TinkeringTimes

Craft Tutorials

I don't know a single person who crafts that doesn't love a good tutorial. No matter how experienced, enthusiastic, professional or skilled you are, there's always more to learn. Seeing how other people do those fiddly creative things can be so inspiring.

I have lists of tutorials everywhere but I've finally hit on a genius way of keeping them all fresh, in one place, where I can not only find them but see them at a glance too. Pinterest is perfect for such a thing. So from now on I'll be noting them all there, on my Make This board. And then I thought, why not share them with you too. There's already a good stash on there and I'll be adding to it continually.

So far you can find...

A Cushion for Pilgrim

A whole four years (or more) ago I made this cushion. It was possibly my favourite vintage fabric ever bought. Thick dense durable crispy cotton in rich sumptuous colours and bold 1970s popping floral pattern. It sold on etsy and off went the parcel to the other side of the world.

Imagine my surprise when randomly perusing Pilgrim's design lifestyle blog - in fact snooping around her house - when there was my little bold punchy much loved cushion. A double take and a few emails later confirmed that it was indeed the very same item. Such a heartwarming moment to see something I'd made in such an appreciated and beautiful setting.

I'd strongly recommend popping over and having a big snoop around Pilgrim's blog, home and shop. And if you ever bought any of my items, I'd love to see a photo of them in their natural habitat around thehome or being worn. It's so lovely to be reunited with them and see them being enjoyed.

Free downloadable tote bag pattern

People seemed keen on the free downloadable quilting patterns so I thought I'd point you in the direction of a couple of other new free downloads. Sewing with Oilcloth is a new book and a little different from the usual 'How To's. It focuses purely on how to get the best from oilcloth and having used this fabric myself a few times I know exactly how tricky it can be, especially without the right sewing machine foot. So I welcome it and wish there were more books out there that looked particularly at specific fabrics and how to make the most of their unique characteristics.

If the full book is too much to contemplate for now, try these two samples from it. A simple Farmer's Market Tote Bag which I really like because it looks huge and has extra pockets (we all need extra pockets); and a table runner. Being honest I have never and probably will never use a table runner so make your own mind up on that one, but what caught my attention was the chalkboard cloth used. I can see the potential for all sorts of things there.

Free Quilting Patterns

 
It's got to be said. I'm not the world's biggest quilting fan on the whole. I have dabbled a little now and again, and there are a few folks on Flickr who blow my mind with their quilting skills - and essentially, the aesthetic judgement they use. My friend Lu Summers has accidentally introduced me to some of its better features and I'm more prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt than I once was. Reading the book Witch Child helped me appreciate the heritage of quilts a little better and that improved my understanding and appreciation a little more.

And so it was I found myself browsing the Moda fabrics website. Hidden away there, was a host of free quilt patterns - click on the black scissors on *this page*. Some of which demonstrated the things I don't like about quilting - I won't name them. And some of which demonstrated the ways in which my opinions are changing: bright colours, contemporary designs, alternative patterns. So if you're a quilting type go, rummage, download and stitch.

Hanging Around

You might remember a little while ago I mentioned this, and before that, this. Well the end result was this wall display shown above (You can see it in a bit more detail here). The image has been floating around Facebook for a little while and a few people have asked how I did it. So, here's how...

It's really very simple, and quite versatile. I wanted to use plants just because we don't have plants anywhere else inside, but you could just as easily use them to hang jewellery, toiletries and beauty products, or in a different room for pens, paintbrushes, haberdashery etc.

You just need some pots with holes in them. These were a mix from IKEA and handmade from Etsy.  

Selvedge Giveaway Winner

A few weeks back I ran a giveaway, to win a Trail Size Sample copy of textiles magazine Selvedge. It turned out I actually have two copies so I've picked one winner from the tweeted entries, and one from the blog comment entries.
And the winners are...

Tweet winner: Tina Peacock aka Mollimoo or @Mollimoo1
Comments winner: Little Cottage Comforts

Well done, and thank you everyone who joined in. Sadly I can't send you all consolation prizes, but as it happens Selvedge themselves are offering 25% off back issues of the publication so you could snap up a bargain sneaky peak for yourselves, but be quick the offer ends *today*. Click here

If you're too late or too broke to take that offer up fear not all is not lost. They also very kindly offer two digital issues to browse as well. It's not the same as holding the lovely paper in your hands, but it does of course still show the gorgeous contents in all their glory. There's the Paper issue (#22) or the Debut issue (#17)

Selvedge Trial Size Giveaway

I'm an avid obsessive follower of Selvedge Magazine. Absolutely one of the best magazines about textiles you could hope to find. 

