As 2011 came to a close, Hello Craft had a lot of awesome crafts, new friends and events to reminisce over. 2011 was one of Hello Craft’s busiest years, not only for our organization, but for the ever-evolving handmade community that continues to lead the way in creative innovation, as well as an economic powerhouse.

Between the Summit of Awesome, Crafty Bastards and partnerships with innovative projects and new creative-minded companies, there was never a dull moment with Hello Craft. And while we are already gearing up for a fun and crafty 2012, we wanted to take a step back in time to check out all the fun happenings that made up 2011…

We wrote a (super awesome!) business-of-craft book that will be out in July of this year…

Partnered with Mt. Pleasant Mainstreet to produce D.C.’s favorite handmade pop-up shop, The Temporium…

Added new blog content and more contests and giveaways than ever…

Got a DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Grant to bring our Make Something Awesome Area to events around the Nation’s Capitol…

Co-Produced the 8th annual Crafty Bastards Arts &  Crafts Fair with Washington City Paper and 0ur new friends at Roadside Food Projects…

Brought the 3rd annual Summit of Awesome with our Craftnote Speakers, Debbie Stroller + Laurie Henzel (Bust Magazine), and Jay McCarroll (Season 1 Project Runway winner), to Baltimore, Maryland…

Hosted a super fun night of printmaking and booze with the awesome Kyle Durrie and her Moveable Type truck.

So while 2011 is behind us, we look forward to a fabulous year of new partners, new crafts and new events in 2012. If you haven’t joined Hello Craft already, we welcome you to become a member or join our email list.

There is a limit of 15 participants and registration is required. For more information and to register, please contact: info [at]scrapdc[dot]org.

A Mood Palette composed in PhotoShop by graphic designer and blogger Miss Moss (please see a link and more information below)

Summoning design inspiration can sometimes seem as impossible as tapping maple syrup from a wooden park bench. Other times, a project might be floundering like a goldfish on a carpet from lack of vision or direction. Wondering where your recent obsession with Steampunk can take your designs? A mood board might help provide a visual outline or map.

Mood Boards are one way for designers to compile thoughts and kickstart creative thinking. Though many might dismiss them as “fancy collages”, they have their root in professional design practices. Mood Boards have long been used by fashion, interior and graphic designers to visually communicate project visions or concepts to clients.  On the show Mad Men, for example, Don Draper’s advertising team often presents the brilliance of their Lucky Strike campaign pitches through illustrative and catchy mood boards; other times they’re seen brainstorming and collecting thoughts on design boards in their office (all while swilling large quantities of brandy).  Fashion and interior architecture students are sometimes required to submit mood boards that include color samples, swatches of fabric, and images of other designs as inspiration before they can start a project. Think of it as a regrouping of ideas, an outline, or an “all systems go” before a project fully launches.

If you’re eager to casually poke around with some design ideas, the web  has a lot of cataloguing, curating and instantaneous mood boarding platforms to offer you:

– Pinterest is a great site for user-sourced curation, and because of  the community of people connecting and sharing their own finds. A user can “pin” anything that catches their eye while browsing the web using the Pinterest bookmarklet– be it a photo, pair of shoes, or individual graphic from a webpage. Pinterest saves that item as a mini square screen shot to your Pin Boards (kind of like digital mood boards),  where users group the items they pin. Users can also follow one another, and comment on or “like” Pins. Pinterest doesn’t work as well for cataloguing web content or blog posts. It also has 0 privacy settings.

– Stixy provides a virtual online collage board where  graphics, documents, todos and notes can be moved and posted like items in a scrap book. They can be resized, flipped, and dragged which allows for more creative license than on Pinterest or other sites. Stixy users can send their boards via email, or invite others to view their designs. This would be a wonderful tool to use when creating an interactive mood board for a specific project. Stixy boards, however, can’t be downloaded and sent as files.

– Zootool is another online “visual bookmarking” platform, like Pinterest, that lets you tag and catalogue finds. On Zootol users can grab entire web pages or just specific items, images or videos. Users can follow and favorite users and finds, like on Pinterest, which adds a community dynamic to the platform. Zootool also has privacy settings, in case you’re saving research on top secret blog posts, or just presents your boyfriend might like for his birthday.

