RSSArchives: January 2007
January 30, 2007
Lollypop Covers
Laurie shares with us her cute technique on how to make lollypops even cuter -- make some lollypop covers! Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 30, 2007 09:29 AM
Paper Crafts |
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HOW TO - Make a Yarn Winder from Tinkertoys
Crafting Jen has ingeniously created a yarn winder with children's tinker toys. Jen says, "Another great thing about using Tinkertoys, too - these are wooden parts that are intended for children to play with. As such, they are extremely smooth and well finished. Not a chance in the world that your yarn will catch on a rough spot!" Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 30, 2007 08:21 AM
Gadgets, Knitting |
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January 29, 2007
Tinker - New Kind of Craft Workshop in Sherman Oaks, CA
If you are near Sherman Oaks, CA, you may want to take a visit to Tinker (4337 Woodman Avenue between Ventura Blvd and the 101, Sherman Oaks. (818) 784-7991) a new kind of craft workshop + lab + performance space + gallery. There are lots of cool workshops and clases you can take. Or take advantage of the open studio space and use all the materials available for only $5/ hour. Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 29, 2007 10:41 PM
Announcements |
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A Closer Look: Etsy Winter - Cactus Mittenettes
You'd never guess it, but these lovely cactus mittenettes were dreamed up on a Gallic pillow. Sylvie lives in the French Alps, not the Southwest United States, but she does a great job of conjuring up ghostly cactus silhouettes. She also makes some quirky and quite lovely patterns, which she sells on her blog, Chez Plum (download her fabulous free pattern for summer sandals to while away the hours before good weather!). Or, you can buy her Vroomies (crocheted automobile toys), mittenettes, baby booties, etc., on her etsy shop.
Arwen: How did you first get involved with crafting?
Sylvie: It's as if I've always been crafting. I always loved to make thing as a kid: went to a pottery class, spent hours dreaming in front of my local craft supplies shop, knit, sewed stuff for my dolls. Then later as a student I started to knit again. Hats, all sorts of crazy hats for my friends ... and then my friends' friends ... that's when I started feeling like a "designer" although I never dared to aks for more than the actual cost of yarn at the time !
Arwen: Why mittenettes?
Sylvie: I've wanted to make mittenettes for quite a while, collected all sorts of pictures and links ... and as usual, ended up designing my own "perfect" ones based on the pattern I'm currently working on. They're so quick to make they're really a rewarding project, especially whith a baby and toddler at home.
Arwen: How did you learn to knit?
Sylvie: I guess my grandmother taught me when I was 8 or 10 ...
Arwen: What inspires you?
Sylvie: Many things. I browse a lot, cut images in magazines ... and suddenly ideas pop up in my head and I write it down in a little sketchbook ... A lot of my designs are inspired by ideas in 3D for garments/accessories. The pleasure for me is to translate that idea into a choice of stitches and techniques to give the best rendition using either knitting or crochet.
Arwen: What's one tip you'd give to other crafters?
Sylvie: Trust your own visions !
Arwen: What are your favorite crafting books/magazines/websites?
Sylvie: I live in France, so I don't have access to most "usual" books and mags. These days I love my Happy Hooker though, and always keep an eye on Craftster and Wists to see what other people are up to...
Arwen: What are some of your most important influences?
Sylvie: Yarn. More often than not I'll look at a skein of yarn and wonder what would be the best use for it. You really don't want to look at my stash ... Friends say it looks like an actual yarn store !
