Why do you make handmade? I’ve seen this question asked a lot recently. Here is a brilliant animation that crankbunny did to explain why she makes handmade. I think it’s the best explanation I’ve heard so far. Crankbunny video on Flickr You can read more about her animation process and tools in this storque article, [...]

Crafty Bastards Silver Spring host, the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, is opening their new Community Arts Store in the heart of Downtown Silver Spring. Join in the Grand Opening celebration this weekend! The Pyramid Atlantic Community Arts Store will showcase affordable prints and artist books, handmade paper, and the work of local painters, ceramicists, jewelers [...]

I have a wallet rule. I don’t buy a new one until the old one is dead and gone. This can be sad because these are so many awesome handmade wallets being made. It is a rule that I have to stick to, or I would be swimming in hardly used wallets. This upcycled bike [...]

I feel like all of the best upcycled products are bags. I’ve reviewed bags made out of old t-shirts, bags made out of contruction fencing and now here are bags made out of the hated plastic grocery bags. With all of these bags made out of waste, there is really no reason for anyone to [...]

KB’s car-free thrift store shopping post yesterday reminded me of something I always forget. You can shop vintage on Etsy.com! Well, the shopping is car-free, but the shipping isn’t. Still, vintage on Etsy goes beyond crafts and supplies. One of my favorite vintage items to search for are eye glasses. Just search for the words: [...]

Where do skateboards go when they die? Novia Scotia! That is where 2ReVert creates one of a kind jewelry pieces out of 100% post-consumer recycled skateboards. Post-consumer means old, used, broken skateboards. If you think the idea is brilliant, wait til you see the results. These pieces are not only a crazy great use of [...]

My closet is full of old t-shirts for bands that don’t exist anymore. Unrest, Braid, Jawbox. Heavens, we must own every shirt that Q and Not U ever printed. Most of these shirts are too big or too small or too old or the wrong color or just plain don’t say anything about us anymore. [...]

The button ring is so old school indie craft. We’ve all made one or bought one or saved an interesting button for a future project. They are simple. They are beautiful. But unfortunately too many people don’t take the time to find the right glue or perfect their technique and eventually they break. Hi Tree [...]

When I started making things, I was really inspired by the dirty streets of Washington, D.C. Monday morning trash was always the best. Walking to work down 16th street, I always found the most interesting things. Dropped shoes, dozens of flyers from a closed cell phone store, broken bike parts, thank you cards never mailed. [...]

If you are currently a seller on Etsy.com or are thinking about setting up shop, you will be interested in their new Cooperative Advertising Program. For me, I have always been afraid to buy my own ads in national magazines because the price just seems too high for such a small space to show off [...]