March 2nd, 2011

Bring your knitting and crochet projects and sit in the comfy orange couches at The U.C.C studio. Meet local crafters, enjoy a hot cup of tea or coffee after work while you work on your projects. It’s a great opportunity to look through project ideas in our library and share ideas.

January 17th, 2011

December 16th, 2010

Thinking back to our Kid’s Camp over summer, I can’t wait for this time around! I’m hoping we’ll see some familiar faces from last time, and new friends too, of course! Even though the week was a sticky vortex of glitter, glue, and googly eyes, I know I speak for all of us at The UCC when I say it was one of our favorite endeavors to date. There are few things cooler than seeing kids genuinely excited about making things. It’s inspiring to have students so eager to learn what we’re teaching, and to see how their imaginations make it their own. The crafts we’ll be doing with the kids this month are some of my personal favorites, and I can’t wait to see the kids creations and learn a thing or two from them in the process. If you’d like more information about the day camp, you can download our December class schedule or simply give us a call. Happy Holidays, stay crafty!

December 8th, 2010

“Gigantic Girl’s Winter Surprise” Created by Cheryl Cambras
You can make a mini Yeti Head Ornament this season with Cheryl’s FREE PATTERN!!!

November 24th, 2010

Lil’ Craft Camp
Level: Beginners ages 4-7
Monday, December 20th – Thursday, December 23rd, 11am-2pm
Four session class, materials included.
$245 for the week

Monday: Hand-crafted Nature Wands, Pressed Flower Necklaces, & Finger-knitting
Using slender sticks of sycamore and willow we will create our own bubble-making wands from copper wire wrapped with beautiful yarns. (Includes making your own bubble solution and decorating it’s container)
We will also read the beautifully illustrated children’s story “The Willow Maiden” and then create necklaces from willow wood, pressed flowers, ferns, and hemp string. Children will take home their wands and necklaces in beautiful handmade linen bags which they will finger knit straps for.

Tuesday: Candle-making and Children’s Tibetan Prayer Flags
Using sheets of beeswax in natural shades made from plant-based colorants, children will create a set of their own candles embellished with beautiful designs. (*No flame, heat, or melting is involved.)
Then using merino wool felt wool, children will design, sew, and embellish their own “prayer flags”. This activity is loosely based on elements found in traditional Tibetan prayer flags, touching upon the idea that the “Wind Horse” will carry the images and messages on the flags (centered around peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom) into the surrounding space and to all beings. Thich Nat Hanh’s beautiful children’s book “Hermit and the Well” will accompany this activity.

Wednesday: Soap & Mold Making
Children will experience the excitement, joy, and satisfaction of making their own soaps! First we will create our own molds by pressing an array of materials into a flexible re-usable putty. Then using a melt and pour goat’s milk base, we will create all-natural delicious smelling soaps using organic herbs and spices, cosmetic grade french clays, and plant-based colorants. Each child will create one mold and 2-3 bars of soap, as well as wrapping and labeling their soaps. (*As the soap base is a melt and pour one, no lye or other harsh chemicals are being used or handled and there will be adult assistance in pouring the melted soap base into molds.)

Thursday: Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Using Vietnamese rice paper, and an array of colorful vegetables and herbs, we will make our own Vietnamese spring rolls, complete with dipping sauce. Children will enjoy the sculptural feel of the rice paper as it soaks in warm water, smelling the aromatic herbs, tearing and cutting the brightly-colored veggies, and tasting the fruits of their labor! They will also decorate a set of reusable chopsticks, and a carrying container for their finished spring rolls. (*No cooking is involved and the ingredients are all vegetarian. There is an option for sweet and sour sauce in case of peanut allergies. The children will use butter knives to cut the veggies.)

Meet the Instructor: Nicole Ichtertz
Nicole was trained as an artist and has been teaching art to children for the past 3 years. She lives in Redondo Beach, and is a volunteer handwork assistant at two local Waldorf schools. She currently teaches knitting, weaving, and embroidery to children ages 4-11. Through a friend, she discovered the art of soap making and has taught workshops to children and adults to create uniquely beautiful molds and soaps using objects from nature.

October 29th, 2010

Cheryl Cambras created the latest display for our front window! A crochet turkey and raven, sitting side by side, roasting corn by a wooly fire.

Not sure what their names are, but we’re loving the turkey’s colorful feathers and the corn cobs’ toothy grins. Cheryl is teaching Crochet Pot Holders, Love Stings Jellyfish and Intro to Knitting this month – download our latest class schedule for more details!

October 3rd, 2010

Halloween is the best time of year to be hanging out in a craft store all day. (Halloween, and the winter holidays. And birthdays. And the rest of the year . . . ) If you like candy, not only do we have an awesome array of books spanning from Truffles, Candies and Confections all the way to Cake Pops, but we also have colorful foil wrappers for homemade candy and Martha Stewart’s Gothic Cupcake Wrappers.

If your crafting tastes run toward the functional, check out our adorable Super Scary Bat Bag class for a handmade must for Trick or Treating. Cheryl Cambras, known for her Happy Luscious Crocheted Ice Cream and Terrifying Yeti classes, has created a new fall project. Open to beginners and experienced crocheters, come and craft up some spooky fun for Halloween!

Want a new spin for your yarn and fiber crafts? Come and learn Amigurumi – an incredibly versatile style of crocheting in the round. Originating in Japan, this style of crochet has made its mark on the States in the form of simple yet expressive little creatures. Taking inspiration from the book Creepy Cute Crochet, our store is now haunted by miniature ghoulies and beasties getting ready for some holiday fun.

We’ve been talking about doing a Sugar Skull class for months, and all of our research has pointed us straight to Angela Villalba. Angela teaches her workshops internationally, spreading her infectious enthusiasm for this unique art form and colorful holiday. In preparation for Angela’s Sugar Skull and Papel Picado class on the 16th we’re carrying a variety of sugar skull molds and supplies, and are having a great time trying our hand at edible art.