Posted by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith |
Jan 29, 2007 06:34 PM
Crochet, Interviews, Knitting, Patterns |
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Door Draft Stopper
Not Martha has a photo tutorial on how to keep your house cozy with her door draft stopper tutorial. Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 29, 2007 05:42 PM
Sewing |
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Origami Idea Index Blank Sketchbook/Journal
benben says, "Books created from vintage index tab dividers. This one also uses a bit of origami paper for its cover. She has some others that are just the vintage dividers. The books also come with a set of insertable tabs to change depending on your mood! Lots of other neat books on her [ erinzam's esty store ] site." Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 29, 2007 03:51 PM
Bazaar, Japanese Crafts, Paper Crafts, Vintage |
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New Knitty Gritty Episodes Feb 1-19 on HGTV
Starting this Thursday, Feb 1st through Feb 19th HGTV will be featuring all new episodes of Knitty Gritty hosted by Vickie Howell. Yes that's right, Knitty Gritty will be new and on every day! Find out more from Vickie's blog the full schedule of episodes. Link.
Related:
Vickie Howel's West Coast Tour Info Jan 30 - Feb 4 - Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 29, 2007 02:40 PM
Announcements, Knitting |
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HOW TO - Make a Slide Photo Lampshade
OceanofAwesome on Craftster.org has made a cool lampshade with various slides she's collected over the years. Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 29, 2007 01:35 PM
Design, Home Decor |
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Easy DIY Valentine Gum Dispenser
From the CRAFT Instructables group, GregDDC has a tutorial on how to make a simple Valentine's Day gum dispenser. "When you pull the ribbon the gum will pop out. These could be mass-manufactured for an entire classroom or you can make just one for that special person in your life." Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 29, 2007 12:44 PM
Holiday projects, Paper Crafts |
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Call For Makers: Maker Faire Bay Area 2007
Dear Makers,
We are pleased to announced Bay Area Maker Faire 2007!
Organized by the staff of MAKE and CRAFT magazines, Maker Faire is a newfangled fair that brings together science, art, craft an engineering in a fun, energized, and exciting public forum. The aim is to inspire people of all ages to roll up their sleeves and become makers. This family-friendly event showcases the amazing work of all kinds of makers--anyone who is embracing DIY and wants to share their accomplishments with an appreciative audience. Last year, we had 20,000 people at Maker Faire.
Maker Faire Bay Area will take place May 19-20, 2007 at the San Mateo Fairgrounds. We are also adding Maker Faire Austin for October 20-21, 2007 at the Travis County Fairgrounds. This call is primarily for Maker Faire Bay Area but you can indicate if you are interested in participating in Maker Faire Austin.
We encourage you to join the fun and propose a maker exhibit, performance or workshop. You can submit a proposal through the web using the link described below or you can come show us your work at a Maker Faire "audition" on Saturday, February 24 at TechShop in Menlo Park, CA.
Proposals We invite proposals for Maker workbench exhibits, workshops, presentations and performances for the Maker Faire. We are interested in proposals from individuals as well as from groups such as hobbyist clubs and schools.
Maker Workbench: Our standard setup for Makers is a six-foot long workbench. You can use this workbench to display your work and/or demonstrate how you make something. Some makers don't need workbenches, typically because they have a large object or they set up outside. Please provide a short description of what you make and what you will bring to Maker Faire. Please link to photographs or videos of what you make. Let us know about any requirements you have, such as electricity, Internet, ventilation, etc.
Interactive Performance: We're seeking performances that will engage and entertain the attendees and enable them to interact in a fun way. The performances may be tied to a stage or roving through the fairgrounds as a kind of street theatre. Performances could be musical or theatrical, but they could also be a collaborative building process. For example, you might work with attendees to put something large together in an hour.
Presentation: These includes audio-visual presentations intended for showing a project (or process) that cannot be brought to the faire, or a special project that requires AV resources. These presentations are limited to 20 minutes. Please describe the topic of your presentation and what kind of media (audio/video) that you will have. As a general rule, PowerPoint presentations are not appropriate for this event unless they are unusually entertaining.
Demonstration Workshop: A demonstration workshop is a show-and-tell session on how to make something. We're looking for makers who can demonstrate (and teach) particular skills, techniques or processes. You should start off by explaining your materials and tools and then step-through a build process, sharing your knowledge and interacting with the audience. Sessions should be under 30 minutes in length and may be repeated on the program. Please describe the subject of your workshop and what kind of setup you need for it.
