Jo Sharp works from her design studio in Fremantle, Western Australia. Jo is known for the rich colour palette of her luxury hand knitting yarns, and for her wearable designs that are within reach of the ability of most hand knitters.

Jo gives an insight into the design process of her collections: (read more about it here)

At the outset of a new collection we work visually, beginning with a storyboard which takes the form of collaged images, textures and colours to create an atmosphere and sense of story. The focus might be ‘nostalgia’ or ‘country’ or ‘romantic’, and the storyboard is built by bringing together elements which reflect the theme.

Images from Jo Sharp’s latest collection. Yarn - luscious new pastel shades. Pattern book - ‘Eclectic’ a collection of handknitting designs for women in rich oriental hues.

Wonderful crochet article at super naturale, featuring Whip up authors Regina and Camilla.

Australian Yarn magazine - sneak preview of whats in store for their March issue.

dioramarama - has finished her quilt for the modern quilt-a-long, lots of others have finished too (uhmmm mine is a still a while away)

Ming Yi Sung is a fibre artist, and has found her voice in crochet sculpture, creating large scaled assemblages and installations.

An extract from her artist statement goes some way to explain her androgynous forms:

Based on my personal mythology, there once existed a creature, Androgyny, who took the form of both sexes. As time went by, it lost some of its own physical identities and split into two separated sexes, as we are now. Somehow the soul within us still holds the personality of both sexes.

(link via)

How cool is this stuff? Sonic Fabric is woven from 50% recycled prerecorded audiocassette tape and 50% cotton. Not only does it look amazing but if you draw a tape head over the surface of the fabric the sounds recorded on the tape can be heard. Pictured above are some silk screened flags by the artist, John Fishman, made from a collection of his favourite songs. The fabric is available made up into messenger bags and flags and what-not, but is also available as swatches and by the yard: “Sonic fabric is currently available by the yard in solid black and in a jewel-toned stripe. Yards are 60″ wide with curly tapeloops at the selvedges. Custom colors can be created by varying the cotton or polyester thread used in the warp.” Imagine your next quilt singing to you! (and possibly being a bit scratchy too). (via swissmiss)

knitta started in August 2005 as a duo of Texan mums, with the tag names “AKrylik” and “PolyCotN”, since then they have grown to ten and are tagging the town with knitted cozies. “These gangsta mamas have big plans: cozies for car bumpers, hats for fire hydrants, carpets for sidewalks and, if only they can get enough people, curtains for bridges and covers for water towers.” (from houston press)

“We’re taking graffiti and making it warm, fuzzy and more acceptable,” says AKrylik. “I like the duality there. Also, I really think there can be a lot more to the new, alternative knitting craze than meeting at the local coffee shop every Sunday afternoon to make scarves together — not that I don’t like to do that, too.”

resources:
knitta please website
knitta please article at houston press
wholesome urban graffiti at city noise
knitta please tags at flickr
knitta crew are keeping their name - read more here
knitta please at myspace

One of the best things about air travel (besides the ridiculously thought out programmed playlists), is the free magazine. While I used to just love it for the time-wasting crosswords, I now freakishly enjoy reading them for the random articles.

On a flight a few months ago I came across an article about Canstruction, a charity that collects tins for the homeless in a creative way. Instead of organizing another food drive, teams design and build ornate creations from cans and then donate the proceeds to fight hunger.

Yet one more example of how creativity and activism are in fact, intertwined.

What’s hiding in your cupboard? What could you build if you got together with some of the contents of your friends’ pantries, too?

One year ago I listened to my first podcast — Marie Irshad’s KnitCast. I really had no idea what it was all about, but a year later it’s all the rage and new crafty podcasts are springing up all over the place! Here’s a run down of some of the latest episodes of the programs I’m subscribed to. . .

• KnitCast — This past week Marie spoke with Annie Modesitt and I have to say that it was a fascinating interview. Annie talked about her unconventional knitting style, the life of a knitting designer and also a bit about self publishing.
• Cast On — I only discovered Brenda’s podcasts a few weeks ago, but I have already voraciously downloaded and listened to every episode. I anxiously await each one which she usually releases each Friday. Her weekly feature, Today’s Sweater, is reason enough to tune in; but her wit and podsafe music are always an added bonus!
• Knitting News Cast — Rhonda covers all kinds of news including yarn and book reviews. This week she talks about the Stitch n Bitch controversy, the Knitting Olympics, reviews several knitting books and much more.
• Pointy Sticks — The latest knitting podcast on the scene just came out last week. I really enjoyed Christine’s laidback attitude. Listening to her was like hanging out with a friend chatting about knitting.

