December 2011

Guest post | Felt stocking ornament

by kath_red on December 10, 2011

in Holidays, Whip Up Tutorials

Chris is a web designer and stay at home Dad of two preschool children. He is the publisher of Themeaparty.com, a site filled with birthday party and entertaining tips, including craft activities for children. Chris lives in the middle of the Prairies in Winnipeg, Canada, and no, he doesn’t play hockey. However, he loves his Tim Horton’s coffee and can whip up a fun party with some string, two paper clips, some stickers and a slice of pizza!

These snowflake patterns would be great to use on lots of different sorts of projects too…

Felt Christmas Stocking Tutorial

Hello, everybody. I’m just getting into fabric crafts, mainly because my eldest daughter, who is in kindergarten, brought home a cute felt candy cane she had made at her winter wonderland party, and asked if we could make something else. As we had just put up the Christmas tree, my wife and I thought of creating something special for the holidays that she can showcase. Christmas Stockings! After all, they delight kids of all ages with the surprises they hold inside.

This craft is certain to please, even before it’s filled with Christmas goodies. Though it’ll be too advanced for younger children (such as ours), we let her trace the stocking and the snowflake tracings. For her own stocking, we let her doodle on the fabric with glitter glue before sewing it together.

Materials:

  • Red felt (12″ X 16″)
  • Green felt, or other contrasting color (12″ X 3″)
  • Pins
  • Scissors
  • Carbon paper
  • Thread
  • Needle
  • Seed beads and bugle beads (white, silver, gold)
  • 12″ piece of ribbon

Two templates to download and print:

Instructions:

  1. Print out the template for the stocking and cut around the lines. You will have two pieces: the main part of the stocking and the top brim.
  2. Pin the pieces of paper onto a double layer of felt (use the red felt for the main part and the green felt for the brim).
  3. With sharp scissors, cut around the paper template. You will have two red stockings and two green brims.
  4. Print out the snowflake patterns and choose which ones you wish to embroider on your stocking. You can choose to make just one snowflake, or you can change the size of your snowflakes.
  5. Using carbon paper, trace the snowflakes onto the felt.
  6. Secure the thread on the reverse side of the felt. Bring the needle to the front, and thread the number of beads you need, to create each small line of your snowflake. Bring the needle to the back and then, bring it back to the front at the point where your next small line is. Continue this way until you have decorated your Christmas Stocking.
  7. Glue the green brim to the red stocking (both front and back).
  8. If you intend to fill your stocking, then it is best to sew the two pieces together either by hand or using a sewing machine. If you plan to use it just to decorate, you can just glue the front and back together around the edges.
  9. Make a loop with the ribbon and attach it to the top of the stocking where you wish to hang it from.

You’re done! Our daughter decorated a bunch of them her own 5-year old way, so we’re thinking of making several of these in minature as a cute garland for our fireplace.

{ 4 comments }

Guest blog | Girls handmade jewelry collection

by contributor on December 9, 2011

in Guest Blogger, Jewellery+Accessories, Kids Crafts

Anne Weil loves to make things of all sorts. She is a working mother of three.  Don’t ask her to decide which is her favorite craft: knitting, photography, jewelry-design, paper crafts, or sewing.  Instead, she just makes, designs and takes photos as much as she can possibly squeeze in to her crazy life and blogs about it at flaxandtwine.com.
I never know what will bring me to my next creative project. This jewelry collection just seemed to spring up like it was meant to happen. It all started because my boys are obsessed with legos. They are obsessed to the point that when I saw the Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar this year, I started jumping up and down. Luckily, the boys’ birthdays are close enough to the holidays to justify a birthday purchase for their advent calendar. But, this left me stymied for Allie.  How could the boys have something wonderful to open every day and she have nothing?  That’s when I decided to make her a little special something for every day leading into Christmas.  I wasn’t sure I could come up with that many unique jewelry designs all at once, but once I started, I couldn’t stop.  I have had a ball creating each and every one of these designs. They are all so simple and easy to make – but they come out so darn cute!  I am tickled pink . . . and blue and yellow and green.

