If you have been following me on twitter this past week [@whipup] you will know already that I was interstate for work last week and my family joined me for the long weekend, and when we returned we were quarantined just for going interstate to a city with a high swine flu count. So the kids and I have had a marvelous week of sort of homeschooling – Otilija has learned to knit, Orlando has been speed reading Captain Underpants and Roald Dahl books, they have both made a whole bunch of paddle pop and toilet roll puppet characters and practiced a complicated dialogue for these guys. We baked, we sewed, and we even did some cleaning up. Its been a very relaxed week without rushing, without deadlines and without any yelling at all.
Here is the lowdown of the good stuff from this past week at whipup:
I reviewed a fantastic book this week – felt furnishings - read the review : midnightsky fibers giveaway was a popular – winners will be contacted later in the week – thank you all for entering : I am in love with the Barn Quilts movement : read my lowdown on making soap at home : 4 fun free knitted and crocheted toy patterns : these sewn love notes are adorable : and making neck ties for my man is definitely on my to do list : so impressed with the crochet yo-yo afghan : and I reviewed retro crafts here.
kids stuff: activity books : playdough boredom buster : I really like the shower curtain playmat : make your own coloring books.
Fun stuff: owl softie – so cute : pompom flowers – stylish and fun : another owlie : knit don the dillo : knit and felt this funny bunny.
Sewing: sewing machine cover : this quilt is really very sweet : all about sewing feet : recycled baby soakers : how to make a values quilt : box pleat apron is pretty darn good : and the half yard bag is clever and cute.
Kids are off to soccer this cold cold morning – while I stay in and catch up on some me time.
Did you miss last weeks roundup? get them all here or subscribe to this weekly newsletter via email here – if you already subscribe why not forward this email to a crafty friend you think may enjoy it.
Get the whole blogging tips series here.
Follow us on twitter: whipup: @whipup and Nicole: @craftapalooza
Ps. feel free to send in letters, ideas and links to whipup[at]gmail.com
Nicole shares another awesome sewing tip. Link.
The title enough had me giggling and then I saw the cover. From the home page click on “let’s have some fun” then click on “printables” and download the “cuttin kate drawing and activity booklet”. Link.
I love this grass roots quilt-barn movement, it began in 2001 and has spread to 16 states and 900 barns across America – it is a celebration of quilting heritage and historic barns & architecture.
Each barn has a quilt square painted on it – find out more here. Links: Kentucky quilt trail : Appalachian quilt trail : background to quilt barn story.
Quilt barn at historic Yancey Tavern on Hwy. 126, Sullivan County [image from here]
Sweet gift idea. Link.
This owly dude is awesome! Link, via.
EEep. Loving these, love the idea of using them to decorate a gift. Link…
Making soap at home can be fun, save you money and be environmentally friendly. It is important to realise that there are two main types of homemade soap – cold press – which is making soap from scratch with oils and Lye, and melt and pour – which is using a premade soap base from which to add your flavours and textures. (Thank you Molly for pointing out that there are other ways of making soap – including hot process – lots of boiling and smells)
If you wish to try making soap from scratch a really good tutorial is here at down to earth – all you will need is oils – cheap olive oil is a good place to start – and Lye (caustic soda) – the caustic soda is neutralised (called saponification) in the process but starts out as being a hazardous chemical – so safety equipment is required. The end product of this soap is totally natural ingredients and lovely on your skin – this soap however does need to be cured for several weeks before you can use it.
Cranberry lane has en excellent article on soap making and how to make cold pressed soap here. Treehugger also has a recipe and about.com has a good roundup of the pros and cons of cold pressed vs melt and pour. Waltonfeed has a whole bunch of tips and links on soap making + recipes.
Melt and pour soap is a soap base, usually with glycerin added, which is melted, flavours and textures and colours added, and then poured into a mold – it can be used almost straight away. Melt and pour is super easy – safe for the kids to help out with, and if you use a good quality and natural soap base – lovely on your skin. One problem with melt and pour is the soap base is not always as natural as you might think so check the ingredients first if this is important to you – the clear glycerin soap base which is so fun to use has lots of chemicals added to it.
here is a basic how to use melt and pour. Go planet earth has some really fun melt and pour recipes. I recommend the melt and pour from here - natural ingredients. Aussie soap supplies also has a really good recipes, tips and tutorials.
images are from etsy soap sellers:
Cold process soap with lavender from pamper me please
cold process soap with clay and essential oils from you stink soap
cold process soap from fuzzy bunny.
cold process goats milk soap from pixie soap.
Felt Furnishings: 25 Accessories for Contemporary Homes by Anne Kyyro quinn. Potter Craft (April 14, 2009).
I am sort of completely and utterly in love with this book – fantastic projects and really clear, concise and well photographed instructions.
The designs themselves are really modern but still warm and lush, functional without being boring, simple but not simplistic. There are some really nifty and interesting techniques showcased they are all beautifully styled. Anne uses commercially available wool felt in her project and while she discusses making felt yourself there are no instructions for doing so.
Gorgeous home decor projects – like circle ruffle cushion, 3D rosette cushion (from the front cover), I quite the pleated magazine holder and the snipped pleated throw and the cut out table runner is very nice. There are some great techniques showcased too – such as cut outs, pleating, scribble sewing, weaving (in the stuffed woven pillow), there is a wonderful ottoman showcasing cut spiral surface detailing.
As will many craft books, not all the projects are going to appeal to everyone – but there are more than enough in here to please me. And I so impressed with the photography in this book – the gorgeous close up details, and the excellent process shots.
scrumdilly-do has a cute boredom buster idea for preschool age children – all you need is playdough (homemade recipe here) and some found objects from the around the home – paper and paints – and away you go.
