Am writing this post all garlicky from making aioli (it didn’t work out but am going to try just one more time – it looks ridiculously simple but there is a trick to it I have yet to figure out). Have also been working on a quilt this week (another project that is causing me grief), but in good news I made some delicious butterfly cream cakes (check out the recipe over here) and have made 2 pavlovas this week – oh such gorgeous summery fare (we like ours topped with cream, raspberries and passionfruit).

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 … more in the quilt festival roundup here and here
2. A couple of BOOK REVIEWS this week – the two latest books in the Make Good Crafts + Life series Japanese craft books translated into English… Embroidered effects Jenny Hart’s latest lovely offering … Indie artists e-book – crafty tree trimmings - just in time for the holidays …
3. ALSO doing a series of posts with our fabulous artists who are featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – Amy Bethune … Eva Monleón and Maya Donenfeld
4. DON’T MISS Craftapalooza’s button wreath tutorial …
5. MY FAVE CRAFT THIS WEEK: … linen drawstring bag - perfect for gifts.
6. AND LOTS MORE: … Cashmere baby hat + beast tutorial … crochet flower earrings … strawberry pincushion …

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.
Access our blogging tips series here. Grab a featured on whipup button here and find out about advertising on whipup here.
Follow us on twitter: whipup: @whipup and Nicole: @craftapalooza [and visit Nicole's shop here]
Feel free to send in letters, ideas and links to whipup[at]gmail.com
Join the Whipup.net flickr group here.
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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.

Leading up to the holidays ad rates have increased – up to now they have been super duper cheap cheap cheap – while I have been trialling the new system (have you tried out the new system yet – just click on the ‘advertise here’ in the sidebar to give it a test run) (if you want to use this on your website to run ads I use igloohq.com)

While I have increased prices in the main ad section – I have also added a new section (lower sidebar) just for indie businesses – the smaller ad sizes will only be available in this slot.

Carefree Clothes for Girls: 20 Patterns for Outdoor Frocks, Playdate Dresses, and More (Make Good: Crafts + Life) By Junko Okawa. Trumpeter; 1 edition (October 13, 2009).

Felting for Baby: 25 Warm and Woolly Projects for the Little Ones in Your Life (Make Good: Crafts + Life) By Saori Yamazaki. Trumpeter; 1 edition (October 13, 2009).

The latest additions in the make good series (Japanese craft books published in English by Trumpeter) are 2 books for parents or those who love to make things for children.

Felting for baby has instructions and patterns to make lovely tiny felted shoes, felted teddy bears, hand puppets and other cute accessories with lots of adorable little details. The best thing really about this book is the exquisite detailed photos of the felting process, and includes both wet and needle felting techniques. A treasure of a book.

Carefree clothes for girls is filled with adorable romantic and rustic clothing for active little girls. Some outfits are more practical than others – depends on how many trees your little girl likes to climb. However these outfits are so gorgeous with some beautiful detailing – such as raw edges, buttons and hand stitching, antique lace and found fabrics, layers of fabric, the use of natural raw unbleached linens and simple cottons. The designs are not difficult, a-line styles, ruffled skirts, square front bodices, and wrap-over tunics. This is such a sweet, sentimental, romantic book of designs for little girls – and mothers who love to dress up their little girls. [You can download full size patterns of the designs from Make Good Crafts Website + download a couple of sample projects.]

Embroidered Effects: Projects and Patterns to Inspire Your Stitching (Sublime Stitching) by Jenny Hart. Chronicle Books; Spi edition (September 9, 2009).

This is not just a book with groovy embroidery designs and lots of transfers to help you re-create the groovy designs, it is in fact an extremely comprehensive book on embroidery for beginners.

Jenny really goes into such incredible detail with her explanations of techniques and tools and materials, it is obvious she loves her craft and has thought deeply about how to explain it those who may be not quite sure how to get started. Along with chapters on the basics (fabrics to use, threads to use, tools to use) there is a fantastic stitch dictionary with excellent clear illustrations and instructions – showing where the needle goes in and comes out, where you are supposed to hold the thread and which direction you should be heading. Often a second technique for doing the one stitch is described – I love that Jenny is not precious about how you get it done and she allows for different styles of stitching in her instructions.

There is a whole section on the different patterns/designs – with transfers in the back to help you get just the right look – the designs are shown stitched onto outfits, aprons, shirts or as framed pieces, pillows, tablecloths, even shower curtains, but alas no doilies.