If you’re eager to send a moodboard as a file or to post it on a blog, Photoshop might be your software of choice. It also allows for image resizing, overlapping and other manipulations that screen capturing directly from a website, ala Pinterest or Zootool, won’t allow you to do. I think everyone on the internet is in love with the mood boards by Miss Moss, done in Photoshop, which I’ve included above.

Looking for inspiration for inspiration? Check out this Flickr group dedicated to Mood and Inspiration Boards!

How do you feel about Inspiration Boards? Do you find them cheesy or useful? Do you use any of the websites above, and if so, which is your favorite? Please talk amongst yourselves below!

Jon Wye: “Making Awesome” in America
American Manufacturing
Hello Craft was super excited to see belt, shirt and wallet-maker extraordinaire, Jon Wye, in the spotlight on the Manufacturethis blog. Wye’s dedication to buying and making local has earned him an whole host of fans and shoppers who support this DC-based crafter who definitely practices what he preaches.

Profit and Loss Statement Template
Inc.
Starting up a business has a lot of fun perks, but having to think about and manage a business budget is not one of them. Inc. magazine has provided a free, downloadable, Profit & Loss Excel spreadsheet that should come in handy for anyone running any type of business. The sheet is a simple way to keep track of your gross and net profits, track your spending and show areas of success and loss.

Silver Spring, Maryland’s Favorite Indie Craft Happening
Handmade Mart
Hello Craft Executive Director, Kimberly Dorn, and fellow Board Member, Debbie Lee, are hosting their 3rd annual Handmade Mart in Downtown Silver Spring, Maryland this Sunday. With an all-star line up of 75+ crafters including Red Prairie Press, El Jefe Design, Fuzzy Ink, Sardine Clothing Company and more, this highly anticipated fair has something for handmade enthusiasts of all ages. If you’re in or near the DC Metro area this Sunday, make it a full day at the fair with papermaking and screenprinting workshops, and lot’s of surrounding places to eat and imbibe.

New Editor-In-Chief at CRAFT
CRAFT:
Over the last few weeks, the handmade community has been a buzz about the big change at CRAFT Magazine. Long-time Editor-in-Chief, Natalie Zee Drieu, who was there during the transformation of CRAFT from publication to online magazine, is stepping down. Her replacement is Diane Gilleland (Sister Diane), of Crafty Pod. Gilleland’s expereince and passionate drive to teach and promote crafting to all, means that we can expect more fabulousness from one of our favorite crafting resources. Hello Craft wishes both Natalie and Diane the best!

Michaels Has Been Hacked
Security News Daily
Two weeks ago, the mega arts and craft store chain, Michaels, had notified its customers in the Chicago area that some of their Point-of-Sale terminals had been tampered with. They are now looking at a nation nationwide problem, as the thief (or thieves) had helped themselves to several pin codes and credit card info from at least 70 in-store POS terminals from the East Coast to the West Coast. As the estimated losses are in the millions of dollars, the U.S. Secret Service is now involved in the investigation. If you had made a purchase at Michaels recently, the company urges you to monitor your bank statements. Customers are also urged to visit michaels.com or to call 1-800-MICHAELS (642-4235) for more information.

Want to help with the initiative? You can make pet mats, blankets, beds or toys and donate them to an animal shelter. (For list of items and descriptions please go here.) You can also design items to donate and share the pattern with others. For example, Kim has designed a crocheted mat (pictured at right) that you can download for free here.

Finally, spread the story of why you made your donated item to friends via Twitter, Facebook, Ravelry, email or plain old word-of-mouth. Make sure to link back to the official page so everyone can get a sense of why this campaign is so awesome.

Acute How-To: Faux Milk Glasses
ScoutieGirl
Looking for a fun crafting project that’s easy, cheap and great for gift-giving? Check out Regina Morrison’s super awesome, faux milk glass crafting project on Scoutie Girl. This why-didn’t-I-think-of this-before project shows you how to create housewares that go with any type of decor from vintage to modern, and look like they cost a pretty penny. Definitely a must-make for anyone looking for add a touch of pretty to their living quarters.

