The light is just streaming in today

by kath_red on February 14, 2012

in Books, Newsletter

That was the title of one of my instagram pics this week [you can view my images in a few ways: followgram or webstagram or at instagram]. Light glorious light. We haven’t had enough of it this Summer, it has been a strange season, usually our summers are hot and dry — now don’t me wrong — I’m not complaining, I am not really a summer person unless there is a beach within walking distance and as I live in an inland city the shower is as close as I get. The light streaming in brings with it interesting shadows and makes my studio a glorious place to spend time during the day.

This week I am making progress on my  Scrappy steps afghan which I mentioned in last weeks newsletter. Also in last weeks newsletter I mentioned the beginning of a series: chatting about pre-cut fabrics and the quilts in my new book  Little Bits Quilting Bee: I have introduced a couple of quilts already – Squadron :: Lollypop tree :: Cloud song – more to come…

I have had some great emails and letters this week — lots of affirmations and snippets of information too:

In other news:
I am working on the next Action Pack Magazine for kids. It’s nearly ready to launch and will be lots of fun. It is the Mad Scientist issue and is filled with some fabulous science experiments, can’t wait to show you! If you are an Action Pack fan — make sure to check in on our facebook page for updates and news. If you haven’t heard of our Magazine for kids (ad free) check out our website, you can purchase back issues there too!

Also at Whipup we took a look at the book ‘How to take great photos‘ especially for diy-ers and crafters.

What I am reading:

In The Wilds: Drawings by Nigel Peake Published by Princeton Architectural Press (April 2011). I love a textured cover on a book, I know it’s a small and silly thing, but with everyone proclaiming the end of books, I am so glad that publishers are making an effort to preserve the object-ness of the book. In the Wilds, not only has a lovely sturdy textured hard cover, but it is filled with delicate textured drawings based on Nigel’s love of the land he grew up in. Birds, fields, fences, wood grain — he manages to capture the essence of place.

Paraphernalia by Steven Connor and published by Profile Books (UK) and Allen and Unwin (AU) (2011). Steven Connor is a professor of English literature and has written several academic books, here he shares his knowledge of objects, the English language, history and some philosophy too with us common folks by exploring our curious relationships with ordinary things. This book is a joy to read, wonderfully clever and full of fascinating stories about objects.

Simple Modern Sewing: 8 Basic Patterns to Create 25 Favorite Garments by Shufu To Seikatsu Sha, English language version published by Interweave Press (December 13, 2011). More beautiful simple flowing designs in the Japanese style – from flowing dresses, to cute tunics and drawstring pants — there are some elegant wardrobe basics here. The one drawback as another reviewer said: “The patterns only go up to size L – which ends up being something like US 3-4 [teenager] size or a petite. Short and no room for breasts.” However due to the excellent photo illustrations and how-to instructions which we have come to expect and appreciate in Interweave books, if you have a little sewing experience you should be able to alter the patterns before making up the clothing if required.

 

[Thanks to publishers and distributors for sending me books to review, I don't get paid to post reviews but I am an amazon affiliate] (Australian’s can purchase craft books online through can do books or booktopia or else browse booko for the best prices.)

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Little Bits Quilting Bee | talking pre-cut fabric | Lollypop tree

by kath_red on February 13, 2012

in Little Bits Quilting Bee, Quilting

Lollypop tree … a throw or wall hanging … by Kathreen Ricketson

Throughout February I will be featuring quilts from my book Little Bits Quilting Bee (published by Chronicle late last year). Because designer fabric is often only in print for one season it can be difficult for quilt designers and authors to choose fabrics that will be still available when the book or pattern is published; so to help you out I will be offering advice and alternate fabric choices for many of the quilts in my book. 

Lollypop tree was in part inspired by kids and their drawings and in part by historic applique designs. This quilt has a central panel made up of a bright bold and childlike tree, made up of green branches and leaves, and bold circle ‘lollypops’. It is meant as a fun design that would not look out of place either in a playroom or a in a living space.

For this quilt I used a charm pack of bright solid colours (Kona brights) for the applique in the central panel, and for the wide border design I used a soft floral roll-up mix from Lecien. I have no idea where you can get these Lecien floral packs now, I bought mine at my local quilt shop, however here are some alternate fabrics that I think would be perfect.

Fabric choices:

  • Grey Ooh La La by Bunny Hill Designs for Moda – The subtle soft grey floral and checks in this mix would be perfect to create a soft border around a bright central panel. (available at Southern Fabrics) (pictured below)
  • Daisy Cottage by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet for Riley Blake Designs – (you’ll need two of these packs as they only contain 25 strips rather than the usual 40) the combination of retro pinks, yellows and greys in this mix would be a delightful combination.
  • Bright Kona Cotton Solids or to match the solid fabric charm pack mix that you used for the applique centre – this would certainly be a bright and fun quilt.

