By Jennifer New, featuring the journals of many artists, writers and makers.

Published by Princeton Architectural Press.

I have always kept a journal, not constantly, not everyday, but in spurts and starts. I am not sure if I have ever finished a journal or been consistant with the type of journal I keep. Sometimes its a visual journal filled with inspiration and thoughts, sometimes its a memory journal, jotting down daily occurances of the kids words and achievements, sometimes its a personal intimate journal of my darkest thoughts when I am going through a particularly difficult or emotional time. When I was at art school I filled many spiral bound blank notebooks with my process and ideas and concepts. This was a requirement but I also enjoyed doing it, and now I like to look back on these and see how far I have come with my art. When I was a child I had a secret diary complete with padlock, the first entry states quite clearly who I would one day marry and my daughter has a secret diary with a secret pen that can only be read with a special torch. Its wonderful and contains lists of her friends (its not very secret she shows everyone). I love the idea of the journal, I’m just not any good at keeping them going for long.

After reading this book however, I now realise that a diary or journal is whatever it is for each individual. There are many types of journals and many ways of keeping them. This book has totally inspired me to get it together and try again. Maybe I will.

Visually stunning book, perfect in the details, I love the rounded corners and the gridded pages, gorgeous images from the journals, and a great read - a celebration of the humble journal as the essential tool of the creative maker, thinker and do-er.

Jennifer tries to decipher why we keep journals and what purpose they serve. In the process of researching this book she has found that there are four reasons/ways of keeping a journal. And this is how the book is divided: Observation, reflection, exploration and creation. In the opening essay Jennifer disscusses the emotions that a journal invokes and the various experiences keeping a journal, the freedom it gives in self expression or the meditative ritual of writing or drawing everyday. She also discusses the physicality of the journal, the tactile quality and how the act of writing and or drawing is important in the creative process (as apposed to online journals), there are some lovely examples of journals kept by famous artists, thinkers, explorers and scientists, their journals an inspiration to anyone who has seen them.

The book is divided into the four categories mentioned, and within each category are wonderful examples with an introduction about each person and why they keep their journal and what sort of journal they keep.

Observation: The journals of the intricate maps of the daily walks of an elderly Japanese man now over 100 years old. He kept these journals for 25 years before burning them, they were a process for him of understanding his roots and the history of place. A children’s book author obsessively keeps a journal of everything she observes, she finds beauty in her surrounds and travels a great deal in order to “replenish her visual diet”. A marine bioligist illustrates sea creatures near her home, she loves the facts about nature but also uses the journal to explore her heart.

Reflection: An illustrator uses he journals as a therapeutic outlet. An artist has used his journals to deal with childhood ghosts and has enabled him to move beyond and to grow and learn about the world. He is free within the pages of his journal.

Exploration: A designer obsesses over detailed drawings of objects, exploring every angle and view which leads to more ideas. A Photographer uses his journal to re-train his eyes, to break loose from the rules. Travelers keep journals to help them remember but also to see more clearly.

Creation: A designer and quiltmaker uses her journals to work through concepts and thought processes and the emotion that goes into her work. An artist keeps a journal documenting the life of her garden, it is a creative tool.

These are just a few of the journals featured in the book, it is a beautiful journey of self discovery and inspiration. A book to keep going back to.

Contributors list can be found here
Read more about it here

Advice from Cassi of Bella dia.

“One thing that I’ve learned with sewing is that an iron is your best friend. If something needs hemming or blind stitching I always iron the seam first so I have a nice straight fold to work with. Also when I’m making bags, I just press the heck out of them - it really helps to give it a professional look. Another huge helper is interfacing; I wasn’t familiar with using it when I first started sewing but as I got more experience I could really see what a huge difference it made in my finished pieces. Experiment with a variety of weights and you’ll see how much interfacing can change the appearance of your project and it will also give fragile and thin fabrics the support they need.”

read the rest of this interview with Cassi by Natalie Zee over at Make.