If you've never come across it, it's a beautiful thing to hold, printed in matt recycled thick paper so it feels like a small catalogue. It prides itself on image-led articles so of course the design is stunning and it's a visual feast to behold.

Covering textiles in fashion, fine art, interiors, travel and shopping, a single copy can take you round the world and back through hidden and lost routes; wind you slowly back to local and family heritages throughout the country; showcase the newest in textile designers; and bring new textile related films, books and exhibitions to your attention.

Don't take my word for it, if you want to scour it for yourself I have a 20 page sample copy to giveaway, including features on Scandinavian textile designer Maria Aström; global embroidery collector and writer Sheila Paine;  fashion designer Liaqat Rasul; and the traditional woollen blankets of Hudson Bay.

How to enter:

There are three ways to enter the giveaway (feel free to enter 3 times by doing all of them!):
1. Leave a comment below
2. Mention this post / giveaway on your blog (then comment or email me, sally-dot-fort-at-yahoo-dot-co-uk with a link to let me know)
3. Tweet a link on your twitter stream and include me @sallyent so I can see your tweet (don't just retweet as that won't show up in my @ stream due to the silly changes twitter made a while back - you'll have to actually type @sallyent in the tweet yourself)

**Deadline: Midnight (UK time) 15th May 2011**

And that's it. I'm happy to post the publication anywhere in the world. And I'll let everyone know who won and also if I find any more amazing blogs through the process, I might well share some of those too.

Manchester Craft Hack event needs you

If you're reading this there's a chance you might be interested in craft, DIY culture, hacking and / or the city that is Manchester.

As it happens, there's an event happening on May 14th combining all of those things in the sumptuous and utterly wonderful setting of Victoria Baths. What's more, that event needs you.

Handmade is the name of the event which is orchestrated by the FutureEverything gang, as part of their annual festival of digital innovation. Be quick - submit your ideas by April 18th *here* 

If that is your cup of tea, and you're going to be in the area. I'd suggest you keep the afternoon of Friday 13th free too, can't say any more for now!

Carrying on the craft hack theme, though a little less digitally, I've spotted some great hacks lately, especially with pallets. The image above is StudioMama's pallet chandelier - pretty unexpected and yet incredibly subtle and beautiful. Other top pallet hacks I found below include...

Command Team

Some exciting news, I was approached to become part of the 3M Command Team. From the logo I'm feeling all Charlie's Angels / A-Team.

In reality it means I, along with my two team members, are responsible for providing interior design and styling ideas that make use of 3M command products - hooks and general 'putting things on walls' kit. They are a bit special because they don't leave any marks on the wall (which when you've only just decorated is a bit of a relief quite frankly).

The ideas we create will be spread around interweb world via the magic of facebook, digital TV, and will also pop up in real life at next week's Ideal Home Show.

So watch the facebook page and keep an eye on my blog for easy and stylish ideas about sprucing up your home or office. And remember that secret project? You'll be seeing more of that soon...

Sneak Preview

Just a little sneak preview into a secret project I'm currently working on. More will be revealed very soon but this was just such a lovely little village of pots I couldn't resist posting them now.

And, because I don't think I'll be able to throw in a plug in the actual secret project, I did just want to share the beautiful handmade smaller vases - they're available on Etsy from the lovely Wendy Jung (she went out of her way to find me exactly what I wanted and whizz them over to me poste haste! Thanks Wendy).

I do like them just as they are, but there will be 'stuff' in them when it's all done. Watch this space... 

Kinetic displays

I just treated myself to a new erm... mobile? message board? objet decoratif? Anyway one of these, to clip stuff into. I have yet to decide if there's a tiny space left uncrammed in our house to hang it, or whether it should go to the office (whilst wondering exactly how much of my taste I can impose on the rest of my - fortunately very generous spirited and aesthetically appreciative - office mates).

