distressed sent me on a search for homemade laundry detergent - [tipnut has a heap of recipes and modcottage has one too]
more: instructables : and a good tip from apartment therapy - using baking soda as a fabric softener [via not martha]
At a Crossroads: Between a Rock and My Parents’ Place
From the first illustration, Kate Williams captures the essence of what it is to be at a crossroads in the often confusing journey of the world. The awkward daughter arriving back on the doorstep of her parents house. The pink bedroom. The desire to learn all the words to a favourite song. Williams is open and honest in this graphic novel which is an introspective look at a herself during a time when she was at a crossroads.
The illustrations are frank in the same manner in which she approaches the issues which arise with moving back to the place she grew up in. “At a Crossroads” beautifully illustrates everyday scenarios everyone will be able to relate to - enrolling in a ballet class for children, or attending a concert with your mum. Aside from the illustrations, Williams is making a point about choice in todays world. That there is alot to do, and nothing is right/wrong/or a bit too daggy to investigate. A great graphic novel that takes off from where “A Year in Japan” left us.
This book, with its relaxed visual style could be interesting to anyone. The storyline is merely suggestive and invites a reader to think about times or situations they have found themselves in which may be similar. It is definitely geared towards the female reader seeing that the main character is a woman. This is not to say that a
man would not find her illustrations lovely or engaging, just that the themes seem more sympathetic towards crossroads in a womans life. It is for lovers of illustration, for anyone who has the time to look and take a moment to think.
Being brutal, I find these style of graphic novels are hard to justify as purchases. I find I read them in 15 minutes, 2nd round is looking at the artwork and then thats about it. At a Crossroads did make me stop and think about some similar situations, but I still felt as if I was reading a diary and that there would be no real reason to go back.
However its lovely engaging way of telling a story provides insight into the authors world. Although she is brutally honest about all her shortcomings and struggles with the time she is at in life, its really not much more than an illustrated diary. Its purpose may be just that. To illustrate that problems slipping back in are similar regardless of age, country, place etc
About the reviewer: Heather is an illustrator and designer - in a crossroads of her own. She lives in Australia.
make your own handcream - using this delicious recipe at indie Fixx by guest blogger Jessica Gonacha
recycled carpet square samples turned into this innovative hall rug [link flickr user idaho studios] [via craftzine & apartment therapy]
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
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To learn more about how to submit an article read the submission guidelines here
The Institute For Figurings Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef. Coral and sea creatures made by women from all around the world.
The Institute For Figuring is crocheting a coral reef: a woolly celebration of the intersection of higher geometry and feminine handicraft, and a testimony to the disappearing wonders of the marine world.
Helle Jorgensen is contributing crochet coral reef sections as well as her rubbish vortex which she has crocheted entirely from plastic bags [see below a picture of it installed at her home - still in construction + picture of her crochet coral]
Also participating is In the Loop - a knitting and crocheting club based at the World Financial Center. In the Loop is working on an addition to the reef. The picture is of Barbara Hillery Van Elsen from Playing with string, Barbara represented the NYC Crochet Guild (www.nyccrochetguild.org), which did the bulk of the work on the NY Reef.
Inga Hamilton is contributing plastic jellyfish and coral reef forms [see images of her plastic rubbish confection like anemones and urchins]
Helen Bernasconi [from the crochet cactus garden - crocheted pseudosphere embellished with mathematically precisely spaced hyperbolic curlicues - via Margaret Wertheim's Flickr]
cactus flowers by Sarah Simons - these are made from mercerized cottons mixed together in various hues.
plastic crochet forms made by Evelyn Hardin. These forms are made from glow-in-the-dark craft lace, and light up with a delicate phosophorescent glow at night. - Part of the Toxic Reef - a hybrid conglomeration made from yarn and plastic garbage. The purpose of this reef is to draw attention to the growing problem of plastic trash that is pouring into the world’s oceans and devastating marine eco-systems.
exhibitions schedule:
New York University “Broadway Windows” (NYC, NY) In conjunction with the New York Institute of the Humanities and the Steinhardt School at NYU, a selection of the IFF’s most complex and delicate sub-reefs will be on exhibition in the Broadway Windows space. The exhibition will include the Bleached Reef, the Branched Anemone Garden, and the Ladies Silurian Reef.
When: April 5th - May 18th 2008 Location: Broadway Windows, at the corner of Broadway and 10th St.
World Financial Center, Winter Garden (Battery Park City, NYC) A second exhibition of IFF crochet corals will be staged at the World Financial Center, Winter Garden. On display here will be the IFF’s yarn-and-plastic-extravaganza, the Toxic Reef. The Winter Garden show will mark the debut appearance of the Rubbish Vortex crocheted entirely from used plastic shopping bags by IFF Australian contributor Helle Jorgensen, and The Other Crochet Reef by the mysterious Dr Axt. On display will also be a large cloud of plastic jellyfish forms by Irish contributor Inga Hamilton, Cambrian Explosion forms by Aviva Alter, hyperbolic octopii by Helen Bernasconi, and beaded hyperbolic marvels by Rebecca Peapples and Sue Von Ohlsen. The WFC show will also debut the New York Reef, currently under construction, and will see the New York premier of the Chicago Reef.
When: April 5th - May 18th 2008 Location: World Financial Center Winter Garden (beside staircase) 220 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10281
happy to announce that the winner of dabbled april fool crafty contest was the Vincent van Gogh severed ear - see instructables for a how-to.
