the wonderfully talented Wendy from Sunshine’s creations is job hunting – she wrote in with this letter – if you can help please contact Wendy at sunshine_harbaugh(@)juno.com

Life is such right now that I have been forced into finding a job outside the home to make ends meet. I was hoping if you knew of someone who was hiring in a way that I could test patterns and such from home and stay with my family you could send them a link to my website. I thank you in advance if you can do this. If not I understand.

Fundraiser for Handmade Nation Tickets cost $2, one winner will be selected at random from entries. Enter as many times as you want, winners will be announced the last week of March and the package will ship thereafter. All proceeds will go towards production cost for film. – prize package – I Heart Felt book, Handmade Nation T-Shirt (you pick size), Handmade Nation Pocket Mirror, 3 Sublime Stitching iron-on transfers, one skein Handspun Yarn from yarnpunk!!

Eric From Wonder fair wrote in:

Hello hello! Eric here at Wonder Fair headquarters in Lawrence Kansas. Wonder Fair is an art gallery that doubles as little d.i.y/handmade shoppe. We mostly sell local product but are interested in selling little goodies from other people around the globe, if the globe will have us. I thought a little post on whip up might be a good call to action. Just curious if anyone would anyone be interested in getting their craft in circulation here in Kansas? Let me know what you think and keep fighting the good fight against the bad. Love, Eric

Thank you all for reading and participating in Alt craft month – it was on fire! so much amazing, quirky, eccentric and wonderful stuff being made out there. I know a few people were offended by some things and I am sorry about that – you can’t please all the people all the time. But I sure hope there was enough variety this month to get everyones imaginations and crafty inspirations firing away.

We had a book giveaway comp – and the lucky winner of
49 Sensational Skirts: Creative Embellishment Ideas for One-of-a-kind Designs by Alison Willoughby, published by Interweave Press (April 1, 2008). is …. Di from Clementines Shoes … you will be contacted soon. Thank you to every for entering the comp – and good luck with your clothes embellishing.

This month is Toys and Games month – we have a fabulous line up of great projects and tutorials and ideas to inspire. As always if you wish to submit an article or tute please first read the guidelines and email it in. We also accept ideas or just links to cool things you have spotted.

As part of our alt craft month, we will be posting links to cool ideas and inspiration as well as tutorials and articles. We are still taking tutorial and article ideas for the month so please email your ideas and stories to me at whipup[at]gmail.com. what is ‘alt crafting’ anyway? Making unconventional choices (materials + methods); taking different approaches to the problem, not conforming to accepted rules or standards; out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird. – Yes indeed its going to be a month of FUN!

More interesting inspiration found via ravelry.

This shibori scarf by nina bomba [pattern at just jussi]

crochet japan garden by 203gow – strange crochet thing

whip up a blueberry pie for your dad on his next birthday or enliven up your garden or fruit bowl with these knit veggies.

you have heard of sock monkeys and sock monsters, now the sock camera – brought to you by Neta of bobolina: dolls stories. LOVE this.

this is modified version of the curly purly knitted eggs pattern by earth chick

Whip Up is now taking article and tutorial submissions.

We are looking for tutorials and submissions that fit within our 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 January, February and March 2008

- February: Alternative crafting
- March: TOYS – changed theme for March
- April: Home

To learn more about how to submit an article read the submission guidelines here

ps. What is alternative craft? Making unconventional choices (materials + methods); taking different approaches to the problem, not conforming to accepted rules or standards; out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird.

The Art Of Wooing, a new book described by author Kaz Brecher as a mixed media art and poetry book with a story told through email exchange”, is totally original and exciting! Kaz has created this beautifully illustrated book all about (you guessed it) the art of wooing, and everything that that entails. An autobiography of sorts, the artwork and poems illustrate the ups and downs of an 18 month long relationship Kaz had with her kickboxing instructor.

Many people use artistic expression and journaling as an outlet to help keep themselves focused and anchored. This book a fabulous example of just how effective a practice it can be! The book is self-published and available exclusively through the website.

(This Thursday evening, 2/28, there will be a book release party in Los Angeles at Fresh Pressed. Come meet Kaz and pick up a copy of the book for yourself!)

this if pretty funny/weird/kooky – fits right into our alt craft month: knitted brown tube, decreasing to a point at one end – felted and filled it with lavender and polyfill, coiled it into a turd shape and stitched it in place. by knitphomaniac

Spikes are made of felted LPW, filled with polyfill, and sewn on. – a modified one skein wonder design by flippybits