November 2010

whipup 2011 calendar girls: Kate Dixon

by kath_red on November 21, 2010

Today I want to introduce you to Kate Dixon – 2011 Whipup Calendar’s Miss September: www.oneflewover-oneflewover.com. Kate is one of the creatives behind fat quarterly - the newish e-zine for quilters.

I asked all the calendar girls a few questions:

1. What were your early craft influences/experiences?
I have only been crafting for about two years. My youngest child was 6 months old at the time, I was tired and quite honestly a little overwhelmed with motherhood, I remember feeling like I didn’t have anything that was purely just for me. I was taking the kids for a walk one day and happened to come across the Prints Charming studio. It is such an inspiring place, full of light and colour. I signed up for a stitching class on the spot and haven’t looked back.

2. When did you start getting serious about making stuff – what was the ‘light bulb’ moment for you?
I’m not sure there was ever a ‘light bulb’ moment for me. I started making things and just haven’t stopped. If I have a really manic day with the kids I know that once they are tucked up in bed I can pour a glass of wine, get out the hook and do something that I love. For me, it really balances things out.

3. Name three of your favourite artist/maker/designers who have influences your artistic direction or your craft practice?
Rita from Red Pepper Quilts was the first quilting blog I came across that really inspired me to have a go at quilting myself. Rita’s quilts are so vibrant and contemporary, they really challenged my idea of what a quilt was. More recently, I have been inspired by the quilts of Gee’s Bend. The colour combinations and compostition of these quilts are so interesting and very inspiring. I really admire Kirsty from Kootoyoo. Apart from being really clever, Kirst is also incredibly generous – with both her time and knowledge. She has really encouraged me to have just ‘have a crack’.

4. What is your favourite material/product to work with? And what three things could you not do without in your craft room?
I couldn’t do without my hook, scissors or scrap bin.

Support Whipup by purchasing the third annual Whipup.net calendar. Featuring 12 beautiful crafty images from 12 amazing makers.

Print any or all of the three printable ebook formats (vertical a4/letter, horizontal a4/letter and vertical 2 printed to a page a4/letter) or purchase the already beautifully printed hard copy from Redbubble.

Print as many whipup 2011 calendars as you like to give for last minute presents and budget gifts. These also are fabulous to hang in your kitchen, craft room or office. Find out more info here.

All three printable formats are included in the one low price of $5.00

Calendar girls
January: www.lilfishstudios.com
February: www.lavenderlimes.blogspot.com
March: www.dottieangel.blogspot.com
April: www.JammerSage.Etsy.com
May: www.filminthefridge.com
June: www.cozymemories.com
July: www.abitofpillipilli.blogspot.com
August: www.lauraleeburch.com
September: www.oneflewover-oneflewover.com
October: www.elsiemarley.com
November: www.myrtleandeunice.com
December & Cover: www.loulouandoscar.com

{ 2 comments }

whipup pattern: ellipse – a crochet scarflette

by kath_red on November 20, 2010

in Features, Whip Up Tutorials

Introducing a very simple and quick crochet scarflette design – the Ellipse scarflette!
You can wear this cute never-ending elliptical scarflette in a number of way – wrapped twice around your neck to keep out the chill. Looped loosely as a cute accessory, or worn casually over the shoulders (thats my beautiful daughter modelling)

You will need:
3 colours of chunky yarn (ends of skeins will be perfect) I bought these three from the thrift store for a couple of dollars.
size 6 or 7 crochet hook (whatever you feel most comfortable using with your chunky yarn)

Notes:
You will be crocheting in the round. You will begin with a chain, which you join, you won’t turn, but you should mark the beginning of each row.
Stitch: triple crochet + chain 1 (trc 1 + ch 1)

Size: One size fits all (to fit shoulders and wrap around neck twice)
After you have made your beginning chain, make sure that it is long enough to fit over your head and to fit snugly around your shoulders.