Application Form: Please go to the following URL and fill it out to apply for participation as a maker. http://makerfaire.com/bayarea/2007/proposal/
All proposals will be reviewed and we will notify makers of acceptance via email by March 19, 2007.
NOTE: Presenters whose talks are accepted will receive free registration to Maker Faire. We cannot pay for travel and accommodations. (We do make exceptions under some circumstances.) If you have any questions about participating in Maker Faire, please contact Natalie Villalobos by email: info@makerfaire.com. Please let Natalie know if you plan to come to the audition at TechShop.
Key Points:
- Maker Proposal Due: Midnight (PST): Feb. 27, 2007
- Maker Faire Bay Area Audition: Saturday Feb. 24, 2007
- Notification of Acceptance: March 19, 2006
- Confirmation of Participation: April 2, 2007
- Maker Faire Bay Area: May 19-20, 2007; Saturday 10-6 pm; Sunday 10-5pm.
- Maker Faire Austin: October 20 & 21, 2007
- Application Form: http://makerfaire.com/bayarea/2007/proposal/
Commercial Exhibitors If you are a commercial maker or you work for a company that would like to exhibit at Maker Faire, please contact Sherry Huss sherry@oreilly.com.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 29, 2007 12:05 PM
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The Softie Awards: Call for Entries!
The Softie Awards are here and looking for your plush creations! Just upload your entry to The Softie Awards flickr group and make sure you tag your photo for the correct category you are entering in. Here are the 12 categories:
- Best Bunny or Bear
- Best Rest of the Animal Kingdom
- Best Softie Cuisine
- Best Creepy Yet Still Cute
- Best Inanimate Object
- Best Holiday Inspired
- Best Pincushion
- Best Cozy
- Best Needle Felted
- Best Amigurumi
- Best Functional Softie
- Best 'My-Softie-Doesn't-Fit-Into-Any-Of-Your-Damn-Categories' Softie
There are lots of cool prizes you can win and yours truly will be one of the judges. Check out all the rules on how to enter. All photos must be uploaded by March 9th. Link.
Photo © copyright 2007 by Laurie Frankel
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 29, 2007 10:08 AM
Announcements |
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HOW TO - Make Armwarmers from Socks
Aryn of Orange Juicy has a tutorial up on how to make cozy armwarmers from a pair of knee socks. Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 29, 2007 09:02 AM
Recycle, Refashion, Sewing |
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January 26, 2007
DIY Alert!
Hey Portland area crafters! Sister Diane of CraftyPod has a brand new site just for you filled with all the crafty events from classes to craft fairs happening in PDX. The site is free but you can also subscribe (there's a free 30 day trial) to get customized emails tailored to your crafting wants and needs. Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 26, 2007 04:17 PM
Announcements |
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CRAFT Pattern Podcast: Origami Star Vase
Phillip Chapman-Bell of The Fitful Flog brings his amazing origami skills as a new contributor to our weekly CRAFT Pattern Podcast. This week's pattern is a new craft added to the mix, Origami! Phillip's Star Vase is a beautiful piece of Origami and the pattern includes a sequenced crease pattern as well as a photo diagram.
- Download this week's CRAFT pattern PDF - Link.
- The Fitful Flog: Star Vase Project Page - Link.
