Handmade Hellos: Fresh Greeting Card Projects from First-Rate Crafters by Eunice and Sabrina Moyle published by Chronicle Books; Spi edition (September 1, 2008).
All the design blogs are talking about this super cute card making book by the Moyle sisters from Hello/Lucky Letterpress and with contributing designers such as Amy Karol, Egg Press, Pie Bird Press, The Small Object and Julianna Swaney and lots more…
The book is put together really well with cut and clear illustrations – if rather tiny, and lovely photography and design. The templates for the projects are included in an envelope in the back of the book (with missing templates available on the Chronicle website). The book is spiral bound – Chronicles signature craft book design – and I love it.
The projects themselves range from easy to make with kids and using materials on hand to complex multi-stage projects needing specialised equipment. The projects that really stood out for me were by designer Kate Sutton – I loved her two pop up designs – the pirate pop up card and the pop up birdie card.
So if you love cards and paper crafts this book is perfect for you.
About the author: Jenny Hart is an artist, designer and author living in Austin, Texas. She and her work have appeared in Rolling Stone, Lucky, ReadyMade, Bust, Real Simple, InStyle and The New York Times. Her websites are www.SublimeStitching.com and www.JennyHart.net
Man-broidery. Boy-broidery. Guy-stitching. Bro-broidery. Whatever you call it, guys are (and always have been) doing it. You know, embroidering! Wielding the needle! Marking the muslin! Poking the pillowcase! Splitting the stitch! Which is fantastically awesome. I say: there needs to be more men embroidering. And it seems that there are.
After all, needlework tends to be seen as belonging to the ‘gentler arts’ related to home and fashion, executed by women in a domestic setting. And, no matter how spectacular the results, no matter how many hours of patience and work, it seems to be appreciated by the few. Until men do it! Then we’re extra happy about it. And that’s okay, because traditionally in this country, men are not found quietly working over their hoops.
One of the best-known, living legends of embroidery is Monsieur François LeSage, whose work has playfully and beautifully adorned haute couture for decades. LeSage still presides today over Ecole LeSage in Paris where anyone (for a price) can enroll and learn some of the finest techniques of embroidery.
But don’t take my word for it, men are stitching it for themselves and here are some fine examples of men-who-stitch:
Richard Saja
Ray Materson
Marc Dombrosky
Christopher Niver
Kent Henricksen
Michael Aaron McAllister
Takashi Iwasaki
You might want to learn about the less ‘gentle’ embroidery found in the Manbroidery Flickr Pool
Are you a Refashionista? Do you dream of seeing your creations on the catwalk? Here is an opportunity to take part in the first ever Wardrobe Refashion fashion show!
Wardrobe Refashion will be hosting a refashioned fashion show at all three Stitches & Craft Shows this year, and are looking for Refashionistas who would like to take part.
To take part you will need to send your creation no later than February 20. Your creation will be returned to you after the Sydney show in August along with a thank you gift, and if you are able to make it to one of the shows then you will receive free entry for yourself and a friend.
If you would like to receive more information please email Nichola [at] wardroberefashion@gmail.com
So get planning and stitching, you could be a big part of
The Stitches & Craft Show!
Just in time for Valentines. Link.
etsy seller lizarietz makes these amazing stylish outfits – custom made to fit – they are super gorgeous and unique and look pretty comfy too – like this Kimono dress, pleated dress and tunic dress. And don’t you just love the photography?
Hey Everyone – Happy February.
The year really has started now – I feel I am getting in the swing of it and am finally out of holiday mode – although in Australia we are in the midst of a heat wave so have not much energy to get really cracking on crafty projects.
With our series on how to get your craft studio / nook organised – I imagine you are all really energised right now to get cracking on some crafting – no excuses. If you missed our series on getting organised you can find it here – pt1. de-clutter : pt2. rearrange : pt3. redecorate : pt4. storage devices : pt5. work bench : pt6. small spaces.
With Valentines day coming up – its a great excuse to make something – consider not buying anything this Valentines day – instead turn your love into something crafty – handmade paper heart doilies : crochet love birds : we also have valentines ideas for kids to make.
This past week we had a couple of guest contributions – Laura sent in an essay on book clubs for boys – in keeping with our boys creativity month, and we were the first stop on Maria Peagler’s blog book tour. If you would like to submit an article please read our submission guidelines.
If you are interested in Obama crafts check out the quilting for Obama shows here and here. And if you know of any other crafty art exhibitions please give me a hoy at whipup[at]gmail.com.
