The BUST Magazine 2007 Holiday Craftacular is set to happen on Saturday, December 8!

BUST will be handpicking 200 of the most unique and talented crafters from across the country to sell their wares.

If you would like to participate as a vendor, applications are now available! There are no exceptions as to who can apply: hip handmades, accessories, housewares, vintage clothing, knitwear, silk-screened items, cosmetics, paper goods, handbags, ornaments, cards, and whatever else your crafty canny brings to a table. For a list of FAQ and information on how to apply, please visit http://www.bust.com/craftacular

Be a sugarplum and jingle-tell all your crafty pals about BUST’s Holiday Craftacular by sending them our way!

The Norfolk Craft Mafia is extremely excited to announce their first annual holiday arts & crafts bazaar: Handmade Parade!. They are now accepting applications for vendors and sponsors. When and where: Masonic Temple, 7001 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia 23505 || Saturday, November 10, 2007 10am - 5pm.

Poppy talk has announced a new project - Poppytalk Handmade! Jan is now calling for Submissions for her new online street market. Just like a real street/flea market, indie makers of all kinds will be able to rent a virtual table at Poppytalk Handmade for an opening date of early October/07 (just in time for the christmas season)! The market will feature products that Jan personally loves - each piece handpicked by Jan (who has a great design sense and excellent taste). More info here.

For a limited time Amy Butler is offering some products at a 40% discount. Their way of saying “Thank You!” for making their new web store a great success! Visit her web store to check out the sale.

Go and check out Sister Diane’s new podcast - craftypod #57 - featuring …. me Kathreen from Whipup.

SiopaEile.com today launched auditions for a new premier Irish Artisan group blog. The auditions follow on the trend from other countries where there has been a boom in artisan blogging. Blogging has been slow to take off in Ireland, but this is rapidly changing with many media personalities and businesses starting blogs. A lot of bloggers are now becoming well known names in Ireland with book and newspaper deals. Auditions for the SiopaEile.com group blog will be accepted until October 30th, 2007. Full details on www.SiopaEile.com

I wanted to let you know about a unique craft fair in LA called The Little Monster Market. It’s made up mostly of vendors who are moms who left the corporate world (VPs, designers, ex-tv execs) to stay home with their kids but found a way to turn a hobby or new found creative outlet into a work from home situation by selling cool, hip, handmade clothes, furniture, blankets, etc… For more information on the market, go to www.littlemonstermarket.com. It’s being held in Studio City at the Sunnyside Preschool on September 4th from 9am-3pm.

Kerrie over at Hipknits had a big task in narrowing down over 100 entries to just 5. (see all the entries here). Here are the winners of the wonderful yarn and thank you to everyone for entering - good luck with your projects.

Emily wins the Chunky / Aran weight yarn pack:

I am the librarian for teens at a branch in south-central Los Angeles. We have a twice-monthly crochet and knitting club. One of our younger teens tried for many weeks to learn to crochet, without much success. Then last month she tried knitting, and in one lesson she blossomed into a confident, capable knitter. The Aran / chunky cashmere for a hat or scarf is something that would just amaze and delight her, because the only yarn she’s ever used is crunchy acrylic. She is already in love with knitting, but beautiful, soft yarn would be a wonderful reward for her perseverance.

Tien wins the Aran Silk pack:

My husband has had a very serious relapse of MS. So we had to cancel our vacation with our youngest son. All I can do, next to taking care of my man and the household, is knitting, spinning and a little sewing. I had to throw out a lot of stuff to make room for a nursing bed and other equipment for my husband’s care. So I’m looking forward to some lovely yarn to make a sweater for myself. It will be a long term project to enjoy the yarn the most, sitting next to my man, between the times of care taking.

Clair wins the Lace Silk pack:

Wow - what an inspiration. I am about to have my second child & I am also looking to get started with my own small business & was wondering how I would fit it all in. I think flexibility is the key & being prepared to work hard - which is not difficult when it’s something you love. I do love knitting, but I am not so good at it, so I would probably make some lovely Cashmere baby booties & mittens for a friend of mine who is having a little girl in December. She really appreciates hand-made gifts, so I know that she would love that, but saying that, I would also love to knit myself a silk shawl!