This page will hold the entire collection at the end of the month.  Right now, there are photos of everything I’ve made so far.  Just click on the photo and it takes you to a tutorial that shows you how to make it, too.  There are so many amazing handmade advent calendars out there, why not fill them with beautiful hand made gifts?  The bonus is that many of these tutorials are easy to do with your girls.  Or, have your boys make something sweet for their sister or friend.  How thoughtful!  What a great way to make handmade gifts for others.
Many Happy Holidays to you and yours!

{ 2 comments }

For more kids craft, creative ideas and activities go to the Action Pack website

Guest blog | slow yarn

by contributor on December 8, 2011

in Green Crafting, Guest Blogger, knitting+crochet+yarn

This is a guest post by Kathryn AKA CrochetBlogger. She is the blogger at Crochet Concupiscence, a leading source for all crochet news and information.

From Kathy Withers Fiber Ranch in Arizona: Tucson Wool Festival http://www.uniquedesignsbykathy.com/

What is the Slow Yarn Movement?

The Slow Movement has taken off in recent years. Many people know the term because they are interested in slow food (as opposed to fast food). However there are also trends in slow gardening, slow travel, slow fashion, slow schooling and slow art. And I would argue that there is a trend towards Slow Yarn despite the fact that not many crafters are using the term.

Understanding the Slow Movement

The Slow Movement is, as the name suggests, an intentional shift towards living a slower paced life but it is about far more than just simplifying life and reducing fast-paced processes. The slow movement is about sustainability, supporting a local economy and engaging more hands-on in all areas of a craft. So for example, the slow food movement encompasses buying from local organic farmers as well as growing, preparing and preserving your own foods.

So What is Slow Yarn?

When it comes to yarn, the slow movement can encompass many different things. Knitters and crocheters are already participating in a slow yarn way of life since they are choosing to hand create items, including clothing and home furnishings, rather than buying them factory-made. But those yarn crafters who want to go further into the slow yarn movement can do so at many different levels from raising their own fiber to spinning their own yarn.

Elements of a Slow Yarn Lifestyle:

  • Choosing carefully sourced yarn. A responsible approach to yarn crafts includes making careful choices in the type of yarn that is purchased and where it is bought. Slow yarn supporters choose sustainable yarn, usually from independent sellers. There is a big emphasis on buying locally at fiber festivals but some people consider “local” to refer to purchases from their home country and may be through indie yarn sellers online. The book Knit Local by Tanis Gray is a great resource for people interested in the history and business philosophies of local yarn sellers.
  • Growing your own fiber to create your own yarn. Even slower than buying yarn responsibly is making your own yarn. This can mean starting a small fiber farm with animals like sheep and alpacas or growing your own plants to process into yarn. You can then spin the fiber into yarn and use the yarn in your crafts.
  • Using recycled yarn materials. Recycling and upcycling are certainly also part of the slow yarn movement. You can make yarn out of plastic bags, old T-shirts and sheet and even bicycle tire tubes.
  • Home-based yarn dyeing. The slow movement breaks down the process of a craft and encourages the crafter to participate in each step. Instead of buying a pre-dyed yarn, the crafter may dye yarn at home. A truly committed slow yarn crafter would grow her own herbs and use them as a natural dye base.

Benefits of a Slow Yarn Movement

Here are some of the reasons that people choose to join the Slow Yarn Movement:

  • Supporting the local community. People who buy locally are helping to lend support to the other indie crafters in their area. This is good for the local economy, enhances options for people to live creatively and builds stronger ties with others.
  • Meditative qualities. Taking the time to slow down and participate in each part of the process allows the crafter to enjoy more of the “in the moment” wonder of crafting.
  • Eco-conscious lifestyle. The slow yarn movement emphasizes eco-friendly practices and habits from reduced transportation when buying local yarns to increased use of repurposed materials in upcycling.
  • It’s fun! If you already love to knit or crochet then your whole experience of crafting can be enhanced when you also learn to dye or spin your own fiber.

So are you going to jump on the slow yarn train? Why or why not?

{ 2 comments }

Holiday linky love {+ some other stuff}

by kath_red on December 7, 2011

in Holidays, Link Love

The holidays are almost here – school is out soon – and we go camping for a few days on our way to spend Christmas with my brother and his family.

