Cheap Thrills

Recently, Rosie O'Donnell (a Commack native) was voted "most annoying celebrity" by readers of Parade Magazine. Pardon me, but I beg to differ!

If it weren't for Rosie, we wouldn't have had all those fun craft segments on the now-defunt Rosie O'Donnell Show. By watching her, I was introduced to the joys of decoupage and the many uses of rubber bands!

She may not be America's sweetheart, but she's still one cool, crafty chica.

Check out Rosie's easy tutorial for homemade soap and learn all of her crafty secrets in the Crafty U section of her blog, Rosie.com.

There are young artists at Madonna Heights, a residential community in Dix Hills that serves young women and girls in need. Adolescent girls who can't live at home -- or don't have a home -- are channeled to this live-in community of about 70 students, who finish their high school years in a structured, therapeutic atmosphere. They are referred by a school, a social worker or the courts. Some are foster children; some were abandoned or abused.

Six years ago, artist Vardi Mortellaro established a therapeutic art program at Madonna Heights with astonishing results. A glass exhibit case in the high school's main corridor is filled with creative works of professional quality. There is some exquisite jewelry, and butterflies are a favorite theme. There's a "yellow brick road" sculpted of metal with the admonishment "Follow the Right Path of Life." A destroyed house with the letters HELP cut into its roof is titled "The Pain of Katrina." There's a miniature metal purse; an inscrutable mask, a mixed-media piece titled "Flirting With Death."

Continue reading the article by Newsday's Rhoda Amon...

This week's featured artist is a member and past vice president of the Long Island Craft Guild and the commander of the Ancient and Honorable Huntington Militia, a living history organization which recreates life on Long Island at the time of the American Revolution. Let's meet Robert!

Name: Robert Ambrose, 55
Hometown: North Merrick
Occupation: Craftsman
Craft: Wood-turned tools and jewelry
Web sites: www.qbranchltd.etsy.com and www.popgoestheneedle.com
This crafter was featured in Newsday's handmade holiday guide

How did you get into your craft?

I work in a variety of crafts and media. When I find something that stimulates my interest and creative energy, I learn the techniques and required skills and begin working. Before I was able to build a woodshop in my home, I concentrated in crafts that required limited space and equipment. For many years I worked at leathercraft. I am an award-winning paper cutter -- creating silhouettes and Sherenschnitten pictures. I also design and sell punchneedle embroidery patterns and work in other fiber art.

I always had an interest in woodwork and woodturning in particular. When I was able to turn my garage into a workshop, I began turning wood and doing woodwork. The lathe (a machine for use in working wood) was the first thing purchased for the new workshop. All of my crafts and skills are self-taught.

What's your best craft tip?

The best craft tip that I can give is to do what you love and what interests you and as you work make it your own. Just because the instructions say to do one thing, be creative and do it as you think it should be done.

Where do you find inspiration?

A lot of my inspiration comes from history and the past. I am also an 18th Century reenactor/living historian. I look to the past to inspire creation. My lucets are authentic reproductions of a tool used for thousands of years to create decorative and utilitarian lacing and cord. I am also inspired by the wood or materials that I am working on and allow the wood to guide me in bringing out to the world what already exists within.

What craft would you like to try next?

I have been thinking about working warm glass, glass beads, etc., but this is not for the near future. I have always had a fascination with blacksmithing, but that too is for the distant future.

What are your favorite local craft stores?

Supplies and equipment on Long Island for a serious craft artist is a problem, especially for woodworkers. If I need a specialized tool, woodworking machine, or hardware, I am not going to find it locally. All of the stores that once sold such things have closed.

When I was working primarily in leather, I was able to purchase leather locally in a leathercraft store in Huntington and when that closed, from a leather warehouse retail outlet of a company in Queens and Brooklyn. That company, too, closed its retail outlets. One of the reasons that I do not work in leather as much as I once had is that for leather hides I must go out of state.

I must go to Pennsylvania or Connecticut to find a woodworking store for the serious craftsman. My wife, an award-winning doll maker and embroiderer, has experienced the same problem. When we travel, one of the first things we look for in a new area is where the craft, woodworking, and needlework stores are located.

The local craft stores are nice for the weekend hobbyist, but do not meet the needs of a serious craftsperson.

What's your biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge that we face -- after trying to find supplies and equipment -- is the overwhelming number of commercial, non-handmade items sold at most of the craft shows run on Long Island.

