Is there something in the water? Or perhaps the coffee?

Lately I’ve heard a whisper of malaise and confusion amongst my art friends, friends who were once strong and proud, who are starting to lose their bearings, become uncomfortable and have lost the path. This is something different than being uninspired…it’s more like being adrift.

But the truth is, there is no path. It’s up to you to make it. This path is not something you can premeditate. It’s what unfolds before you once you realize your strength. I’m posting this here because to me this truly resonates with the spirit of art and craft.

We are more than artists and makers and crafters. We are adventurers.

Whenever I feel unsure, I go back to one of my favorite books and the quote at the beginning. Here’s the introduction that never fails to inspire me from Off the Map:

This is what it means to be an adventurer in our day: to give up creature comforts of the mind, to realize possibilities of imagination. Because everything around us says no you cannot do this, you cannot live without that, nothing is useful unless it’s in service to money, to gain, to stability.

The adventurer gives in to tides of chaos, trusts the world to support her- and in doing so turns her back on the fear and obedience she has been taught. she rejects the indoctrination of impossibility.

My adventure is a struggle for freedom.

Check out the new arts and crafts community hub

Check out – CRAFT: Valentine’s Day Card Contest

Gorgeous distinguished elegant egg, at while she naps.

Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall :
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall :
All the kings horses and all the kings men :
couldn’t put Humpty together again.

[Humpty Dumpty was the name of a canon in the 1640's in England, that fell when the brick wall it was on collapsed and it could not be resurrected by the army. Read all about it at wikipedia.]

I was really interested to read that Florence, an Australian artist, has been commissioned to make toys for the Queensland Government education department. The toys, called travel buddies, will travel visiting schools and libraries, working with students to explore their local community. Each Travel Buddy comes with a diary and a digital camera and the kids will keep a blog of the Travel Buddies activities.

Each toy is approx 50cm tall, fully lined and reinforced, and takes Florence 2 weeks to construct three, and that’s working all the time, altogether she is making 30 of the toys.

Block for MS – make a red black and white quilt block for a quilt to be auctioned on Ebay – (proceeds going to MS research I presume?) – more information can be found on Amitie textiles. Thank you Justine for the link.

enqi sent in a link to her blog and website where she refashions old stuff into new (image is one of her creations.)

Candace sent in a link to her new crafting blog crafty daisies where she posts tutorials – check out this last minute gift felt penguin tutorial.

Carly from peeling a pomegranite sent in a link to the wool pedler – recycled silk yarn store.

Maize projects has a pattern for a Matryoshka Doll

and this letter from Cindy:

I’m trying to find a contact/website for doll artist who makes the most enchanting dolls. If there’s a way to find her through her flickr photos, I haven’t been able to figure it out. Her name is Elina Aulikki of Holland, and she has Steiner style dolls to die for. Can you help me? Thanks, Cindy

Oh isn’t this adorable – tutorial at craftster

Lov.li - a new crafty social network: a community of people who make art, crafts and handmade products, combining a social network, gallery and store.

Esther sent in a link to her shop mokka where she makes unique bags from vintage textiles. (image is from her website)

Katie sends in an invitation to readers to design a hooky mat read all about it here

and this lovely letter from Eileen & Volker from Atworth, North Wiltshire who want to tell us about their Farm Yarn.

We have kept a few alpacas for 2 years now… but we not only keep them, directly after our first fleece harvesting, we send them to specialist mill, to produce a yarn that has been made entirely in Britain – and in 100% natural colours. – this is how the name developed.

Up till now we have only offered our yarn to local knitters, now we have put together a little website and we would like to introduce ourselves to other knitters. We ask knitters only politely, if they would like to visit our website. And if they like our work and products, we would be very happy if we would be recommended to their friends, or just enjoy visiting our website. The website tries to educate a little bit about alpacas and their fibre.

Judi from Ask the Crafter sent in a link to making appliques.

Wendy from Sunshine creations sent in this Valentines day yo-yo making challenge

And an introduction to a new blogSkip to my lou. Some great tutorials and crafty ideas such as this paper box/bag trinket container.

Caro at Splityarn has been at it again, this time for the DIY Network. I remember years ago seeing her finished bucket and wondering if she’d make a tutorial and she finally has! ;)

Check it out here. Great idea for recycling old jeans into a very nifty crafty bucket.

Lots more projects to check out at DIY here

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One of my favourite design blogs is Oh Joy! always something gorgeous and often some fabulous handmade finds can be found there. Recently on Oh Joy! the new project 3191 a year of mornings from favourite artist bloggers Mav and Steph was highlighted. The syncronicity in the imagery is just incredible, both talented women who have a great eye for simple everyday beauty.

Other posts I enjoyed and wonderful handmade finds include Variegated: embroidered butterflies on Etsy, rose and radish storefront display, and cool artist alert Justine Smith who makes collages and cut paper sculptures.