Handcrafters Unlimited in Michigan is a 29-year old handcrafter’s organization consisting of 75 artists and craftsmen selling unique and one of a kind gift items. The group maintains a website – handcraftersunlimited.com. Just like other handcrafters organization, they offer an environment that allows artists to develop and improve their work of art. Their products are displayed three times a year at various venues on weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). For the year 2010, the show dates are on October 8 to 10 for Fall Fair artists, December 10 to 12 for Tinsel... 

As with a kitchen knife, woodworking tools require their own level of maintenance. The wear and tear through their usage oftentimes leave woodworking tools, especially cutting tools, dull, lowering their functionality as tools. Cutting a piece of wood with a dull saw would take up more time, compared to using a sharp one. Drilling using a dull bit to bore holes on a piece of wood would be quite a hassle, compared to using a sharp bit. Bottom line, keeping woodworking tools sharp and in top shape is just as important as using them. The value of maintenance. It is indeed something... 

It is very easy to do your own homemade lye soap. You do not really need special ingredients because everything that you need can be found at your nearest grocery store. For your basic homemade lye soap, all you need is a combination of fat and lye with water for the catalyst. For a more luxurious soap, you can add aromatherapy or scented oils and dyes for cool colors. Some people use tap water while some use distilled or rainwater. Lye (sodium hydroxide) is a chemical used in soaps that can cause skin burns so it is very important to be careful when using it. Before using... 

Swarovski beads are noted around the world as the highest in quality machine cut crystal beads. They are valued greatly for their uniform cut, as well as for their appearance and style. However, because of these qualities, the Swarovski beads are offered pretty expensive. This increase in pricing is also considered knowing the Swarovski beads are one of the rarest kinds. So now if you are currently doing a beading project and you need to obtain Swarovski beads, you might find it hard to collect the best beads. But, this should not be a reason for you to lose hope. The good news... 

Are you amused when you see a red hot hue on that pillow cover? How about when you spot that warm green tone on your bed blanket? All these and more shades are very important when you perform the art of sewing. The machine embroidery thread is responsible for exhibiting that smooth texture. You need not be a skillful artisan for you to produce a fantastic material, you can by all means play the tricks through the strands itself. Today, you could find yourself being baffled over the machine embroidery thread available in the market. When you head to the store, you will find yourself... 

A lot of women have fallen in love with the age-old art of quilting throughout the years. In fact, to some it has become more than just a leisurely pursuit and dedicated majority of their time designing and creating beautiful pieces of quilt. If you are a self-professed lover of this craft, you would naturally want to meet special individuals who share the same passion and interest in quilting. Somehow, it is always good to find comfort in numbers and exchange great quilting ideas and experiences that would irrevocably make quilting a richer and evocative endeavor. Quilting... 

Handcrafters may not have any difficulty making crafts and arts, but they may get stumped on how to sell their crafts. The success of clinching sales does not only rely on marketing strategies but also in other methods. There are even handicraft lovers not necessarily makers, who made a successful business of selling crafts. Generally, there are three “phases” in clinching sales: preparing for selling your craft, the actual sale and of course, post-sale. What are these “phases.” -> Preparation Everything starts with a business plan. When writing a business... 

Knitting has been around for countless years. It made a great deal of a change along with time. The precise history and country of origin are still unknown. But regardless of its unidentified beginnings, what we know for sure is that it has been rapidly established as a craft, a craft still practiced up until today. There are several knitting essentials that are needed to be acquired in order for you to accomplish one. The three basic necessities are knitting patterns, knitting needles, and yarn. But amongst the 3, the knitting patterns may just be the most important thing for... 

Scrapbooking can be a very worthwhile activity if you have the creativity to turn little and simple things into interesting ones. It is through this hobby that you can relive the memories and thrills of your and your loved ones’ past, including your childhood, travels, family vacations, and other special events in your life. The “firsts” in your life also make an interesting theme for scrapbooks. If you have never tried making a scrapbook before but you are eager to learn it, then you should learn the basics first. A scrapbook works like a photo album in the... 

Knitting has become the favorite pastime of most women ever since the prehistoric ages. Its origin still remains a mystery up until this day, but what we know for sure is that it has established itself as a popular craft of today. Knitting requires tools in order to make it work. However, unlike any other craft, it only has 2 major tools – a knitting needle and a yarn. Although there are countless supplementation and paraphernalia that may be used, those two are the most essential. Yes, we all know that choosing a good ball of yarn might just be the most critical decision...