We got into the Christmas spirit early this year because we were having so much fun putting together the Celebration issue of Action Pack - we created a silvery christmas tree and decorated it with handmade baubles. We also made a nature wreath, did some pavlova taste testing and have been baking ginger snaps as gifts (the recipes and tutorials for these projects appear in the Action Pack along with 20 other projects – it’s a whopper! find out more here).

Getting into all of these projects really kick started our summer of fun (yes it’s summer here) and my son is obsessed with making wire ornaments, while my daughter is hell bent on using up all my embroidery floss to make friendship bands for everyone.

  • This past weekend as well as baking up a storm by making more ginger snaps, I also made Pfeffernüsse for the first time – and they were delicious – I used Martha’s recipe (pictured above).
  • I moved around some furniture and did a bit of spring clean in the mud room and the children’s reading space – I have a big box of things to donate to charity – and I will be adding more coming up to Christmas – its a great time for a clean out – getting ready to start the next year fresh and organised.
  • I read slow love* (a book about finding yourself – I liked it – thoughtful and meditative – this memoir is about a woman who finds solace in her creativity – gardening and cooking and writing after a busy career ends).
  • I made a few lists – we did a flow chart – so we feel more organised and less chaotic – and can plan and prepare towards our goals.
  • I researched more bauble and decoration tutorials – because the kids are so into it that we need to make something new next weekend.
  • We harvested half of the garlic.
  • I spent some time on etsy.
  • Enjoying How to dress for success** – some of the fashion advice from when this book was first published in the 60s is surprisingly still valid today (other advice is so out of date that it provides a really good chuckle)
  • We went to a party - drank a bit of jungle punch and danced to some golden oldies.
  • The boy kicked it at futsal.
  • I refashioned some clothing for the kiddos, bought some new duds at the op-shop (thrift store) and cleared out my closet of the dust gathering garments.
  • Thats about it really – what did you get up to?
Now here are some of those ornaments tutorials I have been researching … get making!
More holiday crafting

*slow love by Dominique Browning (published by Plume 2011) was sent to me by the publisher – the link to Amazon is an affiliate link.

**How to dress for success by Edith head, (was originally published in 1967, this reprint is published by Abrams 2011) was provided by Allen and Unwin Australia. Links are Amazon affiliate links.

{ 3 comments }

Guest post | Crocheted cloche pattern

by kath_red on December 6, 2011

in knitting+crochet+yarn

Maize Hutton lives in a little cottage in the woods with her Westie Violet Blossom. She’s a recycled silver artist and owns two websites: Mommytags and MaizeHutton. She loves crafting of all sorts and has recently taken up crochet. You can find more tutorials on her blog.

This quick crochet project would be a perfect last minute gift – or make a heap of them – you could definitely personalise this to be more masculine too.

Crocheted Cloche Pattern

This is my very first crocheted hat pattern! I gave myself an extra challenge of making it from two skeins of yarn from the dollar store. These crochet up quickly and you can easily finish one in an evening.

Notes and materials

  • H Hook/5mm
  • Two skeins of yarn from the dollar store
  • The hat is made using two strands of yarn together but I’ve also made it using Lion’s Pride Bulky with one strand. If you’re crocheting with one strand, I suggest repeating another row of TC after row 6 and deleting one increase row from the brim.