To make this quilt top you’ll need:

  • 1 Jelly Roll (40 strips), 1 charm pack of solid fabric, panel of cream coloured linen 32 1/2 inch square (83cm) should do it. Plus 1/2 yard (46cm) of neutral blender fabric for the binding.
  • You’ll also need a copy of my book - and they are available in all good book shops and online too.
  • I quilted this in a free-style stipple design and used a mauve thread so that the quilting would stand out a little – especially on the plain square central panel.
Quilt images are copyright John Paul Urizar who did a great job on the photography in the book.
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Book | Blog tour | Taking great photos

by kath_red on February 11, 2012

in Books

Blog tour alert: The Crafter’s Guide to Taking Great Photos is published in the US by Interweave and in Australia by Murdoch. The author is Aussie girl Heidi Adnum who has her own Etsy shop and knows how to take a great product photo to sell her wares. She wrote a series on the Storque a while ago explaining how to take photos for Etsy and just like that she has now written has a book. Yay for her! And yay for crafters!

Taking great photos is really essential for a craft/design blog — as visual people we are drawn to images so it is important as a craft/design blogger that your images are good. But if you are trying to sell your product either on Etsy or via your own website then your images have to be better than good. They have to be clear and bright, they have to tell a story and draw people in — they have to be desirable!

Heidi is a photographer and crafter and etsy seller and offers fellow crafters some of her back-to-basics style advice. Her advice is simple and practical for the home DIY photographer. And the examples throughout the book all come from fellow bloggers and craftspeople.

She starts off with the basics, perfect for photography newbies — light, using it and making the most of it, the book then goes through the other basic areas of photography (aperture, shutter, colour, choosing a camera), before moving on to beyond the basics — like telling a story with your image through composition, props, styling, background etc.

Yes there are some diy tutorials to make a light tent and tripod and other photography equipment. Then each chapter of the book is dedicated to a particular craft — so all crafters are catered for!

24 January - papernstitch
26 January - Rena Tom
27 January - CraftBuds
28 January - SweatShopofLove
31 January - Wiksten
1 February - Jenny N Design
2 February - Rifle Paper Co.
3 February - See How We Sew
4 February - Imagination Kids Toys
7 February - Feeling Stitchy
8 February - UK Handmade
9 February - The Academy
9 February - Frankie Magazine
10 February - WhipUp.net
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Little Bits Quilting Bee | talking pre-cut fabric | Squadron

by kath_red on February 10, 2012

in Little Bits Quilting Bee, Quilting

Squadron … A single bed quilt — By Kathreen Ricketson

Throughout February I will be featuring quilts from my book Little Bits Quilting Bee (published by Chronicle late last year). Because designer fabric is often only in print for one season it can be difficult for quilt designers and authors to choose fabrics that will be still available when the book or pattern is published; so to help you out I will be offering advice and alternate fabric choices for many of the quilts in my book. 

Squadron is inspired by planes flying in formation — such fun to watch — the blocks in this quilt are made with an improv method and once the blocks are done there are endless formations you can arrange them into.

For this quilt I used a Jelly Roll of Bar Harbor by Minick and Simpson for Moda. This fabric range is no longer available, I have searched out some other bold fabric ranges to use it its place – just make sure that the range you choose is not too floral as this quilt is perfect for a boy.

Here are some ideas for alternate fabrics:

  • Pezzy Print by American Jane for Moda Fabrics – this collection is a little more colourful with the addition of green and orange and yellow to the mix. (available at cotton blossom farm - pictured below)
  • Lost and Found (My Mind’s Eye) for Riley Blake Designs  – (you’ll need 2 rolls as these have only 30 strips instead of the regular 40) this collection is a little more graphic – grey and red combination — would make a great teen girl quilt using this range)
  • Stars and Stripes (My Mind’s Eye) for Riley Blake Designs  – (again you’ll need 2 rolls here as well) this collection is the closest you’ll get to the one I used – and in fact it might even be more perfect. A great mix of red, blue and white with hardly any florals at all (available soon) and some fabulous plaid, polka dot and star prints.
To make this quilt top you’ll need:
  • 1 Jelly Roll (40 strips), you’ll also need a neutral cream fabric or an unbleached muslin fabric for the background 4 1/3 yard (3.4 m) should do it. You will also need to get some extra yardage of one of the fabrics from your charm pack for the binding 1/2 yard (46 cm) will be enough, or use leftovers from your jelly roll strips or a couple of matching fat quarters to make a scrappy binding.
  • You’ll also need a copy of my book - and they are available in all good book shops and online too.
  • I quilted this in a free-style overlapping square design and used a neutral cream coloured thread so that the quilting blended in rather than standing out.
Quilt images are copyright John Paul Urizar who did a great job on the photography in the book. And thank you also to my two kids who did a great job of pillow fighting each other and getting photographed.
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What’s new, what’s old

by kath_red on February 9, 2012

in Books, Newsletter

I am excited to bring on this year, not that I want to rush into it, no, I just am glad it’s here.