These items are either presented as made by the seller or are blatantly displayed with or next to their commercial packaging with the words "Made In China" clearly visible. The groups running the shows state that this is not permitted, but there is nothing done when these items are presented for sale.

I believe this hurts the person who is putting their heart, soul, and efforts into creating the things that they are selling. Sadly, customers either can't tell the difference or do not care where the items at the craft shows come from. It is difficult to sell something that is handmade and must bring a reasonable price that will compensate for the materials, time, and talent with items sold in the booth next door that came from an import wholesaler.

Do you have any advice for beginners?

If you make a mistake on something that you are working on, look at what you are left with and change your design to make the best use of the error. Some great pieces have been the result of a chipped corner or a slight break.

Why do you love your particular craft?

When I get into the flow of what I am working on, time just seems to fly. I love seeing the final result and I especially love when others appreciate my work. When I have a piece on exhibition, I like to stand by quietly with no one realizing that I am the artist. I'll just watch and listen. It is great to hear them say how much they like it, especially when I know that they are not just saying it to me to be polite.

For more information on Robert Ambrose's work, please visit his Web sites: www.qbranchltd.etsy.comand www.popgoestheneedle.com. In addition to designing punchneedle patterns, Robert teaches punchneedle to groups.

When Shirley Darkeh lights the black, red and green candles today, she'll think of hope. An ancient land. A people's tradition.

Today marks the first day of Kwanzaa, a secular seven-day festival that celebrates African-American culture and history.

Darkeh, who lives in Westbury, said she's been observing the holiday almost since it was created 41 years ago by Maulana Karenga, a black-studies professor in California.

"It's not a political holiday, and it's not celebrating one individual," Darkeh explained. "It's a celebration of a people."

Every year, Kwanzaa - named after a Swahili phrase for "first fruits" - falls on the day after Christmas, but has no connection to it.

Gifts are encouraged to be handmade and usually include a book or something educational for children.

Continue reading this article on Kwanzaa by Newsday's Jennifer Barrios.

For more information about Kwanzaa, check out the official Web site.

Online marketplace Etsy has a touching article about a family of adopted children and their celebration of Kwanzaa.

Photo: Mekiyah McCorvey 7, of Wyandanch points to the first lit candle on the Kinara (candleholder) and recites the first of the seven principles at the Wyandanch Public Library. (Photo by Joseph D. Sullivan)

Neatly stacked shirt boxes filled with carefully lined-up shells - a scene that may evoke a day at the beach with a particularly compulsive collector - are the first things you see as you enter the gallery at the Long Island Art League in Dix Hills.

They're right in the middle of the floor, the centerpiece of an installation for an exhibit called "Earth Works - Artists Addressing the Environment."

"It's green, it's environmental, it's happening now," says curator Carole Jay, who hopes the show will gently nudge people to action, or at least make them think more about the beauty of nature and the damage humans are inflicting. She's gathered works by six artists, some of them on the unusual side: Upstairs, rows of jars containing beach detritus collected by an artist who's also been a Jones Beach lifeguard for 20 years are displayed on towering metal shelves. The old cups, unspooled cassette tape, bloated glove, fuzzy hairbrush and other items left behind by careless visitors float in seawater, looking like weird specimens in a mad scientist's laboratory.

Read the full article by Newsday's Aileen Jacobson

This week's crafter turned a love of handbags into a business. I saw her selling her lovely wares at a Shecky's shopping event during the summer and just had to learn more about her creative process. Let's meet Lesia!

Name: Lesia Chandra Griffin, 28
Hometown: Kew Gardens, NY
Occupation: Handbag and accessories designer
Craft: Handmade bags
Web site: www.144Collection.com

How did you get into making your own bags?

The 144 Collection began as a hobby for me. I started taking sewing lessons as a way for me to relax and have fun. As I continued with my lessons, I found I really enjoyed making my own patterns. I created a few pieces and tested them out with family and friends. They really liked the pieces and encouraged me to pursue it further. In February 2006, I started 144 Collection. The name is actually taken from my old apartment address where I began sewing.

What's your best tip when making something?

The best tip I can give when creating anything would be don't be afraid to experiment and make mistakes. I have made patterns that are two small, big or the shape is totally off. You could not imagine the rejected pattern shapes I have in my sewing drawers. At the same time, there are patterns I see in my head and create them and they are spot on.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration everywhere. I like shapes so I'm looking at everything trying to find an interesting shape. I once designed a bag from looking at the columns on the New Jeresy Turnpike.

