

DIY Book Box
This Book Box was by far the most time consuming DIY project I've done, but also the most worthwhile. I encourage you to give it a shot! WHAT YOU NEED - Thick, hard cover book - Piece of scrap paper - Mod Podge - Sponge brush - X-ACTO knife/really sharp blade/knife - Pencil - Scissors - Ruler - Belt with snaps - a weight, or something really heavy WHAT TO DO Step 1: Place your piece of scrap paper in between the front cover and the first page of your book. (This will ensure y


The most magical flower shop in Kingston, says owner
Michelle J. Stenson knew she wanted to be a flower shop owner as a young teenager. “I heard of someone who was working at a flower shop and then I thought that sounded kind of cool and then my mother got me a job working at a flower shop in Amherstview. I was 13. And I just found out last year that it was actually my mother who was paying me. Isn’t that cool? So, she just wanted something different for me to do (because) I was a really big handful." Though she didn’t go right


DIY Stained Glass Art
This craft is great for kids of all ages (including adults)! The end results are endless, so give it a try! WHAT YOU NEED - Frame (pick a size!) - Hot glue - Glitter glue - Food colouring - Tooth pick(s) WHAT TO DO Step 1: Remove the back of the frame. Remove the glass, too. Step 2: Heat up your hot glue gun and proceed to glue around the interior edge where the glass will be. Step 3: Put the glass back in place and add another layer of hot glue around the edge to ensure the


Corporate big shot to small town jewelry maker: Whitney Haynes Designs
Whitney Haynes was never a jewelry person until she started making her own. “I played a lot of sports, was an outdoor person, went to summer camp. And I think my influence came from doing the summer camp thing, where you wear your friendship bracelets and make kind of craft jewelry. I totally think that’s a big part of it. So I always say my jewelry is grown-up camp jewelry." For one of Haynes’s jewelry lines, she makes a trip to her cottage and spends the day collecting birc


Featured Artist of the Week: Vera Donefer
Name: Vera Donefer Age: 85 Medium: Acrylic Raised by Polish and Russian parents, Vera Donefer was destined to be a secretary or teacher if her father had it his way. But growing up in New York City, Donefer fell in love with art, spending every weekend at a museum. After studying commercial art at a college in Manhattan, Donefer worked as a fashion illustrator until her husband landed a job in Montreal, which led them to Canada. From here, she worked as a fibre artist. Now, D


DIY Glow Jars
These lantern-like jars are a great idea for camping, sleepovers or just an evening outdoors. They take a matter of minutes to make and last for hours. WHAT YOU NEED: - Mason jar - Glow stick - Glue - Glitter - String - Scissors WHAT TO DO: Step 1: Open the mason jar. Step 2: Squeeze glue all around the inside of the mason jar for a cool abstract look and to help the other contents stick to the walls of the jar. Step 3: Use scissors or some other sharp object to carefully cut


Featured Artist of the Week: Taura Hanson
Name: Taura Hanson Age: 39 Medium: Brush lettering
Taura Hanson is originally from Manitoba, but moved to Kingston in 2008 , then to Dubai for four years and returned to Kingston in January 2014 due to her love for the community and the city's thriving art scene. Now, she is an active arts community member in Kingston. Though she works her day job as a freelance web designer for Innovate Kingston, Hanson is also on the organizing committee for the Kingston Women's Arts Festi


Sew, what?
Mandi Coulter just gave up her full-time job to run her own sewing studio. "It’s scary, but it’s so exciting. Like, some nights I can’t sleep because I’m so excited about all of the things I want to do,” she says. Coulter is a self-taught sewer who dabbled in high school and then lost interest. After having her first son, she says she got right back into it while on maternity leave (thanks to some inspiration from the show Project Runway) and hasn’t stopped. When she was livi


DIY Melted Crayon Art
Did you ever imagine you'd be able to make art with a blow dryer? Well today's you're lucky day. Watch and learn. WHAT YOU NEED - Cardstock Paper - Computer - Printer - Scissors - Pencil - Crayons - Tape - Blow Dryer - Glue WHAT TO DO Step 1: Pick a word. Type it out on a word document. Size it BIG. Spread out your letters to make them easier to cut out. Step 2: Print it. Step 3: Cut out your letters. Step 4: Place them where you want them on your cardstock paper and trace ar


DIY Tassle
Want something to spice up your gift bags or luggage? This cute little trick is just for you. It takes about five minutes and just three basic things. WHAT YOU NEED - Assorted yarn - String - Scissors WHAT TO DO Step 1: Wrap yarn around your hand a few times (or an object like a small book). You can use one colour, or a few. For one colour you'd want to wrap it around more times, whereas if you're using a few different pieces of yarn, only wrap each of them around 3-4 times.