Pinspiration for African American History Month ~ 4 Weeks of #Crafts

Today's post is kind of exciting because it's about a topic that is dear to my heart, but I haven't seen a lot of this out in the crafting world.  In preparation for African American History Month, I am sharing a Pinterest board and crafting ideas for each week of the month!

Click on the widget to follow my board!  I'll be growing it over time with great art inspirations, craft ideas, and substantive lesson plans/information.

Follow Art, Like Bread's board Arts, Crafts & Lessons of the African Diaspora on Pinterest.

For each week of the month, I'll be taking a pin and crafting a project inspired by it.  I'll share my process & project with you each week. 

During the first week, we'll take inspiration from El Anatsui, who joins bottle caps with wire to create massive metal textiles.  We'll do a very scaled-down version! 

Mouse over the image or press the button below to share this on Pinterest! 

 

I love these elephants and there is also an elephant wall etching on my Pinterest board.  During week two we'll draw elephants.

Mouse over the image or press the button below to share this on Pinterest! 

  

These Ugandan women are making baskets from brightly-colored fiber.  I'll crochet a basket inspired by their beautiful work.

Mouse over the image or press the button below to share this on Pinterest! 

 

This is the necklace that inspired it all!  I adore this chunky necklace which was part of an exhibit on North African jewelry.  We'll make our own version using chunky beads and charms.

Mouse over the image or press the button below to share this on Pinterest! 

 

If you would be interested in step by step tutorials on any of these topics, please let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me at artlikebread (at) gmail (dot) com.  As always, thanks for reading the blog!  Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.  If you liked this post, please share this post with a friend through social media and go out of your way to learn something new about the African diaspora! Like my Facebook page for updates and more crafty sharing!

Get Monthly Updates about Crafts, Crochet, and Education: Join the Art, Like Bread Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

Listen and Reflect: What is Beauty? #Podcast Link

Every single day, I listen to hours upon hours of audio content.  I love podcasts.  I listen to learn and to be entertained.

One podcast I listen to every so often is the TED Radio Hour by NPR.  This podcast gathers different TED talks by theme and weaves them together around a central topic or question.  The focus of this podcast was What is Beauty?  

Mouse over the image or press the button below to share this on Pinterest!

The reason I identified so strongly with this podcast is that some of the ideas that were brought up are some of the basic beliefs I hold and the driving force behind this blog.  I am greatly influenced by Roque Dalton line "I believe that the world is beautiful, and that poetry, like bread, is for everyone."  Dalton was a controversial Salvadorian poet.  He wrote with deep emotion and his words in this particular poem have rung true for me as a guiding statement in my life.  The mission of this blog is to share the beauty of the world and rejoice in life by making crafts.  I find beauty in every day things.

I want you to listen to the podcast for yourself, but I've also highlighted some quotes here to spark your creative minds into thinking about beauty.

One researcher asked, "Do we think beauty, or do we feel it?"

Mouse over the image or press the button below to share this on Pinterest!

"Beauty is not just for the imagination.  It actually is a way of transforming human behavior for the better." 

"We may

need beauty

to survive."

Listen to the podcast for yourself.

If you identified with the thoughts I shared in this blog post, please let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me at artlikebread (at) gmail (dot) com.  As always, thanks for reading the blog!  Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.  If you liked this post, please share this post with a friend through social media and spend time pondering life's big questions over tea.  Like my Facebook page for updates and more crafty sharing and deep thoughts.

Get Monthly Updates about Crafts, Crochet, and Education: Join the Art, Like Bread Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

How I Made a #DIY #Feather out of #Tape and a #Straw

I was inspired by Marisa Pawelko's DIY Duct Tape Feather YouTube video but I didn't have the materials on hand to do exactly what she did.  I thought about it for a bit and I realized that I could do the same thing with packing tape, washi tape, and a coffee stir!

Mouse over the image or press the button below to share this on Pinterest!

So I went for it!

Materials: Packing tape, washi tape, coffee stir, wooden stick, scissors

1. Cut a length of packing tape that is about the same length as the straw.  Place it sticky side up and use the wooden stick (instead of your finger) to help remove it from the scissors.

The green line shows how the feather will be shaped.

