Lavishing your
Valentine with
handmade love
Finding the perfect something for your perfect someone
Valentines MADE from a VARIETY
of THINGS found
AROUND THE HOUSE quick and easy projects using Playing cards, needlepoint and scrap material =
Give your
couch a spring
spruce up
A sunny makeover for some snowy throw pillows
C O N T E N T S ...
The Winter Issue F E AT U R E . . .
Five couples give each Other the perfect handmade gifts to celebrate
their love on Valentine’s DAy. . . . PA G E 1 2 ECO-CRAFTS ...
10 QUESTIONS WITH ...
LIFESTYLES ...
UPCYCLED VALENTINE’S FROM OLD PLAYING CARDS.
FERNDALE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER DISCUSSES RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HANDMADE ITEMS AND HER INSPIRATION.
ROMANTIC TREATS MADE WITH MATCHA TEA.
CROCHET ...
SEWING ...
IT’S A WRAP ...
. . . PA G E 6
. . . PA G E 1 4
. . . PA G E 1 0
. . . PA G E 1 6
STITCH KITSCH ...
. . . PA G E 1 8
. . . PA G E 8
. . . PA G E 2 2
January - March 2012 \ The Handmade Companion \ 3
A Note From the Editor ...
Winter crafting keeps you warm
Winter is the best time for crafting IMO. I tend to crochet a lot {maybe to stay warm?} I might be a little bit addicted ‌ So I decided to test a few free crochet patterns for you guys for this issue. One is a mitten pattern that has instructions for all sizes, and the other a fun and quick pattern for a bubble stitch cowl. You can use any yarn, with whatever size hook that you have lying around. I also wrote a quick working pattern for bunting. It features triangles and hearts. I know you just love bunting, so I couldn't resist. If you share my addiction to crochet or wanna learn, join me on my blog, The Handmade Gift Guide, for crochet 101, an ongoing feature that changes its focus every month. February's officially granny square month. March is going to be all about crocheted flowers. It is really great. I wrote some easy to follow illustrated patterns and have tons of links for projects you can do. Then check out the Flickr group for the crochet-along where you can post pics of your WIP {work in progress}. http://flickr.com/ groups/crochet101 My faves in this issue? The yummy tea-based recipes from Phuong Le, The Tea Chick, http://theteachick.
com; a super cute embroidery project by Amy from Small Craft, http://thesmallcraft.com; upcycled Valentine's Day cards from Michelle at Aisle 3, http://upcycleyourlife.com; and the fun home decor sewing project from Karen at One Girl Circus, http://onegirlcircus.com. I started a new photo blog, called My Craft Addiction. {http://mycraftaddiction.tumblr. com} I send my crafty-themed Instagram photos there. You can follow me on my crafty adventures. It is a mix of pix of my latest WIPs, craft shows, handmade stuffs, photoshoots, urban art, what I ate for dinner, and nature. I renewed my addiction to Pinter-
est {and I have noticed everyone else has too}. It just helps me organize my projects so well! Come check out my boards for DIY project inspiration {http://pinterest.com/thegiftguide}. Winter is a really great time to get things made for the summer craft show season. I'm getting ready to start applying to some shows here in Detroit. If you are considering doing craft shows, come by the blog to check out our tips and tricks. I also have a ton of ideas for really cool booth decor. A MUST for successful shows. And summer will be here before you know it! So, let's get organized! Recently, we attended the open house at tiny girl's school. I was very inspired by the gorgeous artistic touches throughout the school. Especially in the handwork room. It just felt so good in there I came home and vowed to make my craft area FEEL like that room. So I found a ton of organizational ideas for craft spaces. I am redoing my entire layout of my craft space. Get started early on your spring cleaning, it will most likely leave you feeling very inspired to create. Fabulousness! In the next issue I am adding a fashion section, a bath and body feature {with recipes from my fave companies!} and a sweet accessories column from my style editor, Sophie Fenby. So keep an eye out in April for the Spring issue of The Handmade Companion. ’til then, stay crafty! xo, Anne
C O N TA C T U S . . . \ Editor In Chief ... Anne Hayman .. . anne@t hehandmade g if t guide.com .. . w w w. t hehandmade g if t guide.com \ Lifestyles Editor ... Phuong Le . . . w w w. kon ite a .com . . . w w w. t he te ach i ck.com \ Eco-Craft Editor ... Michelle Stolz . . . aisle 3 @c omc ast.net . . . w w w. up c ycle yourlife.com
\ Sewing Editor ... KAREN LEPAGE ... r ing master@oneg irlci rc us . com ... w w w.oneg irlci rc us . com \ Style Editor ... Sophie Fenby ... s ophie@t hehandma deg if t g u i de. com \ STITCH Kitsch ... Amy Cronkite ... a cron k ite@ g mai l. com ... t hesma l l cr af t . com \ COpy Editor/Design ... Jodie Fletcher ... j o del l af letch@ g mai l. com
4 \ The Handmade Companion \ January - March 2012
C R A F T Y C A L E N D A R , We e k O f :
Saturday:\
Feb. 6 to 12
* research local craft shows for summer
* organize craft space using the handmade gift guide’s tip series
* join in crochet 101 on the handmade gift guide, and join the crochet-along on flickr
Sunday:
* plan booth layout
(check out the handmade gift guide's ideas on the blog and on flickr)
with a welcome page
* get Facebook
Friday: business page set up
blog!