- Subscribe to the CRAFT podcast and get this pattern and other CRAFT content delivered automatically via iTunes - Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 26, 2007 02:09 PM
CRAFT Podcast, Paper Crafts |
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HOW TO - Make a Bunny from an old T-Shirt
Yes that's right, you can learn how to turn your old t-shirts into these cute bunnies with seventh samurai's flickr tutorial. Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 26, 2007 12:04 PM
Amigurumi, Recycle, Sewing |
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Crochet Cuff
Midnight Knitter has a cute crochet cuff pattern. A great way to use up some of your leftover yarn in your stash! Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 26, 2007 11:02 AM
Crochet |
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Assembling Amigurumi
Kim Werker of Crochet Me has a great tutorial on how to assemble and seamlessly sew up your crochet amigurumi dolls. Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 26, 2007 09:49 AM
Amigurumi, Crochet |
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January 25, 2007
A Closer Look: Etsy Winter - Loops Designs
Winter Berry Earrings
Nested Necklace
Sarah Dible's beautiful jewelry swoops and swirls, handcrafted out of metal and beads. While she often references the natural world, the end product is decidedly modern. I love her Winter Berry Earrings, which bring to mind bright red berries on a frosty winter morning. She has other pairs that use color more literally, but form is obviously her passion (her Etsy shop is called Loops Designs). I also love the way she pushes the boundaries of jewelry; very few of her earrings are obviously earrings, and her Nested necklace and earrings juxtapose raw suede with pearls, two materials that I at least wouldn't think of together.
Arwen: How did you first get involved with crafting?
Sarah: I can't remember a time when I was not crafting. As a child I grew up in a remote part of Africa so I had minimal crafting supplies. I remember collecting the thick tinfoil off the top of the Nido (powdered milk) cans that my mother had. I would then cut them into shapes, hole punch them, string them onto yarn and use it as a necklace. My parents were not fond of jewelry but I could somehow get by with wearing my own creations. I liked anything I could mold and shape into new forms. I like to sew and work with paints and glass, but my passion is metal and jewelry. I started crafting jewelry when I was planning my wedding in 1998. I wanted pearl earrings and necklaces for my friends and I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. I went home and used round nosed pliers from my fiance's toolbox to make the first samples and then once I knew I could make what I wanted, I purchased my own tools and completed the projects. I was always timid to sell my jewelry until I started getting requests from co-workers. So sometime in 2002 I started selling my jewelry.
Arwen: Why metal?
Sarah: I guess I like metal because it can be rugged and industrial yet feminine, delicate and sophisticated. I also LOVE jewelry and thus metal is my passion. I tend to have an obsession with detail and a short attention span. Thus metal allows me the flexibility to craft almost all of my own components including ear wires and at times clasps so that I can achieve the detail that I desire and I can still have a project completed in a few hours time.
Arwen: What process do you use? Why?
Sarah: I never sketch or plan anything ahead of time. I just start with random ideas and a bunch of supplies beads/colors and start bending, melting or hammering metal and adding in beads as the form takes shape. Sometimes I can see something in my mind and it morphs into something different or better during the unstructured creative process. If I ever sketch things out, it is after the creative process so that I don't forget the design and its details.
Arwen: What inspires you?
Sarah: Nature, abstract shapes, architecture and minimalism.
Arwen: What's one tip you'd give to other crafters?
Sarah: Take pride in what you make and pay attention to the details. The details are what make your designs stand out in the crowd.
Arwen: What are your favorite crafting books/magazines/websites?
Sarah: Etsy is my favorite website for crafters. It is fun to browse, participate in the discussions, and just plain loose track of time enjoying the talent that grows there. I also like any publication that gives me new ideas and techniques to try. Sometimes I check out how-to blogs or crafting magazines, but usually I'm just playing with metal in my office to see what shape presents itself.
Posted by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith |
Jan 25, 2007 06:39 PM
Interviews, Jewelry |
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Crochet with Wire & Beads
Sister Diane of Crafty Pod has posted up her awesome instructions on how to crochet with wire and beads from her last Church of Craft project. The close up crochet hook shots are so helpful! Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 25, 2007 05:48 PM
Crochet, Jewelry |
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AlterNation - New Sewing Blog/Website
Knitgrrl Shannon Okey's got a new website to go along with her upcoming book, AlterNation, co-authored with Alexandra Underhill. It's got a cool blog with all sewing related posts. Already I'm coveting the Mirror Ball Dot Fat Quarter set from ReproDepot. Is there anything Knitgrrl can't do? I think not. The gal's amazing! Keep this blog in your bookmarks or RSS reader! [ via ] Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jan 25, 2007 03:50 PM
Sewing |
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