Like most folks, my family is still trying to recover from the spending spree of Christmas. Being a compulsive maker, I’m constantly thinking of the next project. But my budget requires my project lineup to be created by re-purposing rather than purchasing new materials and supplies.A few weeks ago my husband lost his cell phone and went to the phone store to replace his with the upgrade I had never bothered to use. Then, of course, his phone reappeared about a week later — making my old phone the logical one to dump.  I was happy with my tiny, old phone and had been resisting getting a new …

In 2001, a trip to Kaluga, Russia lit a flame that has never gone out. My husband and I worked with a team who taught art and sports to under privileged kids in a small village three hours southeast of Moscow. Tie-dye projects and making jewelry brought delight beyond words to over 125 children that week in late summer. When we returned home, I vowed to do something similar here in the Oak Park area. On February 15, 2010 that dream came true when the doors of The Little Bits Workshop opened. Last Friday, another dream came true: bringing meaningful craft to children with long-term and …

As our days shorten and temperatures drop, most of us start to go into hibernation mode. When stuck inside, one of my kids' favorite pastime is building forts out of anything they can get their hands on — pillows, chairs, blankets, boxes, etc. We used to save boxes from new appliances or furniture for them to make forts. But the dilemma was that I'd get tired of huge, brown box forts set up in the living room and the kids would get mad at me when I'd finally cut their fort up to fit it into the recycling bin. I started looking at lasting alternatives. The nicest indoor playhouse that I could …

I just read the book Handmade Nation by Faythe Levine and Courtney Heimerl, a passionately articulated magnum opus about the revolution of handmade crafts in America. I knew there was power in creativity, but had no idea that this particular art form had become an organized, united front. There are many messages, some political, some ideological, but all deeply heartfelt. As with any common interest, there's a need to find others with kindred spirits, so naturally clubs and societies have formed. One such group has gathered within a little storefront in Chicago, called Renegade Handmade which…

Americans buy more bottled water than any other beverage. I refuse to buy it unless I'm desperate.  Our River Forest tap water is just fine and a fraction of the cost of bottled. If the effects of Polyethylene terephthalate (the material plastic bottles are made of) aren't enough to scare you, picture the mountain of 36 billion water bottles per year that Americans drink from. And there's always a drop of doubt as to whether those bottles really make it all the way to the recycling process. On the other hand, sometimes bottled water can be a necessary convenience for sporting events or road …

Like most folks, I'm always trying to find ways to reduce trash and reuse the stuff that generally gets tossed. One day, as I was looking at a common plastic shopping bag, it dawned on me that it looked like a shirt. So I rummaged through the back corners of my dresser drawers to find a T-shirt and started snipping and sewing. The result? A shopping bag that is perfect for groceries, the Farmers Market or whatever. Call it the T-bag. It was easy and only took about 10 minutes to make. Oh and the handles are very soft on your shoulders even if you have a lot to carry. The cashiers at my …