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Giveaway: Craft Corps

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We are halfway through our month’s worth of giveaways for National Craft Month. Lark Crafts generously offered several book titles to our readers with a new book giveaway each week.

This week Lark brings us Craft Corps: Celebrating the Creative Community One Story at a Time by Vickie Howell. In this book, Vickie not only interviews 30 professional crafters, but also speaks with several amateur craftspeople. This book documents how social networking sites, groups like Stitch ’n’ Bitch, and alternative sales outlets such as Etsy have helped create a close community of crafters passionate about their work and each other.

HOW TO ENTER
Simply leave a comment on this post and tell us how you network with other crafters and how it has helped you!  Tell us all about it before March 23rd at midnight CST!

ELIGIBILITY
As much as we would love to include our Canadian and international friends I’m afraid this giveaway is restricted to those with a U.S. mailing address. If you live outside of the U.S. but have an address within the U.S. that we can ship to then you’re in! Otherwise, we truly apologize. You must be 18 or older to enter. Winner will be randomly selected on March 30th and notified via email. Winner will have 72 hours to respond with their shipping address, otherwise an alternate winner will be drawn. Good luck!

Please note, all prizes will be shipped at the conclusion of our National Craft Month celebration. Winners should allow 4-6 weeks for delivery after April 1, 2011.

Keep your eyes peeled for more fun to celebrate National Craft Month!

Comments

  3. I network with other crafters mostly through blogging. but also with a few other sahms in my area.

  4. This is so right up my alley! My craft community exists both online and in the real world, and the inspiration I get from both is invaluable.

  9. I network through blogs and I’m also lucky enough to work with some hard-core crafters who keep me in the loop on bunches of craft stuff.

  10. I network through Twitter. I have met so many other crafters that I never would have had the opportunity to meet before, people from my own community and people from other countries! I get ideas for projects every day by looking at what other people are doing or what they are recommending. Twitter has opened up a huge world for crafters and I am honored to be a part of it!

  11. I net work thought IC3 Ipswich craft chocolate and chat . we get together once a month and share our inspirations.

  12. I go to my church for quilting and to the senior center for knitting and crochet and the library for knitting. I guess I am the old fashion network crafter, except for this blog!

  13. I belong to several local groups that knit, crochet, craft, etc. Plus, I love blogging and reading about different ideas. Ravelry is also my friend!

  15. I network through blogs. I love looking through the various craft linkies and posting my own! It has helped me come up with a million new ideas!
    maryw1981 at yahoo dot com

  16. If I didn’t have other crafters to turn to then I would have a huge pile of unfinished projects. They have saved me many of times.

  17. I love to learn from other crafters. I take small, inexpensive craft classes at my local Jerry’s Artarama and always come away learning a ton of new stuff and enjoying my time with like-minded people.

  18. Ooh sounds like a good read. I constantly read craft websites. I am going to my first craft corner this morning, can’t wait.

  19. I belong to yahoo groups of people who do the same crafts I do . These groups help each other to learn the crafts do exchanges and swaps. They have groups for new commers to the crafts and groups for people who have done the crafts for a long time. I have l;earned a lot from them and made many friends.

  20. I network on FB and craftster.org. KNITTY GRITTY and Vickie are the reason that I taught myself to knit.

  21. I network through the blogging world and yahoo groups, very easy to keep up with everything new!!
    Thanks 🙂

  22. I network with knitters and tatters through ravelry and my blog. I do really love Craftgossip and craftbits for ideas and help tho!

  24. I network on Facebook, Ning groups, and blogs. Facebook is a great way to reach a lot of people quickly – while joining (and participating!) in a Ning group means a closer atmosphere. Sometimes FB can feel like you have to shout to be heard – Nings are more like being at a quiet gathering.

    Thank you – and Vickie does GREAT work!!

  25. This comp is right up my street! I seek advice and ideas both online and at the various local art groups and classes I attend, for example, currently I attend a pottery class, water colour class, a general art class (where we share ideas and try new things, and a knit and knatter group! I also follow several art and craft blogs, like this one! I also teach myself from online resources and library books and I also subscribe to several craft magazines! I spend a fortune on my hobby but it is worth it!

  26. This book sounds fantastic! I have been following various craft blogs and keeping in touch with many crafters via Craftser, Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, and Swap Bot. Being active in a craft community has helped me grow as a crafter and given me constant inspiration.

  27. I network both online and off with other crafters and glass artists. My husband and I even spent our honeymoon at a getaway for mosaic artists we had met online in Canada!