What would you like to make next?

Aprons, a customer who is a chef asked me about possibly doing an apron line. I'm trying to put something together and see if I like it.

Where do you get your supplies?

I'm what I would call a fabroholic. I just love fabric so I get it from various places like Equilter, Jcarolinecreative, Buyfabricsonline, Create for Less, Hancock's of Paducah, The Ragshop and Wal-Mart. I have been cutting back since my apartment can not hold anymore fabrics.

What's your biggest challenge?

It would have to be finding space for everything. I have a one bedroom apartment which is slowly being overtaken with fabric, supplies and handbags.

Any advice for beginners?

Research everything this includes pricing, manufacturing, promotion, marketing and other businesses that make the same kind of product that you offer. Try to attend seminars or classes that will help you learn more about the business you wish to pursue. I took a class on manufacturing accessories at the Learning Annex. I would also suggest getting a mentor. My mentor helps me with the business aspect which can sometimes be overwhelming. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. It is really the only way to learn what not to do next time. Never forget to have fun with it!

Why do you love making your own bags?

I love designing because it gives me a chance to showcase another side of myself. I have always loved creative things like drawing, art, photography, music, etc. For a long time, I didn't know how to express that side of myself and creating my own bags gives me a chance to do that. I also love the idea of creating unique bags for customers that you will not see anyone else wearing.

For more information on Lesia's handbags, please visit her Web sites: www.144Collection.com and www.144Collection.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!

My craftin' buddy Heidi e-mailed me this cute tutorial on card making, which happens to be one of my favorite hobbies. Star of May is the crafter in this video and she's using craft supplies from Stampin' Up. Check out the video and enjoy the soundtrack. It's totally addicting to watch!

Do you have a great tutorial to share? Tell us about it!

Steven James of Macaroni & Glitter wanted to share a very cool tutorial showing us how to make our own 2008 calendar using old CD cases. I think it's a great way to recycle and gear up for the year to come! Go ahead, try it yourself ... get the project.

Check out past tutorials by the crafty and talented Steven James on the Cheap Thrills blog.

Brooklyn is brimming with artists and indie designers and several of them have pooled their hand-crafted wares into a city sampler curated by Nicole Davis of Brooklyn Based, an e-newsletter offering its readers the 411 on cool things to see and do in Brooklyn. The curated samplers were sold by the amazing Home of the Sampler, which sends out boxes chock full of handmade goodies on a monthly basis to indie lovers.

I was lucky enough to score one of these limited-edition Brooklyn samplers -- all 100 of them sold out in a record four hours! -- and here's just a few of my favorites:

The first thing that grabbed my attention were these adorable egg cups by Design Glut. They are pants for your eggs! Design Glut's egg cups come in a white/yellow color scheme and have three legs to hold your wobbly eggs upright. Sit them out on the table for a conversation piece during your next brunch with friends. Or pick up several of them as an unexpected hostess gift for someone who loves to cook...or boil water!

SkinnySkinny makes their soap from scratch using organic ingredients that soothe the skin, such as cocoa butter, neem oil, and sea kelp, and then scents it with fragrant essential oils for a truly wholesome bar that smells good and feels even better. Check out their gift sets and shaving sets that are packaged in a gift box that's sustainable, made of wild grass and looks like a book. Reuse the book box for hiding your favorite chocolates or trashy romance novels.

Reiter8's mini wallets are made out of recycled sailboat sails. How brilliant! I love that this company takes old or used sailing materials and gives them a new life. And each time I pull out my cute little recycled wallet, I'll be reminded that I need to get out on the water and sail more often. Get one for the sailing enthusiast in your life or your fellow Lawn Guylander!

My best bud is a keychain fanatic, so I can't wait to show her these keychains from Swigg and RePlayGround. Swigg creates cuddly creatures, pillows, and tote bags out of silk-screened vinyl. RePlayGround makes something out of everything, including recycled glass beads and repurposed wine corks and Jiffy pancake mix boxes.

This holiday season, pledge to buy handmade and locally-made goods. Check out all of the contributors to the Brooklyn Sampler for some great gift ideas.

Cheers,
Corris

The Sampler is having a sale on their previous Sampler boxes. Each one is filled with a variety of handmade treats, including jewelry, soap, greeting cards, magazines, music, key chains, and so much more.

What is the Sampler? It's a cool way for indie designers and makers of crafty things to get samples of their crafts into the hands of the public. If you love to buy handmade, like I do, then you'll want to a Sampler pronto!

