Ibechaobi Leishangthem (Ibe to her friends) moved into her house in Grimes with her family in October of 2020. In the middle of the pandemic, the Manipur, India native was looking for something to do that would also make their new house feel a little more like home. So she turned to basket-making. Not long […]
crafts
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Macrame: That ’70s home decor trend is groovy again
Disco may have died, but another quintessential part of the ’70s is making a comeback in today’s homes: the art of macrame. Macrame is a type of textile using decorative knotting techniques. The primary knots are square knots and different combinations of half hitches, or simple overhand knots. It originated in 13th century Arabia, eventually […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Make a pop-up card for your valentine at the Friday Night Craft Party
Friday Night Craft Party: Pop-Up Valentines Home Ec – Friday, Feb. 5, 6-8 p.m. Join paper-crafters for a pop-up card-making party at Home Ec in Iowa City on Friday night. Instructor Emily Martin, who also teaches at the University of Iowa Center for the Book, will show crafty students simple ways to cut paper to […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Crafty: Knot your average plant holder
Macramé is a knotting art that dates to the 13th century, and while it has been popular for a while, it is definitely having a moment. Hanging planters made from knotted rope can be found in the home decor departments of big box stores and hipster retailers alike. But macramé hanging planters are cheap and easy to make on your own; they’re also a great way step up your balcony, patio garden or living room.
Posted inUncategorized
Crafty: Spice up your invites with homemade envelopes
Photos by Frankie Schneckloth The summer party prep series concludes with instructions for making your very own lined envelopes. Even if you never plan to host a dinner party, you’ve probably been invited to someone’s barbecue or pool party. I won’t go all Emily Post on you, but handwritten thank-you’s are always correct and appreciated. […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Crafty: Crown your guest of honor with a ring of blooms
Supplies floral wire (22 gauge) heavy wire floral tape assorted flowers and greenery (I used a variety of blooms in differing textures and sizes and selected one statement flower to be the focus. Alternatively, you could fill the whole crown with big, bold blooms for a very dramatic look.) sharp scissors small vase with water […]
Posted inFood & Drink, Print Edition
Crafty: Eins, zwei, drei, apfelwein time!
On a trip to Germany a few springs ago, I fell in love with apfelwein—a traditional German apple cider. My travelling companions and I spent two weeks drinking delicious bottles of super dry apfelwein that the mother of our host made by hand. She had spent the previous fall pressing apples harvested from her family orchard and making apfelwein that fermented in her cellar over the winter. By the time the weather was warm, the apfelwein was ready to enjoy.
Posted inFood & Drink
Crafty: Homemade Doughnuts are the perfect cold-weather breakfast treat
Sunday is the best day to tackle a crazy recipe, right? I love a good doughnut and I have wanted to attempt a batch at home for some time. When I finally decided…
Posted inArts & Entertainment
An interview with local jewelry maker Lindsay Chastain
Lindsay Chastain, 25, works hard managing the Bluebird Diner in Iowa City, and in her off-hours, she’s involved with jewelry design (not to mention fashion, a two-piece band dubbed “We Shave,” movies and an extensive taxidermy collection). Lindsay hand makes her jewelry — sold at White Rabbit and available online at Sauvaged Jewelry. Her pieces […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
What a Load of Craft: Reigning DIY royalty to display their handmade holiday wares this Saturday
Chances are if you’ve lived in or been around Iowa City for a while, you’ve heard rumor of What a Load of Craft (WALOC)–our local, cutting-edge…
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Art for everyone: Eastside Artists’ Holiday Show and Thieves’ Market set for this weekend
The Iowa City Eastside Artists’ annual Holiday Show will be held this weekend at the Masonic Lodge, located across from the Iowa City Public Library…
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Crafty: DIY Notebooks for the new school year
Photos by Frankie Schneckloth When it came time to shop for school supplies, I never chose the super splashy Lisa Frank folders and notebooks. Ever the organizer, I always went for plain colored folders and notebooks that color coordinated to make changing subjects a breeze. I knew if they ripped or I needed a replacement […]
