Announcements

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Dear beloved CRAFT readers,

Today is my last day as Senior Video Producer for MAKE & CRAFT. The past four years have been, undoubtedly, the best times of my life so far. I'm immensely thankful to have been a part of such a dedicated and talented team -- they're like family to me. While you won't be seeing me on the blog, Make: Live, or CRAFT videos any longer, this isn't so much "goodbye" as "see you around." I'll always be a proud member of the maker community.

After a little time off, I'll be taking a position at Adafruit Industries, heading up the wearable electronics group, and of course, you know I can't resist making videos. I'm delighted to dig into more ambitious projects than ever before, so I hope you'll check them out.

I thought I'd share some of my "greatest hits" videos from over the years, so I've compiled a list over on MAKE.

You can check out my entire body of video work for MAKE/CRAFT in the Becky's Workshop YouTube playlist, and if you want to keep up with my projects, follow me on Twitter. See you around the tubes!

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Need help creating or making a plan to keep your Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal for 2012? Well, then, mark your calendar for this Thursday, Feb. 2, from 8-9 p.m. EST for the next installment in the DIY Web Chat series. Brought to you by the DIY Business Association, the team will have experts on hand to help you discuss how to go after this year's big goals, from finally learning how to knit to setting up your own crafty business.

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The Handmade Gift Guide's Winter/Valentine Companion is now available for purchase. Check out the web site for this issue's features.

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Hello Crafters. Tomorrow from 8:00am EST to 8:00pm EST, CRAFT, along with MAKE and many other websites across the country will go dark in protest over the SOPA and PIPA bills that are before the House and Senate. For more details, read Gareth Branwyn's post on MAKE.

We'll be back on Thursday!

Join us Wednesday evening for the next episode of Make: Live, our streaming show and tell! It's our season two premiere, and we'll take a peek at projects from the new MAKE Volume 29, learn about an innovative dog toy, and hang out together live in the chat.

We also give away a fabulous prize to one chat member who can solve our photo challenge. This week it's a prize package from Maker Shed! This week one of you will win:

Make: Live 24
Wednesday January 11th, 9pm ET/6pm PT
Watch at makezine.com/live or on UStream
Please join us in the UStream chat or mark tweets with #makelive to interact live with the show.

Want to show us your project? Email live@makezine.com and you could be featured on an upcoming episode!

Guest info after the jump.

Subscribe to the Make: Live Podcast in iTunes, download the preview video m4v, or watch clips from the show on YouTube.

Guest information

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According to the New York Post, "The Martha Stewart Show" will end production in April 2012 as a result of low ratings. The show moved to the Hallmark channel in September 2010 and has struggled with ratings ever since.

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Welcome to 2012, Crafters! After a rollicking craft-filled holiday season, most of us could use some inspiration and ideas on reorganizing for the upcoming year. Which is why this month's theme is...(drumroll)...

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So keep your eyes open this month for our Organize It-themed projects, such as a CD jewel case calendar, on-the-go organizer, canvas organizing boxes, ways to organize your accessories, and more.

But today is a day of relaxing, reflecting, tossing out the old, and enjoying family and friends. So enjoy your first day of January, your first day of 2012!

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And in case you missed our Best of CRAFT 2011 series, check out the links below.

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Best of CRAFT 2011: Recipes

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Best of CRAFT 2011: Nerdy Crafts

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Best of CRAFT 2011: Scarves

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Best of CRAFT 2011: Sewing

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Best of CRAFT 2011: Quilts

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Top 100 All-Time CRAFT Posts


It's tonight! Make: Live's Best of 2011 show looks back at our favorite episodes from the very first season. Go behind the scenes with us for some of our most memorable moments-- from goofs and gaffes to last minute surprises and change ups. And don't miss the best of robots, blinky LEDs, fires & explosions, electronics and giant mobile contraptions. It's a whole year of making condensed to 30 minutes of nonstop unbridled joy-- don't miss it!

We also give away a fabulous prize from Digi-Key to one chat member who can solve our photo challenge. This week you could win:

Make: Live 23: Best of Make: Live 2011
Wednesday December 28th, 9pm ET/6pm PT
Watch at makezine.com/live or on UStream
Please join us in the UStream chat or mark tweets with #makelive to interact live with the show.

Want to show us your project? Upload a video or photos and send a link to live@makezine.com.

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Congratulations go to 5 randomly chosen winners of our December 7th giveaway for Chronicle's new book, Holiday Crafting & Baking with Kids by Jessica Strand.

The 4 Runner-up Prizes - A copy of Holiday Crafting and Baking with Kids - went to: Mia Birdsong, Andrea Duquette, Lora Wikle, and Shannon O'Connor.

The Grand Prize - A copy of Holiday Crafting and Baking with Kids AND a Holiday Gift Basket from Chronicle Books - went to Estrella Azul.

A big round of applause to all who participated. It was truly wonderful reading what everyone had to say about their childhood holiday memories. Stay tuned for more giveaways soon to come!

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Kawaii Holiday Gift Tags


Merry Christmas, Crafters! Thank you for all of the wonderful links, projects, and enthusiasm you've contributed to us this year. We at CRAFT wish you a very magical day.

Yours truly,

The CRAFT Team