Cheap Thrills

What: LI Scrapbook Expo
When: Friday, Sept. 7 - Saturday, Sept. 8
Where: Hofstra University, David S. Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex
Cost: $8/day; Workshops $19-$29 (pre-registration)

Scrapbookers will be flocking to Hofstra next weekend for Long Island's 2nd annual expo. The two-day event features a series of workshops, make-and-takes and lots of scrapbooking vendors selling their products. In addition, ScrapaholicsNY in West Hempstead, is hosting Friday & Saturday night crop sessions ($25 ticket includes goodie bag) after the Expo from 6 p.m.-11:30 p.m.

For full details, visit ScrapbookExpo.com.

The Etsy Green and Clean Guild makes soaps, bath and body products, makeup, and scents. You're invited to browse the wares for sale, listen to 80's music, sip blender drinks, and play with samples of these awesome products. It'll be a girly good time!

The party happens August 31 from 6-8 p.m. at Etsy Labs, 325 Gold St., 6th Floor. Brooklyn, NY 11201. Please rsvp@etsy.com if you'd like to go.

Photo: Soaps by Martinsville Emporium

This week's featured crafter first learned about scrapbooking through her sister and now she's hooked! She takes pleasure in preserving and sharing her memories with family. In fact, her daughter Hailey, 10, has already started to scrapbook. Let's meet Andrea!

How did you get into your craft?
Name: Andrea Grau, 41
Hometown: Selden, NY
Occupation: Stay-at-home mother
Craft: Scrapbooking

I started scrapbooking about five years ago. My sister introduced me to it. She lives in New Hampshire where scrapbooking had become popular a lot sooner then it did here in New York. My first real experience was at an SDV, “Scrappers Dream Vacation.” I traveled to Massachusetts for a three-day weekend of scrapbooking. I fell in love with scrapbooking the minute I walked through the doors of the event. There was no turning back. I definitely have to thank my sister Lisette for starting it all.

What's your best craft tip?

My very best tip would be to always remember to do some journaling on all of your scrapbook pages. The more you write about the pages you are creating, the more memories you will create for generations to come. Oh, and yes there is a great need to be organized. It will save you a lot of time.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find a lot of inspiration in the pictures that I take. Ever since I have started scrapbooking, I take more pictures then I ever had before. It’s incredible how many things go on around you that you really don’t notice until you find something to create out of them. I would also have to say that my father is a huge inspiration. He remembers so much of his past that he amazes me. He has a story to go with every photo. We are very lucky to be able to hear his stories. That is why it is so important do scrapbook all of your memories.

Kitchen renovations are long, expensive and packed with lots of decision-making. From cabinets and countertops to floors and appliances...plus the details- light fixtures, faucets, backsplashes.

Figuring out what you want comes easier if you start collecting photos, magazine clippings and brochures of things you like.

Finished Kitchens is a blog that does double-duty as an impressive virtual showroom of ideas. Members not only post photo tours of their recently redone kitchens, but extensive source lists as well. So if you fall in love with a cabinet door style or ceramic tile pattern, you're not stuck in the perpetual hunt to figure out who makes it. What's more, the site's organizer has cataloged the 100+ kitchens into searchable categories--that means you can pull out photos of kitchens with say, black granite countertops or off-white cabinetry....or style (French, Old World, etc.)...or even layout (galley, L-shaped, center-island).

As the summer draws to an end, I'd like to give a nod to the Garden Detective blog for her strong coverage of locally grown produce on Long Island, most notably her search for the area's biggest tomato.

For weeks, she talked tomato, ate tomato, and blogged tomato. She's definitely crazy about tomatoes! Check out her blog to read all about it.

Don't have a garden? You can still enjoy them! Check out these cool crafts by the folks on Etsy.com.

Tomato soap by Flower Child Organics -- flowerchildorganics.etsy.com
This crafter says: I use an old time, old fashioned recipe for this lovely kitchen soap. The botanicals are tomatos, basil, rosemary, and poppy seeds! Great to clean garden or kitchen hands, antiseptic and deoderizing as well as nourishing. Pick your very own.

