Lavishing your Valentine with handmade loveFinding the perfect something for your perfect someone

Give your couch a spring

spruce upA sunny

makeover for some snowy

throw pillows

Valentines MADE from a VARIETY of THINGS found AROUND THE HOUSEquick and easy projects using Playing cards, needlepoint and scrap material =

January - March 2012 \ The Handmade Companion \ 3

C O N T E N T S ...

The Winter Issue

. . . PA G E 1 2

F E AT U R E . . .

Five couples give each Other the perfect handmade gifts to celebrate their love on Valentine’s DAy.

E C O - C R A F T S . . .

. . . PA G E 6

UPCYCLED VALENTINE’S FROM OLD PLAYING CARDS.

L I F E S T Y L E S . . .

. . . PA G E 8

ROMANTIC TREATS MADE WITH MATCHA TEA.

1 0 Q U E S T I O N S W I T H . . .

. . . PA G E 1 0

FERNDALE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER DISCUSSES RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HANDMADE ITEMS AND HER INSPIRATION.

C R O C H E T . . .

. . . PA G E 1 4

S E W I N G . . .

. . . PA G E 1 6

S T I T C H K I T S C H . . .

. . . PA G E 1 8

I T ’ S A W R A P . . .

. . . PA G E 2 2

Winter is the best time for crafting IMO. I tend to crochet a lot {maybe to stay warm?} I might be a little bit ad-dicted … So I decided to test a few free crochet patterns for you guys for this issue. One is a mitten pattern that has instructions for all sizes, and the other a fun and quick pattern for a bubble stitch cowl. You can use any yarn, with whatever size hook that you have lying around. I also wrote a quick working pattern for bunting. It features triangles and hearts. I know you just love bunting, so I couldn't resist.

If you share my addiction to cro-chet or wanna learn, join me on my blog, The Handmade Gift Guide, for crochet 101, an ongoing feature that changes its focus every month. February's officially granny square month. March is going to be all about crocheted flowers. It is really great. I wrote some easy to follow illustrated patterns and have tons of links for projects you can do. Then check out the Flickr group for the crochet-along where you can post pics of your WIP {work in progress}. http://flickr.com/groups/crochet101

My faves in this issue? The yummy tea-based recipes from Phuong Le, The Tea Chick, http://theteachick.

com; a super cute embroidery project by Amy from Small Craft, http://thes-mallcraft.com; upcycled Valentine's Day cards from Michelle at Aisle 3, http://upcycleyourlife.com; and the fun home decor sewing project from Karen at One Girl Circus, http://one-girlcircus.com.

I started a new photo blog, called My Craft Addiction. {http://mycraftaddiction.tumblr.com} I send my crafty-themed Insta-gram photos there. You can follow me on my crafty adventures. It is a mix of pix of my latest WIPs, craft shows, handmade stuffs, photoshoots, urban art, what I ate for dinner, and nature.

I renewed my addiction to Pinter-

est {and I have noticed everyone else has too}. It just helps me organize my projects so well! Come check out my boards for DIY project inspiration {http://pinterest.com/thegiftguide}.

Winter is a really great time to get things made for the summer craft show season. I'm getting ready to start applying to some shows here in Detroit. If you are considering doing craft shows, come by the blog to check out our tips and tricks. I also have a ton of ideas for really cool booth decor. A MUST for suc-cessful shows. And sum-mer will be here before you know it!

So, let's get organized! Recently, we attended the open house at tiny girl's school. I was very inspired by the gorgeous artistic touches throughout the school. Especially in the handwork room. It just felt so good in there I came home and vowed to make my craft area FEEL like that room. So I found a ton of organizational ideas for craft spaces. I am redoing my entire layout of my craft space. Get started early on your spring cleaning, it will most likely leave you feeling very inspired to cre-ate. Fabulousness!

In the next issue I am adding a fashion section, a bath and body feature {with recipes from my fave companies!} and a sweet accessories column from my style editor, Sophie Fenby. So keep an eye out in April for the Spring issue of The Handmade Companion.

’til then, stay crafty!xo, Anne

4 \ The Handmade Companion \ January - March 2012

A N o t e F r o m t h e E d i t o r . . .

