over the next couple of weeks we are going to find out a little more about the wonderful makers featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – February is Fiona Lech (dear fii) with her image of her Hexagon pincushion, 2009. Machine sewn & hand finished using new & vintage fabrics & buttons.

Fiona Lech from Dear Fii also has an etsy shop and an online store.. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, 5 children and about 200 pets…
Main craft of choice: Quilting, hand piecing/appliqué, general sewing I can’t choose just one!
Craft hero: Jodie from Ric Rac one of the nicest craziest talented people I know, an awesome crafter.
Fave web site: Again just one? Too hard! Whipup.net of course! + Craftzine + Flickr for all fantastic places for inspiration, networking and lots of crafty eye candy!
Fave crafty materials supplier: Amitie textiles, Felt’o’Rama.com, opshops, vintage markets.

I asked all our participants to answer a few questions about their creative process:

1. When did you start making/crafting, and who or what inspired that first creative burst?
I started crafting a long time ago while I was still in Primary School. A quilt class at the local community house was my first big project! Having a crafty mum who sewed our clothes and knitted was a great, I still can’t knit though no matter how hard I try!

2. What would you say was that light-bulb moment when you discovered your ’style’ and really hit you’re making stride?
Color seams to be my thing and lots off it. Putting together fabrics in a different way, becoming confident in doing that and having people like what I did. What I love to make is always changing I don’t like to do too much of one thing, I get bored easily!

3. Why do you make – what do you get out of it?
Playing with fabric and buttons just makes me happy! Making something for myself, a customer or my family and seeing the reactions is worth the effort! I truly feel that crafting keeps me sane .Being able switch my crazy life off and just talk to the fabric is bliss!

Find out more about how to get your hands on a copy of the 2010 whipup calendar here.

over the next couple of weeks we are going to find out a little more about the wonderful makers featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – Our May feature artist is Amy Bethune.

Amy Bethune from the B-line – Amy also runs an etsy store, she lives in Michigan.
Main craft of choice: jewelry design
Craft hero: Martha Stewart–I know she has an empire of folks that help, but she comes up with some amazing things.
Fave web site: many! but the pioneer woman is an inspiration.
Fave crafty materials supplier: rio grande

I asked all our participants to answer a few questions about their creative process:

1. When did you start making/crafting, and who or what inspired that first creative burst?
I’ve always loved to make things, but I got more serious about making jewelry about a year and a half ago. I was actually going through a rough time and being creative helped to lift my spirits. I got hooked on beading first, and then started working with polymer clay when I found I had ideas for “beads” that weren’t available.

2. What would you say was that light-bulb moment when you discovered your ’style’ and really hit your making stride?
I’d say most people are drawn to and recognize my work through my corsage collection, the line that began from my work with polymer clay. It took me just a few months (after opening the b-line on etsy) to make those designs a regular part of my shop.

3. Why do you make – what do you get out of it?
I find it therapeutic to create. It calms my mind. And it gives me great joy to know that other people enjoy wearing my designs.

All images courtesy Amy Bethune

Find out more about how to get your hands on a copy of the 2010 whipup calendar here.

over the next couple of weeks we are going to find out a little more about the wonderful makers featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – Our June feature artist is Eva Monleón.

Eva Monleón from Misakomimoko also has an etsy shop where you purchase the cutest things, she lives in Barcelona.
Main craft of choice: Stuffies / handcrafted dolls
Craft hero: Something’s Hiding in Here, Lili Scratchy, Ann Wood, Stephanie Congdon Barnes, Le train Fantôme, Emily Martin…
Fave web site: my fave sites lately are fine little day, mieke willems + Joyville
Fave crafty materials supplier: my local flea market, Els encants vells in Barcelona

I asked all our participants to answer a few questions about their creative process:

1. When did you start making/crafting, and who or what inspired that first creative burst?
I learned sewing and embroidering at primary school, later I was very influenced by Annette Messager, Tracy Emin, Georgina Starr, Niky de Saint Phalle, Dubuffet (and Art brut)… while studying Fine Arts, so I mostly crafted, made installation and painted/sewn soft sculptures. Then I worked for a long time as a multimedia and graphic designer and after of ten years working with computers I realized that I needed something else. I joined an amigurumi workshop in a lovely gallery shop called Duduà and since then I haven’t stopped making crafts.

