Looking for more crafty goodness? Check out Pack Rat Magazine Issue #1 and stay tuned for Issue #2 available December 1st.

Anyone who knows me even a little knows how dangerously in love I am with all things hand drawn (and even some computer graphics too). I say dangerously, because if you unwittingly start a conversation with me about, say…cartoons, you’ll wander away from my soap box hours later, blinking at the light and stumbling. Since, loyal reader, I’m sure you’d rather I don’t recreate that experience for you here, let me just say that cartoons and animation are one of the great modern art forms. You can see how far we’ve come from Steam Boat Willy with amazing new feature films like Persepolis (also a series of ground breaking graphic novels that I highly recommend) by Marjane Satrapi. This intimate look of a young Iranian girl growing up in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution is stunning. See for yourself at the website persepolismovie.com

Looking for more crafty fun? Check out Pack Rat Magazine Issue #1 and stay tuned for Issue #2 out December 1st.

Recently, my iPod has developed the nasty habit of refusing to turn off, no matter how hard I press the power button or how loud I yell at it, still it’s screen glows in defiance. But I spent good money on it, I shouldn’t have to flush my hard earned dollars down the drain, right? Well, if you feel the same way and you have the same problems, check out a recent article from the New York Times called “BASICS; Don’tThrow Out Your Broken iPod; Fix It Via the Web.” It’s full of great links to sites with little tech tips. And now, my iPod only doesn’t work half the time.

Looking for more crafting fun?  Check out Pack Rat Magazine, Issue #1 and stay tuned for Issue #2 out December 1st.

If I’ve learned anything since I started this blog, it’s that you knitters are taking over the internet. There are a gazillion sites out there dedicated to this particular craft. And here’s another handy one. Check out Knitting Fever and their free book Knitting Architecture that teaches the ambitious knitter how to build their own patterns. Now as I mentioned before, I’m just at the scarf level, I’m not even quite sure how to read a knitting pattern yet (although, in all fairness to me, I have yet to try), so this book is a little out of my league, but it seems to be a good resource (even if the woman in the sketches has scary lobster claws instead of hands). If anyone uses this to design their own patterns, let me know and fill me in on your beautiful creations.

Check out Issue #1 of Pack Rat Magazine and stay tuned for Issue #2 available December 1st.

And for those of us living in Texas, this Saturday is the Stitch Handmade Revolution craft fair. Keep your eyes peeled for the fashion show at 9:30 pm.

Check out Pack Rat Magazine Issue #1 and stay tuned for Issue #2 available December 1st.

Quick reminder for those of us who live in the Pittsburgh area, this weekend is the Handmade Arcade indie craft fair. Spend two days among good eats, great indie treats and some toe-tapping jams.

Check out Pack Rat Magazine, Issue #1 and stay tuned for Issue #2 available Dec. 1st.

Hey Peeps. Sorry about this week. I just needed a little vacation from the blog (I’ve been bombarded by all sorts of crap). But, since I have deprived you for a while now, I’m going to cut to the chase and give you a whole lot of what you want. Less of me blathering, more fun links for you to check out. So here we go:

Miss Hawklet: Check out this online store for hand spun yarn in scrumptious colors and handmade books.

Get ready to be snug as a bug in a rug this winter season with a pattern for these adorable mittens from Potter Craft News

Speaking of patterns that will make you squeal with joy, check out Stitch crafting blog for a free pattern on how to make this Bender amigurumi.

Who doesn’t love street art? Graffiti is one of the most amazing things born out of city living (please, please don’t send me emails or make comments about the semantics of when and where graffiti actually originated. If you want to consider hieroglyphics and cave paintings graffiti then knock yourself out). Check out this entry on baekdal.com’s blog about Skelewags, a graffiti project by “Chewie” that incorporates the physical reality of the surroundings into the surreality of his cartoons.

And finally, you might recall from one of my previous blogs that I was taken with a wiki knitting site. Well here’s another wiki for you to have, to hold, to bookmark and that is SewWiki: A Beginner’s Sewing Community. According to the main page, “This site contains Beginner Sewing Lessons, fabric shop directories and information, advice on buying a sewing machine, and all sorts of other information for both new and experienced sewers.” It seems (ah, I love puns) a little sparse, but I love the idea of craft wikis so why don’t those of us with some sewing knowledge meet up there and get this ball rolling.

Check out and stay tuned for Issue #2 coming out December 1st!

Sorry I’ve been a slack ass about the blog. I’ve just been slammed with homework recently. Try to find it in your heart to forgive me. I come back into the fold bearing the gift of a new knitting blog for you to peruse. Knit and the City is a little window into the knitting life of lawyer Wendy and all her happy yarn tales. Like chatting with a good friend, her blogs are personal and warm, like a recent entry about the pains and joys of trying to knit a sweater for a new boyfriend. This blog is a nice place to unwind (don’t mind the yarn metaphor).

Check out Pack Rat Magazine Issue #1!

It’s hard being artsy in the professional world, especially when all you really want out of your career is a little flair.  Well, if your dress code at work has you all suited up, try colorizing your wardrobe with this very feminine twist on the classic business card holder.  One of several tutorials found on Little Thing (y.a.b., crafting blog that is), this cute little number is sure to get noticed.

Check out Pack Rat Magazine, Issue #1!

I’m sure we’ve all seen the many different tutorials on how to crochet a bag out of plastic bags. Although the recycled bag make my little Pack Rat heart all aflutter, after I’ve seen a bunch of slight variantions on the same theme I begin to feel ho-hum about it. But I came across a website that has revived my interest. My Recycled Bags takes plastic bag crocheting to a whole new level, with super cute designs, like the Ribbon Sling Bag pictured below. Not to mention the snazzy evening purses made out of VCR tape that they have tutorials for. So once and for all, STOP cluttering land fills with plastic bags (I know, I know. I’m a sinner too) and start turning that trash into treasure.

Check out Pack Rat Magazine Issue #1!

It’s almost gift giving time again. Which is always a magical time to spend with the ones you love. However, crowding the malls, fighting your way through the chain stores can almost make that magic not feel worth it. So why not use this year to do what you’ve probably been telling yourself you would do for years. Why not make everyone’s gifts this year? I know, it sounds over ambitious and overwhelming, but I believe in all of us crafters out there. And, when I was looking over the Belle Epoque blog earlier, I came across another, quiliting blog called Cotton Spice who will be hosting a marvelous holiday gift to all of us called “The Last Minute Gift Countdown.” For two weeks in November they will be posting gift making tutorials everyday, written by guest designers. So check back daily and soon you too could be avoiding the malls.