Links a la mode: 1.21.10

The weather here in LA has been so bad over the last week. It's perfect for staying home with a warm laptop and my dear friend the internet. Check out this week's neat links:

• Hell YES I want to make my own cheese! As soon as this rain subsides, I'm heading over to HomeEc!
• I really enjoyed this review of Yarn: Remembering a Way Home over on ModCloth's blog.
• How do you feel about craft magazines covering blogs? Personally, I love love LOVE them. However Jenny makes a point over at Craft Test Dummies. Is a magazine about craft bloggers redundant?
• Make sure you're sitting down for this one LA peeps...Plush You is coming to town! The show isn't until August, but if you want in, you need to get your application in by the 22nd of February.
• The call for makers at Maker Faire in San Mateo is o-p-e-n open! If you haven't already heard, they announced the dates for Maker Faire Detroit and New York too. Check it out on the site here.
• Don't you sometimes wish you were back in school...elementary school? Here's a new reason the kids have it better these days: Craft Club! Craft club "is a new campaign that pioneers craft in schools in the UK. Lucky ducks! (via Craftivism)
  

Links a la mode: Handmade for Haiti

We crafters have a long history of banding together in times of disaster. Recent news from Haiti is grim to say the least, but crafty help is on the way. Check out these links to see how you can help:

• Our friend Jen over at Indie Fixx is doing a silent auction here.
• Etsy posted a list of shops that are pledging items to Indie Fixx's auction over on the Storque.
• Vickie Howell is donating all proceeds from pattern sales to the Red Cross. Hurry though, this benefit is ending soon.
• Susan Beal at West Coast Crafty has a GREAT roundup of fundraisers here. She's updating the list too, so keep checking back.
• You might remember Mama-to-mama's craftivism in Haiti last year with the baby caps and blankets project. I'm going to keep checking for developments...you might too.
• Yarn Harlot threw up the Knit Signal. For more info on Knitters Without Borders go here.
• If you have links to add, please feel free to list them in the comments and I'll post an update shortly.
  

Update:

• The Craft Hope for Haiti shop opened today to benefit Doctors Without Borders.
• SFgirlbybay has another great roundup of fundraisers. Check out the comments for even more.
• Vickie Howell tweets, "100% of profits from my shop and any other Open Sky shop through Sunday, go to Haiti!" Check it out here.
• Ravelry has posted a list of designers who have pledged a portion of the proceeds from their pattern sales to Haiti Relief Efforts. (you need a login for this one)
• Betsy posted a beautiful and realistic piece over on Craftivism.
  

Craft Links a la Mode: 1.6.2010

It's the first Links a la Mode of the year and yet most of this stuff is from last month. Oh well. I've been busy with the holidays, catching up with work and crafting.

• Debbie Stoller's new yarn reviewed here. There's a sale on the yarns here if you're interested in trying them out for yourself.
• It's not news that ex-CEO Rob Kalin is returning to his CEO position over at Etsy, but the discussions amongst Etsians are ongoing. Have you chimed in yet?
• Not sure how I found this link but I love the color-your-own Dress idea. I'm not much of a sewer, but when it comes to coloring, well...that's right up my alley. Check out more of the designer's work here.
• Yokoo was in the NYT a while back. Did you see it? Now that's some great press for makers and crafters everywhere.
• Where will Craftivism as performance art take contemporary art? The Journal of Modern Craft posted an interesting article on Craftivism and Yarn Bombing in Tazmania last month.
  

Craft Links a la Mode: 12.10.09

Sooo much of the focus in craft this time of year is on the shows and shopping. It's really hard to avoid if you're as broke as I am. But does it depress me? Hell no! Just because I can't buy anything, doesn't mean I can't enjoy the amazing parade of inspiration that is seasonal crafts! What do you think? I've tried to gather a few links of the non-shopping variety, but the shows are unavoidable people. Unavoidable. Go forth and at least window-shop all the great inspiration out there. Maybe it will help you make a list of new things to do/attempt in 2010.

• Over at Craftivism, Betsy announced the launch of Make and Meaning. I think this is going to be a really outstanding project: "We believe in making, and we love the fact that the internet allows makers to meet and geek out together, regardless of geography. There are many, many websites that celebrate making in all its forms. We created Make & Meaning to celebrate all the ways making enhances our lives, and all the things it causes us think about."
• American Craft Magazine posted an online exclusive "Crafty Living Online." You can read it here. I was sort of blown away by the comments just now and I'd be interested in hearing what you all think. Is there a place in American Craft for Etsy and Craftster?
  
• Another new project out there on the internets is The Hand Embroidery Network. "The Hand Embroidery Network (HEN) is a new exciting community for hand embroiderers across the globe. The website's aim is to encourage and promote the practice and knowledge of the art of embroidery in all its forms and to bring together like minded people who enjoy needlework and wish to learn and share their knowledge."
• Speaking of embroidery, Jenny Hart is in Los Angeles next week at Home Ec! The class is closed now, but you can still come to the book signing on December 16from 7 to 9. Stop by Home Ec's calendar for the details. And if you did get into the class, let me know...I'll be there too!
• Speaking of classes, the Urban Craft Center has their January Calendar up here. Yudu screen printing looks interesting and not out of range price-wise.
• Maker Faire is headed to the Motor City That's big news for our friends over at Handmade Detriot, and maybe Craft Con too. More as that develops.
  
• ArtFire has announced a huge change in the way crafters may list items in their shop: "As of today, there is no longer a limit on the number of items sellers (Basic or Verified/Pro) can list on ArtFire! There are no limits: no insertion fees, final valuation fees, commissions or hidden fees. Unlimited listing and selling is completely free for all members of ArtFire. "For some time, the ArtFire team has discussed how the cost of hosting a product listing today is dramatically lower than it was just 4-5 years ago. The old-fashioned model, which charges fees and commissions at every step, has been copied by almost every venue since eBay. This model was based on the very real costs of a listing in the late 1990's, however, the model has not kept up with advances in technology and costs of service, and it's time for a change."
• The Marimello Craft Calendar is hard work peoples...especially this time of year. Craft's blog seems to be doing a pretty good job though. I wonder if they have elves or something. Check out this week's list here.
• And finally, speaking of events, if you're not doing anything this weekend, why not volunteer at City of Craft? I got the message via facebook, but it's posted over on the Toronto Craft Alert here.