Thank you to all the wonderful guest bloggers who contributed articles on my month long hiatus – I am back at the helm (behind the scenes though for another week and a half with guests posting) while I get a few things done.

We had a super duper adventurous trip (with a few misadventures along the way too). I’ll let the pictures do the talking … for more pics from our trip I have a tumblr!

Lots of great scenery. (Flinders ranges) [We stayed at Wilpena pound camp ground - great place]

These amazing colours zooming past the car window.

Dirt roads – and an even dirtier car.

Some car travel crafting. [I am using some self striping yarn I bought from Etsy]

A misadventure. (Oodnadatta track)

Another misadventure (there were more but I got over photographing every one!)

Breathtaking sunsets. (Painted desert – SA) [We camped at nearby Arckaringa station - good facilities - a bit barren but turned out to be perfectly so - amazing sunsets]

And sunrise (cheeky kids too!) (Painted desert – SA)

Walking on inland salt lake – Lake Eyre

There is black sludge underneath that layer of salt

Camp fires

Lots of reading and cooking by the camp fire (the colours of the earth were incredible).

We ended up here. (Oodnadatta)

Musical junk sculpture in the middle of the desert. (Oodnadatta track)

Standing in front of a railway water tank from the old Ghan railway. (Oodnadatta track)

Wearing fly screen masks in a desert ruin and pretending to be a zombie. (Farina ruins) [We camped at the Farina Station campgrounds - an excellent find]

Cheeky kid wearing a pink hat. (notice our muddy camper trailer in the background)

We did some fishing too. (Murrumbidgee river) [Yanga National park - great spot]

Scruffy happy kids on the way home (sitting on a real submarine HMAS Otway - that happened to be decommissioned and resting in an inland town)

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Try making these spooky glowing orange candles. You could make them for Halloween or just whenever you like.  They are very easy to make – all you need is an orange, a small paring knife and a soup spoon. Download the free PDF for the full instructions right here.

This is an extract from Issue 6 of the Action Pack {Mini-mag for kids who want to do stuff!} for more citrus projects – zap and zest projects grab the whole magazine here (all 60 ad-free pages) for only $6.

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Jodi Anderson grew up in the woods of Wisconsin and her past is very present in everything that she does today. Her greatest love is beauty in the mundane, which isn’t difficult to find, and she keeps track of that in her online journal, Daybook. She refuses to let her struggles with pain and illness define her.

Crafting for health

Crafting really can be a unique and useful tool in achieving a healthy life, despite circumstances beyond our control, while participating in something that is creatively productive.

These are things that, whether you are healthy or not, you may have experienced:

Waiting for the doctor to call with test results, the loss of a loved one, gnawing physical pain, trying to put your life back together after ending a relationship, biding your time while undergoing cancer treatment, feeling ready to explode from the pressures of everyday life, being laid up short- or long-term, or struggling to stay afloat despite depression.

We are united in our ability to feel emotional pain and in our inability to completely avoid disease. Our lives, even when in good health, are certain to contain trying moments, periods of anxiety-inducing waiting and emotional distress, not to mention an ill-timed and unexpected cold or flu. With more serious health issues, mundane tasks can become increasingly difficult and life is likely to include long periods of time when everything seems to be in limbo, maybe waiting for an appointment with the doctor, anticipating an unknown diagnosis, or watching for the earliest signs of healing and recovery. So much of it can not really be avoided, yet we can determine how we handle these times, whether we succumb to them or use them to propel us forward in some other measure.

Meditation and journaling are often recommended in addition to more traditional physical and mental healthcare methods. I find that both can be helpful in a variety of ways. Meditation may lighten our mental load, center our thinking, and provide a sense of peace that can pervade all areas of our life. Writing can bring us focus, a chance to vent our thoughts, a way to feel less burdened, and a map to navigate our way through confounding circumstances.

Living a handmade life through crafting and art can provide many of the same benefits as well as a very personal physical product of our experience. Earlier this year, I found myself particularly housebound. Despite loving the cold and dark hues of winter, I began to crochet a brightly-colored rainbow blanket for my daughter. It seemed like an impossibly long project: hundreds of tiny stitches in every row, nearly two hundred rows to do, thousands of yards of double knit yarn, and a small hook. Making that blanket, in hindsight, feels like one long and slow deep breath. At the time, it kept my mind off of my body. It allowed me to meditate, stitch by stitch. I felt a sense of control and peace. Sometimes I did think about my unknown future while working, but it was more constructive than when I simply fretted with my hands rolled into fists. Of course, the sweet icing on the cake is seeing my young adult daughter tote the blanket, a sort of map-journal of my healing, around the house, wearing it like a robe at times, and sleeping under it nearly every night.