2. What would you say was that light-bulb moment when you discovered your ’style’ and really hit your making stride?
The moment when I finished my first little doll was so exciting… she made me feel very special and I thought that maybe these dolls could make other people feel the same way, so I started doing different little dolls to see what happened.

3. Why do you make – what do you get out of it?
It makes me feel really happy, making them it’s a kind of childish freedom and joy. When I imagine how a car doll, or a little dog, a bird, a table or a carrot doll would look like, I have to began to draw and sew it and then finish it to see how it will turn out. I love playing and allowing myself to be swept away by the process of making them just to feel this kind of peace and make people smile.

All images courtesy Eva Monleón

Find out more about how to get your hands on a copy of the 2010 whipup calendar here.

over the next couple of weeks we are going to find out a little more about the wonderful makers featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – Our August feature artist is Maya Donenfeld from Maya*Made.

Maya Donenfeld’s website is maya*made – her etsy online store is found here, and she lives in upstate NY, USA.
Main craft of choice: printing, but sewing is a super close second
Craft hero: Without hesitation, grandfather. When he was younger he had the ability to make anything he found interesting or necessary. Although all of his crafts had a utilitarian bent, all were made with such precision and beauty.
Fave web site (whipup of course but do you have another fave?): There are so many good ones out there. I have favorites for different topics, but if I had just one to choose from it might be Amy Karol’s Angry Chicken. Her blog is filled with all the things I love: sewing, crafting, parenting, and fun little bits of this and that. There are many wonderful blogs that cover these topics, but her dry wit and sense of humor always catch me off guard. I love that.
Fave crafty materials supplier: I find a lot of supplies at thrift stores and antique shops and, of course, Etsy. My favorite place to pick up recycled burlap is at my local coffee roasters.

I asked all our participants to answer a few questions about their creative process:

1. When did you start making/crafting, and who or what inspired that first creative burst?
My family is EXTREMELY creative. My mother has always inspired me with her own work and encouraged me with mine. In fact, she made me a carpenter’s workbench from salvaged materials when I was around 5. It was in my bedroom fully stocked with supplies at all times.Talk about setting the stage for exploration. I also remember my very first sewing book… from that era. Oh, I’d love to get my hands on it for my kids!

2. What would you say was that light-bulb moment when you discovered your ’style’ and really hit your making stride?
My style has been fairly consistent (with a few deviations) for years. I’m drawn to natural color palettes and always inspired by nature. I didn’t hit my stride, though, until I opened my etsy shop in November 08. Making things on a broader scale has taught me so much.

3. Why do you make – what do you get out of it?
It feeds my need to be resourceful in a big way. On a deeper level, I seem to have this insatiable appetite for learning new skills. Problem solving and mastering something new just make me really happy. Creating beauty out of ordinary materials is exhilarating.

Find out more about how to get your hands on a copy of the 2010 whipup calendar here.

over the next couple of weeks we are going to find out a little more about the wonderful makers featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – March is Tania Patritti (Ninon) with her adorable fabric The Cherrybomb Family.

Bio:
Tania Patritti – super ninon is from Berlin, Germany and sells her work on etsy.
Main craft of choice: Plush Making, sewing
Craft hero: Astulabee, Donna Wilson, Xin of Doinky Doodles
Fave web site: Hello! It’s Meet Me At Mikes!
Fave crafty materials supplier: Frau Tulpe

I asked all our participants to answer a few questions about their creative process:

1. When did you start making/crafting, and who or what inspired that first creative burst?
I started sewing in 2001, taught by my mother, who is a very DIY lady… I had many ideas of things to make, and really felt the urge to be able to realize them. I started with sewing some bags and simple clothes, then later on I started sketch little creatures and bring them to life in 3d.