  28. I’m much better at networking with other crafters online than I am online–with the exception of FaceBook fan pages that is. I’m a member of The Soundry in Northern Virginia, which includes an open shared studio space in addition to a cafe, gift shop, and gallery. I go to the Soundry to work on projects because it enables me to interact with artists who work in different mediums than I do, and I find it inspiring.

  29. I network through blogs, forums, and places like this craft gossip. Facebook, twitter, and e-mails.

  31. I read as many blogs in a day as my time will allow, also joined crafts groups on Flickr

  32. This sounds very interesting! I have to admit, in my short time in the crafting blogosphere, people have been overwhelmingly kind and supportive, as well as helpful.

  33. I use the power of technology most of the time, but I do have several friends that get together several times of year to craft, network and have fun.

  36. My networking is mostly done through facebook and blogs. There are so many crafty people out there – I love to share my work with others and get great ideas from them!

  37. My blog, Etsy forums, FB and twitter. It seems like you don’t even need to look for it. I just stuble onto many forums searching on a topic I have a question about!

  40. I sometimes get CBFB (crafters brain freeze block) and then turn to a blog or a magazine for inspiration or spring board,

  41. Vickie is my Home Girl! I love her projects and have watche dher brilliance my whole life. I hope I win. <3

Have you read?

Handmade Pretend Play Food Ideas For Kids’ Kitchens, Classrooms And Crafty Grandparents

There is something ridiculously sweet about handmade pretend play food. Maybe it is the tiny felt pancakes with pretend syrup, or the little crochet strawberries that somehow make a toy kitchen feel like a five-star café. Whatever it is, pretend play food has that lovely mix of nostalgia, creativity, and practical play value that makes it a winner for parents, teachers, grandparents, and anyone who has ever looked at a pile of felt scraps and thought, “I could make something cute with that.”

I have always loved crafts that do more than just sit on a shelf looking pretty. Felt food, crochet play food, and DIY toy kitchen pieces are the sort of projects that get used again and again. They become part of café games, teddy bear picnics, classroom market stalls, homeschool lessons, pretend restaurants, and rainy-day play corners. And unlike plastic play food, handmade pretend food can be made in exactly the colours, sizes, and styles you want. You can stitch up a healthy salad, a plate of pancakes, a bag of chips, or even a sushi platter without having to explain to anyone why your craft room now looks like a miniature supermarket exploded.

These pretend play food ideas are especially lovely for preschool dramatic play, classroom role-play areas, therapy craft sessions, and handmade gifts for younger children. Many of them are simple enough for confident beginners, and several are perfect stash-busting projects if you have felt sheets, odd yarn balls, embroidery thread, buttons, beads, or batting tucked away in one of those “I’ll use it one day” containers. No judgement here. I have several.

Below you will find a mix of CraftBits pretend food tutorials, CraftGossip play food inspiration, and a few extra handmade food projects from around the web. Think felt food patterns, crochet play food, toy kitchen accessories, pretend café props, and soft handmade pieces that little hands can use over and over again.

Felt And Crochet Pretend Play Food Projects To Make

Felt Food Pretend Play Pancakes – CraftBits
 These felt pancakes are such a classic pretend breakfast idea, complete with butter and syrup details. They are perfect for a play kitchen, classroom breakfast station, or a handmade gift basket for a child who loves cooking games. I especially like that they are soft, simple, and easy to stack, because children do love piling things dramatically onto tiny plates.

Felt Food Pop Tarts – CraftBits
 These felt Pop Tarts are a sweet little project for pretend bakeries, café play, and classroom dramatic play corners. You can make them in pink strawberry, chocolate, blueberry, or birthday cake colours, then add stitched sprinkles for a safer finish with younger children. They are also a great beginner sewing project because the shapes are nice and simple.

Pretend Play Felt Salad – CraftBits
 This felt salad idea is wonderfully open-ended, which makes it perfect for classrooms and homeschool activities. Children can mix lettuce, tomatoes, capsicum, mushrooms, cheese, croutons, and all sorts of pretend toppings while learning about food groups and colours. It is also a clever way to use up small felt scraps that are too good to throw away but too tiny for bigger projects.

Felt Food Bag Of Chips – CraftBits
 This one is a fun addition to a pretend picnic, play shop, or toy lunchbox setup. The little felt chips and Velcro-style bag make it feel interactive, which is always a bonus when you are crafting for children who like opening, closing, sorting, and serving. It is a cheeky little project and would be adorable alongside pretend sandwiches or burgers.