Much handwork is repetition in both a small and a large way, with a great number of seemingly trivial motions producing a grand item, such as with embroidery, knitting, and crochet. A large knit piece may contain hours of meditative stitching, the chance to mindlessly work or, also, an opportunity to focus on something besides the self, like proper technique, tension, and the progress of the piece. This repetitious movement and chance to free the mind is so much like meditation, and some find it easier as negative thoughts can be replaced by intentionally thinking of the work at hand, refocusing the brain.

Craft comes in all forms and negate none of it. Take hold of what brings you joy and peace.

The act of dressing a plate with food can start out as creative experimentation, but develop into a satisfying ritual. Maybe you will again find your passion for fashion by piecing together your wardrobe into new outfits or sewing up a fresh addition. Scrapbooking may seem like merely a way to save photos, yet it can be the story of your journey, which is important to recognize and, perhaps, share. You may wish to keep it private, but that does not lessen its significance. Stick a small sketchbook in your bag, whether you feel that you can draw or not. Use it to see what is around you or use it to get out what is inside of you. Let it help you to pass the time while waiting at the doctor’s office. Other small projects, like knitting, are great for this too.

While you can not control all of what happens in your life and with your body, you can grab hold of yourself and live dynamically despite apparent obstacles. The busywork of creating can help to get you through the small crises, and the satisfaction of a finished piece can lift you during the duration of illness, perhaps even physically comfort you.

Crafting is unlikely to cure a serious illness, yet it may provide a sense of relief or contentment as well as a feeling of accomplishment when even the activities of daily living are difficult to obtain. Cross-stitching may not mend your broken heart, but it could be a healthy way to vent your feelings. (Yarn bombing, anyone?!)Similar Posts:

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Wheeeeee. So excited about this book finally hitting the shelves – almost 2 years after its beginnings. Thank you to Chronicle Books and Photographer John Paul Urizar and Stylist Stephanie Powell for making this book look so gorgeous. Thank you to my husband Rob for drawing all the lovely how-to illustrations throughout. And thank you to four lovely ladies who helped with some sewing. Andi, Fiona and Kate each sewed a quilt top for me and my neighbor Chris sewed two.

And of course my two gorgeous Kiddos, my inspiration! Thank you for your patience. A year of sewing, listening to that dang noisy quilting machine going day and night in the middle of the lounge room (amidst cries of ‘please turn it off just for a little while’) and fabric and threads all over the place – I have a very patient and lovely family. But it was worth it in the end. We have a book bloggy tour running late in October so watch out then for more about the book – but for now here are some sneak peaks of just some of the photos and quilts you will find in my new book.

Little Bits Quilting Bee is now available to order at Amazon and will be coming to a book shop near you very soon!Similar Posts:

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Whether its emails with interesting links or trawling through my rss feeds for cool things – here are some lovely links to explore this week.

If you would like to send press releases or submit your own project please send to submit[at]whipup.net.

• Make this bean bag toss game
• Abby has a free bird in flight pattern (pictured)
• This lined paper stencilled tee is fun
• 20+ things to make from cardboard tubes 
• Join 100 quilts for kids
• Find out how to make sandals at the Storque (pictured)
• Lark are having a giveaway
• Make this doodle pillow (pictured)

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I getting emails with interesting links and also love to trawl through my rss feeds for cool things – so here i give to you some of my finds and some things that landed in my inbox this week.

If you would like to send press releases or submit your own project please send to submit[at]whipup.net.

Tutorials

• I love this felted bucket hat (pictured)
• How cute are these sandals for babies
• Make your own piping
• this bunting tablecloth is sweet
• Make an awesome halter dress
• I love Laura’s cute new tutorial of a little inchworm.  There’s a video of him inching along, and a pattern download.
• also love this cute suitcase update
• More in the playfood carving series

Other lovelies

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I getting emails with interesting links and also love to trawl through my rss feeds for cool things – so here i give to you some of my finds and some things that landed in my inbox this week.

If you would like to send press releases or submit your own project please send to submit[at]whipup.net.

