Check out these wonderful headbands made by the talented Heather Bailey. She has just started up her own blog where you can find the pattern for the headbands.
Oh, and Heather’s new line of fabric designs will be available from Free Spirit in the Fall.
lots of great interviews lately over at craft sanity.
Mine is the latest.
A while ago I posted about the magic yarn ball, a sweet little project for people of all ages who love yarn, fiber, and trinkets. Several of you answered the call for a swap, and I emailed many of you, setting up an international trade via swap-bot.
There’s still time to join, and everyone is welcome. 60 of us are signed up so far, poised to make yarn gifts to send around the globe. Tomorrow is the last day to sign up, so please visit our swap-bot page and save the button above to your computer if you’d like to use it. I can’t wait to see what we all come up with.
Check out Just Jussi’s shibori tutorial. Great pictures and clear instructions. Thank you Jussi!
Gorgeous bags from recycled fabric found over at tiny happy.
Perfectly dressed up t-shirt from Knappy Knits.
And this great skirt by Nichola, whom, along with Rachael, recently started the awesome group blog Wardrobe Refashion whereI found this skirt, as well as the links to the two projects above.
I myself am not brave enough at the moment to take the wardrobe refashion pledge, but that doesn’t stop me from being inspired by the creative ideas showing up over there! There are so many more great projects already being posted on the site, from smocks, to tees, to hats, and the challenge hasn’t even officially begun. This round of wardrobe refashion officially begins on June 1st, and if your as excited as I am to see what great ideas people come up with, check it out over here.
In Issue 10 of Selvedge magazine – an amazing resource of fibre related arts of all kinds – there is a great article about an artist who uses weaving as her medium. Sue Lawty weaves intricate panels of depth, texture and immense colour which reflect “wild raw primal land”.
Sue’s work has struck a cord with me:: She weaves as if she paints, massing small blocks of weave on top of other blocks, mimicking rock and stone patterns. Her sketches reflect the methodical intricacies of varying shapes and rythms. Sue thinks of herself as a Tapestry Weaver – and the scale of her weaving, although large, reflects the closeness of tapestry.
Weaving has been something that has fascinated me for a long time: My aunt was a very well respected weaver in the US, and I had a small loom as a child. There’s something base about the simple movement of thread amongst thread to create fibre. It goes beyond knitting and sewing, but becomes full of life and depth. I admire the patience and physicality of weaving. There are so many textures and dimensions available to the weaver. So from one extreme to the other – Markow and Norris woven glass. An american studio weaving, literally, glass threads to create 3D objects. I’m really fascinated by the two opposites in approach these artists take to their craft – diversity, convergence and exploration. Something we should all aim for.
I love it when a craft moves into art, and becomes something more.
apple head (see the wonderful 100 flower scarf) and ruby crowned kinglet (you will have to visit her blog to see the winning entry) have each won a copy of Denyse Schmidt quilts or colorful stitchery.
And the fab bumper prize from funquilts will be announced later.
special mention this week goes to
jixichick for the scrap map
greeting arts for the soft toy
ann wood for the ship sails
viewer choice goes to
pink chalk studio for the pencil roll
and polvoron for the patchwork bag
editors pic goes to
tree fall design for the patchwork cat
and green mountain mama for the swiffer cover
Week 6.
theme is colour
One book and a fab secret prize to finish off the comp.
1. Denyse Schmidt Quilts by Denyse Schmidt, 30 colorful quilt and patchwork projects. (Donated by chronicle books)
Having heard a lot about this book and seen snippets of it here and there, and the projects that people had made from it, especially on the denyse quilt along (via quiltersbuzz) and the subsequent block swap, I also recently listened to a podcast at craftsanity of an interview with Denyse, what a great listen, she is really so fabulous.
But on with the book, is it really so fab? Well yes indeed it is. The book is broken into sections starts off with practical info, then moves into small projects, then the quilts and then the patterns. The first section deals with all the neccessary skills you need to get started, tools and design tips, how to piece and cut quilt blocks, fabric and colour advice and then on to quilting methods and binding, and some good general sewing tips.
Then onto the projects, which are really fun colourful ideas that require small amounts of fabric and not a lot of sewing ability, really do-able for most people and older children too, such as quilted cards and juggling blocks Then there are some slightly more advanced projects like a scrap scarf and oven mit, which are excellent for those who really just want to have fun with fabrics, slightly more sewing experience is needed but not much more as the directions are really great, but most importantly these projects are really good if you just want to experiment with textures and colours and use the pattern more as a basis for your own ideas. The next few patterns are whimsical and allow a great deal of flexibility in the outcome depending on what materials you use. Such as the three faces of steve (soft stuffed cat with multiple personalities) and ways to decorate clothing. Then some practical projects such as quilted slippers (chronicle books have an online pattern) and a lovely blanket.
