Modern Fabrics reclaimed textiles

Modern Fabrics is an online store selling designer fabrics rescued from the cutting room floors of high-end furniture factories. They scoop up gorgeous textiles from the likes of Knoll, Maharam, Architex and more—usually sold only to the trade—and then make them available to everyone at 50-75% off the list price. Some are still a hefty price tag for us commoners, but definitely better. And it's great to think that these could go live at your house instead of a landfill.

Print it: a vintage-style Valentine card

Free for the downloading: a printable Valentine card and matching envelope available at Ruffled.

Design your own computer wallpaper

If you enjoy a grunge vibe and have some time to kill, you can create your own desktop wallpaper online. Unleash your inner graffiti artist right here at X3 Studios.

Paper heart garland

A simple DIY Valentine's Day paper project: hearts on a string.

Cut colored paper into 3/4" strips. Fold them in half, or if you want some hearts that are twice as big, splice two strips of paper together at the bottom of each heart with double stick tape. Curl the loose ends around a chopstick or pen.

String the heart garland together from the bottom up. I used Sulky clear thread, available at fabric stores. It's curly and hard to see so you have to fight with it a bit, but it turns out nearly invisible. Push your threaded needle up through the bottom fold of each heart, then use double stick tape to sandwich the thread between the two halves of the curled tops.

Printable all-in-one card and envelope

Natalie Jost has designed some printable floral "cardvelopes," a genetically engineered card-envelope hybrid. You know, like a liger, only not as sad. Just print on cardstock, trim, write your message on the blank interior, and fold. They're free for the downloading right here.

How to make flowery things

As Valentine's Day approaches—or as you grow increasingly tired of gray skies and snowbanks—pretty, flowery projects sound like a good idea. Here are some tutorials from around the internet:
Felt flower clips by A Hoot and a Holler (pictured above)
Rose barrettes at The Purl Bee
Crochet flower pattern by Salihan Crafts
Crochet flower pattern by Attic24 (pictured below)
Flowers made from zippers at Martha
Floral embroidery pattern at Vintage Transfer Finds (as well as how to use it)
Flowers made from ribbon at Make It Do

Cast your vote for How About Orange

I have discovered by accident that How About Orange is among five finalists in the 2010 Bloggie awards for Best Art, Craft, or Design Weblog. Kind readers, thanks so much for the nomination! (And if you, like me, wondered precisely what the Bloggies are, see here.) If you want to vote for How About Orange, click here and scroll to the right. Voting ends Jan. 31.

Update: Congrats to The Storque, the Etsy.com blog and winner in this category!

Mini bunting birthday card

My latest quickie DIY project: a birthday card with a tiny bunting of miniature flags. If you want to try one, here's how to make it.

Fold a sheet of cardstock into thirds, accordian style. If you want a printed message on your card, run it through your printer before folding.

Cut out strips of colored paper and fold them in half lengthwise. (My strips were about 1" wide.) Cut the folded strips into tiny triangles; they should look like little hinges. Make a few strings of bunting by folding triangles over a cord and gluing both halves together.

With an X-acto knife, cut tiny slits in the folded edge of the cover of your card. Thread one end of each bunting cord through a slit and secure the cord end behind the cover with a piece of tape. Wrap the opposite end of each cord around the cover of the card and secure it in the back with more tape. Then place double stick tape around the edges and center of the back side of the cover and stick the cover to the adjacent panel, hiding the taped ends of your bunting. Round the corners of your card if you like, and you're done.

Printable Valentine goodie bags

Kathleen of Twig & Thistle has done it again! Beautiful graphics to print on Valentine's Day treat bags are yours for the downloading, free. Get the floral bag image here and the brownie bag here.

(Images from Twig & Thistle)

How to be a fabric designer

Everyone wanting to know how to get into the quilting textile design industry: listen up! Designer Lizzy House has written an e-book called How to Enter the World of Textiles: For the Quilting Industry. It covers what to design and how to present your work to a manufacturer. So now, everyone who has ever emailed me and heard me essentially say, "Duh, I dunno," I happily send you over to Lizzy to get the real answers. The e-book is available Feb. 1.

Update: The book is now available right here.