Tutorials

• These little fairy dolls sleep in lavender filled sleeping bags – you can use them to scent your shoes. Even face drawing phobic people who don’t make cloth dolls will be able to make these cloth fairies, (the tutorial comes with two face templates and instructions on how to use them).
• This little dress for girls is a cute and simple pattern – and the variations are practically endless
• LOVE this icecream skirt (pictured)
• This coin purse made with yoghurt lids if very clever
• Scrapbooking and paper arts tutorial – making outline headings
• This home sweet home knit pillow is very cool (pictured)
• Design your own quilt in photoshop tutorial
• Rope necklace (pictured)
• Sweet toddler sundress and toddler skirt too
• Part of CRAFT’s design + photography week – cyan0type knitting and create a colour palette
• Make your own moroccan pouf
• And another toddler dress
• Make your own undies
• More on creative mending (pictured)
• Make a woodsy hanger
• Make a boho dress

Tidbits

• BUST are currently accepting vendor applications for the BUST Magazine Craftacular at Maker Faire New York — the World’s Largest DIY Festival — taking place on September 17-18. More information here.
• Get the latest crafter news newsletter
• Poppytalk’s back to school Handmade Market is running August 15 to September 11 – they are looking for old school goodies Submission info HERE
• Lots of playhouse inspiration
• 7 refashion tops to make
• Bake a book cake
• Join the sewing summit

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Just returned from a few days away. We were in Hobart for an extra nice long-ish weekend. Birthday party, outings, hiking, skimming rocks, feeding fish, making snowmen. We walked up Mt Wellington (not all the way) it was lovely and snowy, and we visited MONA - amazing – if you have a change to go – make sure you do. The most original and interesting art gallery in Australia.

And that teapot pic that snuck in there amongst the holiday shots is my crochet tea cosy that I made this week. Snug and fitted and lovely and blue. I freestyled it – began it like a crochet beanie and then split it at the handle and spout and then joined it back up again. And then added a little cup at the spout. You like?Similar Posts:

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Every week I get lots of email – and also love to trawl through my rss feeds for cool things – so here i give to you some of my finds and some things that landed in my inbox this week.

If you would like to send press releases or submit your own project please send to submit[at]whipup.net.

tutorials

• Taggies toy: The pattern’s for a really simple, yet entertaining toy so it’s a perfect project for newbies yet still fun for advanced people and everybody knows a baby or 2 to give them too :D The pictures are only of the cat version, but the pattern includes a bunny and bear as well.
• Treat bag tutorial
• Great idea for making reusable pattern/template pieces
• This tutorial for butterfly shrug for little girls can be easily adapted for adult sizes. It provides easy step by step instructions for making a very stylish version of this wardrobe staple. Great resource for people working on their fall-winter wardrobe now.

News

• Windham Fabrics is proud to welcome Lotta Jansdotter and her new collection Echo. This eye-catching collection will hit stores 11/1/11.
• 50+ Bloggers’ All time favourite recipes in a recipe e-book. Designed by Heather from Chickabug, and put together by the team at Howdoesshe – with over 50 bloggers sharing their favourite recipes (Yes I have a contribution in there too) - 100% of the money raised from the sale of this book will be given to the american red cross. For sale for 1 week and 1 week only: August 8 – 14.
• Must read article about Improvisational Quilts at Collectors Weekly - It features quilts by Sherry Ann Byrd, her extended family, and several other African American quilt makers. (Images pictured)
• Must read article about Ravelry

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Every week I get lots of email – and also love to trawl through my rss feeds for cool things – so here i give to you some of my finds and some things that landed in my inbox this week.

If you would like to send press releases or submit your own project please send to submit[at]whipup.net.

This coming week is my mother-in-laws 70th birthday – she is organising a midwinter musicale – champagne and snacks on the harbour – should be quite lovely. While we are visiting we will be doing all sorts of other lovely things too – and hopefully some relaxing will get included as well! The week after that is my 8 year old soon to be 9 year old son’s birthday. We will be seeing Harry Potter the finale on 3D – followed by an Indian restaurant feast. Fun!

Tutorials and patterns

• Doll mattress – with piping tutorial
• I love this flag knitted wrap (pictured)
• Sweet idea - wedding program fans
• Crochet bracelet
• Download this bird ornament pattern
• Pretty crochet flowers for lavender sachets (pictured)
• Beaded recycled t-shirt necklace
• Hand embroidered thanks you cards (pictured)
• Make a sputnik lamp

Interesting discussions and inspiring things

• Discussion from Ashley Shannon on equality in fabric design – part 1 and part 2.
• Maryanne is having a Dear Jane sew along.
• se7en+1 has featured me on her blog – sweet – read my favourite 7+1 things
• I like these wooden ties
• I like this crochet wrist watch band (pictured)
• Lovely colour on this tumblr
• Join the hottie challenge
• Join the one yard wonders sew along
• Join the summer sweater knit along
• Discussion on being interdependent

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