Mouse over the image or press the button below to share this on Pinterest!

 

1.  Tear off pieces of washi tape and layer them sticky side up to cover the entire piece of tape.  It is okay if pieces hang over the edges of the packing tape.

2.  Place the straw on top of the washi tape and arrange it so that it some washi tape extends beyond the top of the straw.  There should be a part of the straw hanging down below the tape.  That will become the quill.

3.  Layer more washi tape sticky side down to cover the entire project.  Then layer one or two pieces of packing tape over that.

Mouse over the image or press the button below to share this on Pinterest!

 

The black line below shows where the clear tape ends, and the green lines are like cutting guides.

Mouse over the image or press the button below to share this on Pinterest!

 

Using scissors and "eyeballing it," trim off the excess tape while shaping your work into a feather.  The black line below shows a little clear tape at the top (which I went back in later to reshape and trim).

Mouse over the image or press the button below to share this on Pinterest!

 

Using the black lines below as a guideline, trim the feather sides diagonally to form the barbs.  Do this organically.  When you're done, "ruffle" the feather by running it through your hand to give it some texture.

Mouse over the image or press the button below to share this on Pinterest!

 

If you would be interested in learning how to make a feather like this or for a list of thing to do with such a feather, please let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me at artlikebread (at) gmail (dot) com.  As always, thanks for reading the blog!  Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.  If you liked this post, please share this post with a friend through social media & agree to craft yo' tail feathers! Like my Facebook page for updates and more crafty sharing!

Get Monthly Updates about Crafts, Crochet, and Education: Join the Art, Like Bread Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

How to Make a #DIY #Yarn #Tassel

One of my proudest accomplishments of 2015 was expanding my skill set through blogging for different yarn crafts.

Deeply exploring yarn crafts other than crochet prompted me to think about yarn in different ways and at different levels.  I paid much more attention to knitting than I normally did before that, and I also tried my hand at weaving.  Working from there, I thought about other ways we can craft with yarn.  Some people just love yarn but don't want to use it in the typical crochet and knit ways.

All of those thoughts led me to become very interested in tassels, and I came up with the following tutorial.  Please click the picture to link directly to the step by step tutorial on how to make a tassel!

Mouse over image or click the button below to save this link to your Pinterest!

 

If you would be interested in learning how to make a tassel like this in person, please let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me at artlikebread (at) gmail (dot) com.  As always, thanks for reading the blog!  Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.  If you liked this post, please share this post with a friend through social media & dress up your pens & bookmarks with handmade tassels! Like my Facebook page for updates and more crafty sharing!

Get Monthly Updates about Crafts, Crochet, and Education: Join the Art, Like Bread Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

Make a #DIY Duct Tape #Feather with Marisa Pawelko @ModSurrealist

I think I'll try sharing fun DIY Videos weekly.  Why not?

I need to get more into the YouTube thing anyway.  This is a video with one of my crafting role models, Marisa Pawelko.  She is the person who dubbed me America's Next Top Crafter in 2010!  That was a lot of fun for me.

If you start this video at about :50, you'll see the materials they use and the DIY begins.  I have been liking the feather motif as of late, so this is perfect!  I loved the idea of making duct tape feather earrings!  You may see my own DIY on that little projét!  




If you don't have time to watch, here's what they did-

How to Make a #DIY Happy #Purim Banner from Paper, #Glitter, and String

I know it's early, but Purim is coming on March 24 and you don't have to leave it to the last minute to get ready.  I made this Purim banner in just a few hours and it's really cute.  You can also use the techniques to make a banner for anything!

Mouse over the image to share on Pinterest!

Materials: scrapbook paper (or other pretty paper), glitter glue, string, scissors, hole punch.  Optional:  eyelet setter, crochet hook. 

Mouse over the image to share on Pinterest!

1. Cut the paper into pieces that are about 3 inches by 3.5 inches.  You will need as many pieces as are in your message.

Mouse over the image to share on Pinterest!

2. Cut out the negative space for each letter.  Look at the picture. For "H", I just cut out a rectangle on the top and on the bottom.  If you need guidance, look at your keyboard to see how the letters should be shaped.