Lots of tutorials and how-to’s too this past week – photography hacks : leaf bag : kids chefs outfit : button tree bag : carton coin purse : tea wallet.
If you are into fashion – making your own original designs – or buying others couture creations – check out our series on fashion designers at etsy – more to come next week but to start with – glam fashion with necktie madness, and eco hemp fashion.
Happy crafting everyone – until next week.
kathreen
Ps. feel free to send in letters, ideas and links to whipup[at]gmail.com
Once again thanks to Nicole and happy crafting everyone!
pps. don’t forget a whipup calendar.
did you miss last weeks roundup? get them all here or subscribe to this weekly newsletter via email here.
Thanks Hilly for your great letter:
I just want to say I’m LOVING all the studio postings. I am a sock knitter (on a 102 year old sock machine) spinner, weaver, collector of cool things. And I’m genetically disorganised, I swear when organisational skills were passed out I was off somewhere else looking at cool stuff! LOL. Anyway, last night I finally had a vision of how to organise a ton of stuff and I’m excited. Keep up the good work, I visit your site every day. Hilly [thanks Hilly]
Jen from Indie fixx is offering a fun free download “Bee Mine” especially for your valentine.
Jess is giving away a new bag she designed called the “Clutchlet”.
Urban Threads are giving away a mother lode of craft goodies.
BurdaStyle are looking for Aussie based volunteers to help out for a few hours each day with the BurdaStyle stand at the Stitches and Craft Shows. It would mainly be while I attend to the workshops and fashion show. email Nichola at nikkishell@burdastyle.com Show dates: Melbourne – 11th till 15th March Brisbane- 29 April to 3 May: Sydney – 19 to 23 August.
All month we have had fabulous studios and crafty nooks and craft room features – I have been getting some fabulous ideas. Its obvious that one of the main resolutions for crafty folk is to reorganise, de-clutter, simplify or just get some more space in which to craft craft and craft.
We have looked at organising and re-organising – what what about if you don’t have any space – you craft out of your suitcase and use your kitchen table to work. If this sounds like you – then here are some neat ways to make a crafty nook in your tiny area.
Heres some neat ideas:
sewing closet : curtained off space : I love this office carousel : fold out table in the closet : sewing nook : use a screen to hide your stuff away :
You might consider setting up a corner of your dining room or spare room or study – or if you have a bedsit or one bed apartment – then a corner of the space near a window – set up a small table and chair with a set of drawers – you can screen this off when you have guests if you are mid project. Just like you might have your computer set up in the corner – why not your crafting supplies?
Another great idea is to convert a closet or linen cupboard into a crafting alcove. Just open the door – grab a chair and get going. If you are short on storage space you could put all your towels and sheets in your bedroom closet! You could also turn a small alcove into a craft nook with the help of a curtain.
Another option is to have a fold out table which is handily stored in your closet or behind the couch – and only put it away when you really really need to.
All month we have had fabulous studios and crafty nooks and craft room features – I have been getting some fabulous ideas. Its obvious that one of the main resolutions for crafty folk is to reorganise, de-clutter, simplify or just get some more space in which to craft craft and craft.
Now that you have cleaned up and redecorated and organised and found a home for all your bits and bobs and your stash – you need to think long and hard about your work bench situation. Here is some inspiration to get you started:
jewelry bench : small fold out table : big L shaped bench – lots of space : trestle work table : sewing machine bench with curtain : draws with a bench placed on top : trestle table for a cutting bench : long benches opposite each other : specially designed sewing table : using ikea furniture : mini sewing corner : small corner sewing area :
Whether you have a dedicated craft room or a corner in the kitchen, having your table or work bench at the right height is very important. Make sure you are not stooping when working or you end up with back problems.
You may need an extra table to work on – I have two work tables – one with my equipment set up on permanently – with drawers etc and another multipurpose table used for design, drawing, cutting, writing etc. If you only have a small space then this extra table may need to be a fold up table that can be easily slotted away – or you may need to make use of the kitchen/dining table every now and again.
If you have a dedicated work room then have work benches set up either in an L shape or opposite each other means you can work more efficiently – spread your work out – have different stages or crafts going at the same time.
If you have a small desk set up in the corner of your kitchen or living room then you may want to be able pack up your tools easily and quickly – proper storage will be essential, or else have a neat curtain that can hide your ‘mess’ or projects away.
