fantastic idea – kooky and cool – seems like it might be fun to make and work well too – link courtesy of craft - K’Nex Lightbox Tutorial
You may have heard of Sister Diane through her fabulous crafty pod cast over the last few years, or more recently as a craft book author of the book Kanzashi in bloom (we talked about it back here). Now Diane has ventured into the world of e-books and is doing these just as fantastically as all her previous endeavours.
Always clear and concise, and full of interesting information – her e-books are really a treat. She has 2 e-books on the subject of blogging ‘Making a Great Blog‘ and ‘Creating a blog audience’. They go together but can be read separately too.
The first one ‘Making a Great Blog: A Guide for Creative People’, takes new and old bloggers step by step through the process of creating a successful blog. From how to get started (what sort of blog, how to be organised, what are your blogging goals, how much time do you have to dedicate to your blog), to writing content and dealing with blogger fatigue, finding your voice and style and thinking of your blog as a visual thing. Diane has very valuable insights into blogging and the craft community – as a list maker I particularly appreciated the ‘to do’ lists and work sheets which help with planning and brainstorming.
To delve into the community and marketing aspect of blogging – you will need ‘Creating a Blog Audience: an unconventional marketing guide’, where Diane talks about blogs as a useful marketing tool and how to compete (or not) in the big blogging world full of those corporate blogs with a machine behind them.
With a small but very useful and clear marketing lesson to begin with, Diane tells the reader how to use their blog to promote their crafty business/book/project, how to participate and become part of the community, and how to make use of various blogging tools and social media. Diane also discusses ‘the cool kids’, the popular blogs, how they got there and why they are popular and how you can build up your audience too.
Diane’s blogging e-books are a fantastic resource – take advantage of her incredible experience and knowledge. I only wish I had these 5 years ago instead of stumbling and bumbling my way through. Well done Diane.
Diane is offering 3 whipup readers two ebooks each: a copy of Making a Great Blog and a copy of Creating a Blog Audience (Plus worksheet packs, of course.)
– leave a comment here letting us know the greatest challenge to you in starting up your blog you have 48 hours to enter – good luck!
Comments closed – congrats to our 3 winners: Steph, Fay and Ansie – you have been contacted via email.
Naomi Ito is a designer for Kokka fabrics and fashion designer and author. Her website NaniIRO is an amazing wealth of inspiration and patterns. Go to the sewing section of her website and click on any collection to download patterns to make all the amazing things she has available.
So you have thought about buying or have already bought a super cute Japanese knitting or crochet pattern book. What now? unless you can figure out a pattern by just looking at it you might be wondering how on earth you are going to read the patterns in your new wonderful book.
Guide to Reading Japanese Patterns + how to read Japanese crochet patterns + How to Read Japanese Graphical Knitting Charts + translating Japanese knitting patterns + Japanese knitting symbols + download instructional pdf from tata tatao and the basics of Japanese knitting here +
Leethal is Lee Meredith. Specialising in craft projects using recycled materials, knit design, yarn making, printing, craft writing and photography, Leethal has been created not just to sell her creations but to be an online resource of patterns, tutorials, inspiration and more! Link.
A new online textile magazine, hand eye magazine, with a wide variety of topics such as sustainability, traditions and history, and well as featuring artists and exhibitions and looking at materials and processes. Promises to be a fantastic read and resource. With articles such as ‘The old language of indigo‘ and inside indigo – looking at the processes and traditions of Indigo dyeing [If you want to indigo dying at home there is an indepth article here.]
Happy Chaos – the story of Cape Town’s Mielie Studio – turning scraps from South Africa’s fashion and textile industries into hooked rugs and other homewares : African Velvets – looking at the tructure and improvisation of Central African Kuba cloth.
Interweave Names Kathleen Cubley Editor of KnittingDaily.com
Kathleen says:
I’m addicted to all things knitting, including magazines, books, and online magazines, patterns, and blogs. I’m so excited to become part of the online knitting world, taking over the reins so deftly handled by Sandi. I look forward to becoming a big part of your community, bringing you new techniques, projects, author introductions, tips and tricks, videos, knit-a-longs, insider’s info about new products—basically, a host of information to increase your confidence and enhance the joy of knitting.
Have you been following the biz ladies series on design*sponge? The Design*Sponge Biz Ladies series was founded in 2006, connecting local women running their own art and design-based businesses. Such a fantastic resource covering such topics as marketing marketing, wholesale and retailing, general business and legal advice and stories from successful women who have turned their passion into a full-time job.
Back from a couple of weeks accidental break! I’ve been busy doing kindergarten enrolments that everything else has fallen by the waist side. Balance – the meaning of life for me.
Anyhow enough intense talk first thing on a Sunday, here are some things I’d like to share with you:
mixtape giveawy monday! - you gotta be in it to win it.
mixtape zine T-towels, cool design screen printed on a hemp t-towel – take a vote over on our blog would ya please?
Tessuti Fabric’s new store in Flinders Lane Melbourne – WOWZA!
Blog of the week – Red Felt Flower
Arthur’s Circus goodness
Made By Maisy cuteness
Catching up with 3 old friends on facebook and feeling good about it.
Watching True Blood like a woman possessed and never wanting it to end, loving the books JUST as much.
I’m off to the Community Cup today with the family for a day of footy, live music, sausage in bread, beer and good times!
Some great ideas for setting up your stalls at markets/craft shows. Link.
