Craft Rock Friday with OK Go

Today's Craft Rock Friday is a celebration of colour, colour, glorious colour.

Here, to sweep you away, OK Go's "Skyscrapers".

Read more...

See It, Sew It

The weather is starting to warm up, so of course I'm starting to think about summer dresses...

I love the "Make This Look" series over on The Sew Weekly. They take a dress that they've seen, then hunt out a sewing pattern that is pretty close so you can try make it yourself. They sometimes also link to fabric that's similar, or some cute accessories to complete the look.

Here are a few of my faves... now I just have to find some cute fabric and get to work!

Read more...

Quick and Cute Chair Make-Over

Can it really be seven years since I made over my garage sale office chair?

Well, times have changed, and for the better. The office chair is now officially the craft room chair. It is now covered in Echino fabric, instead of an old t-shirt. And now the lone tiger has retired, bowing out to a big, busy group of animals and insects.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Read more...

Got Craft? Spring 2012

Hey Vancouver, Got Craft? is coming up soon! Sunday May 6, to be exact. Can you believe this is already the 11th edition of this awesome show?

Got Craft?
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 - 10 am to 5 pm
Royal Canadian Legion - 2205 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
$3.00, kids under 12 free
For more info, visit GotCraft.com

As usual, there will be ton of talented crafty vendors and swag bags for early birds. New this year is a cute look book that Lotus Events has put together to give you a taste of what to expect.

Read more...

Zip! Zip!

Yes! I love that today Google is celebrating Gideon Sundback... inventor of the zipper!

More on Sundback here and here.

Read more...

Craft Rock Friday with Monsters of Folk

Start a slow, spiraling descent through layer upon crafty layer in this video for Monsters of Folk's song, "Dear God".



The video was made by Lauri Faggioni, who created the awesome soft sculpture animals and artwork in the movie, The Science of Sleep. Several parts of this, especially the newspaper flowers, reminds me of the papercutting and book art of my friend, Rachael Ashe.

Read more...

Legwarmers, Octopus and Owls, Oh My!

My knitting goal this winter was not to knit a scarf. When the temperature drops, and the knitting needles come out, I usually end up knitting a big ol' rectangle because:

a) I love scarves.

b) Complicated knitting patterns are intimidating.

While the former is still true, I decided to tackle the latter. I didn't choose complicated patterns by any means, but I tired to pick patterns that included some slightly-more-involved elements like increasing, decreasing, cabling, or knitting in the round. All methods that have previously made me think, "Hmm, not sure if I can do that... maybe I'll just make a scarf instead!" But this year: NO SCARVES.

I succeeded in my goal... and actually knit more this winter than any other year! I got mildly addicted to "just one more pattern"... Now I'm going to take a break from the needles for a while though. Between knitting and rock climbing several times a week, my fingers are in need of a break... though climbing is still on the schedule. Sorry, knitting, you'll start your annual hibernation now.

I'm really pleased with the fun non-scarf items I made. First off were my thick cabled legwarmers. You can read more about those in my post about them.

Next thing after legwarmers? More legwarmers, of course. I made a pair that I can wear when I go climbing and bouldering. They're off-white and yellow and a little retro sporty. They are definitely cozy to wear with my shorts or capris when in the climbing gym in the winter. Outdoor testdrive to come this Spring!

After all the legwarmers, I guess I was pretty obsessed with legs... cause I made an octopus.

I followed a pattern from the book, Little Knitted Creatures by Amy Gaines. It was surprisingly simple, and very satisfying to knit up curly little tentacles complete with wooly little suction cups.

Last but not least, I tackled a hat. I've been wanting to knit a cabled owl toque for a long time... and eventually want to make a cabled owl sweater one day. I used Sara Amoroso's "Who?" pattern on Ravelry, where there are many owl cable patterns to choose from. I had to adjust the number of repeats (ie. how many owls), as I was using a different yarn and needles that recommended. The cable is super easy, and oh-so-cute when you're done and have added buttons for eyes.