When I first saw it, it did feel strangely familiar, then as I unpacked it from its box, it clicked. A few years ago I researched Ingo Maurer for an exhibition I was working on. If you're a fellow design obsessive supporter you might remember his Zettel5 (below):


Obviously it was never my intention to buy something 'influenced' by a bona fide master craftsman such as Maurer. I would always rather support original design. Let's face it the top version is a poor and pale comparison. But I have it, I love it and am happy that it reminded me of Maurer's incredible piece.

Co-incidentally, whilst I was scouring links for this post, I also happened to come across someone who'd tried to make his own (because - that looks easy - you could make that right? oh those words... but that's another story). Again I'm not advocating anyone copy someone else's design - exactly the opposite. When you read this story you understand how hard it really is, and why top class design comes at a price.

Hella Jongerius. A Misfit.

There are certain designers I could talk about in the sort of detail that would win an Olympic medal (and quite frankly I really stretch the patience of family and close friends wittering on about them!) Usually because they sort of rose to 'fame' or at least financial prestige and media reputation during the few years I worked at London's Design Museum. Which means I was in the almost unbelievably fortunate to position to get paid for things like reading Elle Deco and talking to amazing designers (remind me - why did I leave? anyway...) so I had more time to study that particular group of people than I do these days.

One such designer was Hella Jongerius. Such a varied designer who really teeters on that line between the unique handmade and design for manufacture; between feminine curls and lines in embroidery (on vases - genius!) to big square masculine furniture. She holds that balance with perfect class on both sides.

So imagine my delight when I found out a book of her work is being launched. A hardback came out in Autumn so I'm assuming the new launch is either a paperback, or a higher print run following a limited edition release maybe? 

I know it won't exactly be pocket money priced, but if you have a birthday coming up or deserve a treat (or can count it as a business expense - even better) then Hella Jongerius: Misfit will be out in February, priced around £29.95.

Image: Hella Jongerius, 300 Unique Vases

I'm just over here on pinterest...

Just a little note to let you know, if you didn't already, about Pinterest.

Firstly to say it's here - www.pinterest.com - like a big social, global, web based mood board. It rather niftily lets you bang a quick url into a field* (or 'pin' it) and bam - there's your image on your board. Since it links straight back to where you found it, all the credits / acknowledgements to the original owner of the image are sorted automatically - brilliant! 
*Or you can do it the old fashioned way and just upload an image.

At present it's mostly the domain of craft and decor types but I can see limitless potential for how it could be used. You can have individual boards or collective ones, depending on whether you set it so that only you can post to it, or whether you allow other people to as well.

What favourite item would you hang on a hook?

I recently asked people on twitter what favourite item they'd hang on a hook and why, and maybe where or any other details they wanted to add. (There was a reason for this strange question, which will become clearer in time!) But the replies were so colourfully wonderful and strange I wanted to find a way to list and share them so here they are...

One of my favourite responses was from Lu Summers (or @Lusummers) who said she'd "display a collage of all the mirrors I've been collecting in my hallway." I found a few other examples of people who'd had that same idea like Ula's bedroom collection and Haskell Harris' Hallways set:


And this set which Naomi found on Anthropologie:

 
I happen to know Lu lives in a farmhouse and is a dab hand at design so am looking forward to seeing her own take on this idea eventually.

So what were the other replies? OK here goes - get ready for some really random ideas! 

@RachelCockett, a museum strategy / development type person has many favourite things on hooks already including a Naga necklace, a World War 1 bayonet, a bronze fish shaped bell and a hand forged copper and silver spoon. (Her house sounds like a fabulously fascinating place. Any photos please Rachel?!)

Artist educator @K8ieSmith sent me a photo of her rather sweet and dainty toy poodle dangling from her hook rail.

Figure from history Sir James Pennyman (Leader of an English Civil War Regiment) - yes you read that right - told me his mum's boss at a nursery in the 1950s really did hang naughty boys on hooks for such crimes as hanging your coat on the giraffe peg when you know you're an elephant (phew thank god times have changed!)

Textile designer-maker and author @RuthSinger hangs 'just a few' vintage handbags on hers. I suspect that 'few' is way into double figures on the quiet right Ruth?

And more traditional home comforts like dressing gowns, aprons and pictures can be found on the hooks of designer-maker @laurafallulah and craft follower @jenimartian 

Rather boringly in our house we have nothing other the occasional mirror and a guitar hanging on hooks. Must do something about that! So what favourite item would you hang on a hook, and why and where?