December 2008 Archives

Starting January 2009, new national series from MAKE magazine showcases Makers of every kind.

Each half-hour episode inspires millions to think, create, and make.  Watch the preview.

Fraser Smith did not use need needle, thread or fabric, to quilt these.

A few weeks earlier, we looked at refashioning a pair of jeans into a skirt.

If you know how to sew a flat-felled seam, you can get more adventurous with this project.

The New Year is a good time to make resolutions, to chart out the year ahead. I usually have a list of projects I would like to work on during the year, and a list of personal challenges. Between these two, I end up acquiring some new skills or polishing a few old ones.

For the embroiderers amongst us -  Pfaff has announced an Art Embroidery Challenge 2009 with a deadline of May 15.

The Challenge is open worldwide and will be judged by an international jury. The works are  to be created on a home sewing machine using either freehand embroidery or/and embroidery software, with the theme "Let us travel".

The results of this biennial competition will first be exhibited at THE KNITTING & STITCHING SHOW 2009 in London and will then travel to be presented in other places around the world.

The grand prize is a PFAFF® CREATIVE VISION™, sewing and embroidery machine and the PFAFF® creative 4D™ Embroidery System, valued at about US $11,000.

Get the details and sign up here.

Now you can have a whole box of sinful-looking chocolates for Valentines day, with no worries about the guilt!

Yesterday, I found this delightfully flirty girly bag on e-patternscentral, and marked it as a summer "must-have".




Today, I found this easy version for those who want the look without the fuss.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - while you don't HAVE to do it, roller-cutting gives you the best edges for quilting (and a bunch of other stuff, but let's not get into that today).

Most of us, however, would find using a roller cutter on curves daunting. This podcast makes it look very easy - try it and find out.

If you are a beginning knitter, and want to move beyond the basic scarves, this cute and cuddly little cardigan is a good place to start. The teeny size makes it a breeze to learn how to knit top down, with raglan sleeves, button band, and collar , without having to worry about seams.

Don't forget to knit a swatch to check your gauge before you start. Knitting with the softest organic cotton also means that you wouldn't have to mess around with blocking later!

Who says roses don't bloom in winter? This lovely felted flower will make a great accent for your woollies.

Winter's upon us, and even in the tropics, one feels the need to keep those toes warm. With this great tutorial, wee ones can have cute shoes for every day of the week. 

I love glass bottles. And if the bottle has a nice shape, color or detail, I find it impossible to throw out. When I came across what Steven Farrington has done with some antique bottles, I was blown away.

Steven starts with an antique bottle - each has it's own history and some have been buried for many years. He goes on to create a unique sculpture for each bottle top including reclaimed chandelier parts, crystals, semi-precious stones, glass beads, beveled glass, copper wire, crucifixes, religious ornaments and rosaries.

Want to start your own collection? You can start here.

Hope you've all had a very Merry Christmas, and are basking in warm appreciation of all your crafty gifts!

I just realized that I have been so busy with the holidays, I've not posted any updates from my diary for a while.

I made good time with my waterwheel/star quilt, and it was done and delivered last week. This one will be called "In Over My Head". It was commissioned by a girl for her father - you can see her toes at the edge of the picture!

Sometimes, even shadows are more than what they seem.





See more like these in this free e-book.

You've got everything under control - The gifts are all packed, the tree looks gorgeous, the halls are decked, and the table set. Why not whip up some of these lovely crackers to complete the perfect picture?

Knitting has now entered the big leagues, and how! Check out the knitted furniture they have come up with.

Christmas is upon us, and some of us may be lucky enough to get a fresh load of yummies for our stash.

Make more space for the new goodies by using up all your leftover bits of yarn to make these wonderful felted balls.

Need to make an eleventh hour card? This one's perfect!

Want to bake some last-minute cookies, but don't have the right molds? Here's how you can make some special ones of your own with a recycled can.

Try a star, an Xmas tree, or a snowman!

For those who are in the New York area during the holidays - the exhibition of embroidery from 17th-century England is not to be missed. Read more about this spectacular offering from the Bard Graduate Center students and curators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The exhibition runs through April 12 at the Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design and Culture, 18 West 86th Street, Manhattan; (212) 501-3000, bgc.bard.edu.

Not quite happy with your regular fairy lights? Check out these ideas for easy-to-make lighting - no special materials or fancy fittings necessary.

