Manga Cross-Stitch: Make Your Own Graphic Art Needlework by Helen McCarthy. Andrews McMeel Publishing; Har/Cdr edition (August 1, 2009).

‘Stitchers often get stereotyped as middle-aged ladies in cardigans, anime and manga fans as geeky teenage misfits. Both stereotypes are equally inaccurate – because both groups are just people who love beautiful things and want to create and enjoy beauty in their own way.’ Helen McCarthy

With a compelling voice, Helen McCarthy, reaches out to those with a curiosity for everything Manga and needlework. McCarthy is a well known writer and speaker on Japanese animation and comics and with her other love of historic and fantasy costume and embroidery designs – it wasn’t long before these two loves would meet in the middle.

She has done a fine job with this authentic manga design book – with short engaging passages that contextualize the manga aesthetic, along with instructions on how to use the included CD/DVD – where you can find all the customisable and printable charts – McCarthy also has included instructions on how to make your own cross-stitch charts based on your favourite character – using the included software found on the DVD.

(Needless to say this book is just as thorough in learning how to cross-stitch as how to design – with the basics covered – thread, materials, charts, there are also good close up photos of how to stitch.) But really this books main feature is its dedication to helping you design your own cross-stitch patterns – and the manga – its all about the manga really – who and what are these kawaii characters / cyber beings / heroes + villains / samurai + ronin / monsters … and more fantastic run down on these character types – how to add in text + special effects, change the texture and tone, and how to change the facial features to give different expressions – this is better than many ‘how to draw manga’ books that are so popular with kids these days.

The readership will not be confined to needle-workers or manga fans but to anyone who wishes to be creatively guided and engaged.

I have a couple of new posts up at red cordial revolution – a movie review – The boys are back – a sentimental family drama with free tickets for Aussies – and a review of the craft of baking – with a delicious recipe for brittle.

Felties: How to Make 18 Cute and Fuzzy Friends by Nelly Pailloux. Andrews McMeel Publishing (October 20, 2009)

Here are some tiny little felt characters sure to win your hearts, with their engaging personalities and almost manga aesthetic, with their big heads and eyes and funny simple style.

Felties is well served by glossy gridded pages, and to-scale illustrations and templates, and the book’s modest scale still allows each character a dedicated page spread with easy to understand instructions. There is a very brief intro/techniques section at the front – but as each project is quite simple I can handle this briefness, although I would have liked a bit more background about the designer/maker as this personalises a book for me – but I know others like to get stuck straight into the projects.

The little guys are cheek-squeezing cute – with oversized heads and eyes and tiny bodies – I love the sun loving rat best, and the retro alien and little bears, puppies and pandas all won our hearts + the projects are so quick that you can easily make up a whole set to make some kids very happy.

Amy’s new collection – LOVE – is a heady mix of a pretty florals and ethnic architectural designs – inspired by her recent adventures in Indonesia and England. The colours are rich, hot and tropical – with more dark colours – blacks and navys than we have seen with Amy’s collections before.

I have recently discovered and fallen for the simple creaminess of her solids collection which perfectly offsets her earlier suites of fabrics. I hope there is a solid range coming out to accompany LOVE.

Amy Butler is giving 3 whipup readers the chance to win a pattern pack with the Madison bag, Sweet Harmony bag and The Field Bag. Leave a comment here about what you have made with Amy Butler fabric.

You have 48 hours to enter. winners will be emailed – thanks for entering everyone!

Am a little late with this weeks newsletter – but a quiet sunday morning is the perfect chance to catch up with whats been happening this week. It seems I am ridiculously busy with too many projects on the go at once + my boy has been begging for a new quilt, so somehow that has become top priority – we had some fabric printed with his drawings a while ago so I think this is the perfect project to use it for – will post results when done. Yesterday I spent a lovely afternoon sewing next to my daughter – she made a soft felt block of chocolate and I made an afternoon quilt (well half made anyway), then we sat down to read some harry potter and do some crochet.

In other quilt news I am organising a 65 roses quilt for charity – find out how you can participate here.

FIND OUT HOW to get your 2010 whipup crafty collectible calendar here .

FIND OUT HOW to advertise with whipup – before rates go up for the silly season - for the next 10 days I am discounting all ad slots by 10% – use this coupon code when booking your ad pre-holidaysxweEBn valid until 18 November.

