Lunulecraft

2011-01-02T10:47:00.000-08:00

Sewing Tips via Whipup

2010-09-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia
I am an off again on again seamstress.
So, I love tips to improve my technique and practice.
With this in mind, I am sharing a bunch of links via Whipup for top tips in sewing. Whip up is a great resource for craft based projects, books, and ideas!
Whip up
Clementine shoes
Amy Karol on CraftyPod
PS also see Jeannie's comment on the Amy Karol piece...I have to agree with Jeannie.. Invest in good tools when you need them. My life has not been the same since I purchased my Gingher shears. but I have a Brother sewing machine and a Brother serger. Both are fairly basic but are super easy to use.

Attention Twisted Knitters!

2010-07-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

via BerroccoKnitBits

I am a "twisted" knitter and consistently twist my stitches! I love to use knittinghelp.com but this is a really useful video on knitting techniques-continental and English as well as twisting stitches and how to twist stitches on purpose.

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T06:32:00.001-07:00

I know it has been mentioned over and over but my super-duper earth day tip is vinegar. The plain old cheap white vinegar is the best for dishes (put it in the place where the "Jet Dry" would go, I use it to wash windows, stop the annual spring/summer ant invasion, and as a fabric softener in the washing machine. If you live in a cold climate, vinegar is also great to remove the damaging salt from your leather boots and shoes.

Pickle's Granola

2010-04-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

Pickles (Heidi and Anna from Norway) is a great place for recipes, sewing, and knitting patterns. I love their site and their ideas! When I get some spare time I would love to make their Puff Daddy chunky knitted poufs! I tripped over Pickles when I was looking for granola recipes and their Püsli is about the best ever!

Here is my third batch in photos (more or less...)

I made the banana chips myself using a recipe from TipNut. Mine are chewy but will keep trying to get to crunchy although they still taste delicious!

Voila! Totally delicious and nutritious on fruit and yoghurt! My new favorite way to start the day now that it is getting toward spring and summer fruits!

I basically made the recipe adding what I had in the cupboard along with what I love (lots of dried fruit)! I could have used all the honey the recipe called for as it is not super sweet but probably better off as I can add honey or jam or more fruit.

Thank you Pickles for the recipe!

Make some soon!

Commercial for Natural Gas Belgium

2010-03-23T07:09:00.001-07:00

This is hands down the coolest commercial I have seen in a long time...

via craft magazine

The Making of the Commercial for Natural Gas Belgium

2010-03-23T06:49:00.001-07:00

I think I like this as much as the ad for natural gas! Amazing to see how many people it took to make this advertisement...it is made by Lovo Films...love the stop motion transformation. After doing several workshops with my daughter in Toronto at the NfB ( National Film Board) and being a knitter, I totally see how long this must have taken but with such a lovely result! From their YouTube description, Lovo Films describes the process:
" The story is simple, visualize the warmth of natural gas by wool. A month of preparation, 4 days and night shoot, with a professional crew of over 40 men, shot live and in stopmotion with 4 different cameras. A film of TBWA Brussels, directed by Olivier Babinet produced by Lovo Films."

PS: the link for the commercial in the post above is via Craft magazine...I cannot link in the actual post for some strange reason....)

Book Shopping

2010-03-03T13:43:00.000-08:00

I went a bit book crazy on our trip to NYC. Here is what I bought...I am enjoying the Patti Smith book--she is a really good writer. The Japanese books are from Kinokuniya Bookstore in their new digs near Bryant Park and the NYPL. The design book is from the Cooper-Hewitt.

When I was looking for information on where to buy this book I stumbled across Kat Coyle's blog who bought the same book and has made a scarf from it. It is truly gorgeous so I hope that I can make one as nice!