These great-looking candles are so simple to create, and will add a lovely ambience to your holiday parties.

Finding appropriate storage for all our craft supplies is a real hassle for most of us. Trims and embellishments are trickier than most other things.

Look at this great idea that will help organize all your new ribbons and old.

These fabric bowls are so easy to make, and perfect to set on any table filled with Christmas candies and goodies.

Crewel is an ornamental surface embellishment technique using a wool yarn and a variety of different embroidery stitches to apply a design to fabric, mostly cotton, linen or twill.

The word "crewel" comes from an ancient word describing the curl in the staple, which is a single hair of the wool. Crewel wool has a long staple, is fine and can be strongly twisted. Modern crewel wool is a fine, 2-ply or 1-ply yarn available in many different colors.

This form of embroidery is at least a thousand years old. It was used in the Bayeux Tapestry, in Jacobean embroidery and in the Quaker tapestry.

Put together a hamper for a wine-lover, and finish with a special handcrafted touch.

This is one more of those "oh my god I didn't think that THAT could look so good!" posts.

Take a look at this absolutely marvelous tutorial to make these little lovelies from tin cans.

Here's a tutorial that tells you how you can repurpose a sweater into a nice bag. 

If you have just started sewing, and know someone who does, a brand new sewing machine would be a wonderful gift.

Well, Janome and Threadbanger have teamed up just in time and are offering a 10% discount if you buy two new Threadbanger branded sewing machines. With good performance reviews, these are great starter model sewing machines.

Get details here.

The holiday season seems to see an onrush of junk mail.Get all those colorful sheets working for you = transform them into cool gift bags.Additional Bonus - what you would save on gift wrapping!

Ooooooh! I just saw Drops Designs Christmas Calender, and now wish I could rewind to December 1st.

Use paper or felt to make this superbly elegant zen setting.

The Melbourne Craft Cartel suggests we all get crafty to help patch up economic woes. The cartel has come out with an alternative gift buying guide, with plenty of ideas for holiday gifts that don't cost the planet or our communities.

Can this make a difference? See for yourself -

- For every $100 spent at a locally owned business $45 goes back into the community and our tax base. For every $100 spent at a chain store only $14 comes back.

- Small local businesses are the largest employer in Australia. Every $1million spent locally equals 14 jobs!

- Non-profit organizations receive 250% more support from small local businesses than from large businesses. So if you support local business you support local causes too!

- Local business are more likely to purchase goods and services from other local businesses which dramatically reduces transport costs, one of the biggest causes of climate change.

- Handmade goods are more likely to include recycled materials which reduces the need for landfills

- Handmade goods are unique, high quality and set trends rather than following them!

Give a new look and a new lease to a favorite old pair of shoes. If you don't knit or crochet, try it with a piece of woven fabric.
 

Spaghetti isn't just for eating. Take a look at what people have been doing with it.

Make a felt pail using this pattern, decorate as you please, and fill with loads of love and kisses for a very special gift.

Lovely flower pinwheels that spin away too.

Bead & Button has this very delightful free project up - just register for free and get the instructions.

This felt laptop bag would make a great gift - easy to make with these instructions.

It's not just little boys who'll be delighted by these!

Crochet some of these cute critters with your scraps.

The very first time I made candles, I used my mother-in-law's Wedgewood china teacups as molds [ :) she wasn't in town]. I've made hundreds since, but those cups gave me the shiniest, most beautifully shaped candles.

Make your own lovely candles in teacups or mugs.

Mizuhiki is a ribbon-like paper cord that has been used to wrap gifts in Japan over the centuries. It is made from washi paper that is cut into long thin strips, twisted into strings, and then stiffened with glue made of seaweed and white clay. It is from this process that mizuhiki gets its name: Mizu means "water" and hiki means "to apply".

After the cord is formed, it is polished to a shine with cotton cloth or wrapped with colored silk or thin metallic paper for hundreds of beautiful color variations.

These fun Christmas "trees" caught my eye today - very easy to make with your scraps, and will look good anywhere in the house. It's also a great project to get the kids involved. And as I've said before, if you don't want to sew, just use glue. Ribbons and trimmings can be added on for more bling.

Get the instructions and templates here.

To continue on our journey of making our own clothes - one of the simplest ways to make a piece of clothing is to convert an old one you never use anymore. Most of the cutting and sewing would already been done, making the job easier.

