Blog by Lyra Pappin

It isn’t just the crafty crowd that appreciates homemade work, everyone does! The recent surge in the crafting business proves that whether you are all thumbs or all crafty, people enjoy personalized and homemade items.

Perhaps you are just joining the crafting craze and haven’t made anything since your kindergarten arts and crafts days, but fear not! There are simple projects that pros love to... Read more

• Category:
• All Things Crafts

Making your own stamps is easier than you think! While it might take some time to get started, creating your own stamps is not just a fun activity, but can add a nice personalized touch to gifts for friends and family. If you start with a simple stamp design, you can progress further into the realm of fancy and intricate stamping!

Stamps can be used to create your own stationary and gift wrap or as an... Read more

• Category:
• All Things Crafts

An international exhibition of new media by artists with disabilities will be on display in Washington’s World Financial Center Courtyard from Feb. 5 – March 16. It promises to change your perception about disabilities and reveals more about the role of new media in the art world. Unfortunately, the 9-hour performance video of me trying to draw a straight line didn’t make the cut. :)

Read... Read more

• Category:
• iCraft Current

For both men and women, the low-rise pant is an ultimate dis-ass-ter. I used to be of the opinion that once you are out of high school, there is nothing worse than strolling around with a permanent half-moon on display. I say, “used to” only because I now think it is truly unacceptable no matter what your age is. I’m pretty sure learning to dress yourself includes pulling pants up to... Read more

• Category:
• Fashion & Style

While most people might look at arts and crafts as “just a hobby”, this creative pastime has become a booming 31 billion dollar industry in the U.S. With 57% of households engaging in crafting activities, the arts and crafts industry has enjoyed a significant bump since its $23 billion dollar earnings in 2000.

So what has caused this resurgence of interest in the Do-It-Yourself approach?... Read more

• Category:
• All Things Crafts

For an artist, handing over their artwork to a total stranger can be a traumatic experience.

Imagine the following scene:

"Hey! This person wants to buy your painting, isn’t that great?"

"It’s not really just a painting. It’s pencil with watercolour."

"Okay, but still. My friend really hates her husband’s sports collection, so she said she wants to... Read more

• Category:
• Art & Photography

Can reputations and expectations be built on the right colours and fabrics? Politicians think so, whether they want us to know about it or not. For better or worse, the public loves to gossip about politicians’ wardrobes, forcing candidates to play the game too.

Political style might not seem important, politicians might even scoff at the idea of talking fashion, but it’s impossible to say that... Read more

• Category:
• Trend Spotting

The Scarf is a pretty happening accessory these days. With seemingly endless options of length, width, design, and fabric, the way your scarf is worn has evolved from a simple personal choice to a broader symbol of your overall style.

Let’s take a closer look at the three most popular scarves and discover their style potential.

The Traditional

The traditional scarf is a thick wool winter scarf, which... Read more

• Category:
• Fashion & Style

As an artist, after spending hours, days, weeks, maybe even months, on a piece of art, it can be incredibly difficult deciding how to price your work. Aside from the emotional investment in a piece, there are the practicalities of equipment and material that factor into the complex equation.

The best way to determine the value of your art is to set ego and emotions aside and focus on the creating a practical... Read more

• Category:
• Art & Photography

Kylie Minogue is as stylish as they come. A woman with talent, spirit, and sex appeal, she successfully evolved from a fresh faced teenage star to one of the millennium’s sexiest sensations.

After getting things started with 1987’s “The Loco-Motion” , Kylie became a popular celebrity in Australia and the UK, but made a massive comeback to A-list mass appeal with “Can’t Get... Read more

• Category:
• Trend Spotting