2. What would you say was that light-bulb moment when you discovered your ’style’ and really hit your making stride?
When I realized that spending more and more time on one single piece gave me more satisfaction than working on the easy ones, and that in this direction my style would evolve in a more effective way; it makes me very happy when people recognize this effort.

3. Why do you make – what do you get out of it?
I’ve been trying to live out of what I make for the past 5 years, so basically that’s my daily bread :)
I really want to concentrate on my creative projects as a full time job, and see what happens… I love being my own boss, even if sometimes it’s a bit difficult, for many reasons… but still, I am enjoying every minute of it!

All images courtesy Tania Patritti (Ninon).

Find out more about how to get your hands on a copy of the 2010 whipup calendar here.

Sorry for the tardy roundup this week – we have been migrating our server to give it a little more space and it took a wee bit longer than anticipated (and we are still testing). Also I have been collating and with the help of a few others choosing the participants for the 2010 whipup.net calendar – see the results here. Even with all that – whipup has still been super busy … and Happy thanksgiving to Canadians.

1. DID YOU MANAGE TO SEE … our ultimate halloween knitting roundup … and the colour wheel for crafters …
2. BOOKS WE REVIEWED: … blogging e-book …
3. MY FAVE CRAFT THIS WEEK: … I love the neighbourly knitted vest pattern …
4. FOR YOU: … butterfly wristwarmers … seeta fingerless gloves … necklace …
5. FOR THE HOUSE: … fabric baskets … dish towels … fabric flowers ...
6. HALLOWEEN / CHRISTMAS / GIFT GIVING: … Catrina dolls … leather brooch … gift box bow … Halloween crafts roundup …
7. FOR THE KIDS: … fabric belt … red cordial revolution … kids softie … toddler backpack … short sleeved kids sweater … owl softie …

Did you miss last weeks roundup? get them all here or subscribe to this weekly newsletter via email here – if you already subscribe why not forward this email to a crafty friend you think may enjoy it.
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Find out more about our fantastic Whipup 2010 calendar

I would like to invite you to join us at flickr + enter our calendar competition. We would love to include one of your images in our annual crafty whipup calendar – all the details are here .

come join whipup at flickr in our new flickr group

While you are there - enter our 2010 calendar comp - upload a fabulous photo of your amazing handcrafted creation – give it a tag so we know you are entering the comp – “whipupcalendar2010″

What will you win – there will be 13 winning entries – one for each month and one for the cover. Each winner will get profiled on whipup – and will get their gorgeous picture and website published on our 2010 annual whipup calendar.

Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges to be announced later.

Entries close 1 October to upload your image. So get photographing your gorgeous craftyness. Winners will be chosen and announced during early October and the Calendar will be available late October.

Images can be pics of your creation in an artistic arrangement, or in practical use – see our 2009 calendar for some ideas of photo quality and content.

You must have a hi-res image (10mb) available if your photo is chosen to be included in the calendar.

come join whipup at flickr in our new flickr group

While you are there - enter our 2010 calendar comp - upload a fabulous photo of your amazing handcrafted creation – give it a tag so we know you are entering the comp – “whipupcalendar2010″

What will you win – there will be 13 winning entries – one for each month and one for the cover. Each winner will get profiled on whipup – and will get their gorgeous picture and website published on our 2010 annual whipup calendar.

Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges to be announced later.

Entries are open for 3 weeks - closing date is 1 October to upload your image. So get photographing your gorgeous craftyness. Winners will be chosen and announced during early October and the Calendar will be available late October.

Images can be pics of your creation in an artistic arrangement, or in practical use – see our 2009 calendar for some ideas of photo quality and content.

You must have a hi-res image (10mb) available if your photo is chosen to be included in the calendar.

Don’t forget to get your whipup 2009 calendar - featuring 13 amazing works from 13 fantastic makers. Purchase through redbubble – international shipping is very reasonable and calendar quality is excellent.

Alice’s felt flower tutorial is featured as is Neta’s sock camera.