These instructions tell you how you can convert a pair of jeans into a smart new skirt. Simple and fast.

Making your own jewelry is pretty easy if you know a few techniques and have the right tools. This great tutorial shows you how to make an elegant wire wrapped pendant - try it with store bought stones, or use an interesting pebble, a polymer clay piece or even a fabric or wooden bead you made yourself.

Charming little ice skates you can crochet on a paper clip. Hmm, wonder how they would look as earrings or buttons.

Name: Neta Amir

Nickname:  Netamir

Snail-Mail Address: P.O.Box 5003 Tel Aviv 61050
 
Location/Business:  Bobilina Studio
 
Website:  http://bobilina.blogspot.com/ 

Please tell us a little about yourself: 31 years old artist and designer,

After graduating from my fashion design studies in 2003 (Shenkar Institute of Design) and following several years of work in commercial clothing companies I decided in 2005 to devote myself to a more creative and artistic work-path.

At first I created crochet dolls and sold them to collectors via the internet. The creation of textile dolls then extended itself to installation where these dolls were part of a space that I formed. My installations are a grouping of the dolls, objects made of textile as well as photography. I am also still developing in the fashion front, designing and creating accessory for my private clientele. 

 
How long have you loved art and have been creating?

Since I can remember myself; at kindergarten every time I was asked what I would like to do as a grown up I said that I would like to be a painter. It was changed a bit during the years, after graduating art high school I wanted to learn something more useful, some craftsmanship which wasn't been taught at art schools. For that reason I went to the fashion design academy, but I never really liked to do only fashion, I always felt like something is missing.

Now I combine both fields of art and design.

What started you off?

I didn't like my work as Fashion designer. I found it so frustrating and boring to draw with computer all the day long while others make the patterns and sewing. I missed those parts of the work; I missed creating something with my hands. When I quit my fashion design work I began to create my dolls, then little by little I sold them. I couldn't make my living out of it but preferred to take some students works that allowed me keeping up with the dolls instead of getting another job in the fashion industry.

What is your favorite creation?

I like mostly the pieces of art I created to my scraps exhibition and the Buba installation.

What is your favorite type/style to design/make?

It's depends when, now I like most to create the mixed media dolls.

I like everything with hand stitching and crocheting.

What is your favorite media to work with? Why?

Do you have a background in art?

I graduated Art high school and the Fashion design academy.

Do you teach classes/workshops or do Trunk Shows? Where?

I teach kids and adults.

Every week I am teaching twice needles craft workshops at after school program. I also teach every month a socks dolls workshop for adults at home and sometimes being invited to teach single workshops in ecological centers or schools.

Who is your favorite designer?

I always find the work of Elsa Schiaparelli as great source of inspiration for me. As fashion student I also admired the work of Vivian Westwood.

Do you have a favorite pattern?

Lately I prefer working without patterns for creating dolls, just free modeling pieces of fabrics and then add crochet and embroidery features. I do use patterns to my fashion accessories, I like all of them the same.

What artists/people/places inspire you or where do you get your 
inspiration?

My inspiration in creating the figures and objects comes from my biography and personal memories as well as the people and materials in my immediate surroundings and every-day life.

Different kinds of textile also inspire me and many of the ideas for my creations came out of piece of fabric which I was manipulated.

Most of the materials I use are often recycled, i.e. clothing, beddings and socks that are no longer in use in their original capacity. These materials and their wear-and-tear add another dimension to my work. They still possess the sensations of the previous owners in their former "incarnation". In this way they too recount another chapter in the stories I interweave.

Where is your favorite place to work/design/draw?

I really like working at home, I have my little studio in our shuttered balcony, but most of the time I prefer to sit in the living room and use the little coffee table to store on all of the threads, needles and other stuff I need .

What was the first piece you ever sold?

I sold few garments and one necklace as student and short while after graduation, but the first meaning full piece I sold, when I have just begin with the dolls making, was a cloth doll named Shulamit.

You can see her here.

Do you name your creations?  If yes, how do you come up with 
the names?

Sometimes I do enjoy naming my dolls, at the beginning I named every single doll I made.

There were no rules about it, it was mostly intuitive, following something in the doll's expression or total look that made me think: oh she looks like that.

Gal my boyfriend also helped with naming, Shulamit named after Shulamit st. where he used to lived in before he moved to my place.

