These dolls are sweet and easy to make with this tutoral and pattern from Martha Stewart

I mentioned Australian toy artist Florence Forrest before. But I couldn’t help needing to mention her fabulous folk art toys. The beautiful Pimmie Parrots, inspired by mexican folk art and coastal birds which is a project uniting our imaginative lives to our environment.

More of Florences work can be found at the umbrella collective, the lil and tom project, and work in progress images can be seen at her flickr stream.

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

pendlerpiken writes in:

I hope someone can help me: Quite recently, I found a link to an online store selling, among other things, beads that look like old-fashioned typewriter keys. I took a note of the site’s address, and thought I bookmarked it as well, but both have now mysteriously disappeared.

I am fairly certain I found this through a blog, but I am not able to find the link (or the blog) again. Does anyone out there have any tips? There must be others who would LOVE to have these beads…

In our writing and teaching Bill and I try to convey the meaning behind certain colors and combinations of colors. We each have associations with colors that we’re not aware of most of the time. Understanding that colors create moods is helpful when you are selecting materials for any craft project. I was really excited to come across two very different resources that express very differently the associations we have with color.

Hailstones and Halibut Bones is a charming and thought-provoking book for children and adults alike given to our daughter by one of our thoughtful students. The author writes poetically about the smell and sound of a color as well as the emotive qualities. It has sparked so many interesting and imaginative discussions with my 5-year-old daughter that I think it should be in every family library.

Color in Motion is a mesmerizing piece of animation that conveys with wonderful form as well the associations many of us have with color. It’s so brilliantly done, features text in English and Spanish and is wonderfully accessible to adults and children alike. There are words that we associate with each color as well as a movie about each color that you will want to show to everyone who you can drag over to your computer. Follow the directions because you won’t want to miss a second.

Creating Keepsakes Valentine download

Creating Keepsakes magazine has free downloads here and here, and a free Valentine font download here.

If you’re after vintage Valentine images, try this link from the West Virginia Libraries historical collection, or the postcards here from About.com.

Valentine vintage crewel heart brooch from LotusTricycle at Etsy

Etsy’s crafters offer a cornucopia of Valentine items. Try searching on tags such as Valentine or Heart.

Scherenschnitte heart

Craftsplease offers links to over 70 Valentine projects, some suited for making with kids, including the scherenschnitte heart above.

Craftzine has a Valentine’s Day card contest, involving the use of recycled materials, more information here.

The Literacy Site has lots of hand made and unusual Valentine’s Day items, with purchases supporting their work in giving books to disadvantaged children.

ooh am loving the ipod accessories – tutorial at craftster

Lia at ART junk GIRL has been experimenting with square collage compositions – sometimes the simplest ideas work.

When Jesse saw the post on paint chip craft she sent in this link to who uses paint samplers in her art. (image is from Heather Moore and her website is Skinny laMinx).

Megan from Material mama and sewing mamas sent in this project – a home made way of displaying clothing – pic one - pic two.

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

Julie writes in asking:

As a full-time working mother of two toddlers, I would love to take some classes but can never manage the time away from home. I would love to hear about online classes, especially any that are more challenging.

Join this toymaking group and motivate yourself to make more toys.

Participate in the heart to heart valentines project for wounded US soldiers. Check out the website to participate. Thanks Aurora for the link.