Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Ask your whiptips questions at the ‘tips and tricks’ section of the forum - right here.
H Moylan wrote: Hi, I’m wondering if you have any great blogs or links about natural dyeing? Or has anyone here done any tutorials? If not I’d love to see some ideas on here.
Kathy Weaver uses the Robot or Cyborg as a metaphor for humanity she says: The robot is a translator of events, an alter ego, a doppelganger. The robot can be an observer, a soothsayer, a malcontent or a destructor. The viewer is invited into the picture plane to see the modality of the robot’s disposition as it reflects human nature.
Caption: Cyborg Female 3: Amusing Disorder, Satins, silks, velvets, airbrushed, hand embroidered, hand quilted, 90″ x 54″
Caption: The Robot Says Nothing, Fiber, appliqued, hand stitched, 30″ x 40 ”
Caption: The Robot Is Bound, Fiber, appliqued, hand stitched, 30″ x 40 ”
A few years back I had the pleasure of working with British artist Sue Lawty at the start of her period as artist in residence at the Victoria and Albert Museum. I’ve kept in touch with Sue and what she has been doing since I left, via her blog on the V&A website (and chance encounters in corridors!)
Sue works in tapestry and in stone, and created fantastic stone drawings direct on the wall for her installation at the V&A in 2005. She and the V&A have now launched the World Beach Project, an international participatory art project, where people all over the world can make beach drawings inspired by Sue’s work and upload them to the V&A website.
From the series ‘One Beach, Fourteen Drawings, Sue Lawty’ Lannacombe, Devon, 2004. Natural stone on gesso, Width 40 cm x height 40 cm. © Sue Lawty
Stone drawing, Porth Ysgo, maker unknown
Whip Up is now taking article and tutorial submissions.
We are looking for tutorials and submissions that fit within Whip Up’s feel - read our Manifesto for more information. We are looking for thematic articles and tutorials to fit within the months themes - see monthly themes below - but also timely articles outside of these themes will be considered , such as exhibition and pattern reviews, craft memes, fun, frivolous and extreme ideas, etc that cannot wait and do not fit within the theme.
Submissions now being accepted for November, December and january
* November: Public crafting
* December: Holiday crafts
* January: Children’s crafts
To learn more about how to submit an article read the submission guidelines here
softies central - voting is open for the holiday softie awards - I was one of the judges and it was a lot of fun getting to pick my faves - sorry if yours was not chosen - try again next year.
first annual “Great American Craft Off”! This unique contest calls for American crafters to present a one-of-a-kind creation that exemplifies their personal vision of what America is all about - whatever that may be. The winners prize package is valued at over $6000! The Grand Prize includes: An all-expenses-paid trip to the John C. Campbell Folk School including one week’s tuition, room & board, and round-trip airfare. Total value over $1500 & A Singer CE-250 embroidery/sewing machine & serger valued at $1200 & A complete custom website design including online store and hosting from BizLandCrafters.com valued at $2100 Lots more too including craft vouchers and books.
Catherine Sanchez from Homespun Magazine has asked that we pass on information regarding a fund raising effort for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. A magnificent hand crafted quilt is being auctioned, and the bidding at the moment stands at a paltry $415.00!!! A huge amount of time and effort has been put into creating this quilt and it would be terrific to see a substantial amount raised. Ebay auction here
upcoming event called Mamamade and is based out of Nashville. This will be the 3rd annual sale of quality items and services by creative mothers. It is a showcase of mama-owned businesses and mama-driven causes. High quality art, jewelry, handbags, quilts, children’s clothing, custom furniture, bath and body products, custom embroidery, stationery, catering and more!
the yarn museum has a (sort of) contest! (Winners names pulled from a hat…made of handspun yarn, of course.) Garment District/Not a competition, but there will be some prizes! Here’s one for knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners, artists! It’s open to garments and/or anything that can be worn on the body, and that employs handspun yarn. Submit by 11.15.07 - how to submit.
new embroidery exhibition - Pricked: Extreme Embroidery - running November 9, 2007 - March 8, 2008 at the Museum of Arts & Design in New York City. Samplers, table cloths, tea towels, and party dresses often spring to mind when the word “embroidery” is invoked, but the forty international artists highlighted in Pricked: Extreme Embroidery tell a very different story. Pricked is the Museum of Arts & Design’s latest exploration into how centuries-old handcraft traditions are rejuvenated in the mainstream of contemporary art and design.
Caption: Benji Whalen, Fast Machine, 2005 Embroidery floss on stuffed cotton 24 x 6 x 4 in. Photo: Benji Whalen
Caption: Andrea Dezsö, My Grandmother Loved Me Even Though …, 2005-2006 Embroidery, cotton thread (DMC) on white cotton canvas Approx 6 x 9 in. Photo: Andrea Dezsö
The Inspiration Boards flickr group now has its own blog interviewing some of the cool people who have posted their inspiration boards to the group about what inspires them & feeds their creativity. Check out interviews and the inspiration boards of some cool crafty people.
Bean Gilsdorf says that she likes to test the limits of what is traditionally a humble, domestic medium. She is subverting the idea that cloth comes with a built-in reference to home and to “women’s work”; and combines the cloth and stitches with non-domestic imagery and processes.
Caption: Infantry (2004) 45″ x 45″
Caption: Albatross (2003) 43.5″ x 36.5″
Lots of really great books are coming out for kids these days - non-fiction books packed full of ideas, facts and things to do. I love the spate of old annuals that are being re-published, but there are some new books aimed at todays kids too.