Helen wins the Cashmere sock pack:

Kerrie, my only son who is near and dear to me will be leaving for college very soon. I twill be a difficult time for me… seeing him ‘leave the nest’. I have grand plans sending him ‘care packages’ while he is gone to let him know I’m thinking about him. The packages will include knit socks (which he loves) and it would be great to use your cashmere fingering weight and pattern for socks for him! Many thanks for a great web site!

MommyknitsJen wins the Cashmere lace pack:

I am 8.5 months pregnant with my fourth child and my midwife just told me that her husband who has never smoked has fatal lung cancer. I want to make her something to show her how much I have appreciated her all these years and that she is not alone in this world. I have been pouring over lace patterns for a week or so and I think that I would like to make her some kind of a shawl or stole. That way she could wrap herself in comfort when she needs it.

CALL TO ARTISTS | Touching Warms the Art | Deadline to apply: August 15

The Museum of Contemporary Craft - MuseumofContemporaryCraft.org - is accepting applications for this interactive juried exhibition of innovative approaches to art jewelry that opens in January 2008, concurrent with Framing · the Art of Jewelry, curated by Ellen Lupton.

For a prospectus, please contact Kat Perez, Curatorial Assistant Kat@MuseumofContemporaryCraft.org

Craft Work, Craft Play: An Afternoon with the SF Craft Mafia

A Family Affair: Tips and Treats with the SF Craft Mafia || August 12, 2007, 2-6pm || @ Stitch Lounge || 182 Gough Street (@ Oak in Hayes Valley) San Francisco, CA 94102-5918 || Free to the public, $1-2 donations gladly accepted

San Francisco, CA August 12, 2007 – The San Francisco Craft Mafia (SFCM) strikes again with a community event for Bay Area designers, crafty businesses, and the general public alike. A Family Affair: Tips and Treats with the SF Craft Mafia offers local businesses and designers the perfect chance to network as well as fabulous opportunities to gain new, crafty skills.

Stitch Lounge—a member of SFCM—will sponsor and host, A Family Affair on August 12, 2-6pm. The event will feature a number of work stations to pick up jewelry-making tips, work on selected patterns from Stitch Lounge’s published guide to clothing customization, Sew Subversive, embellish and bedazzle garments with an assortment of buttons, beads, and sequins, and decorate delicious cupcakes. Business owners and designers can mingle over treats and exchange their own business tips and experiences.

Knitted Walking Stick Cosy Competition 2007: WIN £40 IN YARN VOUCHERS! Inspired by the dignifying powers of health-related knitting projects
everywhere, The Missability Radio Show is organising a walking stick cosy knitting competition. With your great ideas, knitting skills and visionary
powers, you can transform even an ordinary grey walking stick into a fantastical design!

The competition is open NOW and all entries must be received by 7th September 2007.

What could be better than gazing longingly into a glass of white wine? How about gazing into that same glass and seeing someone gazing right back at you? :) That might sound a tad creepy now, but take a closer look at our awesome photo wine glass photo frames and pretty soon you’ll be scowling, growling, and grinning… whatever it takes to make the perfect cup-bottom portrait. How to at Photojojo

Idle hands has a cute tutorial on making journals - linkable journals

check out Tante Sophie knitting studio

Joan at Lazy girl says I love buttons! They are such an easy way to add fun to many projects. I use buttons a lot and I wanted to give my readers my tips for perfect placement.

I am an unschooling mom of 3 (5,3,1 yo) and often feel like my daily adventures should earn me merit badges. Well, none existed (I searched!) so I created them! They are meant to be fun and irreverent but I think they have a certain
subversive aspect to them too. I am thinking about hosting a performance/event where women share tales (like on the website) and are awarded merit badges in a ceremony.

Saturday Aug 4 is officially ‘Apron Day’! read more at Pat Sloan

Jennifer wrote: Hi, love this site! I posted a tutorial on using double knit for a button band that your readers might find useful.

Spring Maxfield wrote:
I absolutely love the work of ceramic artist Todd Barricklow. He’s very traditional in his attitude about art, but completely unconventional (in
regards to modern uses, but drawing heavily on ancient sgraffito) in his use of ceramics as a medium.

American Craft Council will be hosting the second part of a three part lecture series, which features speakers like: the Reverend Callie Janoff from The Church of Craft, Cal Patch from Hodge Podge, Amy Shaw from Greenjeans, and Rena Tom from Rare Device. Their discussions are not only going to be super interesting, but they’re also free!