One for the kids and one for the adults: Our Pen Pal packs and ReForm School Pen Pal Club

2010-03-02T10:09:00.000-08:00

We finally finished our Pen Pal Packs. We took a quick trip to NYC so we picked up fun postcards from favorite restaurants and Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, bought some pens at the art store, and made some envelopes on the computer, included some stickers and a copy of a story from Arnold Lobel called "The Letters" from his book Frog and Toad Are Friends. I asked my daughter Lucia to write a letter to her friends and family to explain the packs and ask each person to write to her. She was not so keen on the writing exercise--she just wanted to use the scanner and draw on the computer--we finally agreed on her writing one version that we scanned in and printed for each person. She included some special things for each person too.

We mailed the packs last week so I will let you know if we start to receive some letters soon.

And for the parents:

ReForm School in LA is having a Pen Pal Club for adults. They have a Kids Club in the works. It sounds so fun! I think I will try. The deadline is Monday, March 15th. 7-9pm. For the deets, see the ReForm School blog.

Letter writing activity

2010-02-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

I just stumbled over a great idea when I was taking a break from setting up my new studio. I opened an alert from a great from the always useful K5: elementary education for parents which linked to Mariah's page at Playful Learning.

She has some downloadable letter writing pages for kids (we have been looking for something like this) and linked to a great idea by Patricia from good+happy day for a letter writing kit . I know it will totally be up my daughter's alley and I plan to make one for her friends in the UK, my brother in France, and her cousin in LA whom she barely knows since we are living in Canada. It will be sort of like a pen pal club. Maybe we will even exchange small things that make us smile in the boxes. Oh, the ideas are endless! I will let Lucia choose the items for each box which she will also love to do!! Thank you Mariah and Patricia and the K5 for such wonderful ideas. I will keep you posted!

I am back over to lunulecraft

2010-02-04T06:33:00.000-08:00

this is what I have been working on lately...

BUT, I just saw an amazing valentine cake that I had to share!

Thank you flavorwire for 20 Presents for Your Valentine That Don’t Suck (Plus Giveaway!) for including at least one DIY gift. The cake recipe and instructions is from i am baker...totally amazing! Amanda shares her favorite recipes for the cake and frosting and then describes her process to cake perfection.

Craft in America...

2010-01-14T11:40:00.000-08:00

via Nathalie Chanin's blog...

What I am working on...

2010-01-13T11:35:00.000-08:00

Wow...it has been a long time since I posted. There are so many projects I am working on right now but this one I am almost finished with. It is a tote bag for my daughter. She drew on the bag and I have been 'embroidering" it...really just filling it in with color.

I saw the movie Julie & Julia and while it is very Nora Ephron, I have been inspired to try harder to blog here, at lunule.blogspot.com, and at mappingetobicoke.blogspot.com.

More later...

Paper: Tear, Fold, Rip, Crease, Cut

2009-06-12T08:01:00.001-07:00

Another great title from Blackdog!

I love, love, love paper! Even though I aspire to a paperless office, I cannot get rid of my beloved japanese papers! I cannot wait to get this book.

Spotlight On: Alabama Chanin

2009-06-03T08:27:00.001-07:00

Spotlight On: Alabama Chanin

Posted using ShareThis

Spotlight On: Alabama Chanin Part 2

2009-06-03T08:24:00.001-07:00

Spotlight On: Alabama Chanin Part 2

Posted using ShareThis

Thank you Brett!

2009-05-20T10:59:00.001-07:00

Thank you for the lovely feature Brett! Everyone check out Brett's new site called The Brettorium Creativity Emporium. He travels the internet trying to find artists and designers whose work he love, love, loves but who may have not received a ton of recognition for their work. He also takes really wonderful photos.

lunule

check out this vinyl decal from lunule designed by the talented susan rowe harrison:

i think wall decals are a great way to decorate a child’s room. these are maroon and come in a set of 3. the elephant stands proudly at 5 1/2 inches wide by 6 inches high. put them on a wall, or to customize furniture, trash can, book jacket, or on mat board to frame. what a great idea. when you get a chance, make sure to travel through susan’s collection. isn’t she amazing?

