Cheap Thrills

Martha Stewart has teamed up with Wal-Mart to offer crafters yet another line of tools, kits and embellishments for their projects. And here's the good news: It's all oh-so-affordable.

The line, which is available only in Wal-Mart retail stores (some items sold at walmart.com), includes two arms:

Create: High-quality basics such as craft punches ($8.97) and glitter markers($9.97) as well as a few innovations-- such as a circle cutter ($14.97). All-in-one scrapbook kits ($24.97) are a big value-- each includes the album plus 650-750 coordinated papers, embellishments and pieces centered around a theme such as "Elegant," "Heirloom" or "Classic." A clever just-for-kids "Gumdrop" scrapbook kit ($14.97) includes a 3-ring binder, pre-punched paper and other goodies.

Celebrate: Brides-to-be can browse through ensembles of stationary, favor boxes, cake toppers ($8.96-$21.96) and such by theme-- from classic "Eyelet" and "Wedding Bells" to cheery "Daisy" and vintage-chic "Dove." Wedding shower planners can shop for printable invitations, ribbon streamers and favor bags ($2.97-$13.96) in themes of "Polka Dot" or the chocolate and pink "Hearts." Getting high marks for creativity: A "Shower Bow Bouquet" ($3.97) with wire loops to attach all those gift bows and ribbons and "Hearts Mini Candy Bar Wrappers" ($3.47), which help you personalize any miniature chocolate candy bars with print-it-yourself wrappers (dates, names or fun messages) powered by free online templates.

Several weeks ago, I finally purchased something I've had my eye on for months! And now that I have it in my possession, I can't imagine why I didn't buy it sooner.

It's a beautiful picture made by Emily Martin, owner of TheBlackApple, and I simply love it. I'd hug and snuggle it, but I don't want to destroy all the hard work that went into making this amazing piece of art.

What propelled my purchase? Well, I stumbled upon this darling print on Etsy.com and bookmarked it as a favorite months ago. Then I discovered that Emily Martin would be featured on the Martha Stewart Show. I was so worried that my little girl would be sold to someone else, so I snapped her up the night before the show aired!

Luckily, she was still there waiting for me. Hurray!

The Black Apple offers hand-sewn dollies with sweet faces, prints of little girls holding animals and dangling from trees, and postcards, too.

Check out the shop online: theblackapple.etsy.com

Do you buy handmade? Tell me about your latest handmade purchase! Pop me an e-mail describing your latest find and you may see it here on the blog!

Click here to read more from the "Buying Handmade" series.

Photo credit: Emily Martin

AdornIt by Carolee's Creations offers papercrafting products for scrapbooking and has been a player in the craft industry for around 20 years, according to their Web site. They are currently offering a free idea book to help you get a jump on your scrapbooking projects.

Visit online to sign up for the free offer: www.adornit.com/ideabook/

And while you're at it, check out some of the scrapbooking clubs that meet in the area:

The Sisterhood of the Scrapbook Club meets for weekly workshops in Freeport.

The Bellmore Scrapbooking Meetup has planned a for a full day of scrapbooking where you'll have lots of space to work on your projects.

In New York City, there's the NY Scrapbooking & Rubber Stamping of Upper Manhattan where you enjoy a variety of classes alongside some talented crafters.

Above: A handmade card using a copper foiling technique. Photo by Heidi Davenport

For a relaxing bathtime treatment, try making your own bath salts. Here's an easy recipe you can create at home.

Midnight Wishes Bath Salts

3/4 c. epsom salts
1/4 c. sea salts
1/4 c. baking soda
5 drops patchouli oil
4 drops lavender oil
3 drops vanilla fragrance oil
2 drops cedarwood oil

Mix all ingredients and stir until blended. Store in a country Mason jar or similar airtight container. Will last for several weeks as long as you don't add water to the mixture. Use about 1/4 cup in a your bath. Enjoy!