So all in all, not a bad winter of knitting for me, seeing as I'm not a serious knitter. And I accomplished my goal of a scarf-free season! As for the sore fingers, I did manage to find another string craft that wasn't so finger-intensive... more on that later!

Read more...

A Tie Dyed Easter

I just came across this awesome DIY project on Pinterest and had to share. Silk dyed Easter eggs!

You wrap the eggs tightly in silk ties, boil them, and then -- magic happens -- when you unwrap them, they've taken on not only the colours of the tie, but also the pattern! Amazing. I mean, just look at that paisley.

Get all the details about how to make your own silk dyed eggs on Foxflat. She also has some links at the bottom of her post to other people's egg projects -- with various methods and strategies on how to tie up the eggs for the best results.

Read more...

Villarreal Ceramics on Etsy

Another great interview on Etsy on artist I admire: Villarreal Ceramics. Her ceramics painted with delicate, whimsical feathers are simply gorgeous. Read more on Etsy.

What does handmade mean to you?
Something that shows the hands of the maker, is sincere and can be shared.

Photos from Villarreal Ceramics / Etsy

Read more...

Etsy Love

A lovely lil' Valentine from those sweethearts at Etsy...

Read more...

Craft Rock Friday with Non Tiq and OK Go

Put your overalls on. Today's Craft Rock Friday is a big colourful double-whammy mess of paint. Get sloppy with Swedish singer Non Tiq's video for her song "Quiet", then get schooled with OK Go's "Three Primary Colors" video that they made for Sesame Street.

Read more...

iLove

This Valentine's idea from Brooklyn Bride is both high-tech and handmade, quick-to-read and oh-soooo-slow to make.... Check out the tutorial on how to make your own cross stitch QR code Valentine. Heh.

P.S. Brooklyn Bride's February mix-tape makes for some nice background music as you stitch...

Read more...

4 Fabric Camera Strap DIY Tutorials

A cute fabric camera strap has long been on my List of Things I'd Like to Make. This week, I came across two new tutorials online that have reminded me of this project and maybe bumped it up a few notches on the list. No matter how many projects I do, this list just never gets shorter...

This is the classic strap one I'd been thinking of making...

Fabric Camera Strap - Tutorial by Make Something

This one has the added benefit of having a lens cap pocket. Clever!

Camera Strap Cover with Lens Cap Pocket- Tutorial by Little Big Girl Studio

This tutorial for a shorter strap caught my attention, as it's definitely how I prefer to hold my DLSR, usually with the long strap all curled up around my wrist a kazillion times...

Wristlet Camera Strap - Tutorial by Being Geek Chic

And last, but not least, this one is also awfully cute... Perhaps for fancy dress occasions?

Scarf Camera Strap - Tutorial by Photojojo

Read more...

Craft Rock Friday with Avalanche City

Today's Craft Rock Friday won over my heart. Avalanche City's song "You And I" is not only a lovely and catchy tune, the lyrics are right up my alley.

I liked this verse:

If you found your toothpaste empty
I would squeeze out just a little more
And if you had the sweetest victory
I'd high five you 'til our hands were sore

But I LOVED this verse:

And if you were scared and worried
Well, I would keep you safe and sound
And if you were addicted to fabric
Well, you could a fill whole room in our house

Now that's true love!

What's more, for added CRF points, the video includes handmade marionettes...



Bonus video! Avalanche City's video for "Love Love Love" also qualifies for CRF-ness, what with all the papercut polar bears, penguins and pirates!

Read more...

Sewing Capes for Social Change

 I love this initiative from Vancouver-based outdoor clothing company, Arc'teryx. Under the name of The Birds Nest Project, Arc'teryx employees volunteer their time to sew scrap material into weatherproof capes, which they then donate to homeless shelters and people living on the street. Now in the third year of the project, in 2011 they donated over 700 windproof, waterproof capes to those in need.