So, thank you Brett.

Finally...

2009-05-14T10:41:00.001-07:00

Spring:

cherry blossoms, sun, rain,
and--

2009-05-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

Ice creams in the sand

Green Eggs and Plastic: Why organic food uses so much enviro-unfriendly plastic. | The Big Money

2009-04-23T07:49:00.001-07:00

I was just thinking about this yesterday as I bought a dozen eggs...which ones to buy? There is the organic, but they are in a plastic container, the regular...hmmmmm...but the hormones...but cardboard carton...what about the omega3? Plastic container, hormones and omega3 for the brain? What about free-range? Maybe I'll skip the eggs...or use the plastic carton for my growing my seedlings?

Green Eggs and Plastic: Why organic food uses so much enviro-unfriendly plastic. | The Big Money

Posted using ShareThis

What I am working on now...

2009-03-13T07:44:00.000-07:00

When I really should be doing something else more important...The pattern is from Umami by Ezura Yoshimi (ISBN4-579-1085-6).

Actually, this is sort of important. I have promised myself this bag for a while now. I am using a super-synthetic snake skin that I bought at Fabricland from the remnant bin. I finally have a project for it. I am finding the gathers more challenging than I thought I guess because it is kind of hard to see the thread on the fabric and, because my new sewing machine is proving sort of difficult to work with. It is not a fancy machine--I just bought a cheaper brother machine because I wanted to make sure that I wanted to continue to sew--but now I sort of regret it. I loved the brother machine that I had when we lived in England but this one is not so easy to use. Anyway, I will post the project after I have time to photograph it.

Five Things You Can Do Right Now To Improve Your Business

2009-03-05T06:55:00.001-08:00

via Bakery:

Yes, you can do these five easy things right now. Like, today.

1) Put links to your website(s), blog(s), etc. in your email signature. Yep, even if you’re only emailing with your mom.

2) Subscribe to the top 3 blogs that you feel are direct competitors to yours.

3) Subscribe to the top 3 blogs you strive to be.

4) Purchase something from any Etsy shop you admire. When your item comes, look closely at it: how it is made, the packaging it came in (presentation), and how the seller dealt with your purchase. Learn from it.

5) Write down a one-line short-term goal (and, it can’t be “check email” — make it something you need to work toward). Whether it’s financial, website visitors, sales, clients, whatever it is, write it down. Then, tape it or pin it up where you work. Look at it every day. Only take it down when you’ve accomplished the goal.

Platform 21 Manifesto

2009-03-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

Platform 21

2009-03-03T10:30:00.000-08:00

Dispatchwork by Jan Vormann

Platform21 = Repairing
Stop recycling, start repairing!

* 13 Mar 09...31 Aug 09
00 00 - 00 00 Platform21 Prinses Irenestraat 19, 1077 WT Amsterdam (view on map) Prinses Irenestraat 19 1077 WT Amsterdam T +31203449444

Platform21 = Repairing starts from the notion that repair, as a creative, cultural and economical force is underestimated. With this, an incredibly rich body of knowledge, a part of our independence and pleasure could be lost. This situation is especially puzzling if you consider the global interest in other durable visions like recycling, and the cradle-to-cradle philosophy. Hence Platform21 = Repairing wants to create more awareness of a mentality, culture and practice that not so long ago was completely integrated in life and the way we designed it. It is not too late though.

As a start of to what hopefully becomes a reappraisal of repair, especially in Western countries, Platform21 has written a manifesto, describing some of the qualities we believe repair offers. We call upon designers and consumers to break the chain of our throwaway thinking. It is a way of thinking, a culture in itself almost, designed to cater to short term needs of both industry, politics and society. But by being very successful at short term effects it has lost track of the innumerable and rich possibilities that lie ahead if durable notions of design in general, and repair especially, are reconsidered and implemented.