Glen Head jewelry shop Studio 44 holds jewelry-making workshops (beginner to pro). Make metal rings, bracelets and more with Sea Cliff designer Kathleen DiResta, 10 am to 1 pm, Mondays (July 14, 21, 28 and August 11, $180) or Saturdays (July 19, August 9 and 16, $135). Or work Thursdays on fused glass with Glen Head's Jane Irvine. For more info, visit janesartglass.com, kdirestadesign.com, or call 516-216-4630. -- Joseph V. Amodio

I received this open invitation to craft and I thought I'd share it with you. Church of Craft is a group of women (and men) who get together to make all sorts of things in various public locations in New York City and other spots across the country. This is not your grandmother's craft circle. Check it out!

Event: Church of Craft monthly meeting
Sunday 7/6 from 2-6 p.m.
at Etsy Labs!
325 Gold Street, 3rd Floor
Downtown Brooklyn
www.etsy.com

Come craft with us!!

Church of Craft's monthly meeting will be the usual casual drop in affair, come any time, bring anyone, bring anything you are working on or come and just check out what everyone else is up to. Snacks are welcome.

To learn more about the Church of Craft, visit their official Web site: www.churchofcraft.org or visit their Flickr group to see them in action: www.flickr.com/groups/churchofcraft

Thanks to Rev. Callie Janoff for the invite!

Combine last month's magazines with some old magnets and you'll have a fun new word play game that you made yourself. This simple project is sure to make headlines. Tutorial by Tiffany Threadgould at RePlayGround!

Ingredients:
Magazines
Mint tin
Flexible magnet (like the kind you get advertising the local pizza shop) or get the adhesive kind from a craft supply store

Tools:
Glue stick (if using a non-adhesive magnet) scissors

Instructions:

1.Lay your magnetic piece on a flat surface. Cut words from magazine pages. Make sure you have enough to cover the whole surface of the magnet.

2. If you're using a non-adhesive magnet, lay your words upside-down on a piece of scrap paper and use your glue stick to make it sticky. Stick onto the magnet. Repeat until your whole magnet is covered. If you're using an adhesive magnet, peal off the waxy layer and stick the words to the magnet.

3. Use your scissors to carefully cut apart the pieces. Then stick the pieces to your mint tin or refrigerator and rearrange the words creating sentences and fun phrases.

For more funky recycled and repurposed goods, check out RePlayGround! in Brooklyn, NY.

Eileen Bellomo, an artist from NYC, wrote in to the Cheap Thrills blog to share one of her favorite Web sites:

"I just found a truly great site for crafters in general, but scrappers in particular. If that's not you, maybe some of your friends are. Aside from the usual message boards, forums, etc., this is an on-demand Webtv site. There are tons of videos to choose from. Some are demos, some are interviews with creative folks and there's also a boutique, which on first glance seems to be selling some stuff at very good prices. And there's a separate digital scrapbooking section that I think you'll find interesting."

Check it out when you get a chance: www.scrapinstyletv.com

Thanks Eileen for the tip!

Here's a great little recipe I found online for peach tea soap. It's a great summertime treat and another way to make soap at home.

Peach Tea Soap

You will need:
½ lb. melt and pour soap base
1 peach tea bag (take 1 tsp. of tea from this)
1 TB. Coconut oil
Peach fragrance Oil
Peach colored dye (make sure it's skin-safe dye)
Peach-shaped molds

Melt the soap base and coconut oil, stirring well. Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon of the peach tea, peach fragrance oil and peach dye (a tad of orange works fine). Pour into peach-shaped soap molds.

Enjoy!

Note: You can purchase supplies online from a soapmaking supplier: www.brambleberry.com

A few weeks ago I discovered the lovely handmade soaps of Debbie Chialtas, owner of SoapyLove. Her soaps are made in the shape of ice pops and they're wonderfully fragrant, too.

So, being a soap enthusiast, I decided to embark on the adventure of making my very own ice-pop soap all tricked out in a variety of colors and show my crafty friends. Here's a few photos from that day... What do you think of our soapsicles? Pretty neat, eh?

A regular ice-pop mold was turned into a soapsicle mold to make these fun ice pop-shaped soaps. We added a variety of colors, glitter and fragrances, such as lime, rapsberry and peach.

My pals Eileen (left) and Heidi (right) show off their soapsicle creations. Excellent job ladies!

Voila! The finished soap product is now ready for the bath tub or for gift-giving.

