DIY Life

Michael Jackson is being remembered this week via online arts and crafts forums. Some items up for viewing (and often for sale) predate the superstar's June 25 death but are now receiving renewed Web exposure. An array of brand new Jackson-themed works are also appearing as crafters and artists begin paying tribute to the performer.

Some gems in the mix include this Blue Planet Creations black canvas tote bag with sequin glove design. While you're over at Etsy, check out this nicely designed mini toss pillow cover by piece of melon. The off-white cover features Michael Jackson's face, dramatically hand-stenciled in black ink.

This leather purse by Craftster member Karen Louise M. is definitely worth a look. Originally shared with the Craftster community back in 2007, the bag features the "Thriller" album cover on what looks to be dark brown leather with brown blanket stitched edges.

And you thought popsicle stick crafts were just for kids. Not true, not true. This basket-like purse is decidedly grown-up and frankly, it's too cute for words.

You'll need about 150 popsicle sticks. (I'd spring for the new ones you buy at the craft store. It's great to save the sticks from your icy summer treats, but I'd hold those back for another project. You don't want grape, orange, or cherry popsicle stains ruining the look of your new purse!) You'll also need wood glue, wood stain, a sponge brush, a handkerchief for the liner, and leather straps for the handles.

Glue and layer rows of the popsicle sticks in an elongated diamond pattern (about 25 rows of popsicle sticks ought to do it). Once dry, create a bottom for the purse with a dozen or so popsicle sticks. Let it dry overnight and then stain it. For the lining, fold the handkerchief in half lengthwise and sew together. Attach the leather straps, insert the lining, and your purse is complete! Scribbit has all the details on making this fun and functional purse.

[via Whip Up]

Planning a road trip this summer, and want the perfect accessory? How about a map purse? Or, for you guys, a map bag. Instead of lip gloss and lotion, you can put... um... manly things in it. Spare socks? A razor?

Perhaps it should best be the "car bag" and hold things to make the trip more comfortable: tissues, a water bottle, sunglasses, chewing gum, and, a little art-comes-to-life, maybe your maps can go in the map bag.

I envision using it as storage inside the car rather than as a purse to carry around town, because I'm just not sure how sturdy it would be. Most women I know carry a load of stuff in their bag. Would a map and two layers of contact paper, no matter how well-stitched, be up to the job?

To make one, follow the instructions here at Sonya Style. If anyone makes one, feel free to report back and tell us how it holds up!

I'm trying to drink more water. In fact, I'm trying to get our whole family on board, carrying water bottles with us on weekend outings, avoiding our habitual Starbucks and Slurpee stops.

The only drawback to carrying a water bottle with you everywhere you go is that you have the burden of actually having to carry it. I often bring one in the car and leave it there, or stash it in my bag, but then don't actually pull it out the entire trip.

What I need is a handy water bottle holder that's easily accessible. It wouldn't hurt if it was a funky fashion accessory too!

The solution: Kathy Mack's fabric water bottle carrier.

What do knitters do as the weather begins to warm up? Well, it seems like most avoid knitting 100% alpaca sweaters (garments that may be too hot on even the coldest of days: there's a reason alpaca is usually sold as a blend!), and switch to smaller or lighter garments like cotton-blend sweaters, fancy socks, and feathery lace shawls.

The new Spring issue of Knitty, released on Tuesday afternoon, is all over that concept. The patterns this time around are, taken as a group, the most attractive I've seen from this magazine in a while: I don't think there's a dud in the bunch.

I'll discuss a few of my favorite patterns, as well as a few good articles, after the break.

I like to use a backpack instead of a purse. If I have to bend down unexpectedly, my purse comes crashing down off my shoulder, so not only am I trying to contain my errant toddler, I am trying to pick up all the stuff that fell out of my purse. Backpacks keep your hands free, thus making it easier to defend yourself if you need to, or if you need your hands for anything else.

To solve the problem of finding a backpack that is pretty enough to hold all the essentials that you would normally carry in a purse, you can make a backpack from oil cloth. U-handblog's tutorial tells you where to find the oilcloth and how to sew with it, how to sew the drawstring casing in the bag lining, how to sew a flat base into the bag, and how to sew an adjustable fabric strap.

The tutorial is super-easy to follow, and really does solve the problem of finding a neat backpack. You can even make one for each of your kids: I don't know one kid who doesn't like to drag their backpack through every mud puddle they can find. With an oilcloth backpack, all you will have to do is wipe it clean.

Christmas is in less than a week: is all of your shopping done? It's getting a bit late to order anything (especially if you don't want to pony up for pricey overnight shipping), but if you're shopping for crafty friends, there's probably a lot available in your own town.