3. Punch out holes in the tops of your letters (and set eyelets). If you use the hole punch/eyelet setter that I use, you can set the guide so that your holes are evenly spaced.

4. Decorate each letter with glitter glue.  I had fun with different colors and styles!  For those letters with "inner areas" (example - P, A), use the glitter glue to define the area you did not cut out.  This will make your banner easier to read (and filled with sparkle!)

5.  Let these dry thoroughly for a few hours. (You can speed up the process by using a hair dryer or a heat gun!)  Mine dried for about 8 hours overnight.

6. Arrange the letters in the right order to spell your message and string them together.  Use knots to secure your letters so they don't slide around. 

OR

Mouse over the image to share on Pinterest!

Use crochet to join the letters together.

* Make sure your crochet hook can easily pass through the eyelet*

1. Arrange your letters in the order you would like them in your banner.

2. Chain 50.

3. Working right to left, from the last letter (example, from the right hole on the "M" in "Happy Purim"), single crochet through the eyelet.  

4. Chain enough to make it to the next eyelet without too much slack.  Yet, too much slack is better than too little.

5.  Single crochet into the next eyelet.

6. Chain about 6 or 8 (keep this number consistent throughout) to space between the letters. 

Repeat steps 3-6 for each letter.  DOUBLE the number of chains for spaces between words.

After you have crocheted through the final eyelet, chain 50 and tie off.

If you would be interested in learning how to make a banner like this or buying one from me, please let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me at artlikebread (at) gmail (dot) com.  As always, thanks for reading the blog!  Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.  If you liked this post, please share this post with a friend through social media & break out the scissors and glitter! Like my Facebook page for updates and more crafty sharing!

Get Monthly Updates about Crafts, Crochet, and Education: Join the Art, Like Bread Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

Join My Oscar Mystery CAL on Crochet Spot

I love the movies and the glamour of the awards season!

When I got the crazy idea to host an Oscars Mystery Crochet Along on Crochet Spot, Rachel (Crochet Spot owner) said she thought it would be fun.  I thought so, too.  We're making a cowl and the pattern will depend upon what happens during the Oscar ceremony!  It is going to be fun and dynamic.  You will not want to miss this!  We're also going to have PRIZES!  :)

Make sure you click over to Crochet Spot for all the details!

As always, thanks for reading the blog!  Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.  If you liked this post, please share this post with a friend through social media and plan to watch the Oscars together, hooks in hand! Like my Facebook page for updates and more crafty sharing!

Get Monthly Updates about Crafts, Crochet, and Education: Join the Art, Like Bread Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

Writing My Personal Mission Statement with Happy Black Woman

During the first ten days of 2015, I did some deep work.  

Even though I was enjoying my life, I knew there were areas where I wanted to improve.  Not all of the activities that had my full attention were contributing to moving my life toward what I wanted for myself.  So what was I supposed to do?  

I had already signed up for a business class to support my tutoring business, but I wanted to know how that fit into the grand scheme of things.  

So I took the time to do something for me.  I reflected, and I worked earnestly through an online class.  And it enhanced my life.  Greatly.

The class I am talking about is Happy Black Woman, Rosetta Thurman's Find Your Purpose: How to Develop a Personal Mission Statement and Create a Clear Roadmap for Your Life.

Sound appealing?  Well, it did to me, and I went ahead and purchased it even though I'd never purchased anything from her before.  This is the kind of thing that only works if you do it, but I can tell you, if you do it, it works.  

During the class, I became aware of my top 5 character strengths, evaluated my life and my satisfaction with it in four key areas, named my values, and crafted a mission statement.  (I didn't do the roadmap part, because I was working with another tool for that.)  

Honestly, out of the materials I purchased last year, this has provided the highest value to me personally.  Because Rosetta knows how to guide people through the process, if you take the 3-4 hours to fill out all of the materials, you will come up with a mission statement that is uniquely yours and uniquely you.

I put mine inside of my planner.  It is the page that marks "Today," so when I flip to the current week, I see my mission statement.  I read it every so often and remind myself of why I am here and what I should be doing.

I have not reached all of my goals yet, but I grew my leaps and bounds in 2015.  Participating in this workshop was not the only thing I did to work toward my goals, but it provided the foundation that kept me true to myself and focused on my personal purpose.

