Embellish

It can happen anywhere: you’re walking down the street, minding your own business, when suddenly you see a window display that stops you in your tracks. Are those cut paper flowers and hand-sewn, life-sized giraffes? And where did they get that fabulous trunk? Schedule now forgotten, you find yourself drawing rough sketches of the window display on your checkbook because this window dressing is totally what you’re going for in the living room, bathroom, porch, etc.
Imitation is the highest form of flattery, no? The way I figure, if I’m moved by an Anthropologie storefront and decide to then recreate (to the letter) that artsy-fartsy, wealthy hippie look in my bedroom, it’s okay. If that incredible antiques dealer in my neighborhood displays an Eames chair next to a bowl of oranges and a set of pink crystal hi-ball glasses, am I wrong to not collect $200 and go directly to eBay? No way.
By definition, DIYers are inspired folks. We didn’t become do-it-yourself people because we sat around being bored or uninterested in stuff. On the contrary, those of us who create much of anything (for the home or otherwise) are inspired constantly by the world around us. Often, the window displays of innovative, style-savvy stores, especially in big cities, are nothing less than works of art. The designers - who, by the way, can make loads of cash doing it - create visual “stories” in these storefronts by considering color, textures, tones, and accessories that make the doggie in the window look good enough to buy.
It’s not wrong in the slightest to take their ideas home with you, even if you didn’t put down a single penny in the shop. If you’ve seen a window display that fascinates or inspires you, recreating the look can be as pricey or as frugal as you want. Cut paper flowers are easy enough, and life-sized, hand-sewn giraffes are surprisingly affordable to make with a trip to a decent fabric store.

-Mary Fons

It’s harvest time so gather up some veggies from your garden and local farmers market! These easy and affordable veggie patties are a crowd pleaser!
Here’s what you need:

1 cup grated carrot
1 cup grated zucchini
1 cup grated potato
1/3 cup chopped green onion
½ grated onion
2 gloves finely chopped garlic
1 egg
1 cup bread crumbs
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
salt, pepper, and your favorite seasoning to taste.

(You can really add anything you like to this! I’ve made them with freshly chopped cilantro, peppers, and olives would be great too!)

Directions:
Grate veggies to the proper measurements, adding all of them to the bowl.

Mix veggies, stir in parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs, mix, add egg and mix thoroughly.
Form into patties and pan fry in a lightly coated pan, I prefer olive oil.
Brown on each side and serve with cucumber sauce.
Makes about 12 patties.

-Lisa Price

Here’s an easy and inexpensive way to completely change your décor.

Decorating with monochromatic colors not only pulls a look together but also allows you to mix different styles and designs. You can do this with new or old housewares but I’m a fan of vintage style and the totally affordable prices that come along with them. Visit my vintage shop to create your own look!

Start with a bold tablecloth. It will bring some serious interest to a room and make your table a definite focal point. Next, add a set of festive dishes. I love using vintage melmac dishes. They are available in many designs and also easy to find in a variety of solid colors. Not only are these dishes affordable but melmac, a sturdy vintage plastic, is easy to store so you can just throw em in a box, stash em away, and they won’t break! I’ve also added some vintage glassware, napkins, and silverware. Always important is a centerpiece. I put down an orange flowery napkin to anchor it, then lined a vintage canister with a bag and added a bouquet of flowers picked from my yard. The canister is placed in a large solid melmac bowl to add even more color to the table. And the look wouldn’t be complete without one of my Artgoodies block print tea towels! This deer looks right at home in this festive fall table setting!

- Lisa Price

Founded in 2006 by printmaker Lisa Price, Artgoodies offers tea towels, aprons, and stuffie mini pillows each hand printed with an original linocut block print. Price shares her story and inspiration for all you do-it-yourselfers. Stay tuned for posts featuring her project ideas.

CTW: When and how did you start creating the designs for Artgoodies?

Lisa Price: I started artgoodies back in 2006. I have my Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking and have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I lost my job twice in 2005. The economy was starting to take a dive and I spent months and months looking for a job without luck. I decided it would be a great time to start my own business with my art. Printing my work on towels made so much sense to me. It’s the perfect way for me to combine my love and need for printmaking, textiles, and home décor. Not to mention a great way to bring art into the everyday! I am so thrilled to be using my degree and to be able to support myself, it’s like the ultimate DIY project.

