Failed craft (Photo by Chauncey P. Graham) Anyone who makes crafts -- whether they're professional iPod cozy designers or amateur macrame owl enthusiasts -- knows that crafting takes trial and error. Crocheting homicidal vegetables or felting Jabba the Hutt miniatures takes skill and practice, and before you get that knitted digestive system to look just right, you're probably going to make some mistakes. But be warned: the Internet is not kind to ugly, misguided, or ineptly executed crafts. If you've got a thin skin when it comes to your homemade chicken poncho, perhaps it's best if you don't list it on etsy until you're sure you've got it right. Because crafters, while creative and wily and determined, can also be -- well, snarky. In the defense of sites like Regretsy and Homemade Hilarity, which poke fun at the bizarre, confused, and unintentionally hilarious crafts of the Internet, there are some terrible crafts out there (we know -- we've made some of them), and it's hard to resist making comments at their expense. Do we feel bad about it? Sure. Will that stop us from giggling madly at the crocheted beer can Darth Vader helmet or the toilet paper cover and/or hat? Not a chance. But it will stop us from posting our own, um, "awesome poop earrings" -- unless we decide to embrace our failures and share them for the education -- and hysterical, mocking laughter -- of others. Suggested Sites... Homemade Hilarity - giving misguided crafts the fond, snarky commentary they deserve. Regretsy - showcases the handmade gems that were never meant to see the light of day. CraftFail - crafters fess up to their own terrible works by sharing their crafts gone awry. Craftastrophe - proceed with caution.... Cake Wrecks - still makes us laugh after all these years.

Directory categories: Bad Crafts, Crafts, Crafts for Sale, Folk, Self-Taught, and Outsider Art, Bad Art

Archived under: Arts, Blogs, Cake Decorating, Crafts, DIY, Flops, Homemade, Humor

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(Photo by toonbobo) When I was a kid, we were the family that put up a homemade Halloween display every year, each more elaborate than the last. My dad built dummies out of junkyard scraps and old clothes, and animated them with small motors, pulleys, and fishing line. My mom and I designed tombstones bearing terrible puns and my friends' names in cheesy rhyming epitaphs. For most of October, our house was lit by garish green floodlights, and we dramatically increased traffic on our little dead-end road. We even made it into the local paper. I'm sure the neighbors were thrilled. The more charitable ones probably called us The Addams Family; the less charitable -- well, I'm sure they had a nice party when we moved away. If only we'd had the Internet for advice and inspiration we could have really annoyed the neighborhood! Thanks to some thriving online communities of Halloween fanatics, home haunters can now put together props and decorations that rival the ones at professional haunted houses. They can pick up theatrical special effects tricks, get advice on getting the audience to suspend their disbelief, and get instructions for their very own flying ghosts, bottomless pits, and even ghoulish Santas. Best of all, a haunter doesn't need to spend, er, an arm and a leg, getting fancy decorations from the local party shop or Halloween store. The best props are homemade, because they're unexpected. After all, neighborhood trick-or-treaters have probably seen the motion-activated screaming skull in someone else's yard, but they won't be ready for a DIY rotten, lurching scarecrow! Our homemade haunt was far from professional. By day the paper mache heads, curtain ghosts, and wooden tombstones wouldn't fool anyone, but by the light of the moon, they were surprisingly effective (especially when we sat among the dummies wearing masks and suddenly jumped up to greet guests). I always knew the display was good if I got up during the night, glanced out the window, and felt a jolt of panic at the crowd of hunched, misshapen figures gathered on the front lawn. Waiting for the adrenaline to wear off before going back to sleep was a happy Halloween tradition -- for my family, if not for the neighbors. Suggested Sites... Halloween Forum - a community of Halloween freaks who are full of ideas and advice on everything from home haunt props to party themes to costume ideas. Phantasmechanics - step-by-step instructions for mechanical props that will scare the pants off your neighbors. Halloween Front Yard Displays - find inspiration from these horrific haunts. Haunters Hangout - be sure to check out the props section of this Halloween community. Monsterlist of Halloween Projects - lots of DIY Halloween links.

Directory categories: Halloween Displays, Haunted Houses, Halloween, Halloween Activities and Crafts, Stagecraft

Archived under: Crafts, DIY, Decorating, Halloween, Holidays, Home and Garden, Homemade

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.They say this is a monkey, but it looks like a poodle to us. (Photo by rick) In the days before the Internet, if you wanted to learn how to do something, you had to actually go out and seek the tutelage of an expert. If, for example, you wanted to learn how to make balloon animals, there were two options: trial and error (which would likely leave you with a pile of popped poodles) or expert instruction. Good luck getting a clown to give up his trade secrets, though. But nowadays, thanks to online videos, just about anybody can learn how to sculpt a dog or a flower. If you happen to already be versed in the art of balloon modeling, then today is the day for you to make your annual contribution to society. "Balloons Around the World" is a global event where twisters can volunteer their services, either for free or to raise funds for charity. And the rest of us? We can support our local artists at various events. Balloon artists are certainly not relegated to inflating their creations on demand at schools and parties, however. They've touched the world of fashion and set Guinness records. Above all, twisters provide much-needed smiles and laughs to people of all ages around the world. Suggested Sites... Balloons Around the World - official site, with global events calendar. Balloon HQ - professional resources for twisters, plus balloon facts and fun. Twist & Shout Convention - all the best balloon manipulators, all in one place. Basics of Balloon Animals - instructions from About.com, with various techniques and step-by-step guides to making specific sculptures. The Balloon Animals Blog - videos about making balloon figures, including an Oscar statuette.