Do you gather to craft with friends? E-mail me photos of you and your friends making cool stuff and I'll post 'em here on the blog. Please be sure to include name, city and information on what you've made.

This Saturday, I'm going to one of the biggest craft fairs in the New York area -- The Renegade Craft Fair. Yay! I'm very excited about this event!

This craftapalooza runs from June 14-15 at McCarren Park Pool in Brooklyn and boasts more than 200 vendors and makers of all things crafty and cool. The Renegade Craft Fair is the brainchild of Sue Blatt and Kathleen Habbley. The duo first took up crafts as a hobby and soon discovered there were no events specifically for the DIY craft community. Hence, the RCF was born!

DIYers and craft fans of all stripes swarm this annual craft fair to see what's new, support indie designers, and get inspired. I'll be there on June 14th, so kindly say "hello" if you're there too.

Don't miss this event!

For more details, visit: www.renegadecraft.com

At Port Washington's 18th annual Harborfest Dock Day and Craft Festival, the hardest decision will be whether your fun's on land or sea. Or have it all as the community celebrates its nautical heritage and heightens awareness of the environment. You'll find crafts vendors and area merchant displays; a children's fun park; musicians and other performers and a talent show; field day competitions; kayaking and stage coach and trolley rides; and cruises on Manhasset Bay. It's all happening Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Port Washington's picturesque waterfront at and around the town dock and lower Main Street. Free admission. 516-883-6566, pwguide.com.

This week's featured artist is a busy mother of two kids, with one on the way, and a lover of the beach. She creates personalized sayings in the sand and photographs them for a unique, yet memorable gift. Let's meet Karin!

Name: Karin Kessler-Tellier, 31
Hometown: Sayville, NY
Occupation: Elementary School Teacher
Craft: Sandscript

What is sandscript?

It's means writing in the sand. My very creative mother came up with this name a few years back and I thought it was perfect!

How did you get into sand photography?

My family loves to vacation, especially on all different islands. Whenever my husband, Dave, and I would travel to a new beach, I'd make sure to write our vacation spot and the year in the sand. I would then wait until the perfect wave washed up and then snap a picture. This way I'd always know which pictures were from what getaway and it was a beautiful way to remember the sandy beaches.

As time went on, I started writing names in the sand, sayings, phrases and eventually our childrens' names as they arrived. People would comment on my work and then inquire about having something of their own personalized and "sandscripted." It's all history from there ...

What's your best photography tip?

Patience! In order to get just the right shot, the sun has to be at the perfect angle and the texture of the sand plays a big role. Also, the tide determines whether or not you'll have enough time to take the picture without it getting washed away.

Where do you find inspiration?

My sister, Kristen, inspires me. We lost her to leukemia in March of 1993 and she was an avid lover of the ocean. We would constantly go to the local beaches to sit back, relax, talk or just enjoy all that surrounded us. Her goal in life was to become a marine biologist and work closely with ocean animals, especially dolphins. I feel very connected to my sister when I'm by the water and I couldn't be in a more perfect place doing what I enjoy so very much. She inspires me in so many ways and I look up to her for the strength and courage she endured each and every day.

What craft would you like to try next? Maybe sand sculptures!

Where do you get your supplies? I get most of my supplies from Michaels Craft Store and some from A.C. Moore as well.

What's your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge is finding the time to get down to the beach on some days. With two little ones at home and a constantly growing belly (Karin's pregnant), balancing time can be difficult. Thankfully, my husband encourages me to go whenever he's home and the sun is shining bright. We also live across the street from my parents and brother, Craig, so they help me out as well when I need to get some Sandscript orders done.

Do you have any advice for beginners?

Photography is my passion. I encourage you to love what you do and do what you love. Be particular and unique and your ability will always shine through. Everybody has to start somewhere and everybody has an eye for that certain something. Even my little girl, Kristen Summer, is creating her own "Sandscripts" now. I may have competition!

Why do you love making sandscripts?

I love creating my sandscripts because I'm at one of my favorite places -- the beach. The sun is shining, the waves are crashing and the smell of the ocean is like summer all-year-round. When I'm able to take somebody's special saying and create it in the sand and make it a permanent fixture for their home, it's a good feeling. When I get the positive response from my customers and see the reactions on their faces, it's worth all of the hard work and time that go into creating my work. Not only do I create the sandscript, I also mat and frame them to make it complete.