existing blog or promote
Thursday: * start a blog, re-do
studio, cooking classes, gardening‌
studio, community center, yoga
local community college, photog
Wednesday: * sign up for classes at art school,
for the
crafty meet-up
Tuesday: * scout out places
cards made
* get business
Monday:
To advertise in the Handmade Companion, contact Anne Hayman anne@thehandmadegiftguide.com thehandmadegiftguide.com January - March 2012 \ The Handmade Companion \ 5
Handmade with love COUPLE AT RIGHT: birdhouse: \
http://www.twig2nestStudio.etsy.com locket necklace:
http://www.merlinthecat.etsy.com chalkboard cards:
http://www.jojobeandesigns.etsy.com tie: cyberoptix.com
OPPOSITE
PAGE, LEFT:
bag: sacsoflife.com
ABOVE:
purse: www.sweetsugarbeet.com
hand-painted cupcake toppers: http://www.enamorweddings.etsy.com felt bracelet: http://www.bailybelle.etsy.com
GIRLS AT RIGHT: felt necklace:
http://www.handleber.etsy.com chalkboard cards: http://www.jojobeandesigns.etsy.com purse: www.sweetsugarbeet.com
Makeup by: Racquel Webster Viilo
Hair By: Jenna Drudi, Lauren Moser & Tammy Tarcia
BOYS AT RIGHT:
cuff: http://nakastore.com wallet j fold: http://nakastore.com
Photographer: Ali Saloum
Clothing: Mother Fletcher's Vintage Location: AJ's music cafe
Models: Sophia Fenby & Janna Bis-
sett;
Justen Sanders & Aaron J.
Diehl; Hashanna Retz & Jake Un-
angst;
Damon Fleming & Whitney
Fritzinger; Clay Drew & Nicole Rayis
. . . M A R K E T P L A C E . . .
It's a Wrap Add an extra bit of love to your Valentine’s gift by wrapping it ... with unconventional items ...
B y A N N E H AY M A N . . . T h e H a n d m a d e G i f t G u i d e I love to create gift wrap out of upcycled materials. And I'm not talking newspaper funnies … Gift wrap doesn't always mean using paper. Use a shirt from the donate section of your closet or a vintage sheet from the thrift store to wrap your gift. ... or ... Spray paint an old box silver. Or gold. Or turquoise for that matter. I like using boxes I find at the thrift store. I have even used shoe boxes. Hint: Use spray paint in a well-ventilated area {like outside}. Wrap some ribbon, yarn, embroidery floss {or a strip of fabric that you cut off that shirt you love but somehow ended up getting ripped/stained/ruined by your teenager} around the package, and ta-da … instant beautiful
gift of the year! I cut out gift tags, cards and envelopes from paper bags. Just glue on a scrap of cool paper, add a stamp, some embellishments, and of course … don't forget …. glitter. {Well you can, but I can guarantee it won't be as fancy.} Punch or cut out some hearts/ stars/flowers from recycled paper, decoupage ’em onto stuff. Like jam jars. With homemade jam inside. Or a candle. You could even stick ’em on cards, wrapping paper, craft bags, etc. Get creative! Once you start thinking about ways to upcycle things you will notice you have crafting supplies all around you. Vintage book page hearts: bookcraft.etsy.com Jam: https://www.facebook. com/jambyhand
22 \ The Handmade Companion \ January - March 2012
Read our blog. Attend a craft workshop. Become a member. Vend at a market. Explore and express your creativity with Flint Handmade!