Urban Debris is just about the coolest blog ever (except for yours truely, of course). I wasn’t able to get a bead on who the lovely lady is that provides all of us with the wealth, the treasure trove of info, but Urban Debris is all about “art from recycled culture.” Art? Recycle? Culture? Jackpot! This blog is especially Pack Ratty with the “Friday Freebies” a keen list of free craft related resources culled from the highways and biways of this world wide web of ours. Things like embroidery directions, links to public domain images, collage sheets and more are embedded through out. And she provides directions for her own projects. She is an especially handy source for ATC’s (artist trading cards) and specializes in vintage images. It’s collage central over at Urban Debris, so take a trip to artsy town.

Some people are intimidated by art. They think of it as something only an artist can create. Maybe this is true, maybe its not. Regardless, whenever I see someone take a common, everyday object and make it art, instead of feeling cowed by their genius, I am elated. For instance, if Peter Callesen can take something as mundane as paper and make it take your breath away, then the world is full of possibilities. All it takes is a willing pair of hands and a good idea (and, most likely, a lot of trial and error). Check out his artwork below and click the images to see bigger photos. See more of his handiwork at his website. His designs are as intricate as lace and his use of negative space is… mwha! (that’s the sound of me kissing the tips of my fingers on my left hand). I am in love.

(A list of pieces from left to right: The Short Distance Between Time and Shadow, Cradle, Down the River, and Closet)

Hello world. If you’ve been with us these last few months, you know that here at Pack Rat we are not only interested in creating innovative, money saving projects, but also using our imaginations and inspirations to help change the world around us. Another site to add to the list of craft activism groups is microrevolt.org. Concerned with what she sees as a growing problem of exploitation of sweatshop workers by major corporations, Cat Mazza created this group to help generate awareness of labor conditons and what she calls the “feminization of labor.” As stated in Knits magazine “Cat realized how thoroughly advertising has obscured consumers’ ability to honor the labor process.” Headlining the major offenders is Nike (no surprise). In order to call attention to what Nike, and other major brands like Disney and GAP, are doing, Cat and other microrevolt members are knitting their own versions of corporate logos (see below). To this end, Cat has provided and awesome program called knitpro that can convert any jpeg, gif, or png into a knitting or crochet pattern. And she is inviting seasoned experts and novices alike to donate white and orange crochet squares to a large blanket she’s making that sports the Nike logo. Once it is complete, the plan is to send it to Nike’s Chairman of the board, along with a petition calling for Nike to step up and comply with established International Labor Organization regulations. Taking the skills you have and using them to try to make a better tomorrow? That is totally “turning what you have into what you want.”

I am super excited about today’s find. Check out www.thetoymaker.com for some beautiful, free paper toys. Artist Marilyn Scott Waters creates intricate, whimsical designs like her otter paper dolls, Charles and Brook, or her wagon pulled by polar bears. If you’re anything like me, then you’ve never really outgrown the thrill of seeing a colorful, warm toy. And Marilyn provides patterns for all her lovely creations. But, if you’re not like me, don’t write this site off yet. She also provides patterns for gift boxes and cards, for those of you too mature to get wrapped up in toys. These will make great gifts, I can’t wait to start spreading them around!

If you are familiar with this new wave craft movement, this crafting renaissance as it were, then you know one of the main corner stones of most craft fairs today is home made soap. Home made soaps are superior to regular store bought soaps in almost every way. They smell better (you can find ones with all sorts of natural essential oils), they tend to look nicer, and you can be sure they aren’t animal tested. To be honest, they do tend to be pricey compared to, say, a bar of Ivory. But at least if you pay $4 for a bar you know its hard won earnings for the small craft business person, and not just another dollar in the pocket of a large corporation. But I’m getting off track. The point is, hand made soaps are a wonderful luxury that you can make at home. And today I bring you a website that gives you the A to Z in making your own soap. At teachsoap.com, you will find a series of instructions into the basics of soap making, like how to use emulsifying wax and how to render tallow, not to mention recipes for particular scents of soaps and a gallery where people can share their soap creations, like the Jade Dragon and the Sushi Rolls pictured below. What really sets this site apart is that not only its extremely comprehensive range of topics, but the comprehensive writing as well. The articles don’t just tell you the how, but also the why. The section on using emulsifying wax not only explained why it is necessary, but broke down the chemical process that happens when you use an emulsifier so that it was easy even for someone like me, the layest of laypeople, to understand. I’m going to try to work it into conversation at my next social function in order to impress people. I’ll say “Did you know that oil is hydrophobic?” and push my glasses up by the bridge. It’s going to be great.