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mixtape mashup #9

by kath_red on April 25, 2009

in Resources

mixtape and Whipup‘s joint venture, we both share our ideas, cool links and general goings on.
My aim is to post once a week and give you a “round up” of the week that has been. The post will be put up on the mixtape blog and also on the Whipup blog.
What is mixtape? click here to find out

Weekly Giveaway:

Morgan has kindly donated 3 of her divine babushka doll cards. All you need to do is write to me at feedback.mixtapezineAT gmailDOTcom and tell me how you relax!
winner notified in this space next Friday May 1, 2009.

mixtape purchased a badge maker from The Badge Factory, and I have gone into a badge making frenzie. Don’t forget that mixtape is making up ltd edition badge sets of A-Z. Our first set was A FOR Alice In Wonderland and are now brainstorming what we can do for B! Any suggestions?? Please go ahead let me know some good B things!

Ozz Handmade has launched their new website, support Aussie artists.
Craft Gossip and mixtape are holding hands throughout April/May
I never ever get sick of Japanese goodness and I love this site for a good reference point.

mixtape is turning 2 in August. We are going to have a joint birthday with Incube.8r late June. I am currently on the hunt for a Melbourne band to play on the night, any volunteers?

Natalie the owner of my favourite Melbourne stores and mixtape are in discussions for the first issue out in 2010 of mixtapezine! It’s going to be a ripper!

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mixtape mashup #6

by kath_red on April 20, 2009

in Art+Design, Community + Creativity

mixtape and Whipup‘s joint venture, we both share our ideas, cool links and general goings on.
My aim is to post once a week and give you a “round up” of the week that has been. The post will be put up on the mixtape blog and also on the Whipup blog.

What is mixtape? click here to find out

It’s a short and sweet post this week. Last week-end we spent four days down the coast with our ace friends R&K. This week I am easing back into the chair and slowly sifting though paperwork and inspirational blogs. I didn’t take my laptop on holiday and it felt good! Now if I could only find the balance of computer time & housework…

Yesterday mixtape was at the Sisters Market here in Melbourne where I got to meet new readers and have a nice amount of peeps stop by to wish me a Happy Birthday. I felt very special! Now this leads me to the announcement that Issue 8 has SOLD OUT!!

We have 200 to sell at the Brisbane Stitches & Craft Show (29 April – 3 May 2009). If we have any left after that I will put them back into the shop.

Issue 9 is now up for pre-sale here. We have cover artist covered for Issue 10,11 &12. Would you like to design a cover for us? Write to me at mixtapezineATgmailDOTcom and we’ll go from there.

Things that have crossed my path this week that have made a mark:

PRINT:

Finally the Divided Heart! I will be interviewing Rachel in an upcoming issue of mixtape.

Seams to Me – the lady with as many kids as my Fi! and my new bestie Peppermint Mag (love, love, love) – stay tuned for news on us and them.

MUSIC:

Johnny Cash’s Childrens album has been getting a work out, as has She&Him. My man is off to Cherry Rock today and we both looooove Peter Pan Speedrock

SCREEN:

The Gruen Transfer ( oh Todd you are ace). The History of Australian Surfing

Lot more to tell, more next week!

Cheers

Justine

Editor/Publisher

mixtapezine

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3 tips for better writing on your craft blog

by kath_red on April 4, 2009

in Blogging Tips

tipscraftblogging

Starting a craft blog can be a fun but also daunting prospect. If you are a blog lurker and eager to start your own blog but not quite sure what to write or if you already have a craft blog and would like to build your audience and participate more fully in the craft blog community – then tune in over the coming weeks for tips and ideas on how to build a better craft blog.

Writing is an essential element for a better craft blog. The most successful craft blogs – the ones that have almost a cult following, are the ones that have just the right combination of personal and creativity topics covered in their blog writing. They are easy to read, funny and wise, interesting and personal (but not too personal), they give advice and share their ideas but also show their human frailties. Soulemama and posie gets cozy are two examples.

1. Edit your words before hitting publish.

Before you hit publish on your post, make sure you read over what you have written and make sure it is what you want to say. Writing on a blog is difficult to undo, once its out there – it is out there. Even if you delete the post afterward it is still out there – published in your rss feed.

