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The Huffington Post Home contacted me about their Sew for Sandy initiative and I’m happy to pass it along. “As an initiative to collect as many warm blankets, clothing and gear for those in need, we are asking our readers to ‘Sew For Sandy’ and put their crafty skills to the test by making simple …

Read More about Sew For Sandy: Crafts To Aid Pets Affected By Hurricanes

The Martha Stewart Spray Kit is basically a genius way of turning almost any Martha Stewart Crafts paint into spray paint. Let’s process this. You can turn almost ANY COLOR into spray paint which comes in super handy in Chicago where it’s illegal to purchase spray paint within city limits 🙂 To get you in …

Read More about How to use the Martha Stewart Satin Spray Kit {and review}

(all photos courtesy of  Heather Crosby of YumUniverse) My friend Heather Crosby from YumUniverse and I were two of the lucky 450 (!) to attend Martha Stewart’s Entertaining: A Year of Celebrations book signing and on-stage interview with Susanna Negovan at the Standard Club in Chicago. The venue was posh and very Martha from the …

Read More about Meeting Martha Stewart at the Entertaining book signing in Chicago

As a crafter like me you are probably doing one or more of the following things right about now: (1) making handmade holiday gifts for friends and family, (2) looking to buy creative and budget-friendly gifts, or (3) making your own list to give to your family. Well, the MerrimentDesign.com Crafty Holiday Guide is here …

Read More about Crafty Holiday Gift Guide Ideas for Christmas and Hanukkah

I’m crazy excited to be a part of the Sewing 2010 Day-to-Day Calendar edited by Megan Smith. One hundred simple sewing projects organized in three-day increments fill this crafty calendar of the new decade. Featured MerrimentDesign.com projects include sewn poppy fabric invitations, bridesmaid’s applique handbags, Thanksgiving felt leaf placecards and napkin rings, and Chicago flag …

Read More about 2010 Sewing Calendar featuring MerrimentDesign.com projects

Whew! I finally edited and posted our episode of ‘Amazing Wedding Cakes’ that first aired June 2009 on WeTV …right after Bridezillas as a part of WeTV’s We Go Bridal night. Check it out below… The background: While on the road in Austin for SXSW, I got a call from Mary Maher from Cakegirls. Cakegirls …

Read More about Kathy and Shane on WeTV’s ‘Amazing Wedding Cakes’

Za Vas! Heather Crosby and I continued the Upper Crust Social Club event series by co-hosting a Russian-inspired vodka infusion party. Guests brought their own homemade vodka infusions …such a range of tasty concoctions from Watermelon Rosewater Vodka Infusion to Skittles Vodka to Cucumber Mint Vodka Infusion to Bacon Maple Vodka Infusion to Apple Cinnamon Vodka …

Read More about Vodka Infusion Party and Hangover Cure Favor

Mary and Brenda Maher of Cakegirls are two of the most talented and inspiring self-taught ladies I’ve ever encountered. Their cakes are not only totally original and visually arresting but taste delicious too (I’m a sucker for the chocolate fudge cake with chocolate mousse). So when Mary called me last week while I was in …

Read More about Filming for Amazing Wedding Cakes on WeTV

My ever-so-creative friend and frequent partner-in-crime Heather Crosby came up with a festive idea that encapsulates the two things we like best — making things and spending time with friends — by creating the tongue-in-cheek Upper Crust Social Club. The UCSC is all about hosting a series of varied themed soirees that I’ll feature here …

Read More about Upper Crust Social Club Ladies’ Late-Night Tea Party

Holy smokes! This invitation by Nick and Nikki Lo Bue is one of the most amazing wedding invitations I’ve ever seen. Nick and Nikki had a charming story behind their relationship which inspired them to make this stunning book as their wedding invitation. Making the wedding book gave the couple a fabulous opportunity to tell …

Read More about Smythe Sewn Letterpress Wedding Invitation Book

Anyone who works in the Fulton Market area on a windy day can attest that Chicago’s long standing candy and chocolate history is still thriving. For his sister’s recent Chicago weekend visit Joseph Dombroski planned a sweet creative activity: a self-guided tasting tour of top downtown Chicago chocolate emporiums. Supplies: Free chocolate scorecard template (rate …

Read More about Chocolate tasting tour of Chicago