This weekend I attended the Grand Opening of the brand new Michaels store in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I know it sounds a bit weird to get so excited about a store opening, but you have to understand, living in the city there are NO big craft stores. There are a few pricey specialty stores scattered about  (specialty yarn shops, fine arts supply stores) and particular districts, like the Garment District where you can get beads and fabric, but I cannot think of one place in the city where you can get a wide array of arts and crafts projects all in one place.

It's also pretty difficult to find kid-friendly items like tempera paint and even a wide selection of crayons or markers -- you have to hit the drug stores, office supply stores, or one of the few fine art stores that carries kids' stuff to find those types of items. Forget about trying to find craft foam or pom-poms! It's like trying to hunt down Sasquatch!

Growing up on Long Island, huge super big craft stores were places I knew very well, so needless to say I was excited there now was a Michaels just a train ride away.

The Grand Opening was bustling, with lots of parents with kids, but also a lot of older adults, and a TON of people with dogs! (The Michaels PR rep who graciously showed me around commented that you probably never see in the suburban stores of my childhood!) The store was stocked with just as many items as a regular store would be, even though the space is about 20% smaller than a traditional Michaels store.

There were tons of make and take demos going on, and lots of the how-to project sheets we're all used to seeing in the aisles. Check out this Michael Jackson "Thriller" jacket for Halloween made completely out of duct tape!

I saw that the new store format of organizing scrapbooking items by genre, instead of manufacturer was being implemented in the store -- so items were listed under sections like "travel," "birthday," "Halloween," etc. making it much much easier for the customers -- no more running from the My Mind’s Eye section to compare it to the Creative Imaginations to make sure you have the cutest pumpkin paper! Hooray!

I also noticed the yarn selection in the store was much more extensive than some other suburban stores I'd been in. No, there wasn't as much on display in terms of sheer number of skeins, but what I noticed is they were carrying more luxury and organic blend lines of brands like Lion Yarn that I'd never seen before in the stores at home.

The free events continue for the rest of the week, ending this Saturday. If you are in NYC and a lover of crafting, be sure to stop by!

Even though summer is very much still in swing, with every back-to-school catalogue and fall fashion sale brochure I get in the mail, I can feel the start of autumn fast approaching.

Images of falling leaves, apple cider, and cuddly corduroy clothing instantly come to mind. For me, the fall signals a return to cooler weather and a life more focused on the indoors and home life.

So while we're thinking about a life indoors and at home, I'd like to mention a book I just read called The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule. Avid blog readers may be more familiar with Amanda Soule as the creator of the Soule Mama blog, which focuses on all the creative and lovely activities the Soule family does together. First published last year, The Creative Family book helps readers cultivating a happier, more connected family life by using crafts, nature, and family activities.

Book image courtesy of Shambhala Publications, Inc.

Soule's family philosophy centers around simplicity, creativity, and celebration – where anything and everything we do in our family lives is an opportunity to enjoy time together. With tips ranging from how to start homespun traditions for the holidays to making every mealtime a special occasion, I think everyone could find a tip or two that will enhance their family's lifestyle. Although the book gives us the impression that Soule lives an overly charmed life – where kids never ever throw temper tantrums, but rather exert all their energies into purely creative pursuits – the advice is solid and at many times, inspiring.

The book contains dozens of easy and inexpensive craft and project ideas that both you and your kids will find enjoyable, serving as a giant launching pad for your own family to discover some of their favorite creative passions and activities. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to infuse their at-home life with even more meaningful ways to spend time together.

Coincidentally, Amanda Soule's second book, Handmade Home, was just released this week and contains thirty-three projects to produce homemade treasures for the home and family.

I know, I know, it's summer, but for me it's just the beginning of the holiday season! For the last couple of weeks I've been mentally preparing myself to start the somewhat ominous task of starting my Christmas craft making.

Last week some of the shopping networks had their "Christmas in July" sale events, with visions of giant lawn decorations and Christmas toys flooding the airwaves. For me, the shift of focus to snowflakes and polar bears are a welcomed respite from thinking about all the hot, humid weather that's been plaguing the Northeast. You can't help but feel cheery when you're thinking about all the lovely things you're going to be giving to your friends and family!

