My Content: Hubs, Answers, and Forums
4Free Knitting Pattern: Color Field Baby Blanket
Baby blankets are one of the easiest projects, especially for new or inexperienced knitters. This fun and colorful blanket design has no shaping and can be changed to match any nursery decor.
8Top 20 Favorite Road Trip Songs (Triple-A Format)
WYEP in Pittsburgh asked its listeners to submit their list of the 20 best road trip songs. This task got me searching through my memory and my cds to put together my top 20 list of favorites.
610 Things You Might Not Know About Singer-Songwriter Ani Difranco
Singer/songwriter Ani Difranco has released over 40 albums, covered thousands of miles while touring, and built a loyal fan base. Despite her success, here are some things you may not know about her:
8Top 10 Favorite Classic Ani Difranco Songs
Ani Difranco's songs are a creative blend of thoughtful lyrics, beautiful vocals, and talented musicianship. This list of her classic songs might serve as an introduction to Ani Difranco's music.
8Top Ten Things To Do in Pittsburgh (and a Few More Ideas)
Pittsburgh is a wonderful city with a rich history, diverse cultural amenities, and fun outdoor activities. The 'burgh is also a great place to visit! Here is a fun list of things to do, see, and eat.
6Great Art Sights to See in Coastal Maine
Nicknamed "Vacationland", Maine offers a variety of activities to satisfy many interests. Artists and art lovers in particular will find some very interesting and impressive art spots to visit.
5Free Knitting Pattern: Loopy Loop Necklace
This necklace begins with a stitched pendant created from a knitted cord. Then the center is embellished with bright embroidery for a unique piece of jewelry that displays a variety of needle crafts.
26DIY Craft: How to Make a Scrap Fabric Welcome Wreath
Wreaths create a warm welcome for any holiday or season. To make a unique decoration, try tying strips of fabric around a wire frame and then add a bow, ornament, or some flowers for a pop of color.
10DIY Craft: How to Make a Pretty Fabric Rosette Necklace
Easy to make, fabric rosettes can be used to create jewelry or embellish accessories or clothing. I painted my rosettes for my funky necklace, but you can use any decorative fabric or ribbon.
8Free Knitting Pattern: Blooming Colors Scarflet
This pattern for a cozy knitted scarflet is designed to be warm enough for winter, yet still displays the changing colors of fall or the fresh colors of spring.
4Recipes for Quick & Hearty Sandwiches for the Whole Family
Here are three of my family's favorite sandwich recipes. They are quick interpretations of some well-known sandwiches, without the long prep of their traditional counterparts :)
20How to Make an Artistic Cuff Bracelet with an Etched Design
This unique plexiglass bracelet certainly makes an artistic statement. Because the background is simple and clear, your design can create a bold image against your skin, like a removable tattoo.
8Quick & Easy Beaded Ribbon Necklace
Ribbon necklaces are a popular fashion trend and this beaded version is beautiful, easy to personalize, and quick to assemble. With the beads strung on a length of ribbon, this necklace has a romantic, yet relaxed look. This project is a fun way to update old necklaces to give them new life and a new look! This beaded ribbon necklace is a great jewelry project for older children and teens. And this necklace is easy to make with materials that are readily available at your local craft store!
10Awesomely Altered Blueberry Muffins (Healthier Version)
I love blueberry muffins, and there's two things I look for in a great blueberry muffin: lots of blueberries and a firm consistency to the muffin for spreading butter on. My husband and I came up with this recipe, and it's made to our specifications: this recipe is a little less sweet than others, and has some healthy stuff (oat bran) to make my husband happy :)
8How to Hang Your Artwork to Create An Interesting Arrangement
Hanging artwork on your walls is one of the best and easiest ways to add color, personality, and life to any room. But many people make the mistake of hanging one piece of art over their sofa or above their fireplace and considering the job done. In fact, grouping smaller pieces of art often makes a greater impact that one big piece. By using smaller pieces, you can create interesting arrangements that make a strong design statement and adds personality to your room.