Where can readers buy your Sandscripts?

Please visit my Web site at www.sandscripts.net to view my work, place your orders and create summer all-year-round in your house!

Don't discard your cereal box! Instead, transform it into this super cute wallet packed with recycling power! With a few cuts and folds, you'll have a one-of-a-kind wallet made from your favorite breakfast brand. Makes a unique Father's Day gift and works great for business cards, too. Tutorial by Tiffany Threadgould at RePlayGround!.

Ingredients:
Empty food box - like a cereal box
Elastic cord
Paper template you can download here (Adobe Reader required to view)

Tools:
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler
Paper scoring tool - like a butter knife or bent paperclip small paperpunch (1/8" hole) or tack

Instructions:
1. Cut out the template and place it on top of your box. Trace around the edges.

2. Cut along the lines and punch holes where indicated either with a small paper punch or a tack. If you're using a tack, wiggle the tack in the hole so it's large enough to fit the elastic cord through.

3. Then, place the ruler on top of your cut-out and run your paper scoring tool along the lines. Fold at these lines.

4. Tie a double knot at one end of your cord and slip through hole A with the knot on the inside of the box. Then thread through B, going through the inside of the box and ending on the outside. Next, thread in through C and out through D. Then, thread in through E, and back in through F ending on the inside of the box.

5. Tuck in tabs A and F and fold up the wallet. Then tie a double knot in the end to secure. Make sure the elastic is snug, but not too tight. Slip the elastic over the corners of your wallet and it's ready to be filled with your money, business cards or even coupons to buy more cereal.

For more information on recycled or repurposed goods with a twist, check out RePlayGround! in Brooklyn, NY.

A reader recently contacted me to rave about her latest find. Here's what Laurel Carpenter has to say about Sideshow Stamps:

Do you like retro crafting? The family-owned company Sideshow Stamps has a wacky, fantastic selection of hand-crafted rubber stamps which remind me of Coney Island and 1940s-1950s nostalgia. All of the designs are original and drawn by owners Noah and Jennifer Snodgrass.

One of the featured rubber stamps on their site is the infamous fringed lamp from the movie a Christmas Story! How cool is that?! Their Web site sells a variety of stamps, including images of mermaids, tiki lamps, circus performers, hibiscus flowers, and mod pinup girls. Sideshow stamps come unmounted or mounted for easy use. I also was pleased with the customer service I received from Noah and Jennifer.

Right now, they are having a great special. If you post a card to your blog or Web site using their rubber stamps, you can receive a grab bag of stamps for free. Also, to celebrate the birth of their new baby girl, Noah and Jennifer are offering shipping for $1 for a limited time only. That's a great deal!

I am getting my grab bag in a few days after sending them my Web site, Crafting with an Edge, which includes a sample of something I made with their stamps. To contact me about these cards, card making in general or classes, please send an e-mail to nycpearl2003@yahoo.com.

-- from Laurel Carpenter, NYC

Do you want to rave about your recent handmade purchase? Pop me an e-mail describing your latest find and you may see it here on the blog!

Lip balm is one of my favorite things to make at home. It's quick, easy and enables me to keep my lip balm addiction going strong too.

Last year, I received a sample of soaps from Ayelet, owner and creator, of Sun Kissed Bud bath products, and I enjoyed them immensely. So much so, I mentioned her bathtime treats in our first-ever handmade-holiday guide.

When I started running low on my favorite lip moisturizer, I decided to check out Ayelet's collection of hand-crafted goodies in her online store on Etsy.com, a marketplace for all things handmade.

Sun Kissed Bud offers natural deodorant, soaps made from scratch, hand lotion made with shea butter, and moisturizing lip balms. Sun Kissed Bud products are incredibly fragrant, too. I adore the sweeter scents, such as chocolate mint truffle, bubble gum, sweet pea and banana cream.

To save on cash, I picked up a three-pack where I could pick the scents for a mere $7.50. You may also purchase singles for only $3. What a deal! The best part about this purchase was Ayelet's friendly and professional manner.