Good for the environment, good for people. Amazing. (Also, 'capes' and 'helping people' do tend to go hand in hand, don't they?) Read more about Arc'teryx's The Birds Nest Project here.

Read more...

Craft Rock Friday with Softlightes

To counter the creepiness of last week's creepy Craft Rock Friday, today's music video is full of bright, cheery, poppy, rainbow colours -- and the sound to match. Plus, oodles of typography made from found objects, which always makes me happy.

This is Softlightes' "Heart Made of Sound".




(Thanks for the link, Dan!)

Read more...

Round Up of DIY Paper Flower Tutorials

My friend Monique got hitched this past summer up on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, in a beautiful setting that was both rustic and elegant. Monique, Rachael and I made tissue paper flowers for the archway where the ceremony took place. They turned out beautifully, and suited the gorgeous day (and the gorgeous bride!) perfectly. The photos above and below are from the wedding.

We looked up paper flower tutorials for weddings, and tried a variety of techniques, in the end drawing inspiration from several of them, as well as making up variations of our own. I thought I'd share the links to paper flower tutorials that we found, in case you are looking for paper flower tutorials for weddings, parties, or just to pretty up your surroundings or brighten your day.

Flowers using paper or card stock... 

1. Rolled paper flowers tutorial by Jones Design Company
2. Paper flower tutorial by A Little Hut 
3. Paper poppies tutorial by It Happened Like This 
4. Ranunculus flower tutorial by DIY or Don't 
5. Vintage paper flower tutorial by Krista Sew Inspired
6. Coffee filter roses tutorial by Martha Stewart

1. Scalloped puffs, fringed flowers and spiral flowers tutorials from Scrapbooks Etc 
2. Huge paper flower tutorial by Brittany on 100 Layer Cake (pictured above)
3. Paper peonies tutorial by Martha Stewart
4. Pop-up flowers tutorial by Pink Paper Peppermints
5. Folded flower tutorial by  Whimsical World of Laura Bird
6. Brown paper bag flowers tutorial by Bliss

Flowers using crepe paper or tissue paper...

1. Paper flower wreath tutorial by Ruffled
2. Four kinds of crepe paper flowers tutorials by Bliss 
3. Crepe paper flowers galore: tulip, peony, lily, rose, spidermum, carnation, dahlia and daisy tutorials by Martha Stewart

Origami flowers...

1. Carambola flowers tutorial by Go Origami
2. Kusudama flowers tutorial by Folding Trees

Read more...

Handmade With Love!

SUPER excited to say that my wedding is featured on Poppytalk today, as part of their Real Weddings series featuring couples who tied the knot in DIY style.

It really was the best day ever, being married to the love of my life while surrounded by friends and family. Not to mention the sunshine, lemonade, garden games, bunting galore, BBQ, pie and dancing! :)

Lots more pics over on Poppytalk!

Read more...

Letterpress Love

If you're in Vancouver and in love (and looking to get hitched this year...), stop by Indie I Do this Saturday. My friend Vincent Perez will be there, showing his fine, fine letterpress wares. Vince is the mastermind behind Everlovin' Press as well as the muscle: he prints each and every card by hand on his early 1960s model Vandercook proofing press.

You can see more work by Everlovin' Press Tumblr and Facebook.

Indie I Do | January 28, 2012 | Heritage Hall, Main St, Vancouver, BC | More Details

Read more...

Small is Beautiful

I simply adore Elsa Mora's work. She makes magical little things with beads, felt, embroidery, papercuts and more. Her brooches are colourful and lovely... This one in particular caught my eye. Inspired by a vintage brooch she saw on Etsy, Elsa set out to recreate it using seed beads in place of jewels -- with beautiful results.

See more photos and explanation for this project on Elsa's blog.

Also definitely worth a look is her tutorial on making a brooch using a papercut and polymer clay. Using this technique, she crafted this super cute fox brooch. I'm looking foward to trying this out soon!

Read more...