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I just bought a couple of Dover clip art books to use in some silk screen designs. They really have an excellent selection of books ranging from animals, to old advertisements to drawings of scientific equipment and most of them are royalty free.

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Etsy.com Peddles a False Feminist Fantasy -or- No, you can’t quit your day job to make quilts. By Sara Mosle

Certainly the term “female ghetto” immediately got my back up even if it is maybe a correct usage of the term (except that I don’t think it is). Is Etsy selling a false feminist fantasy because they are featuring women who make their living with creative pursuits? This article set out to paint the women selling on Etsy as pathetic instead of seeing that Etsy can be a perfectly viable part of peoples business plan or just fun place to sell stuff. Are the women who sell on eBay or Ponoko also pathetic?

Give it a read and tell me what you think.

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The post has a good list of resources of fabric, patterns and inspiration for sewing your own swimsuit!

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Creepy Queen is a completely free online magazine/blog. We started because of a serious lack of spotlight on the alternative side of the internet. We aim to showcase indy designers and fashionistas, review alternative chains and products, and offer contests and rewards for our fans.

We are interested in all things DIY, punk, gothic, emo, scene, rockabilly, or whatever else you intend to throw at us!

Help celebrate the world of alternative and DIY style. Join the Creepy Queen member page and talk in our forum, or contact us with submission ideas!

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It’s about time to start getting ready for the fall and winter craft shows so go check out this Virtual Lab with Hello Craft! this afternoon!

Etsy Virtual Lab
hosted by Hello Craft

Applying for Craft Fairs
Thursday, June 25th at 5pm EST
Online at Etsy.com

Join Kim, Tina and Sara today at 5pm EST for an Etsy Virtual Lab workshop divulging the best practices to use when applying for a craft show. Etsy Virtual Labs take place on Etsy’s site and will allow us to chat with you and answer your questions in real time! More about virtual labs here.

Want some extra tips on applying to Crafty Bastards? Join us today, June 25! Just go to the Etsy Virtual Labs and log in.

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Materials list:
# Micronized Titanium Dioxide
# Zinc Oxide
# Sericite Mica - Matte Finish
# Magnesium Stearate
# Yellow, Red & Brown Iron Oxide Pigments
# Jojoba Oil
# Vitamin E Oil
# Essential Oil (opt.) I used Geranium mostly since I love the smell, but it also has excellent qualities to help relieve pain, soothe anxiety and stress, diminish swelling and inflammation, and is renowned for healing burns, wounds, and skin ulcers, dry eczema, burns, shingles, ringworms, lice, acne, herpes, cuts and wound - Ok, so I don’t have all of those problems, but it sounded promising. Mostly I love the smell.
# Mortar & Pestle or small grinder
# 30g (3oz) Sifter Jars
# measuring spoons
# cosmetic brush (large full brush for foundation)

The materials list looks exotic but you can actually get everything you need at your local hippy pharmacy or grocery store or online! Ponte Verde Soap Shoppe is listed as a good resource and they seem to have many other recipes for cosmetics too.

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Threads has a really good tutorial with several styles of fabric belt to choose from.

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You could buy a whole bunch and make some great wallpaper. Or you could buy one and use it as a note card, put in a frame, tape in a locker, or anything else you can dream up.

I love this reverse bird screen print by Amy Jo of Who Made Who. You can visit them in person at:
Who Made Who
158 13th Avenue NE
Minneapolis MN

Or just check out her Etsy Store print shop: Who Made Who

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“Festive Zebra” is a flat paper cutout puppet on a golden rod. Pull the decorative tabbed string and the Zebra takes a sip from his martini.

Norma V Toraya is the woman behind all these fantastic pop-up cards and paper puppets. Her images all have a watercolor-y textured weather feel to them bu also like they just might jump out of the paper and give you a slobbery kiss.

“Some things in life are slick, polished and blatantly obvious. But for Norma V. Toraya, who’s also known as Crankbunny, these are exactly the things she shies away from. Instead, she’s more inclined to explore timeless concepts like subtly, curiousity, texture and awkwardness. Her hand-drawn and computer-animated creations are often described as dark, sometimes noir and always magical.”

You can buy her cards from her website here and she also has a book called Paper Puppet Palooza in which she gives, templates and instruction on how to build your own paper puppet creations. Go here to click on her amazon link to buy the book.

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Some highlights:
* Bootleg album recreation of The Flying Burrito Brothers and their 1969 album The Gilded Palace of Sin, modeled by SF band The Trainwreck Riders
* Exclusive interview with Manuel Cuevas, master tailor to the music stars!
* History on the Rhinestone Cowboy himself, Nudie Cohn
* Scotty the Blue Bunny + Christine Jonson share spandex secrets
* Agent Sewandso goes to Furcon in San Jose!
* Greeensleeves: Eco Options for the Modern Day Woman
* Mrs. Pinkingshears
* Sewing inspired tattoos
* . . . and so much more!

Go download it for free from the Modern Seamster web site!

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You can find another tutorial on how to make a six paneled skirt with godets on The Sewing Divas. Their tutorial has you use any current straight skirt you own to create the pattern.

What is a godet, you ask?

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You can make something pretty and decorative, like this rose, or you can make something useful like these duct tape tie (father’s day is getting close!).

OMG. They have a duct tape prom outfit contest every year! They announce the winners of this year on July 9th but you can go look at all the entries and they are FANTASTIC! The girl pictured above knit her dress out of hand spun duct tape ‘yarn’. I bow down to her.

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I love how more and more people are sharing their pattern making recipes and the smaller pattern shops that are popping up. The two that come to mind are Colette Patterns, which has some really lovely creations and Decades of Style that has some great vintagey reproductions. I just bought the Decades of Style Diamond dress pattern, I love the zippered front and butt pockets.

Ooops, I just overwhelmed myself thinking about all the summer dresses that I need to get done!

Any other good indie clothing pattern companies that you know of?

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Dear Readers,

I’m sure what to say about this bedazzled tampon finger puppet except that I LOVE IT!

Enjoy,
Laura

P.S. Don’t you think it’s beady little eyes should be on cuteoverload?

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