Everything You Need to Know from Your Backyard to the Galaxies by Simon Eliot, published by Four Winds Press in 2005 and republished in 2007, distributed by Allen and Unwin. By same author as Everything You Need to Know About the World by Simon Eliot
In any case - what I want to say is - great book, fun and alive with facts and information totally suited to grotty little curious kids - (hey that sounds like my kids…). There are jokes, stuff about the origin of words, future predictions, 75 things about insects that your teacher won’t know, pressing questions for kids like … ‘how to keep a sausage straight when you cook it’, and amazing stuff that ants do… and more and more. Really every page there is something else to find out (and if this is not the same book as the other one then I am pretty sure it is similar and therefore also pretty darn good).
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Hocus Pocus: A Tale of Magnificent Magicians and Their Amazing Feats by Paul Kieve published by Bloomsbury 2007 and distributed in Australia by Allen and Unwin.
A book filled with wonder and magic, tales and adventures - magic tricks to learn as well as mysterious stories and a journey through the history of magic. This book is for kids who are really into magic, and can cope with a fat book full of information - for the curious mind - not a book to flick through rather something that needs to be studied and read through from start to finish.
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Girls’ Empire: An Annual for English speaking Girls all over the world, published by Faber 2007. The Original Dangerous Book for Girls … Unrevised since 1903.
This book is the unchanged version from 1903, and as such is quaint and old fashioned, but like anything old - it all comes around again and this is true for much in this book. Some of it is a hilarious look into girlhood at the beginning at the century - an interesting eye opener for many kids today - how their grandparents/great grandparents lived. But there is lots of fun, entertaining and informative stuff in here for todays girl too. The very first page is titled “How to be strong”, seems quite subversive for 1903! and includes various exercises to build up muscle tone. Next comes a section on friendship titled “Cosy corner chats” and contains advice on how to know if your friend is a true friend and what sort of friendships to avoid and to go after. There are sections on managing pets, making sweets, hygiene, ‘cycling for girls’ (there is a picture of a girl dismounting side ways in order to not expose too much leg or …) but all up cycling is considered to be a very healthy pastime. There are stories about strong women of history such as Florence Nightingale. There are hilarious bits on how to hold a golf club (there is the old fashioned way and the new fangled way) and lots more really entertaining and informative stuff. Great reading.
How to make a magazine bowl by Patricia Zapata.
[via drawn] Check out handmade book covers at book-by-its-cover and please have a look at the sketch books of Isaac Tobins.
Lisa is working on a drawing a day project with 10 other artists - where they each do a drawing a day for three weeks. See blankspace gallery.
Work A Day curated by Lisa Solomon and Lorene Anderson | October 20 - November 19, 2007 |
Exhibiting Artists: Lorene Anderson, Connie Begg, Freddy Chandra, Tracey Cochkrell, Lauren Davies, Jonn Hershend, Cynthia Ona Innis, Sylvia Min, Robert Ortbal, James Sterling Pitt, Lisa Solomon, Michele Theberge.
Pay it forward - handmade giving [via windbag and thunder] What is the pay it forward thing - this is what it says on Heather’s blog:
“I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.” So if you would like to participate, I will make and send a handmade gift to the first three people who leave a comment.
Every day in November, the Sew Mama Sew blog is posting a list of web tutorials centered around a different theme. The idea is to provide lots of inspiration for creative holiday gifts. Here’s the list:
Sew,Mama,Sew! Handmade Holidays: 30 Days of Gifts to Sew
November 1 ~ Aprons
November 2 ~ Pincushions & Pins
November 3 ~ For the House
November 4 ~ Lunch Bags
November 5 ~ Tote Bags
November 6 ~ Blankets for Baby
November 7 ~ For your Purse or Pocket
November 8 ~ Whimsy
November 9 ~ Fabric Ornaments
November 10 ~ Ties and Belts
November 11 ~ Reading & Writing
November 12 ~ For the Table
November 13 ~ Placemats
November 14 ~ Kids’ Clothes
November 15 ~ Warm those Toes
November 16 ~ Gifts for the Crafter
November 17 ~ Purses
November 18 ~ For Baby
November 19 ~ Tech Gifts
November 20 ~ Gifts for Organization
November 21 ~ Pillows
November 22 ~ Fun for Hair
November 23 ~ Soft Toys & Games
November 24 ~ Sachets
November 25 ~ For the Kitchen
November 26 ~ Embellishments
November 27 ~ Gifts for Warmth
November 28 ~ Drawstring Bags
November 29 ~ Fabric Boxes
November 30 ~ Gift Compilations
Related: The Handmade Holiday Pledge.
This month’s whiplash them is fibre & mixed media inspired jewellery - to find out more about how to enter - go to the whiplash page - to post your link go this forum thread and also see and comment on the other entries.
We are offering some prizes for this months Whiplash (last day to enter is NOV 15) one copy of How We Felt: Designs and Techniques from Contemporary Felt Artists
And a gift subscription to Cloth, Paper Scissors magazine? All donated by Interweave.
How we felt is an incredible book (check out a preview here). The introduction begins with:
Felt is humble and primal, yet ethereal and beautiful. At once sensuously soft and unyieldingly strong, felt runs the gamut from crude to sublime. Felt is contradiction and contrast.
This book embodies all of those qualities, it is just amazing what these artists do with felt. Projects go from incredibly delicate gossamer scarf by Elizabeth Buchtman to the really sturdy Hungarian/Scandinavian felt boots. Some of the mystery is taken out of shaping felt and making one piece objects. Good instructions and diagrams and artistic sketches as well as wonderful photography. Not all the projects will be for everyone - not sure I will be making a felt cape anytime soon - but my mother probably would consider it. I know she would love the felt vest and I really liked the brick house handbag. There are a couple of felt hats and some whimsey’s too - with felted insects and floating poppies. As well as the projects in the book there is also an artist gallery at the back with some truly amazing designs to inspire and just be in awe of.
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