TOP 100 CRAFTS SITES
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| Hundreds enjoy arts, crafts (The Daily Iberian) A steady crowd paraded the gardens and sidewalks at Shadows-on-the-Teche from morning until late afternoon Saturday for the biannual Shadows Arts and Crafts Fair fundraiser. us.rd.yahoo.com |
Book Review: Spirit Animals by Stephanie Iris Weiss Handmade gifts are always meaningful, but infusing your gifts with symbolic meaning takes them to the next level. Enter a wonderful animal-filled resource in the form of Spirit Animals: Unlocking the Secrets of Our Animal Companions by Stephanie Iris Weiss (Chronicle Books). This delightful little 5×7 book is a veritable pocket companion of animal symbolism defined. There are 40 entries altogether, most of them animals with a few insects and reptiles thrown in for good measure. Each entry has a section on Personality, Spiritual Origins, and Guiding Powers. And each has its very own illustration, representing the text, drawn by one of nine talented contributing illustrators. This lends a lot of visual interest to the book since all of their styles are so unique and different from one another. Here's the picture that accompanies the deer, drawn by Lisa Congdon: I first checked out the book after coming back from a solo backpacking trip during which I was repeatedly visited by a hummingbird. Each animal is given a quick-reference description at top, and the hummingbird is "The Relentless Pleasure-Seeker." Under Personality, Weiss writes, "The only bird that can hover and fly backward, forward, up, or down, the hummingbird is incredibly adaptable. .... This incredible stamina allows the hummingbird to tirelessly seek out nectar from every source. These spritelike creatures are a direct link to pure, unadulterated happiness." Under Spiritual Origins, Weiss shares Mayan views of hummingbirds and also adds, "In Mexican folklore, the hummingbird symbolizes luck in love." And finally, under Guiding Powers, Weiss suggests, If you're in need of some serious joy, consult with the hummingbird. This creature shows us how to find hidden happiness and to see the best in people. It's the ideal spirit animal for those moments when you're overwhelmed by darkness and focused on the negatives. The hummingbird will show you how to find your sweet spot again. It takes perseverance and ingenuity to find your bliss once you've lost it. The hummingbird has endless stores of both, so if someone you love is feeling blue, call upon the hummingbird to bring back his or her laughter.Whatever level of importance you choose to give to these words, for me, it was intriguing and entertaining to read them. And incidentally, I do have a friend who is feeling quite blue. I will certainly try and weave a hummingbird or two into the next present I make for her. If you need some inspiration for your crafts, this book is great to get the wheels turning. Read this article | Comment on this article blog.craftzine.com |
Crafts for The Knittn' Kitten E-Book Now Available Susan at West Coast Crafty just posted that the Crafts for The Knittn' Kitten E-Book is now available for free download from the CraftyPod Shop!Read this article | Comment on this article blog.craftzine.com |
Carrot Pineapple Mini Cupcakes My 1 year old daughter Chloe doesn't like sweets. She refused to take another bite out of her birthday cupcake we got from Miette at her birthday party. I decided for Christmas I was going to make carrot pineapple mini cupcakes by weelicious so that she could have a special treat that was a bit more natural. It's good to know that they are made with agave nectar instead of sugar. I knew how much she loved carrots so I figured this recipe would be a success (at least I hoped!). The smell of fresh baked carrots and pineapples filled the apartment. By the time the oven timer rang, both Chloe and my husband wanted one right away. I barely had time to frost most of them! Needless to say not only did Chloe love them, they became a household hit for the holidays! I'm already planning on making a double batch of these later today. I used the Chronicle Books' Cupcake Making Kit ($19.95) from Fred Flare. The mini cupcake liners were too cute. I'd recommend using 2 liners per cupcake when baking so you can see the patterns in your finished cupcake. I also loved using the pastry bag and decorative tip for the frosting!Read this article | Comment on this article blog.craftzine.com |
Olympic Plush Challenge Kirsten Rask of Plush You! fame is organizing a rad plush contest around the winter olympics (full disclosure: I'm a judge): As you all know, or most of you should, the Winter Olympics are coming soon. I am not really a sporty person but I think because they are so close to home, I am more excited this year about it all. I was thinking it might be fun to do a little Olympic Challenge.You'll make plush in a certain olympic category, and take photos for submission. Sign up by January 22nd, and pictures are due by February 26th. Check out the complete description for more info on how to win a gold, silver, or bronze medal in plush!Read this article | Comment on this article blog.craftzine.com |