For more information about Sun Kissed Bud products, visit online: ayelet17.etsy.com.

Have you taken the pledge to buy handmade? Here's why you should ... buying the wares of a craftsperson or artisan is like investing in their hopes, dreams and creativity. That alone can make a purchase extra-special.

Do you want to rave about your recent handmade purchase? Pop me an e-mail describing your latest find and you may see it here on the blog!

In the room next to the kitchen in her Syosset home, retired high school art teacher Alice Sprintzen keeps an acetylene torch.

She also keeps a drill press, a scroll saw, a flexible shaft, a belt sander and a rolling mill, as well as a rock-polisher, a bench shear and a small anvil.

A window fan ventilates when the torch is going.

Sprintzen is a jeweler, and what was once upon a time a typical suburban breakfast room became her studio 25 years ago when she and her husband, David, took out the wall separating the breakfast room from an adjoining mudroom to enlarge the space to 12 by 11 1/2 feet.

Continue reading this article by Dan Van Benthuysen.

Most of us might change careers a couple of times - but just how many public lives has Commack's own Rosie O'Donnell lived, anyway?

Well, let's see, to name just a few: standup comic, Broadway actor, TV host, over-the-top fan of Tom Cruise, bestselling author ...

... Not to mention willing lightning rod for controversy, from her campy feud with Donald Trump to her vociferous views before leaving ABC's "The View" (just after being named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World: "the TV host who loves a fight").

Whew! And she just turned 46 (in March).

She's also the founder of Rosie's Broadway Kids, a program to bring musical theater to public school students in New York City, and Rosie's for All Kids Foundation, which provides day care and other services to poor children.

Perhaps her favorite role, though, is that of mom - she has two boys and two girls, ranging from around kindergarten age to tween.

And in that role, she's come out with her third book, a big change from the tone of her 2007 tell-all memoir "Celebrity Detox: The Fame Game."

In "Rosie O'Donnell's Crafty U: 100 Easy Projects the Whole Family Can Enjoy All Year Long" (Simon & Schuster, $21.95), Rosie enlists her trademark abbreviations to make a point: u r crafty - i swear - u r

And:
u r art

"Crafts are my way of relaxing," she writes. "My friends say they can tell how stressed I am by the number of craft projects I'm working on." She says she wrote the book, aimed at ages 5 through 12 and their parents, "to inspire families to spend more time together - crafting!"

She helps you set up a craft corner and choose supplies, which are often found objects: bottles, cans, string, newspapers.

The projects are organized by seasons and holidays - "Cheep-Cheep Chicks" for spring; "Way-Cool Painted Sneakers" for summer; "Mummy Dearest" for fall; "Glitter Globes" for winter. There's also a section called "Rainy Day playdate" ("Oink! Meow! Glove Puppets") and "Every Day Is a Decoupage Day" ("Take a Snapshot Tray").

All of which may prove what she writes: "A craft project is a great way for children to explore their creativity, build confidence and learn how to express themselves."

See rosie.com/craftyu for tips and videos in which Rosie (sans makeup; she's just a mom) shows you how.

Yes, you can cans

"Colorful paint and cool trims transform tossables into a pencil holder, a vase for dainties, or a place to stash craft pens. Grown-ups: Teach kids about the joy of recycling an old, clean can into a bright and shiny new thing!"

What you need:

Foam paintbrushes, acrylic craft paints, clean tin cans with labels removed, artist paintbrushes, craft glue, colorful paper trims

How to make:

1.Paint outside of cans using foam brush and craft paint. Let dry.

2.Paint bands of color around the cans using the foam paintbrush and craft paints.

3.Paint stripes, polka dots, pretty flowers, squiggles or anything you like on cans using an artist paintbrush for detailing. Let dry.

4.Apply colorful paper trim with glue along the top and bottom of the can.

- From "Rosie O'Donnell's Crafty U" (Simon & Schuster)

By Peggy Brown, Newsday staff writer

You're invited to take part in watercolor workshops with East End artist Marilyn Gartelmann on April 30th, May 28th and June 18th at the East End Arts Council.

Each workshop will focus on a different technique and skill. Also coming up are Plein Air Watercolor classes with artist, author and illustrator, Mike Killelea. The focus of Mr. Killelea’s classes will be capturing the warmth and color of Long Island’s dazzling spring mornings.

