I love the 80s…wallet

Posted on December 3, 2008 by meghan

Pack Rat loves the night life. We love to boogie.

First off, let me congratulate Bonnie from Seattle for winning our Birthday Scavanger Hunt! Bonnie correctly identified the hidden links in our November issue of the magazine. She will be receiving her very own copy of the book, Handmade Nation: the Rise of DIY, art, craft, and design. Yay Bonnie!

On to other news. I apologize for the spotty blogs, but I gots me a j-o-b and learning the ropes has taken up a lot of my energy. What? You thought I did Pack Rat full time? Not a lot of money to be made in free magazines, people. At least not yet. We’re refering to my job as an “investment strategy” for now. But I’m starting to get into the groove, so hopefully postings will go back to being regular, or at least semi-regular

And finally, what you all really came here to read: today’s internet gem is this cassette tape wallet tutorial. Blogger Rachel keeps her blog, Chezlin full of her comings and goings in the craft/college world, including this inspired creation. This adorable little wallet and matching change purse (made from recycled bits, just how we like it) bring me back to a time when hair was big, jeans were tapered, and G&R were all the rage. No, I’m not talking about just yesterday, I’m talking about twenty years ago. And I can’t wait to gut my busted Debbie Gibson tape and make my own.

photos copyright by Rachel at Chezlin

Let the Summer Days Slip Away

Posted on July 10, 2008 by meghan

Pack Rat is going cold turkey as we quit our addiction to cold turkey.

Bonjour, mis amies. I feel like that is probably not spelled correctly, but I took Spanish in school, not French, so just considered it a best guess. If you are easing into the dog days of summer, and you’re looking for some footwear that will reflect your laid-back lifestyle, head over to Lady Harvatine’s blog and check out the sweet tutorial for summer slippers. (They’re like flip flops, but softer! and more cozy!) They are super stylish, and won’t make your feet sweat in the summer heat.

And this has absolutely nothing to do with anything, but blogger Liz Harvatine is originally from Connecticut. And as someone else originally from CT, this pleases me. There, I’ve said it. I’m a nutmegger.

Photo courtsey of Liz Harvatine

Lunch Date

Posted on July 8, 2008 by meghan

Pack Rat magazine‘s alias is Nick Soapdish. It’s French.

Quick update on the magazine. Perhaps unsurprisingly we are running behind schedule. This time we have a pretty good excuse though, as we had a major computer crash and ongoing computer bugs that we are trying to deal with. We hope to have the July/August issue to you asap.

To that end, I’m going to keep these next few blogs brief. I found a “how-to” for these cunning oil cloth lunch sacks over on Martha Stewart’s website. It is actually the second time today that I have stumbled on to a website or article relating to Martha Stewart, and it’s not yet 10 am. I wonder if it’s some kind of sign?

Intro to Sewing

Posted on May 8, 2008 by meghan

Pack Rat Magazine finds itself irresistable drawn to you.

Hiya party people. Let’s get down to brass tacks. If you are just starting to sew, I suggest you check out this helpful tutorial from the Family Homestead, writen by Crystal out of Washington. She shares a quick and easy method for gathering fabric, one of those tasks that seem daunting to the novice (a.k.a. me). This guide will be a time, and frustration saver.

Neon Punk Anime

Posted on April 11, 2008 by meghan

Pack Rat Magazine always carries the one when multiplying.

Terrible news. Project Runway is moving to Lifetime. As if season 4 wasn’t bad enough, now the show is going to be on back to back with that Candace Cameron/Fred Savage movie where they are high school sweethearts until he murders her (which, for some odd reason is always on on the rare occasion I turn to Lifetime). Well we can still remember the golden years. Diane Eng, one of the contestants from my hands-down-favorite season, (season 2) has a hot tutorial called the Harajuk Punk Shirt in Craft Magazine Issue #3 and reprinted online at wetpaint wiki. Make your own and one for a friend.

A Mighty Pattern of a Mouse

Posted on March 12, 2008 by meghan

Pack Rat Magazine, we will dance, dance to the revolution.

Hiya. Here’s a project for all you seamstresses and seamstressers out there who love to look and something cute and say “awwwwww.” Go ahead a make yourself one of these adorable little mice from Sewing Stars creator, Teresa Levy. They just look so squeezable!

Issue 3

Posted on February 12, 2008 by meghan

Hi kids! the Feb/March Issue is finally out and rarin’ to go. Click on the pdf link below! And remember, if you think you could do better, you’re welcome to show us what you’ve got. Submission deadlines for next issue will be March 20th. Happy reading.

issue3.pdf

Sew Cool

Posted on January 9, 2008 by meghan

Looking for more crafting fun? Check out Pack Rat Magazine

For those of you glued to your sewing machines, peel yourself away for a moment to check out Sew, Mama, Sew! This online fabric shop has a blog dedicated to all things sewing and is young, modern, fresh and all those other buzz words. They have fun contests, like Free Fabric Fridays, where they choose readers at random, based on who comments on that day’s blog and winners get…(wait for it) free fabric! I know, you just fell out of your chair, right? Didn’t see that one coming. They also are a good resource for links to tutorials, like this super cute pillowcase dress for a little girl, by Red Instead. So drop by and see if there’s anything that catches your eye.

Handbags galore

Posted on December 13, 2007 by meghan

Looking for more crafty fun? Check out Pack Rat Magazine Issue #2.

Totable totes, baggable bags, and clutchable clutches abound at U-handbag, an online shop based out of the UK dedicated to handbag supplies. Things like handles, frames, and latches are easy to find and fun to dream over. Want to make the perfect bag? Their free instructions will help get you there. And, if you’re not sure exactly what type of bag you’re looking to make, head over to the inspiration gallery and check out what your fellow craftsters are up to. My favorite so far is the Carnival Time, Basket Style Bag, pictured below.

Making Up For Lost Time

Posted on November 9, 2007 by meghan

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.