appliqué shapes, as well as placing, basting, and stitching them up. The 20 bright and cheerful projects include a basic basket-shaped pattern, an updated floral motif with playful spirals, and a garden-themed design with watering cans.

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Making Fabric Jewelry

20+ Projects to Stitch, Fold & Wear

August 2012

 

Use even the smallest scraps in your stash! Making Fabric Jewelry, the paperback edition of Stitched Jewels, presents 23 exquisite and beautifully photographed designs that incorporate cloth, textiles, and other common sewing materials. Enjoy inventive projects from top designers, including Ellen Gerritse’s ornate leaf earrings from colorful fabric and mesh, Deborah Boschert’s necklace built from circular swatches, and a sundress-inspired black-and-white gingham bracelet from Bethany Fields. Even if you’re a sewer or quilter who’s never made a piece of jewelry before, the easy techniques inside will have you creating new pieces in no time!

 

Cathie Filian has long been one of our favorite craft personalities. Not only has she authored four books with us over the years, but she’s also an enthusiastic ambassador for the craft industry. Check out this earlier interview I did with her.

Cathie has joined together with PLAID, leading manufacturer of craft products, to generously offer up to us a great bundle giveaway.

Here’s what the winner will receive:

One copy of 101 Snappy Fashions
One copy of 101 Tees
Two blank white baby onesies
One mini size glue gun
One Hot Glue Gun Helpers finger protector
Six plastic sheets of stencils
Five iron-on designs
Three bottles of fabric paint
Two small stenciling brushes
One pair of craft scissors

How can you enter for a chance to win this fantastic collection of goodies? Just leave a comment on this blog post by 9 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 21.

One winner will be selected at random and announced on Friday, March 23. Click here for the official rules. Good luck!

Congratulations to Kelly for winning this great package!

If you’re anything like me, the manner in which a gift is packaged can be just as important as the item inside. Why not show the same sense of thoughtfulness and generosity in the aesthetics of giving as in the gesture? And let’s be honest here, folks, sometimes a rather simple token of affection and appreciation can really be elevated to something much more when enveloped in pretty and showy attire. A beautiful bow, some ribbon, or a handmade paper wrap can make all the difference. I therefore gift to you a collection of some of my personal favorite (incredibly simple!) DIY gift wrapping ideas I’ve spotted out there in the creative blogosphere. All of these ideas are accompanied by helpful step-by-step tutorials to make your seasonal giving just a little bit easier. Just click on the links below each image!

L to R: A Spoonful of Sugar, A Pair of Pears, MinieCo, Daisyley, Dana Made It

A Spoonful of Sugar: Transform Japanese washi tape into a colorful, playful design.

A Pair of Pears: Utilize simple (but elegant) ideas in paper, yarn, and twine.

MiniCo: All you need is brown paper and a silver pen to create something artful and modern.

Daiseyley: Thread twine through bay leaves or another fragrant leaf for a gift with eco flair.

Dana Made It: Whip up beautiful ribbon out of fabric scraps for a colorful finishing touch.

We’re celebrating the release of Pretty in Patchwork Doll Quilts  with some free projects from Cathy Gaubert: dolls and critters perfect for snuggling under freshly made doll quilts!

**Simple click on the links below the photos to download these projects.

Hello, Dolly!

 

Bounding Bunnies

Littlest Dragon

 

Up next in the series….

Pretty in Patchwork Holidays by John Q. Adams (aka Quilt Dad) – on sale as an ebook soon and in stores August 2012!
Take a little peek inside the book: Pretty in Patchwork Holidays sneak peek!

We’re so happy you joined us over here on Lark Crafts. For the next few weeks, we’ll be posting a variety of tutorials, interviews, free projects, and giveaways to celebrate felt.

 

If you’re just joining us, here’s what you’ve missed:

How-to: Felting and Dyeing Wool Sweaters with Cynthia Shaffer

From Felt to Fabulous

500 Felt Objects Mini-Gallery

Bonus Project PDFs from Stash Happy: Felt

Free Project: Felt Cozy

 

Stay tuned for plenty more. Here’s a few highlights:

9/30 Giveaway: Felt bundle and a copy of Stash Happy: Felt!

10/7  Tutorial: Wet Felting

10/11 Giveaway: Project from Stash Happy: Felt

10/14 Giveaway: Felt bundle and a copy of Stash Happy: Felt!

 

If you haven’t already, make sure to check out our new felt books:

Stash Happy: Felt

 

From Felt to Fabric

 

500 Felt Objects

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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