January 4

Jewelry for Band Geeks

Clarinet key earrings-140848-BOA by Hangups in KC

Any Band Geeks out there? My husband played trumpet in his high school marching band, and continued as a member of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band. Now my daughter is following suit, playing his horn in her school marching band. Over the past 20+ years, I have attended and cheered at many a band performance, and developed a definite soft spot for those musical type geeks.

So I am pleased to toot the horn (couldn’t resist the pun) of a local Kansas City duo who is making some pretty cool things out of retired band instruments. Hangups in KC has created the Band of Angels Retired Instrument Jewelry Collection, crafting unique handmade items such as clarinet key earrings (pictured above), guitar string bracelets, and a necklace from repurposed violin wood.

These ladies are passionate about their craft and their commitment to using repurposed materials. I love their brand vision and message, and that they are giving new life to retired band instruments in a unique way. And bonus –  they give 30% of every sale from the collection to Band of Angels, a non-profit that collects used music instruments and makes them available to kids in need so they can join band and orchestra programs. Nurturing future generations of band geeks is something I can get behind!

For Christmas, I gave my daughter one of Hangups’ ornaments made from a retired trumpet mouthpiece. She thought it was pretty cool, then when she heard it helped other kids get started in band, it became an even more meaningful keepsake. Band mom win!

Trumpet ornament by Hangups in KC

Are you a Band Geek? What instrument did/do you play?

Category: Craft, Geek, Girly, Music | Comments Off on Jewelry for Band Geeks
November 30

Ironing Board Do-Over

Star Wars ironing board by The Geek Forge

Got a stash of geeky fabrics, but not sure what you want to make with them? Jen at The Geek Forge has put together a great step-by-step tutorial for recovering an ironing board with Star Wars fabric. She makes it look pretty easy!

Be sure to also check out their Etsy shop for geek accessories and art. 15% of all profits go to Hero Initiative, a charity which helps comic book artists.

Category: Craft, Geek, Movies | 2 Comments on Ironing Board Do-Over
June 4

Pokémon Cushions

pokemon cushions

What’s a better thing to do with your old bed sheets than to upcycle them into lovely cushions covers?

These Pokémon cushions are made by Alien Couture, an UK-based website and Etsy store. Of course, the shop doesn’t limit itself to just Pokémon. What about a gigantic Rainbow Dash or some retro Super Mario? They even sell a cushion made of a Jurrassic Park sheet I own myself (made in 1992, the year I was born)!

Category: Craft, Geek, Video Games | Comments Off on Pokémon Cushions
April 25

Reader Submmission: Pop Tab Prom Dress

In an effort to give you guys out there in the GeekCrafting Community the recognition you deserve, I’m now helping to post some of your awesome reader submissions! so don’t forget to hit us up using the ‘submit a geekcraft’ link at the top of the page if you make something you think we’d like to see!!

Proud father Steve Pozek sent us some lovely pictures of his (stunning) daughter Maura Pozek who created a truly unique prom dress. Looking at the full length picture (right) you don’t quite get the scope of how awesome this dress truly is. Yes, look closely, this prom dress is woven out of pop tabs, ribbon – and, I’m guessing – a whole lotta blood, sweat and tears.

This mammoth undertaking has also been recognised by local press!

“Pop the top on another energy drink and make a Prom dress? Sure, why not? This dress uses 400 yards of ribbon, nearly 4000 pop tabs, and the patience of 100 hours of tedious weaving (sort of like writing code, only more boring and mind-numbing).

As the proud parent, I watched my 16 year old daughter surrounded by her laptop, a Netflix subscription, and cellphone (for that all  important texting), labor over this work of art.” – Steve Pozek

Full respect to Maura and the time, effort, concentration, planning and precision it must’ve taken to weave this masterpiece.

I think I can hear my sewing machine needle breaking just looking at that side seam!

All pictures © Steve Pozek.


Pop the top on another energy drink and make a Prom dress? Sure, why not? This
dress uses 400 yards of ribbon, nearly 4000 pop tabs, and the patience of 100
hours of tedious weaving (sort of like writing code, only more boring and
mind-numbing).

As the proud parent, I watched my 16 year old daughter surrounded by her laptop,
a Netflix subscription, and cellphone (for that all important texting), labor
over this work of art.

Category: Craft, Geek, Girly | 7 Comments on Reader Submmission: Pop Tab Prom Dress