Kickstarter: Kickstarted -- Assemble Rubber Stamping Kits

Oh man. We are excited. We just started a Kickstarter to make brand new Assemble Rubber Stamping Kits, out of our signature crafty and lifestyle images. See below:


PLUS a bonus Limited Edition Polar Bear stamp for backing $45 and up! Are you ready for this?

(Artwork by Karl Addison. Not actual size--hee!)
So, the way Kickstarter works is when a person backs your project, they choose their corresponding reward. Once the project is finished (in this case 30 days), if the project is fully funded, then each person gets their chosen reward. If not--and here's the very sad part--we get nothing. The project goes unfunded. So, we are asking all of you to spread the word, even if you can't help to fund the project. (We know how that is). We would LOVE to have these new, redesigned kits in your hands as soon as possible, so let's get [kick]started! So watch our video (below), and check out our Kickstarter page. We love you all! Thank you!!

Craft + Chat + Pop-Up Shop with Trophy Cupcakes & Seattle Bloggers Unite!

We had the best time at our Seattle Bloggers Craft + Chat last week! Crochet, business-chat, new friends, champagne + cupcakes: what could be better?? We met some awesome new ladies, with incredible stories of their own and were able to stretch our online legs for the first time. It's tough to not have a storefront to meet our customers and friends in every day, so this was just what we needed to feel at home. Thank you SO much for everyone who attended, and hopefully, we'll do another one really soon! Also, many thanks to Lyndsey of The Stationery Place and (our favorite sweet spot) Trophy Cupcakes for hosting the entire event. Check out some photos of our lovely time, and be sure to sign up next time if you weren't able to make it! (And ladies, if you have any trouble with your kits, be sure to visit our Vimeo page for video help!)

Brand New Three Bad Seeds Plushies In-Shop!

We have a brand new shipment of adorable plushies by Three Bad Seeds in stock. If you're lucky enough to have grabbed a ticket to our Craft + Chat, we'll be bringing them in today! We can't wait to see you all, it's going to be a blast!

Also--don't forget, we're still having our March is Crafting Month sale on all of our kits! Use coupon code, CRAFTMONTH for 20% off through March. Happy Wednesday!

Brand New Handmade Pin Cushions in Shop!

We made these little guys this week for fun! Aren't they cute?? Grab one for $8 in our shop's "What's New" section!


Also, have you grabbed your ticket for the CRAFT + CHAT yet? A little secret, we've just decided: an Assemble Pop-Up Shop during the meetup! You'll have to have a ticket to enter the event (one or the other) but we'll have a bit of time during to check out some goodies from our shop including our other kits, plushies by Three Bad Seeds, Tako Fibers crewel embroidery kits, and other sweet surprises! See you there!

March is National Craft Month! We're Celebrating!

March is National Craft Month! We were so excited when we heard that (cause who's heard of that??) that we decided to offer a 20% off for the ENTIRE month on our Assemble Crafting Kits! Head over to our online shop to check them out, and enter code CRAFTMONTH at checkout.


Also, we have a brand new, special event coming up! On Wednesday, March 20th, we will team up with Seattle Bloggers Unite! for a Craft + Chat with Assemble at the Trophy Cupcakes Party Room in Wallingford. This event is a two-part Craft & Chat with me (Andie) & Emily, and you can come to one or both of the events:

At 5pm: Come socialize AND learn a fun new skill as we teach you how to crochet! We will demonstrate our fan-favorite Crocheted Granny Square kits and teach you how to do it too. All attendees will receive a crochet kit, personalized instruction, treats, a sip or two, and a fun new skill -- plus stay for the meetup afterward! Ticket price: $30

At 7pm: Just want to come for a chat (and some delicious Trophy Cupcakes)? That's fine too! At 7 p.m., we will put our crochet hooks down (you can keep working of course) to discuss the ins and outs of "Selling your Self and your Stuff, Online and In Person" with a brief presentation and Q&A -- all about how to best present your online persona and/or business on the world wide web AND face to face. Ticket price: $5.