A few of our gallery artists have been working on vellum paper and the translucent nature of the paper has intrigued our students. Here is a little project which I dreamed up to let them have a go at working with vellum. The students ages were ages 6-9 and it worked very well with them. I gave them each two pieces of vellum. One was for the background and one was for the foreground. First they used a pencil to draw the background and then put the second piece of paper ontop to make the foreground drawing. When they got the look they wanted, we used india ink and a brush for the background. On the second piece of paper they used oil pastel for the “up close parts” When the background was dry they used oil pastel on the parts they wanted to “stand out”.
Once the drawing was done, we glued the background around the edges to a piece of foam core with a glue stick. The foreground paper was placed on top with the edges glued down to the background piece. The edges tend to roll with the glue so it is good to have a heavy object to weight them down during drying time.
They enjoyed this project more than I would have imagined and we also were able to sneek in some ideas of implied perspective with landscapes!

by Eithne Farry

Published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson distributed in Australia through Allen & Unwin (Australian rrp $29.95) also available on Amazon UK

What a romp of a book. An irreverent madcap sewing adventure for those who hate following patterns and who love experimentation and fabric. This is the sort of book I would want to write, a stream of consciousness, thoughts about easier ways of doing things, variations and shortcut tips. This book has a sense of humour. “Make your own felt (first, steal your brother’s jumper…)” and advice on using glue for seams instead of sewing “if you go dancing in this dress, there is a very real danger of it disintegrating”.

The book is, as most books are, divided into chapters, the first bit covers the basics like hems and stitches. But once past this it goes on to cover bags, skirts, frocks, fripperies, how to forage in charity shops and lastly some basic knitted items. Each chapter starts off with an easy peasy pattern, then slowly graduates through the ranks getting slightly more difficult with each one, but never really getting too hard. Throughout the bits about sewing there is lots of chatter and amusing stories, advice and further ideas on the subject at hand. The tips that are scattered here and there range from the amusingly simple to the quite practical and tricky.

One of my favourite bits in the book is the dreamy skirt wish list. I think we all have a wish list like this, things we wish we could make or hope one day to have the skills and patience to make, or the excuse. For example: “1. A silver skirt perfect for a girl astronaut.”. .. “4. A very plain skirt with a belt inspired by those chains of hand-holding paper dolls. Each doll would be wearing a different outfit.”

I think my favourite projects in the book (the ones that I might actually make) (and excluding those things that I make all the time like A-line skirts and drawstring bags) include the obi style belt - a wide fabric belt made from exotic fabric which can be worn on the hips or high on the waist with jeans, a dress or a kimono top and the doodling dress - a simple white cotton dress which has been drawn on with fabric pens.

This is not a book for the experienced precise sewer who takes pleasure in neat seams and perfectly cut patterns. But is perfect for the risk taker, for young sewers, or those interested in deconstruction and refashioning or designing their own crazy outfits and those with more enthusiasm than sewing skills.

It really was the best of times and worst of times, that first Christmas of 1995. It was the best because I had just met Bill, the man who would become my husband and business partner. It was the worst because his mother Connie, a young widow, lay clinging to life in a hospital room. She had a degenerative illness so we could not be optimistic that her health was going to improve. It was heart-breaking and so, so sad.

Their family did not have Christmas stockings for grown-ups, only for children. I decided that making some stockings and filling them with a few small treats was going to be the only real hope for Christmas cheer that we were going to have that year.

Before her illness Connie was a very talented weaver and had a very minimal aesthetic. “Less is more” was her motto. She needed a stocking made from sophisticated textiles, simply constructed. I pulled out my antique Japanese indigo fabrics, rescued from old kimonos that I bought in Tokyo and I cut them up (gasp! I loved her that much!) and made her a stocking. I filled it with some hand lotion, a pair of fuzzy socks, and a few small treats that would be nice to have in the hospital.

We were able for fill that stocking for three more Christmases before she died and I still have it. It was so perfect for her and for what she needed Christmas to be: comfortable, portable and not too overwhelming.

And then I needed to make a stocking for Bill. Bill had just hiked the Appalachian Trail, a 2,000 mile hike through the mountains of the east coast of the US which takes six months to complete if you hike all day every day. He was also missing his family’s cat, who had just died, so I made him a soft, furry, backpacker’s stocking.

A large, red heart made out of polymer clay sewn to the outside of the stocking conveyed my affection for him and the small jingle bells sewn around the top were festive without being annoying.

Eleven years later I still love this design, with its secret pockets and straps. The best part of the backpacker’s stocking is that I made all the pockets different sizes, which require thought to fill. The tiny pocket is excellent for a lottery ticket or a ticket to an event.

The long, zippered pocket on the back is fun for a new pen or a new hankerchief. The straps lend themselves to a magazine rolled up or a Toblerone bar. There’s a secret pocket on the back that is perfect for a gift certificate for a tai chi class or a fun photo.

The main compartment is big enough for socks, small books, new art supplies or a new pair of gloves.

If your family doesn’t have stockings, think about making one that reflects each family member’s personality and interests. They don’t have to “go together” or be perfectly crafted, but don’t hold back on the making part–the more they reflect the recipient, the better.

