lovely box-bag for holding all those crafting materials, made from the pattern from the ‘crafter’s companion‘ … another winner

Penny wrote in with this lovely letter:

Thanks for sharing my free Heart YoYo Pattern for Valentine’s Day. Some marvelous people have made and shared their creations with me! It was fascinating watching crafters in France discover the pattern and share it. Similarly, crafter’s in Denmark discovered the pattern from your publication and then proceeded to share it. It gives me a warm glow to know that others are enjoying that simple little pattern.

I hope your readers will enjoy these Free pet patterns. Most of our pets are from Rescue organizations, and I hope folks will make these designs and give some to Rescue organizations!

pet collar tutorial here and here

Renata wrote:

Hi Whipup! I’m a long-time reader of the site and this is my first time writing in. I host a blog-along group called “Poetry Monday.” In honour of National Poetry Month (April), I’m restarting the blog-along this coming Monday, 2 April. Each Monday participants post a poem of their own choosing, be it their own words of those of someone else, and briefly comment on how it inspires them. Each month there is a new them – for April the theme is Landscapes. Participants can also express poetry using photos, drawings or craft to convey the artistic/dramatic mood of the theme.

Helene sent in a link to a free pattern for a crocheted basket motif.

Kylie sent in a few fun links. JoshJakus bags and little elves on etsy who makes note pads from out of date maps.

Madeline wrote in introducing her new online store selling handspun and hand dyed yarns

Jen wrote in with a link to fascinators that she recently made – those wacky headpieces worn to the races and such! It was surprisingly easy and a lot of fun

Judi wrote: I posted a free pattern for a simple cloth doll at my website. I’d love it if you shared it with others. It is called Blume. Kind of a make-it yourself Bendi doll with funny feet.

Robyn wrote: Hi! I just wanted to share my blog ‘that silly girl’ and my etsy shop. I’m quirky and, well, silly as my blog title might suggest. The things I make are made mostly while my two kids are napping. Anyways, thanks for what you all do at whipup. It’s amazing how much talent is out there and how whipup manages to bring it all together.

Which tutorial is making you want to get crafting? Let me know because I will featuring some of the whiplash tutorials in the coming week.

A new monthly craft-along to join: The Purse Project, hosted by Woof Nanny.

The first theme is to use a tea towel.

The site has quite the collection of links to tutorials, bag blogs, etc. One inspiring example, Carry Handbags, sells bags that use vintage tea towels to good effect, like this one:

Dá o rosto oa Manifesto- give a face to our manifesto- is a project from Lonely-Made. The editor of this portuguese web is looking for a model for her mannequins.

The idea: to create a face for the mannequin: a picture, a collage, an illustraction. It´s a “call for entries” for artists, crafters or creativity people. All of them will be show on her blog and different showcases. Send your “face” here: lonelymade@gmail.com , more info here.

La editora de Lonely-Made(web de Portugal), nos lanza un desafío: crear una cara para sus maniquiés. Fotografías, ilustración, collage, todo tipo de técnica y de profesionales(o no profesionales) están invitados a participar. Así que si quieres “dá o rosto ao Manifesto” (¿alguien sabe la traducción al castellano?)puedes enviar tu propuesta aquí: lonelymade@gmail.com . Más información en esta web.

threadbanger: describing itself as “the first network for people who make their own fashion”, this quirky site includes weekly shows and a blog. Ep. 5 of Threadheads includes ideas for finding good stuff at Goodwill (op shops/Oxfam), while the associated blog entry points to worthwhile vintage sources.

Thanks for the heads-up, Kirsty/Twolimeleaves.

Have you ever considered creating your own money?

That’s what a Danish artist, Lars Kraemmer, did back in 1997. His studio was booming with dusty art, his wallet was empty, he didn’t have enough money to pay his bills and no promise of an income in sight. How to make ends meet? That became the starting point of art-money and BIAM, short for Bank of International Art-Money.

The conditions are simple: You apply to become a participating artist of BIAM, and when registered you start creating your own currency according to some general guidelines on size, conduct, etc. using whatever technique and media you usually prefer.

What you actually create with each art-money is a small piece of original artwork that represents a purchasing value equal to 27 euro / 34 US$ / 200 Danish Kroner. You can use Art-Money in shops and businesses all over the world, and when buying art from registered art money artists.

The idea maybe started as a bit of a practical joke and a critical comment on economical politics, but as it turned out this underground art project was taken quite seriously and art money became a reality. Today the art money network is rapidly growing world wide and the project is noticed with great interest by cultural institutions and the Media.

These days Lars Kraemmer, has been invited to speak as an expert at a conference on art and culture celebrating the 50th anniversary of the EU. Meanwhile there’ll be two exhibitions in Brussels: The first one is simply a “show off” representing 300 artists with one art money each from the BIAM collection, the second exhibition is by invitation only from the Danish Cultural Institute, and will represent 30 artists each with 20 art monies for show and for sale.

I’ve been part of this project for 3 years now and it has been so much fun and a challenge to develop my art and step forward. Maybe you´d like to join? Check it out at: art money and join the revolution!

Hello, my name is Hanne, I’m a new writer here, but you might recognize my designs from December and January’s “gifts and decorations” and February’s “recycled” Whip Lash…

I´m a Danish artist, crafter, teacher and blogger. I live as a single mum with my two teenage girls in the countryside south of Aarhus where I´m educated both at the Academy of Fine Arts and at the College of Education. I´m lucky to have my studio at home but I also have a part time out-of-the-house-job as a teacher at a nearby secondary school in order to keep my economy above the waterline and because I like teaching and communicating…

My art involves a broad field of mixed media materials and techniques. Especially I love recycling projects and ideas and most often I try to incorporate second-hand material in my creations. It can be everything from old postcards to bus tickets, press cuttings, extracts from photo albums, vintage fabric, etc. etc. I find that the scrapped, faded, wry and uneven pieces have invaluable significance in the proper context by simply adding personality and authenticity to my designs. Moreover it’s great fun to hunt scrap and to put it into new “settings” and create something new out of something old.

My plan for this forum is to write different articles on mixed-media, recycled fabric, redesign, arts and crafts in general and whatever I find interesting along the way. I have a lot of ideas but, please, bear with my language as you’ve probably realized way back – English is not exactly my mother tongue. Hope I’ll be able to convey the message though.

Saw this at Indie art – so if you live in Melbourne – this looks fantastic.

On the first Saturday of every second month, a group of creative girls meet at Port Melbourne’s Mars Gallery. The Creative Women’s Circle organise speakers on topics such as starting a business, creative experiences etc. The atmosphere is casual & friendly and the girls meet in the cafe space of the gallery. It also costs nothing to attend.

When: Saturday 14th April, 2007
Time: 11am – 1pm
Place: MARS Gallery Cafe Space, 418 Bay St, Port Melbourne.
RSVP essential: info@dearneherrenberg.com.au

designs by black dog – wonderful pattern and tutorial for making these japanese style zakka pouches – using either a knitted or basket base.