Design by Night

Puppy puddle? Chips not strong enough to hold the salsa? Drippy pancake batter? I am constantly reaching for paper towels. Inevitably our recycling bin has it’s fair share of craft paper cylinders that make up the core of paper towels and toilet paper rolls.

For years my idea of repurposing the tubes was to use them as an amplifier and howl in them, driving my dogs crazy and earning an eye roll from my husband. However, recently I was struck with an idea. The curve of the cardboard would lend itself well to making paper flowers, hence this tutorial was born.

Sorry it is a little lengthy…

Tools & Materials1- paper towel roll coreScissorsButtonPaper gluePage of paper (can be recycled from an old book or magazine)Brown paper shopping bag28 gauge wire (or wire that you can bend and manipulate that is heavy enough to hold up a paper flower)Wire cuttersWhite craft paint (optional)Small paint brush (optional)InstructionsCut the paper towel roll lengthwise (fig. A).



From the cut, measure 1” a…

Flowers and football usually do not go together. But in preparation for the upcoming season I have been sewing up Baltimore Raven's Frayed Daisy Brooch/Clips. For those of you who don't have casual Friday's at work, this clip still offers the opportunity to show your team spirit!

Who says football can't be fashionable or crafty??

If you pick up any fashion magazine or browse the racks of you favorite store, you will notice that ruffles are really “in” right now. But if you are like me and like the look but are low on funds I have a low budget solution…a ruffled headband.

To make this headband you can use any lightweight material. I used an old chiffon skirt.

Tools & Materials
• Approximately a quarter yard of lightweight material (chiffon, organza, cotton, etc.)
• Scissors
• Sewing needle and thread in appropriate color
• Wide headband (needs to be wide enough to glue ruffle to the headband, about 1/2" at least)
• Hot glue gun
• Straight pins
• Ruler
• Piece of paper
• Pencil/pen
• Buttons (optional)

Instructions
1. Take paper and make a circle with a 2.5” diameter, cut out this circle to use as a pattern.
2. Cut out 30 circles using the fabric of your choice (fig. A).



3. Thread needle with about a foot of thread, tie a knot at the end.
4. Take a circle and fold it in half (fig. B), then in half again and…

Getting my mail I had a pleasant surprise yesterday. In the past I had ordered a bi-annual magazine called Green Craft, well I didn't order the latest copy but lo and behold I open my mail box yesterday and there was. In the words of Bob Ross, I believed a "happy accident" had occurred and somehow I got a free copy of the magazine. So I took off my shoes, put the dogs outside and sat down for a few minutes of unwinding from my day with the magazine.

Almost at the end, I finally realized why I was sent this free copy...one of my crafts was featured!!! A tutorial that I sent to the magazine over a year ago and that I featured on my blog in November 2009 was on page 131!

I love old cookbooks. I often find myself picking them up at yard sales and thrift shops even though I own dozens. Do I love cooking? Not really, what I really like are the old photos and kitschy illustrations that often appear in vintage cookbooks.

So you can imagine my pleasure upon finding the Cutco Meat and Poultry Cookbook. It was published in 1956 by the Wear-Ever Aluminum, Inc. company and was probably a freebie given out to Cutco cutlery customers. A few illustrations were just too good to keep to myself so I decided to share them with you (all 20 of ya)!


In today's world where most smoking is band from public places, it is hard to imagine a smoking pig appearing in a cookbook. I supposed smoking livestock was a bit more accepted in the 1950's (unless he was a communist I suppose).


As a graphic designer I often cringe when clients want a literal interpretation but I have to admit that the illustrator to this horseradish sauce is a genius in my book.

Tomorrow is the 17th Annual Hamilton Street Festival so I decided to give everyone a little taste of some the yummy craft vendors that festival goers can visit.

Mmmm...who doesn't love a Spaghetti Kiss especially with a little calamari. The designers at Spaghetti Kiss have outdone themselves with this hot Skullopus men's tee.

I don't care how stuffed you might be, you will always have room in your accessory drawer for an item from The Littlest Bean! These dainty barrettes in berry is sure to please any palate.

Have a sweet tooth? Well you might enjoy this piece of eye candy from Jill Popowich Designs. This Drop of Honey Necklace would be a lovely little morsel on anyone's neck.

Come visit me in my hood this Saturday at the 17th Annual Hamilton Street Festival. The festival and classic car show features two stages with all -day music, dance and martial arts performances, cars, craft and food vendors.

Saturday July 31st
11:00 a.m. to 8: p.m.
Harford Road at Hamilton Ave