Green Options » Books + Magazines

Not Marijuana.

Autumn Wiggins — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:01:32 +0000

I did not pick up this magazine at my local book store because I was half-baked and looking for a quick giggle. No, my dears, the header of “Food as Celebration | Passionate Gardening | Nostalgic Crafts and Stitchery” was just as eye catching.

Mary Jane’s Farm, a publication of Mary Jane Butters, appears to be Martha Stewart Living for organic farm girls, or those of us who wish they were organic farm girls. Usually, I have a big problem with putting one person’s name and image all over things that were the combined effort of many talented people. However, my distaste of personified brands was trumped by aesthetically charming, recycled pages awash with useful content, and the company’s dedication to recycling and alternative energy usage.

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Generation T Project #69 in Organic Cotton

Leslie Richard — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:07:37 +0000

The other day my very crafty neighbor came in my back yard and handed me a magical book called Generation T 108 Ways To Transform a T-Shirt, to which I immediately became all drooly over and enthralled. This book has been out since 2006 and was written by a kick ass lady in Brooklyn who would host Tee Parties! Everyone got to bring over their old useless t-shirts and learn to transform them into fabulous designer (and not so designer) outfits & accessories.

Since I am learning to sew (better) right now and actually don’t own t-shirts I want to cut up I decided to delve into the saucy project #69 “Cinch City” with some organic cotton scrap fabric. I bought my organic cotton for $2 downtown Asheville NC where the Spiritex warehouse sells off the leftovers from their locally woven organic fabric production. (Major score!) The “Cinch City” skirt truly was easy, although they say to only cut one rectangle to make the tube skirt, I actually had to go back in and make more of an angle to fit my waist. To make this skirt all you need is a swatch of organic or upcycled fabric big enough to wrap around your waist & hip, a ribbon, and the most basic sewing skills. It really inspired me to use more drawstring and cinching in my sewing for decorative effect! You can get super creative with this simple design too by making a longer more sultry skirt, instead of the Vegas style mini- or even adding a drawstring cinch at the waistline too so that you can fluctuate in weight and still sport your skirt, well, forever.

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A Tribute to Those Who Have Finished Craft Projects

Skye Kilaen — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:32:10 +0000

Admit it. You collect crafting books. It’s all right, we’re your friends. We won’t judge you.

Or maybe I should speak just for myself. My name is Skye, and I collect craft books. My collection is very small when compared to some people’s (hello Jessica, are you reading this?), but it contains books for quilting projects that I likely will never undertake. Celtic knot applique using bias strips, crazy landscape piecing techniques, etc. It’s like I have a fantasy craft life that is totally divorced from my real craft life, which is mostly concerned with making baby quilts for other people’s children.

Now I’m branching out into non-quilting books as well. One of the books that is about to add itself to my collection - note the use of passive voice to imply that it’s not my fault - is the eco-fabulous Second Time Cool: The Art of Chopping Up a Sweater by by Anna-Stina Linden Ivarsson, Katarina Brieditis, and Katarina Evans.

I know that getting books from the library is the greener option, but at some point the Austin Public Library is going to get sick of me having their book out all the time and want a few words with me.

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Top 5 Quilting Ideas for “Use What You Have” Month

Skye Kilaen — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:44:48 +0000

As you may already know, April is Use What You Have Month in the craft-o-sphere. Started by crafter Toni at her blog Simple Sparrow in 2006, this challenge asks crafters of all types to take 31 days and rediscover the treasures in their stashes instead of heading to the store.

(Yes, your stash. The one over there. Don’t bother closing the closet door or standing in front of it, we still know it’s there.)

Over 4,700 photos in the Use What You Have Flickr group demonstrate that this idea has caught on. Sometimes being green means supporting companies and artisans that are producing sustainable, beautiful materials. Sometimes, though, it means taking a break from accumulating more stuff and using the time to create something beautiful.

How can quilters spend the month of April? I’m glad you asked! Here are my picks for the Top 5 “Use What You Have” quilting ideas:

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Top 5 Must-Have DIY Crochet Tomes

Victoria Everman — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:12:03 +0000

Often the second banana to the world of knitting, crochet is steadily gaining more followers thanks to just how easy it is to pick up the hobby. Instead of using two needles, all you need is a ball of yarn and a crochet hook to create everything from toys and toaster covers to sweaters and stylish accessories.

For the first book on our Top 5 Must-Have DIY Crochet Tomes list, most knitters will recognize Debbie Stoller as the editor-in-chief of Bust Magazine and the writer of all three Stitch ‘N Bitch books. Crafters were both surprised and delighted when she released Stitch ‘N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker in 2006.