Craft Product Review: Amazing Mold Putty
Craft Test Dummies
Having been amazed and inspired by crafting all-stars such as Art School Dropout and the Naughty Secretary Club, I’ve always wanted to make my own cute jewelry pieces, but have never really dipped into that type of craft. So I was excited to read this review on the easy to get, Amazing Mold Putty, that allows you to make a massive amount of objects from one simple mold. This review is fantastic, as it shows the process and also the versatility for the putty itself. For all mold-making beginners, I highly recommend you check out this post.

Artist’s Village: Cherry Blossom Festival
Artist Village + Bazaar Bizarre
Our friends at Bazaar Bizaare have teamed up with NEW PEOPLE for a collaborative, curated shopping event that is part of the nationally renowned, Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. Hosted at the NEW PEOPLE building in Japantown, this all-floor vertical art village will take place on April 9th, 10th, 16th & 17th.  This show will feature a great line up of indie crafters as well as a gallery opening.

Etsy Featured Seller: Playing Grown Up
Etsy
Chalkboards are making a great comeback through of the indie crafting community. What was once an object mostly synonymous with schools and all the memories of teachers past, has now become a growing medium in the crafting world. As the featured seller on Etsy, Brooke Premo of Playing Grown Up shares insights into her chalkboard crafting/event photo booth world that sounds like tons of fun. Her chalkboard creations totally rock… and knowing that Premo is also a teacher, make her craft that much sweeter.

Everything You Need to Know About Podcasting
Fortuitious
Podcasting is a great way to enhance your relationship with your audience. Whether you’re a crafter who wants to show your customers how you make your goods, a shop owner who wants to promote your sellers, or a blogger who needs the most effective way to express your thoughts, podcasting is an interesting and fascinating tool. This article highlights everything you need to know about this medium including the tools, formats and timing.

Calling all Crocheters for a Super Awesome Contest
Craftster
Craftster.org has teamed up with Crochet Today! magazine for a crochet contest with an exciting prize. Craftster wants you to submit an original piece of crochet jewelry, and if your item is selected as the favorite, your work will be featured in an upcoming issue of Crochet Today!

How to Start a Small Business
Inc.
Starting out in the business world can be kinda scary. While there are lots of tools, people and books to help you navigate this world, Inc. magazine has put together a great list of do’s for business beginners. From starting a website to registering your business, hiring employees and setting prices, this list is a must-read for anyone jumping into the business of craft.

South Carolina Craft Show at Indie Grits
Crafty Feast
The Indie Grits Film Festival in Columbia, South Carolina (April 13-17), seems like it will be a whole lot of fun. With a focus on films and lots of music and food events, there is something for anyone who supports independent making in all its forms. As part of Indie Grits, the Crafty Feast indie craft fair will take place on April 16th, and will host a wide range of designers, artists and crafters. Support the independent spirit of the Southeast, and make this entire festival a stop in your spring vacation plans.

Bathing Suit Season
Fables by Barrie
The mere mention of bathing suit season sends many into a tizzy, but the designers at Fables by Barrie make it a lot more bareable with their well-made and totally cute, vintage-style bathing suits and rompers. Made by hand in San Diego, CA and sold on Etsy, FbB creates bathing suits that would definitely make Esther Williams smile.

Is Mobile Marketing Ready for Small Business?
Open Forum
With a slew of new mobile marketing options popping up every day, it’s not easy trying to figure out which ones are best suited to fulfill your specific crafting business needs. This Open Forum articles lays out the questions that all small business owners should ask themselves before diving into the new technology.

10 Awesome Videos On Idea Execution & The Creative Process
The 99 Percent
Looking for the best ways to take an idea from conception to fruition? This post has compiled 10 inspiring videos from creative folks such as Ira Glass, J.K. Rowling, John Kelly and more.

Listening in: 15 Essential Small Business Podcasts
Open Forum
This post on Open Forum has compiled a great list of business-minded podcasts. Whether you’ve just started selling your crafts or you’re a full fledged crafting factory, exploring the world of business podcasts is an economic way to get business advice and inspiration.

Washington, DC Craft Show
Crafts on the Hill
Eastern Market has always been a favorite art stop for both locals and tourists alike. On Saturday, April 2nd, Crafts on the Hill in the North Hall will give everyone an extra reason to stop by this historic market for some handmade shopping fun.

