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March 30, 2007

Pod Post Endorsed Holiday: Pencil Day, March 30

Pod Post is the joint project of Jennie Hinchcliff and Carolee Gilligan Wheeler, two ladies working diligently to raise the USPS to an entirely new level. This is the third in a series of "12 Months of Missives;" if you missed the first and second, check them out.

When did you last consider The Pencil?
If you are like the ladies of Pod Post, it was during your drawing classes, when the perfect pencil made the difference between a clumsy, tripping line and a fluid one. But if you are like most people, you haven't thought of pencils since grade school. Maybe you have never given pencils any thought at all. Gasp!

Let's not get into the eraser, the shape of the pencil, whether the lead should be soft or hard, whether the vehicle should be wooden or mechanical. Let's just think about pencils for a moment.

Writing with a pencil takes more effort than writing with a pen -- ranging from "slightly more" to "significantly more", depending on the quality and softness of the lead and the sharpness of the point. With a pencil (and fountain pens as well) the scratching quality of the stroke makes one more conscious of movement, of the act that forms each letter. It's hard to forget yourself when you're committing to that extra push of effort.

John Steinbeck was said to have written exclusively, obsessively in pencil; imagine the whole of East of Eden or The Grapes of Wrath unfolding, word by word, in longhand, in pencil, on sheet after sheet of paper.

Who thinks about pencils anymore? Specialists and obsessives, maybe -- there are websites devoted to pencils and pencil reviews. just as there are sites for pens and notebooks. Artists think about pencils, certainly: give any sketch-happy friend a fistful of Palomino pencils, and you'll have created a gleeful pencil snob.

Who thinks about pencils? When Jennie-Pod and I were in Tokyo we visited a closet-sized stationery shop -- really, it was more of a shrine or museum -- which offered, among the glass jars of vintage fountain pens and ancient inkwells, pencils from defunct feed stores and five-and-dimes in Kansas and the Dakotas. Their wood dented, their erasers ossified and dark, no two the same, they had ceased to be purposeful and had turned into a quaint remnant, a souvenir of a place likely long gone. Yours for the equivalent of $2.50. Each.

Pencils, like automobiles and bridges, are meant to be more than just objects of admiration when they are new. The pencil is designed to be destroyed, its wood to be cut away, its lead to be used up, however slowly. (1)

For years I have looked for the perfect pencil. I have found very good ones but never the perfect one. And all the time it was not the pencils but me. A pencil that is all right some days is no good another day. -- John Steinbeck (2)

If you haven't used a pencil in a while, try it the same way you'd try anything on for size -- for nostalgia's sake, for novelty, to wake yourself up. Fold up some paper pencil holders and give customized pencils as gifts. It's the slightest, simplest kind of retro: the Pencil. Turntables, rotary phones, typewriters, the post office, the pencil. Happy Pencil Day 2007!

If you're crafty in the way we think you are, when you can't leave anything alone but have to make it your own, you might even be crazy enough to customize a thirty-cent pencil. Here's how to do it like a pro.

Measure your chosen paper (we like airmail envelopes, kindergarten ruled paper, old ledger pages, and the like) for length--from the base of the ferrule (the metal part) to the edge where the pencil starts to taper to a point. Trim your paper to that length. Then cut it for width. One inch is just about the right size to cover a standard pencil with a little overlap.

Use a decoupaging glue/medium like Mod Podge and coat the paper, not the pencil. Coating the paper softens it slightly and allows it to wrap more smoothly around the pencil.

Start with the middle of the piece of paper and smooth from eraser to point, then work toward each edge, smoothing out wrinkles as you go. It's a little like being an old-time movie star and rolling your own cigarette.

Allow to dry. Once dry, brush a protective coat of the Mod Podge over the pencil and let dry again. Stick the point in a jar or an old piece of Silly Putty (we know you have it around) and it'll stand up nicely.

Don't be impatient! Wait until the pencil is nice and dry before sharpening or you might lose your paper! As a way to pass the time, you should fold some fancy paper pencil holders to match your newly created pencils!

Okay, so it might not amaze your friends or get you a job, but sometimes it's nice just to do something nice for yourself. No?

References:

1. Petroski, H. (1989). The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance. Page 318.
2. Petroski, H. (1989). The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance. Page 325.