Tickets will be available until 3/19 so get yours fast! You don't have to be a blogger to come, but you MUST have a ticket to participate, even if you're just coming at 7. Click here or the image in the right hand column )near the top of this page) to register.

We can't wait to see you! (And eat cupcakes!!)

Will You Be My Valentine? // Valentine Picks from Assemble Shop

Looking for a gift for your sweetie? (Or looking for something to conveniently leave open on the computer screen for them to find?) Here ya go! Here are our favorite picks for awesome Valentine gifts. Hurry up though! Some of these are the last ones left in the shop--and I'm not telling you which ones!


1. Assemble Needle-Felted Sweets Crafting Kit, $30. One of our kits of course! We would never miss an opportunity to let you in on these gems, OBVIOUSLY. A sweetie for your sweetie! All funny-business aside, if you're wanting to learn Needle-Felting but want some one-on-one instruction, head over to Drygoods Design's workshop schedule where I'll be teaching this kit in their brand new Make.Do.Mend space. Sign up quick!

2. You Are My Sunshine card by Iron Curtain Press, $5. Our Favorite Friend, Rosanna Kvernmo of Iron Curtain Press has a knack for creating lovely, simplistic Valentines. We love this one.

3. Rosey White + Fuschia 'Dot' Earrings by Vivi Dot, $14. This isn't the only style, but it's definitely the most "Valentiney." Check out all of Vividot's awesome dotty jewelry on our shop.

4. This is the Moment Print by Jessica Swift, $20. A favorite of mine: this print is sweet, hip and oh-so-unique.

5. Me & You Pencils by Knot & Bow, $12. I love these! I use the Meatballs & Potatoes one for French class--no idea why. But as a pencil connoisseur, let me tell you that these are amazing. 1/they don't break. 2/they sharpen well (none of that giant wood splintery-up the side business that you get a lot) and 3/the erasers ERASE. Unlike some pencil erasers that will remain nameless.....

Got a question? Special order? Let us know!

Crafting Video Series: Crocheted Granny Square Stitch Demonstrations

Yay! Finally a new video! I have to brag about Emily with this one: I stomped into her house after French class, dripping with rain holding my camera bag. "Wanna make a video??? Ehh??" Poor girl is ten days out from giving birth, and she's a trooper, crocheting away for Assemble in this video.

If you're having a little bit of trouble with your Granny Square Crochet Kit, or you are a bit nervous to try one because you are a beginner: this one's for you! Watch as Emily demonstrates the four basic crochet stitches. Watch on repeat, rewind, take notes, put your hands and yarn up to the screen--and I promise you'll get it. (I did, and I had never tried before Emily showed me!)

If you don't have a kit yet, don't worry! Just remember to take advantage of our 20% off sale on everything in our online shop through the end of January with the discount code SUPPORTSMALL. Yay, crochet!!

Crocheted Granny Square Kit Stitch Demonstrations from Assemble Shop and Studio on Vimeo. Music by Christian Powers

Last Minute Gift Guide for Your Favorite DIYer

I feel like these gift guides always spark some ideas when I read them on other blogs. Regardless of whether you're able to pick up these exact products, they might help you if you're stuck on what to get someone special that just happens to love DIY project. It's the 19th, which means that TOMORROW is the last day to mail packages USPS Priority and have them reach friends and family before Christmas. Hurry, hurry, busy bees! Here are our ideas for a quick, great gift:


1. One of our crafting kits of course! Shameless plug, but we think they're pretty great. Let us know if it's a gift and we'll wrap it up! This one is the Needle Felting Breakfast Kit for $30.

2. Another great kit (even if we didn't make it!) is this Modern Cross-stitch Bamboo Necklace Kit from Red Gate Stitchery, $14. How cute is that chevron pattern? Check out their other kits on Etsy too.