Classes will be held at various locations throughout the East End on Tuesdays from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, now through May 20th. The cost of the class is $157.

Mr. Killelea will also be teaching Twilight Plein Air Painting, also on Tuesdays, from 5 to 8:00 PM, April 15th through May 20th. For more information and a complete listing of classes please contact the Community School of the Arts at 631.369.2171 or visit www.eastendarts.org/education.

With Mother's Day just around the corner, Spring crafts at Lyndhurst, a festival of contemporary craft, art, music and food, offers shoppers the chance to find unique gifts just in time for Mother's Day. This event will be held May 2-4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The show includes one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewelry for mom's luxiorious side; fashion and accessories for her glamourous side; furniture, and home décor pieces, as well as functional and sculptural work in ceramics, glass, metal, painting, photography, wood and mixed media for the mom who keeps a beautiful home.

Despite it's name, the fair offers more than just crafts. Visitors can also purchase specialty foods, participate in children's activities, and enjoy live music all throughout the weekend.

This event is a fundraiser for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It returns to the 67 acre Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown, New York for the 24th year, displaying contemporary work from more than 300 artists and craftspeople from across the country. Collectors, art enthusiasts and discerning shoppers will enjoy the rare opportunity to meet these visionary artists and purchase their latest work.

General admission is $10 per person, Seniors are $9, children ages 6-16 are $4, and children under 6 are admitted free.

For more information: Call (914) 631-4481 or visit www.CraftsAtLyndhurst.com

Got a local craft fair coming up? Click here to let me know about it.

Photo above: Susan Esquivel's Perfection Dwelling

I finally got my tax refund. Hurray!

I must say, I'm pretty proud of myself for doing them myself and itemizing a few deductions to boot! As a reward, I decided to buy a few things on Etsy.com, my favorite Web site for affordable and unique handmade goods.

Here's a look at what I purchased:

Debbie Chialtas is the owner of Soapy Love and sells adorable handmade soaps in the shape of a popsicle! The "soapsicles" come in a variety of colors and scents. Her soapy creations remind me of summers I spent chasing the ice cream truck as a child. For my Etsy purchase, I chose the Squeakymelon soapsicle because of it's sweet scent and bright color. When it arrived, my mailbox smelled like watermelon candy. It's pure heaven on a stick!

Lather up with one her whimsical soaps for only 8 bucks via her Web sites: soapylove.etsy.com or www.soapylove.com.

In addition to soap, I picked up a couple of her soap tutorials to try out at home. I'm always interested in trying new ways to make my own soap. I love her polka-dot and cameo soap tutorials.

Are you looking for an interesting gift? Debbie's soaps would make great wedding favors or stocking stuffers for the holidays.

Did you buy something handmade and want to rave about it? Pop me an e-mail describing your latest handmade purchase and you may see it here on the blog!

In the spirit of Earth Day, just imagine: If you could be any kind of plant, animal or insect, which would it be? Kids can show off their crafty side and design a costume during a workshop from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday at the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City (11 Davis Ave., 516-224- 5800). The workshop, $3, is part of the museum's "Women in Science and Math Series," and afterward, participants will join in a "Mother Earth Parade." Admission is $9 for adults and children, $8 for seniors. For details, go to licm.org.

While trolling the Web for handmade gift ideas, I discovered Peg and her blog IvyArts. She is participating in a pay it forward handmade exchange based on the movie "Pay It Forward."

Here's more information from the IvyArts blog:

It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness will continue to pass it on.

Ivy Arts says she'll make and send a handmade gift to readers who leave a comment on her blog and request to join the PIF exchange. Once you sign up, you must pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I was one of the lucky participants on the Ivy Arts blog and received a pink quilted pillow along with a note saying "enjoy your pay it forward surprise!" I simply adore it!

I think is a great way to share your handmade goodies with others and I would love to offer the same PIF exchange right here on Cheap Thrills. The first three people (spammers not included) to comment to my post and share what they love about The Cheap Thrills blog will get a handmade gift. The handmade gifts will be revealed once we have winners! However, you must pay it forward and offer the same promise of a handmade gift on your own blog or Web site.

