Scrappy Headbands, Summer Camps and More!

"Scrappy" Upcycled Headbands (Adult and Infant)

Upcycled Upholstery Trim with Button and Sequin Embellishment-Hair Clip

We've been having way too much fun at Crafters Co-op!  It is so rewarding to create beautiful accessories from what would normally be a "throw-away" item(s).

So, we are announcing our first monthly "Make Somethin' Out of Nothin'" night for next Saturday (June 2nd) from 7-9 p.m.  Here are the details:

Location:  910 Pioneer, Oak Harbor, at Crafters Co-op
Cost: $10 and a snack to share (BYOB optional)
Details:  No supply cost, as we will be creating hair accessories, pins/brooches (and anything else you choose) from our "scrap" baskets of fabrics and trims.  You can create as many as you choose in the two hour period and may add one embellishment (i.e. button, feather or bling) to each item.  At the end of the evening, all in attendance will vote, and the winner of the cutest/most creative will not have to pay the $10 for the evening.  :)

Register in the shop or 632--4200 or www.facebook.com/whidbeycrafts.

Also, our June class schedule will be out on Tuesday.  We'll have our normal offering of fiber arts, sewing and papercraft classes, but will also have a beginning quilting class meeting one evening a week for the entire month of June.  This will fill up quickly, so sign up soon!

Don't forget to sign up for our SUMMER CRAFT CAMPS for youth!  Grades 1-5 in the mornings (9-11:30) and Grades 6 and up from 1-3:30 pm.  $125 for all week and includes all supplies for fun, yet practical projects completed each day!  All instructors background checked.

Crafters Co-op, where EVERY day is Earth Day!  Open 11-8 Mon-Sat and sometimes on Sunday
Craft store, studio, boutique, supplies and classes.
910 Pioneer, Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, WA  98277
royalalpacas@aol.com
360 632 4200

Our FB page at www.facebook.com/whidbeycrafts provides the most up to date list of classes and events.

Daily Class Schedule for April

The daily class schedule for each day of April, 2012 will be in the shop on Monday. A variety of fiber art, sewing, scrapbooking, knitting and crochet classes will be offered! Most classes are only $10/hr plus minimal supply costs. Some classes have supplies included in the one hour $10 class fee!

Don't forget that your class fee also grants you access to the studio for the entire day of your class. :)

Crafters Co-op
910 Pioneer Way
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
360 632 4200

Crafters Co-op Retail Store Update!

Crafter's Co-op will be opening on Monday, April 2nd at 10 a.m. at 910 Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor, WA. This 1100 foot retail space, in an 100 year old building with a water view is the perfect place for crafting classes/workshops, craft supplies, studio time and a boutique for handcrafted crafted art items.

Crafter's Co-op is a unique craft store concept in that >50% of all supplies sold will be reclaimed, recycled or vintage! Everything we carry will keep eco-friendly and "green" in mind. Also, you may buy just what you need for a project, i.e. one tapestry needle, not being forced to purchase more than you need in lots of plastic packaging!

Our super reasonable studio fee of $3 for children and $5 for adults (middle and high school youth included) will include access to the following:

All of our studio tools, including sewing machines, die cut machine, wool/fabric cutters, stamps, yarn winders, drum carder, all sorts of fiber arts tools, rotary cutters and mats...and more!

Our 150+ craft book library. You can peruse these books to your heart's content and trace patterns/templates. No purchasing of expensive craft books for a simple pattern or template. We'll have comfy chairs and a cuppa tea for you while you browse. :)

For the little ones, there will be lots of markers, crayons, glitter, scrap yarns, stamps/stamp pads available for them to create cards for a loved one on deployment, an upcoming birthday, etc. Just purchase a sheet of cardstock for 10 cents and you'll have all you need!

We will also have co-op members scheduling and teaching classes in the following craft genres:
Fiber arts (all kinds, including spinning, weaving, rug making, kumihimo, felting of all types, knitting, crocheting)
Sewing
Scrapbooking and papercrafts
Recycled wool projects
Jewelry/Beading
2D (painting of acrylic and watercolors)

Please "like" our Facebook page of Crafters Co-op Oak Harbor to get daily updates!

We're so excited and can't wait to see you there!

Rugs, Rugs and More Handcrafted Rugs!

I adore handcrafted PRACTICAL items. And of these, rugs are probably my favorite. They are sturdy, yet provide a squishy soft comfort to your cold feet early in the morning, welcome guests as they enter your house and are often passed down from generation to generation.

Tomorrow I begin a new semester of volunteer teaching elementary and middle school children in fiber arts. These next 18 weeks, the students will explore many kinds of rug making....braided, prodded, hooked, sewn, looped, and much more. We will make "mug mat" samplers of each technique and then the students will individually choose their favorite technique to make a small rug of their own.

The first project? A sewn rug, using wool yarn scraps and recycled burlap coffee bag sacks. I can't wait!

Please remember to subscribe to this blog and to "like" our FB page at Everything But The Oink and our NEW FB page Crafters Co-op. Only six more weeks until the opening of the Crafters Co-op retail store, an upcycling craft store, class studio and craft artisan boutique.

"Outta the landfill and into your heart!"

Make It Mondays! Upcyclers

In the place of a tutorial today, I wanted to share a source of blissful inspiration: The Upcyclers blog.

http://love2upcycle.blogspot.com/

This 1,000+ group of ecofriendly Etsy upcyclers are kindred spirits indeed. Whenever I hit a creative "funk", all I need to do is peruse this blog and Etsy listings by the members and inspiration returns. :)

EnJOY!

What's In My Sewing Basket Today?

I acquired a large men's cardigan sweater in cashmere! However, it had quite a few small holes in it, so I decided to work with smaller pieces and make my first Ugly Baby doll. It was so much fun! I loved incorporating the cardigan pocket into the doll, making a "pocket pouch" for a teensy Ugly Baby rattle.

Interested in buying this little guy or one of our other Ugly Buddies? (Custom orders also welcome.)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/90616733/cashmere-ugly-buddy-doll-with-pouch-baby

What's in YOUR sewing basket today?

EnJOY!

Make It Mondays! Cashmere HandWarmer Tutorial

Everything But The Oink means we use everything.....I mean everything of our recycled sweaters and other natural fiber items. It's eco friendly, frugal, responsible and fun to find ways to use every last piece. We even cut up the teensy scraps and use them to "stuff" our Mini Mice, Alien and Monster Buddies and our Bird Ornaments.

When we have a precious cashmere sweater find, we don't want to waste any teensy weensy piece of this luxurious upcycled fabric. So, we created Cashmere HandWarmers, filled with organic lavender and (uncooked) rice for a special treat to keep your hands warm during these cold winter months.

Here's all you need for this simple, easy-peasy project:
A small rectangle of cashmere felted "fabric"
Coordinating length of natural fiber yarn, threaded onto a large eye needle (chenille works well)
uncooked rice and organic lavender buds (optional)

STEPS:
1. Fold your rectangle of cashmere in half so that is square shaped.
2. Sew up all but one side of the square with a whip stitch.
3. Fill the cashmere "pocket" with uncooked rice and lavender buds.
4. Finish sewing up the last side of the square.
5. Heat in microwave for 30 to 60 seconds and then put it in your glove, your coat or pant pocket to keep your fingers warm and your body relaxed from the yummy lavender. :)

This can be reheated and re-used, over and over, and over again...for many years. These would make wonderful Valentine's Day gifts and your children can even sew these up for their teachers and favorite aunts.

Of course, you can make these out of other natural fiber scraps, but the cashmere handwarmer is...well.....just extra special.

EnJOY!