Instructions

  • Begin: Using 2 strands of yarn, chain 4, join to make circle with st st in 1st chain or make a magic loop with 4 sc then join.
  • Row 1: Chain 2 (counts as 1st DC) 12 DC in circle, join with sl st on 2nd chain in 1st DC (13)
  • Row 2: Chain 3 (counts as 1st TC) TC in same chain as chain 3. 2 TC in each DC to end, join with sl st at top of 3rd chain on 1st TC (26)
  • Row 3: Chain 3 (counts as 1st TC) TC in same chain as chain 3. 2 TC in next chain, *1 TC in following chain, 2 TC in following chain* repeat from *to* to end. Join row with sl st in 3rd chain of 1st TC (39)
  • Row 4: Chain 3 (counts as 1st TC) 1 TC in each chain to end. Join with sl st in 3rd ch of 1st TC (39)
  • Row 5: Repeat Row 4 (39)
  • Row 6: Chain 2 (counts as 1st DC) DC in each TC to end. Join with sl st in 2nd chain of 1st DC. (39)
  • Row 7: Chain 1 (counts as 1st SC) SC in each DC to end. Join with sl st in 1st chain (39)
  • Row 8: (making the brim): Chain 1 sc in next 10 SC. 1 DC in next chain, *2 DC in following chain, 1 DC in following chain* Repeat from *to* for 19 ch. SC in next 9 ch, Join with sl st to end row. (49)
  • Row 9: Chain 1, SC in next 10. 1 DC in next ch, *2 DC in following chain, 1 DC in following chain* Repeat from *to* for 28 ch, SC remaining 9 ch. Join with sl st to end row. (63)
  • Row 10: Chain 1, SC in next 10 ch. 1 DC in next ch, *2 dc in following chain, 1 DC in following chain* Repeat from *to* for 42 ch. Sc in remaining 9 ch. Join with sl st to end row. (84)
  • Row 11: Chain 1, SC in each ch to end. Sl st to first sc. Fasten off. Weave in ends. (84)
  • Line Detail: Use scrap yarn. Starting in the back seam, SC around stem at top of brim (in hole) then chain 1, repeat to end. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
  • Finish: There are many flower patterns on the web if you’d like to embellish it with a flower like I did.

ENJOY!

{ 10 comments }

Foodie gifts to give

by kath_red on December 5, 2011

in Food, Holidays

This week has been pretty hectic – with self-imposed deadlines and kids end of year school events. I started some holiday gift baking this weekend – what about you? Any recipe recommendations? Presents for neighbours, teachers and friends – a foodie gift is perfect and the end of the year is really sneaking up!

FOODIE GIFTS IN A JAR: 
Cookies in a jar || Candied Ginger || Lavender salt || Herbs de provence (pictured – top right) || Lavender sugar || Soup in a jar || Honey and nuts  (pictured – top centre)||

SAVOURY GIFTS:
Beetroot relish || Tomato paste || Bacon jam || Spice rub || Christmas butter ||

COOKIE GIFTS:
Polish cookies (pictured – below centre) || Wholemeal cookies || Shortbread  || Cranberry orange shortbread

SWEET TREAT GIFTS:
Raw truffles || Swirly peppermint bark || Caramels (pictured – below right) || Date and rum bonbons || Chocolate salami || Fudge in a jar ||

TRADITIONAL CAKES:
Alsatian cake: Kugelhopf(pictured top left – I am making this – this weekend) || Kerala plum cake || Stollen || Panforte || Honey cake || Panettone || Christmas london cake || Date and cinnamon tart (pictured bottom left)

KIDDO FOOD GIFTS (to make and eat) :: Give your kids the gift of food
Stained glass window cookies || Pancake mix in a jar || Popcorn || Lollypops || Coconut marshmallows || Cranberry pistachio chocolate bark || Hot chocolate stir sticks || Nutella ||

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2012 Calendar profiles: March + August

by kath_red on December 4, 2011

in People

Profiling the work of the lovely featured artists/makers in the 2012 Whipup.net calendar. I asked all the participants a few questions…

Sooz is our March Calendar girl, she likes sewing and knitting, lives in Australia and blogs at sooz

1. What are your three main craft/design influences?

I can’t go past my matriarchs for the craft influence. Both my mother and grandmother were phenomenal makers of things. Between going to work and keeping a household going, they managed to sew and knit and stitch and garden and cook in a way that made me feel like making things was essential to a happy life.

On the design front I struggle to find individuals who stand out since I think my eye for the work of the designer has developed only recently in my life. At this moment I am in really in love with Issey Miyake, in part because I realise I was in love with his designs long before I knew who he was. I love the textures and colours employed by knitwear designer Setsuko Torii.

Knitting machine

Crafty passions: knitting and sewing

2. Why do you feel the need/drive to make things?

I think there’s a lot to say on why making is important – it’s political and ideological for me – and there’s no doubt some psychological reasons in there too about justifying my existence, but really it’s quite simple. I make because I love it. It’s my meditation, my contemplation, my challenge, my peace, my pride and my joy.

3. Your favourite crafty resource?

I’m more than a bit in love with pinterest as a source of inspiration. I love it’s visual and immediate nature, the way I can look for images, share them, find the things that are inspiring other people.