Many of my dolls were also named by the people who bought them; I also received some letters from them with greetings from the dolls and stories about names they gave to my dolls.

Now I mostly name the dolls with names that tell something about their characters, like "bird in love" or "wizard bird".

Do you have a favorite tool and/or product?

I really like to work with my old industrial sewing machine.

I purchased it immediately after graduating the fashion school, when I was really broke and looked for the cheapest sewing machine I could find. I bought it from an old technician. It is yet functioning very well though I guess it is more than 20 years old, and owned by me for 5 years already.

I also like all my crochet needles very much, I have one from my childhood but I also like to buy new ones in different sizes.

What is your most favorite part of creating?

I like the beginnings, the first stitches in every piece, I also like to take photos of my creation, and I like it when I manage to give new meanings by photos.

What is your least favorite part of creating?

I don't like when I have to hurry up finishing something when I have a deadline.

What's your secret for overcoming a creative block?

I am trying to create constantly, like doing something every day, when I feel less creative I would do the trims, hand stitching or technical works then I mostly will get over the creative block.

If all the above wouldn't work I will tidy and clean home, that's always work!

What is your best art tip?

Doing what ever you like and believe in, I found out that when I like something it would be loved by others, when I don't like something it would not evoke any interest in others.

It is very banal and well known Cliché but I always surprised to find out that it really works in real life.

What advice would you give a beginning artist?

Don't compromise.        
 

I am usually not a big fan of using the computer to teach beginners a new skill, especially in the creative or design arena, but want to make an exception for the new Crayola Make a Masterpiece.


This is a great new drawing, painting and graphic arts program for the aspiring young artist. Excellent on screen guidance and tips take the user through basic drawing, painting and pastel coloring techniques for on screen creations. Finished work can be displayed in a virtual image gallery, printed out, or even emailed to friends and family.

There is also a section that helps in learning more about famous artwork and master artists.

Have a budding artist check out this free demo.

These terrific coasters are easy to whip up with felt and thread - see how you can make some for yourself and some to gift away.

Here's a very cute no-sew holiday ornament you can make up with scraps.

Newspaper and scissors make lovely snowflakes you can strew around the house.

Or string them together to make a wintery mobile.

Just follow this tutorial.

Whether you are a newbie embroiderer or an expert, making a baby dress or a wall-hanging, I believe it is nice to make sure that you finish your work neatly. And here's how others feel about this.

Your old baby spoons and odd pieces of cutlery can stay out this Christmas. Transform them into lovely ornaments for the tree or table.

Now you can decorate your tree with all your favorite "stars". Follow these easy instructions - try it with your favorite scrapbooking paper,  gift wrap, washi sheets... embellish with paints and trims.

You'll never again have a problem getting your little ones into the bath with these fun soapsicles!
Just watch that they don't start licking them.

No it's not an alien. This is one of the entries in the Puppet Contest 2008: A Space Odyssey.
Take a peek at all the other wonderful entrants and the winners.

Relief in sculpture refers to the raising or sinking of the modeled form  from  the flat background plane. Reliefs are found all over the world, especially on the walls of monumental buildings.

Bas-relief is French for "low relief", derived from the Italian "basso rilievo". In this, the overall depth of a projecting image is shallow. The background is very compressed or completely flat, as on coins, and all images are in low-relief.

Bas-relief is used to depict scenes with many figures and other elements such as landscape or architectural features. A bas-relief may use any medium or technique of sculpture, but stone carving and metal casting are the traditional ones. 

I've always loved making paper flowers. And with all the lovely paper and great materials available for crafting, you can make some very pretty ones.

Follow this superb tutorial to make the most luscious poppies to decorate a card, a bag or a hat. Fix thick wire (16 gauge) stems, cover with florists' tape, and make up a few blooms to create a stunning arrangement in a chic vase.

Actual used soccer balls can make spiffy bags for the jock - turned inside-out, lined with pockets, they can be handy too.

The brave can venture forth to make their own.

Elan Isaksson has some ethereal glass-blown sculptural pieces and lights.

Don't wait till Christmas Eve for Santa with his sleigh and reindeer. With this clear tutorial  with lots of pictures and a pattern template to follow, you'll catch him sooner.

A lovely winter scene that you can use in many ways - embroider, paint, or even applique. Scale the pattern up or down with a copier to get the size you want.