Are you ready? Click here to leave a comment!

Please note: Our blog moderates comments and it may take up to 24 hours for your message to get approved. Thanks for your patience.

Crafty mom, TV personality and fellow Long Islander Rosie O'Donnell will be signing copies of her new craft book "Crafty U" on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. at Borders, 1260 Old Country Road in Westbury, according to Rosie.com.

Check out her recent appearance on the Martha Stewart show where she shows Martha how to decorate Keds sneakers with a little craft paint and duct tape. It's a very cute and simple project you can do with your children.

During the craft segment with Martha, Rosie wore an artsy head wrap she's dubbed the "hadIT." When you're crafting and you've just about had it, you pull your hair off your face and get down to business! She even admitted to shaving the back of her head to help it fit on her head! She's one serious crafter! I totally love the idea and may pick one up for myself!

Go to Rosie.com for more details about her new craft book and "hadIT" headgear for crafters.

This week's featured artist stumbled into pottery while taking graduate courses at Hofstra University. She's also an animal lover who shares her home with a cat named Peppermint Patty and a dog called Sailor Moon. Let's meet Monica!

Name: Monica Laine Friedrich, 38
Hometown: Babylon, NY
Occupation: Artist, licensed real-estate saleswoman
Craft: Sculptures
Web sites: www.moonchaser.etsy.com

How did you get into making sculptures?

In 1997, I received a Masters degree in Secondary Education and Certification to teach Art K-12 from Hofstra University. While studying at Hofstra, I had a requirement for one art class. I enrolled in a graduate pottery class with instructor Lilian Dodson. There were many evenings where you could not possibly break me away from the pottery wheel. I was determined to learn how to throw clay on the wheel. I've been hooked on making pottery!

Why do you sculpt mermaids?

I was impressed with how I was able to work with and connect with the clay. I was able to create frogs that looked like they were ready to hop and croak. My strong connection with the ocean lead me to create other aquatic fish and then the big mermaids came from there.

I love to swim and I try to swim every day. Maybe I was a mermaid in another lifetime? Mermaids can be created in so many different ways. I continue to find new poses, expressions and styles of working with the clay. Most of what I do is serendipitous and a lot is learned through trial and error.

My love for the ocean makes it very easy to find sources for inspiration. My mermaids are taking over my home!

What's your best craft tip?

Focus, plan on getting messy, turn up the music and feel the clay.

Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere I go, new ideas come to me. Many times, my ideas come in my dreams or very early in the morning. I look for inspiration in nature while walking in the park and by the ocean. A trip to the Nassau Museum is always a good source. Broadway shows keep my mind stirring.

Just recently, I was driving to a glass studio. I observed beautiful red leaves -- and 'pow!' -- I was inspired to make red coral glass beads. They turned out perfectly.

The holidays motivate me to make really cool costumes. For Halloween 2007, I sculpted a tremendous frog prince. The previous year, I was queen leopard. I looked like I was right out of the Broadway show "The Lion King."

What craft would you like to try next?

I would like to learn how to knit.

Where do you get your sculpture supplies?

Locally, I go to Pearl Paint & Michaels. Online, I visit Arrow Springs because it's a great place for purchasing glass and tools for lampwork. I enjoy sculpting with Paris Craft.

What's your biggest challenge?

Marketing my artwork is difficult because I spend most of my time working in the art studio. It does not leave for time to take my work to many locations. However, I've received a lot of interest on Fire Island.

Do you have any advice for beginners?

Take your time with the clay and listen to your instructor's advice. Watch closely how your instructor handles the clay on the wheel and when you're hand-building. When you are throwing clay on the wheel, try to focus and breathe and don't allow the clay to control you. You should be firm with the clay, yet each time that you bring your hands back to the clay touch it gently.

Spend as much time as you can visiting galleries, museums and craft fairs for inspiration. Don't worry, the ideas will come to you, and even then, don't always go with your first thought. Be clever.

Why do you love making sculptures?

I sculpt because I enjoy it and it makes me happy. It also makes me laugh. I am amazed with the final results and I appreciate the responses that I receive from onlookers while I am building my mermaids.

Where can readers buy your wares?