I am currently re-taking the workshop for 2016.  It has been interesting so see how I've grown over the past year, and how my priorities are changing as I have achieved some of my goals.  

 If you would be interested in hearing more about coaching and self improvement resources, please let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me at artlikebread (at) gmail (dot) com.  As always, thanks for reading the blog!  Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.  If you liked this post, please share this post with a friend through social media and set 3 hours aside to do this workshop together! Like my Facebook page for updates and more empowerment sharing!

Get Monthly Updates about Crafts, Crochet, and Education: Join the Art, Like Bread Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

What is Mastery? Increasing My #Crochet Skills

Since I started teaching crochet again, I have been motivated to increase my crochet skills.  

A while ago I ordered the Crochet Master's Program from the CGOA, but I haven't finished it yet.  I am not sure what my hangup is, but I am hoping that this new burst of motivation will push me to fly through the program and get that Master's!

I think part of the reason I want to increase my skills is for the "License" to call myself a "Crochet Expert" or "Crochet Master."  What does one have to do or be to become an expert?  Well, with crochet, the lines are kind of fuzzy.  I've been crocheting for almost eight years.  Since 2008 I've crocheted almost every single day.  I am obsessed with crochet and if I am not doing it, I am thinking about it, or reading about it.  Crochet is interwoven into my life.

But does that make me an expert?  I don't know.

What are your thoughts on mastery?  Please let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me at artlikebread (at) gmail (dot) com.  As always, thanks for reading the blog!  Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.  If you liked this post, please share this post with a friend through social media and share your crafty goals & insights with each other! Like my Facebook page for updates and more crafty sharing!

Get Monthly Updates about Crafts, Crochet, and Education: Join the Art, Like Bread Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

I Made a #DIY Mini-Zine Out of a Magazine!

Ah, yes.  I was inspired by the Crafty Chica & her fabulous YouTube mini-zine tutorial yesterday.  I could hardly wait to make a DIY Mini-Zine, so I didn't! (Wait, that is!)

I am excited to make this into a mini art journal and decorate all the pages of this mini-zine in different ways!

If you would be interested in learning how to make a mini-zine like this, please let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me at artlikebread (at) gmail (dot) com.  As always, thanks for reading the blog!  Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.  If you liked this post, please share this post with a friend through social media & plan to make one DIY thing this week! Like my Facebook page for updates and more crafty sharing!

Get Monthly Updates about Crafts, Crochet, and Education: Join the Art, Like Bread Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

Make a #DIY Mini-Zine with @CraftyChica!

Crafty Chica is one of my major influences for many reasons.  I love this craft tutorial and I'd like to make one of these as well.  When I do, I will post it on this blog!  

Update:  I did it!  Link here!

As is the case with all of her projects, this tutorial is comprehensive and shows you how to do everything step by step.  Check it out and share!  If you're not following the Crafty Chica, you're missing out!

#Podcast Quote on #Courage in the Arts

Linda Holmes on Pop Culture Happy Hour on David Bowie and Ricky Gervais Host of the Golden Globes

Click on the above picture to listen to the podcast on Stitcher.

What has been so difficult for me about watching the Golden Globes in the Ricky Gervais years is... the positioning of that as what being a courageous artist means... I'm talking about making jokes about trans people. I'm talking about going in there and kind of positioning yourself as "I don't care who I offend."

And I think it was so striking to me to see somebody like David Bowie - I mean, imagine being David Bowie. It's one thing to be David Bowie now, but imagine being David Bowie when nobody knew who David Bowie was, and that was kind of what he was going to do. That - is - really - brave as an artist. 

And it bothers me sometimes when in the era of kind of talking about taking offense or not taking offense - I think sometimes courage is confused with no filter which is wrong because fear is not the only filter that exists in peoples' lives, right? Fear is not the only reason that you wouldn't get up and start your monologue at the Golden Globes with (basically) "I've changed... not as much as Bruce Jenner!" Which literally is kind of how he started. That is not a joke that most people wouldn't start their monologue with because of fear. That's a joke that a lot of people wouldn't start their monologue with because it's cheap. 

