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Joselyn Hughes: the comedian turning DIY projects into YouTube gold Joselyn Hughes: the comedian turning DIY projects into YouTube gold
(1 day later)
Americans unabashedly love three things: their food, their freedom and a football league the rest of the world hates – but damn it if a nice handcrafted crafting project doesn't come in a close fourth. Americans unabashedly love three things: their food, their freedom and a football league the rest of the world hates – but damn it if a nice handcrafted crafting project doesn't come in a close fourth. 
In 2012, a State of the Craft Industry report found that 56% of US households participated in crafting during the last year. And Pinterest, the newest mecca for online do-it-yourself-ers, makes more money than Facebook in e-commerce, and is growing faster than any other social network.In 2012, a State of the Craft Industry report found that 56% of US households participated in crafting during the last year. And Pinterest, the newest mecca for online do-it-yourself-ers, makes more money than Facebook in e-commerce, and is growing faster than any other social network.
It was only a matter of time before someone like Joselyn Hughes came along and paired standup comedy with the hilarious potential she found in rookie crafting. A YouTube series for amateurs called DIY DAMMIT!. It airs regularly to hundreds of thousands of subscribers to the popular Nerdist channel. It was only a matter of time before someone like Joselyn Hughes came along and paired standup comedy with the hilarious potential she found in rookie crafting. A YouTube series for amateurs called DIY DAMMIT!. It airs regularly to hundreds of thousands of subscribers to the popular Nerdist channel. 
The 32-year-old comedienne's credits include appearances on Chelsea Lately, Tosh.0 and VH1, but she found her calling in DIY for the reasons everyone else does: it's cheaper, more meaningful and more fun. Her projects so far: a planter made out of a plastic dinosaur, a vase made out of a lightbulb and a pillow out of a Boy Scouts T-shirt. Hannah Hart of the insanely popular My Drunk Kitchen show has stopped by to make the vase, and Alie and Georgia from Cooking Channel's Trippin Out made a friendship bracelet. Basically, these are the kinds of projects you'd do with your best friend, a bottle of wine and the household items you'd use to put something together when the bottle goes empty. The 32-year-old comedienne's credits include appearances on Chelsea Lately, Tosh.0 and VH1, but she found her calling in DIY for the reasons everyone else does: it's cheaper, more meaningful and more fun. Her projects so far: a planter made out of a plastic dinosaur, a vase made out of a lightbulb and a pillow out of a Boy Scouts T-shirt. Hannah Hart of the insanely popular My Drunk Kitchen show has stopped by to make the vase, and Alie and Georgia from Cooking Channel's Trippin Out made a friendship bracelet. Basically, these are the kinds of projects you'd do with your best friend, a bottle of wine and the household items you'd use to put something together when the bottle goes empty. 
"I approach DIY like a normal person," she says. "Sites like Etsy and Pinterest make it look so easy, but half the time they don't explain what the project really entails." "I approach DIY like a normal person," she says. "Sites like Etsy and Pinterest make it look so easy, but half the time they don't explain what the project really entails." 
What the crafting data world doesn't have is something a lot more interesting: numbers on which crafting projects go down in a blaze of DIY glory. In the beginning, sites like PinterestFail, a popular blog dedicated to fallen DIY projects that seemed like a really good idea at the time, were enough:What the crafting data world doesn't have is something a lot more interesting: numbers on which crafting projects go down in a blaze of DIY glory. In the beginning, sites like PinterestFail, a popular blog dedicated to fallen DIY projects that seemed like a really good idea at the time, were enough:
The next step, obviously, was to just add video.The next step, obviously, was to just add video.
If you've attempted an autumn wreath that disintegrated on the doorstep or elaborate rainbow cupcakes that ended up looking more like moon rocks – not that anyone here knows anything about that – you will almost definitely find Hughes's series more entertaining than your friend's dream wedding Pinterest page. But you be the judge: If you've attempted an autumn wreath that disintegrated on the doorstep or elaborate rainbow cupcakes that ended up looking more like moon rocks – not that anyone here knows anything about that – you will almost definitely find Hughes's series more entertaining than your friend's dream wedding Pinterest page. But you be the judge: 
Today on #DIYDammit! I make a Light Bulb Vase with #MyDrunkKitchen's @harto AND ALMOST DIED http://t.co/WK5cpIooWy @NerdistChannelToday on #DIYDammit! I make a Light Bulb Vase with #MyDrunkKitchen's @harto AND ALMOST DIED http://t.co/WK5cpIooWy @NerdistChannel
"I try to DIY that for you, so you can see if you'd really want to spend the time doing it," she says. "I think people can relate to me in that way. And I'd like to think that my goofy jokes don't hurt, either.""I try to DIY that for you, so you can see if you'd really want to spend the time doing it," she says. "I think people can relate to me in that way. And I'd like to think that my goofy jokes don't hurt, either."
Still interested? Thought so. Still interested? Thought so. 
Tell us in the comments below or by using #diydammit on Twitter to tell us which project Joselyn should attempt in our Spreecast with her Friday, 4 October at 2pm ET. We'll update this post with the customary Status Update Survey™ after the chat.  Joselyn will be using Spreecast to live-craft and chat with readers on Friday, 4 October at 2pm ET. Her craft of choice: Ghoulish Jars, spotted at Embracing Messy. If you want to craft along, here's what you'd need: an empty glass jar, some glue or Modge Podge, tissue paper, a paint brush, scissors and tea light candles. She'll be joined by special guest Mamrie Hart, host of You Deserve a Drink. 
Crafting criteria: It must be reasonably easy to locate materials, it must take under 30 minutes to complete and it must be suitable for amateurs who'd like to join and try to follow along (and also, for the amateur leading the crafting session). 
(H/T Xeni Jardin, who spotted Hughes over at BoingBoing.) (H/T Xeni Jardin, who spotted Hughes over at BoingBoing.) 
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