Aussie girl Liana, has some fabulous unique jewellery that is fun and funky. Check it out (via craftapalooza). Transforming domestic items like tupperware, cutlery and knitting needles into functional wearables, great colours. Love it!

Some more Aussie Jewellery links

Rebecca the wrecker

mob workspace

Aussie craft info

Object

Craft QLD

Jude wrote in to share this story with whipup readers

thought this might be fun to share with your subscribers since we’re all such a crafty bunch.

After Save the Children’s State of the World’s Mothers 2006 report highlighted simple, low-cost practices that could save newborn lives — like warming their heads with a knit or crochet cap — Save the Children received numerous calls and e-mails from Americans around the country wanting to organize their friends and family to knit and crochet caps for newborns in developing countries.

Patty wrote in with this letter

hi there
i just found out about your site and i love it. just one thing i don’t understand and maybe you can help. where are the photos of the
pieces that the letters and comments refer to. I love reading the little blurbs about the projects and pieces that the readers are mentionng,, but i am so disappointed when i can’t find the photographs of what they are referring to. thanks for your help.

[Well Patty, you have brought up a good point and I will try to upload an image or two to go with the letters occasionally, however if there is no image and you would like to see the project that is being discussed, please click on the link to the original website where there is hopefully an image or two. Cheers K]

Michelle wrote in with this lovely letter - Thank you Michelle.

Hi Kath, thank you so much! I received my gorgeous bamboo yarn and huge needles yesterday, found the package by my doorstep this morning. Beautiful colors, and um, wow, are those big needles or what?
Thanks again, you do a great job on Whip-up and I absolutely love looking at all the Whiplash entries. Thanks for challenging and prodding and inspiring me every day.

Ann Wood is a woman of many talents, from wood crafts to fabric to paper she tackles it all.

I love the ships she makes and the birds, but recently she has been making horses - 100 of them in fact.

Amy Butler ‘Forest’ fabric

Following the discussion that has been swirling around blogs regarding copyright issues and fabric use, this letter is just out from Amy Butler, to clear up some of the issues surrounding use of her fabrics.

“I hope my note finds everyone well, I wanted to write in hopes of clearing up a lot of misunderstanding. Thanks for taking time out to read my letter.

I have some positive changes on my web site faqs that I’m very happy to share! These changes have been in place for a few weeks but I don’t think a lot of folks know about it yet . First I’d like to say how thankful I am that open forums like this exist where we can all talk to each other.

I know there has been a lot of continued concern about the use of my fabrics. I’ve received several emails and I want you to know that I care deeply about what my studio does and how it effects other people. It’s been step by step, but I feel like we have finally landed in the place we need to be. I apologize that it’s not been clear cut which is the unfortunate result of our trying to figure things out. Our previous faqs were about trying to keep the fabrics special for niche retailers and sewers. This was not decided with the fabric companies for financial gain, in actuality, a lot less fabric was sold. We were trying to prevent over-saturation in the market place among larger manufacturers. In the end these efforts proved to be too complicated. It’s been a very significant and difficult learning process and I’m sorry that we did not respond faster.

I regret that our faqs have caused so much disruption and I am truly sorry for the difficulties this has caused. It was never my intention to harm anyone’s business, and I mean this very sincerely. We try our best to make the right decisions, yet sometimes the best solutions remain elusive until you can see the whole picture.

Moving forward the good news is my fabrics are now completely available in any form that makes sense for you, and that includes being able to buy my fabrics wholesale for manufacturing.

I know the selvedge on my fabrics reads ” for Non- Commercial Use Only ” but that will be removed in future printings of my material. The ” for Non Commercial Use Only ” is not in effect, so it’s totally ok to use those fabrics at any time. Please visit my web site www.amybutlerdesign.com to read the full faqs and if we’ve left any questions un-answered, please let me know, it’s very important.

I also wanted to share my fabric design process and I’ve added a link to Quilter’s Buzz so you can read all about it.

Please know that I want everyone to be successful and enjoy what they are doing. I’m continually flattered and humbled by the interest and enthusiasm in people working with the fabrics I design! There are no more roadblocks for any of us, and here’s to moving forward in peace and doing what we all do best.

I wish everyone the greatest joy in their creative endeavors and business!
If I can answer any other questions for you, please write to me.