To peruse the bargains at the Sampler, click here to visit their shop.

Name: Lisa M. Dalton, 33
Hometown: East Northport, NY
Occupation: Special Education teacher / Wiffle ball player
Craft: Plush toys and hand-crafted zines
Web site: lmdalton.etsy.com

Why do you love making plush toys and zines?

The Travel Kitty toys make me happy because I designed the perfect toy for any age! I’ve always loved things that I could take with me in my pocket or my backpack. Travel Kitty owners are asked to photograph their kitty while traveling and then the photos and stories are posted on a blog.

I love that this project grew from a drawing I made while drawing with my son. I turned it into a poseable plushy toy, which gives it bonus fun points. I also got to design all the packaging, accessories, and the Web site. The whole process was a great way to learn. I really like the interactive part of the project too.

I’ve met a lot of really cool DIYers through the process of creating, publishing and distributing my "Temporal Millionaire" zines. They are intelligent, good-hearted people who make zines because they want to tell the world something, not just make a buck.

I think that anytime you can get people participating in something fun together that the fun points multiply and people feed off each other’s creative energy.

How did you get into your crafts?

I started sewing when I was a kid. My mom taught me everything I know on the subject. She made everything when I was growing up, even clothes for whatever little toy I was carrying around that week — she earned super cool mom points! She would always tell me what a great seamstress her mom was though, chalking out suits on big pieces of fabric.

I got into making my own zines because I was trying to get some comics published without success. I stumbled into the self-publishing realm and really fell in love with the idea and the simplicity. I started writing "Temporal Millionaire" in the fall of 2006 when I stopped working to stay home with my son. I wanted some direction with my free time and I had the opportunity to do whatever I wanted, so I took advantage of the time.

Indie Collective

"Pretty in Punk: 25 Punk, Rock, and Goth Knitting Projects" (Chronicle Books, $19.95): Tired of knitting lackluster scarves? Alyce Benevides and Jaqueline Milles deliver an innovative dose of inspirational projects, all of which derive from the punk, ska and pin-up girl cultures. Whether you embark on the adorable aviator cap or the rockabilly clutch project, the authors provide you with detailed how-to's while encouraging knitters to "inject their own personalities."

"Design Idea Book: Learning From Designer Showhouses" (Sunset Books, $21.95): Karen Templer guides readers through 39 designer "idea" houses, highlighting the choices behind the decor of these stylish homes. With more than 400 vivid photographs, those looking for inspiration for a new home or a renovation have a tremendous armchair reference in this book. Templer leads readers through the decorating maze with helpful hints on the details that make the space: color, flooring, paint and wall treatments.

"DIY Creative Juice" (Sterling Publishing Co., $14.95): Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza of the DIY Network show "Creative Juice" have cobbled together a wealth of "re-crafting" projects in their first book. Although some of the suggestions lean a bit toward the gaudy, a handful of the craft ideas feel fresh and inventive. Take, for instance, the metal pipe candleholders or the mosaic button picture frames, which refashion extraneous household items into functional art. Divided into five realms (Adorn, Decorate, Give, Play and Remember), crafters of all experience levels will find fun projects peppered throughout this book.

"The Big Book of Weekend Beading" (Reader's Digest, $26.95): Whether it's one-of-a-kind jewelry or embellished accessories, this guide contains more than 30 projects that will stoke the imagination of novices and veterans alike. For those less familiar with beading, the book provides a comprehensive overview of types of beads as well as materials needed to complete the outlined projects. Arranged in order of difficulty, this book's vibrant photos and straightforward directions make it a welcome addition to the crafter's collection.

-- Kimberly Tarr

Purchase Corian, walnut, oak bamboo and lacquer furniture and accessories from the collection of interior designer Roseann Repetti and architect West Chin at 15 percent off at the FTF Design Studio "Holiday Sale" from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 14 at FTF Design Studio, 137 Fifth Avenue in Manhatttan. For more information, call 212-925-0847 or visit ftfdesignstudio.com

Crafty folks actually like to get their hands dirty, which makes them a particularly difficult bunch to buy holiday gifts for. Whether the DIYer in your life fancies paper crafts, sewing, knitting or home-baked treats, a roundup of goodies sure to come in handy come project time:

Paper Source, a Boston-based stationery boutique, has a variety of paper flower-making kits which include materials and instructions to make 10 six-inch blooms. DIYers will surely master the technique and replicate on their own. Kits, including Candy Shop Magnolia pictured here, are $14 at paper-source.com.