2. Good writing is simple, conversational, anecdotal and friendly.

Writing like this however takes practice. Don’t expect to be a great writer overnight. Choose one interesting thing to discuss at first, write a little about your personal life – discuss your children, work, homelife – no need to discuss all the gory details, just the interesting snippets, discuss your latest project, your exciting news, share your joys and adventures and your latest craft obsessions. Be honest with your readers, be a friend – but you don’t have to tell them everything.

3. You don’t have to write about your personal life

Writing about your personal life is not mandatory, you don’t have to tell the world about your nervous breakdown or marriage breakup. Its fine to keep on topic and write only about crafting, making, designing, art or whatever your latest creative endeavour is. Discuss your creative process, your inspirations, your design ideas, your craft successes and failures, but a little window into who you are helps to build a loyal audience.

Combine the personal

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3 tips for better craft blogging

by kath_red on April 2, 2009

in Blogging Tips

tipscraftblogging

Starting a craft blog can be a fun but also daunting prospect. If you are a blog lurker and eager to start your own blog but not quite sure what to write or if you already have a craft blog and would like to build your audience and participate more fully in the craft blog community – then tune in over the coming weeks for tips and ideas on how to build a better craft blog.


1. Write about and show others your talents, skills, ideas, inventions and creations.

Discuss your creative process, show off your successes with gorgeous photos and don’t forget to mention the disasters you had along the way. Show your human side as well as your talent and skills. Become known for your style – be it eclectic and diverse or simple and plain – you will soon find others who share your style and design sense.

2. Give a little to your readers – share your design secrets -offer free patterns and tutorials.

Provide these clear and concise patterns and tutorials, with clear photographs, as either tutorial posts or downloadable pdfs. Make them available in your sidebar, or otherwise easy to find, on your blog. You don’t have to do this often and you don’t have to give away all your secrets, but readers will appreciate your generosity in sharing your knowledge, skills and ideas.

3. Share the love around

Communication and sharing the linky love is key to building a better blog. This includes reading and commenting on others blogs, but also an mentioning on your blog the work of those whom you admire. You can have a links section, but more important is a mention within your post of fellow crafters who have inspired you, or whose pattern/project/tutorial you have used. Share the love and you will get more back in return.

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Weekend sewing blog tour

by kath_red on March 10, 2009

in Books

Have you seen or heard of the new sewing book Weekend Sewing: More Than 40 Projects and Ideas for Inspired Stitching
by Heather Ross? Heather is participating in a blog tour, whipup will be one stop on the tour, the tour looks promising with lots of secrets revealed.

Here is the tour:

26 February: An introduction from The Purl Bee

9 March the tour begins at Make , Grow , Gather with an interview and tales and pics of young Heather growing up in Vermont.

11 March Heart Handmade is hosting a Day in the Life of Heather Ross.

12 March Disdressed will have a Q and A and expose.

13 March Freshly Blended will be have a fresh review of Heather and Weekend Sewing.

16 March Whipup is hosting an illustrated sewing demo – learn fun tricks!

17 March Erin from House on Hill Road will shows off her lovely finished projects, and ask Heather about her inspiration for each.

18 March Belle Epoque will have Heather discussing fit and style. Know what you sew and win a book

19 March True up will host the first part of a lesson in fabric design – the process and inspiration.

20 March Heather burns rubber heading to signings in DC and Baltimore, with the Charm City Craft Maffia blog in hot pursuit!

23 March Heather is on the road again…this time to a sewing weekend at Spool in Philly. The Philly Etsy Team blog investigates, and throws the book at a lucky winner!

25 March part 2 of Fit and style. Know what you sew, and win a book! is hosted by Knotions

26 March Heather discusses her old school inspirations and aesthetic with Cathy of California.

30 March A chance to win a book at Wardrobe Re-fashion

31 March Thisisloveforever hosts part 2 of Heathers Fabric design – Process and inspiration with a fabric giveaway

1 April Craftypod does a book review and another chance to win a copy.

7 April Etsy’s The Storque hosts Heather on their How-to Tuesday! with a virtual project demo from the Etsy Headquarters!

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