Tomato hat for newborns by My Little Minky -- mylittleminky.etsy.com
This crafter says: Wouldn't your new little one look cute in this tomato hat? Knit from 100% cotton yarn, this hat is soft for a newborn's tender skin. Perfect for upcoming fall weather! Take a bite.

Today only, you can get $10 tickets for the Sept. 8 Jones Beach concert, featuring Alice Cooper, Queensryche and others. The deal runs from 10 a.m. to midnight today only via Ticketmaster.com; by phone- 212-307-7171 or at the Nikon at Jones Beach box office.

Kashi, purveyor of healthy snacks and cereals, is inviting everyone to turn in their bad snacks for one of their wholesome offerings. Check out Kashi's virtual "snack drive" and get a free snack!

Enjoy!

Did you hear? Reuseable bags are all the rage.

A few weeks ago, hundreds of women withstood the pouring rain and long lines at Whole Foods grocery stores in the New York-metro area for a chance to buy the "I'm not a plastic bag" tote bag for just $15.

Excuse me, but is that bag ugly or what? In my opinion, there are much more interesting options out there for shoppers seeking useful, eco-chic bags. Here are my suggestions:

1. Envirosax -- This is the bag I personally own and carry daily. I simply adore it! The bag is lightweight, waterproof, and comes in a variety of groovy designs and colors. It's the perfect bag for toting souvenirs and it packs neatly in your luggage, just roll it up. Plus, you'll look oh-so-cute with this bag on your arm. Cost: $35 for a pack of five bags or $7.95 for one bag. To buy, visit: www.envirosax.com

2. Recycled Wave Tote by Gecko Traders -- In Asia, they were used as rice and feed bags for transporting various goods. In New York, this unique bag can carry your groceries, beach gear, and anything else you want. These durable bags are made by a fully certified Fair Trade Co-op in Cambodia. Plus, no two bags look exactly alike. The recycled totes have even been vetted by Treehugger.com, a blog dedicated to green living. Cost: $39. To buy, visit: www.re-modern.com

3. The Original Wrapper Bags -- Made from handfolded, recycled candy wrappers, this bag is a great option for carrying your digital camera or for use as a chic wristlet. These snazzy bags come in a rainbow of colors and the best part about it: a tree is planted for every bag you purchase on Ecoist.com. Shop and give back to the environment! Cost: $28 and up. To buy, visit: www.ecoist.com

-- by Corris Little

Do you know about a great bargain? Let us know too! Send me an e-mail.

A roundup of the best how-to projects spotted this month:

Country Living: Monogram stamped apron

Martha Stewart: Teacup pincushions by Etsy member Betz White

Blueprint: Make your own wallpaper headboard- (stencil pattern included)

Domino: How to install glass panes

Ready Made: Video: How to reupholster a chair

This week's do-it-yourselfer left behind the film business to focus on his craft of choice -- custom guitars. Rock on! Let's meet Scott...

Name: Scott B. MacDonald, 47
Hometown: Huntington, NY
Occupation: Luthier (stringed instrument builder)
Craft: Custom guitars
Web site: www.customguitars.com

How did you get into making custom guitars?

It was something that was in me and just happened...I left the film business as a producer/director to do this!

What's your best craft tip?

Approach everything with reverance and confidence.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration all around me, but my client's dreams and music are magic to me, so I try to hold them up with my work.

What would you like to try next?

Tap dancing and juggling on a unicycle in tight pants.

Where do you get your supplies?

I get my supplies from vendors all over the world. Wood, tools, electronics, parts and accessories, etc...

What's your biggest challenge?

It's dealing with people with no boundries or inner grace. Liars, hagglers and prima donnas tire me out. Humans are, of course, always welcome!

Any advice for beginners?

Be brave, passionate and ask for help!

Why do you love making custom guitars?

