Eve writes in with this –

I’m running a contest called “Pretty in Pink” to encourage people to donate to cancer charities during the months of September and
October. Contestants can send knitted garments or money to whichever charity they wish, and in return they’re entered into a contest to
win prizes including sock yarn, etc. Information about the contest can be found here.

Line from bongolife wrote in to tell me about the knit it public performance – unfortunately I was too late – but do check out the photos from the event

Shannon from make it- writes in saying that make it is running an ‘ask an expert feature’.

Andrea from munieca wrote in to tell us about her paper dolls pattern – go and check it out.

Kim wrote it telling us about her new site zaum lab

We are a small creative laboratory consisting of two independent designers, striving to bring progressive and experimental
ideas and products to the fashion community. Every item we create is made by hand, never factory manufactured or mass
produced, because we believe that design is a social responsibility, and we live it everyday.

Hello readers,
As you are probably aware whiplash this month was hats. There are some really good entries and good tutorials – well worth your while to browse through them all.

I would love your feedback on your favourites this month. Best design, most skilled and tutorial that looks do-able.

Thanks
K

Rosariós4 is an imported line of yarn from Portugal and the great “weaver” Dina has collaborated with the magazine of the same name. More pictures here.

——————

Rosariós4 es una marca de lanas portuguesas en cuya revista participado la estupenda “tejedora” Dina. Échale un ojo aquí.

Keith Bougourd 1:12 scale marquetry clock More of his work here

The exhibition Pocketsize: our fascination with the miniature has some extraordinary, tiny sculptures. (The internet’s brilliant for archived exhibitions – there are others on this site worth exploring). 1:12, or 1 inch= 1 foot is the standard size for collector doll houses, although brave souls work in even smaller scales. The work of Keith Bougourd and Althea Merback particularly caught my eye.

Althea Merback 1:12 scale Earth to Sky cardigan. More of her work including tutorials and some fabulous stripey socks here.

Heather wrote in to tell us about the rock-n-roll craft show:

ROCK N ROLL CRAFT SHOW CALL FOR ARTISTS ENDS OCTOBER 1ST, 2006! Do you spend your free time combing thrift stores for vintage fabrics to reconstruct into functional art? Is your day not complete without yarn and needles? Do you own one or more sewing machines and dream about buying another? Does your life’s content revolve around creating something practical and unique? Does your ‘craft area’ take up an entire room? Have you been yearning to share your handiwork with the masses and possibly make a little money off your blood, sweat, and tears? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions and you live in the St. Louis metro area – Rock N Roll Craft Show is looking for YOU!

Christina writes in with some dyeing links – thanks Christina.

How about more dyeing links? Here’s the link to my own tutorial on dyeing laceweight yarn coral pink using madder root and cochineal.
Echoes of A Dream also has some information and how-tos on using natural dyes.
And Knitting Iris has a whole category dedicated to her experiments with natural dyestuffs.
I think knitters and other fiber handworkers would be surprised to see how easy and satisfying using natural dyes can be. Thanks for reading and thanks for all the inspiration whip up provides.

Katies writes in:

can I tell you about a friend who has just launched her website – she is a wonderful artist – her work inspires my humble efforts – website here, blog here.
I really enjoy Whip Up and have been reading it since day one – I have been directed to some really interesting sites and found new inspiration from around the world – keep on doing what you do as it really works!

Alison of supercrafty writes in tell us about the dumpster divers of Philadelphia.

They are a Philly-based found object and recycled art group. I’m a little biased – my mother is one of the artists in the group. But I think they’re a great organization and worth sharing.

un Projects is running a temporary blog for the duration of the forthcoming program called Rapt!: 20 artists from Japan. The aim is to develop a direct dialogue and engagement between the visiting artists, curators and our local community of artists and writers, as well as a broader audience.

Janick wrote in:

Just wanted to drop you a line about my new (but quickly growing) jewelry line, named :nea:

Whiptips – a crafts advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. View the Whiptips archive here. You can submit questions, to whiptips@gmail.com. Please include photos with your questions!

Christine writes in asking for a pattern:

Has anyone calculated this hat, worn by Meryl Streep in “Angels in America,” into a pattern? Something similar should be relatively easy, but I’d love to try a pattern if there’s one available. The hat is clearly identifiable as mass-produced by the tag seams in the front. I was so surprised how distracting that was.

This coming October {from the 3rd to the 15th} London will be hosting it’s biggest multi-disciplinary Craft Fair {formerly known as Chelsea Crafts Fair} at Somerset House. This is the first year the event, run by the Crafts Council, will be housed in it’s new location…and means even more designers and makers are able to exhibit than ever before.