CTW: What inspires you as a craftsperson?

LP: I spent a lot of time as a child at my grandmothers during the summer. We would go to the farmers market, do a ton of canning, gardening, and also some sewing together. During this time I became totally fascinated by the colors and designs of the fifties, and gained a great appreciation and love for nature. I carry those ideas and aesthetics with me and feel very emotionally tied to them. That is just part of the reason why my aprons and stuffies are made with vintage fabrics, 40s-60s. My grandmother was also an incredible seamstress and really a master of DIY. She sewed amazing clothing for my mom and was super handy with tools and home projects. I’m always inspired when I think of her.

CTW: What’s your favorite artgoody and why?

LP: That’s kind of a tough one. I like things about my designs and products for different reasons. Sometimes it’s just a particular shape, color, or line, and other times I end up giddy over how the vintage fabric and the print just seem so right together. For now, if I had to pick one design I guess it would be the squirrel. I’ve always been a fan. I had a little wooden squirrel pin I adored as a child, plus I’ve had some awesome squirrels that have called my yard home. They are fun and quirky and adorable.

CTW: What advice would you give a person embarking on an artistic DIY project at home?

LP: Just go for it! I know a lot of people tend to feel intimidated by certain projects but why not give it a try? Find things that truly inspire you. It can be a color, a particular item, a whole room, or even an era! There are so many projects and little things you can do yourself that will make a difference in your home and your life. You can always repaint something if you don’t like it or ditch it if you feel like it goes terribly wrong. It’s pretty easy and affordable to change your whole look with some simple ideas!

CTW: What’s a DIY project you’d never attempt?

LP: I have to say there’s really nothing I wouldn’t at least try. From home décor, cooking, sewing, gardening, repurposing, and DIY home repair I’ve had my hand in just about everything. I will say my least favorite diy situation has been plumbing, but hey you can always call for back up! Other than that I don’t really fear any project. It’s always a great learning experience and I think it is super fun

-Taniesha Robinson

Meet our first Renegade Crafts Fair artisan, Alison Tauber. She’s a textile and surface designer based in Brooklyn, N.Y. who graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City in 2007. Before starting her own line of screen-printed clothing and housewares in the spring of 2008, she worked as both a designer and stylist for various companies. Alison “strives to create art that is beautiful, comfortable and usable,” and she’s provided you with a step-by-step tutorial on creating a felt bird ornament. Enjoy!

The felt bird ornament uses four embroidery stitches: detached-chain stitch, back stitch, satin stitch and blanket stitch.

What you’ll need:
Felt square (about 7 inches)
Embroidery floss
Needle
Poly-fil (or whatever you wish to stuff the bird with)

To begin, cut out two bird shapes.

Five detached chain stitches will form the petals of the flower. (I don’t use any pattern, I just eyeball where I want things to go. If you did want to mark your fabric you could use a very soft lead pencil (like a 6B) or disappearing ink pen but marking on felt can be tricky due to the texture.)

To start the detached chain stitch, bring your needle to the front. Then very close to that bring your needle to the back making sure to leave a loop of thread on the front side of the felt. Hold that loop down with your thumb and bring the needle back up through to the front again above and centered. To anchor the loop down you’ll make one very small stitch.

That is one completed detached chain stitch. Repeat this four more times around to create the flower petals.

Now take a different colored floss (I’ve chosen blue) and make satin stitches in the center of the petals to create the flower center. Bring your needle to the front and then to the back directly across from that. Then bring your needle back up to the front directly below where your first stitch began and then to the back again directly below where your first stitch ended. You’ll keep repeating this until you have enough stitches to fill in the center of your flower.

Using the same color floss outline the flower using back stitch. Pick a starting point along the flower and bring your needle to the front and then to the back making one small stitch. Bring your needled to the front again about one stitch length away, following along the line of the flower. When you bring your needle to the back do so in the same hole as where the first stitch ends.

Once you have that completed it’s time to join the two pieces of felt. Start with your thread sandwiched between the two pieces and bring your needle to the front. Then loop the thread over and bring your needled through BOTH pieces. Once the needle has reemerged at the front bring the needle underneath your original stitch and give a gentle tug. Loop the thread around to the back of the second piece and keep repeating until you’ve made your way around the bird.