Thursday, July 26 6 pm, reception to follow

Marketplace Intervention: The Do-It-Yourself Renaissance. Join Reverend Callie Janoff of NYC Church of Craft and Hodge Podge clothing designer Cal Patch for a discussion on how they’re converting, inspiring, educating and creating the next wave of craft lovers.

RSVP required: education@craftcouncil.org or 212-274-0630 x.234.

The American Craft Council Library 72 Spring Street, 6th Floor (between Crosby & Lafayette)

Thank you for sharing my yo-yo maker tutorial with your readers. I’ve received some very nice emails from your readers letting me know they appreciated finding the resource. My very best to you,
Joan Hawley
Lazy Girl Designs

Kledilton Pinto wrote: Hello from Brazil!

We are very glad We’ve found Whip Up! We are a virtual store where you can find handmade crafts from the Amazon Region of Brazil, i.e. Paintings, Indigenous Basketry, Bio-Jewellery, etc. Besides, everyone can learn more about the Amazon Region, send e-card or even save wallpapers available in our site. Please, pay us a visit and hope you may enjoy your stay! :) Thanks and best wishes

SouleMama’s book is available for pre-order - its called The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections This is what its about - Between work and school, music lessons, and sports practice, there is less and less time to connect as a family. Those few moments together are often spent making meals, doing homework, or watching TV. In this inspiring book, Amanda Soule, a young mother of three, presents simple ways to use arts and crafts and other forms of creativity to deepen family connections. For parents of all backgrounds, The Creative Family offers unique creative activities for the whole family. The range of projects includes: imaginative play such as dress up, home theater and parlor games; arts and crafts such as family drawing time and knitting with children; nature explorations such as creating garden journals and making natural toys; and family celebrations that include making music and displaying children’s art. These fun and engaging alternatives to television, video games, and the computer are meant to captivate children´s imaginations, celebrate their achievements, and express love and gratitude as a family.

We’ve started a new show at Threadbanger called “How To Tuesdays”, which is a weekly DIY summer special. This week Rob and Corinne show you how to beat the heat by making an old t-shirt a little cooler (with only a pair of scissors)! Check out our latest episode here!

Readymade have some new crafty green products in their store - including sets of notecards with envelopes made from their supply of damaged back issues. We’re very excited about how cool they look, and pleased with how we’re able to reuse our magazines for something that’s both useful and green.

Hi whipup team,

I am starting up an internet campaign to raise awareness of mental illness, particularly Depression. Titled “Knit and Fight the Black Dog” I am hoping that people will come forward and share their experiences with similar conditions, and if their craft has helped them in anyway. More information, including details of my personal battle, are available on my blog.
Regards,
Meg

Hello there to all the wonderful people at Whip-up….Love your site..!

I am a new crafting blogger and I have made my first tutorial. It is a tutorial for children to make their own fabric collage which is then mounted onto a canvas. My 6 year old had a ball doing it and it kept her attention for an hour or so on a rainy Sunday afternoon…

Hi Kath -
Am a loyal subscriber to your blog and can’t tell you how much I love it!! Wanted to let you and your readers know I’m posting on my blog the progress of my new quilt studio being built [wow its huge - lucky you - ed] and running a contest for suggestions for the studio. I’ll draw for an Amazon gift certificate from the entries: deadline July 20th. I saw Weeks’ quilt at Quilt National and it was one of my favorites: a simple idea but masterfully design and executed.

Joan from Lazy girl designs sent in a link to a tutorial for making Yo-yo’s using a yo-yo tool! who knew. Also check out our own yo-yo tutorial at whipup if you missed it. And amazing original way to use these yo-yo’s - a barnacle wool throw rug (see image below).

The 2007 Annual Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest is officially underway. It runs from May 1 to July 31, 2007. Grab your friends, your toilet paper and a digital camera and get creative. You can use tape or glue as well. See the official rules for all of the details.

I am a regular visitor to your fantastic blog and it truly inspires me! I’m a few days behind but saw that you had a bunch of book recommendations. “Printmaking for Beginners” caught my eye (and is now on my Amazon wish list :) For my day job I work for a small family run production company in Oregon (we’re about an hour south of Portland). I spend all day editing art and craft (collage, silver clay jewelry, fabric collage, etc) videos and we have a new one on monotype printmaking with a mother/daughter team Julia and Gail Ayres. I thought I’d send you the link because it seems right up your alley! Thanks for all you do! Kelly Here is the youtube link to a preview of the video (looks good) and here is the link to the website.

