Enviro-Friendly Crafts

Thu, 04/14/2011 - 10:54am by manz

Celebrate Earth Day this month of April with some earth-friendly upcycled crafts. Keywords: Upcycle, repurpose, reclaim, remake.

For some inspiration try Recyclo-Gami: 40Crafts To Make Your Friends Green With Envy! The book is full of ideas for reusing common materials to make accessories, jewelry, household decorations, games, and gifts.

Green Crafts For Children: 35 Step-By-Step Projects Using Natural, Recycled, And Found Materials is another fun book, with kid-friendly projects reusing materials and found items you might normally discard.

For more sophisticated making, try Eco-Craft: Recycle-Recraft-Restyle, which focuses on repurposing materials into lovely designs for the home.

Check out more recycled craft projects in these books as well!

Take Part in Art -- Marvelous Masks

Thu, 02/10/2011 - 7:21pm by MariaK

From masquerade balls to dramatic performances, from exuberant carnivals to solemn ceremonies, people all over the world love wearing masks. Why are masks so popular? Maybe because wearing a mask lets us transform ourselves into anything we can imagine!

If you love masks, you can come to the art table in the downtown youth department to make some with us. Or you can join in at home:

Read!
Niño’s Mask – A young boy is told that he is too young to wear a mask in his village carnival. Won’t everyone be surprised when he makes a mask and becomes el perro – the dog – all by himself!
Behind the Mask – Kimin wonders what to wear for Halloween. When he discovers a mysterious mask among his grandfather’s things, he learns more about his own past.
The Art of African Masks – Discover how different cultures make and use masks in Africa.

Do!
Masks – Make masks from all over the world!
About.com has tons of ideas for making masks from egg cartons, plastic jugs, paper plates and all sorts of other stuff!
At PBS you can learn more about African masks, or you can make your own!

Try a mask today – they work for superheroes and luchadores, so you know they've gotta be good.

Block printing workshop @ Pittsfield

Fri, 12/03/2010 - 11:05am by manz

At this linocut workshop you will create a design, carve the design into a soft linoleum block with the proper tools, and then print the image onto paper and/or note cards. This is your chance to create something to hang on your wall, or perhaps design a card for upcoming events.

Did you attend the Printmaking Workshop we had this summer, and would like more instruction and practice carving the blocks and printing your designs? Or are you wondering what block printing is all about? This workshop is for you!

We will supply all the tools necessary, you supply the creativity! If you have something you’d like to print on, or have your own tools, feel free to bring them.

Don't forget to check out some of AADL’s books on block printing for a spark of ideas.

This DIY event is for Grades 6- Adult, and takes place at Pittsfield on Wednesday, December 8, from 6:30-8:30pm. See you there!

Boomerang Bonanza and Book Launch!

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 10:15am by manz

Okay makers, mark your calendars. Friday is the book release party for local author David Erik Nelson’s latest endeavor, Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Stuff to Make with Your Kids. It’s not your average book launch though. In addition to checking out the book and hanging out with the author at this free, family friendly event at the Workantile Exchange, you can also partake in making and throwing boomerangs while enjoying an adult beverage as your kids have fun. The boomerangs are one of the many fun, hands-on projects featured in the book.

Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred also features projects such as a simple electric guitar, board games, an oversized joy buzzer, and kites, to name a few. These make-tastic projects are sure to keep kids and parents busy for hours. If you're curious about the projects, ask the author about them!

The Boomerang Bonanza launch party coincides with Main Street’s Midnight Madness, so there’s no excuse not to pop in and get your make on amidst all that shopping and caroling.

Friday, Dec 3 -- 6–8pm -- Workantile Exchange, 118 S. Main St.

Calling All Knitters: Hats & Headbands

Tue, 10/12/2010 - 5:35pm by Bertha

Are you a knitter and would like some ideas for a cool hat or headband? Expert knitter Jillian Moreno will be at Traverwood to share her ideas. Bring circular needles, if you have them, and we'll supply the yarn. Good timing to get a head start on the really cold weather or gift giving projects.

Please join us at Traverwood, Sunday, October 17, 2-3pm for Calling All Knitters: Hats and Headbands. Grades 4-Adult.

