Hello Summer, I've Got Big Crafty Plans For You.
Find the perfect DIY Father's Day project, mark your calendars for some upcoming classes and let's talk productive pauses during the slow summer season.
Summer is here and I am gearing up to grab the sunscreen and get my sort on. By day I’ll be poolside and by night I’ll be finally putting away the supplies from a workshop I taught six months ago. Join me on this adventure won’t you.
Father’s Day and Beyond
These are just a few of my favorites from the archives. I’ve got all kinds of creative content on jenniferperkins.com and HGTV if you want even more ideas. I love all of these projects, but the strongman circus guy featuring my brother-in-law is probably my favorite.
Other summer bangers include soap popsicles, ice dying and lemon coasters.
A Summer of Sorting, Skill Building and Strategizing
In between teaching at a STEAM summer camp for kids and maybe squeezing in a vacay with the fam I am hoping to use this slow season to my advantage. Did you see my post about the Uncommon Flea Market? I put (almost) everything away right when I got home rather than letting it live on my dining room table for weeks. I was so proud it inspired an entire new series coming over the summer called A Crafty Guide to Productive Pauses During the Slow Times. Some topics I am planning to cover include…
Half Written Romance Novels and Returning to All the Other WIP Projects in Our Lives.
Summer Stockpiling - Why You Should Batch Things in the Slow Times Like a Doomsday Prepper Hoards Canned Goods.
Trying Something New - Experimenting With Crafty Cross Pollination and Finally Using Some of Those Craft Supplies You Wanted To Try But Never Opened.
Kitschmas in July - Is It Ever Too Early To Start Planning For Fall (The Answer is No).
Get the Skills to Pay The Bills - No More Wishing You Knew How to Edit Video, Time To Film That Online Class.
Becoming a Doom Pile Destroyer - ADHD and Cognitive Overload be Damned Let’s Finally Put That Crap Away.
Where am I teaching next?
All over Texas and don’t forget I’ll be back in California this fall.
7/26 - The Basics of Bookbinding and Junk Journals at Figment in Austin
7/31-8/3 - Makers Retreat in Dripping Springs (and online)
10/15-19 - Society of Wildflowers in Laguna Beach
I love to leave you with a fun list of random craft adjacent things. Do you read my FREE weekly newsletter The Glue Gun Gazette where I curate all my favorite artsy craftsy things?
Take a color walk. Truthfully the only walking I am doing this summer is inside on a treadmill but twice in the last week I’ve heard people mention taking a color walk. First here and then
talked about it here. I love looking for repetition and patterns so this sounds very on brand for me.I swear I will quit talking about JoAnn Fabrics eventually but I had to share this one last thing.
Found a few fun things on Substack this week…This collage of over 100 company products via
. was making a list of artsy craftsy Substackers. , one of my teachers from Craftcation, just started a new Substack you should check it out!As an Esprit loving child of the 80’s I will always have a thing for patterns. I think that’s why I can’t stop thinking about this sweater and these Crocs. Hell I’d wear them together with something animal print, because animal print is a neutral.
Exquisite Corpses are on my lesson plans for the kids summer camp I am teaching. I’ve made versions with blocks, rocks and paper. The Moma has a fun game where you can make one using surrealist art from their collection.
As always feel free to hit reply to this email or leave a comment. Please share with friends.
In the meantime you can find me all the usual places Substack, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram (part 2).
Until next time!
Thanks!! 🙌🏻