NYtimes review on Renegade Craft Fair: Where the Crafts Babes and D.I.Y. Dudes Are (via extreme craft).

Australia Melbourne events: via craftaroo

- A charity knitting blanket drive for the Sacred Heart Mission in St.Kilda. Hip to be square is on until July 12.
- July - The 2007 Melbourne Scarf Festival:SPIN at Craft Victoria includes lots of workshops and courses such as creating your own collection of winter woollies using pre-felted recycled knitwear and simple stitch techniques, other courses include felting, making cob web scarves, motifs and patterns and there are children’s courses too!
- Melbourne Design Fair - 8 July - at Federation Square

Vendors Wanted for The Creative Bazaar: The Creative Bazaar is an indie craft fair taking place October 13, 2007 in Cape Cod, MA. Vendor applications are being accepted Now through July 15th, 2007. The Creative Bazaar is taking place during justBe…Connected; a weekend gathering for Creative Bloggers. Special packages are available so vendors can join in on the fun! Please email Melba with any questions
melbamcmullin@comcast.net or check out the website.

Sew Useful contest: Etsy and Instructables have partnered to launch the Sew Useful contest to celebrate their two communities. Entrants will bring their skills to practical projects that make life easier, then share the how-tos.
UPDATE: Deadline for entry has been extended to July 16, 2007!!!

It’s not too late to submit your entry for 500 Handbags! If you haven’t done so already, send your entries to us postmarked by July 16. Lark books - Questions can be directed to: squinn@larkbooks.com

We are currently looking for hip, creative, and fashion-savvy young thrifters to make up our 2007-2008 Savers/ Value Village Redesigners team. The deadline for Applications if June 25th, next MONDAY!
Vintage. Think. Do-it-yourself designs. Whatever the style, shopping secondhand comes first among the fashion-forward crowd. Do you know how to get the “it” look for less? Is your style all your own? Can you creatively mix and match clothes like nobody’s business? Then, we’re looking for you! Questions? Contact ReDesigners@savers.com

Laura Wazna-Blank wrote:
Hi Whip Up!

Thank you so much for being here, WhipUp is the first site I check in the morning and the last at night!
I just opened up my online shop, Modern Craft, and thought it might appeal to some of your readers. We sell Japanese Craft books, some fabric (also mostly Japanese), and notions. Our aim is to provide craft supplies with a Modern style, that are both high quality and contemporary.

Professional artists are invited to submit materials for selection to become published in Masters of Today 100 Contemporary Artists (two-pages) and one page bonus in Art of Excellence, global art books edited by WOA Publishing (London / Stockholm). All entries go through the selection process. Place and availability in the book are subject to quality and acceptance. The nominations and inclusions are judged solely by visuals submitted as attachment send to: info@worldofartmagazine.com. The editors will review all submission and make decisions on acceptance.

Check out this covered button tutorial at crafty b

Cherri House, of Cherry House Quilts has written in with a tutorial and pattern (link is PDF file) for this lovely quilt design - check it out.

thread and thimble wrote in with this cool link to decoupage using found children’s books

Natalie from Papermusings wrote: Hi Kathreen, I’m a bookbinder who has recently started teaching workshops, so I’ve been coming up with fun and innovative projects for my students. I’ve just posted my first tutorial on my blog, for a miniature accordion box, great for holding small cards, mini file folders or even recipes. If you’re interested, please check it out ::link PDF file

Katherine wrote: I love Whip-up, it’s always a source of inspiration. I found a site (via my local freecycle group) that might be of interest to Whipup’s audience, aiming to reduce plastic carrier bag use: www.morsbags.com

Here’s the blurb - “let’s do something positive to reduce the hideous number of plastic bags being used - 1 million are consumed per minute globally - of which hundreds of thousands end up in the oceans.” … the idea is to get together with people in your local community, drink wine and make reusable cloth bags (from old duvet covers, curtains from charity shops etc) and hand them out to the unsuspecting public for free on specified dates outside different supermarkets. … meet new people, do something marvelous for the planet and beat other pods (groups) of baggers with your morsbag tally. ::link