Tea Bag Made Of Felt – CraftBits
 A felt tea bag is such a charming addition to a pretend café, afternoon tea tray, or doll tea party. This is a lovely low-cost project, and you could easily make a whole set with different coloured tags for pretend herbal teas. I can just imagine a child carefully serving tea to a row of dolls while taking the whole thing very seriously.

Strawberry Crochet Pattern – CraftBits
 These crochet strawberries are perfect for pretend fruit baskets, market stall play, or adding to a handmade picnic set. They are small enough to use up leftover yarn and cute enough to become appliques, keychains, or decorations as well. Make a handful in different reds and pinks and suddenly you have a whole punnet of handmade play food.

Sushi Free Crochet Pattern – CraftBits
 Crochet sushi is one of those pretend play food ideas that feels a little unexpected and very fun. It is a great project for children who enjoy restaurant play or pretend takeaway counters, and it adds a nice bit of variety beyond the usual cakes and sandwiches. This would make a brilliant handmade gift for a child with a toy kitchen that already has the basics.

Sew A Felt Food Picnic Set – CraftGossip
 A felt picnic set is such a practical handmade play idea because it can be packed into a basket, taken to the lounge room, or used for pretend outdoor adventures. This CraftGossip feature is perfect for anyone wanting to make a full little set rather than just one food item. It would also be gorgeous as a birthday gift with a small gingham cloth and a few toy plates.

Pretend Play Spaghetti And Meatballs – CraftGossip
 Pretend spaghetti is wonderfully silly in the best possible way. The felt noodles make this project quick, tactile, and very appealing for little chefs who like stirring and serving meals. It is also a great project for using up long strips of yellow felt that might otherwise end up in the scrap bin.

30+ Pizza Crafts And Activities – CraftGossip
 Pizza is always a winner for pretend play because children can build, sort, count, and customise their own toppings. This CraftGossip roundup leans beautifully into pizza-themed crafts and activities, making it handy for classrooms, food units, Italy-themed lessons, or pizza party play. A felt pizza station is one of those projects that children keep coming back to.

16 Free Felt Vegetable Patterns And Sewing Tutorials – The Yellow Birdhouse
 This is a lovely resource if you want to build out the healthy side of a pretend play food collection. Felt vegetables are great for market stalls, toy kitchens, and food sorting games, and they are also a good way to teach children the names and colours of different produce. A basket of handmade veggies always feels wholesome, doesn’t it?

DIY Felt Play Food Burger And Fries – VELCRO Brand
 A felt burger and fries set is perfect for pretend cafés, BBQ play, and restaurant role-play. The separate burger pieces make it especially good for stacking and order-taking games, which children seem to love endlessly. This is a fun one if you want a project that feels playful and familiar.

DIY Felt Play Food – Crafting Cheerfully
 This felt play food collection is full of everyday kitchen staples like fruit, vegetables, and bread. It is the sort of project that could grow slowly over time as you add one or two pieces each weekend. I like projects like this because they do not need to be made all at once; the collection can build as your felt stash allows.

Felt Play Food Tutorials – AppleGreen Cottage
 This roundup-style resource includes several free felt play food ideas, especially fruit and vegetable pieces. It is a handy one for beginners who want approachable handmade toy food without getting too fiddly. These smaller felt food pieces would be lovely in a toy grocery basket or pretend lunchbox.

Play Food Knitting And Crochet Patterns – DROPS Design
 For knitters and crocheters, this play food pattern collection is a treasure trove of soft toy food ideas. You will find fruits, vegetables, burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, sushi, and more, which makes it a good stop if you prefer yarn over felt. These projects are also lovely for using up little leftovers from bigger crochet and knitting projects.

Tips For Making Pretend Play Food Last Longer

When making handmade pretend play food for younger children, keep safety in mind. Avoid loose beads, tiny buttons, or glued-on decorations if the pieces will be used by toddlers or in a busy classroom. Stitched details are usually the safest and strongest choice.

Felt is lovely because it does not fray, cuts cleanly, and is forgiving if your stitching is not perfect. Crochet play food is wonderful because it is soft, washable when made carefully, and has that squishy handmade charm children love. Store finished pretend food in baskets, small fabric bags, toy crates, or thrifted trays so children can easily set up their own café, shop, picnic, or kitchen.

Handmade pretend play food is one of those crafts that quietly earns its keep. It encourages imaginative play, fine motor skills, sorting, counting, storytelling, and social play, all while giving us grown-ups a very good excuse to sit with a cup of tea and stitch tiny pancakes. Honestly, there are worse ways to spend an afternoon.