sunshine creations has posted a tutorial on how to do these hexagon patches.

The new cross stitch collection from Folkology features folk art patterns based on antique Hungarian needlework. They have extended their table linen pattern collection with designs suitable for doilies, and a new quick project format: the tile patterns.

Blue-dye artisan fabrics are handmade by a family workshop in the Eastern part of Hungary. This family has been producing these textiles since 1878. They use wooden motif blocks from the beginning of the 20th century, and a printing machine manufactured in 1907. The fabrics made by this family workshop are juried by the Hungarian Folk Handicrafts Commission, guaranteeing the authentic quality of the designs and manufacturing.

Blue-dyeing is a resist-dyeing method where the white cotton or linen fabric is first printed with a resist paste using wooden motif blocks or sometimes a block printing machine. The fabric is then immersed in the indigo solution. The printed areas resist the dye and come out crisp white.

Katalin has generously given Whipup readers a promo coupon valid until April 15th, use the coupon code WHIPUP5 during checkout (you will be able to apply it at Step 2 of checkout) to get $5 off any order of $20 or more (before shipping). ::folkology

Adorn Magazine is teaming up with Velcro for their first ever craft challenge. Entrants must use no-sew velcro in an interesting way to create a craft or home decor project. Winners receive up to $500, a Rowenta Iron, and editorial feature in the Fall ‘07 issue of Adorn. More details can be found at ::adorn mag. Deadline is May 1st.

If you’re a lover of knitwear please go and enjoy some of these pieces

at: website

It’s all designed and hand knitted by Gitte Lyng, a woman I have the luck to know as we both have kids at the same school., and from several times co-working at the yearly Christmas Bazaar / Spring Market at “our” school.

Gitte is a great all-over-skilled crafter but her absolutely top talent is to knit – right out of her mind, with no pattern. She knits her way through – from dresses to jackets. As she says: “It’s very simple, I start in one end and ends in the other”. And with her speed and a hang for thick sticks and thin yarns in kid mohair, silk and cotton – that means she knits at least half a sweater in a night. She combines her freestyle knitting with vintage ribbon and embellishments, and sells her unique pieces online. Check out her at wonderwho.

Miss Twiss has a tube dress/skirt tutorial and pattern available.

… for a juried collection of work from artists, makers, and designers from around the globe for the upcoming book 500 Handbags. A diverse assortment of bags will be considered—from teeny evening clutches to rugged bags designed for men—with one-of-a-kind, handmade, and/or limited edition pieces strongly preferred. A wide range of materials, techniques, and looks are desired. To be considered for inclusion, please submit high-quality transparencies, slides, or digital images with entry forms. There is no entry fee. Entries must be postmarked by May 1, 2007. ::website link

… at Mt Cooth-tha (Brisbane) – NOW! It’s on Saturday and Sunday. [thanks Jen]

Image: A Donde Vamos?, Bill Zindel, Collage on Panel

the cut + paste collage show [via drawn]

Image: Couple 1004, David Plunkert, 2007, Collage on panel with hand constructed raw steel frame

This collage show extends the tradition of collage. Limitations are few on the materials used by or subject matter addressed by collage artists today. The collages in this show are surprising and funny and inventive and provocative. Some are nearly psychedelic; some are buttoned-up and wholesome. The works of the 14 artists in Cut and Paste could hardly be more different from one another yet all have at their heart the same spirit of cut and paste.

Image: Guesthouse, Suzanne Sbarge, Mixed Media on Wood Panel (with Wood Frame)

When I graduated from graduate school my parents asked me what I wanted as a graduation gift, “More design education!” I answered. So I signed up for a week at the Maine Photographic Workshop. It was like summer camp for grown-ups wanting to learn various aspects of photography. All we did all day was take photos, develop film and print. I loved the total immersion.

When we started FunQuilts, we decided to create a similar immersive environment for quilters. One week–totally focused on quilt design. There are lots of one-week summer programs in the US so I thought I’d post information about a few I’ve heard about. Some of the classes offer housing and meals and others refer you to local inns and restaurants.

Arrowmont offers courses in basket-weaving, clay, fiber, metals, drawing, woodturning and stone carving. Penland has classes in book-making, clay, drawing, glass, iron, photography, printmaking, and wood. Sievers has classes in weaving and quiltmaking (one of which is taught by one of our students). The Maine Photographic Workshop has classes in everything from basic black and white photography to operating very expensive cameras used for making movies and even courses in lighting. There are a number of classes and travel opportunities offered by Shaw Guides.

For quilters, Empty Spool Seminars offers classes in California by well-known quiltmakers traditional and contemporary. We will be teaching this summer at Quilting in the Pines near the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Quilting by the Lake in Upstate New York and at our own Design Camp in Chicago (which is almost sold out).

Perhaps readers in other countries could post information about similar classes in other countries.

Picture from Chuculeta.

The amigurimi fever is here! There are interesting webs and blogs in spanish:

- Laura made a little bear for the magazine WLC, besides she wrote a great post about how to make it.

- The chuculeta´s creations are amazing alwalys! Look this kokechi in crochet(but she have other crochet projects!).

- Revesderecho -a web from Chile- all about amigurimi things: patterns, ideas, gallery of pictures…

¡La fiebre amigurimi está aquí!¿Sólo una moda? Para serlo ya hay muchas adictas:

- Laura hizo este osito para la revista WLC, además escribío este estupendo post sobre cómo hacerlo.

- Chuculeta siempre nos sorprende con su creaciones, esta vez una kokechi en crochet(pero tienes otros proyectos).

- Revesderecho es una web chilena que contiene toda la información necesaria sobre el amigurimi.