Aurora wrote: Hi–I just posted some lovely images of my friend’s hand woven wool tapestries–she has been weaving these gorgeous tapestries on her floor loom for many years. I have not seen much on your website about the craft of handweaving–so thought these would interest you.
::link

camilla from horse flesh productions wrote: I started experimenting with Pebeo Porcelaine paint. With it, you can paint on ceramics, and bond the paint using only your oven. It’s pretty fun and easy to use, and the only other thing I’ve seen like it is those pricey paint your own pottery stores. This way, you could make a matching set of dishes from a random lot at a thrift store! Anyway, thought I’d share what I came up with. You can view pictures of what I made here ::link

Staceyjoy from redlipstick wrote: Hello! I just finished making a custom machine knit bathing suit for the 2008 “I Heart Brooklyn Girls” pin-up calender, and I documented the design and fabrication process in a Flickr set: Thought your readers might be interested to see the process from beginning to end.

Victoria wrote: My husband is interested in the work of artist and author Miranda July, who has recently hit the press in the UK with her new book of short stories. She wrote directed and starred in the film Me and You and Everyone We Know. He showed me a website she initiated called learningtoloveyoumore.com which sets assignments that can be worked on collaboratively with loved ones, and the results posted on the site. I think whipup members would love it. ::link

Melissa from elemental stitches wrote: I noticed that you were looking for tutorials on refashioning clothes and I have a tutorial that I just finished that shows how to turn winter sweatpants into a workout skirt. ::link

Carrie from thread and thimble wrote: There is some stunning decoupage (the poor little golden books) over here: flickr link These delightful creations are from Pixie Genne. I am also showcasing a few of her photos on my blog.

As you may have noticed, the news tidbits in the sidebar is temporarily disabled, so here is some upcoming news, letters and reader submissions:

Contest on book divas:
submit an artistic interpretation of a person’s favorite book, scene, or character.
Entries can be drawn, painting, sculpted, sewn, or even crafted into an original song.

Emily sent in a link to her friends Angora spinning/fibre website in New Zealand, its calledMenagerie and there is some gorgeous fibre related things, so go and check it out.

Cindy from skip to my lou wrote in: Any chance you might mention my request for help in sewing ‘Linus’ (security) Blankets for orphanages in China? I am hoping to collect 200 by the end of June! You can read more about this project at this website.

Penny wrote in with this lovely letter:

Thanks for sharing my free Heart YoYo Pattern for Valentine’s Day. Some marvelous people have made and shared their creations with me! It was fascinating watching crafters in France discover the pattern and share it. Similarly, crafter’s in Denmark discovered the pattern from your publication and then proceeded to share it. It gives me a warm glow to know that others are enjoying that simple little pattern.

I hope your readers will enjoy these Free pet patterns. Most of our pets are from Rescue organizations, and I hope folks will make these designs and give some to Rescue organizations!

pet collar tutorial here and here

Renata wrote:

Hi Whipup! I’m a long-time reader of the site and this is my first time writing in. I host a blog-along group called “Poetry Monday.” In honour of National Poetry Month (April), I’m restarting the blog-along this coming Monday, 2 April. Each Monday participants post a poem of their own choosing, be it their own words of those of someone else, and briefly comment on how it inspires them. Each month there is a new them - for April the theme is Landscapes. Participants can also express poetry using photos, drawings or craft to convey the artistic/dramatic mood of the theme.

Helene sent in a link to a free pattern for a crocheted basket motif.

Kylie sent in a few fun links. JoshJakus bags and little elves on etsy who makes note pads from out of date maps.

Madeline wrote in introducing her new online store selling handspun and hand dyed yarns

Jen wrote in with a link to fascinators that she recently made - those wacky headpieces worn to the races and such! It was surprisingly easy and a lot of fun

Judi wrote: I posted a free pattern for a simple cloth doll at my website. I’d love it if you shared it with others. It is called Blume. Kind of a make-it yourself Bendi doll with funny feet.

Robyn wrote: Hi! I just wanted to share my blog ‘that silly girl’ and my etsy shop. I’m quirky and, well, silly as my blog title might suggest. The things I make are made mostly while my two kids are napping. Anyways, thanks for what you all do at whipup. It’s amazing how much talent is out there and how whipup manages to bring it all together.

Dá o rosto oa Manifesto- give a face to our manifesto- is a project from Lonely-Made. The editor of this portuguese web is looking for a model for her mannequins.