My pieces can be found online: www.moonchaser.etsy.com

This week's featured artist appeared in our first-ever handmade holiday guide. She's a jewelry maker that finds inspiration in all things, including trash! Let's meet Karen!

Name: Karen Milroy, 33
Hometown: Bohemia, NY
Occupation: Office Manager for WBAB and WBLI
Craft: Hand-crafted jewelry
Web sites: web.mac.com/karenmilroy and www.karenmilroy.com

How did you get into making jewelry?

I have always loved crafts. They provide me with a way of expressing myself artistically that is truly fun and fulfilling. About six years ago, I immersed myself in making jewelry, and instantly I knew that I had found my passion! I got so much positive feedback on my creations that I was inspired to look for new and interesting concepts that transcend traditional jewelery. Recently, I was compelled to take pottery and stained glass classes and found ways to incorporate glass and pottery into my wearable art.

What's your best craft tip?

Try to have patience and keep an open mind. There are so many new and interesting directions you can go with hand-crafted jewelry if you just think about different ways of creating. You can't be afraid to try new things and experiment with non-traditional materials and methods. You take what you've discovered and incorporate it into a new twist on wearable art. I love to watch a new method evolve and to see how each of my concepts relate to each other. Whether it's photos, glass, shells, beads or a combination of methods, every day I feel like a jewelery explorer.

Where do you find inspiration?

I'm inspired by things that are interesting to me, whether its from nature, a store or a pile of trash. My interest in glass creations started when I found an old window frame that someone discarded in a trash pile. I knew when I saw it that I could use it for something, but I wasn't sure exactly what. I ended up creating amazing transparencies that gave the illusion of stained glass. I brought the concept to wearable art, and now I create one-of-a-kind glass photo necklaces that are very unique and have become my signature item.

What craft would you like to try next?

My next step is to try metalsmithing. I am intrigued by the feeling of metal in my hand and how solid and permanent it feels. I know that something I create out of metal will be around for ages. My metallic creations will be the next generation of antiques. It's interesting to me to think about how future generations will perceive the art I'm creating today. Will my art stand the test of time? I don't obsess about that concept, but I must admit that it crosses my mind when I create something that seems to have timeless appeal.

What are your favorite local craft stores?

I mostly shop at A.C. Moore and some local bead stores including Beads & Stitches and Park Ave Beads. I find myself searching for new places to visit each day. I will go to local thrift stores and just walk around until I find something I can create with. I'll even search out bead and craft stores when I go on trips. I love to visit as many bead stores as I can and if I know I'm going on a trip I will google the words "bead stores" in the area to see if I can find new inspiration. I am more into supporting local bead stores and would rather visit them then the typical chain stores.

What's your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge is having a full-time job and finding time to craft and build my Web site. I want to get more into selling my pieces and I find it hard with having a full-time job. My Web site is still a work in progress because you can't actually buy from it. I have my e-mail listed on each page and people can e-mail me with questions or let me know if they are interested in anything. I tell everyone it makes my business a little more personal. On the upside, having a full-time job in a business with over 100 employees gives me a built in client base. At least twice per year I put on a sale at work and everyone is happy to purchase a piece or two.

Do you have any advice for beginners?

Stick to it, don't be afraid to try new things and never get discouraged by the occassional learning curve. The most important part of crafting is doing something that makes you happy and inspires you to create. You have to start small but have big dreams and not be in a rush to get there. If, after a while, you feel that you are no longer intrigued by a particular medium, you can always move on to another until you find the one that will move you to the next level. That is how you find your passion.

Why do you love your particular craft?

I love making jewelry because I know that I can always incorporate other media into it. I do stained glass and pottery and I can utilize those skills to expand on my jewelry pieces. There are no limits. I can always learn something new. My most recent discovery is stamping and it has become my new favorite skill. Now I can incorporate different materials, photos and text into any of my pieces, giving new life to an item and offering a way to provide jewelery with a truly unique personality that is inspirational to it's owner.

For more information on Karen Milroy's jewelry designs, visit her Web sites: web.mac.com/karenmilroy and www.karenmilroy.com

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

Does she need an introduction? Martha Stewart, lifestyle queen of television, magazines, books and just