However, bead, paint, and yarn choices are completely subjective, you may not know what tools your loved ones need (beading loom? spinning wheel? umbrella swift? easel?), kits can be hit-or-miss, and I'm not sure anyone needs craft-themed sweatshirts. (Ever.) Have major advances in the world of crochet hooks or embroidery hoops really been made in the past year? Probably not. So when I thought about what makes a great holiday gift in the DIY realm, I kept coming back to one thing....

Please join us after the break to find the best of the latest craft books! There's certainly something here to please almost every creative person on your list: beaders and jewelry makers, people straddling the mixed-media art/craft divide, knitters, crocheters, scrapbookers, and anyone else who likes to learn how to make interesting things with their hands.

(Even better, you shouldn't have any problem finding most of these books at 4:00 in the afternoon on December 24th.)

Things always seem to get lost in my purse. When I want to find something important, it isn't easily accessible. There has to be a better alternative than spending 5 minutes looking for a Kleenex that I needed 10 minutes ago.

There is a better alternative, thanks to this sewing tutorial on The Giving Flower. You will never again have to dig in your purse to find anything. Everything is accessible and within easy reach. Kim has a PDF File that you can download and make your own purse organizer. Follow her easy instructions, and customize your organizer to hold all your necessities within easy reach.

Do you know a pretty lady who is always trying to find their cell phone, lipstick, tampons, or hand wipes in their purse, but always seem to come up empty handed? This sewing project is perfect for them, or if you are feeling generous, why not sew it for them and give it to them as one of your many handmade Christmas gifts?

Roman Sock is the nom de blog of a young Edinburgh lass, Brie. She's been blogging for about six months, and since then, she's turned out some of the most distinctive and interesting crocheted amigurumi patterns I've yet seen on the Web. Best of all, they're free.

What I appreciate most about Brie's work is her design sense. The patterns she creates don't share the generic look that you see in a lot of amigurumi patterns (basic humanoid bunnies and cats come to mind -- their cuteness is not in doubt, but originality is sometimes lacking). I have no idea if (or how much) she sketches out her ideas or uses reference photos beforehand, but they look like they jumped out of the sketchbook of a particularly good illustrator... one who likes their animals two parts realistic and one part cartoon.

Don't miss it: you can read more about her wonderful world of quirky animals and creative crochet after the break! The pattern links are there, too.

Every week, the sites Knitting Pattern Central and Crochet Pattern Central post new free patterns that they've heard of or that have been sent to them. Several dozen patterns are often posted each week, and sometimes it can be tedious to look at them all to find the good ones... so I've done it for you. Then I've categorized them, alphabetized them, and written brief descriptions for each.

These patterns were all posted to the aforementioned sites in October, 2007, though some may have made their initial appearance on the web somewhat earlier. A few may have been posted in late September or the first few days of November: they were interesting enough to include here!

If you prove to like this feature, I'll continue to do it for you every month. You'll find patterns of all kinds after the break: sweaters for men, women, and babies, handbags, scarves and shawls, hats, toys, animals, socks, mittens, you name it.

I really like The AntiCraft: even when the projects aren't something I want to make, the site's cheeky attitude entertains me. Maybe you will like it too? It's a free online craft-zine with lots of projects, but instead of being sunny and trendy, it's goth all the way, with a lot of mordant humor and projects with skulls on them. Their slogan is "Macabre Craft Snobbery."

This is a cool site, but it's definitely not for everyone: adult language is often in full effect (man, check out that breakfast tray project -- or don't, if swearing offends you); some people just won't be into the vibe, which is both punky and pagan. From one point of view, there's something there to offend almost anyone, so I think many of our more conservative readers will probably prefer to skip this one. But other people might be pleasantly surprised by some of the nifty stuff that qualifies as "goth, punk, or pagan" in the minds of the site's contributors.

They have many interesting projects, and if you don't like the "theme" of a project, you can almost always use it as a starting point for something more mainstream... i.e., you can make the Skull Lariat without skull beads, if they aren't something you'd wear. Many of the projects have no particular theme at all, like the Painted Lady mini-sweater from the current issue. Projects from past issues that may have a wider appeal include Seven-Ten Split, a knit bowling bag (which also includes photos of a green-and-white version), the beautiful Vinnland knit socks, an intricate crocheted lace choker called Asphyxiation, a beaded necklace called Henry VIII's Wedding Gift, and A Maiden's Glory, a lovely knitted leafy crown.

The Anti-Craft has been around for a while: there have been eight issues so far. The current issue, Lughnasadh 2007, has a bunch of late-summer projects. The site publishes seasonally, according to the old Irish calendar: Samhain (winter), Imbolc (spring), Beltane (summer), and Lughnasadh (autumn). A book, titled Anticraft: Knitting, Beading, and Stitching for the Slightly Sinister, will be released in November.