Arts and Crafts

La Reunion Time

[Trendzilla] Rebecca Lavoritano's accessories almost make themselves

Late to the Revolution Makes Crafty Headphones

[Trendzilla] Anaheim duo Traci and Patrick Medeiros-Bagan rock the DIY circuit with their crocheted masterpieces

Love to Craft OC

OC Great Park

Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Festival

Buffalo and Main

Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Festival

Marine Stadium

Pickin' With the Knitters

Drummer DJ Bonebrake on how this X/the Blasters side project made it cool for punk rockers to like country

Gettin' Made: Creatopia Utopia

​A couple of months ago, I opened my front door to a huge box of amazingness from the folks at Xyron. They wanted me to try out the Creatopia machine, see what I thought about it and, more important, see what I could do with it. After the jump: What is this Creatopia thing, and w ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Handmade Gifts for Procrastinators

The scenario: it's almost Christmas Eve, and you haven't even started shopping for friends and family yet. And while time is short, you'd love to give handmade presents to everyone. Don't you worry, there's still hope! A quick jaunt to Etsy and a search for the word PDF later, and you're up to your ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Knit One, Cure Too This Weekend

Tomorrow, over 100 knitters, survivors and supporters in pink Santa hats will join Spa Gregorie's Day Spa and Salon to converge upon Mainplace Mall in Santa Ana for the third annual Knit One, Cure Too charity event. Join them for a day of knitting to produce scarves that will raise money for breast ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Make (and Take) a Chill Pill This Weekend

I spotted a fun class called out on the Craft Magazine blog today. If the thought of the upcoming holidays is stressing you out, you need to sign up for this weekend's Chill Pill knitting class taught by Ben Cuevas at The Little Knittery store in LA. Picture from the Craft Magazine websi ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Craft Books for Holiday Entertaining

I got a chance to check out a few new craft books recently that are perfect for upcoming holiday entertaining fun! Join me as I review Jurassic Towel Origami by Alison Jenkins from Andrews McMeel Publishing, along with Handmade Living: A Fresh Take on Scandinavian Style by Lotta Jansdotter and ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Knitting Pattern Fit Workshop at Yarn Lady Thursday

One of the most difficult things to wrap your head around as a knitter is how fit works. You can spend tons of hours knitting up your new favorite sweater, only to realize months later when you finish that it just doesn't fit. (Making it your new favorite item you never wear in your d ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Read All About It!

It's book review time again, crafters! This week we're taking a look at three titles from Chronicle Books--Paper Craft: 25 Charming Gifts, Accents, and Accessories to Make From Paper by Minhee & Truman Cho, Every Day's a Holiday by Heidi Kenny, and Silhouette Art by Vana Chupp. Plus, enter to wi ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Bag a New Purse This Weekend in Seal Beach

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, make sure to check out the Seal Beach Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. While you're hanging out at the festival taking place near the pier, be sure not to miss Seal Beach artisan Seth Wegter's h ... More >>

Gettin' Made: September Craft Classes

If you're big on making handmade presents for Christmas, or if you've never done that kind of thing before and are interested in doing it this year, September is a good time to get crafting. Trust me, the last thing your grandma wants is a hastily slapped-together Ikea frame with seashells glued on ... More >>

Gettin' Made: New Critter Kits Available from Morehouse Farms!

Knitters, if you haven't seen the Morehouse Farm online shop you're missing out. The New York-based company is not only known for including pictures of their adorable farm animals in e-mail updates, but also for offering some of the cutest animal-themed knitting patterns around. (A few Christmases a ... More >>

50th Annual Art-Craft Fair

San Clemente Art Gallery

Tricky Dick Nixon Quote of the Week!

Sweaty Dick​"Think about it. I am not a Nixon loyalist. I am not even a Republican. I am gay. I am from Canada. I was 12 years old when Richard Nixon resigned."--Timonty Naftali, director of Orange County's Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, in a recent New York Times story about a ... More >>

Gettin' Made: That's Despicable (Me)!

If you're a fan of the new movie Despicable Me, get out your knitting needles and crochet hooks. I spotted links to free patterns showing how to make the little Minions over on the Craft Magazine blog recently, and I had to share!Crochet Minion by Wolfdreamer​Linda Potts from the Wolfdreamer ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Yarn Lady Takes it Online

Have you ever been to the super-cool yarn paradise known as Yarn Lady? I've only had the opportunity to visit once, and it was amazing. Yarn, needles, embellishments, supplies, books as far as the eye could see. The only problem? I live in Long Beach, and Yarn Lady is in Laguna Hills - unfortunately ... More >>

Gettin' Made: I've Got Big (Dryer) Balls

Crafty friends, I'm sure I'm not the only one out there that has a yarn stash that is slowly but surely resembling an episode of Hoarders. ​ Like many of you, my party bucket of yarn has steadily gained momentum through fiber gifts from family and friends, yarn swaps with my knitting gr ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Blowout Yarn Sale at Liscat Tonight

As a member of Long Beach's Stitch 'n' Beach group, I hear things from time to time. Interesting things. Things you the crafting public need to know about. I'm not talking about the lively discussion we distinguished ladies had a couple of weeks back about a variety of bodily functions. I'm talking ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Apply to Vend at OC Handmade Brigade's Block Party!

The Handmade Brigade of Orange County is cooking up their first ever Block Party indie event in downtown Santa Ana, and they're looking for your vendor applications! ​ After the jump, details on the event and how to submit your application.

