Many years ago—over 16, to be exact—I launched a zine subscription called Craft Leftovers Monthly. Each issue came with a fun little bundle of craft leftovers, often bundled into a mini kit to try out a new project. It was a blast to make and share! Some of the tutorials […]
journal
A Letter from me to you
I’m excited to share a project that’s been brewing for awhile —something that finally came together during a recent flight home from Colorado. I intentionally had just a pen and a notebook, and with that bit of focus time I figured out how to bring my art, craft, and ideas […]
howto - journal - patterns & tutorials - zines
Mini Zine: Step-by-Step How to Make a Basic Zine
My newest mini book shows you my favorite techniques for mini book making. Learn how to pronounce “zine”, make a zine, and why I love them!
journal - zines
Mini Zine: How Math Ruined Summer Vacation
My newest zine is out in print or get the pdf (and other zines in the digital archive too) as a Substack paid subscriber bonus! This past summer while my daughter was being excessively determined to never do math again and that it’s worthless — this little gem was born. […]
crochet - feature - patterns & tutorials
Free Crochet Pattern: Oscar’s Fingerless Gloves
First published January 05, 2007; Oscar’s Crocheted Fingerless Mittens was my very first crochet pattern every published on the blog. I still remember typing up the pattern in my college apartment all those years ago — and my complete delight when my new friend Diane shared a photo with me […]
podcast
Ep 18: Do it for the Publicity Guidelines
Do it for the “publicity” rarely works: Here is how to Make sure it Does. Enjoy the podcast here or your favorite player. Enjoy the Livestream video edition: Treat me to a cuppa: https://ko-fi.com/kristinmroach General Notes Sign up for the Craft Leftovers enews list to see what’s been recovered in the archive […]
journal - podcast
Ep. 17: The Clarifying Nature that is a Cancer Scare
And back! Whew, the first Livestream after the move. What a whirlwind. Made it here through a rainstorm! Giving you an update on why I took a long break, and then a longer than expected break. Podcast Audio Version Coming Soon. Enjoy the Livestream video edition: Treat me to a […]
Crafty Business - journal - podcast
Ep 16: Take a Break from Work
What if you don’t take breaks because you are so in love with what you are doing every day? Welp. Suck it up buttercup, you need a lunch break too.
journal - Mend it Better
A Place to Mend @ the Octagon
Mending is that bridge between creative worlds. Whether a hobbiest or professional, we all have something to share, contribute, and a sock with a hole. For those of us that are a little more quiet, it gives us a task to keep attentive to and help with any social anxiety. […]
journal - podcast
Ep 15: How and Why I use Profit First in my Creative Businesses
The number one book I recommend to creatives entrepreneurs is Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. Today I’m going to share the story of how reading this book transformed how I run my businesses’ finances and allowed me to pay myself a wage + make a profit for the business. Little […]
Craftea - howto - journal - knitting - Mend it Better - patterns & tutorials - wips
Re-Knitting Dropped Stitches in Realtime Live
Join me for 40 minutes of relaxed mending and afternoon tea. Today I reknit the top of my daughter’s hat that “exploded” at school. I also show off a few other projects in my mending basket and the socks I’m knitting up just for fun. Show Notes Sign up for the […]
journal
Turning off Ads on Craft Leftovers
Last year I turned google ads on. This year I’m turning them off. Here is the why for both choices. Plus a little digressing. Craft Leftovers the blog has been around since that 2006 Hello World Post. Believe it or not, it was one of the OG blogs on recycled/upcycled/green […]
Crafty Business - feature - journal - podcast
Ep 14: Annual Review in an Hour
Before making a plan for the next year, (Ep 01 of Craft Leftovers), let’s take an hour to consider this past year. What went well? What could have been better? What just totally missed the boat? Do you try again next year or let it go? I’m taking you through […]
Crafty Business - journal - podcast
Ep 13: Bookkeeping for Creatives
One of the questions I get most often. Okay more like the “oh no” deer in the headlights response I get when I bring up book keeping. It doesn’t have to be scary. In fact, it can be kind of fun. In this episode I talk about the difference between […]
Crafty Business - journal - podcast
Ep 12: Making a Traveling Exhibit
After a year of work I’m taking the Junk Mail Migration Paintings & Tapestry on the road! How did I create a traveling exhibit? And what are the essentials to coordinating with multiple partnering institutions? As a curator at an art center, I received and installed hundreds of works of […]
journal
New Livestream Schedule + Winter Local Events Announced
Well I did it! Every month for an entire year I did a Livestream over on my Youtube channel. And at the end of the year, I realized an interesting thing… I want to do more! When I started this experiment, I had this idea that I would craft + […]
journal - podcast
Ep 11: Should you Sell at a Fair, Fest, or Market?
Enjoy Episode 11 of the Craft Leftovers Podcast in video form (the abridged recording of the September 14, 2022 livestream and transcript are coming soon). Pull up a project and craft along. Over the last two decades I’ve coordinated, participated, and volunteered at over 100,000* art and craft festivals, fairs, […]
journal - podcast
Ep10: 8 Ways Art & Craft are the Same
Enjoy Episode 10 of the Craft Leftovers Podcast (an abridged recording of the August 17 livestream) in audio form. Pull up a project and craft along. Having a foot in craft and the other in art, I often get asked “what IS the difference between art and craft?” I love […]
crochet - patterns & tutorials
Free Pattern: Crochet Tiger Kitty Plush
First published in the March Volume 2 issue of Craft Leftovers Monthly, this little Tiger Kitty spread its sweetness to Craftzine.com back in 2010. Get it here on the Craft Leftovers blog for the first time. Be careful though, he may be a little sweety when sleepy, but this Tiger […]
journal - podcast
Ep9: Three Ways to Thrive in Summer as Entrepreneur with Kids | Craft Leftovers Live
As a small business owners, summer breaks can be one of the hardest time of the year. Lack of childcare and, if you employ students, all their vacation time leaves you working more than ever. How to keep from burning out, create quality time with kiddo(s), and keep your expectations grounded in reality.