Similar to her first Stitch ‘N Bitch book about knitting, The Happy Hooker is an introduction to the history and process of crochet as well as a kick-ass pattern book. Whether you are an experienced knitter or new to fiber crafts all together, The Happy Hooker is the perfect first crochet book for everyone.

Crochet shares some similarities with knitting. One major likeness is that the more you know, the more likely you are to make a mistake. No crocheters’ bookshelf would be complete without The Crochet Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You’ll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You’ll Ever Ask by Edie Eckman.

With line illustration, charts, details on tools, specific techniques, standard crochet abbreviations, common crochet terms and phrases, standard body measurements and sizing, suggested sizes for accessories and household items, and yarn care symbols; this is the only book you will need when your loops and hooks don’t look right.

Answers to detailed questions about all aspects of crochet is the feature element of the book, with chapters on gauge, circles, edges, and finishing. Thanks to Edie’s support, you will feel more confident to progress into more detailed crochet patterns and projects.

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Green Crafts In The News: Quilting and Craft Supplies in eInsider

Skye Kilaen — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:20:08 +0000

eInsider is the “electronic newsletter for the quilting and soft crafts industry” by Quilts Inc., the company which produces the International Quilt Festivals. The article Green Quilting: Improving the Earth One Fiber at a Time appeared a while back, though I didn’t find it until now. It profiles a variety of green crafting issues in quilting and beyond.

I did have a couple of bones to pick with the article, but there were also quite a few good things that were new to me.

First, the Green Quilts Project, founded by Susan Shie, encouraged quilters to make quilts from 1989 to 2004 to send healing energy to the Earth. I had never heard of this effort before. I also didn’t know about Mountain Mist’s Eco Craft batting, fiberfill, and pillowforms, which are made from corn fiber.

The Aurora Silk website offers natural dyes and great tutorials for using them. And it was good to see a mention of Betz White’s delicious recycled wool sweater crafts and her book Warm Fuzzies, which always make me want to buy every wool sweater within a 10 mile radius and start felting them.

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Artifacts: The Eco-Hippies

Autumn Wiggins — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:28:52 +0000

Welcome to the first installment in a series of posts about crafty relics with an ecological twist.

Mostly, I will be highlighting a history of methods and finished objects created with what would be considered sustainable materials by today’s standards. I think back to when it was just what worked. Also, there was no obvious investment income to be gained from having necessary project components fabricated in third world countries.

Regardless, you’ll be surprised by efficient techniques, simple tools, and sophisticated results you may never have been aware of. I’m sure at the moment though, you are dying to know all about the groovy metal trash can pictured here.

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Upcycle!

Juliet Ames — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:27:14 +0000

My new favorite word is “upcycle. “A German chemist Michael Braungart and architect William McDonough coined the term in their 2002 book, ‘Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.’ To upcycle simply means to use waste products to make useful things.

Upcycling is what Tsia Carson, one of the brains behind SuperNaturale, is all about. In case you have not seen it yet, SuperNaturale is a fantastic site dedicated to all things DIY with an online magazine, bulletin boards and blogs. Carson’s book ‘Craftivity: 40 Projects for the DIY Lifestyle,‘ is based on her website and features 40 projects to turn your trash into treasure. As Anda from Etsy Storque says, “After only a few pages, you should be itching to visit a local thrift store, the back of your closet, or the dumpster behind your apartment for interesting (and free) supplies.”

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Top 5 Must-Have DIY Knitting Tomes

Victoria Everman — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:46:35 +0000

Who’s ready for some purling!? Knitting may not seem as exciting as football, but for some of us it is our lifeblood. Making something out of (what seems like) nothing is what all of us crafty folks crave, and for millions of men and women worldwide, that craving can only be satiated with some yarn and needles.

Continuing my aging “Top 5 Must-Have Tomes” series, I’ve finally put together my list of knitting books that will make any bookshelf feel complete. Mind you, this was no easy task as Amazon.com alone sells over 1,500 books on the subject, but it was more than worth it to bring this list to you, my avid readers.

Next in my Top 5 series, I’ll be bringing you the top crochet books available in print. Until then, enjoy this much-researched list on the wonderful world of knitting. Feel like something is missing? Leave a comment with your favorite knitting book and why you’ve referenced it so many times that the pages are falling out.

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Natural Crafts Featured in New Magazine

Victoria Everman — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:42:49 +0000

Could this be a dream? A seasonal hallucination brought on by all those sugar cookies and colorful icing?

No - it’s true! A new magazine has premiered on newsstands that features “handcrafted projects and content that use natural and organic materials derived from sustainable and recycled materials.”

