Silhouette Pins - Arthur Hash. Mild steel and Paint

Brooch Installation - Arthur Hash. Mild steel and Paint

I discovered Arthur Hash and his stunning jewellery the other day whilst browsing the website for Velvet da Vinci gallery…as someone who loves silhouette in many forms, I was especially drawn to his wonderfully striking installation of Silhouette Pins in the form of figures in various poses.

Made from Mild Steel and Paint…these pins, even in isolation, are striking in their simplicity - but as a group become even more witty, stylish and graphic. Often, in jewellery photography, the scale of the piece is entirely lost to the viewer….I love how this group of work {shown as a whole, and also as individual pieces} really throws that into focus, and plays with the notion of ’strength in numbers’…..

Arthur graduated in 2005 from Indiana University with an MFA in Metalsmithing and Jewellery Design - I look forward to following his work, and it’s progression through his website as well as through his flickr stream …with his varied and ecclectic approach to jewellery design - I’m sure there will be many more good things to come from him in the future. One to keep an eye on for sure!

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

Soren writes in:

My yoga class is having a [baby] shower for our teacher, and since I’m the arty one, the organizer has asked me if I could make favors for it. She requested “something people will actually want to *keep*, not something lame like a bottle of jellybeans” - no offense to anyone who has done that! So it has to be something that it won’t take me too long to make - for 15-20 people. (I also have to make her a present from me, so I’ll be BUSY!) I have a month to do it in, but I have NO ideas! Please, help!

extended till the 20th of Feb - get those entries in

… is a virtual space that honors the beauty + artistry of hand spun yarn. Check out the galleries teeming with hand spun yarn, makers who use yarn in various ways can submit pictures of their finished objects using hand spun. The deadline for the current “Anything Goes” show is February 20, and submissions are open, as well for other shows, including “Flora”, up next. Yarn Museum.

The idea is simple. Check your stash. See something you know you love but won’t ever use? Put it up for adoption on the site. Someone somewhere will
love it. They will let us know. Postage will be paid. Karma will be dispensed. Easy. Another option is the Swap option. Maybe you have 2 skeins of Koigu in a colour that doesn’t float your boat. Ask for a swap? Maybe someone will be keen. Go to the Good Yarn Karma site for more info.

Did you know that Goodwill - a source of much crafty goodness now has an online
auction site similar to ebay? Thanks Carrie for the tip

Each week I receive a lot of emails from readers introducing me to their blogs, online site and handcrafted products. I love reading these snippets and here are the latest lot.

Christa wrote in

We have a whole new look, lots of new features and lots of awesome cards and crafts (…and stuff) … We are the #1 site for buying and selling all things handcrafted in America! Check us out!! Home Grown market

Christina wrote in

I follow frequently your site because I liked it very much! Now, I present you my work. My name is Cristina, I’m from Portugal and I make some pieces contemporaries, a kind of brooch. If you want to know better my work please check my blog - lonelymade. There, you will find the concept, the histories and the pieces.

Amanda wrote in

We’re a blossoming DIY zine that places an emphasis upon creativity, independent thinking and culture, and doing things yourself! We hope to motivate people to get over their fears and make their biggest dreams come true. We hope you enjoy it - it was inspired in part my the scrumdiddlyumptious Whip Up. Be not afraid

Ariana wrote in

My husband and I have been busy adding fun new products to Paper Cloud–journals, pillows, and art, plus all new designs. We’d love for you to check it Paper Cloud

Lucy wrote in

There’s a cool new blog in town. It’s called lovelyheads, one of my friends is co-creator and would kill me if she knew I was sending this. It’s all about the longing to find true beauty, to understand what it is, and to inspire others to find it. Both these gals are incredibly arty, crafty and insightful, they both love all things photography fueled so this blog is one to watch out for. They even have a little launch competition going. lovely heads

Jennifer from the felt mouse wrote in

Hi Whip Up crew - Just wanted to let you know about a great new resource for moms and kids. Jek, who wows us all with her beautiful pictures on Flickr has started a separate blog to celebrate being a kid (or at least, young at heart). It is called Scrumdilly-do!. She has chosen some more obscure holidays and observances to celebrate, and has cute crafts to make with kids. And of course, those stunning pictures accompany each project!!

Sally from all the stuff I like wrote in

Not sure if you’ve featured this new blog by Floresita - she’s a great embroiderer and collects embroidery transfer patterns. This blog is an online catalogue to her collection.

The ever inspirational Keri Smith of wish jar journal, author, guerrilla artist and incredibly creative person, whose thoughts on ad-free blogs are well known, has a theme going on her blog at the moment of un-branding. She has some terrific ways of covering up all those commercial brands on household products and will be producing down-loadable templates and designs of ’skins’ for cereal boxes and toothpaste for anyone to use. In the meantime while you wait for Keri’s designs you can do your own. I would love to see if anyone does try this.

Great tutorial brought to you by craftsanity. this video is 9 mins long but worth it.

aptly named blog treats and treasures has some glorious visual stimuli like this lovely collage, and I really do like the pages from her visual diary/work books.

Hello readers, a reminder that the whiplash comp closes tomorrow. There are so many great prizes this month, I really really would like to make sure I can give them all away. Do you want an extension? leave a comment if you are planning on entering and if there is enough interest I will extend by a couple of days to give you time to upload links etc.