3. From one of our favorite local designers, Slide Sideways, this sweet little pencil case is perfect for artists, crafters, sewers and more. They can keep all their tools and goodies inside! $15 in our shop.

4. This one is for you if you feel like spending a pretty penny on a good friend. The Portrait & Cameo Silhouette Studio® cutting machines are the coolest crafter's tools I've heard of in a while. These little guys can cut a wide variety of materials including paper, vinyl, cardstock, fabric, heat transfer material, etc. Now, if only there was one that cut wood at this price... $199-$299.

5. Last but not least, for the kitchen DIYers, a sweet cake pop kit by Bakerella, $19.95. I've never tried to make cake pops but I've heard they are very difficult. Maybe this kit is something I need?!

We'd love to hear your DIY gift suggestions too!

Introducing: The Assemble Crafting Kits

We are so excited to FINALLY introduce our Assemble Crafting Kits. We have worked tirelessly on them to bring them to the masses, and are proud and happy to get them out before the holidays! We have a total of eight new kits, including: Needle-Felted Sushi, Needle-Felted Breakfast, Needle-Felted Sweets, Crocheted Granny Squares, and Hardcover Bookbinding in a variety of paper styles. Each kit includes everything you need to create the project, plus a full-color, photographed instruction booklet. Those are our hands!


Needle-Felted Sushi Kit, $30




Needle-Felted Sweets Kit, $30


Needle-Felted Breakfast Kit, $30


Crocheted Granny Square Kit, $35


Hardcover Bookbinding Kit in Orange Bean, $40


Hardcover Bookbinding Kit in Lime Lattice Recycled Rag, $40
Hardcover Bookbinding Kit in Silver Leaf on Gray/Blue Lokta, $40
Hardcover Bookbinding Kit in Turquoise Mums Lokta, $40
Please join us tonight (Friday, December 14th) from 6-9pm for our official release of the kits, champagne, and my awesome husband and our dear friend playing Christmas music (see below for a glimpse!) for our LAST Assemble party in this space. We are excited to see you, and can't wait. xo Andie & Emily

Little Saint Nick from Adrian Centoni on Vimeo.

Pre-Kit Release Press Party

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions with the upcoming release of our Assemble Crafting Kits (tomorrow!). Through printing snafus, wonderful help from friends and several very late nights, we think we are nearly ready to present them.

Last night, we were excited to host a party for our favorite members of the crafting & blogging community to come and check out the new kits, have a glass of champagne, and a treat from local pastry wizard, Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery. If you haven't tried their delicacies, we highly recommend the sipping caramel with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. I think we collectively gained 50 lbs last night. Whoops!

Take a look at a few sneak peaks today, then come back tomorrow for the full scoop on our eight new crafting kits, for sale tomorrow!










We haven't slept in days!! Yayyy!!

Another Kit Sneak Peek!

This one comes your way from the Hardcover Bookbinding instruction booklet. We are in LOVE with this paper. Who wants to make a book?? Coming in November!!

Kit Assembly Party!

Last night, Assemble hosted a "kit assembly party" and lots of wonderful friends came out to support us by helping to put together our long-awaited kits. They're almost here, guys!! Sustained with wine, pizza and Halloween candy, it was a fun-filled four hours of taping, cutting, winding of yarn, tubing of needle-felting needles, sewing of crochet hook pouches, the whole nine yards. We're getting so close to showing you pictures of the actual kits, but in the meantime, check out some of our fun below.


Little wooden yarn spools for the crochet kit!


Tiny test tubes full of needle-felting goodness!


Amy Bengtson and Chika Eustace of Velouria Boutique helping out!


mmmm. pizza.


"Cut & sew me, please!" -felt.
Special, special thanks to:

Chika and Cat of Velouria Boutique in Ballard
Amy Bengtson of Amy Bengtson Jewelry
France Wisniewski of Bananafish Studios
and Christian Powers, husband/teacher/musician extraordinaire.

Kits coming so soon!!