Did you know about this fabric designed by Eric Carle for Andover Fabrics? Saw it mentioned on craftblog where I also found this tutorial for making a caterpillar softie.
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April 2009
For more kids craft, creative ideas and activities go to the Action Pack website
Starting a craft blog can be a fun but also daunting prospect. If you are a blog lurker and eager to start your own blog but not quite sure what to write or if you already have a craft blog and would like to build your audience and participate more fully in the craft blog community – then tune in over the coming weeks for tips and ideas on how to build a better craft blog.
1. Be polite:
Craft blogging is about building communities and ‘meeting’ people of like interests, sharing ideas and being inspired. Craft blogs are places where people are expressing and sharing their ideas, and these ideas should be respected. Its ok to not like other peoples stuff and its ok to say so – but rudeness and meanness is never ok. So whether you are commenting on someones elses blog or writing about something on your own blog – try your best to not be nasty.
2. Link your sources:
When you mention someone else on your blog, a quote, an image or a post – always link the source. A simple [via] is sufficient, if it is a new idea/new thing that you found while surfing the web, it is not only respectful and polite to mention where you found the idea, but its in the web spirit to share the love around.
If you do post and link, don’t expect a reciprocal link just for the hell of it – these will come but are certainly not mandatory – generosity tends to be catching.
Don’t repost the whole of someone else’s post – reposting a quote is fine – but not the whole thing.
3. Sourcing images:
Do you have to ask permission before reposting an image? This is a tricky area and I don’t have a definitive answer, on whipup we simply don’t have time to ask everyone for permission and we feel that it is good publicity for the image owner, we use images in the spirit of sharing news and information.
However if you are a new blog then it might be wise to begin by asking for permission before reposting images. If you don’t ask permission before using an image then you must:
Remove the image if the owner does not want it used. If you have posted an image to your website and the author of the image contacts you to ask for it to be removed then you must do this immediately.
Give full credit for every image and link back to the author of the image. This is absolutely essential – to note where you found the image, who the author of the image is and link back to their website. If you have forgotten or can’t find it again – then don’t use it.
Do not use the image if the blog or website specifically requests that images not be used without permission. Some blogs will have a little section in their sidebar that says please don’t use my images without permission – you must respect this.
Never hotlink an image. Hotlinking or stealing of bandwidth is considered very bad manners – if you want to repost an image you saw somewhere then download it and upload it to your server.
Do not use an image if it will damage or diminish the value of the work in any way. This means using an image in a derogatory way – making fun of it or being mean about it or the creator.
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listen to Pip from meatmeatmikes talk about the modern craft movement on radio – and more here.
Download the Quick Garden Gloves pattern from Weekend Sewing.
Splendid 2009 is seeking agents of creative change for 3 weeks of bending art forms and collaboration to create new works for 2010 Splendour in the Grass festival. Splendid is a residential arts laboratory for those interested in cross-artform practice, designed to allow for a diverse range of artists to intersect, exchange and unfold ideas. Splendid is open to young and emerging artists – Applications due: 4pm Monday 4 May 2009. INFO
Craft 2.0 continues with the 2009 Easter edition bouncing into TheNewDowse (New Zealand) on Saturday 11 April. Celebrating its 3rd birthday, Craft2.0 throws off the babygrow to explore new territory, just like any other cute and adventurous toddler. blog
Great idea for new collaborative blog love this new collaborative blog – share your crafts gone wrong. Craft fail.
The AntiCraft new issue is out
crafts events editor for craft gossip blog.
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Knitting Noro: The Magic of Knitting with Hand-Dyed Yarns
Knitting Noro introduces the effect of using multi-coloured wool, specifically noro yarn – a Japanese luxury yarn, which is very popular. This yarn gives even the simplest design an exclusive look all of its own.
The wide range of basic patterns in this book are suitable for the the most inexperienced knitter to achieve a garment they would be proud of. The patterns include options to enable the knitter to customise each pattern, with variations in body and sleeve length and neckline style.
Of course all the patterns are for knitting with Noro wool, but for those without access to this expensive wool, I would still recommend this book as it leaves open a whole lot of ideas for ways to use your own hand spun and hand dyed wool.
The patterns are very simple and well illustrated with good diagrams and sizing charts. They are extremely smart and stylish, and provide a good base for a learner to build on.
About the reviewer: Janette is an experienced knitter, she has been knitting and crocheting for more than 60 years, she also spins and dyes her own wool.
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Mermaidia ankle socks by designer Christine Jeffery have a pretty lace pattern. Pattern here.
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evil mad scientist shows us how to make this cool hexagonal stacking box from recycled cardboard packaging – there is a template with the instructions.
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Starting a craft blog can be a fun but also daunting prospect. If you are a blog lurker and eager to start your own blog but not quite sure what to write or if you already have a craft blog and would like to build your audience and participate more fully in the craft blog community – then tune in over the coming weeks for tips and ideas on how to build a better craft blog.
Writing is an essential element for a better craft blog. The most successful craft blogs – the ones that have almost a cult following, are the ones that have just the right combination of personal and creativity topics covered in their blog writing. They are easy to read, funny and wise, interesting and personal (but not too personal), they give advice and share their ideas but also show their human frailties. Soulemama and posie gets cozy are two examples.
1. Edit your words before hitting publish.
Before you hit publish on your post, make sure you read over what you have written and make sure it is what you want to say. Writing on a blog is difficult to undo, once its out there – it is out there. Even if you delete the post afterward it is still out there – published in your rss feed.
2. Good writing is simple, conversational, anecdotal and friendly.
Writing like this however takes practice. Don’t expect to be a great writer overnight. Choose one interesting thing to discuss at first, write a little about your personal life – discuss your children, work, homelife – no need to discuss all the gory details, just the interesting snippets, discuss your latest project, your exciting news, share your joys and adventures and your latest craft obsessions. Be honest with your readers, be a friend – but you don’t have to tell them everything.
3. You don’t have to write about your personal life
Writing about your personal life is not mandatory, you don’t have to tell the world about your nervous breakdown or marriage breakup. Its fine to keep on topic and write only about crafting, making, designing, art or whatever your latest creative endeavour is. Discuss your creative process, your inspirations, your design ideas, your craft successes and failures, but a little window into who you are helps to build a loyal audience.
Combine the personal
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