Melanie Falick on Creativebug

I would venture to say we’re not the only ones with creative resolutions for the new year. If learning a new skill is high on your list, then taking an online crafting class with our friends over at Creativebug will get you on your way! Joining the ranks of talented craft mavens (and STC alums) Natalie Chanin, Liesl Gibson, Kata Golda, Gretchen Hirsch, Kristin Nicholas, Heather Ross, Debbie Stoller, and Creativebug editorial director Kelly Wilkinson, our talented STC Craft Publishing Director Melanie Falick is offering tutorials for beaded leather wrap bracelets, yarn dyeing, and DIY knitting needles.

And for your daily dose of inspiration, be sure to check out how Melanie has made a career out of her love of making things and desire to help women tell their stories in this lovely video introduction.

Creative Resolutions for 2013

Photo: Thayer Allyson Gowdy from The Shape of Knitting by Lynne Barr

Every January, there's the usual chatter about New Year's resolutions--ways to cut back, shape up, and make changes that often feel more like chores. This year, the STC Craft team decided to frame our 2013 goals as "creative resolutions." Inspiring, right? Here's what we came up with:

Melanie, Publishing Director
My goal this year is to simply to spend more time being creative with my friends and family. More afternoons chatting and creating, hopefully even some weekends away together. Add in some tea or wine, some fresh air, laughter, maybe a little yoga. Perfection!

Liana, Senior Editor
I recently saw a photo for this really cute toddler sweater on Pinterest, but it's from a Finnish blog and the instructions (if there are any) are not in English. So, I want to try to make up a pattern so I can replicate the sweater! (Here's a link to some sketches on my blog.)
I also want to spend a lot more time writing this year, and possibly maybe even start keeping an art journal! (Art Doodle Love has inspired me…)
Finally, I want to work on cleaning up my creative space. I suspect there will be a major fabric purge in the new year, and a lot less clutter. (How many pincushions do I need??)

Cristina, Editorial Assistant
I'm so wonderfully lucky to work somewhere I get to be creative everyday, but I'd love to make an effort to set aside more time for creative pursuits at home. And I'm determined to learn how to knit! No more excuses, especially with all the great knitters around here to show me the way.

Michelle, Executive Director of Marketing + Publicity
My creative goals for 2013 are to finish my striped knitted-felted bag, a large project that I would love complete and start to use this winter; to find time to try my new guache brushes—they've been sitting and taunting me!—and lastly, I owe a nice knitted project to my colleagues! Lots of fun stuff to do.

Ellie, Marketing Manager
This year my goal is to spend more time seeing and reading about art. Over the holidays, I visited the new Philadelphia campus of the Barnes Foundation. The museum is famous for a number of reasons (here's a primer) and if you ever find yourself in Philly, it's a must-see! The eclectic, offbeat collection has a single mission: art as everyday experience. I left inspired, excited, and with a long list of artists to investigate.

Traci, Publicist
I love to paint old furniture and give it a brand new look. My 5-year old son spends many weekends in the garage/workshop with me "working," with his kiddie washable paint-set in hand. This year I want to encourage him further and provide him with his own project – a small nightstand. I'll be there to guide him but I can't wait to see what he can do!

Looking Back + Looking Forward with Kaffe

One of the highlights of my year was celebrating the publication of Kaffe Fassett's autobiography: Kaffe Fassett: Dreaming in Color. Kaffe spent much of his childhood in Big Sur, California, where his parents built the famous Nepenthe restaurant. The wild California coastline and the bohemian cast of characters who passed through Nepenthe made a significant impact on Kaffe's view of the world and so, when it was time to organize a book tour, we knew we wanted to have an event there. And I knew I wanted to attend the celebration! Kaffe shared the news with his family, and they welcomed me so warmly that I felt like I somehow belonged. I had spent hundreds of hours working on the book and then, before my eyes, it seemed to come to life. Everything was new to me yet it was familiar--the original log cabin, the artwork on the walls, the food, the landscape, the view, the people. I snapped a bunch of photos with my phone. They don't provide a comprehensive look at the event or the place but I do hope they portray the joy of the experience!

 

Above: Kaffe signing books. Despite a pretty serious rainstorm, friends, family, and fans happily made the trip to the celebration.

Above: The signing took place inside the Phoenix Shop at Nepenthe. The two-story shop sells a selection of Kaffe's work as well as the work of other family memebers, plus an eclectic treasure trove of clothing, jewelry, homewares, and books. That's Kaffe's niece Erin at top right, his sister Holly on the left side of the second row, and his partner Brandon and niece Winona in the bottom center.

Above: Around the idyllic property. That's me in the pink sweater, and Kaffe and his niece Romney in the bottom row. Behind that painted wooden fence is the original log cabin, where family members still reside. At top center is Cafe Kevah, another casual eatery on the property. As soon as we arrived Romney ordered me a glass of Gary's Lucia Pinot Noir from a nearby vineyard. Seven hundred feet above the Pacific, the scene was set. Perfection I will never forget.

And so, it is with this special memory at the forefront of my mind, that I look back at 2012 with gratitude and look forward to 2013 with hope.

Happy New Year!

Handmade Holidays: It's Party Time

Weekend Handmade by Kelly Wilkinson

As the end of December quickly approaches (where has the time gone?), it’s time to don your most glitzy ensembles and dust off your decadent nibble recipes in anticipation of upcoming holiday soirees. Whether you’re planning to dance the night away at a friend’s bash or host your own celebration of the season, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite DIY projects to get you ready to party well into the new year!

Sometimes, a stand-out accessory or sparkly embellishment are all you really need to make an outfit more festive. Donning some DIY headwear from The BUST DIY Guide to Life or embroidering a plain garment with this beautiful snowflake-like stitch pattern from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design will get you party-ready in no time.

Staying in with a few loved ones? Then think about amping your common threads with some handcrafted add-ons! Make a super-stylish Peter Pan collar (tutorial here) with Gertie’s help or a cozy necklace from Knitting From the Center Out (tutorial here) for a fun outfit boost no matter where you end up spending your holiday.

Even Liesl Gibson is making her own festive accessories! Check out her tassel necklace tutorial over at Creativebug.

And of course, you never want to arrive at anyone’s party empty-handed. For hostess gifts with heart, some scented sachets from More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts or personalized cutting board from AlternaCrafts are sure to get you invited back next year.

Flash Sale: 45% Off All STC Craft Books!

We're celebrating the holiday season with our first-ever flash sale! From now through Sunday, December 16th, at midnight EST, take 45% off any STC Craft book purchased through our website; just enter coupon code HandmadeHolidays2012 at checkout.

Enjoy--and happy Friday!

Photo above by Thayer Allyson Gowdy from The Repurposed Library