UPDATE: extended till the 20th -

BANNER COMPETITION - there is a week or so left on this one, is everyone waiting till the last minute to email me their entry? Some fantastic prizes, a great big bundle of wonderful books from Princeton Architectural Press for two people. Again email me if you are planning on entering or need more time or have a question. whipup[@]gmail[.]com

See sidebar for more info on these competitions

A short essay at rosie blogs begins…

I don’t know about you, but we’re sick of people claiming that what they do is “not your grandmother’s knitting,” as if there was something wrong with our grandmother’s knitting. …

I remember something that Regina said last year, along similar lines, about grannies crochet…

Does the currant hipster craftster really believe that all the myriad (and I mean myriad) scarves and hats and bags and sweaters and shawls and softies and blankets and pillows and handspun yarns and jewelry and scrapbooks and handmade soaps and candles and embroidered tea towels are new inventions? Does the current connoisseur of the Life Craftique really believe that he or she is the first being to ever recycle, reclaim, rework, rebirth, reconstitute, reassemble, revamp, remodel, retool, retrain, reinvent old objects and materials into fabulous craftier versions of their former selves?

Guess what? I’ll bet you significant cold hard cash that before many members of this crafty elite were old enough to hold a pair of scissors in their hands and fashion super cute A-line skirts out of funky, retro print fabrics, bust out their sergers and sew said future additions to their wardrobes together, that their respective Grannies or Great Grannies had already made enough of these to fill the equivalent square footage of the Roman Coliseum light years before their craftolutionary grandchildren were even a twinkle in their individual fathers’ eyes.

Dear Kath, a big thank you for featuring my little Irish blog on Whip-up lately. There has been a very uplifting response from the readers who followed
your link. I saw a massive influx of about 2000 extra hits, and since that day my average number of daily hits has doubled.

I don’t generally check my reader numbers, I just do what I do and hope that its enjoyable. I noticed I’d shot to no.1 in the Irish blogs, which prompted me to check the stats as I thought there was something wrong! But no, something was very right …. Whip-Up THANK YOU! I’ve also been offered a couple of freelance paid work magazine and blog articles from those who have discovered me via yourselves, I’m thrilled about the possibilities.

All the best,and sincerely thank you, Rebecca [from the Irish Craft Worker]

Over at Art Esprit I have added a new feature interviewing artists via podcast with photos. I was thrilled to interveiw sculptor Leigh Pennebaker from NYC. Her work is labled wire couture and is created entirely from fencing wire. Her sculptures have been shown in galleries around the USA as well as the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys in NYC. Next month her work will appear in our gallery along with textile artist Danny Mansmith.

Has recently been on the Martha Stewart show. Check out the clip.

Betz has a great blog where she talks about her current projects and has the occasional tutorial like this great felt flower brooch.

I also love to see others who are inspired by Betz and her recycled felted jumper philosophy. Like Knitgirrl and her recycled sweater in progress.

Happy Valentine’s Day! So here’s my valentine to whipup’s readers: free fabric for a good cause. Post a request for the fabric you need to complete a project for a charitable cause. Tell me a little about the project and what you need. For example, “I need a yard each of red, blue and yellow fabrics to make a raffle quilt for our son’s school. His teacher’s are so great and the proceeds are going to buy books for the library,” or something like that. Give me some guidance about general colors, (specific colors, pastels or brights, multicolored prints, or you can just say “send me a nice palette of five fabrics with total yardage of 5 yds”) and I’ll send you what I can. You may receive scrap yardage but it will be high-quality quilting cotton and will look good together. We’ll choose the requests that best match up with the inventory we have. Be sure to tell me how receiving this fabric will benefit the community or a charitable organization. We’ll even pay for shipping anywhere. So get going!

How adorable are these knitted pants. Pattern is free - but donations are always nice.

Heart Yoyos by Penny Sanford

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Penny Sanford’s ideas and tutorial for heart-shaped yoyos (are they still Suffolk Puffs if they’re not round?!). The garland is a sweet idea with lots of possibilities.

Thanks for the tip, Wendy H!

Today Quilter’s Buzz posted a preview of Denyse Schmidt’s new fabric line, Katie Jump Rope. Denyse talks about her inspiration for the fabric in the post. I just love it all around! It should be available following its debut at the spring quilt market early this May.

Shhhh…. I´m not here, I´m not writing this post… Usually i write about crafts spanish and portuguese, but this felt aligator is amazing and i want to share with you this discovery!

Jessica Thistlethwaite ( from Boston) is her second semester in the textil arts program at Capilano College in North Vancouver. This alligator scarf was a project for her first semester weaving class. It is made of hand dyed (acid dyed) felted Corridale wool, with needle felted details.

Other amazing felt link: Sarah Rosensweet.

Shhh… No estoy aquí ni estoy escribiendo este post… Yo debería de tratar los temas relacionas con la artesanía española, portuguesa, latinoamericana…. Pero no me he podido resistir al ver este trabajo tan impresionante en fieltro.¡Creo que os sorprenderá!

Jessica Thistlethwaite, de Bostón, está cursando un programa de artes textiles en el Collage Capilano en el norte de Vancouver. Fue allí donde realizo esta bufanda-cocodrilo utilizando la técnica “húmeda” con la que se trabaja la lana fieltrable.

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