Abbreviations:
ch= chain
st= stitch
sl st= slip stitch
trc= triple / treble crochet
rnd= round

Start: Using colour 1: Ch 100 and sl st into back of chain (check you have not twisted the chain) to form a ring. Place marker.
Round 1: Ch 4 (counts as first st). Skip next st from ch, trc + ch 1, into every second stitch. Join rnd with sl st at ch3.
Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as first st). Trc 1 + ch 1, into space. Trc 1 + ch 1, into every space. Join rnd at top of beginning chain with a sl st.
Round 3+4: Join in colour 2 Repeat rnd 2. Tie off colour 2 – weave in loose ends.
Round 5+6: Join in colour 3 Repeat rnd 2. Tie off and finish. Weave in loose ends.

In plain speak:
Start. Chain 100 and join the chain with a slip stitch without twisting the chain.
Round 1. Chain 4 (which counts as the first stitch). Skip the first stitch in the chain and only make a stitch into every second stitch in the chain. Stitch consists of a triple crochet + chain. Triple crochet and chain 1 into every second stitch. Join the round at the third stitch in your beginning chain with a slip stitch.
Round 2. Chain 4 to begin, then make your stitch (triple stitch + chain stitch) into every space. Join the round at the top of the third chain where you started with a slip stitch. Finish colour one.
Rounds 3+4. Repeat round 2 with the second colour.
Round 5+6. Repeat round 2 with the third colour. Tie off and weave in ends.

Hopefully this makes sense?

{ 6 comments }

book: fanciful felties

by kath_red on November 20, 2010

in Reviews

fanciful felties from mummysam: Sew People to Meet, Places to Go & Things to Do (Stash Books) by Samantha Cotterill. C&T Publishing – Stash books (October 16, 2010)

Oh my! the cuteness is killing me. Samantha [aka mummysam] has turned her quirky and clever drawings into the dearest of little felt playthings / art objects. I am not sure if they are to play with or to be displayed but could easily go either way.

The basic shapes of these wee felties are simple – its the addition of stitching, clothing, accessories and facial features that is the genius. With a combination of machine stitching and hand stitching, gorgeous fabrics mixed with felt, – I can see these being very addictive to make. The school boy has a little scarf and school satchel made from felt and the cutest striped school tie! Then there is Colin the nerdy bookworm – sporting a huge moustache, and there is the opera going Marge, complete with a yoyo hat. Along with all the colour and texture, Samantha adds her unique sketch pad touches – with faces and other details like window sashings often ‘drawn’ on white in black thread – and to complete the book are her wonderful hand drawn how-to illustrations and templates – am I gushing too much?

From groovy cars, to chic ladies about town, school boys and bunny rabbits and village houses – you have all the ingredients for lots of afternoons of imaginary play.

{ 1 comment }

leather flower necklace

by kath_red on November 19, 2010

in Jewellery+Accessories

Get the how-to make this cute leather flower necklace.

{ 2 comments }

Bobble-licious Bag crochet bag

by kath_red on November 19, 2010

in knitting+crochet+yarn

Speckless has a pattern for this cute crochet bag.

{ 2 comments }

gleeful jam jar cosies

by kath_red on November 18, 2010

in Green Crafting

dottie angel has a tutorial on how to make jam jar cosies – including crochet and repurposing doilies.

{ 3 comments }

whipup newsletter no.45 2010

by kath_red on November 18, 2010

in Features, Newsletter

Super busy this past week trying to get my new shopping cart to work on whipup [thanks Rob xx]. Yes I did say shopping cart and the first thing in there is the super fabulous Whipup.net 2011 Calendar - featuring 12 beautiful crafty images from 12 amazing makers and this year it is available as a printable as well as a print-on-demand. You can print any or all of the three printable ebook formats (vertical a4/letter, horizontal a4/letter and vertical 2 printed to a page a4/letter) or purchase the already beautifully printed hard copy from Redbubble – find out all about it here and buy one now to support whipup.net – your favourite crafty online resource.

So thats the marketing spiel out of the way – but seriously its an excellent calendar and is only $5! And buying it will help support whipup just a tiny bit – I will be featuring the crafters/makers/artists involved throughout the next 2 weeks.

mmm what else have I been up to … I made a paperbag bag – and you can too, I baked some ‘healthy’ chocolate chip cookies – you can too, and I made more drawstring bags.

