DIY Happenings at Search Magazine!

 

It's wild to realize that my Legacy of Sewing piece was so long ago in the Winter 2025 issue of Search Magazine! 2026 has been a tough year but there were plenty of DIY, outdoor, and television happenings from Yours Truly at Search!

A normal person doing a composting piece probably would have taken simple day increments of a decomposing banana. I am not that person and my Easy Composting DIY in the Mother Nature Summer Issue of Search features my bemusing and gory composting photography to entice the kiddles interested in gross things! Fortunately the Hidden Gems issue offered my much more pleasant Stargazing 101 Tips alongside my retrospective television feature on my favorite show Blake's 7.

Fitting for Fall, my current DIY column in the #EverydayMagic issue of Search Magazine is on Jewelry Making Basics. You can bling yourself out this holiday season because why not?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Search Magazine (@search_magazine)

For the latest Kbatz Krafts news, join me on Blue Sky or re-visit more Search adventures in the Kbatz Krafts Archive including: 

DIY Vintage Trunk

Luxury Looks with Thrift Florals

Antiquing on a Budget

2025 with Search Magazine

Amid all my stresses of 2025 there were some good things on the writing front indeed thanks to Search Magazine!

It was a honor to have my previous Pamper Yourself at Home article chosen for the special Tenth Anniversary Issue! This reprint was expect along with a fun anniversary t-shirt. However the hefty package on my doorstep from Search was not. Inside was a beautiful plaque thanking me for my work at the magazine. It's not often art, DIY, and writing receive much recognition these days so it was a tremendous surprise to be noticed and appreciated for the little things I do. In fact, I should have written my thanks to the Search Magazine staff much sooner, but it's easy to let the pretty things fall to the wayside when so many dark things are currently happening.

Fortunately, my DIY pieces for Search keep my creative spirit afloat, and my Celestial Banner featured in the Fall #SunMoonStars Issue! There isn't always print space to include all my in progress photos, but more step-by-step albums are available on my Kbatz Krafts Facebook Page. Meta is not ideal, but I enjoy being able to share the process on Blue Sky, too. It's such a privilege to be able to maybe inspire others with affordable creations that anyone can do. This Winter #FamilyTime Issue, it was great fun to discuss the Legacy of Sewing and encourage others to focus on the important things together, one stitch at a time.

2026 looks to be another trying year already, but I'm tremendously grateful to have a full slate of Search deadlines to keep me on the writing ball.

Visit the Kbatz Krafts Archive for more projects featured in Search Magazine including: 

Autumn Chandelier

DIY Family Gallery

Vintage Trunk Makeover

Sewing on a Budget

Continental DIY at Search Magazine (and MOAR!)

 

It's not too late to get your copy of the #GoingGlobal Issue of Search Magazine featuring my DIY Vintage Trunk How-To! Be sure to stay tuned for upcoming issues with more of my quarterly articles at @SearchMagSF.

Simply put, I haven't done as many DIY crafts and lengthy sewing video series because I've had so many other deadlines this year thanks to writing work, podcasts, and several guest appearances. It keeps me busy and away from projects, but I'm grateful for the opportunities I continue to have. If you're an outlet or website looking for written and audio or visual collaboration, my 2025 is already getting full! Here's a short bio detailing my expertise:

Kristin Battestella writes articles, editorials, and reviews for several websites, magazines, and print publications including I Think, Therefore I Review, Search Magazine, and Keith Loves Movies. Previously a traditionally published author of speculative fiction and the Fate and Fangs vampire novels, Kristin's DIY Halloween how-tos and Kbatz Krafts articles have been featured at HorrorAddicts.net and in two Horror Addicts Guide to Life anthologies. In addition to sewing and @KbatzReviews Youtube vlogs; Kristin can be heard on the Women InSession podcast at InSessionFilm.com alongside her written classic film discourse. For Kristin's latest happenings, follow twitter.com/vampfamwriter.

There's more to come, but in case you missed everything at I Think, Therefore I Reviews, here's a quick rundown of my guest Podcast and Video Appearances in 2024:

The Jay Days YouTube Channel – Jack Irish, Bound, The Convert

Bubba Wheat's Podcast – Bedtime Stories

Making Tarantino Podcast – House of Dark Shadows

For more trash to treasure crafting adventures, visit Kbatz Krafts on Instagram or for step by step progress photos of our DIY Vintage Trunk, follow our Kbatz Krafts Facebook!

Peruse our Kbatz Krafts Archive for more upcycle projects including:

Autumn Chandelier

Cardboard Halloween Banner

Halloween Shoe Wreath

Re-Purposed Black Topiaries

Search Magazine Action!

 

Spring means it's time for the #YesItsArt Issue of Search Magazine once again featuring a DIY anyone can do from Yours Truly!

Of course, publication schedules are often months in advance, and being the black Halloween heart that I am, this is a luxury looking Autumn Chandelier upcycle done in the fall for this Spring Issue. Yes, I appreciate the irony.

Could I have left the thrifted greenery and golden fixture as is? Of course.

Would that match anything in my spooky house? Nope!

