By Skye Kilaen •
April 29, 2008
Michael Miller Fabrics is co-sponsoring a Baby Bootie contest with Craft Magazine. I would love to see a green crafter win this with organic or recycled materials.
I do suspect there’s some kind of craft hive mind episode going on here, because I’ve planned to write about their organic fabric line this week - and just last week, Autumn posted here at Crafting A Green World about recycled handmade shoes. I fully intend to investigate this set of coincidences, but first let’s talk about Michael Miller Organics.
Michael Miller Fabrics launched its organic line at the beginning of the year. The sneak peek on their blog last fall included a shot of the supercute booties shown here. That blog post gave a snapshot of some of the challenges facing folks who want to bring organic cotton to market:
Did you know that organic cotton has to be grown for at least three years without chemical pesticides, defoliants, or fertilizers? It costs more because organic farms are more labor and management intensive. They’re also usually smaller and do not receive federal subsidies like conventional farming.
Crafter extraordinaire and co-host of DIY Network’s Creative Juice TV show - Cathie Filian - also has her own production company. With her fellow executive producers Greg Byers and Steve Piacenza, Cathie is on the hunt for teen/young adult crafters to show off their skills on a new craft show she is working on. Think you got what it takes (CAGW is sure you do)? Then check out the details below from Cathie herself on how to enter!
Casting Notice – Untitled Teen Craft Show
Our production company, Two Bees and a Pea, is casting young adult & teen crafters for a new “untitled” craft show. This show will be guest based - so you could be the star of the show. We produce Creative Juice on DIY and HGTV and this will be a brand new show.
We are seeking crafty guests from all over the USA and will begin the process with DVD submissions. The DVD’s are not for air on TV they are for casting purposes. Fear not if you don’t have access to a video camera. Just send a photo of yourself (big smile) holding or showing off your handmade items.
Here are a few guidelines:
By Juliet Ames •
March 24, 2008
Lark Books is a fantastic publishing company that brought us all kinds of art and craft books including the addictive “500 Series.” Every year they publish 60-70 new titles and invite artists to submit work to be included in future books.
They now have a wonderful opportunity for artists that work with recycled plastics! I hope to see some submissions from our readers! To read the call for submissions…
By Emma Henderson •
March 21, 2008
For me, the term DIY dosen’t always conjure up the most inspiring of images. So I wasn’t sure what to expect when Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge announced that she would be running a DIY contest through her Brooklyn-based website. But I needn’t have worried.
Over 500 entries were whittled down to a 20-strong shortlist with an astonishing diversity of projects.
The winning entry, this super-cute dog bed is as ingenious as it is stylish. My [...]
Looking to add some spice to your Spring wardrobe? Need a new creative project to work on? We introduced you to Burda Style during the early days of our blog. Now its time to share the details for their first mini-challenge for all the sewers out there.
How do you enter? All you have to do is create your own version of Burda’s Sidonie skirt pattern. “This simple A-line mini skirt is a quick project ideal for your perfect little basic skirt that has been missing in your closet. Even better, you can use it as a base for your own designs and develop it further,” says the Burda Style website.
How long does the contest last? What do you win? Keep reading for the rest of the details, straight from Burda Style’s news blog.
Looking for some extra inspiration? Check out Burda’s own variation to get your own creative juices flowing.
By Victoria Everman •
February 26, 2008
When was the last time you cleaned out your attic? How about your basement? Are there still boxes sitting around from when you first moved in years ago?
Under all that dust and clutter, I bet there are some pretty random things lying around your home - you know, in those far reaches that rarely, if ever, see the light of day or the end of a Swiffer.
From VHS tapes and phone books to empty pens and packing peanuts, the readers of ReadyMade Magazine have found new uses for once useless items via the MacGuyver Challenge.
In each issue, the editors choose a specific item for readers to find new uses for. The winning project from a previous issue is also featured, along with directions on how to make it yourself. In the current issue (#33), two ladies from Wisconsin won the broken umbrella challenge by making a magazine rack. Runner-up projects are now featured online; this item’s secondary ideas include two dog outfits and a gym-style parachute (now that’s a flashback, huh?).
By Timothy B. Hurst •
February 5, 2008
In the spirit of the seemingly endless campaign for the presidency of the U.S., I am going to put a little green twist on a question that was raised on the PBS program, Bill Moyers Journal, the other night. Moyers showed clips of one question that CBS’ Katie Couric had asked of all the candidates she interviewed;
“What is the one book, other than the Bible, that you would take with you into the White House as the next president?”
But as soon as I heard the question, my irrational fascination with all things green led me to wonder, what book with an environmental theme would I consider to be an essential read for the next president. I thought about that question a lot and came up with too many answers. Please help me flesh these out a little by helping me answer the green version of Katie Couric’s question:
[Other than the Bible] what ‘green’ book should the next president take into the White House?
Leave a comment with the name of the green-themed book you think is a must read for the incoming president and you could win a book yourself. Here’s the catch, you’ve got to make a case for it.
Valid entries will consist of a reply that is concise, clearly articulated and well-reasoned. One submission meeting those very simple requirements will be randomly drawn to win a copy of …
By Victoria Everman •
November 23, 2007
Feeling patriotic? OK, so it’s nowhere near July 4th, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try and channel your love for the stars and stripes … especially for over $6,000 in prizes! The Great American Craft Off was established by Homegrown Market and features the most extensive Grand Prize package I’ve ever seen:
+ An all-expenses-paid trip to the John C. Campbell Folk Art School including one week’s tuition, room & board, and round-trip airfare. Total value over $1500.
+ A Singer CE-250 embroidery/sewing machine & serger valued at $1200.
+ A complete custom website design including online store and hosting from BizLandCrafters.com valued at $2100.
+ A $500 gift card to Michaels Arts & Crafts.
+ A gift certificate to SonicPrint.com for 2,500 custom postcards and business cards.
+ A $375 Premium Subscription to the Online Learning Library at Lynda.com.
+ A signed copy of Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts by Leah Kramer, founder of Craftster.org
+ A HomeGrownMarket.com Handmade Gift Pack valued at $350
+ PLUS the winner will also be featured in the Spring 2008 issue of Adorn Magazine!
In addition to the Grand Prize, two runners-up will receive a HomeGrownMarket.com Handmade Gift Pack and a signed copy of Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts by Leah Kramer, founder of Craftster.org.
What kind of creations are permitted in the contest?
To spread the word about the need for meaningful climate action and motivate our elected officials that we need to act now to solve global climate change, Bill McKibben, of Step It Up fame, has stepped it up himself with his new organization 350.org. 
Ah, science fairs, the rite of passage for middle schoolers everywhere. A perpetual procrastinator, even to this day, my late night project for my school’s science fair consisted of testing the hypothesis of which plant fiber made the best paper. Using various plant fibers from the field by my house, I created lumpy pieces of “paper” and tacked them to poster board. 