8Knitting Hints: A Simple Guide to Blocking
Over my years of knitting, I've discovered an easy and safe way to block most of my knitting projects. I hope these hints answer some of the questions that most people face when blocking, explain the different methods, and offer some suggestions on the best technique to finish your favorite knitwear.
9Hording Stuff: A Creative Crafter's Best Tool
When I was in college, my art professor told us that an artist should collect and save everything and anything that might inspire us. She pointed out that you never know from where your next creative idea might come. Over the years, I've definitely taken her advice. I've held on to piles of magazines, loads of postcards, a bag of scrap fabric, a bin of seashells, and various odds and ends. It might seem crazy to some, but only a crafter can understand what a goldmine this stuff can be.
37Free Knitting Pattern: Flirty Flower Pin with Button Center
These knitted flowers are colorful accessories that are quick to knit and easy to assemble. They are a fun project, and you can use scrap yarn (yea!). They make great gifts, or even a wonderful little topper for a present. You can make them as sophisticated, romantic, or as funky as you want by adding the button or buttons of your choice as the center of your flower. You can also use these flowers as a decoration on a sweater, hat or headband, purse, pillow, almost anything.
5Knitting Hints: How to Pick a Sweater Pattern
For knitters, the world is a candy shop full of knitting patterns. Choosing the right knitting pattern is the first step in ensuring that you'll be happy with the finished result. But with so many to choose from, how can you make a decision? Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind when selecting a sweater pattern.
6Knitting Hints: How to Pick the Right Yarn for Your Knitting Project
Yarn stores and the internet are filled with such a kaleidoscope of fiber choices that it can be overwhelming. Here are some helpful hints for making the right decision for your knitting project.
2Recipe for Super Easy, Super Quick Salsa Cheese Dip
The recipe is so, so easy and so, so quick that it can hardly be called a recipe. It's more like three ingredients put together and microwaved. In fact, IT IS three ingredients put together and microwaved :) And it's delicious!! This dip is perfect for parties, game nights, and family get-togethers. It's always a crowd pleaser!
12A Newbie's Guide to Needle Felting a Reindeer Christmas Ornament
I'm always interested in trying new crafts, but I had no idea my next adventure would be needle felting. Then...I won a needle felting kit on CraftGossip.com to make a felted pony! Although I had never done needle felting before, I had seen demos of it. After reading the directions that came with the kit, I figured I could probably use it to sculpt a deer instead and decided to try to make a felted ornament.
0Review of "A Stitch in Time", Vols 1 & 2 (Knitting Books)
Vintage clothing and fashion have been popular for decades, but with the success of Downton Abbey more people are following the fashion trends of years gone by and searching for vintage clothes to add to their own closets. Although A Stitch in Time, Volumes 1 & 2 are knitting books, they are also an archive of vintage fashion and a history lesson on the events and people who influenced the fashion trends over the years. Written by Susan Crawford and Jane Waller, these books contain an overview o
2How to Make an Interesting Photo Collage
It's easy to make art for any room by creating a collage from photos, cards, drawings or even magazine pages. Using an inexpensive poster frame and a few hours of your time, you can make a piece of art that you'll enjoy looking at and be proud to display!
10How to Decorate for the Holidays with Basic Frames
I've found that frames are an easy and festive way to display your holiday decorations, particularly if you have a limited amount of space for decorations (like people living in apartments), or if you only have a small collection of decorations. By using basic frames, or by recycling/upcycling old frames, you can highlight your decorations and make a greater impact with the decorations you have. My projects use Christmas decorations, but you could use these ideas as inspiration for any holiday!
4Free Knitting Pattern: Reindeer Tracks Cowl
This cozy cowl features yarn carried in front and knitted stitches moving up and down to look like reindeer tracks. A beautiful pattern to show off the colors of variegated yarn, this cowl also looks great in solid colors. This pattern is easy, but suggested for advanced beginners or experiences knitters who are familiar with knitting terms and slipped stitch techniques.