Once you are close to finished fill your bird with polyfil, old fabric scraps, or whatever else you please.

Continue with the blanket stitches until you get to the end. For the very last stitch rather than inserting your needle through the back you’ll bring the needle to the front and put it under the very first stitch you made. Bring the needle up and to the back one last time to complete.

Use extra embroidery floss (or ribbon) and sew into stitches to create a loop for hanging.

To learn more about Alison and her crafts visit Alisontauber.com.

-Taniesha Robinson

In 2003, seventy-five craftspeople gathered in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood to present their handmade goods, including jewelry, posters, clothing and stationery in the first Renegade Craft Fair. Now, the event is held every summer in Chicago, Brooklyn, Los Angeles & San Francisco. Each city’s fair draws hundreds of artisans from across the nation and some from around the globe. Just in case you’re not able to make it out to one of the fairs (the summer tour ends September 12 in Chicago), we’ve got exclusive interviews, how-to guides, advice and photos from DIY craftspersons of this year’s Renegade Craft Fairs. Stay tuned for all the exclusives!

-Taniesha Robinson

4. Cleaning a carpet causes it to mold and shrink.

Beware do-it-yourselfers. This can be true if water is not extracted from the carpet quickly after cleaning. Carpets may mold, smell or shrink if left wet for too long, but any professional company should get the job done right.

5. Always use wood polish after dusting.

Excessive use of wood polish may cause a buildup on furniture that will actually attract dirt and fingerprints. Excessive dusting, however, won’t harm furniture, though it may cause a sudden allergy flare up.

6. Bleach is the best household cleaner.

Bleach is actually a disinfectant, so areas should be cleaned first then disinfected with bleach. If dirt particles aren’t removed before bleach application, germs may linger.

-Taniesha Robinson

There are so many things that you’ve challenged your parents on over the years. Now it’s time to break rinsing rituals and toweling traditions. Let’s debunk a few cleaning myths passed down by mom and dad.

1. Use old newspaper to clean glass and mirrors.

There are mixed opinions about this one. Some say newspaper leaves a newsprint residue on.  Many have used this method for years and would sincerely disagree. I’ve used newspaper to clean glass in my office and compared it to the use of paper towel.  The glass cleaned with newspaper had less streaks and no newsprint. Still, for top notch glass cleaning, a squeegee works best.

2. Hair spray removes ink stains

If you have a can of hair spray left over from the 80s, this cleaning notion may be true.  Then, hairspray contained more alcohol, which is a big stain remover. These days, hairsprays are low-alcohol or alcohol free.

3. Baking Soda clears out odors in the refrigerator.

This odor-removing trick is so popular it has to be true. But here’s why it works.  Baking soda is nearly neutral in pH level so it stabilizes the pH of odors caused by both strong acids and highly basic solutions.
-Taniesha Robinson

Can you explain a cool DIY project in 30 seconds or less? Videotape yourself presenting and teaching others your interesting craft or skill and send it to Instructables.com and Forbes magazine Teach Me Fast Contest! Six first prize winners will receive a Flip MinoHD camcorder, an Instructables Robot t-shirt, patch and stickers.

Your project idea can be practical or fun, just make it interesting and short. Read more about and the contest and find how to enter here. Entries are accepted August 5 through September 13.

-Taniesha Robinson

Photo by e-magic on Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Wouldn’t you love to call an expert in home improvement or remodeling projects free at anytime during your DIY endeavors for advice? Remember this number: 1-888-MONEYPIT. Dialing this toll free number at anytime to get your questions answered by how-to gurus Tom Kraeutler and Leslie Segrete. On their podcast radio show, this former home inspector and carpenter take calls from listeners all over the U.S. advising them on home improvement projects from roofing to flooring. You can even submit questions online at MoneyPit.com if you’re shy about picking up the phone. To get DIY tips at anytime, subscribe to their podcast on ITunes for free.

Kraeutler and Segrete aren’t the only ones streaming DIY tips at ITunes. The digital media player features an entire DIY section of free podcasts with video and audio streams full of step-by-step instructional guides, tips and ideas for décor and repairs. To subscribe to a free podcast visit the ITunes store. You’re sure to learn something new from One Minute How-To.com and Make magazine’s DIY technology projects. At the least, you’ll be entertained for a few minutes.

-Taniesha Robinson