You say you don’t have an iPod? No problem! I don’t have one either. You can go right to the websites I listed above and listen to the episodes on your computer through each website. Or my favorite way to listen. . . go download a free copy of iTunes, then go to the “Podcasts” section of the “Music Store” and type in “knitting” in the search box. All the knitting podcasts I mentioned will pop up and you can subscribe for free! That way you’ll never miss an episode.

mason dixon’s nora afghan rug auction for charity is happening now. Pics of the the gorgeous rug up for auction here - just a few hours to go.

Julie from Booga J is soon to be joining us at whip up - contributing on knitting news and info. If you don’t know Julie then you might know her Booga bag, I want one. great gallery of the bags everyone has knitted from Julie’s free online pattern.

And if you haven’t seen it already, there is a cute and free kitty pattern at wee wonderfuls available for download

Chinese plush toy artist living and working in Japan. She makes these wonderful alien/animal charactors from a luscious combination textured fabrics. She also makes needle felted delicate plush as well as some very cool amigurumi villains - her work is original and funny and curious. I just love it.

I first stumbled upon wawaya at flickr via cakeyvoice - which led me to her website -

These are some hot socks for summer. I am really really loving these. Free online pattern available at spun magazine.

Spun magazine is a wonderful online fibre mag with product reviews and patterns. They are continually on the look for new patterns - check out their submission guidelines.

From the current issue I really loved the deconstructed sweater into a scarf ‘how to’, and there is a pattern for knitted bibs (for those of you asking about them).

Perusing their archives (just one year old) I not only came across the wonderful summer socks, but these great fluted sleeve additions and a very nice capelet.

If you just look carefully you can find it.
Colours, shapes and patterns.

Thank you Mrs Pine :)

stuck for ideas - for your best friend, teacher, kids or partner?
with valentines day looming… check it out
coupons from about.com or make your own version

handmade cards - some ideas from martha stewart - paper doily cards, block print cards, handstitched love heart cards, collage cards
I love this cute idea of paper love hearts on shirt buttons
box of cookies

have a great valentines day everyone - single or couple - have a lovely day

Print Gocco is yet another example of the wonderful Japanese crafty + techy streak. It’s a nifty little screen-printing system that’s all self-contained and really easy to use. Unfortunately, Riso, the company that makes it, recently announced that they’re discontinuing it.

Save Gocco will hopefully change their mind. If you’re a Gocco-ist, make sure to go sign their petition/guestbook. The site also has a great list of Gocco resources, including where you can still get supplies. As for the units themselves, the last online shop selling them to US customers finally sold out, and they’re now going for over $200 on eBay.

Although Riso claims they have enough supplies to last 3 years, people are already trying to figure out replacements in anticipation of the inevitable stoppage (some of the ink colors are already running out). Amy mentioned the other day that she had successfully used Max Grumbacher oil paints and there’s a thread on Craftster that recommends Versatex Fabric Inks and Permaset, or Aquatex if you’re in Australia. Even the screens might be replacable with thermal screen. I’m sure we can look forward to other clever ideas from fellow Gocco enthusiasts.

More Gocco love:

we heart gocco at the wurst gallery is a wonderful show of prints, and they’re even for sale, ranging from $2.50-$30 US. Each artist also has a short interview, including their favorite Gocco tips.

The Gocco Set from Onsmith Comics is also pretty neat. It’s a set of 17 different prints for $60.

The Gocco Group on Flickr is a treasure trove, both of wonderful work and of information in the discuss boards.

Krafola has a good discussion going about Gocco vs computer printers, which also includes a list of compatible pens.

2 good tutorials: The Small Object’s tutorial and dilettante crafter’s tutorial.

Print by Evan Harris from we heart gocco

This work is part of an exhibition at Rocketart, Newcastle, last November, titled ‘missing you already’.

“she is experiencing a little discomfort - and all in the middle of her wedding! if pearl and val can work themselves out, they might have their gifts ready in time for the reception.”