All My Best,
Amy

amy@amybutlerdesign.com

www.amybutlerdesign.com”

This past month I stumbled across a wonderful artist from the Chicago area. His work in textile design spoke to me in such a profound way that I wanted to share him with you here. Perhaps you know him already - if not, I think you will enjoy his sense of reckless abandon, quality of workmanship and high level of creativity.
Danny was written up most recently in Fiber Arts There were photos of his studio (inspiring!) and some of his soft sculptures and large scale works. His website SCRAP is full of pictures and statements about his work. It was hard to choose just two photos as his work is so vast. Check out his photographs pages and Etsy shop for some smashing work and inspiring use of junkmail, coffee filters and alternative materials of all sorts. He was voted best textile artist in Chicago this past August and has collaborated with other artists with very interesting results. For those of you in the USA - New England area - in Portland Maine, Edith & Edna carry his work and in March and April, we at artstream will be exhibiting some of his art in a textile show in March and April.
I think that having an eye for the unusual doesn’t always transfer into beautiful works, but in the case of Danny Mansmith, from sculpture to 2-D work to wearables to reconstruction and mixed media pieces, this artist just knows his way around a stitch and it is all stunning.

Shelly sent in a link for the pattern for a plushy captain underpants. My son is a big fan - love it! (see the captain underpants series here - perfect for boys aged 4-12 approx)

And Wendy at sunshine creations sent in a link to an antique doily pattern

Melissa from Canada sent in this great letter with a link to her fabric dyeing blog.

Hello Whipup!
I’m a one of your regular and crafty readers. I am writing to mention to you a new blog I have started: Fabric Dyeing 101: step by step instructions for creating your own hand-dyed cotton fabrics using procion mx dyes.

For several years I had an online hand-dyed fabric business and taught fabric dyeing to customers who wanted to create their own fabrics as well. I wrote an instruction manual to support the fabric dyeing workshops and I’ve now put the entire manual online for anyone who
wants to give fabric dyeing a try. These instructions are specifically designed for someone who wants to do a small volume of dyeing (perhaps a dozen fat quarters) and not waste dyes or have leftovers they don’t wish to use. It’s a great way to audition a potential hobby and get some beautiful fabrics in the process.

Most recently I’m writing a several-part series on what it was like to own and operate a hand-dyed fabric business. Why I started it, how it
worked, and what I learned along the way. Part One starts here

And this from Michelle of Green Kitchen

Hi Kathreen,
First, thanks for Whip Up and all that it encompasses. I went back to Red Current the other day to get the pea fritter recipe to include in our preschool newsletter. Funny, I miss hearing about your daily life. Isn’t blogging a strange new medium? You are the reason I have a blog. Thanks for that, too.
Jane from Jane and the Ducks made a cute paper doll set using Liberty fabric for the clothes link here and here.

Thanks Michelle,
I have been thinking about Redcurrent recently and miss it too. I have almost decided to do a weekend craft report here at whipup - first installment coming soon…

Making, wearing, and sharing a bit of cloth and comfort.
By EllynAnne Geisel

Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing

This book is a cross between nostalgia and practicality, with collections of vintage aprons mixed with patterns of classic apron styles. The book begins with the Apron journey from practical work wardrobe to icon to collectable nostalgia to hot sewing trend. So follows a short history of the Apron in American culture. Further chapters concentrate on practicalities of looking after and making aprons, the various styles and patterns (such as the waist apron, bib apron and the smock apron). The main part of the book concentrates on stories and anecdotes with lovely images and examples of various aprons, some fun and funny and classic and retro and vintage and crazy and sexy, you name it the apron is represented in this book.

Throughout, the book is dotted patterns, stories, pictures and various snippets of apron nostalgia. I am not sure where this book fits, is it a craft/sewing book, or a history book, I think it might be classified as a popular culture book. I particularly enjoyed flicking through the images of vintage patterns and reading various stories of memories of mother’s or grandmother’s aprons collected and how the apron played a central role in their childhood.

A very sweet book that will appeal to both apron lovers and those interested in domestic culture and history.

Button tree by Stephanie/little birds

How sweet and inspiring are Stephanie’s soft button trees? And in the best spirit of the season (and craft blogs) she provides a free pdf pattern.

Enjoy! (I’m definitely playing with this delightful idea! - and it’s got lots of possibilities for recycling and for crafting with children).

Thanks to the Shopping Sherpa for the link.

Muerto de Risa is a blog where Risa-from New York- writes about her adventures in Quito. Recently she has travelled to Perú,a different trip: a textil tour!

You can read about her craft trip experience on her blog. All her posts are very interesting, but my favorites are these histories of Simona and Elena, embroidery artists or her visit to the michell alpaca factory.

————————————————–

Muerto de Risa es un blog donde Risa- de Nueva York- escribe sobre sus aventuras en Quito. Recientemente ha viajado a Perú,un viaje diferente: ¡un tour textil!