Directory categories: Inflatable Sculpture, Balloon Artists, Clowning, Volunteerism, Philanthropy

Archived under: Arts, Balloons, Charity, Children, Circus Arts, Clowns, Crafts, DIY, Entertainment, Hobbies, How-To, Philanthropy, Society and Culture

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Rachel Carson in 1940 A couple of months ago, First Lady Michelle Obama planted a vegetable garden at the White House with the help of some students. Hers is the first such garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt's during World War II. Her efforts reflect the nation's growing interest in organic foods, but some agronomic professionals seem to fear that Mrs. Obama does not recognize the benefits of pesticides and fertilizers for our modern food supply. In fact, the Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) addressed a letter to her detailing the important role conventional agriculture plays in "feeding the ever-increasing population, contributing to the U.S. economy, and providing a safe and economical food supply." They also hasten to mention that "children are unaware that the jeans they put on in the morning … are available because of America’s farmers and ranchers." MACA's letter most likely will not change Mrs. Obama’s gardening methods, but they get points for trying. Whatever the reason for the rise in popularity of organically-grown foods, suspicion of chemical pesticides and new technologies in agriculture is nothing new. More than fifty years ago, in fact, a seed was planted in the mind of marine biologist Rachel Carson when a friend wrote her a letter out of concern that a number of birds near her home were dying, apparently as a result of aerial spraying of the pesticide DDT. Although Carson was already concerned about this issue, her friend's letter highlighted the need for action. The seed from that letter would grow into "Silent Spring," her famous book that was first sampled in serial form in "The New Yorker" in June of 1962 and harvested -- er -- published in the fall of that year. Carson's exploration of the potentially harmful effects of DDT on animals, the environment, and humans was of immeasurable benefit to the modern environmental movement. While her book was immensely popular from the start, it was not met with universal acclaim. One former former chemical industry spokesman claimed that if Carson's teachings were followed, "insects and diseases and vermin would once again inherit the earth." DDT has been banned in American agriculture for some time now, but as technology presses on, new chemicals are being created, and with them come new problems. A pesticide that was sprayed in communities on the central coast of California was blamed for bird deaths and human health problems. Use of that particular chemical appears to have been shelved -- at least for the moment. Wherever you stand on the issue of spraying crops, you may be one of the many people who are currently putting together a backyard vegetable garden. Here at Yahoo!, we recently saw a surge in web searches by folks seeking information on how to start their own home gardens. Inspired by Michelle Obama? Avoiding the bug sprays but not wanting to shell out for pricey organics? Heck -- not wanting to shell out for pricey conventionals? Whatever your reason, we have many resources for you in our Directory, whether you want to compost and raise chickens, or just want to grow some tomatoes in a pot. Bon Appétit! Suggested Sites... HGTV - Vegetables - videos and articles with ideas for your veggie garden. Companion Planting - guide helps solve garden problems without chemicals. Path to Freedom - a journal for urban homesteaders. Rachel Carson Homestead - learn about Carson's legacy - you can even buy a pound of Rachel Carson coffee! "A Tale of Six Cities" by John F. Lauerman - read about the history of laws that protect public health.

Directory categories: Rachel Carson, Environmentalism, Vegetable Gardening, Organic Gardening, Crop Protection

Archived under: 1960s, American History, Authors, Biographies, Books, DIY, Environment, First Ladies, Food and Drink, Gardening, Green Living, Home and Garden, Insects, Pollution, Scientists, Society and Culture, The New Yorker, Vegetables

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Jack-O-Tummy (Photo by Jillian) Ever since I outgrew little-kid Halloween costumes 20-something years ago, I've gotten plenty of disapproving comments about my enthusiasm for the holiday -- like, "Halloween is supposed to be for kids." Ironically, this year I'm looking for a kiddie costume for the first time and finding it strangely difficult -- simply because my kid isn't due until a couple days after Halloween. Adorable baby costumes and clever ideas for already-born offspring abound, but the options for moms-to-be just aren't inspiring. Online costumers' maternity offerings are feeble at best: some tired puns (a bun? in the oven? hilarious!), the inevitable pregnant nun (gosh, will that ever stop being funny?), larger versions of store-bought standards (ooh, a pregnant slutty devil!), and sack-shaped, androgynous lumps (and what pregnant woman doesn't love being compared to a sumo wrestler?). The standard DIY suggestions -- shotgun bride, cow with udders, pregnant celeb, guy with a beer belly, pregnant skeleton -- can be really cute, but are overdone, and more original homemade maternity costumes are scarce. Belly-painting offers plenty of creativity, and while the same few designs dominate as costumes -- pumpkins, basketballs, fishbowls, planets -- at least each one is as original as the artistic skills of the painter and the uniqueness of the belly itself. I'm sure many pregnant women are happy with these options, and that's great for them. Maybe I'm too picky, but I have rules: no trendy or common costumes, no repeats, no store-bought outfits, no simple puns, nothing cutesy (it's Halloween, not Easter!), and no trampy versions of regular costumes. This year is no different; I want to introduce my kid to Halloween properly, with a costume that's creative and memorable. The sheer number of message boards and pleas for help online suggest that I'm not alone, but future mamas out there have far more questions than answers. So, I've collected the best threads and suggestions I've found, to help other Halloween-loving moms-to-be enjoy baby's first Halloween in style. Suggested Sites... MamaBlogga: The Ultimate List of Pregnancy and Maternity Costumes - instructions aren't included, but this might be a good place to get ideas. cafemom: Maternity Halloween Costume Ideas - moms-to-be share lots of suggestions on these messageboards. Spooky Halloween Costumes for Moms-to-Be - a few ideas -- not too spooky, collected from maternity messageboards.

Directory categories: Maternity Costume Ideas, Halloween Costumes, Costume Retailers, Special Effects Makeup, Body Painting

Archived under: Body Art, Clothing and Accessories, Cosmetics, Costumes, DIY, Halloween, Holidays, Pregnancy

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