4. What music inspires you to create?

My musical tastes are broad and dubious! From the Beastie Boys to the Monks of Gyuto and back again through the trash I loved in high school I listen to it all.

5. What do you do when you have a creative block?

Switch crafts/projects/work spaces. It’s very rare for me to be blocked on all things and generally if the sewing has got me down I can bake with abandon or if the kitchen has me running for the take away it’s because I’d really rather be knitting. I do best when I don’t fight what I really want to do with what I think I should be doing. It’s meant to be fun afterall.

Calendar available:

Berber Vos is from The Netherlands, her crafty passions are sewing and crochet and she blogs at Kisskus. She is our August Calendar girl!

1. What/who are your three main craft/design influences?

I get inspired by the many crafty websites that I follow through my Google Reader (some of my favourite blogs I link to in the sidebar of my own blog). Flickr is another fantastic source of inspiration, as well as my most recent discovery: Pinterest. When it comes to a person, I really admire Kaffe Fassett. I do not love every single thing that he designs, however I think that his bold creativity, his love of colour, his passion for his work and life itself are amazing and very uplifting. I was lucky enough to hear him talk and to see his work in person and both occassions gave me an incredible creative boost.

2. Why do you feel the need/drive to make things?

I get a kick out of creating something unique, especially out of materials that I have on hand or that are recycled. Also, for me being creative is a way to canalise the somewhat darker parts of my character into something healthy and constructive.

Berber's crafts of choice are sewing and crochet.

3. Favourite crafty resource: It has got to be Google, which leads me to craft blogs, tutorials, Youtube, Flickr etc.

4. What music inspires you to create?

These days I mostly listen to The Killers, Coldplay, Muse & Adele. I’m very loyal in my choice of music: I will listen to it over and over and over again :)

5. What do you do when you have a creative block?

Last winter I experienced a major sewing block. I missed it terribly and it made me unhappy. I solved it by learning how to crochet. I realised I needed a more straightforward and more portable craft and crochet is perfect in both ways. My sewing mood slowly returned by itself after that, so now I’m happy to have two crafts to alternate :)

Calendar available:

{ 2 comments }

2012 Calendar profiles: April + September

by kath_red on December 4, 2011

in People

Profiling the work of the lovely featured artists/makers in the 2012 Whipup.net calendar. I asked all the participants a few questions…

Alexandra Smith lives in the USA, She blogs at Lola Nova – Whatever Lola Wants, her craft of choice is sewing, and she is our April Calendar girl!

1. Name your three main craft/design influences

My main influences are my imagination, my passion, and necessity – it is the mother of invention after all.

2. Why do you feel the need/drive to make things?

I couldn’t really tell you; all I know is that I can not imagine not making.

3. What is your favourite crafty resource?

There really are too many to name. The biggest and best has to be the library; we have a fantastic library system here it is an endless and amazing resource.

My favorite local supply resource is a little shop called Bolt http://www.boltfabricboutique.com/ and the blog http://www.boltneighborhood.com/. They are about 5 minutes from my house, with a great selection and a wonderful, knowledgeable staff. They are awesome!

Also, my mom.

4. What music inspires you to create?

Ooh, that’s a tough one! Irma Thomas, Otis Redding, Tom Waits, old mixed tapes…

5. What do you do when you have a creative block?

If the pacing doesn’t work, I take a walk with my daughter, or do something creative with her to get the flow going. Sometimes though, I just have to step away from it for a while and do something else that I enjoy. Inspiration usually pops up in the most unexpected places!

Calendar available:

Kellie Diguangco, blogs at Ricebabies , lives in Canada and loves to sew. She is our September calendar girl!

Why do you feel the need/drive to make things? : It gives me a great pleasure to make things, I love using my hands and my imagination together.

What is your favorite crafty resource: WhipUp.net – for all kinds of making ideas :: I love the work of Emily Martin- inspiring Illustrations and just plain prettiness :: My first real doll maker crush was on Johanna of One Red Robin

What music inspires you to create? I have always liked to make things with my hands, it helps me get whats in my head, out. I listen to a lot of Mindy Gledhill, Fiona Apple and a Adele

What do you do when you have a creative block? Read books to my kids and listen to their stories. Children’s minds hold a wealth of inspiration and it’s so uninhibited, pure, silly and fun.