The idea: to create a face for the mannequin: a picture, a collage, an illustraction. It´s a “call for entries” for artists, crafters or creativity people. All of them will be show on her blog and different showcases. Send your “face” here: lonelymade@gmail.com , more info here.

La editora de Lonely-Made(web de Portugal), nos lanza un desafío: crear una cara para sus maniquiés. Fotografías, ilustración, collage, todo tipo de técnica y de profesionales(o no profesionales) están invitados a participar. Así que si quieres “dá o rosto ao Manifesto” (¿alguien sabe la traducción al castellano?)puedes enviar tu propuesta aquí: lonelymade@gmail.com . Más información en esta web.

Hello, my name is Hanne, I’m a new writer here, but you might recognize my designs from December and January’s “gifts and decorations” and February’s “recycled” Whip Lash…

I´m a Danish artist, crafter, teacher and blogger. I live as a single mum with my two teenage girls in the countryside south of Aarhus where I´m educated both at the Academy of Fine Arts and at the College of Education. I´m lucky to have my studio at home but I also have a part time out-of-the-house-job as a teacher at a nearby secondary school in order to keep my economy above the waterline and because I like teaching and communicating…

My art involves a broad field of mixed media materials and techniques. Especially I love recycling projects and ideas and most often I try to incorporate second-hand material in my creations. It can be everything from old postcards to bus tickets, press cuttings, extracts from photo albums, vintage fabric, etc. etc. I find that the scrapped, faded, wry and uneven pieces have invaluable significance in the proper context by simply adding personality and authenticity to my designs. Moreover it’s great fun to hunt scrap and to put it into new “settings” and create something new out of something old.

My plan for this forum is to write different articles on mixed-media, recycled fabric, redesign, arts and crafts in general and whatever I find interesting along the way. I have a lot of ideas but, please, bear with my language as you’ve probably realized way back - English is not exactly my mother tongue. Hope I’ll be able to convey the message though.

simmy has a pattern for blossom fairies (see right)

Jen from Indiefix.com has a new crafty blog - with lots of nifty tips and ideas.

Amy de from ignore me has started a new flickr group called show and tell yarn projects I want Show and Tell Yarn 2007 to be a place that everyone can have a “Hooray for Me” shouting post, because let’s face it - the pets aren’t always as thrilled as we’d like. My only guidelines are knitting and/or crochet or yarn in general and BE NICE because Mean People suck!

Hi, This is Mayuko, deaf Japanese living in Greensboro NC. I saw your website, and it is inspired me!! I created online jewelry store recently. I am sorry for delaying to introduce about myself. We own a cozy coffee shop in country side in NC for almost 2 years. Our coffee shop was chosen as one of top ten. Now we are selling Japanese bread. There is no Japanese store this area, so now many Japanese are visiting us to buy Japanese bread. We sell handmade jewelry online and inside of coffee shop. People who love craft is gathering in coffee shop once a month, and sell their jewelry in coffee shop and online. But due to country side, not many people come in shop. They are struggling because they took many times and efforts to create those things, so hopefully many people can look our handmade craft and jewelry through online. If you don’t mind, could you add link to my site in your web? [looks like a lovely place ::coffeeshop link ::online jewellery]

From Denise:
I wanted to let you all know about our new online magazine.. Loom Knitters Circle. It is all about loom knitting! Free patterns, articles and tutorials! We just went live with our first issue this morning! [good luck ::here is the link]

From Guylaine
I am dropping you a line to introduce myself and draw your attention to .tomate d’épingles, which combines vintage, recycled, retro and new materials into quirky handmade recycled jewelry. [::link here] Image: men’s charm necklace - gemstones and copper from Guylaine

Justine wrote:
Hi Kath, I have just posted a new tutorial, about how to use plant dyes to dye wool (without the use of poisonous mordants) [::link]

Kelly wrote: Hi, I just posted a tutorial for box bags [::link]

Fran wrote: Hi Whip Up, I just know that you are going to love this new Japanese sight I discovered. [::link]

Sarah wrote: I just posted a tutorial today about making a fabric coffee sleeve. I saw the idea in Real Simple magazine, but thought it was such a good idea that I should make my own personalized one. [::link]

Jennifer wrote: hi whipup! the fabulous allyson hill (one of etsy’s top sellers) has posted a tutorial on how to make your own wipe-off coasters on her blog.
[::link]