More at Platform 21

Murakami mits

2009-03-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

Just taking a quick peek at Ravelry before I am out to pick up my daughter and I saw these amazing mittens that combine two of my favorite hobbies: knitting and Haruki Murakami! Tora says that the mittens are knit with the following quote from a Wild Sheep Chase: "You'll never see that woman again...Because you thought only of yourself." A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami

More at Tora's blog: knittingalot

Spoonflower

2009-02-26T08:32:00.000-08:00

Cloud and Tree Copyright © 2009 Nadja Haldimann | All rights reserved.

I am kind of late in the game to hop on Spoonflower, even though I have been thinking about a fabric project for a while now...Well, I've done it! I ordered my swatch so I can get the colors that I want. Will keep you posted on how it goes. There are some really nice tutorials which have been picked up all over but I will compile a list for you just in case...

Mammamade's great series:

Profile on Spoonflower at indieNC

A great one at TrueUP

Via designsponge on kicking a repeating pattern oldskool with Julia Rothman:

A compilation on the always inspiring Craftypod

Also helpful is Spoonflower's Flickr group:

February is for finishing...wait it is almost March...

2009-02-18T08:05:00.001-08:00

Despite signing on to "February is For Finishing" on the Toronto Ravelry forum of the same name, it is now almost March and I am not done...guess that is because I added a purse to the line up in addition to the scarf and hat that I am re-doing from last year's super-lovely alpaca purchase. BUT, too the rescue is the latest greatest coffee and a kick in the pants challenge from the folks at the Toronto Craft Alert! Run, don't walk to post, share, and finish your craft projects for a chance to win a basket of goodies from local artists, crafters, and shops worth an estimated $700.00! Details here...

Protect your child's lunch!

2009-02-04T09:08:00.001-08:00

via wired...

Not sure that they are worth $25.oo but at that price, they would def. have to be a critical part of the litterless lunch!

Davos Interviews: Etsy Founder Robert Kalin

2009-02-04T07:47:00.001-08:00

My husband is spamming me with too many links! I cannot keep up...

For your listening pleasure:

Actually, I just listened to the Davos talk and it is much more interesting than the techcrunch interview particulary because Michael Arrington aggressively corners Kalin at the conference and asks fairly silly questions.

After listening to Kalin's Davos talk, I am interested to find that Leo Lionni's Swimmy model is a model for the online world and our future.

Continuing my series of interviews with interesting personalities at the World Economic Forum at Davos: Here’s a 6 minute talk with Etsy founder Robert Kalin on the state of his four year old business. Robert Scoble helps with the interview.

28 year old Kalin, who coincidentally looks a lot like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, talks about how he’s grown the person-to-person ecommerce business despite competing directly with eBay. Etsy focuses on hand made items, and has a rabidly passionate community of buyers and sellers (also, 97% of Etsy users are women). Kalin also eats his own dog food - most of his clothing was purchased from the site, he says in the interview.

$100 million worth of goods were sold on Etsy in 2008. The company is generating over $1 million/month in revenue, Kalin told me.

We first covered Etsy in late 2005. Since then the company has raised over $30 million in financing, and counts Jim Breyer as a board member (he’s also on the board of Walmart, Facebook and Marvel).

The full transcript is below:
via techcrunch:
Davos Interviews: Etsy Founder Robert Kalin

Posted using ShareThis

via Apartment Therapy

2009-02-04T07:19:00.000-08:00

Felt!

Click here to find out more!

There's not much that beats felt in terms of simplicity. It's easy to work with (no hemming required, just trim the edges) and it's versatile.

Looking for a Valentine's Day project? The Purl Bee has a set of simple instructions for making felt valentine pins.

Maxwell made these Felt Sliding Doors for his last apartment. Check out AT:NY for how-to instructions.

The Yudu

2009-02-03T09:53:00.000-08:00

May have to invest in one of these! Via Sister Diane viacraftstylish...One of the coolest things about going to CHA is seeing lots of brand-new craft supplies and tools. I thought I'd take a few posts here to share some things that had my crafty fingers tingling in anticipation.