Last year in December, I was in a mad dash to finish a slew of knitted gnome oraments for my family and friends. I also found myself scrambling to finish a few knitted candy bags for a few of my aunts and uncles. So this year I'm determined to start my crafting WAY early and get going on selecting this year's holiday craft.

Now there are some decisions on exactly what kind of holiday crafts I should attempt to make this year. I think something small and simple is always wise. I'll devote this week/weekend to seriously thinking about what's achievable by December and start stocking up on supplies. It's a good opportunity to take advantage of some of the fabulous summer sales that have been going on in the craft stores.

Have you started to think about what you'll be crafting this holiday season? What are some of your top ideas for making 2009 a handmade holiday season?

Need ideas for cute crafts for the holidays? Check out our Christmas in July crafts.

Something very cute for you to keep your eyes on... if you're child loves video games and has an approaching birthday, this may be for you.  On July 14, game manufacturer 2K Play will release a new title for the Wii called "Birthday Party Bash."

The idea is simple: it's a disc full of fun and fast games for kids to play as a group for a birthday party. The game starts out with an empty party room, but by playing the games the guests help win prizes for the whole group--like balloons and decorations for the virtual party room, and by the end of the game everyone gets to sing along to "Happy Birthday."

Image courtesy of 2K Play

I recently got to fiddle around with the game and I have to say, the game play is very fun and cute and easy enough for any kid to understand and play. You can try out games like a potato sack race, a climbing game, or a unwrapping gifts game. I played with a bunch of other folks (and kids) during the demo and everyone was having a great time.

The added bonus of buying the set (which will retail for 39.99 and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB) is that it also includes some other goodies like 12 real ready-to-mail paper party invites for guests, an option to use customized invitations via e-Vite and some coupons from Duncan Hines (they have an in-game apperance during the cake stacking game) and Party City to help cut down on costs for decorations and party cake.

And don't think once the birthday party is over this game goes bad--the pleathora of activities on the game are certainly fun to play with even if no one is having a birthday party!

Every so often I have to clean out my bookshelves here at the Kaboose offices. I basically get at least one book a day, so they definitely pile up. I just wanted to share with you some of my most recent favorites found while sifting through my mounds and mounds of kids and adult books:

KIDS' PICTURE BOOKS

Farley Follows His Nose
By Lynn Johnston and Beth Cruikshank

This new kids' book by For Better or For Worse creator Lynn Johnston came out just this month. It focuses around Farley, a lovable dog whose nose knows where his favorite snacks are to be found! Farley wanders around the neighborhood as he curiously follows the aromas of some delicious treats. Along the way he helps out a new friend and eventually finds his way back home to his family.

A portion of the proceeds from this book benefit the Farley Foundation, a nonprofit that provides veterinary services for pets whose owners cannot afford to pay for their treatment.

Almost
By Richard Torrey

Jack is almost six years old, and he is almost old enough to do a lot of things! This cute as can be story is perfect for little kids who long for the day they are big boys and girls.

Princess Pig
By Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Tim Bowers

When Pig wakes up one morning and discovers that a princess sash has wound up in her pen, she's thrilled that her dream of becoming a princess has come true. She tries out all sorts of activities fit for royalty, but by the end of the story Pig discovers that even without her newly acquired title she is equally as special when just being herself.

The Frogs and Toads All Sang
By Arnold Lobel with color by Adrianne Lobel

Caldecott Medalist Arnold Lobel (1933-1987) was best known for his books such as Frog and Toad Are Friends,and Frog and Toad Together. In September of 2008 a children's book collector discovered some new original poems and drawings created by Lobel and given to friends as gifts. The collector contacted Lobel's daughter Adrianne, who in turn brought the newly found material to HarperCollins, and in no time the book started its path to being printed.

In this book you will find new poems about frogs driving cars, eating snacks, and going to sleep. The rhymes are charming and witty and will tickle the fancy of both kids and adults.