More Easter Bunnies

I know, it's like bunny overload lately here on the CRAFT blog, but can you ever get tired of looking at bunnies? That's like saying, "I've had enough chocolate." Here's more cute plush bunnies being rounded up at Softies Central. Pictured above is March hare by beeblecat (left) and cute little bunny by cupcakes for clara. Check out all the rest for more bunny love. Link.

Related:

Plush Easter Bunnies - Link.
Easter Chicks Softies Roundup - Link.

Best Bunnies Pattern

The Purl Bee has a free pattern to make their cute Best Bunnies.The patchwork on these and the fabric choices are too cute. Link.

DIY Earring Holder Frame

Ooh! Check out this great way to hang your earrings with a cool display made by CuriousJayne. I love that the netting was a bag that held apples! Link.

Zakka Bag

I posted up the Zakka Pouch tutorial earlier this week here and now here's another great one to add to the list from Black Dog Designs. Link.

Summer Craft Swap at Crafty Daisies

To get you in the mood for Summer, Crafty Daisies is having a Summer Craft Swap! You must sign up before Friday, April 6th. Check out the site for more details. Link.

CRAFT Pattern Podcast: Crochet Boho Belt by Robyn Chachula

Craftpodcast Robyn Bohobelt
This week's Crochet Boho Belt is designed by Robyn Chachula of Crochet by Faye. It's a fun quick crochet project that's in tune with the latest style for spring. Robyn says, "The stitch pattern below is an edging that has been around for over a hundred years, but in this setting you take all the fuddy-duddy out and are left with a great belt. Very Bohemian, very hip, very now."

Download this week's CRAFT pattern PDF - Link.

Subscribe to the CRAFT podcast and get this pattern and other CRAFT content delivered automatically via iTunes - Link

Clingwrap Crinkle Technique for Paper

Studio DaphNat at Scrpbook-Trends has an interesting technique for creating some beautiful looking paper by going to your kitchen and using the handy clingwrap! Link.

R2D2 Mailbox Papercraft

Bonnie writes:

With R2-D2 mailboxes popping up across America, thanks to the U.S Postal Service and Lucasfilm, fans can celebrate 30 years of Star Wars and mail letters at the same time.
But if you can't find a R2-D2 mailbox near you, make this cool papercraft 3-D model of the mailbox for your action figures!

Download the 3D papercraft model of the R2D2 mailbox off the Star Wars Kids Craft Site here. - Link.

Plastic Grocery Bags into Knit 1950's Outift

Cathy Kasdan of Clevland, OH and I were emailing back and forth a bit yesterday afternoon regarding my post on the knitting machines. Then my jaw dropped when Cathy sent me this beautiful photo of her finished thesis project -- a handknit 1950's style ensemble made from plastic grocery bags. Cathy is currently finishing up a Master's in textiles at Kent State University and her thesis is based on consumer culture.

Cathy writes:

The dress is all hand knit from grocery bags that were the result of actual trips to the grocery store. As soon as I told people I could use their old bags for a project they brought them in by the bag full, I received thousands! The plastic grocery bag came about in the 1950's along with futuristic optimisim about America, so I made a "typical" 1950's ensemble complete with pillbox hat and purse, not pictured. I am going to have my pieces in an art show on recycled art at the School of Art Gallery in downtown Kent along with a group of other people beginning April 19th.

Cathy recommends to check out more amazing trash turned into fashion at the website, Haute Trash. You can view more photos of her plastic bag dresses her flickr photo set here - Link.

Cashmere Button Bracelets

Crafty Ginger is making and selling these cute cashmere button bracelets in her etsy shop! The buttons and ribbons are great together. Link.

Related:
HOW TO - Make Your Own Buttons for a Bracelet - Link.

March 29, 2007

Embroidered Bound Books by Jill Tarlau

From today's SF Gate comes an article about Jill Tarlau of San Francisco who studied bookbinding in Paris, and has made 200 books in 21 years.

From the article:

Her signature is her exquisitely detailed embroidery, which she incorporates into the design of each uniquely sized, leather-bound book cover. She considers embroidered bookbindings to be her special contribution to the long history of the art of book making.
"I like making things with my hands," she said, sitting in the sunny gallery of Arion Press in the Presidio, where a show of her books -- "Jill Oriane Tarlau: Embroidered Bindings," sponsored by the nonprofit Grabhorn Institute and the Book Club of California -- is on view through April 13.

