podcast // very serious crafts is back for season 6

Are you serious about crafts? I may make a lot of things with cute little faces on them, and I may not always take myself seriously, but I'm a VERY serious crafter. So much so that some years back, I started a podcast with my friend Haley called The Very Serious Crafts Podcast.

We took a break after season five, but we're BACK! Haley and I are happy to welcome our new co-host Hannah, and if you listen, you'll learn more about her. You can find us on whatever platform you use to listen to podcasts. Just click the image above to find those places or search for Very Serious Crafts.

If you get as excited about crafting as we do, I promise you'll love this show. It's the funniest serious podcast about crafts you can find!

calendar // july's strawberry rhubarb jam wallpapers

July, July...halfway through the year! It's hard to believe it. But I've been excited for the July calendar wallpaper because I decided to make this jam of the month strawberry rhubarb.

My grandpa always grew rhubarb in the garden and so I have fond memories of all the rhubarb recipes my grandma would make. This seemed like a fitting way to honor Nanny (and Papa!) within this year of canned jams.

So grab a calendar for your favorite device and enjoy this taste of summer!

Download the Desktop Wallpaper

Download the iPhone Wallpaper

Download the iPad Wallpaper

And while we're checking in for a new month, I thought I should share the latest Very Serious Crafts Podcast episode with you! Season 2, episode 13 just dropped today and it's even a strawberry rhubarb kind of color...

Head to Very Serious Crafts to download and listen!

very serious crafts // live in chicago

About a month ago, for the very first time, Heidi of Hands Occupied, Haley of Red-Handled Scissors, and I met up in the same place at the same time. We record the Very Serious Crafts Podcast together, but we're usually in our separate homes in separate cities.

But on this occasion, we got to hang out and then head to the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. We recorded Season 2, Episode 4 of the Very Serious Crafts Podcast with a live audience and it was so fun!




Okay, so the truth is that in addition to it being fun, it was also a little scary and awkward at times. This is what happens when you work at home with minimal real human contact. Haha!



But anyway, if you'd like to listen to this live recording, it's available to download now at VerySeriousCrafts.com or on your favorite Podcast app. Be sure to check the show notes too, so you can see the resources and fun vintage items we shared.

After the recording stopped, that wasn't the end of our day. Nope! The second half of the program we hosted was a crafty make and take!





Our project was a felt coffee cuff, embellishing them with three different techniques. I worked with folks on embroidery, Heidi demonstrated latch hook (yes, on a coffee cuff!), and Haley showed how to add English paper piecing.

My cuff looks like this:



I started with just the Serious Crafter text and the little border. In fact, I brought in Serious Crafter patterns for everyone! But then I decided to add some flowers. And I'm still adding them, filling in a rainbow of simple lazy daisies.

And I thought, maybe you'd like to make a Serious Crafter coffee cuff, or at least an embroidered patch of some kind!

DOWNLOAD THE SERIOUS CRAFTER COFFEE CUFF PATTERN

To make the cuff, cut the template shape out of thick felt. Fold the ends together and sew straight across.

Print or trace the Serious Crafter pattern onto Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy. You can also use tracing paper for this, then tear it away after.

Embroider through the felt and pattern. I used three strands of embroidery floss throughout the design. When securing the thread on the back of the felt, you should be able to turn it partially inside out to make it easier to work.

When you're finished, soak away the Fabri-Solvy and let the cuff dry.

Now you can let the world know that you're a very serious crafter just like us!



I mean, we're mostly very serious.

Note: The coffee cuff pattern is based on a Martha Stewart pattern with some slight adjustments. All photos (except the pic of the library and my coffee cuff pics) were taken by Heidi Gustad and her sweet husband!

podcast // moths, mending, and making on a deadline

This week, episode 3 of The Very Serious Crafts Podcast dropped. And as has been the case with each episode so far, I laughed through almost the whole thing. Well, except for when I was horrified. For that to make sense, all I can say is, give it a listen.

In "Moths, Mending, and Making on a Deadline", we chat about the things we're excited about and some tales of woe. And we invite you to grab of cup of coffee (maybe even a slice of cake) and join us. Oh, and be sure to check out the show notes, where you'll find more info and some fun and interesting links.

If you haven't listened to my new podcast with Red-Handled Scissors and Hands Occupied, episode 3 is a great place to jump in (and then maybe go back and listen to the first two episodes too!).



Of course, we'd love it if you subscribed so you don't miss a single episode. New episodes release every other Monday, and you can listen with a whole bunch of podcasting apps and feeds. You'll find them all on our website.

announcing the very serious crafts podcast

Folks, I started a crafting podcast. A Very Serious Crafts podcast, to be specific.

This wasn't really in my plan for this year, or even anytime really. But it happened, and here's how:

About six weeks ago, Haley from Red-Handled Scissors tweeted about her desire for a crafting podcast that was more conversational and not interview-focused. She said she wasn't really up for making said podcast though. I chimed in that her idea was actually something I could see myself doing (especially since my brother has been trying to get me to do a podcast for a while now).

The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. And although Haley said she didn't want to start something like this, I kept talking with her about it. She said she would consider participating, and before long, we decided that this was officially going to be a thing...with the two of us working together.

But we also knew that it would be helpful and more fun to have another voice in the mix. Independently, we each thought of Heidi from Hands Occupied. And when we asked if she'd be interested, she said yes!

And thus, the Very Serious Crafts Podcast was born.

Haley, Heidi, and I are all very serious about crafting because it's our hobby. It's our work. It's pretty much our life (you know, with family, pets, and a few other things thrown in!).



You can tell how serious this podcast is because I wear pink cat ear headphones when we record. It's very serious. But while we're serious about crafting and podcasting, we're also a little sarcastic and we like to laugh.

In each episode, we talk about what we're currently making or some of our favorite crafting stories and obsessions. We hope that when people listen, it feels a little like joining your friends for a crafting session at the local coffee shop.

The first episode is available now, and new episodes will drop every other Monday.

We hope you'll give it a listen and consider subscribing (we're on iTunes, Google Play, PodBean, SoundCloud, Spreaker, and Stitcher (if only because it has a crafty name!)

I really didn't see this podcast coming, but I can say with full confidence that I'm seriously excited about where this adventure is heading!