It's one of the ways I can make people happy, one person at a time, to make the world a better place.

To learn more about Scott's custom guitars, please visit his Web sites: www.customguitars.com and blog.customguitars.com.

Want to show off your creative side? Send me an e-mail with pictures showing off your favorite craft and you might be chosen as our next DIYer of the Week!

For DIYers, it might be the closest you get to paradise in your own home. The September issue of Martha Stewart Living showcases the transformation of Stewart's attic into a massive room meant for sewing, scrapbooking, flower arranging and other crafts.
Since the space is out-of-the-way from the entertaining areas of the house, there's no need to pack everything up at the end of a work station.

"To be able to leave unfinished projects out is a dream," says Stewart. "Never having to put things away is a luxury."

For full details, go to marthastewart.com.

To say that Vincent Giffuni builds birdhouses is a little like saying Michelangelo painted buildings.

The Wantagh resident's stone-and-mortar bird villas, some with more than a dozen separate-entrance "apartments," are painstaking creations that are as much art as aerial residence. "No two are the same," he says.

A retired lawyer, Giffuni, 78, rediscovered his calling as birdhouse mason when his son Geoffrey happened upon his father's first creation at the home of the elder Giffuni's mother 20 years ago. Vincent Giffuni built the structure for his parents as a joke, of sorts, when he was 15.

"I made them a birdhouse out of stone," Giffuni says, thinking the quirky structure would be laughed at and dismissed. Instead, his father mounted it on a four-by-four post in the backyard, and for years his mother, Artemesia, watched and fed birds that took up residence in the structure.

Read the full Newsday article by Mark Harrington.

This week's featured artist lives by the following mantra -- I know great Earth changes have been predicted for the future, so if you're looking to avoid earthquakes, my advice is simple: When you find a fault, don't dwell on it. Let's meet Cheryl!

Name: Cheryl Frey Richards, 30
Hometown: Patchogue, NY
Occupation: Mother, artist and art educator
Craft: Drawing and painting
Web site: FreyRichards.etsy.com

How did you get into your craft?

I started drawing and painting when I was very little and never stopped. In fact, I couldn't stop. I am number five of seven children. Art became why way of standing out and having my voice heard.

What's your best craft tip?

Get a good mat board cutter! I cannot say this enough! My poor family runs away on mat cutting days. One small bump of the hand and ARGHHHHH! I turn ugly.

Where do you find inspiration?

Inspiration comes from many places, but the main areas are first and foremost silent moments when your mind is silent too. It always amazes me what you can visualize when you stop for a moment. It might sound woowoo, but trees are a great inspiration as well.

What craft would you like to learn next?

I've tried my hand at mosaics. I really enjoy the old Byzantine and Roman mosaics and would love several huge walls to experiment on!

Where do you get your supplies?

Any store that carries them! I love strolling through art stores looking longingly at the rolls of canvas and rows of new colored pencils in every shade imaginable!

What's your biggest challenge?

Trying to raise my children while maintaining a professional business is by far my biggest challenge. Juggling their needs and the needs of my art is by no means easy. With our closest family 400 miles away and my husband working 60+ hours a week, it makes my job all the more difficult. I am positive my kids will grow up without feeling neglected, but in the mean time, the guilt is driving me crazy!

Any advice for beginners?

Don't let bad critiques, slumps or negative feedback stop you from doing what you love and what you were meant to do. As my dad once told me after a harsh critique: "Even Robert Frost was turned down and laughed at!"

Why do you love your craft?

I love creating my art because it makes me feel like I'm connecting with something bigger than myself. I am always amazed when I finish a piece and really look at it for the first time. Did I really draw that?

To learn more about Cheryl Frey Richards, visit her Web site: FreyRichards.etsy.com.

Want to show off your creative side? Send me an e-mail with pictures showing off your favorite craft and you might be chosen as our next DIYer of the Week!