This coming year for me is going to bring a few new challenges, projects and preparation — more on those aspects later in the year, but for now I want to tell you about a few things that I have been into lately, things that reenergise me and that inspire me and that you too can participate in. 

I am now on Instagram @whipup - huh! how did that happen – I know … another thing to get addicted to. But there you have it … it’s fun — what can I say!

[you can view my images in a few ways: followgram or webstagram or at instagram] [ps. That crochet there is the beginnings of a Scrappy steps afghan (it's Chawnes fault), you can grab the pattern here and watch the how-to videos here.]

Do you twitter? I do and you can follow me here: Twitter @whipup : but I what I want to talk about are the chat groups on twitter – the crafty chat groups on all sorts of topics, they are helpful, fun and energising. There is one in particular that is at a convenient time for me and on a topic that I am immersed in at the moment #talknt is all about quilt talk, it is hosted by @caraquilts and is on somewhere between tuesday night (US time) and wednesday midday (Au time) depending upon your time zone. There is a sponsor each week which is always fun, but more importantly about 50 other quilting enthusiasts join in.

There are many crafty twitter chats and parties … which ones do you host or participate in – I would love to know! Do you know of any yarn/knitting/crochet twitter chats? Here are the few that I know about:

  • #talknt is a weekly quilting chat hosted by @caraquilts
  • #CraftSocial is a monthly chat with a changing topic each time, it is co-hosted by @penguintrax and @sisterdiane. The next one is February 14th from 2-3pm EST and the topic is polymer clay.
  • #crafterminds is a twice weekly craft/business chat (Monday at 4pm EST and 8pm EST) hosted by one Crafterminds.
  • #CraftChat is hosted by Craft Critique and is held every Wednesday at 1pm CST. A list of topics for the month is posted on the blog.
  • #omhg is hosted by @ohmyhandmade. They meet every Thursday from 1-2EST to chat about a monthly theme usually to do with building your business or improving your skills.

What is a twitter chat? A tweet chat or party is an organized group conversation which discusses a specific topic, it makes use of a hashtag (#) so everyone can participate. The chats are hosted by people with an interest in a topic and often pose questions to the group to build up a dialogue.

How to join in on a twitter chat: I use either my iphone or TweetDeck or TweetChat and then just search for the hashtag that the chat is using to keep track of and join in to the conversation – it is pretty easy but does take a bit to get used to the speed that conversation goes at sometimes.

——–

This Week I introduced a new series coming up over the next month here on whipup — and it is about my book  Little Bits Quilting Bee and pre-cut fabric: I’ll be discussing which fabrics you can use to make the quilts in my book and will be showcasing a few of the quilts. I was inspired by Weeks Ringle who has been showing the quilts from her latest book on her blog and discussing the design decisions behind each one.

In last weeks newsletter I introduced you to some dinner ideas – this week I am going introduce you to chocolate sheet cake: — inspired by this but using this recipe – chewy and fudgy at the same time – an instant winner!

And this week at whipup we had some guest posts: Baroque punk embroidery :: Valentines bracelets :: Mushroom love brooch.

I am reading… 

  • The big book of small business is written by a fellow Australian Andrew Griffiths (published by Allen and Unwin) — it claims to be the ‘Silver bullet to give you a competitive edge’, I am not sure there is such a thing — hard work, dedication, building relationships, creativity — those are the silver bullets. However it does have thoughtful, practical and useful guidance  – a checklist for success, and it does help you to ask yourself some hard questions. I am gladdened to read that I am on the right path … it is good to know when to stand firm and when to make changes … some valuable advice.
  • Graham Leslie McCallum has a useful series of books featuring various motifs: Flower & Plant Motifs,  Pattern Motifs, Art Deco Motifs and Japanese Motifs. These books include a CD of motifs and which can be manipulated and adapted for your own projects.
  • Sweat Shop Paris: Lessons in Couture from the Sewing Cafe by Martena Duss and Sissi Holleis (published by Andrews McMeel Publishing 2011). This indie style sewing book is written by the gang from the Paris based social sewing shop: ‘Sweat Shop’, it’s a cafe — a social sewing drop-in centre. The designs featured in the book are unusual and unique, hippy and punk and rock n roll diy — utilising refashioning and deconstruction, knitting and crossstitch, beading, glueing and stitching techniques to make a variety of hip and fashionable clothing and accessories as well as a bunch of playful things too.

[Thanks to publishers and distributors for sending me books to review, I don't get paid to post reviews but I am an amazon affiliate] (Australian’s can purchase craft books online through can do books or booktopia or else browse booko for the best prices.)

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