The third section of the book is 10 quilt patterns. From the really simple 3 peices of fabric, which is all about colour and balance. To country style, modern, crazy and simple. All the patterns have Denyses style, seemingly random piecing, and great colour. To me this books seems pretty easy to follow, lots of ideas. I love that there are quick projects more complex ones. Just a really great book.
2. Colorful Stitchery By Kristin Nicholas, 65 Hot embroidery projects to personalize your home. (Donated by Kristin and Story Publishing).
I first came across Kristin Nicholas, the author of colorful stitchery when I was searching for inspiration for my craft room/studio, I stumbled across pictures of Kristins studio and was completely jealous (here is the link) and in love with the space she had made for herself, it just seemed perfect to me. Then when I saw this book and realised it was the very same person it just made sense to me. This book has some a gorgeous aura, just like that studio room seemed to.
The books begins with fabric, glorious fabric, colours and textures and advice. How to choose, what to use, dyeing and felting and testing it for worthiness for your project. As this is an embroidery book, she then talks about embroidery threads and tools before discussing patterns and stitches. Lots of different stitch techniques as you might expect in an embroidery book, all have great step by step illustration, worth buying this book for the stitch guide alone. The next section – colour and design, a good section on colour theory and combinations, with some lovely examples and tips on how to put colour together and where to find your inspiration.
Then the projects. All the projects go from beginning to end, from discussing material choice and design, to giving good illustrations and patterns on making it and finishing it as well as variations. The projects are split into sections, loungeroom, kitchen, the bedroom and then some more unusual projects. The loungeroom sections has a pillow focus and ranges from woollen pillows with simple decorative stitching detail to more complex stitching decorations. Then some great fun side projects like pompoms and felted dots. Then there are some really cute cross stitch gingham projects like pillows and aprons and ways to use teatowels.
The kitchen section has new ways with standard objects, like the coffee cozy and egg cup cozy, tablecloths and tea towels. Ways to brighten up your kitchen and great ideas for gift giving. I love all these practical projects. The next section is less practical and more romantic, beautiful linen pillowcases and curtains, bright crewel decorative touches on cushions and exotic motifs on luxurious blankets, and cute teddies and kiddy blankets. The last section has some unique and fun ways to use embroidery on other materials such as cardboard and shoes and using ribbon as an alternative to embroidery thread.
I found this book to be absolutely delightful, colourful and lovely. I think my favourite project might be the exotic paisley designs on the soft cashmere throw.
And a special prize for one blogger who entered every week and always had something cool that they made in the spirit of the competition – to be announced soon
A wonderful basket of goodies donated by funquilts
This basket of goodies includes a copy of each of the books ‘the modern quilt workshop’ and ‘colour harmony’ as well as 1x yard and a fat quarter pack of their freespirit fabric range, and a pack of gift cards.
I luckily have my own copy of both of these books and am in the midst of making the most difficult quilt mentioned. And even more lucky for me and for the readers of whipup, Weeks Ringle, co author of these books is one of the authors at whipup. I first came accross funquilts a while ago, long before I entered the blog world, I was searching for modern quilts and happened upon there wonderful designs, which attracted me to quilting like no traditional design ever could. Then later, when I was fully emmersed with blogs, dioramama (another whipup author) was hosting the modern quilt along from the book the modern quilt workshop and I felt a sudden urge to make one of these quilts (it is still unfinished).
So what about these two books. First the modern quilt workshop, super easy directions and variations and patterns. Lots of variety for skill base in these patterns from the quite difficult but still do-able to the much easier, there really is a lot of choice depending on what out come is desired. The books begin with directions and tools and techniques and discusses in depth the various differences that both Weeks and Bill use. The big difference with this book compared with other more traditional quilting books is that they are not stuck on using traditional ways when there are quicker, more efficient and in most cases just as good methods available. What I love most about this book is the design philosophy behind the quilts, the use of colour and piecing and the simplicity of the designs.
The other book color harmony is not a ‘how to’, there are no patterns, but rather is a book of ideas, how to use colour to get different effects – this book is a ‘practical approach to color theory’. And is a joy to read and read again. Some gorgeous examples of quilts from different artists with a break down of the colour of each of the quilt examples and tips on how to get the same effect. Really this book is such an inspiration.
Cara over at january one has organized a spinning event on Saturday, June 24th from 11AM – 5PM in Central Park, NYC at the Cherry Hill Fountain. Bring your spinning wheel or spindle and meet other spinners from the area!
Can’t make it to NYC? She’s also raising money for Heifer International as part of the event and your donation can win you a prize.