Calendar available:

Thank you to all the calendar girls and to the amazing crafty online community that I have the great pleasure of being a part of. Thanks for reading and supporting Whipup.net this year!

xx
Kathreen

{ 1 comment }

2012 Calendar profiles: May + June

by kath_red on December 3, 2011

in People

Profiling the work of the lovely featured artists/makers in the 2012 Whipup.net calendar. I asked all the participants a few questions…

Jodi Anderson lives in the United States, she blogs at Daybook: A Keeping of Days. When making things Jodi loves the Conceptualizing + Implementing – that is having ideas and then making them a reality! She is our May Calendar girl!

1. What/who are your craft/design influences?

The natural world, most especially as it pertains to my rural childhood and geographical location, is the backdrop to everything that I do, and it is where I play mentally and physically. I also adore bitterly cold winters beyond all measure.

I am drawn to the mysteries of life, the unknown and the imagined, dreams of both night and day. Not knowing everything about our world allows me to fill some of that void with my own ideas.

History, in general, is a big influence in my life. I find a lot of fodder in the stories of my ancestors. I like to let myself travel further back in my mind than the historical records can take me, to a journey across northern Sweden. I am fortunate to have a lot of family heirlooms from which to draw inspiration. I also collect a lot of antique and vintage items, particularly children’s books, and these collections are greatly inspiring.

Jodi loves to make her ideas into reality

2. Why do you feel the need/drive to make things?

To me, it seems like the same need that I have to breathe. I can’t explain it; I just have to do it.

3. Favourite crafty resource?

The internet is my greatest resource. While it is difficult to trump hands-on experiences, I can find the answer to almost anything by searching online. And while I would basically do what I do without the internet, with it I can share with others while remaining somewhat an introvert. Yay, internet!

4. What music inspires you to create?

Generally, I prefer complete silence, just natural sounds like the wind or birds, not just when I create but throughout my entire life. That said, I am really inspired by Karin Dreijer Andersson (of Honey Is Cool, The Knife, Fever Ray). It’s not just her musical abilities, but her vision. She is a deep well of the extraordinary.

5. What do you do when you have a creative block?

I don’t have creative blocks, just a lack of time and energy.

Calendar available:

Katie Startzman lives in the US and blogs at duo fiber works, she loves to knit with occasional forays into whittling, leatherwork and hand sewing. She is our June Calendar girl!

1. Name your three main craft/design influences

I love the inspired bits I find in obscure or vintage craft books. Most recently a couple German whittling books for children have proven to be very useful in the little wood carving projects I do with my boys, even if I can’t read them. Also, we have a great used book shop in our town, Robie Books, and they always have some great new-to-me craft book when I visit. The more I read and research, the more I find my aesthetic developing, so endless research isn’t a waste, though sometimes I get caught up in the info-gathering instead of the doing- I’m trying for more balance on this front.

My family has many talented makers and doers, a lot of my creative work is to share with my sisters, mom or boys. My mom let us do pretty much anything we wanted creatively when we were growing up and that freedom to experiment and try new things has stuck with me for sure. My husband is also creative, he is an illustrator, so having someone else around to keep me accountable is really great. After we put our kids to bed he reminds me to go into the studio and get to work if I have a deadline, and I do the same for him.

Similarly, I am pleased to live in a vibrant, creative community. My small town is home to many writers, craftspeople, fine artists and dabblers. It’s energizing for creative work to be the norm, and I am inspired by the long history of creative people who have lived and worked here.

2. Why do you feel the need/drive to make things?

I like the technical challenge of creating something new. Figuring out how to knit a shape the way I see it in my mind- that’s fun. Sometimes my drive is economic, for my carved wooden play vegetables, I wanted to outfit a play kitchen with natural materials, but couldn’t afford the toys you can buy. But mostly, it’s the challenge and puzzle of making something new and beautiful, often from very humble materials. I am selling knitting patterns and sharing craft tutorials because I know the thrill of making something really special for your family, and I love sharing that ability with others.

Katie likes to work with wood and wool

Katie's work space

3. What is your favourite crafty resource?

I love Ravelry. The community, the constant stream of new ideas, the feedback on my designs, it’s the best. I also treasure my Monday night stitching group. It’s the perfect blend of social time and crafting. There are some really talented women in that group and it’s a great place to share ideas.