1. DID YOU MANAGE TO SEE the felty lunch tutorial – wasn’t that so cute … and some japanese fabric stores … wool felt week …
2. LOTS OF HOLIDAY CRAFTING Burlap napkin ring … snowman kit … fabric wreath … pompom wreath … lavender and hay wreath …
3. AND LOTS MORE: … argyle sock vases … cloth book for kids … pixie moss tutorial … felt rainbow ball … apple burlap placemats … refashion – sleevy pants …

Happy crafting!
Kathreen
xxx

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Dear Friends and crafters across the globe – I am organising a quilt block drive for a project very near to my heart and to my family. With a nephew with Cystic Fibrosis and a mother-in-law involved in the CF foundation in Australia, I have been thinking of a project that I could organise to help out. The 65 Roses quilt is that project. 65 roses day is named after a folklore story – and raises awareness of Cystic Fibrosis.

Would you like to make a block and send to me to be used in this quilt? All the details and the pattern can be downloaded from THIS PDF – the pdf also has 2 rose applique designs and 3 rose embroidery designs – however you can use your own design as well.

Its a simple block, comprised of 4xfive inch charm squares – one of which you will embroider/applique a rose design onto, the other three squares can be comprised of vintage/found/floral bits of lovely fabric – you can make one block or more and send to me to be made up into the 65 roses quilt.

The quilt – comprised of 65 blocks will be auctioned at the CF Australia annual gala auction event in Canberra in September 2010.

Please contact me with any questions [whipup at gmail.com] – and I will be keeping whipup posted on progress on this project.

PS. If you want to take this idea and run with it – using this pattern to make a community quilt for your local CF foundation then please do – would love if it if you told me about your project – but there is no obligation to do so … ADD YOUR IMAGES to the 65 roses quilt flickr group.

pps. you can download the graphic and link to this post if you would like to help promote this effort.

Mairuru has listed her favourite online Japanese fabric shops – they look devine – the stores are in Japanese but if you are in Japan or know of someone who can order you some fabric direct then this would be perfect.

Myrtle & Eunice has a fabulous tutorial/pattern download to make this adorable felt sandwhich - I love the detail on the lettuce and tomatoes. fabulous playfood.

at about.com – a group for the holidays to help showcase all the excellent handmade holiday crafts from bloggers of every holiday tradition – more about how to participate – from November 5th to December 24th. The first has a good taster – how to make a gingerbread house - can be found here.

Join the Quilting for Peace Campaign at STC crafts more info here.

Don’t miss: 12 days of cross country Christmas blog hop starting November 9 – where 12 quilt designers will post on a topic of quilting interest.

over the next couple of weeks we are going to find out a little more about the wonderful makers featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – February is Fiona Lech (dear fii) with her image of her Hexagon pincushion, 2009. Machine sewn & hand finished using new & vintage fabrics & buttons.

Fiona Lech from Dear Fii also has an etsy shop and an online store.. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, 5 children and about 200 pets…
Main craft of choice: Quilting, hand piecing/appliqué, general sewing I can’t choose just one!
Craft hero: Jodie from Ric Rac one of the nicest craziest talented people I know, an awesome crafter.
Fave web site: Again just one? Too hard! Whipup.net of course! + Craftzine + Flickr for all fantastic places for inspiration, networking and lots of crafty eye candy!
Fave crafty materials supplier: Amitie textiles, Felt’o’Rama.com, opshops, vintage markets.

I asked all our participants to answer a few questions about their creative process:

1. When did you start making/crafting, and who or what inspired that first creative burst?
I started crafting a long time ago while I was still in Primary School. A quilt class at the local community house was my first big project! Having a crafty mum who sewed our clothes and knitted was a great, I still can’t knit though no matter how hard I try!

2. What would you say was that light-bulb moment when you discovered your ’style’ and really hit you’re making stride?
Color seams to be my thing and lots off it. Putting together fabrics in a different way, becoming confident in doing that and having people like what I did. What I love to make is always changing I don’t like to do too much of one thing, I get bored easily!

3. Why do you make – what do you get out of it?
Playing with fabric and buttons just makes me happy! Making something for myself, a customer or my family and seeing the reactions is worth the effort! I truly feel that crafting keeps me sane .Being able switch my crazy life off and just talk to the fabric is bliss!

Find out more about how to get your hands on a copy of the 2010 whipup calendar here.