With Jenny’s usual fun and slightly subversive designs you will find tattoo embroidery for you sleeve shirt, colourful day of the dead skulls for your summer skirt, cute little bluebirds for the fronts of your jeans, adorable framed child’s art, embroidered text and more.

For more of a taster – check out these free online tutes from the book

Mahjong embroidery tablecloth
Floss blending tutorial

This past week has been so so busy – a craftin’ and a workin’ and not to mention yuk wasted day sick in bed. Despite that set back I have managed to get to 2 quilt projects – one of them was started a year ago and the other is for a baby due soon – click on the images for more details.

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.

1. DID YOU MANAGE TO SEE … refashion roundup – part 4 of an ongoing series … you people are so clever … the last of the halloween roundups for this year – have a good one if you celebrate …

   sort of going a bit mad with quilts – love the quilt festival and have a series of roundups to keep quilt fans busy one + two + three + more next week.

   ALSO doing a series of posts with our fabulous artists who are featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – April - March – Cover – January + more next week…

   Check out my recipe for lemon butter and angel food cake — yummy!

2. MY FAVE CRAFT THIS WEEK: … ruffle hedgehog softie – very cute! …
3. ITS A QUILTY WEEK: … Read up on long arm quilters … and the virtual quilt project …
4. HOLIDAYS + GIFT GIVING: … partridge tree ornament …

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.
Access our blogging tips series here. Grab a featured on whipup button here and find out about advertising on whipup here.
Follow us on twitter: whipup: @whipup and Nicole: @craftapalooza [and visit Nicole's shop here]
Feel free to send in letters, ideas and links to whipup[at]gmail.com
Join the Whipup.net flickr group here.
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Find out more about our fantastic Whipup 2010 calendar

I love doing these refashion roundups – there is so much innovation out there … here is more innovation and inspiration to help you turn old into new again. [thanks wardrobe refashion - take the pledge]

dollar store pj’s to super cute ruffle shirt [see pic above]
80’s jumpsuit to jumpdress – I love this transformation
make wool soaker baby pants from felted sweaters

t-shirt memory scarf
cheaters guide for a very cute fancy dress for a toddler
layered circle skirt for toddlers from a barbie curtain
jewel t-shirt
sweater houndstooth pillow
lovely layered shirt dress
maternity shirt

This trick or treat tote to sew is super cute from the sometimes crafter [see pic]
adorable dress up crown
sock bat doll pattern by heather ross

Halloween treat bag tutorial - made from paper bags – quick and fun to make with kids.
Chica and Jo have some great ideas – including cobwebby sheets and halloween jar luminaries (+lots more)
clothespin bats - great project for the little ones
fashionista pumpkins – hilarious and fun and easy too
article all about makeup for halloween
grosgrain has collected some great halloween costume tutorials for kids
halloween paper garland – another great kids project
positive negative pumpkin - art project for kids

Ghost cupcakes [see pic above] recipe and how-to
the meat hand by not martha
gruesome sweeney todd pie

Dear fellow quilters/crafters
Your quilting story could be featured in an upcoming quilt book I am researching (not due for release until 2011). The book will touch on community and quilting and I would love to hear from you. Find out more here.

Last night was the culmination of some fun projects I have been working on (if you look closely you can see I had a lovely little helper do some sewing for me) – these sweets and tea-set were in a group show last night along with a couple of other works of mine and lots of great stuff by some other very talented artists. It was a fun night (there was red wine spillage), toffee apples, and good friends.

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.

1. DID YOU MANAGE TO SEE … men’s knits - reviewed – its a lovely book … brief roundup of free quilt patterns … and the quilt market roundup …
2. MY FAVE CRAFT THIS WEEK: … the foam cake tutorial … and the koala softie …
3. FOR YOU: … transfer ink-jet image to wood … linen bag …
4. HALLOWEEN / CHRISTMAS / GIFT GIVING: … some christmas embroidery …
5. FOR THE KIDS: … pinwheel pin …

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.
Access our blogging tips series here. Grab a featured on whipup button here and find out about advertising on whipup here.
Follow us on twitter: whipup: @whipup and Nicole: @craftapalooza [and visit Nicole's shop here]
Feel free to send in letters, ideas and links to whipup[at]gmail.com
Join the Whipup.net flickr group here.
Igloo self service ads: igloo
Find out more about our fantastic Whipup 2010 calendar

I love softie cakes and here is an excellent tutorial + pattern for making this 3 tiered foam cake – with cake slices + bonus pattern for making the candles too – there are lots of variations in ways to decorate the basic cake design as well.

adorable and simple koala softie pattern from trixi of coloured buttons.