A DIY LED-lit cube / paper lantern: a translucent and flexible thin-film electronic circuit hooks up a battery to an LED, limber enough to be folded into an origami box. [link evil mad scientist]
There is a definite revival of DIY in our culture. It’s interesting a question as to how this all started. My belief is that it parallels the last revivial of DIY spirit in the 1970s. At that time as well as today people felt disconnected, isolated, and desperate. People struggle to be heard especially in relationship to war and a repressive government. Art making of any kind is therapuetic and it restores our sense of empowerment. The DIY movement has been sparked by several different, maybe complimentary reasons:
The nature of the DIY movement is thus to satisfy the retaliatory nature that arises when one feels repressed, isolated, and lacking the independence that every individual has a right to.
[comment on this discussion at the forum]
making your own herbals for the home is a wonderful way to add some fresh and non-toxic love for the house and the family.
try some tisane [chocolate and zucchini] and home made tea bags [craft leftovers]
try some homemade tonics [worsted witch]
make some herbal bath tea [you grow girl]
tip nut has a great links and ideas for some herbal potions - like lavender water ( use in your washing to freshen the linens, put in a spritz bottle as a air deodoriser or when ironing), also lavender drier bags (freshen your washing - natural moth repellant, sleep aid and a natural antibacterial) you might also want to make the herbal sleep pouches.
more: whipups be your own apothecary
tip nut has a heap of links to online needlebooks patterns [via pipstitch]- my faves…
girl on the rocks woven needlebook case
duo fibreworks - felt case
more: check out whipups tutorial on turning a cigarette case into a needle holder
Have you noticed that a very high number of crafters-artists-makers have cats? I`m afraid that this gives us a lot of clues about both personalities and way of living…
What do you think about it?
[read more and comment on this discussion here] [check out the crafting with cats flickr group]
More online patterns for blankets - comfortable loving and warm blankets for the home and family.
Babette blanket is now available as a download from the Interweave online store. [image from gussetting at flickr]
Spiderman round ripple afghan [online pattern link] [image from lises]
hoodie baby blanket [pattern from magknits]
star blanket [online pattern]
bear claw blanket [available for purchase at veronique avery]
Our Farm: A Year in the Life of a Smallholding by Rosie Boycott, published by Bloomsbury 2007. Distributed in Australia through Allen and Unwin.
Pigs have personalities, moods and a sense of humour and are generally adorable, something that I did not realise before I read Rosie Boycott’s account of A year in the life of a smallholding. Reading “Our Farm” will probably have the same effect as viewing the film “Babe” did for the pork industry – sales of bacon and pork will plummet for a while. (For sensitive readers I would suggest skipping out the pages which describe in some detail the slaughter of her pigs by electrocution, so be warned.)
The complex politics of trying to battle the arrival of a major supermarket chain (being promoted by the local town council) from ruining the livelihoods of small shopkeepers in her adopted community is the other recurrent theme. If ever there was a case for shopping at farmer’s markets and small local shops with local produce, then Boycott makes it in spades. This unusual book is somewhat like a diary of “how we did it” more than “how to do it” The exact and frightening costs of setting up the mixed farm are listed in detail to the last penny, and would be very useful for any prospective self sufficiency enthusiast to know in advance.
According to the jacket, the author has been many things in her past life, including mother, magazine editor, TV presenter, junky, alcoholic, divorcee and hippy. The book starts with the acquisition of a property in Somerset and brief allusions to the past, including her marriages, the accident that nearly cost her a leg and a too brief skim through her somewhat murky past, I expected details would be expanded upon, but were not. Perhaps much of it was too painful to recall in detail or even difficult to remember. The venture into farming is a real attempt to reinvent herself and get away from the poisonous life style that had nearly claimed her life.
After a big investment in capital, very hard work and lots of paid and unpaid help, the farm finally yields a modest profit, more than a year after beginning. The sense of achievement is enormous and Boycott finds the peace to appreciate life again. She experiences the surrounding nature with wonder and delight and gets pleasure from simple small everyday events and the friendship and acceptance of locals. While I quite enjoyed the book - the interesting agricultural and political content, unfortunately I thought it was rather hastily put together.
About the Reviewer: Dace Shugg is an editor and researcher, she spends her retirement on various projects - from working with the Cystic Fibrosis Organisation in Tasmania to sewing for her grandchildren and looking after her extensive garden - she resides in Tasmania Australia.
I was curious as to what you guys think, but does it seem like crafting/ homemade projects are more popular lately than they have been in years? For example, I’m in my early twenties, and everyone around me (that is also in their twenties) is knitting! (okay, some are croqueting…)[crocheting] Men and women alike.
I wanted to hear some feedback on this. Why do you think it’s having it’s own… renaissance… if you will. I’m more interested in knitting, since it’s something that i usually associate with my grandmother and pregnant aunts (no offense!!) but really, overall, I’m intrigued. I’d love to hear what you have to say, or if you know any good articles that are related.
[read more and comment on this discussion at the forum]
Quick and easy on the wallet. Nice one Orange You Lucky!
Here’s my little do it yourself project. I got this very inexpensive IKEA paper lampshade and I painted fun flowers all over it with gouache paint! Fun, fast, cheap and nobody has one. I might get kids to do one next time. Even if it doesn’t work out - I’m out a cleaning job and a few dollars. No big deal for this much fun!
Great idea!
waldorf inspired - These natural soft cloth blocks are great for juggling, stacking, sliding, kneading [from etsy seller little seedlings]
purple aliens juggling set [by etsy seller noisypitta] a juggling set with a twist! Instead of normal bean bags, it’s a set of funny little one-eyed, three-legged aliens that you can toss around to your heart’s content.
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