La información la encontrarás en su blog. Todos sus post son interesantes, pero especialmente me gustaron los de las bordadoras Simona y Elena; y éste otro de su visita a la fábrica de alpaca Michell.

Yay I am so excited about the prospect of a book from the extremely talented mother, artist, creator and nurturer - Amanda. Not only does Amanda have a very creative life and home and family, she home schools her children, sells some of her sewing endeavours, keeps up with her fabulously inspiring blog and is full of energy and verve. Congrats on the book Amanda I can’t wait to see it.

Some recent projects Amanda has been working on which I love and readers of whipup will too - include this lovely idea for kitchen curtains and these Autumnal dyed blankets for use in a many a project.

at Eunny knits, that I have been eyeing enviously is finished and is utterly gorgeous.

Looky, looky at KAL for “My First Toe Ups“. For any of you chicken’s ;) out there that have been too scared to try knitting socks toe up here’s your chance to jump right in. There’s a web ring to join as well. How cool.

The holiday ornament swap which was mentioned here a few weeks ago is in full swing. Check out the flickr site for all the lovely things. Here are some of my faves.

An introduction to creative printmaking without a press
2nd Edition

By Anne Desmet and Jim Anderson
Published by A&C Black Art and Craft. Distributed in Australia through Allen and Unwin RRP AU$39.95.

The first edition of Handmade Prints is available through Amazon. I am uncertain what the differences between the first and second editions are - if any.

This book is an incredible resource. Visually stunning, it is full of vibrant print reproductions and good informative illustrations and diagrams. Excellently written, detailed explanations with examples from all levels of the knowledge spectrum. This is a great book for beginners, children and schools but also a really good resource for more advanced printmakers who want to try different techniques and expand their artistic practice.

Like any good craft manual it begins with an explanation and introduction to materials required. It goes into depth on the pros and cons on varieties of inks and paper, which are the backbone of printmaking, although the alternatives are many. Then follows chapters on many different techniques of print making. There are the more common techniques such as woodcuts & linocuts, stencilling and screen prints, and then some more unusual techniques such as body prints, printing from collaged materials, and glue prints. Each chapter has some background and history on the technique, and throughout are example images of the techniques used by an artist advanced in the field, giving the reader clues about the depths and spectrum of where you can go with the various techniques. Each chapter then goes into detail on methodology and materials on that particular technique, with varying degrees of information depending on difficulty levels. Within each chapter too, there are quite a few variations ranging from simple (a project suitable for a child) to advanced (suitable for an artist with indepth knowledge).

I really enjoyed reading the chapter on printing from bits and bobs which gives an example of a collage which has then been inked and printed with fantastic results. It then goes into detail about the inks, different methods of applying ink or paint, and then the printing part, methods such as hand and foot pressure and spoon printing (which is rubbing the back of a spoon - or other smooth object over the surface of the paper to transfer the ink).

Another technique that is an easy entry into the print world is making your own print blocks, we have all heard of potato prints, and these are discussed with some great examples. Other easy ways to make your own blocks include using plasticene, and pressing shapes into it to make patterns, polymer clay (fimo) which, after making your designs, can be baked in an oven and withstands lots of printing use. Polystyrene is another good one, where patterns can be pressed into recycled polystyrene packaging. Most of us may have seen the humble eraser used to make stamps with and this method is also discussed with again some fabulous results pictured.

Some of the more advanced printing methods that require a few tools include wood and lino cuts and wood engraving and there is a vast knowledge in this book on how to get started with these techniques. More detail is given on printing with multiple colours from the same block or from many blocks to make up the whole image. As tools are quite essential for these types of printing there is quite a bit of detail about what tools you need, how to look after them and use them.

This is a great book, lots of projects to get started on for the beginner and to continue with when you pick up your skills a bit more. Also excellent resource for the classroom.

DECEMBER 2006 - JANUARY 2007 is officially GIFTS AND DECORATIONS crafts that you are making or have made this holiday season to give away or help to celebrate.

Show off your traditions, your enthusiasm and your holiday spirit
This is meant as a fun end to the year, and to give everyone an opportunity to show off their skills and creations.

Only two categories - GIFT or DECORATION

Contest open 1 DECEMBER - 8 JANUARY

Don’t forget to check out the book ideas page to help you get started. Some great book recommendations on making gifts and holiday crafts.

Sponsored by:

CRAFT Magazine - A new magazine from the creators of MAKE! The first project-based magazine dedicated to the renaissance in the world of crafts. Subscribe today!