Read the SF Gate article, "Bound for beauty -- great literature and great art meet in one artist's books" and see more photos of her work here. - Link.

Spring Ankle Socks Knit Pattern

Alison of The Blue Blog Patterns has a pattern for lightweight ankle socks that are perfect for spring. I do have to say I have a special place in my heart for the version with pom poms. Link.

HOW TO - Make an iPod tote bag

Phil @ MAKE writes:
PopSci shows you how to make a pretty spiffy music tote -

You know those iPod tote bags that were all the rage on the morning news shows a couple of years ago? Costing around one hundred bucks, most of those bags seemed more suited for a fashion show rather than slogging music through your daily life. After that high-societal craze died down, a more fanciful iPod tote bag emerged. While reasonable in cost, some of these bags would be tough to imagine toting around on the street. Today, edgy designers like Burton have taken the iPod + speaker system concept and wrapped it up in a stylish bag that is both practical and functional. This is snowboarder chic. Unfortunately, these "x-treme" totes can cost near $200. There has to be a better (read, cheaper) way. And here it is. Your own iPod tote bag for less than sixty bucks. You can take it to the beach, you can pimp your bag, and you can crank it up.

Weekly Project: Make an iPod Tote Bag--Spring Fling Bling-Bling - Link.

Monster Needles

205Kn Med
Melissa found these super cute Monster Knitting needles on Yarn Rescue. There's a different monster for each needle size! Link.

Ruby Doll Pattern

Jhoanna of One Red Robin has a free pattern and tutorial on how to make her cute Ruby Doll. Thanks Jean! Link.

Join the Sheepless Yarn Swap

Ok first off, how cute is this button? If you join the Sheepless Yarn Swap, you can adorn this on your site. Interweave is starting the swap as a part of Amy R. Singer's fabulous wool-free knitting book, No Sheep for You.

From the site:

Participants in the No Sheep for You Secret Pals Skein Swap will receive two skeins of nonwool yarn--one in June and one in July 2007--from their anonymous secret pal; they also mail two nonwool skeins in two months to their assigned pal.
What qualifies as a nonwool skein for this swap? Thankfully there are tons of options now in the wide world of fibers: hemp, linen, cotton, silk, rayon, bamboo, corn, Lyocall, Modal, Seacell, soy fiber yarn, or skeins with any combinations of the above. As long as it is 100 percent nonwool, it qualifies.

Find out more about the Sheepless Yarn Swap here and sign up now before the May first deadline! Link.

Katamari Crafts Roundup

Cory over at Boing Boing has got a great list of all the Katamari Damacy related craft and goodies that have been posted on the Web, including some of our previous CRAFT favorites like the Katamari ear muffs by Nikol Lohr. It was great to see some new things too such as the Katamari cake complete with hand sculpted prince, Katamari halloween costume, and a paper craft prince. There's lots more Katamari crafts to check out in the Boing Boing post. Link.

Knitting Machines

I loved reading the post by Liz Lopez at Whip Up about her mom's knitting machine (pictured left). I got a chance to see them in action (pictured right) last December while touring RISD with Diana Eng and my colleagues from Hackszine, Brian Sawyer and Brian Jepson. The ones we saw at RISD were the brother models with the punchcut cards. Hopefully we may see a resurgence soon. Read the rest of Liz's post to get some good tips on how to find and take care of your knitting machine, if you are one of those lucky ones who has one! Link.

HOW TO - Make a Vinyl Pouch

Here's a great recycle project from Super Naturale on how to make this vinyl pouch with images from old books (this one's astronomy). Link.

March 2007 Home | Next >

Craft:

Pod Post Endorsed Holiday: Pencil Day, March 30

More Easter Bunnies

Best Bunnies Pattern

DIY Earring Holder Frame

Zakka Bag

Summer Craft Swap at Crafty Daisies

CRAFT Pattern Podcast: Crochet Boho Belt by Robyn Chachula

Clingwrap Crinkle Technique for Paper

R2D2 Mailbox Papercraft

Plastic Grocery Bags into Knit 1950's Outift

Cashmere Button Bracelets

Embroidered Bound Books by Jill Tarlau

Spring Ankle Socks Knit Pattern

HOW TO - Make an iPod tote bag

Monster Needles

Ruby Doll Pattern

Join the Sheepless Yarn Swap

Katamari Crafts Roundup

Knitting Machines

HOW TO - Make a Vinyl Pouch

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