4Directions for Knitted Pinwheel Basket Pattern
I made this knitted basket using Zoë Scheffy's FREE Pinwheel Coaster pattern as a base, then knitting up the sides in a diamond pattern. I love having baskets around the house to hold things and to use as decoration. I made this basket to hold a plant, but you could change the size and make a basket to hold just about anything.
4Recipe for Easy Meatball and Pepperoni Pasta Bake
This meatball and pepperoni pasta bake recipe is one of my family's favorites. It's easy to make and can be put together earlier and then just heated up to be served. I use meatballs and pepperoni, but you could substitute your favorite sausage for one of the ingredients or use all three!
3Free Knitting Pattern for Cabled Modern English Cowl
This free knitting pattern has a lace and cable design that continues around the neck and creates a cozy and comfy cowl. This pattern is fully charted with descriptions of the abbreviations at the bottom of the chart and is designed for experienced beginners or advanced knitters who are familiar with basic terms and knitting cables.
5Knitting Directions for Tulip Wrap Top
This light, floaty top is based loosely on a wrap I saw on the Anthropologie website. I knew I could knit something similar, but I also wanted to make some changes to the design. Many people have asked how I made this, so I put together my notes. But this is not really a “pattern” - it's more of a description of how I designed and knitted this top.
2Free Knitting Pattern for High Tea Collar Necklace
This versatile necklace has a bit of a vintage look and can be worn with either the button fastening in the back as a necklace or in the front for more of a collar look. The necklace in the photos is about 27” long. You can add or omit repeats of the pattern to customize the length. I used DK weight yarn for this project, but I think it would also be pretty in a sock weight (adjust needle size as needed).
0Yarn, Fun, and More at the 2012 Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair (SAFF)
Every year, thousands of yarn lovers, knitters, spinners, and fiber fans come to the Asheville, NC area for the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair (SAFF). Now in its 19th year, SAFF is (what seems like) a never-ending feast for any knitter, crocheter, spinner, or felter. The 2012 festival featured two buildings of vendors, three days of workshops and demonstrations, livestock displays and judging, and great weather.
23Free Knitting Pattern: Textured Fingerless Gloves or Mitts
I designed these textured fingerless mitts because I wanted a pair with great color and an interesting design on the back of the hand, yet fit snugly around the cuff and was comfortable to wear for everyday use. Perfect for showing off the different colors in variegated or handpainted yarns!
0The Paintings of Maine Artist Connie Hayes
Connie Hayes’s paintings are often recognizable for her vibrant use of color and her loose painting style. Well-known as a painter of Maine landscapes, she uses of color and composition to create unique views of the small towns and unseen places in Maine. Her paintings beautifully depict the quiet moments of daily life.
4Easy Recipe for Meatball and Mushroom Casserole
This casserole recipe is flavorful and hardy, and a family favorite. Using really just 4 ingredients, this main dish can be made ahead of time and simply warmed up when you are ready to eat. I must admit, it is rather beige in its ingredients, but is great when served with some bright vegetables or a fresh salad!
2Free Knitting Pattern for Stash-o-motastic Fingerless Mitts or Gloves
For these cozy and colorful fingerless mitts, I used an array of worsted weight (medium weight) yarn, along with some dk weight (light weight) and some bulky (heavy weight) yarn, from my ever-decreasing stash. I’m really happy with how these funky colors came together in these fun mitts.
6DIY Craft Project: Fall into the Holidays Wreath
This is our latest decorating project - a festive fall/winter wreath. I stole the inspiration from Lauralee at Yellow Mums. She creatively "borrowed" the idea from Delia at Delia Creates. I really loved how Lauralee mixed berries and fabric with the sticks to make a warm, rustic, and charming wreath. However, I knew I wanted to add more red and brown to my wreath so I could use it throughout the fall and into the holiday season (Honestly, I plan to keep it on display until it falls apart).
6Recipe for Warm Eggplant Parmesan Dip
This warm dip is a little like eggplant parmesan in a bowl, only better. You can spread this dip on triscuit crackers, toasted french bread, or toasted pita bread triangles. I think this would also be good to top a Boboli pizza crust. Yummy!!