4. What music inspires you to create?

I listen to familiar music that I don’t have to think about when I am knitting. Bon Iver, The Decemberists, Fujiya & Miyagi are some of my favorites. I turn to Paul Simon if I need something really familiar. It doesn’t really matter to me what they are saying, I just like the way they sound. Though for designing knitting patterns, I have to work in quiet. For me, math and music don’t mix well.

5. What do you do when you have a creative block?

When I have a creative block, I often take a break creating, focusing on housekeeping, baking, or gardening instead. Sometimes, I like to switch mediums, work with wood for a bit instead of yarn. Mostly, I’m learning to go with the flow of my creative energy, sometimes the ideas come easily and sometimes they just don’t. With patience, the ideas come flowing back and I can get to work.

Calendar available:

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Launch: Action Pack Celebration

by kath_red on December 2, 2011

in Action Pack

 

Introducing … drum roll please … Action Pack issue 8 CELEBRATION. The last issue of the year and the culmination of a terrific and huge year for this little Action pack Magazine for kids. Wow we have gone from nothing to something pretty special – offering an interesting, creative and educational array of projects aimed at 7-12 year old kids (and older and younger too). {Scroll down for sample pages from this issue – so bright and cheery!}

I am very excited to introduce the last issue of the year – Celebration – celebrating a wonderful year – celebrating your special holiday – and sharing what everyone is celebrating at this special holiday season.

Action Pack – Issue 8: Available now only $8 for 80 pages of tutorials, recipes, craft projects, and more…

This is an e-magazine – you will receive a download link to a high quality printable pdf

This issue is huge – no really I mean it – it’s HUGE. 80 pages & 23 projects – it’s not a magazine – it’s a book and it all came together with the help of some wonderful contributors and my beautiful family – but the reason it is successful is because of you! My special readers, supporters and blog friends – who purchase, support, talk about, blog about, subscribe to the newsletter … thank you all for the support of my new venture this year.

We have some plans for changing things up a bit next year – we will be changing our publishing schedule a little – not publishing so many so frequently – I am a bit exhausted! Instead we will be concentrating on fewer bigger ones, and also some smaller more frequent ones – yes exciting times!

Now back to this Celebration issue…

  • Recipes: cookies and holiday treats from around the world (9 recipes)
  • Decorations: – ornaments, wreaths, banners and a nativity scene (8 projects)
  • Games and gifts: – Wintry scenes to cut out and display, cards and gift tags, dress ups and games to make and play with (6 projects including printables)

Action Pack – Issue 8: Available now only $8 for 80 pages of tutorials, recipes, craft projects, and more…

This is an e-magazine – you will receive a download link to a high quality printable pdf

Am very excited to have some wonderful contributors in this issue: 

Verity Heysen Kizek :: Lorraine Teigland :: Kathreen Ricketson (thats me) :: Joanie Gorman :: Carina Envoldsen-Harris :: Clare Collins :: Francesca Mueller :: Pascale Mestdagh :: Anna Hytonen

 

Don’t forget you can still get all issues so far this year – and you can get them all for a discounted price …
Issues 1-7 Bundle: Available here and now – or go to the shop to purchase it from there

This is an e-magazine – you will receive a download link to a high quality printable pdf

Action Pack 2011 Bundle: Issues 1-7: Set of 7 Action Pack Magazines. Includes Issues 1-7. Save $ by buying the whole set only $30. Great gift for the active, creative children in your life!

:: Issue 1: Paper + Beeswax (Origami projects, beeswax & honey projects)
:: Issue 2: Seeds + Beads (Beaded dragonfly, cooking and growing seeds)
:: Issue 3: Sew + Tea (learn about tea, sew a tea cosy & a play tea set)
:: Issue 4: Great Outdoors (bumper issue 80 pages of outdoor crafts, adventures and cooking)
:: Issue 5: Chalk + Cheese (Learn how to make your own chalk, cheese and other crafty projects using these materials)
:: Issue 6: Zap + Zest (Bumper issue around the themes of electricity and citrus)
:: Issue 7: Sticks + Stones (Projects using lots of natural materials).

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