Thinking about starting an arts or crafts business or want to expand your skill set?  Interweave has a a great library of resources for knitting, crocheting, sewing, jewelry making and beading, quilting, weaving, spinning, drawing, and fine art.

One example is this cool book on Japanese inspired knits or the Fabric Dyer's Dictionary for mixing your own hues.  And, if you prefer to use natural plant dyes, check out my  review of Natural Dyes and Home Dyeing .

Finally, I'm kind of a nut on the subject of using found materials to make arts and crafts and have a resource page recommending six books on the subject.

Every time I pick up a copy of Art Calendar magazine at my local bookstore I tell myself that it's time to subscribe to this great magazine.  And, somehow this never comes to fruition. However, a little behind the times, I just finished reading the July/August issue and as usual it was jam-packed with great articles.

Unlike some magazines, I read each one and learned something new.  Here's just a few of the topics covered:

• Cheap and easy self-publishing through Amazon
• Making your own instructional videos
• Websites and online infringement
• Nipping artistic self-sabotage in the bud

You can purchase a digital download of this and other back issues for $2.95 (newstand price is $5) by going to the Art Calendar website.   The website also previews what's in the current September/October issue.   One interesting article: 'Temporary Mentors: Rent an Advisor for 1 Hour + 1 Lunch'.

I found this interesting two-part article on how to design and build wainscoting for an arts and crafts home.  If your area of arts or crafts business is  decorative or functional, you might be interested in checking out these instructions.

If you're a do-it-yourself homeowner, I recommend the instructions as well.  It's easy to find and buy ready-made wainscoting, I've even found some online.  However, following these instructions, you may prefer to just customize the wainscoting to your own home or  customer's home.

The articles has plenty of images to guide you along.  However, you need to have some basic woodworking skills (and tools) prior to starting this type of project.

If you've been dismayed by the chance that The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts might move from Gatlinburg, TN, its Board of Governors announced this week  that the school will remain in Gatlinburg.

Check out their upcoming classes in various arts and crafts disciplines.