Jake is a Newcastle (Australia) toy artist. “He learned to knit from his mother, but prefers to work on impulse rather than from patterns” (this is not art).

Jake participated in Plush Rush Ohio, last year and is one of the artists in the plush week exhibition at gallery 1988, LA, this week. His current and past work can be seen here.

Cupcake pin cushions and purses and dolls - you sew them in felt or crochet them.

Turkey feathers has made a cupcake for her elephant, and plump pudding made a couple for birthday pressies.

I am also a big fan of my paper cranes cupcake dolls and soft cakes.

Check out buzzville’s crochet cupcake purses and bella dia’s strawberry topped pincushion.

tutorial on craftster for making felt cupcake pincushions
and a pattern for crochet cupcakes at ivillage

Today we have a fantastic interview with Lisa Solomon of Lisa’s Musings

1.Tell us about your style of work.

oooh this is hard. I tend to like to use all different kinds of media to express myself. Often times I respond to a found material or paper – like rifle targets or vintage school paper [do you remember the kind that had a big space up top to draw and some lines on the bottom to write?? That kind!]. I have always loved and respected all things crafty and thus also wanted to incorporate those types of elements in my artwork. Thus there is often embroidery – thread of some kind, crochet, or other such things in my work. I tend to like to use thread as a drawing element. As a line quality. I have this whole philosophy of the front side vs. the back side of embroidery – and how both sides are actually beautiful and imply different things. I am really drawn to the idea of the domestic [celebrating that] – of how we clue into what is read as masculine and what is read as feminine. I am also fond of the idea of noticing the ordinary… And I’m fond of space…. How negative space is just as important as positive space.

I tend to see myself and my work in a framework of being hybrids… The idea that things cross pollinate and inform one another to become something different

does that sound too hoighty toity?? I also like to make t-shirts and stationary and pillows and skirts…. Just making in general is fun!

2.You have an ongoing project where you do a drawing a day, can you tell us about that?

I started the drawing a day project after buying 50 spools of gutermann thread on ebay [my favorite type of thread for the amazing color palette!]. I had just seen a show of Richard Tuttle’s work at SFMOMA and was amazed at how prolific he was… How many drawings there were…. How the drawings informed his other work.

I knew that I was about to have a really crazy schedule with teaching and free-lancing and that my studio time was going to be limited…. And I didn’t want to loose the connection to making things. While looking at the thread I realized – wow 50 is almost 52 – 52 weeks in a year… I could do a drawing a day w/ one color of thread for a week! that would be fun! it would keep me doing something everyday. I could get inspired by the color of the thread! and I wouldn’t get bored either because it would just be one week….. Then I realized that if I put the pressure on myself to do it 7 days a week I’d never do it. So I said 5 days – Monday – Friday. That seemed possible.

I really also had to let go of the idea that they would all be good. Some of them are down-right awful! but the idea was that I would be able to play – to do things that I couldn’t do while trying to make a “body of serious artwork” [whatever that is .... ]. I wanted to allow myself to make one in 5 minutes or to take hours on one…. It was the idea of play – of goofing around, of learning from mistakes – of trying anything and everything.

3.How do you find the motivation to do these drawings when you’re feeling uncreative?

sometimes it is INCREDIBLY hard…. But I’m one of those people where if I’ve really decided to do something I want to follow through. So I sit and look at something right in front of me… Or think of something I saw earlier in the day and try to do a drawing based on that. I remind myself that they don’t all have to be winners…. I try and let the color of the thread take me in a direction… I just try to make some kind of mark!

sometimes a bit of tea or looking through a book or walking outside and breathing some fresh air will help. So will snuggling with my pets or reading someone else’s blog where they just posted some amazing project…. I try to let being uncreative be OK – that is is also part of the creative process as a whole. It’s about just trying. Sometimes that has to be enough!

4.What inspires you?

EVERYTHING inspires me. The list is gigantic! all the kooky things that surround me that I collect… Nature…. Loved ones…. My own body…. Things that I read….. Things I see other people making…. I walk around everyday and try to notice little details. Things that make me smile, things that make me think, things that make my heart pound, my jaw drop, my gut wrench…. It’s hard to hold onto inspiration I think – so it’s a constant search!

5. What’s in store for the future?

oh my – the future?? I’m just trying to get through February! :) hopefully more teaching… More making things…. Enjoying this incredible online community…. And also some sleep. I’d like to catch up on that a bit!