\ Editor In Chief ... Anne Hayman . . . anne@thehandmadegif tguide.com

. . . www.thehandmadegif tguide.com\ Lifestyles Editor ... Phuong Le

. . . www.konitea .com. . . www.theteachick.com

\ Eco-Craft Editor ... Michelle Stolz. . . a is le3@comcast .net

. . . www.upc ycleyourl i fe .com

\ Sewing Editor ... KAREN LEPAGE . . . r ingmaster@onegir lc ircus .com

. . . www.onegir lc ircus .com\ Style Editor ... Sophie Fenby

. . . sophie@thehandmadegif tguide.com\ STITCH Kitsch ... Amy Cronkite

. . . acronkite@gmai l .com. . . thesmal lcraf t .com

\ COpy Editor/Design ... Jodie Fletcher . . . jodel laf le tch@gmai l .com

C O N TA C T U S . . .

Winter crafting keeps you warm

Saturday:\

Sunday:

Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday:

C R A F T Y C A L E N D A R , We e k O f :

January - March 2012 \ The Handmade Companion \ 5

Feb. 6 to 12

* organize craft space using the handmade gift guide’s tip series

To advertise in the Handmade Companion, contact Anne Hayman

anne@thehandmadegiftguide.com

thehandmadegiftguide.com

* research local craft shows for summer* g

et b

usines

s cards mad

e

* plan booth layout (check out the handmade gift guide's ideas on the blog and on flickr)

* scout out p

laces

for the

crafty m

eet-

up

* g

et F

aceb

ook

busin

ess pa

ge set up

with a w

elcome

page

* join in crochet 101 on the handmade gift guide, and join the crochet-along on flickr

* sign up

for clas

ses at art school,

local

community

colleg

e, p

hotog

stud

io, com

munity

cen

ter,

yoga

stud

io, cooking

clas

ses,

garden

ing…

* start a b

log, r

e-do

exist

ing

blog

or prom

ote

blog

!

Handmade with love

OPPOSITE PAGE, LEFT:

bag: sacsoflife.comhand-painted cupcake toppers:

http://www.enamorweddings.etsy.comfelt bracelet: http://www.bailybelle.etsy.com

ABOVE:purse: www.sweetsugarbeet.com

chalkboard cards: http://www.jojobeandesigns.etsy.com

COUPLE AT RIGHT:

locket necklace: http://www.merlinthecat.etsy.com

birdhouse: \http://www.twig2nestStudio.etsy.com

tie: cyberoptix.com

Handmade with love

Makeup by: Racquel Webster ViiloHair By: Jenna Drudi, Lauren Moser

& Tammy TarciaPhotographer: Ali Saloum

Clothing: Mother Fletcher's VintageLocation: AJ's music cafe

Models: Sophia Fenby & Janna Bis-sett; Justen Sanders & Aaron J. Diehl; Hashanna Retz & Jake Un-angst; Damon Fleming & Whitney

Fritzinger; Clay Drew & Nicole Rayis

BOYS AT RIGHT:cuff: http://nakastore.com

wallet j fold: http://nakastore.com

GIRLS AT RIGHT:felt necklace:

http://www.handleber.etsy.comchalkboard cards:

http://www.jojobeandesigns.etsy.compurse: www.sweetsugarbeet.com

. . . M A R K E T P L A C E . . .

22 \ The Handmade Companion \ January - March 2012

I love to create gift wrap out of upcycled materials. And I'm not talking newspaper funnies …

Gift wrap doesn't always mean using paper. Use a shirt from the donate section of your closet or a vintage sheet from the thrift store to wrap your gift.

... or ...Spray paint an old box silver.

Or gold. Or turquoise for that matter. I like using boxes I find at the thrift store. I have even used shoe boxes. Hint: Use spray paint in a well-ventilated area {like outside}.

Wrap some ribbon, yarn, embroidery floss {or a strip of fabric that you cut off that shirt you love but somehow ended up getting ripped/stained/ruined by your teenager} around the pack-age, and ta-da … instant beautiful

gift of the year!I cut out gift tags, cards and

envelopes from paper bags. Just glue on a scrap of cool paper, add a stamp, some embellishments, and of course … don't forget …. glitter. {Well you can, but I can guarantee it won't be as fancy.}

Punch or cut out some hearts/stars/flowers from recycled paper, decoupage ’em onto stuff. Like jam jars. With homemade jam inside. Or a candle. You could even stick ’em on cards, wrapping paper, craft bags, etc.

Get creative! Once you start thinking about ways to upcycle things you will notice you have crafting supplies all around you.

Vintage book page hearts: bookcraft.etsy.com

Jam: https://www.facebook.com/jambyhand

It's a WrapAdd an extra bit of love to your Valentine’s gift by wrapping it

... with unconventional items ...

B y A N N E H AY M A N . . . T h e H a n d m a d e G i f t G u i d e

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