Archive for the ‘Home Ec. INK’ Category
Craft & Fancy 4! Saturday, 12/03/11 at Home Ec. Workshop
Want to give handmade and local this holiday season, but can’t do it all yourself? We’re here to help!
There’s still time to make your own handmade holiday gifts but if you’re starting to feel under pressure you can still gift something oozing with handmade love and impeccable craftiness.
Our top five suggestions for holiday gift-giving that are as good as making it yourself:
Made Just for You: Custom Pet Portraits by Home Ec. Workshop. Give us a photo of your pet and we will create a thread-drawn portrait of your loved one, complete with a screen printed picture frame, a fabric wallpaper background, and your pet’s embroidered name. Portraits are stretched over wood and canvas and come in several sizes. Stop by and see the shop window for many examples and an order form or call us for details. Get your custom orders in soon so we can have your portrait ready for the holidays.
Local: A Knitter’s Home Companion by Michelle Edwards and one of our Spud and Chloe Chicken Yarn packs.
Something To Do/Learn: Home Ec. Gift Card
- A knitting class + yarn & needles + a KEEP CALM AND CARRY YARN project bag. Try chunky yarn for a beginner or 100% cashmere for an experienced knitter.
- A sewing class + a bundle of fabrics
- Needlefelting Kit: includes how-to book, local hand-dyed wool, felting tool and foam.
Craft & Fancy: December 3, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. A handmade gift sale at Home Ec. Workshop. Featuring work by Heather Atkinson, Tonya Kehoe, Kirsten Williamson, Greta Songe, Jennifer Black Reinhardt, Liz Munger and Home Ec. Workshop. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Come out and shop, celebrate and get your festivus on at Craft & Fancy 4 – Home Ec’s annual mini craft fair!
Shop and support local small businesses and artists this holiday season! See gallery of photos below for a CF4 sneak preview!
Also find us at What A Load of Craft, Saturday Dec 10 @ the Johnson County Fairgrounds http://www.whataloadofcraft.com/
Home Ec. INK: A Fall into Winter Handmade Essentials To Do List
Codi and I both love to make lists. On this chilly Fall day my personal to-do list involves organizing my Fall into Winter wardrobe. It seems to have exploded into every room of my house as I have been searching through closets and plastic tubs for warmer things to wear. I have decided to pack away things I am not excited about wearing anymore (since I have trouble getting rid of things) and make a few new things. This always cheers me up about the cold months ahead. Here is a list of some missing essentials that I plan to make or start between now and the end of October. I asked Codi to do the same. What items are on your Fall into Winter handmade essentials list? It’s time to accept that summer is over and get to work.
TO DO LIST: Handmade Essentials for Fall into Winter.
ALISA
1. Quick and Easy: Nothing like pulling on a pair of freshly knit legwarmers. Stop in and I’ll tell you how! Try using a 12” Addi Turbo circular needle.
2. Something to Learn: Colorwork Fingerless Mitts. Learn to make these two-at-a-time in our Oct. class with Nancy.
3. So do-able that I wish it was already done: I love this Malabrigo shawl worn around the neck like a scarf on the cover of the new book 3.
4. Ambitious/Dreamy: New Amsterdam Cardigan. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/new-amsterdam-cardigan
5. For someone I love: inspiring ideas for a new sweater or knit bandana for Momo. http://www.79westdesigns.com
CODI
1. Quick and Easy: Valori Wells Pillowcase pattern—Such a fast way to freshen up your bedroom for Fall. (available at Home Ec.)
2. Something to Learn: Shirred Waist Skirt with pockets –(Only 1.5 yards of fabric! www.projectsbyjess.blogspot.com/2011/06/tutorial-shirred-pocket-skirt.html
3. So do-able I wish it was already done: An adorable Tea Wallet by Handmade Therapy. One for yourself and a gift idea that could use a small cut of these fabrics. www.handmadetherapy.blogspot.com/2011/02/tea-wallet-tutorial.html
4. Ambitious and dreamy—A lovely quilt will be perfect to snuggle under this winter. I better start now! (pattern available at Home Ec. Workshop) www.cluckclucksewpatterns.com/2011/01/kaleidoscope.html
5. For Someone I love: Negroni shirt for Mr. McWilliams. www.colettepatterns.com/shop/negroni (of course Home
Finglerless Mitts Two-at-a-Time with Nancy
Try a skirt out of this fabric!
Codi's fabric choice for a men's shirt
Malabrigo Yarn New Book 3
Valori Wells Pillowcase Pattern
Use fabric fat quarters to make wallets
Ec has this pattern!) I have been wanting to use the Denise Schmidt stripe in the Blue.
Home Ec. INK: Introducing our new blog!
Different people making different things.
When Codi and I opened Home Ec. Workshop in Iowa City’s Northside neighborhood in February of 2008 our mission was clear: Supply high quality, project-inspiring natural fiber yarn, fabric and craft supplies and provide a supportive environment where community members could gather, learn new skills, exchange ideas and celebrate the art of craft in good company. It also seemed like espresso, tea, Italian sodas, homemade cookies and other sweet and savory treats might be an ok idea, too.
There are some aspects of our shop that Codi and I couldn’t predict or create ourselves. This includes my experience in building new relationships and having the opportunity to teach and learn from a variety of different people. I really want to emphasize the words variety and different. There is not just one personal profile that screams crafter or artist or maker of things. There is also an amazing range in the kinds of things people make, their approach, their attitudes, their tastes, you name it. We have a really great cast of characters of many ages and backgrounds that come through our door each week. This adds up to an enormous amount of productive and talented people toting around many finished and unfinished projects all of which make Home Ec. a wonderful place.
I am hoping that through the creation of this new blog, more people will find us and become part of Home Ec. and the people who already know us will continue to collaborate and inspire. In the coming entries you will find project ideas, reflections upon the joys and sorrows of making things by hand, and stories about activities at Home Ec. I hope the things you find here will surprise and delight you and sometimes make you laugh or at least shake your head one direction or the other.
This blog is not just for crafters. For those of you who don’t make things by hand, I hope you know someone who does, and that they make something really nice for you, because I truly believe that having handmade things in our lives is essential to our wellbeing. By reading this I hope it will help you to better appreciate all that goes into such passionate handcrafted endeavors.
For those of you who do make things, I hope you might see a little bit of yourself here or something that peaks your curiosity or helps you get through another challenging project. My wish is that anyone who feels the urge will add their thoughts as well. Home Ec. is a good place for dialogue. I hope this blog will be too, with reading as listening and writing as the creation of one more beautiful thing to share. -AW
Alisa W. and Codi J. own and operate Home Ec. Workshop (www.homeecworkshop.com at 207 N. Linn St.)
This blog also appears on patch.com:
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