Draw something wonderful and give it to someone you love.

While almost every city now has knitting shops that offer knitting classes, places where you can learn other craft skills are not yet as common. However, they are starting to pop up all over. You can learn to sew, embroider, screenprint, bind books, and make all kind of stuff at these type of crafty workshops. Sometimes the most daunting part of trying out a new craft project is making the investment in all the equipment before you really know what it’s all about, so these workshops are also helpful in that they often have equipment for you to borrow.

I have listed some places I could find that offer these types of craft courses, but it’s by no means an exhaustive list, look for one in your own area as well. If you can’t find a place that is specifically a craft workshop studio, try the local art school or college and see if they offer courses that are open to the public. And if you know of somewhere great in your area, feel free to post it in the comments to share with others.

Or if you can’t find one that already exists, you could always form your own craft studio! Like the seamrippers in Vancouver, a collective that offers courses, has a drop-in centre, gallery and hosts events like craft fairs.

Also in Vancouver, Blim Arts Studio also offers courses in screenprinting, drawing, electronics (!) and other fun stuff.

In Toronto, there isn’t a central place for craft workshops, but you can take screen printing workshops at Peach Berserk (seen at left), sewing classes at sew be it studio or studio opal, and classes in ceramics, glass blowing and texiles at harbourfront centre.

In Portland there’s the super cool DIY Lounge that offers classes in sewing, embroidery, photography, blogging (!), natural skin care, and tons more.

In San Fransisco, there’s the amazing craft gym, which offers courses in sewing, knitting, ceramics, metals, paper, wood and textiles. They also offer open access to the gym’s studio space and tools, so you can work on projects in your own time. This is a great resource for people who live in apartments that don’t have a lot of room for large craft equipment!

In New York, Make Workshop offers classes in everything from sewing to blockprinting to shoemaking!

In Minneapolis, there’s Crafty Planet, which has courses in sewing, quilting, knitting and crochet.

And in Somerville MA, spark craft studios, offers courses in sewing, knitting, beading and paper crafts.

Dina Ladina creates fantastical gullets, a cross somewhere between a scarf, a neck warmer and a poncho. They are sort of a mixed media crochet, incorporating feathers and crochet flowers. She doesn’t stop with neckwarming gullets though, she also makes ponchos, arm warmers, hats, bags and shirts. Extremely talented and inventive.

One of the most romantic things to do for your partner (I think) is to make a beautiful dinner.
Good food, special treats, chocolate, champagne, flowers - but most of all atmosphere - try it the feng shui way.

Create a love mood in your home, supernaturale’s post on the love connection got me thinking about ways to spruce up the house to create a romantic atmosphere.

1. declutter the house, and get rid of negative energy, clean and dust the windows and corners to enable the positive energies to have free flow.
2. Use natural cleansers such as lemon and bicarb and vanilla to make the house smell fresh and clean.
3. music - lighting and flowers - soft romantic music is important, candles and dimmed lighting for an intimate atmosphere, 2 flowers to symbolise the two of you - colours to use - pink - to symbolise long lasting love or red for passion. Make sure the flowers height doesn’t block your view of each other. List of flower meanings can be found here - don’t choose orange lillies!
4. the table setting is important as is seating arrangements - choose to sit side by side rather than opposite - much more intimate and romantic. choose natural and simple linen and crockery - white enhances the food and the decorations.
5. the food - the wine. Make something within your capabilities so you are not flustered and stressed by dinner time. make your loves favourite dishes, choose their favourite wine. Dessert and chocolates and liquors to finish.
6. don’t forget to adorn yourself as well, make time to have a relaxing bath to get into the mood, and get dressed up, wear some perfume or cologne (and brush your teeth).
7. you might want to ready the bedroom for later - clean up - clean sheets, flowers and scented candles - maybe a handmade box with truffles (full instructions at brownie points)
8. and don’t forget to organise grandparents or single friends to have the kids for the night!

food suggestions:
Delicious days - semolina pudding looks pretty hearty - if its cold where you are. She who eats - has some pretty gorgeous ideas of what to do with strawberries. The scent of green bananas - has what looks like the perfect valentines chocolate cake.
resources:
A guide to doing this the feng shui way can be found on about
romantic table setting
feng shui for love
fast way to feng shui love