Amber sent in this:
I have just put out the latest issue of Kids Craft Weekly. It features instructions on how to make a pair of fairy wings for a teddy bear! I think that this has been my favourite project yet! [::link]

Amit sent this in:
Thought you guys might like this tutorial we just put up on making a photo into a 3D pop-out. [::link]

Caroline wrote:
Hi, on Plump Pudding’s Blog there is a call for others to join her in a stall at the UK Spring Country Living Fair, even though I won’t be able to exhibit, I would like to meet other bloggers, so I had the idea that if bloggers made a badge to wear then we could stop and chat and pass on business cards or details. I have made a very, very (note very!) simple mock up in about 1 min of the type of thing I propose. Its a yellow disc with a green ‘B’ in the middle which is about as Spring like as I could think of! I have posted a pic on my Blog for reference. It could be fun!
[::country living fair ::polkadotpebble]

Michal wrote: hi there! I wanted to share with you my latest venture, Paper Armadillo. Paper Armadillo is my way of making as many hand made items as I want, without having to worry about “what to do” with the finished items later (frankly, I
don’t have enough friends with children to share the joy with). I make soft toys, accessories, stationery and other cute, useful items of my original
designs.
[::link]

Dominique wrote:
Hi, my name is Dominique and I’m writing you from Argentina. I’m in love since the first time with your site and above all with the editorial line that you’ve got. Please let me introduce to you my work. I’m specialized in art direction, fashion and photography. I have a design studio in Buenos Aires.
and I have a blog where I post some craft things. [::design studio ::blog]

Each week I receive a lot of emails from readers introducing me to their blogs, online site and handcrafted products. I love reading these snippets and here are the latest lot.

Christa wrote in

We have a whole new look, lots of new features and lots of awesome cards and crafts (…and stuff) … We are the #1 site for buying and selling all things handcrafted in America! Check us out!! Home Grown market

Christina wrote in

I follow frequently your site because I liked it very much! Now, I present you my work. My name is Cristina, I’m from Portugal and I make some pieces contemporaries, a kind of brooch. If you want to know better my work please check my blog - lonelymade. There, you will find the concept, the histories and the pieces.

Amanda wrote in

We’re a blossoming DIY zine that places an emphasis upon creativity, independent thinking and culture, and doing things yourself! We hope to motivate people to get over their fears and make their biggest dreams come true. We hope you enjoy it - it was inspired in part my the scrumdiddlyumptious Whip Up. Be not afraid

Ariana wrote in

My husband and I have been busy adding fun new products to Paper Cloud–journals, pillows, and art, plus all new designs. We’d love for you to check it Paper Cloud

Lucy wrote in

There’s a cool new blog in town. It’s called lovelyheads, one of my friends is co-creator and would kill me if she knew I was sending this. It’s all about the longing to find true beauty, to understand what it is, and to inspire others to find it. Both these gals are incredibly arty, crafty and insightful, they both love all things photography fueled so this blog is one to watch out for. They even have a little launch competition going. lovely heads

Jennifer from the felt mouse wrote in

Hi Whip Up crew - Just wanted to let you know about a great new resource for moms and kids. Jek, who wows us all with her beautiful pictures on Flickr has started a separate blog to celebrate being a kid (or at least, young at heart). It is called Scrumdilly-do!. She has chosen some more obscure holidays and observances to celebrate, and has cute crafts to make with kids. And of course, those stunning pictures accompany each project!!

Sally from all the stuff I like wrote in

Not sure if you’ve featured this new blog by Floresita - she’s a great embroiderer and collects embroidery transfer patterns. This blog is an online catalogue to her collection.

Dear Kath, a big thank you for featuring my little Irish blog on Whip-up lately. There has been a very uplifting response from the readers who followed
your link. I saw a massive influx of about 2000 extra hits, and since that day my average number of daily hits has doubled.

I don’t generally check my reader numbers, I just do what I do and hope that its enjoyable. I noticed I’d shot to no.1 in the Irish blogs, which prompted me to check the stats as I thought there was something wrong! But no, something was very right …. Whip-Up THANK YOU! I’ve also been offered a couple of freelance paid work magazine and blog articles from those who have discovered me via yourselves, I’m thrilled about the possibilities.

All the best,and sincerely thank you, Rebecca [from the Irish Craft Worker]