Today is full of free book prizes. Right here on my blog you can win a copy of Vickie Howell’s new book Craft Corps. If you scoot over to Vickie’s blog you can enter to win a copy of my book The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girls Guide to Handmade Jewelry and a Totally Texas Necklace. Two for one special!
Let’s chat about your possible prize, Craft Corps: Celebrating the Creative Community One Story at a Time
One of the longest interviews in the book is with me. Vickie and I had a good long chat one morning on my couch all about macaroni wreaths, my fear of public speaking and Flavor Flav of all things. One of my all time favorite necklaces made from a recycled kitty puzzle is featured. The nice thing about the book is that each interview is slightly different and tailored to the specific crafter. This is the kind of book you keep next to your bed to read an interview a night and have inspired crafty dreams by.
One of the most environmentally friendly crafters I know, Travis Nichols is profiled in Craft Corps. You might remember I interviewed Travis last year when he released his endlessly entertaining book Punk Rock Etiquette. Besides being eco-friendly another adjective to describe Travis would be male, not something you see too often in the crafting world. Somehow Vickie manages to find several crafty dudes to profile. Travis who always tries to work with eco-friendly materials right down to the plastic wrap around his illustrated gift cards has an interesting conversation about the origins of the stuff we buy whether it be food or magazines. Thanks for the shout out Travis, I miss you around here.
Susan Beal one of my favorite crafty ladies is profiled in Craft Corps. A quick flip through her books Bead Simple and Button It Up and it’s clear that she has a love of reusing vintage materials in new creative ways. When Vickie asks her about a moment from her childhood connected to crafts that stands out she tells a story of using old fabric scraps with her grandmother to sew doll clothes. Apparently even her grandma, maybe inadvertently was green. As a new mother myself trying to find time to be creative and chase a toddler I especially related to their dialogue on the topic.
Just glancing at the pictures from Jenny Ryan’s interview and you can tell this lady is a creative mastermind at reworking found and vintage items in a new and exciting way. Fabric bracelets made from old sheets and fabric scraps and sweaters trimmed in vintage embroidered linens exemplify up-cycling at it’s finest. Jenny and Vickie discuss everything from Jenny’s successful LA based craft show Felt Club to the pre-Etsy days of running an online craft store.
Other enviro favorites include Kathy Cano Murillo of Crafty Chica, Mark Montano and his Big Ass Books of Crafts and Wendy Russell from She’s Crafty. All of these people put an expert spin on reworking once discarded items into something fresh and new.
Whether you are a fan of some of these crafters, thinking of starting your own craft business or just curious what got other crafters started down their specific path Craft Corps is a page turner. Lots of pictures, James Lipton style questions and of course great conversations between crafters. Some are long, others are paragraph blurbs but all are interesting and entertaining.
So now about that free book. You have one week to leave me a comment letting me know the crafter you would most like to read an interview with. Ya never know they might be one of the 30+ crafters profiled in Craft Corps.
I think I would love to read YOUR interview. I have been a silent follower of your blog for a while…and always find your posts to be very fun!
I think the read about people who have already gotten off the ground in the direction I'm hopefully going in would be really interesting
There are so many crafters/artists that I admire and would love to read more about. Elsie Flannigan, Vicki Powell, (Yourself);) , Princess Lazertron, Amy Butler, Heather Bailey, Kelly Rae Roberts, etc…
This book looks awesome!
I'd love to hear about the time before you were a craft queen. Where you a crafty child? Were you stuck in a less than fun career/job– dreaming of the craft life?
Did I see Jay Mccarroll of Project Runway fame on the trailer? That's got to be an interview I want to read. And yours of course 🙂
Looks like an ace book
i want to read an interview with leslie bonnell, owner of austin's stitch lab! she makes the raddest stuff!!
I would love to read an interview with Carol Duvall, you, Jay McCaroll and Vicki!
I'd like to read your interview, also. Your perky charm intrigues me. :0)
I would love to read an interview with Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching or Gina from doe c doe. I'm in love with embroidery artists.
Please-o, let it be Lexi Boeger, aka Pluckyfluff, of art yarn spinning fame!
Cheers!
I love Elsie Flannigan's work! She is one of my biggest influence and such a sweet person! I would love to read an interview by her 🙂
Vicki Howell!
Stacy Beth
Yours of course! I love your work, your blog, and your DIYnetwork shows! <3
I'm super excited for Vickie's new book. You and her are both so influential on the crafting movement! It's very inspiring.
I grew up on Carol Duvall. So I would Love to meet with and talk to her. Also Jennifer Perkins, Jackie Guerra and of course My favorite red headed knitter you. {Vickie Howell}
I've followed, watched and read interviews from you, Vickie, Kathy C-M, Jenny Hart, and lots of crafty ladies who I adore over the years. I'd like to read about Twinkie Chan, she seems like a fun gal, and Im sure a fun interview. BUT mostly your sister HOPE is a mystery to me- in a good way. I'd love to know more about her! Her dead rappers are the bomb diggity. Her talent is SO
I agree on a lot of these names. Makes me think I should start doing interviews on the blog. If you recall I used to write them for Craft Gossip, but they appear to all be gone off their website. Too bad there were some fun ones.
Artistik Diva – I have a mini interview with my sister Hope from last year. It's more of a glitter how to.
A lot of you guys mentioned
Debbie Stoller!!! She's so amazing!
I would like to read from you, Jay from Project Runway, and Debbie Stoller. Vickie Howell is the reason I'm a knitter and I have been a huge fan since! I was honored and excited when my reply to the Craft Corps. questionaire was released in an email. How awesome to be included, even if I'm not in the book!
I watch She's crafty every day! Even when I have already seen the show like a million times.
So wanna read about Wendy Russell the most – but am interested in everyone!
Ya know now that you mention it, I'm surprised Debbie is not in the book.
Steph Wendy is so super duper nice. I loved filming that show. Vancouver is also pretty fab.
Just ONE? Nope, no can do! I always love to read how people are making their passions come to life…too many crafters out there inspire me!
I follow a lot of crafty blogs and I am so impressed with all of the crafters. I have been embroidering (Jenny Hart/Sublime Stitching), modge podging (Amy A./Modge Podge Rocks, and making felt projects). Would love to win the book and be inspired in hardcopy. 🙂
Hi! I'm new here. Found you through Kathy Cano-Murillo's blog. As for who I'd like to read, anyone and everyone. 🙂 I am quite new to the crafting scene, and really don't know of many folks at all.
— Tashi
Susan Beal looks awesome !
I would most love to read an interview with you! I love your venacular and spunk! Love the toad stool!
Elizabeth
riotgrl1953@yahoo.com
lovely works!!! fabulous indeed! thanks for sharing.
I would like to read yours of course, love your stuff! Or your sisters. I am a huge fan of the dead rapper paintings and someday must own one! Thx!
There are soooo many people I'd love to read an interview on….Tim Holtz, Carol Duval (I grew up on her, still love her!)