Am loving the new additions to the whipup flickr group – join and add your crafty photos to the pool.

bitty birdie by beeper babe

patchwork lace scarf by mairuru_siesta

treehouse by melissastanley727

over the next couple of weeks we are going to find out a little more about the wonderful makers featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – Our May feature artist is Amy Bethune.

Amy Bethune from the B-line – Amy also runs an etsy store, she lives in Michigan.
Main craft of choice: jewelry design
Craft hero: Martha Stewart–I know she has an empire of folks that help, but she comes up with some amazing things.
Fave web site: many! but the pioneer woman is an inspiration.
Fave crafty materials supplier: rio grande

I asked all our participants to answer a few questions about their creative process:

1. When did you start making/crafting, and who or what inspired that first creative burst?
I’ve always loved to make things, but I got more serious about making jewelry about a year and a half ago. I was actually going through a rough time and being creative helped to lift my spirits. I got hooked on beading first, and then started working with polymer clay when I found I had ideas for “beads” that weren’t available.

2. What would you say was that light-bulb moment when you discovered your ’style’ and really hit your making stride?
I’d say most people are drawn to and recognize my work through my corsage collection, the line that began from my work with polymer clay. It took me just a few months (after opening the b-line on etsy) to make those designs a regular part of my shop.

3. Why do you make – what do you get out of it?
I find it therapeutic to create. It calms my mind. And it gives me great joy to know that other people enjoy wearing my designs.

All images courtesy Amy Bethune

Find out more about how to get your hands on a copy of the 2010 whipup calendar here.

Nikkishell shares this cute top pattern that’s a current favourite with the ladies at Tessuti. Link to pattern.

over the next couple of weeks we are going to find out a little more about the wonderful makers featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – Our June feature artist is Eva Monleón.

Eva Monleón from Misakomimoko also has an etsy shop where you purchase the cutest things, she lives in Barcelona.
Main craft of choice: Stuffies / handcrafted dolls
Craft hero: Something’s Hiding in Here, Lili Scratchy, Ann Wood, Stephanie Congdon Barnes, Le train Fantôme, Emily Martin…
Fave web site: my fave sites lately are fine little day, mieke willems + Joyville
Fave crafty materials supplier: my local flea market, Els encants vells in Barcelona

I asked all our participants to answer a few questions about their creative process:

1. When did you start making/crafting, and who or what inspired that first creative burst?
I learned sewing and embroidering at primary school, later I was very influenced by Annette Messager, Tracy Emin, Georgina Starr, Niky de Saint Phalle, Dubuffet (and Art brut)… while studying Fine Arts, so I mostly crafted, made installation and painted/sewn soft sculptures. Then I worked for a long time as a multimedia and graphic designer and after of ten years working with computers I realized that I needed something else. I joined an amigurumi workshop in a lovely gallery shop called Duduà and since then I haven’t stopped making crafts.

2. What would you say was that light-bulb moment when you discovered your ’style’ and really hit your making stride?
The moment when I finished my first little doll was so exciting… she made me feel very special and I thought that maybe these dolls could make other people feel the same way, so I started doing different little dolls to see what happened.

3. Why do you make – what do you get out of it?
It makes me feel really happy, making them it’s a kind of childish freedom and joy. When I imagine how a car doll, or a little dog, a bird, a table or a carrot doll would look like, I have to began to draw and sew it and then finish it to see how it will turn out. I love playing and allowing myself to be swept away by the process of making them just to feel this kind of peace and make people smile.

All images courtesy Eva Monleón

Find out more about how to get your hands on a copy of the 2010 whipup calendar here.

A group of lovely crafters have collaborated and published their own ebook Crafty Tree Trimmings, a collection of 6 ornament tutorials, covering a range of crafts (felt, sewing, crochet, paper + beading). They are donating 15% from each sale to Project Linus an organisation that provides handmade blankets/quilts for the needy.

The ebook is pretty lovely – I was lucky enough to be sent a preview – its well laid out, the instructions are clear, the photographs of the steps are plentiful and make the projects very easy to follow and there are full size templates for you to print out and use straight away.

Linda Permann shows how to crochet a very pretty flower ornament, Betz White shows how to make a gingerbread house from felt – it is then handsewn and stuffed with polyfil, Susan Beal has a button and plastic canvas sparkly ornament, Kayte Terry sews scraps of pretty fabric to make vintage treasure ornaments, Diane Gilleland shows us how to make a delicate tree ornament that allows light to shine through and Patricia Zapata makes a 3d ornament from paper. Check out the ebook here in time for the holidays.

Love the use of the vintage doily here. Link to tutorial.

One of the perks of posting for whipup? I get to post my own tutorial. Link to tutorial.

From recycled knits. Sweet! Link to tutorial.