I'm Your Peanut Butter Big Brother
By Selina Alko

There are many books about kids who are expecting little brothers or sisters, but not many books that focus specifically on multiracial children. In this book, Big Brother ponders what his new baby brother or sister will look like--how will Daddy's "dark chocolate bar" looks and Mommy's "strawberry cream milk" complexion mix together? Although the author gets a little overboard with using foods as adjectives, I like the concept of this book and would like to see many more like it.

Being a Pig Is Nice: A Child's-Eye View of Manners
By Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Dan Krall

The girl in this book ponders all the impolite things she would be able to do if she were a pig, a monkey, a monster, etc. A funny and delightful little book for kids who get a kick out of silly behavior.

FOR OLDER KIDS

The Inner World of Farm Animals
By Amy Hatkoff

Ever wonder how much a cow, chicken, or pig really understands? This fascinating book retells some of the most compelling and touching stories that demonstrate how clever farm animals can be. From tales of heroism to stories involving sheer smarts, our furry and four-legged friends show that they have a lot to offer.

FOR ADULTS

Campaigning for President
By Jordan M. Wright

This oversize coffee table book is a comprehensive collection of photographs depicting presidential memorabilia from George Washington to George W. Bush. The majority of the items in the book were pulled from the personal collection of author Jordan M. Wright--whose collection of memorabilia pieces numbers over 1 million!

Taking a look at how presidents and president-hopefuls have used buttons, toys, posters, and even potholders to get their messages across is a great treat. There are lots of quirky items, like the tiny doll-filled coffins that became a part of McKinley's attack on William Jennings Bryan in the 1896 race and a metal and leather handbag created by Harding supporters in order to appeal to newly minted female voters in 1920.

A recent Mayo Clinic study revealed that middle age people who took up craft hobby activities such as knitting and patchworking reduced their risk of memory impairment by as much as 40%. Wow! That's a lot of good that a little stitching and purling can do!

Add in the benefits of reduced stress levels and crafting just makes sense.

Check out this story CBS News recently did on the subject of the health benefits of knitting:

Watch CBS Videos Online

While there are a handful of lovely independently owned yarn shops here in the city that sell gorgeous yarn (Downtown Yarns, Seaport Yarns, and Purl SoHo, to name a few), sometimes a gal just wants the cheaper stuff when trying out a new pattern. When I'm looking for cheapie fiber, I often reserve my buying for trips to the suburbs, or if it works out mathematically (cheaper yarn price + S&H < Local Yarn Shop price), buying online.

So you can imagine how excited I was when I found out there was a relatively brand new storefront for the large yarn purveyor Lion Brand located just literally blocks from the Kaboose office! Lion Brand yarn is reasonably priced (the synthetic blends can go for around the $3.50 mark), which is super-important in these tough economic times. Earlier this month I was excited to head over to the space they call the Lion Brand Yarn Studio for one of their special events (a Vogue Knitting fashion show!).

It's a narrow, but long shop with a warm and inviting feel. One side of the store is completely covered with shelves containing skeins of every kind of Lion Brand yarn you can imagine--a true yarn enthusiast's paradise! During my visit, the usual tables that sit in the middle of the store were taken away to make room for all the seats for the fashion show:

Of course, as you may remember, it was seeing a Lion Brand fashion show at the 2008 CHA Show that first got me interested in picking up knitting, so I was super excited to see another knitwear show--this time showcasing Vogue Knitting designs.

There certainly were some very cute pieces with very pretty patterns and stitching techniques that hopefully one day I can tackle!

The store also features a sampling wall where you can take a yard or two of that week's choice yarn to sample out a swatch to see how you like it. Very cool!

And probably one of the most striking thing about the store is its current window display--a recreation of the New York City skyline completely made out of -- you guessed it -- knitted pieces! Check out the lovely designs below. Can you spot King Kong climbing the Empire State Building? And that's Mayor Mike Bloomberg...knitting! What an amazing undertaking:

Hello there! Yes, I know, my teaser post for our new crafts video was not too subtle, so you may have already guessed that our new Easter crafts video features... Easter Egg dyeing!

I had a lot of fun filming this round of videos, largely in part because I had a special guest join me on the shoot! Morgan was an excellent kid-helper, arriving on set with lots of energy (and lots of questions!), making the taping extra fun.