I was making pillows and quilts for my dolls when I was three years old. Seriously. And they are to-date my favorite things to make.

Take a look at how you can make a cute doll-sized quilt and cushion.

Thorstein Bunde Veblen, a Norwegian-American sociologist and economist, calculated the value of handmade way back in 1899. At a time when the industrial revolution was just gaining high ground, Veblen figured that the order of satisfaction derived from a handmade luxury article was ten times more than that afforded by a similar machine-made one.

Machine-made has improved a gazillion times since then, but looking around me, I don't think the pleasure ratio has changed all that much. In fact, I would say it has gone up!

More often than not, kids want to be in on crafting. And never more so when you're rushing around to get your gifting projects all done. 

Here's a recipe for some safe, edible fingerpaints that the littlest ones can potter around with.

These little gems do credit to that king of kitsch, Andy Warhol himself. See how they are made, and you will soon start buying stuff for the tags :).

If you are looking for gifts for some artistic little ones, have a peek at these coloring books. They sound easy and fun enough to make several, maybe some for older kids too?

Whether you are a crafter or not, recycling yarn makes sense in more ways than one. It is not just frugal, it is also "green".

Learn how to identify the best sweaters for frogging, and check out different ideas for using the recycled yarn. If you are not very crafty, get a friend or member of the family to do it for you.

Sweater Surgery by Stephanie Girard is packed with lots of creative ideas for cutting up and recycling sweaters into clothing and home decor items. 


You can also  use this great tutorial in how to 'deconstruct' a sweater to recycle the yarn. 

Browse through thrift stores for sweaters or accessories with yarn you can unravel, or motifs you can use to make garlands or bags. 

If you like the look of distressed inks in artwork, read these tips on working and blending with them.

Keep your pencils, brushes, and drawing pad all organized with this handy holder - made from a favorite old pair of jeans.

Little bits of glass and stone - mosaic artists get together in NSW, Australia.

Coats and Clark have come up with this nifty little tool that has a crochet hook on one end and a knitting needle finish on the other.  If you both crochet and knit, these could be a great addition to your tool kit, especially for travel.

Egg cartons and LED lights are an unlikely combination that make these beautiful fairy lights.

Joana Vasconcelos is a Paris born artist who now lives and works in Lisbon, Portugal.
She primarily creates sculpture and installation pieces, many of them applying white crochet patterns to a variety of objects like computers, sculptures, pianos and even bridges. The works are completely covered in crochet, with only the form and negative space to identify the object.

Custom Paper Toys has this snappy little Santa for you - just print, cut and glue!

If you are in that part of the world, don't miss out on Craftland's ongoing holiday craft extravaganza - from December 5-24th.

Craftland is an annual retail craft show in a unique consignment store format in Providence, RI. The shop features eclectic arts and crafts from artists near and far. Participants are selected through a jurying process.

The fantastic assortment of fine craft and handmade kitsch available would make great gifts.

Craftland donates 5% of proceeds to local arts-related non-profits to help continue in its mission to provide and enable economic opportunities for emerging and professional artists and crafters.

 
A quilt sandwich refers to the three layers of a quilt that have been prepared for quilting: the quilt top, the inner quilt batting and the rear backing.

Most beginners find the thought of this quite confusing - quilt top, batting, sandwich, basting, pins or spray? - so many questions. And the fact that a sandwich must be well put together to make quilting easy, and give a better finished quilt.



Here is a tutorial for creating and basting a quilt sandwich.

Remember to start with an area where you have enough space to comfortably lay out the quilt and move around it. A large kitchen table can be used, but first put something down underneath to protect the surface from needles and pins.

You can also lay it out on the floor, although this can be back breaking, as it is a long and time consuming process.

If you are going to assemble the quilt sandwich on the floor, clear the area first and clean thoroughly.

Another option is to buy a thin piece of plywood or board and put that over your kitchen table to temporarily create a larger surface.

You can baste with long quilters' pins, and follow up with thread basting by hand or machine. Wash away thread is great for this.

You can baste with special curved safety pins and leave them in until you have quilted the area.

You can also use the quilters' spray - if machine quilting, remember to use it sparingly to avoid clogging up your needle and feed dogs.

If you are looking for an extra special box to pack that precious gift, or an odd-shaped one, never fear! With these great instructions, you can make wonderful containers of your own.