Crafting into Spring
JBF Farms
Now that spring is finally here, crafters everywhere are getting their green thumbs ready. Several organic farms on Etsy and Cosa Verde, such as JBF Farms in Pennsylvania, sell everything you need to get your garden going.

Learn the Basics of Photoshop in Under 25 Minutes
Life Hacker
No matter what type of craft you do, knowing your way around Photoshop can be extremely useful. Life Hacker has put together a great tutorial that explains the shortcuts, layers and what all those nifty tools do.

Matcha truffels from cookingwithgreentea.blogspot.com. The recipe is listed below.

Hello Craft’s thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan. We hope that you, your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues are all safe, healthy and taking care of one another.

Today is White Day for our dear Eastern cousin. Exactly a month after Valentine’s Day, this traditional holiday is when Japanese men shower the lovely ladies in their lives with gifts and lurve to reciprocate the presents they received on V-day. You see, the Japanese are relatively new adopters of our western February holiday, and have taken the liberty of devising their own schedule. Ever the time managers and compartmentalizers, they’ve divided  the day into two chocolate smothered occasions — for Valentine’s Day, only women give gifts to the men, and on White Day, men who received those gifts are obligated to return the favor and then some.

Unlike Valentine’s Day here in the US, which some Americans completely ignore, on February 14th Japanese women are expected to give pretty much every dude in their lives — from their mail man to their husbands — a chocolate token of appreciation. To avoid the potentially uncomfortable situations this could create (buying truffles for your boss? awkward!), the Japanese have two categories of gift chocolates: colleagues, friends and the like receive Giri Choco, which literally translates to “Obligation Chocolate”, while Honmei Choco or “True Feeling Chocolate” is reserved for close family and paramours. Giri choco is cheap, of so-so quality, and is pouring out into the streets from candy and department stores during the Valentine’s Day rush. An example can be seen by the image of Cherry Blossom themed chocolates to the right, by Flickr user <3 Vanessa <3. Honmei Choco, on the other hand, is often made by hand and is meant to signify love and loyalty. Much like any handmade gift, the level of quality and detail put into making these chocolates reflects thoughtfulness and a woman’s passion for her partner.

Recently, making homemade truffles and other chocolates has become very trendy in kitchens across Japan, with large groups of women gathering to make boxes upon boxes of confections for loved ones. To the left is an example of a Japanese chocolate cook book that features recipes for homemade truffles especially for Valentine’s Day. The image is by Flickr user Princess_of_llyr.

On White Day men respond by giving all-white gifts to their loves and families. Guys are expected to break the bank every year, as the presents must be at least three times the value of the Valentine’s Day gifts they received, and are valued at even higher if they’re handmade. While this sounds, to me,  like a carefully plotted excuse to buy lots of couture lace negligee, white chocolate of the handmade variety is a very popular and delish gift, as well.

So what sorts of chocolate are these coacoa addicted Asians eating? Most Japanese chocolate is similar to what we find in our own Chocolatiers, but with a few unique twists. Matcha Tea, a Japanese green tea, is both a healthy and delicious ingredient that’s a popular addition to Asian chocolate recipes. Don’t be put off by it’s shocking green color — it’s bittersweet and offers a lot of flavor.  Here are some recipes in case you want your own try at making Honmei Choco for your special someone (or yourself!).

Japanese truffels. Image by Flickr user Joan Brunés

Matcha Cake Truffels: Little bits of matcha flavored cake covered in chocolate. Mmm!

Matcha Truffels: Classic, but with a matcha edge.

Matcha White Chocolate Ganache: This is hardcore, dense and fudgy matcha infused chocolate.

Happy White Day!

If you’re looking to stock up on supplies or learn a new craft make sure to hit up stores like Jo-Ann Fabric and Michaels as they are celebrating with special coupons and in-store demos nationwide.

It’s a good thing supplies will be on sale, for as CHA pointed out:

“With more than 56% of U.S. households creating at least one craft a year, the U.S. craft and hobby industry alone is a $29 billion dollar a year industry and has more participants than golf, many other sports and pastimes.”

Wowsers that is a lot of handmade goodness.

So what are you doing to celebrate National Craft Month?