Books

Get the lowdown on the best sewing basics books

Get a look inside Quilts for the modern home

I will be hosting Kajsa Wikman on her Scandinavian Stitches book blog tour later next week

And I will also be hosting Kristy McGowan on her blog book tour for Modern top down knitting later in the month

At Whipup

crochet some coat hangers

embroider some napkins

crochet a granny square rug

make a summer dress

Links and crafty news

For two weeks only, from Nov. 17 through Dec. 5, customers will receive 35% off plus free ground shipping on The Chronicle Books website with promo code FRIENDS. You can buy my book Whip Up Mini Quilts there

Refashion an unflattering skirt into a cute button down skirt

Find out about the art of gift wrapping in this five part series

St. Francis Mission in St Francis, South Dakota helps to run the Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum’s fair trade online store, which sells handmade Lakota jewelry, Lakota star quilts and other craft articles made by local Lakota artisans.

If you are planning some baking these coming holidays, the crafty penguin has a four part cake making series, showing some flexible recipes for sponge cake and buttercream and easy decorating ideas with fondant.

More party printables here

Catia has a cute poncho tutorial and Prairie mama shows you how to refashion a regular skirt into a maternity skirt

Maggie has some tips on how to organise your fabric stash

sew together have some cute felt christmas decorations – if you are in Sydney drop into their classes and see what else they have going on

Gingercake has the cutest vintage inspired dinner roll holder for your dinner table setting

Super cute idea – make some Reindeer food for christmas and package it up using this free printable

Join in on the Jelly Roll Dream Challenge – where creativity and quilting reigns supreme. The challenge to create the most unique quilt design from one jelly roll. The 12 top winners will be selected to be published in an upcoming Jelly Roll book for 2012 and the top 3 winners will win cash prizes from Moda, and Janome sewing machines.

Win a haul of your favourite Chronicle books – bloggers must list what they would spend $500 on at Chronicle Books and will be entered to win their haul. The blog that wins will also have one of their commenter’s win their haul too.

Ok so get making…
Kathreen
xx

Whip Up Mini Quilts : archives to mini quilt month here where you can learn about the book contributors, get patterns and tutorials and lots of lovely mini quilty things.

Did you miss last weeks roundup? get them all here or subscribe to our weekly newsletter via email here
Find out where to buy my new book Whip Up Mini Quilts
If you already subscribe why not forward this email to a crafty friend you think may enjoy it.
Grab a featured on whipup button and find out about how to ADVERTISE with whipup.net.
Follow us on twitter: whipup: @whipup and Nicole: @craftapalooza + join our flickr group
Send in letters, ideas and links to whipup[at]gmail.com
We use and recommend Igloo self service ads: igloo

{ 0 comments }

book: sew la tea do

by kath_red on November 17, 2010

in Reviews

I finally got my hands on a copy of Pip Lincolne’s new book Sew La Tea Do. Of course you know Pip from her blog and store and first book by the same name ‘Meet me at Mikes’. Sew La Tea Do is also published by Hardie Grant in Australia (and therefore not yet available elsewhere – but you can purchase it from various online stores if you feel the urge).

Pip has done a fantastic job of putting together a sewing book for beginners and those wanting a little bit of sewing afternoon fun. Along with excellent and original and quirky projects there are also lots of wonderful photos – which means it can do double duty as a coffee table book! Plus there are a stack of pattern sheets in the front of the book – that was a very good surprise.

Throughout the book Pips down-to-earth and witty self comes through in her writing, she is passionate but not preachy about crafting, she is a genuine gal, and along with making stuff she also loves to collect stuff, she loves vintage and retro and all of that comes through quite clearly throughout the book.

Also I loved seeing Pip’s kids in the book – modelling and generally have a lovely time. And Pip herself pops up from time to time with little sewing tips throughout the book.

So to summarise:

I loved the photos, collections of vintage objects and special collectables. Photos of kids with funny masks and feathers in their caps.

I loved the quirky designs (especially the ‘Fox in the bed quilt’ and the ‘Oh my pj bags’ (my kids were especially pleased with the pj bags as they have cute animal heads and are perfectly suitable for kids to make themselves if they are into that sort of thing).

I loved the practical things too – such as comfy pants with pockets and floppy hats with pockets and dresses with pockets – oh so many pockets – lovely!

I loved the patterns in the front, and Pips tips and her natural writing style.

I know Pip and the team worked hard on this book, had a lot of fun and feel passionately about craft – and that makes this book a winner!