Below I have selected some of my favourite jewellers who are showing at Origin this year. I am very much looking forward to seeing the show, and hope that many of you will be able to make it along as well. Even if you can’t make it…you can have a look at the Exhibitors List which in itself is a great source of who’s who in contemporary craft.

Yoko Izawa creates beautiful and unusual mixed media jewellery….{showing week 2}

Alison Macleod’s jewellery, uses silver, precious stones and beads along with found non-precious materials such as bra-bits. Wonderfully ecclectic jewellery, which is both delicate and wearable. {showing week 2}

Jane Moore not only makes and design her own jewellery, which is wonderfully classic, she also runs a highly successful jewellery gallery too. Her new work featuring enamel transfers and silver is lovely.
{showing week 1}

Georgia Wiseman’s beautiful jewellery is a collection of labour intensive work made in silver and 18 ct gold with semi-precious stones and beads, whose structure explores notions of perspective, symmetry and geometric configurations. Using repeat units, Georgia creates three dimentional forms whose angular solidity belie their lightweight qualities..which makes them a dream to wear. Look out for her unique kinetic rings, where whole gemstones roll around freely in a cage ring, creating a wonderful play of colour and light {as well as sound}!! {showing week 1}

Hannah Louise Lamb uses silver along with non precious materials such as felt and silks to create beautiful wearable jewellery. Her work explores themes of domesticity and you will find floral motifs giving a nod to vintage wall-papers and imagery from, and representing, the concept of home.
{showing week 2}

Marianne Anderson’s jewellery is engrained in the thoeories and concepts of ‘Ornament’. Her beautiful work is made from oxidised silver, 18ct gold, semi-precious stones such as garnets, freshwater pearls and glass. Expect to discover beautifully pierced delicate motifs of a traditional form, re-worked in contemporary style….with a-symmetrical details and unusual {and exciting} pieces that look equally beautiful both on and off!
{showing week 1}

Naoko Yoshizawa creates the most stunning jewellery from silver and paper….layering colour to provide depth and subtle visual movement to the pieces. I am very much looking forward to seeing this work in real life..as I think the tactile quality of the pieces will be even more sublime in person. {showing week 2}

So, if you can get to the Craft Event of the year…keep your eye out for these excellent makers…and many more from this, and other design disciplines. If you do make it…let me know whose work you enjoyed and what you found inspiring!!

Stig Lindberg, photographed by Hilding Ohlson.

Stig Lindberg (1916-1982) is one of Sweden’s most popular designers and he would have turned 90 this year so there are two major exhibitions about him in Stockholm – at Nationalmuseum and at Gustavsbergs porcelain museum.

Berså tea cup, 1960. Photographer: Hans Thorwid.

He worked as artistic director at Gustavsberg ceramics factory and his creative mind and hands gave birth to a television set for Luma, a range of high-quality plastic items for Gustavsberg, textile prints and ceramics – and much much more! I love his figures in stoneware clay and the details on some of them – things pressed into the clay and little bits of glazing that add so much to the whole.

Tallyhoo textile print, 1961. Photographer Bodil Karlsson.

Turtur coffee cup, 1970. Photographer Bodil Karlsson.

I know Lindberg most for his illustrations of Lennart Hellsing’s children’s books and I also love his illustrations on children’s dinner sets.

Jimmy Potter buys a lollipop, 1952. Photographer Erik Cornelius.

You can see and buy Lindberg’s designs on retrohome and more swedish retro on Oliko, that Kerstin mentioned the other day.

Reptil, porcelain series 1955. Photographer Bodil Karlsson.

All images copyright Nationalmuseum.

In the spirit of the whiplash competition, I found some hats that the children can make too! There is the favorite theme of late - Pirate hats, and then the fashionable Top hats,a fairy flower wreath, as well,The classic girly tiara, an authentic Samurai hat,the regal crowns for kings, queens and princesses, a huge hat, but my favorite hat fresh from the young habadashery was this – (just in time for Spring in the southern hemisphere) – the Spring hat. … How delightful!

Something about the change of seasons and the start of the school year (even if I’m not in school) makes me fly into a flurry of cleaning and organizing in the fall (or the spring too for that matter!) Get yourself organized with some of these patterns:

Wall pocket by Craft Apple

Another beautiful patchwork wallpocket at shim and sons

Back seat vehicle organizer

Remote control organizer

Bedside caddy

Purse Organizer

Ironing Board Caddy

Sewing Tool Wall Organizer

Armchair Pincushion and sewing caddy

Locker Pocket

Sewing Tool Organizer

Idea for an earring organizer