Long Island boutique Michelle's of New York is offering a fun workshop with beauty consultant Ro Pforr on Saturday, August 18th at noon. It's free!

Here's what you'll learn:

* The importance of proper skin care
* How to apply make up to enhance your individual features
* What colors look best on you
* How to create an every day look
* How to kick it up a notch for special occasions

Seating is limited, so RSVP please. Free samples and gifts for all who attend.

Call Michelle at 631-277-3362 or e-mail at michellesofny@aol.com to reserve your seat today! For more information about Michelle's of NY, please visit - www.michellesofnewyork.com

Do you love handmade goodies? Check out this event and take home something unique!

You're invited to attend an independent designer trunk show. This two-day event features elegant handmade jewelry using sterling silver and resin, unique Art Deco inspired screen printed t-shirts for men and women, as well as one-of-a-kind artwork used in key holders and candle holders.

Free gift bags to the first 25 shoppers on both days. This event will be packed with freebies, samples, South Street Seaport guides, and more. Come out and support local NYC artists!

Event details:
Saturday, August 18 and Sunday, August 19, from 11a.m. to 7p.m.
24 Peck Slip, Apt. 5W, NYC, South Street Seaport

Get directions to South Street Seaport

Artists' Web sites:

www.somethingfancy.com
www.PrincessVivi.Etsy.com
www.Kimmchi.Etsy.com
http://www.smartsgallery.com/artists/songyikim/index.html

Michaels® stores thanks teachers for inspiring creative young minds every day.

Come to Michaels starting Sunday, August 12th through Saturday, August 18th and receive a Teachers-only 15% discount off of everything in the store, including sale items! (School ID is required to receive the discount.)

Also, enter online for a chance to win. Sign-up at Michaels.com between August 11th through 18th and you will be registered to win a $1,000 Michaels gift card, a classroom full of cool Crayola products, or other great prizes!

For more information about this event, visit www.michaels.com

As a kid, I remember my mom cutting up colorful wrapping paper so I could wrap my schoolbooks with a pretty cover. My books stood out from the rest of the kids who wrapped theirs in paper bags or those ugly book covers with the plastic film. Yuck! Plus, I could stare at my jazzed up textbooks during class when I was bored.

Well, it seems fashion designer Kate Spade hasn't forgotten her school girl days either! She's come out with her own version of book-themed book covers. They are perfect for covering those romance novels you're too embarrassed to read during your commute on the Long Island Rail Road! Click here to get one. Just click on downloads and you'll be given 3 options and instructions on how to cover a book.

Break out the scissors, Scotch tape and enjoy!

Alternative uses:

* Use these snazzy book covers as a cute liner for your desk or kitchen drawers. Too cute!

* Or print them out and laminate them for adorable placemats at your next dinner party. Very crafty!

Did you know? Newsday's Cheap Thrills blog has been nominated for Best Hobby blog. Help us win by voting today! To vote, click the icon on the right.

Got a great photo of your house, kids or pet? (that's my dog, Snooker, at left).

Exposures--the catalog company that sells high-quality photo albums, frames and accessories-- is seeking real photographs to be used throughout their catalog and website. If you've taken a great shot, print out a copy with your name and address on the back and mail it to:

Exposures
1 Memory Lane
PO Box 3615
Oshkosh, WI 54903-3615
Attn: Dept. FF

If one of your shots is picked, they'll send you a $50 gift card.

Get the full details here.

Closer to home, post your favorite shots to share with fellow Long Islanders on Newsday's website and they just may wind up in print.

This week's featured crafter is a self-taught jewelry designer who loves to travel and collect unique finds along the way. Let's meet Vera!

Name: Vera Mendizabal, 34
Hometown: Huntington, NY
Occupation: Jewelry designer
Craft: Jewelry

How did you get into your jewelry design?

I began making jewelry two years ago to make myself some earrings in the colors and with the materials I wanted. I taught myself some basic techniques and developed new ones as I went along. After getting many compliments from my friends and family, I begun selling some pieces at craft fairs. Soon after, I found Etsy.com (an online marketplace) and have been selling my jewelry there ever since.