Get craftilicious with Yarn Bombing

Tue, 10/12/2010 - 12:48pm by manz

Yarn Bombing: the art of crochet and knit graffiti is one of my new favorite craft books. It chronicles the start and the phenomenon of yarn graffiti. You may have seen some knitted works hanging on trees and fences around Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. It is a form of street art, akin to graffiti with a paint can, only the tool of choice is knitted and crocheted pieces hung around town instead. “Yarn bombing can be political, it can be heart-warming, and it can be funny.”

The book is a definitive guide to the act of yarn graffiti. It is chock full of examples, photos, and patterns, and offers plenty of information on the history of yarn bombing, and on the individuals and groups who initiated it, including those who continue to tag. In addition to yarn graffiti, there is also plenty of reference on how to start knitting and crocheting, and offers instructions and resources to get you going with needle arts. I find the idea of craft and street art intertwining truly fascinating.

September is National Sewing Month!

Thu, 09/16/2010 - 10:08am by manz

Being that September is National Sewing Month, are you looking for some inspiration to help you get a move on with that pile of fabric you keep staring at? Try some of these new books to get you motivated to start a new project or finish that one that’s collecting dust.

Amy Butler's style stitches: 12 easy ways to 26 wonderful bags!

Sewing bits & pieces : 35 projects using fabric scraps

The Feisty Stitcher: sewing projects with attitude

If you’re looking for more, there are oodles of sewing books at AADL to get you going. Or check out Sew green recycle, repurpose, restyle, a how-to DVD featuring a few easy projects you can sew along with.

Make it Happen with a lot of Lotta Jansdotter's crafty books!

Tue, 08/10/2010 - 1:38pm by manz

Scandinavian born Lotta Jansdotter left her small island off Sweden at the age of 20 to study art in California. After figuring out that she wanted to focus on screen printing she immediately left school to work on her passion, later opening her own business and starting her Lotta Jansdotter line. Her business, designs, and popularity have grown immensely over the years, and she has written books featuring some of her projects.

Lotta Prints: How to print with anything, from potatoes to linoleum is an excellent book for both those who already dabble in printing or are looking to get started. Some projects featured include screen printing, stenciling, stamping, and block printing. For more textile action, Lotta Jansdotter's simple sewing: patterns and how-to for 24 fresh and easy projects contains many adorable projects that aren’t too difficult to accomplish by sewing. And for things to make for the little ones, check out Simple sewing for baby: 24 easy projects for newborns to toddlers, which offers up many clothing and accessories items for the cute small relations in your life.

All the books include thorough directions and illustrations for each project, and there is also a sampling of patterns to use. Lotta also has a darling blog that is worth browsing, and for a look into her studio, check out Etsy’s featured studio tour of it!

Make It Happen with a Museum Adventure Pass

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 6:37pm by monkk

If you want to follow this year's Summer Reading Game theme Make It Happen at home, you should consider getting some interesting craft materials at Arts & Scraps. Just check out the Museum Adventure Pass, which admits 4 people to Scrap Junction, an interactive area where creativity and learning meet. There are 4 to 5 hands-on centers and one make & take area. Fun for all; small pieces make it suitable for ages 3 and up. Visitors may also stuff a bag, choosing from over 300 unusual recycled industrial materials. Cost is $7 for a full grocery bag, $3.50 for a half bag. The Museum Adventure Pass also gets you 10% off creative project packets and materials in the Arts & Scraps store.

Make It Happen: Patchwork With Punch and Style

Tue, 07/20/2010 - 1:10pm by manz

Here are three new, beautiful books to inspire you to add a bit of whimsy into your handicraft.
What do Scandinavia and Japan have in common? Zakka. Translated it means “miscellaneous goods,” which is vague. Zakka is basically a design aesthetic featuring household items that enhance your environment. Does it truly overwhelm with beauty and cuteness? You decide.

Zakka sewing: 25 Japanese projects for the household and I love patchwork!: 21 irresistible Zakka Projects to Sew are two great books that feature projects inspired by the Japanese zakka aesthetic. They are things for the home and self with some kitsch to them. Included are wonderful photographs and easy to follow instructions. Tea cozies, coasters, bags, pillows, quilts, towels are just some of the projects waiting for your crafty hands.

For more on patchwork projects, check out Patchwork style: 35 simple projects for a cozy & colorful life. There are oodles of handmade ideas, everything from potholders to purses, using the patchwork technique.