Gettin' Made: And Gettin' Aware

Today I'm going to play the enabler here for all you knit and crochet yarnophiles out there:  Have you seen the book AwareKnits by crafty superstar Vickie Howell and equally crafty cowriter Adrienne Armstrong? (You may have heard of Adrienne's husband Billy Joe Armstrong from a little band call ... More >>

Gettin' Made: State of the Stitch Nation Address

If you took a look at my pictures from the Craft & Hobby Association's trade show in January, you may remember this little gem, which was follwed by a tweet about how I totally geeked out when I met Stitch 'N' Bitch author Debbie Stoller. Debbie Stoller at the Craft and Hobby Association ... More >>

Gettin' Made: CHA Craft Supershow Revisited

Ohhhhh, Craft Supershow. You came and gave us an overload of make and takes and craft celebrity sightings, and then you left without even saying goodbye. Okay, maybe you did say goodbye. But I'm sure you also left a large portion of the southern California crafty community tired, happy an ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Oh May, Oh My!

Look, I'll be honest with you. It's more than a little irritating that it's early January and people are out and about wearing short sleeves and such in southern California. Where's the blizzards? Where's the less than 70 degree weather, even? I'm whining because of Etsy shops like OhMay. Chock full ... More >>

Gettin' Made: January Craft Class Schedules

It's a new year, which is a great time to expand your crafty arsenal with some new techniques We've got you covered--by the end of this post you'll know where you can learn how to knit, sew or even how to recognize the edible plants in your neighborhood travels. Isn't it high time you learned ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Knit One, Cure Too

The holidays are supposed to be about sharing good will (and a boozy eggnog or two) with others - and it's always nice when you can use your crafty talents to help a great holiday cause as well! This Friday from 4-7pm, Spa Gregorie's and Mainplace Mall in Santa Ana are proud to host the second annua ... More >>

Gettin' Made: and Makin' Magic

Mama's Magic Studio is the work of stay-at-home mom Jen Johnson from up north in San Jose. When she's not chasing after the little ones, she's crafting up a storm for her Etsy shop. Autumn Sunshine bracelet by Jen Johnson of Mama's Magic Studio​ I know it feels like far from autumn during t ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Do You Feel Lucky?

I met Kayte Turner at her Handmade District craft fair earlier this year, and have always been impressed with just how much time and energy she spends giving back to the community, while still having time to create one of a kind bags, bike basket liners (I have one!) and coasters for her i ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Dirty Little Crafting Secrets

Ok it's time to 'fess up. I'm afraid you might think less of me, but here goes. When I'm knitting, I almost never do a swatch to measure my gauge before I start a project. If you're not a knitter, let me cue you in. A swatch gauge is an important part of starting a project--it helps you figure ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Burn, Baby Burn... Some Candles!

Are you one of those people that keeps candles around the house without burning them? Wait, really? You are? What're you saving them for? Seriously, you're missing out. Today OC Weekly chats with John Sutton of Maddie Kates hand-poured soy candles - rumor is he has over 400 different candle s ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Everything and the Kitchen Sink Dyeworks

When you hear the word yarn, do you automatically think of Red Heart? Sure, 100% acrylic's definitely got its perfect uses, but I think you'll back me up when I say it can be less than a joy to work with. If you've never used 100% wool (or cotton or other natural fibers), you're totally missing out ... More >>

Crochet Headband Workshop

The Kids Are Alright

To Do Tonight - 6/25

Knitting for Beginners Workshop, 6:30 p.m.You're never too old to take up knitting. Hell, everyone needs scarves. And socks. People need socks like they're going out of style. And it's good to keep your hands busy. After all, idle hands are the devil's playground! Consider yourself warned!!The Kids ... More >>

Patchwork Arts Fest

Road Less Traveled

Monster Egg Hunt

Muckenthaler Cultural Center

Fullerton Market

Read Across America

Barnes and Noble

Night Owls

Santa Ana Zoo in Lights

LowBallVideoChatter: John Lennon, "Instant Karma"

28 years gone today . . . Yes, that is indeed a blindfolded Yoko rocking the knitting needles. It's art, y'know . . . Also: I'm avoiding the obvious "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" clip, because all the YouTube ones are supremely cheesy . . .

Holiday in the Harbor

Holiday in the Harbor

Because You're Ugly: Knitting in Biology 101

Okay, so I admit I never did get to dissect a lab rat or frog for high school biology—though, I did have my go at a formaldehyde-soaked mink and fetal pig, which wasn't nearly as disgusting as I thought it'd be—and I never did opt for the conscientious alternate assignment to write a 50-page res ... More >>

To Do Tonight - 10/22

COOKING: CHARCUTERIE, 6:30pm Learn pates and terrines. Sur la Table, 832 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach, (949) 640-2330 www.surlatable.turnstilesystems.com/ProgramDetail.aspx/771020 KNITTING WORKSHOP, 7:30pm Get your knit on every Monday. Free knitting class. All levels of knitting. Just bring your n ... More >>

Because You're Ugly: Tube Scarves

Now that it's technically autumn, the weather should be cooling off significantly (really, any day now...). But just to keep you ahead of the game, tube scarves are a sweet take on the old fashioned scarf, just pop it on and go. I can never decide how to wear the ends of a traditional scarf anywa ... More >>

Wanda Brainard

The knitting instructor shares some of her favorite things

If I Were a Rich Girl . . .

Being fabulous at the St. John Knits fashion show

Flying at 30,000 Feet . . .

. . . Without leaving the ground or entering the terminal