And because the way that we're talking about how David Bowie makes people feel in the world, right? What it's like to see somebody like that represented - you have to remember - there's also trans kids who are watching the Golden Globes who are seeing, "This is what the world thinks of me and who I am." And so as unfair as it is [to compare David Bowie to anyone], it did strike me as really funny timing because they've tried so hard to position him as fearless. Because it was followed so closely by this demonstration of (to me) what actual fearlessness in art... To me it is a real moment of clarity for me about *what do you want your contribution to be to the world to be?* 

And it's fine to be a comedian and say "I don't need to be brave like David Bowie, I'm just trying to be funny, but to appropriate to yourself the idea that "I'm courageous. I'm speaking truth to power." To have this enormous legacy laid down like a block in front of this effort to be like "Oo, the Golden Globes are daring." was really striking to me, I have to say.

7 Absolutely Wonderful #Craft #Podcasts

"I was listening to this podcast, and..."

These are the words that begin many of my stories.  Why?  Because I love podcasts and listen to them all the time.  I learn so much from podcasts and, in a way, I can't imagine my life without them.  Want to delve into the world of podcasts? Then let's go! 

Thomas Hawk photo via flickr Some rights reserved

5 Hopeful Quotes by MLK and Creative Prompts Free Printable Download

Are hopeful people more creative?

I am currently "reading" a book on Audible about the creative mind called Wired to Create.  Since it's an audiobook, I have been tuning in and out, so I can't comment on the book as a whole (yet), but I did latch on to one gem that led me to an inquiry and a subsequent craft project.  The book states that hopeful people are more creative.

Click to download printable now or read on.

Honoring My Personal Voice on My #Craft #Blog

This is going to be a different kind of post.  The experiment of my blogging daily has been going well for me.

I want to go back a little to the beginning of Art, Like Bread and blog with my personal voice.  

Being personal is what works for me on this blog.  I've always been honest, but I realized that while listening to all the crafty business advice about "giving your audience high value posts" and "establishing what your audience cares about" I have shifted away from personal craft blogging a bit. I don't ever want to lose that on Art, Like Bread.

Martin Luther King Day #Crafts - Fold an #Origami Peace Crane

The inspiration for this blog post is a community project I participated in back in 2002.  It was this project that sparked my passion for origami.  

I was working in North Adams, MA at the time.  I was Coordinator of the Student Diversity Team, which was a grant-funded initiative to advance the conversation about diversity at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA).  Our high school partner was Drury High School.

It was a while ago, and I don't remember all the details, but I do remember that the activity led by the Student Diversity Team was part of a larger initiative associated with the city of North Adams.  In accordance with Dr. King's advocacy of racial harmony and nonviolence, we read the story of Sadako and her thousand paper cranes.   Then we made paper cranes with a wish for peace on the inside.

This is a link to a step by step tutorial on how to fold a paper crane.  

One of my students happened to be an origami aficionado, so he started making all different types of things out of the origami paper!  He even made a box!  That was what really got me going with origami.  Before  I knew it, I was online and at the library, learning form after form after form.  I loved origami!  This was the result - and these are just some of the forms I've folded.

I blogged about these origami forms in 2008.

If you would be interested in learning how to do more origami, please let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me at artlikebread (at) gmail (dot) com.  As always, thanks for reading the blog!  Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.  If you liked this post, please share this post with a friend through social media & fold paper every chance you get! Like my Facebook page for updates and more crafty sharing!

Get Monthly Updates about Crafts, Crochet, and Education: Join the Art, Like Bread Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address  * 

First Name 

Last Name 

Loom Knitting Love in Hot Pink & Free Knitting Photo Download

Loom Knitting is a relaxing hobby.  I learned to do it from craft videos.  I always had a knitting loom in the house growing up but I never knew how to use it...

2 Methods on How to Make a Bookmark from Paper Clips & Washi Tape

Hey, Everyone! I just wanted to add this tutorial because it's a fun way to take a "coffee break" at work & it's useful.  I hope you enjoy it.  Also, if you make the craft, please share a photo on the Art, Like Bread Facebook Page!

Here's the overview.  Please share this image on Pinterest so you won't forget!