Watch our step-by-step Marbleized Easter Eggs video below:

But for those not too keen on doing Easter eggs, we have another how-to video--our Sleepy Bunny Easter craft. This craft utilizes an empty egg shell, some pom poms, and felt. This craft makes a great little table decoration, and if you make a bunch of them, you can use them as place settings for your Easter dinner table--just write your guests names on the outside of the egg shell, and presto! you've got adorable little place cards.

Watch our Sleep Bunny craft video below:

A big thank you to our intern Hope for her excellent camera and editing skills!

Don't forget, we have tons of other Easter crafts and activities that your little ones will love over at our main Easter Craft and Easter holiday pages.

And don't forget, for our friends who celebrate Passover, we have tons of crafts, activities, and recipes for that holiday as well. It starts this Wed, April 8th, at sundown. Kids will love our Passover seder placemat and matzoh cover.

Recently the Kaboose headquarters here in New York had a big move. Sure we relocated in spitting distance of our last office, but we have definitely moved on up to a bigger and better space!

However, a new office space means a new opportunity to express yourself. As Crafts editor, I felt the need to put on my crafty hat and spiffy up my workspace to make it a bit like home. When I told some friends that i was planning on investing some money, time, and effort into upgrading my work surroundings, they laughed a little, but I argued that I spend nearly half of my waking hours at the office, so it should be someplace you look forward to going every day, and it should definitely reflect your personality and style.

But how do you take your standard 6'x6' cube into a unique and inviting place to work? Well first off I found some great examples on the internet of folks who had definitely taken their cube to the next level. I found this person who had taken a cheapo Ikea table cloth and transformed their cube into a blue and white tropical-themed paradise, and this Canadian designer who swanked out his space with a swath of fabric featuring a large-print floral pattern, a lovely lamp, some choice modern furniture pieces, and of course, some plant life.

But my main source of inspiration was a book I had discovered last year called Cube Chic, written by Kelley L. Moore. (You can see some excerpts from the book at Wired.com.) Sure, the designs in her book are a bit extreme (I'm not sure I know anyone who's bosses would smile upon someone installing a jackpot machine in their cube), but there are plent of great ideas and techniques to pick up on.

First off, I loved the idea of adding a bit of color/pattern to the inside walls of the cube. I searched for fabric at some local quilting stores, but found the patterns to be too busy and small to work on the walls. I then headed to my local Ikea's fabric section and literally spent an hour trying to figure out what pattern would work best on the walls. (I could never be an interior designer on one of those shows on HGTV, I definitely hem and haw too much!)

I thought I'd want a bold pattern that incorporated red, but when I took a look at the fabrics, they either seemed too shocking or just not my style. I decided upon a fabric with a circle pattern in a muted gray, brown, dark mustard, and black and off-white color palate, figuring that it wouldn't be offensive to anyone, and that it would nicely blend with the existing beige panels and my black and gray office accessories. It cost me around $8 per yard of fabric--enough to make three panels for the inside of the cube.

I measured the inside of the cube and took the measurements home with me and cut out panels, which I brought in the next day. Using some invisible office tape, I tacked up the fabric to see how it looked. Not bad, if I do say so myself!

A few days later I headed to a nearby Home Depot to pick up some greenery. Adding a plant to your workspace can really give it some much needed color--and life! I chose a tropical plant well suited for low light situations, and picked up a nice little Terra cotta planter. Altogether I spent maybe $8 for the plant and pot--not a lot to spend to help spiffy up my cube.

There are still a few items I have yet to add--like some personal photographs (my picture frames remain empty until I choose the perfect images), an inexpensive rug, a pillow for my chair, and a nice lamp to go in the corner. I'll continue updating y'all on my progress, but here is how my little cube is shaping up so far:

What do you think? Have you ever been inspired to decorate your work office? Have any tips?

Based on the image below, can you guess what type of craft we'll be doing for the next instalment of our Kaboose craft videos? Materials include olive oil, vinegar, food coloring, eggs, a cup, and a spoon... Find out the answer in early April!