Katherine Sharpe over at Ready Made posted a great article on it complete with an instructional video!!!!!!!  I love it!!!!!!!!  The instructor on the video is Nina Libin who has been teaching tatting for over 20 years.

I need to find my shuttle and get started again.

FYI – basic tatting equipment can be found in most larger crafting stores, usually over by the embroidery floss area.

Ready Made – Tatting Tutorial with video

I first want to say that the folks over at Cut out and Keep totally ROCK!  They have projects and pics that could keep me busy for days with the talented members there.  I highly recommend signing up there (don’t worry, its fabulously free to do so – and they have a monthly web mag to feast on too!!!!  <3 you guys at Cut out and Keep).

That being said, have you ever needed a gift for someone but had no idea what to give.  If they entertain friends/family or value their wood furniture, this is the project for them.  Shrimp Salad Circus has posted a tutorial on how to make coasters that are also chalk boards.  Forget the wine charms.  Give everyone a coaster and have a cup of chalk and you not only keep friends from mixing up their drinks but protect your furniture too!

All you really need is some cork coasters, chalkboard paint and some accent acrylic paint to make it fun.  Oh yeah, and some real chalk.  I’m thinking hostess gifts, Christmas Prezzies, all with this brilliant idea!
Thank you Shrimp Salad Circus and Cut Out and Keep!

Cut Out and Keep + Shrimp Salad Circus – Cork Chalkboard Coasters

COAK/Shrimp Salad Circus – Chalkboard Coasters

I have my own issues with the commercialization of the holidays but, I really do feel if you craft it, there is more thought and meaning to the gift or the personal accessory.  So it’s okay in my book.

Lavender and Limes has a great little tutorial to make your own coffee cozy that is super easy to make.  She adds a few hand sews a few hearts on it and voila, and seasonal cozy.  Can you see where I’m going with this?  Shamrocks at St Patrick’s Day, eggs and bunnies (ooh, peeps) for Easter, flags for Memorial Day and the 4th of July, Flip Flops for summer… I could keep going on with these.

Lavender and Limes – Coffee Cozy

Normally, I don’t make baked potatoes since I always forget about starting them in the oven until after its too late so I usually make mashed or roast cubed pieces in olive oil and garlic.  The mashed potatoes are usually cooked in the microwave as I dash around to get the rest of the meal competed and I’ve never had any complaints about them.

Jennifer over at CraftSanity has posted not only the directions to make “baked” potatoes in the microwave but has also posted a video tutorial on how to make these bags.  Using your microwave, a paper towel, one of these bags and some potatoes and you can have yummy potato goodness in 4-8 minutes.

Yes, this does require sewing but its very simple so even a beginner could handle.

There’s still plenty of winter left where a quick baked potato would fit the bill.

CraftSanity - Microwave Potato Bag

I originally found this pattern over at Craftzine.com (which is a brilliant site) and discovered Diane Gilleland’s CraftyPod site that she produces.

In it, shows how to take plastic canvas, yarn and a few other items most crafters keep around to make this great crafty caddy that could be customized to meet any crafty (or non-crafty) idea.

They even offer a free pdf pattern and directions to make this.  CraftyPod is a blog and podcast site that fulfills all kinds of crafty-goodness.

Craftzine.org – Plastic Canvas Tool Cozy

CraftPod – Just some really cool crafty stuff.

My four year old loves spelling things out, especially his name.  (Don’t know where the heck he got that from.  Not from me in the least.)

Happy Together has the directions to make these fabric letters in both capital and lower case.  Make them into a banner or let the kids spell all kinds of things (or both).    The possibility are endless!

In the directions, she shows batting (like for quilts) as the middle of the fabric “sandwich” but later she uses felt.  I love felt and have tons of it on hand.

Happy Together gives you the steps and the templates to make this easy project that is sure to be a hit with the young ones!

Happy Together – Rag Quilt Letters

One Pearl Button has posted this self contained, magnetic paper doll set complete with printable paper dolls and where to get all the cool supplies from.  She even tells you what scissors worked well for her and they are only a few dollars!

I love the “old” feel of the dolls that she has but this technique could be used on pretty much any simple paper doll kind of template.

Thanks to One Pearl Button for her adorable Magnetic Paper Doll Kit!

Chez Beeper Bebe has a easy and adorable tutorial on how to make these bean bags complete with templates for both the squares and numbers.  The steps are easy to follow and could be done either by hand or by a beginner on a sewing machine.

I plan on raiding my stash of fabric, hitting up the local Jo-Ann’s and get a quarter yard of anything cute (and on the sale rack) and some of the flour sack fabric I got from family, this will make a great gift to all the little kiddies in my family.  Educational and history, who can ask for more!

Chez Beeper Bebe – Counting Bean Bags

With embroidery, there are many stitches to lean but this is more of a technique or even a styling.  I love the woven look and it is a great stitch to add to any embroiderer’s tool box.

Thank you comfortstitching for providing the step by step way to complete this fill.  There are photos to go with every step and it really helped me figure it all out..

Comfortstiching – filling with backstitch

For those that are not lucky enough to have Cherry Blossoms or those who just wish to keep them around all year, I have found a great tutorial to make your own out of small bits of fabric.  After reading the steps over this seems like a perfect project to do in front of the tv or at a T-Ball game.

Kayka Lou Patterns provides a great tutorial with detailed pictures on how to make these adorable blooms that can go on anything… a cute purse, a headband, a little sundress… the options are endless.  My daughter would love to see them in purple too (she likes to think outside the box sometimes).

Hopefully these will help tie things over until Spring decides to show its face.

Kayka Lou Patterns – How to make Cherry Blossoms.