Cats and Dogs Rule!

This is just my opinion (I have no scientific data to support it) but I think that the vast majority of people love cats or dogs, or both!  That's why my friend Susan and I have just opened sign-ups for a new swap on Craftster called "I Love Cats or Dogs".  If you are already an established member of Craftster, I invite you to sign up.  If you're not, go ahead and start your Craftster profile so you will be ready for our next swap!

I'm excited to craft for this swap, and to see what everyone else makes, because there are so many different directions in which the crafters could go with this theme--we can use any medium, and make any item that we think our partner would like.  In the picture above you can see several cat pincushions/stuffies I have received in swaps (thanks wendiek, onegroovyday, and pjr107!), plus the beautiful painting of my favorite cat ever, Toulouse, which my daughter made for me for Christmas two years ago (thanks, Jenna!)

I've always found that dog and cat-themed purses (like the blue one above, and the two below that I just made this week) sell very quickly at craft shows and the local store that carries my work.  People just love cats and dogs!

Right, Q-Tip?

Right, Suki and Sake?

Right, Juniper?

RIGHT!

Mollie Makes

About six or eight months ago, I noticed this new crafty magazine called  Mollie Makes.  It's fabulous!

On the cover there is always a big picture of a wonderful, hand-crafted something-or-other, like the crocheted veggies, knit mug cozy, and sewn journal covers on the magazines above.  The thing that made me buy my first issue was the craft kit attached to the cover--every issue has something new!

The latest issue that I have gotten, below, has a package of exclusive ribbon instead of a craft kit.  I'm a sucker for a freebie, and although I know I'm paying for it in the price of the magazine (which isn't cheap--$12 in the U.S.), I still feel like I'm getting a gift.

This magazine is printed in the U.K., so some of the advertisements are for stores I don't have access to, but it is still really fun to see those stores! 

Each issue has pages like the ones below, which showcase crafts and products of interest to those of us who are crafty-minded.  I get inspired every time I  look at it!

Every issue also has patterns and directions to make different things, like these crocheted wrist warmers that were featured on the cover...

or tattoo-inspired embroidery patterns.

This magazine feels new and fresh and "now".  If you are interested in crafts and crafting, you will probably love this magazine as much as I do.  I buy it for myself as a special treat!