I've done several DIY projects featured in Search Magazine now with more to come, and it's been quite a fulfilling privilege to seek out a budget craft and see the project become a reality to readers. Word limits and picture space mean that I don't always mention the minutia or reasons why I do a DIY or show the problems along the way, but it's exciting to share the concept beyond the magazine on social media. I like to pass along the idea and inspiration! Anything is possible with the right craft eye once you see an object not as what it is but what it could be.

For More upcycling and trash to treasures, visit Kbatz Krafts on Instagram or for step by step progress photos of the Autumn Chandelier follow our Kbatz Krafts Facebook!

Visit our Kbatz Krafts Archive for more floral crafts including:

Upcycled Fall Florals

Mini Pumpkin Garland

Gothic Litter Box Plant Disguise

Love is Love Skeleton Wreath

Author Spotlight Video!

 

What does it mean to be a writer for an online magazine in the 21st century? 🤔

Kristin Battestella shares some of her typewriter beginnings and new media adventures in this Author Spotlight with Search Magazine!

Get the Latest Free Issue of Search Magazine or follow SearchMagSF on Twitter for more Highlights!

The Time for Women's Hockey is Now – Blast from the Past Search Issue 

KristinBattestella Search Magazine Author Spotlight

More Search Magazine Articles from Kristin  

Sewing on a Budget Video

Antiquing on a Budget Playlist

Thank you for watching!

#KeepLaughing with Search Magazine!

 

I feel pretty fancy with not one, but two articles in the Winter #KeepLaughing Issue of Search Magazine! 

For those who follow my Classic Television Reviews at I Think, Therefore I Review, it's no surprise to see my Mary Tyler Moore Show retrospective  in Search this quarter, but you can also read my bemusingly old school foray into the fitness column with my defense of Why I Still Use the Wii!

I am also venturing into more video and photography content at Search Magazine, and you can follow their Instagram for more - or Tik Tok, I believe, but that is a step too far for an oldster like me! If you missed my Antiquing on a Budget article, you can also get my quick tips on YouTube.

I also received a ring light for Christmas, so hopefully that will solve my vampire white balance issues! 🧛🏻‍♀️

Sewing on a Budget for Search Magazine

 

Kristin Battestella aka Kbatz sits down for a little sewing chat about how you don't have to break the bank in order to start your creative sewing journey! You can also see I put my money where my mouth is as I share a somewhat ugly tour of my basement sewing studio.

You can read my complete Sewing on a Budget Tips in the Homemade Fall Issue of Search Magazine. It's Free! Or for sewing in progress photos and project albums, follow Kbatz Krafts on Instagram or Facebook.  🧵🙋‍♀️💪

More Kbatz Krafts:

Antiquing on a Budget for Search Magazine

Thrifting at Grammy's House

Decorating Like Dark Shadows

Drab to Glam Lampshades

Cardboard Tombstones

Sewing Supply Thrift Haul

Halloween Mystery Sewing

Sewing and Thrift Hauls Playlist

Peruse much more at our Kbatz Krafts Archive and thank you for watching! 

Kristin at Search Magazine!

 

I've been remiss at keeping a rundown of my appearances in the free online magazine SEARCH, so here's a few links to some of my latest. You can read full issues at Search Magazine here and stay tuned for more!

Legacy of Sewing

Celestial Banner DIY

DIY Family Gallery

DIY Vintage Trunk

The Bee Gees!

Friendship Thru Film

Luxury Looks with Thrift Florals

How to Pamper Yourself at Home

What's in My Hiking Backpack

Mary Tyler Moore Retrospective

Why I Still Use the Wii

Detoxing from Social Media

Sewing on a Budget

Search Author Spotlight

Antiquing on a Budget

Our Antiquing on a Budget Videos

Ancestry and Military Research

Seven Fishes in the 21st Century

The Time for Women's Hockey is Now

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Lyme Disease Myths

Retro Cool Vinyl Shopping

Dark Shadows 50th Anniversary

She's Alive!

Hello Virtual Family, Friends, and Fiends! 


Yes, believe it or not I am alive! As many of you may know, the past several years I've had a difficult battle with Lyme Disease, and truth be told, there were times I wasn't so sure I was living thanks to the increasing suffering Lyme causes and the difficulty in finding an understanding doctor to steer a proper course of treatment. 

While others may find it therapeutic to discuss such things online or on social media, I'm not one to talk very much about these kind of personal set backs online. I did however, have to stop doing book shows, writing workshops, and all my other appearances in addition to stepping back almost all of my social media presence. My fiction work has been put on hold, but I have continued to do my newspaper columns and website work in small doses mainly at Horror Addicts.net and I Think, Therefore I Review.

But alas just in time for Lyme Disease Awareness month, my article on Lyme Disease Misnomers and how to be Vigilant Against Them is out now in the Summer 2017 Issue of SEARCH Magazine!

Thankfully, I did find a lyme literate doctor, and with proper medicine and compassionate treatment, I am beginning to be myself again! I don't expect to update this blog any time soon with upcoming book tours just yet, but I am writing the good fight slowly but surely!