Yep! How excellent is this! Bottlecap pincushion tutorial by Very Big Jen over at flickr. Seems she has a bit of a thing for pincushions. Sticking pins into this eye version makes my toes go a bit squidgy.

Also our own booga is also suggesting a monthly pincushion challenge. Bring it!

Flickr pool.

whipup whiplash competition…
A daring venture into organised making across the world - a weekly theme, a short time frame, a prize (or two).

Starting this Thursday …

On the sidebar you will see a new link called whipup competition - click on that for the low down on what this comp is all about, our fab sponsors and prizes, how to enter, and don’t forget to grab a couple of cool buttons to paste into your blog.

This competition is sponsored by the following wonderful supporters of whipup
Pixelgirl shop - a place to give artists who make unique high-quality items a central hub to sell their creations;
MAKE Magazine & The Maker Faire - bringing the do-it-yourself mindset to all the technology in your life;
Denyse Schmidt - Denyse and her quilts have appeared in hundreds of distinguished national magazines and newspapers, as well as some very cool books;
and Helloindie - an email zine that enhances this community of independent artists by providing a platform for promoting their wares and increasing consumer awareness of alternative products and online shopping.

To Enter:
1. Read the weekly challenge theme - posted on thursday
2. Make something over the weekend - using your medium of choice but in the spirit of the theme
3. Take a couple of good photos of your work - one close up photo, and one broader view photo and maybe a photo of it in use. Some hints to take good images - use natural light not flash, put your item near the window in filtered light not in harsh sunlight which create dark patches of shadow. Take a couple of images and make sure it is in focus. - You don’t need to be a good photographer but you do need to use images that show off your item to its best.
4. Post your entry on your own blog - or to flickr, or to your friends site - it must be online somewhere with a stable link.
5. Grab the code for one of the whiplash buttons below (kindly designed by Jan at poppy) and paste into your post with your whiplash entry
6. Are you signed into whipup? if not login or sign up and get a password then login. - You will not be able to upload your link if you are not logged in.
7. Once you are signed up and logged in to whipup - you can upload your link - you must have the permanent link to your post - to get to the permanent link of your post you may need to click on the date or the header or the #, or the permalink button and it should be in this format http://yourwebsitename.com/pagetitle/date/orsomething
8. You can only enter once per week.
9. Entries will be judged by a panel on three criteria - skill, humour and originality.

Look out on thursday to see the first theme

Having received the newest copy of Vogue Knitting in my mailbox, I’m happy to report that there is much bi-processing of yarn to be had within its sumptuous pages. What is bi-processing of yarn inquiring minds want to know? Well, this would be the act of being able to wield sticks or hook interchangeably. Vogue Knitting and their mag geared to a younger yarn bi-processor, Knit1, have filled their latest issues with a plethora of both knitting and crochet patterns as well as patterns that combine both techniques. And I for one LOVE THIS as I’ve been a bi-processor of yarn for close to three decades!

And It’s nice to see that I’m not alone. In fact, there seem to be many yarn bi-processors out and about the web. And let me tell you, there is no shortage of inspiration to be had when surfing around their blogs and sites! Check out fellow whip up contributor, Drew, or designer, educator author, Annie Modesitt to partake in some excellent yarn bi-processing. And don’t forget these bi-processing superstars…Lily Chin, the divas over at Stitch Diva Studios and one of my faves, Teva Durham. How about lesser-known but nonethelesser bi-processing yarn afficionados such as Stuffed, who not only bi-processes yarn, but makes wonderful dolls. Or take a trip over to L.A. Is My Beat where Ellen will dazzle you with myriad bi-processed yarn projects including this incredible bag! And while your surfing about be sure to drop in on another whip up contributor, Lemony Lemondade or Ewe Devil, What’s Cluttering My Couch and the tri-process queen and proprietor of Luxe, Natasha, because remember when it comes to process, more is definitely MORE!

Artist and maker Wendy Crabb from green girl art makes soft robots amongst other things.

She says of her work “Inspiration came from necessity“. She signed up for plush rush with no idea of what she was going to make or how to make it. Without a sewing machine she needed to use materials that would not fray. So she used some wool felt quarters that she found at weeks dye works.

“I kept circling around what I was going to do and then I drew a really tiny sketch – a funny robot. … From there it just clicked. I had the beginnings of an idea. I drew these wonky patterns on some brown paper and I just started cutting fabric and sewing the pieces together. My first guy was really big about 20 inches tall sitting – but I never actually measured him. … I actually found this little scrap of paper the other day I had written about two years ago “I want to create soft toys”. My brain works in a round about way.”

Lately Wendy has been making soft sea creatures from recycled painted fabric, which has been washed and washed until soft and colour fast. This fabric comes from cut down backdrops which sometimes leaves some amazing scraps. “I’ll make as many creatures as possible and then once the fabric is gone…well then I’ll try and scavange more from the next beautiful backdrop we make.”