Why do you love making jewelry?

I love it because it helps me clear my mind and I find that it relaxes me. It is also very fulfulling to get positive input from others regarding an item I made.

If you just happen to be a fan of Meatloaf (the band, not the dinner entree)- you can buy bargain $10 tickets to his August 22 Jones Beach concert from tomorrow only through Ticketmaster or by phone, 212-307-7171.

The promotion, part of Live Nation's $10 Tuesday ticket offer-- starts Tuesday, August 7 at 10 a.m. Regular ticket prices-- $25-$69-- will kick back in after midnight.

Did you know? Newsday's Cheap Thrills blog has been nominated for Best Hobby blog. Help us win by voting today! To vote, click the icon on the right.

Hallockville Museum Farm is seeking crafters and artisans for their annual Fall Festival and Craft Show on September 29-30.

Hallockville is a 28 acre living history farm located in eastern Riverhead, NY. The craft show features crafts made here on Long Island -- not stuff shipped over from China. They feature demonstrations of traditional crafts, such as basket weaving, wood carving, decoy carving, knitting, spinning, and more.

More information can be found at www.hallockville.com or call (631) 298-5292.

Did you know? Newsday's Cheap Thrills blog has been nominated for Best Hobby blog. Help us win by voting today! To vote, click the icon on the right.

Name: Mariam Aryai-Rivera, 25
Hometown: West Harlem, NY
Occupation: Stay at home mother, Etsy-crazed designer
Craft: Making funky urban jewelry
Web site: www.thehandoffatima.etsy.com

How did you get into your craft?

I had my son, Amir Gabriel, 11 months ago and then stopped working. I went nuts and just had to create, so I went to my cousin and said, "show me how to make a charm bracelet, immediately!!!" The rest is Etsy history!

What's your best craft tip?

Hmmm ... never worry what anybody else is doing.

Where do you find inspiration?

The people ... a girl waving down a cab, youth of the streets and sidewalks, my culture, dreams...

What craft would you like to try next?

I want to learn it all, but first i would love to learn metal work and silk screening.

Where do you get your supplies?

Everywhere! From a thrift store to a flea market and on trips abroad -- my favorite, of course!!

What's your biggest challenge?

To stay tuned in to your audience. It's forever moving and changing, especially here in New York. As a designer you must remember that the style lives in the atmosphere, the people, the mood.

Any advice for beginners?

Let your mind take you somewhere that you want to stay and create. If you paint, think in paint, if you design jewelry ... think in jewelry.

Why do you love your craft?

I love it because it gives me the reward of knowing that somebody in this world at any given moment could be wearing something designed by me. And that's a true treasure, if i do say so myself!

Visit Mariam's Web site (www.thehandoffatima.etsy.com) to learn more about her unique jewelry designs.

Did you know? Newsday's Cheap Thrills blog has been nominated for Best Hobby blog. Help us win by voting today! To vote, click the icon on the right.

Want to show off your creative side? Send me an e-mail with pictures showing off your favorite craft and you might be chosen as our next DIYer of the Week!

Ever thought of trying your hand at winemaking, from picking the grapes to bottling your own, but not sure you want to make the commitment of a vineyard and all the equipment?

The next best thing may be a "membership" in an existing vineyard, an option being offered by the newly formed Sannino's Bella Vita Vineyard in Cutchogue.

Located on land that was formerly home to Ternhaven Cellars' vineyard on five acres, Sannino's is the brainchild of Anthony and Lisa Sannino, a couple whose love of winemaking matured at their previous home in Manorville. There, they planted vines on part of a two-acre parcel, honed their winemaking skills and spent considerable time traveling to the North Fork wine country to immerse themselves in the culture.

Read the full article by Mark Harrington.

Did you know? Newsday's Cheap Thrills blog has been nominated for Best Hobby blog. Help us win by voting today!