Crafters get a kick out of putting their on stamp on their work. Anything that’s personalized makes a thoughtful gift. Custom self-inking stamps from PSA Essentials are a lovely way to marry the best of both worlds. Available to order in single initials or monograms in several designs and ink colors for around $42 (depending on your design) at The Writing Place, 97G Main Street, Stony Brook; Lion in the Sun, 314 Main Street, Huntington or roomservicehome.com.

Every crafter appreciates a sharp pair of scissors. Martha Stewart's all-purpose pair are extra-heavy with adjustable tension to accommodate thicker cuts. They're packaged with a blade guard in a storage-gift box. Available for $19.99 at Michael's retail locations or marthastewartcrafts.com.

Personalized satin ribbon from Williams-Sonoma can be used to trim handmade cards, wrapped gifts and homemade treats. It's sold in 15-yard rolls in red or white satin, in three different widths. $29 at williams-sonoma.com.

Crate & Barrel's winter-themed cookie cutters includes 10 tinplated shapes, including winter clothes, snowman, star, sleigh and snowflake. The set is boxed and bowed for easy gifting. $24.95 at Americana Manhasset or crateandbarrel.com.

Crafters appreciate books about their hobbies and kits that will help them learn something new. Of the many new DIY titles from Chronicle Books, the Cath Kidston Mending Kit includes everything needed to repair clothing and household items--including a seam ripper, sewing kit, tape measure, scissors and 32-page illustrated how-to booklet tucked inside a pretty cloth case. It's $24.95 at select booksellers or chroniclebooks.com.

Crafters are doing great things in their communities, mixing their crafting talents with community-driven activism.

Huntington resident Olivia Dreizen, 22, has been quilting for eight years and also runs a Web-based apparel store. She creates handmade quilts for children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through a volunteer program called Project Linus.

Olivia Dreizen's act of crafitivism is truly admirable. Read on to learn more about her experience:

How did you first learn about Project Linus?

I first learned about Project Linus through my mother. She's a quilter too. When she first told me about quilting for sick children in hospitals it really hit home for me. As an infant, I spent time in the hospital for open heart surgery. I knew I wanted to help out in some way and my mother got me started quilting over letters and simple shapes. I still have that quilt today to remind me that I started nervously, and small, but with practice and dedication my confidence rapidly grew.

Why did you want to try your hand at quilting?

I wanted to try quilting because I love to sew. I grew up around sewing machines my mother and grandmother owned. I began to sew at age six and never looked back. My great- grandmother, grandmother, and my mother all sew. My grandmother is all about patterns and my mother despises them. I inherited a bit of both women's talent. However, I'm not good with patterns, so making clothing was out of the question.

I love quilting because a quilt starts as one little piece of fabric and becomes an entity never made before and never to be made again. Quilting is definitely an art, but it's an art unlike any other form or method. With most artists, they start with a blank canvas and work their way up to color, but with quilting you start with a many different colors and work your way backwards, in a sense.

Crafting is back with a vengenance, but you don't need me to tell you that. Instead, you can read all about it in the various do-it-yourself magazines/indie zines out there just waiting to inspire you to create lots of cool trinkets and do-dads. As an avid reader, I'll occasionally share my favorites and a few newly-discovered treasures.

Here's what I'm reading this month: Croq, a handmade zine about crafting, do-it-yourself lifestyles and indie business

Web site: www.croqzine.com
Blog: http://croq.livejournal.com/

Cost of subscription: $4 each or $20 per year for six issues

How many ways you can you say awesome? I just got several issues of Croq in the mail and it's chock full of information for hobbyists and serious crafters alike.

This publication made by crafters for crafters is printed on Earth-friendly post-consumer recycled paper and it's the perfect size for sticking in your backpocket or, in my case, an eco-friendly tote bag.

Want to learn how to fashion a snazzy dog sweater out of recycled materials? Would you like to wow your grandmother with a handmade soap cameo? You can do it, if you pick up a copy of Croq. And yes, I'm definitely adding those tantilizing crafts to my to-do list.

Some of my favorite Croq articles include, "Home Birth: The Ultimate DIY," "How to Shop for a Knitter" and "Ode to a Manly Crafter." While the headlines are amusing, their how-to articles and interviews with well-known crafters provide the information you need to immerse yourself happily into a DIY life.

What's your favorite magazine for crafters or do-it-yourselfers? Tell me about it. I'd love to know what you're reading.