Debuting with their Winter 2008 issue, Living Crafts magazine will be published quarterly and is currently available at bookstores, via subscription and at major crafty events. I haven’t had a chance to flip through a copy yet, but from the info on their website, it sounds like a gem:

Enjoy a variety of projects from knitting, sewing, and doll making to soulful articles on bead necklaces and felting in our premiere issue of Living Crafts. We have included simple projects for beginners and children, like making felt hearts and a simple beeswax modeling project for children. But there is something for everyone.

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Bridesmaid Dresses Can Be Worn Again, Thanks to Martha and Others

Victoria Everman — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:02:58 +0000

With summer fading into our memories, the busiest wedding season of the year has ended as well. Great food, funny dancing, beautiful decorations … and some questionable fashion choices are standard for most of these events. Once the DJ goes home, the cake is eaten, and the happily wedded couple are off on their honeymoon, what do you do with that bridesmaid dress that you don’t ever see needing (or wanting) to wear again?

As expected, the folks working at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s Blueprint Magazine have assembled a nice collection of ideas on how to revise those silk taffeta nightmares into something you would actually be excited to wear on a nice night out or a casual weekend.

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Knitty.com’s Fall 2007 Frankenknits Column

Victoria Everman — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:33:54 +0000

Remember how bummed you were when your favorite sweater got a hole in it? Even with similar structural blemishes, I find it hard to part with my favorite garments — ones that have been worn during so many memorable moments. With a few snips, unraveled rows, and sections of knitting, you can easily turn these old, damaged favorites into fashionably new creations with Knitty.com’s Frankenknits column.

Knitty was started back in 2002 by Toronto-based, New Jersey-born knitter Amy R Singer, who still edits and publishes the “web-only knitting magazine with a sense of humor and absolutely no doily patterns.”

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Knit.1 Magazine Winter 2007 Issue Preview

Victoria Everman — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:53:22 +0000

After their well-received Green issue, Knit.1 Magazine continues to bring the classic art of knitting to thousands of younger purl pursuers. I must admit, the publication is a personal favorite of mine and I have been subscribed since the beginning. Each issue has a theme, and the Winter 2007 theme is Time - an integrative part of all of our lives and the craft of knitting itself. Here is a brief glimpse at what editor Adina Klein has to say in her editor’s letter for the issue:

In this age of I-want-it-NOW, taking the time to make something with your own two hands is priceless. In this issue we have included projects that take, literally, minutes to make, as well as projects that are well worth all the time and effort you put into them. Whether you choose to whip up the key chains on page 59 or create the fabulous flapper dress on page 30, you are making a statement about the importance of art, beauty and individuality just by picking up your needles and hooks. Often in our daily struggle to get things done faster, better, cheaper, we forget the value of taking the time to do things that are important to us.

What else will this slightly holiday themed issue have to offer? Here is a run-down of some of the Winter 2007 features:

PIECING TOGETHER MORE TIME
Shannon Okey finds ways to make every moment on the needles count.
KNIT-TINI TIME
Vickie Howell investigates: Where does Pink Martini frontwoman China Forbes rank knitting on the list of life’s most important things?
A KNITTING TIMELINE
Leigh Witchel’s almanac charts the most important dates in knitting history.
TWO-TIMERS
Reversible knitting—it’s not just for garter stitch anymore. Charlotte Quiggle presents your primer.

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Top 5 Must-Have DIY Sewing Tomes

Victoria Everman — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 03:14:18 +0000

Second-hand and vintage stores (as well as most household closets) are bursting at the seams with unwanted and rarely-worn clothes. Instead of sending them to a landfill, or using even more resources to make and purchase new items, why not turn this seeming wardrobe “trash” into treasure? With a pair of scissors, some thread, and even the most basic sewing machine, you can turn shapeless sweaters, tacky t-shirts, and portly pants into stylish and functional pieces. Inspiration and easy-to-follow instructions are as close as your local bookstore or Amazon.com, thanks to a great selection of DIY (do it yourself) fashion volumes:

Inexpensive. Indispensable. Iconic. A basic t-shirt is the perfect blank canvas-ready for a creative crafter to cut, stitch, bedazzle, bleach, deconstruct, and personalize. Everyone has a drawerful just waiting for the creative touch. What could be a better way to broadcast an artistic manifesto? In Tease: Inspired T-shirt Transformations by Superstars of Art, Craft, & Design take the basic T from ordinary to extraordinary-and sometimes, turn it into something completely different. With fabulous illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions, Tease provides outrageous, inspiring ideas from crafters around the globe.

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