They’re never ending….

Splityarn’s done a corka of a tutorial for sewing a vinyl pencil case for a binder. Some other tutorials in her archives.

Over at Gerbera Designs a cut-out vinyl pouch and very sweet embroidery tote tutorial for your threads.

Bella Dia has an excellent idea for showcasing fabric as wall hangings.

And for you speedy crafty types One Hour Craft.

Over at Lisa’s there’s a very interesting post and discussion happening in the comments about time management.

Natasha Fialkov of Luxe Fibre has posted a great tutorial on her blog of how to make these mixed media paper beads. I think they are just beautiful! This project is full of possibilities, and I am sure that you guys will have a blast experimenting with glues and gold leaf and all kinds of papers and pigments, and maybe even fabrics!

Thank you Natasha for use of the great photos! You can see more of her paper beads here on Flickr.

**be sure to take note of Natashas Melting Pot warning at the bottom of the tutorial.**

Naughty Waltz

I recently discovered the work of artist Christopher Hynes, a man with a love for lost objects who creates what he calls “visual poems.” He opens a dialogue of social commentary by using drawers and items that are leftover from construction sites and remodeling jobs, basically any “leftover materials from our throwaway society” as his canvas. His works are thoughfully put together using vintage materials and three dimensional objects. Whether the piece is serious, whimsical or just plain outlandish, they are all beautifully crafted.

Heart Of Stone

A lovely post at turkey feathers about the gentle joys of embroidery. She says “I’m happy to see it coming back around again, even though there are those who will tell you that it never went anywhere. It seems as though it’s always been here in one form or another, like a comforting old friend. It’s what I refer to as my “cheap therapy” anyway. Some advice on simple projects as well.

If the knitting world caught up on blogs and podcasts early on, the ceramics world lags a wee bit behind. I find this funny, because blogging is an excellent way of showing your work, exchanging experiences and meeting each other over the cultural boundaries.

Juicecups by Mary Anne Davies

However, times are changing and to my delight I’m finding more and more pottery related blogs popping up. Over the next few weeks I thouhgt I’d introduce you to some of these.

Davistudio is one of the first ceramic blogs I came into contact with. It’s written by Mary Anne Davies and she reports on things like kiln openings, sustainability and craft fairs.

In her post from August 26th, Mary Anne writes about micro enterprises and making a living as an artist. I’m really looking forward to following the development of this topic.

Large oval bowl by Diana Fayt

Diana Fayt is the potter behind One Black Bird and in her blog you get to peak behind the scenes and follow the life of a studio potter.

Oval green vase by Emily Murphy

Emily Murphy calls her blog potteryblog and even though it’s not updated very regularly the posts that are there can be enjoyed over and over again! She soda fires her work and if you want to know more about that firing process her blog and site are excellent resources.

Next up: two Toronto based potter bloggers.

Excellent tutorial on how to make a fabric patchwork belt – very cute, on creative little daisy blog.

Related resources:
Thimble posted a quick how to make an elastic belt here
hgtv on how to make a belt buckle for your fabric belt from a tin can

Want to buy one instead – here are cute handmade fabric and ribbon belts to check out:
a red toile belt at shy siren
denim paisley belt from three chickadees
mod fabric belts at pixelgirl shop

Our quilting sisters in Gee’s Bend have had images of their quilts captured on US postage stamps. You can buy them on the US Postal Service website. This is poetic justice to me – women of color in one of the most economically depressed areas of our country get their craft on postage stamps. Best news I’ve heard all day.

a daily, mundane, banal object, which we all seem
to posses, though we rarely look at. the ‘silent
servants’….. an object so basic yet so useful,
that has the quality of serving many functions in
addition to it’s original one.

quote from design boom ‘clothes peg iconography’

I am fascinated with clothes pegs, all the wonderful things you can make from them, clothes pin / peg dolls are so adorable and so versatile. List of resources and ideas here.

This interest in clothes pegs has been re-ignited by my discovery of this exhibition, from the collections of yoav ziv and
gad charny, curated jointly with yaacov kaufman, found through art for housewives, at design boom.

one piece plastic versions of the original wooden pegs

variations on a theme -’gypsy’ peg, classical turned wood peg, and two current versions – ‘back to nature’ and a peg with a hinge and a tension element made from recycled bicycle tube.

Sandra Robledo is a freelance designer, specializing in crochet jewelry. The natural materials and the poetry of her pieces are the characteristics of her work. She is very creative and versatile: makes collage, designs child’s clothes or shoes!Every collection is born with a new enthusiasm and fresh ideas. And i know she is keen to convey this passion to others.

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Sandra Robledo es una de mis diseñadoras preferidas, especialmente sus joyas en crochet.Los materiales naturales y la poesía de sus piezas son las caracteristicas de su trabajo.Además,es creativa y polifacética: hace collage, diseña ropa de niños o zapatos! Cada colección nace con un nuevo entusiamo y originales propuestas; y sé que es capaz de trasmitir toda esa pasión que refleja sus piezas a otros.

Canvas prints from Earthworks

For colour and pattern inspiration, or just for the sensation of my eyes being made happy, print & pattern is a fabulous blog to visit.

Scrapbook paper fromTwo Peas in a Bucket

From scrapbook papers to textiles, printed crockery and other household goods, to illustrators from all over, she finds a cornucopia – and provides links.

Illustrations by Bo Lundberg

It’s inspiration in all sorts of ways – colour, pattern, design, shape, line, the moderne, retro, funky – and sourced from around the world.