journal - knitting - patterns & tutorials

Knit Tea Cozy Free Pattern

For the next addition of the Pattern Archive Restoration project, I present the Knit Tea Cozy. It’s not just for tea pots, it can also work for nice big 13″ circumference tea mugs. Knitted way back in 2008… I still find this little cozy immensely useful, cheerful, and cozy! Made for a Tea-for-One tea set, it fits well on a large mug or any other small pot.

Visit the original pattern post for the complete free pattern.

Crafty Business - journal - round up

Speaking at 1 Million Cups Ames: Show Notes Edition

On February 17th, I woke up early and headed off to the Iowa State Research Park Core Facility to present my entrepreneurial story to our local 1 Million Cups chapter. I decided to scrap my usual presentation and tell my whole entrepreneurial story. Starting with Craft Leftovers and coming full circle with this year’s launch of my art business this October.

journal

Meet me at Chicago Zinefest

It’s here! Chicago Zinefest is here! And you know what? Craft Leftovers Volume 5, Issue 1 will be here too! I’ll be putting it up for sale in my etsy shop when I get back from the zinefest and I’ll do an official zine summary post then to show you […]

journal

Free Sewing Pattern: Shop ‘n’ Ride Tote

Love this tote and re-reading this post had me thinking… where did that bag go! It would be excellent to pack my lunch in. This fun little tote was originally made to fit in the basket of my bike in college, then used to carry my lunch once I was […]

journal

Morning Sketch Book

Lucy is on the cusp of starting her first year of school. So. I did something different. Even though we pay for childcare so I can work 9-5 at the shop Monday – Friday, I opted to leave work early or go in late and grab her out of day […]

journal

Grandma Mini Sewing Box

I’m still in love with this little box, but can’t find it anywhere. Maybe it’s time I make a new one. I brought two posts together to tell the whole story with a few edits for ease of reading. Originally published 09/07/2009. This weekend I started the daunting task of digging […]

Home Redress - journal - Uncategorized

Siding the House: Part 1

I say part 1, but it’s more like “years one, two, and three”. It’s been a long time in progress. And I have a long way to go, though I’m technically about 2/3 done. Potentially, all my creative energy (and time) outside of the shop and family things has funneled […]

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Studio clean out

It always gets worse before it gets better. I’ve been listening to this book called Decluttering at the Speed of Life and have been… well decluttering. Big time. Talking 3 pickup truck loads to the goodwill from the kitchen, master bedroom, spare bedroom, and living room. It’s not been a […]

journal

Craft Leftovers Homecoming

More than a decade ago… whoa. I started a blog called Craft Leftovers to fill a need in my life. I needed some outside accountability in busting my stash. I had my own pile of yarn and fabric as well as all the craft supplies I inherited from my grandma. […]

journal

Studio Tour

Last weekend I opened up our house to be one of 20+ artists participating in a city-wide studio tour. The whole idea was that the general public could tour from studio to studio and see the behind the scenes of some of their favorite artists. Since you all couldn’t make […]