The Provo Craft booth was mobbed with people during the show, and it was all because of the Yudu. It's a portable, all-in-one screen printer, and Provo had a whole fleet of them cranking out screened T-shirts for an excited crowd.

Yudu's design is pretty genius: It comes with a metal mesh screen. You cover it with a sheet of emulsion, and place a transparency (printed from your home printer) over the emulsion. Then the Yudu's built-in light table exposes the emulsion

You can pull a bunch of prints, and then—here's the best bit—wash the emulsion right out of the screen. Then you can reburn it with new designs again and again. The print area is 11 inches x 14 inches—sized for a T-shirt front, but you can print all kinds of fabrics and papers.

Yudu uses water-based, nontoxic inks, which come in lots of great colors.

There's a great, detailed video tutorial over at the Yudu website, along with diagrams, inks and accessories, and more.

'Scuse me now...I need to go screen print everything in sight.

The coolest idea for kids

2009-01-31T19:54:00.000-08:00

via KidsHaus:

It is a custom stamp! Why go to the printer when you can make it yourself! Thank you KidsHaus! This would be great for homemade Valentine's Day cards...

Consumer Product Safety Act Update

2009-01-31T19:44:00.001-08:00

via KidsHaus:

January 28, 2009
Bloggers Unite: CPSIA

The topic of the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) is something I've been intending to write about for quite some time but it has reached the point of imminent importance. Bloggers are uniting today to spread the news so that, if you're compelled, you can help delay, amend or repeal the law. Click on Matt at Etsy's "Action Kit" to view compiled information and links of who to contact to voice your opinion, most importantly the contact information for the Committee on Energy and Commerce that is the congressional committee that sponsored the CPSIA.

Also, here is an eloquently written description of the ramifications, via Etsy.com, that will occur by February 10:

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

A Spoonful of Dirt

2009-01-29T10:08:00.000-08:00

Relieved to find out that (some) dirt is good for your child...

Silence

2009-01-28T12:12:00.001-08:00

Cool Tricks!

2009-01-23T08:41:00.000-08:00

via the DWR blog:

But I think that I will wait until spring to do this with my daughter because today is -25 c!

Film Canister Rocket

You’ll need:
• An empty 35mm plastic film canister and lid (it’s rumored that the semitransparent canisters work best)
• One Alka-Seltzer tablet
• Water
• Safety goggles

How to create your rocket:
1. Put on your goggles.
2. Put one half of the antacid tablet in the canister.
3. Add a teaspoon of water to the canister.
4. Quickly put on the cap and snap it tightly.
5. Quickly put it cap-side-down and step back.

In a few seconds, the film canister will launch into the air. In the event of a misfire, wait at least 30 seconds before approaching the canister. Launching the rocket outdoors is recommended.

Crazy quilt for Sunnybrook

2009-01-15T10:11:00.000-08:00

I finished my crazy quilt for Sunnybrook Cancer Centre...Pam brought the squares to our S'n'B a few months ago and we have been working on sewing them together into blankets. The squares were knit by people visiting friends and family in the cancer clinic and they needed help to put them together. I am amazed by how well the random squares fit together to make something so beautiful! I just sort of grabbed a square and the only rule that I had was not to place two of the same squares next to each other. Hope that you enjoy it...

Almost like Ravelry for origami-lovers!

2009-01-13T08:56:00.000-08:00

Origami Club Free Online Instructions by way of Daily Candy Everywhere...

Origami Club Free Online Instructions | Lifestyle Everywhere - DailyCandy

Modish Marketing: Contacting Blogs about Your Work

2008-10-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

A great post from Modish on how to send a press release to craft blogs! Thank you for this Jena!

Save on shipping

2008-09-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

As a new etsy seller I have found shipping to be the hardest part of being an online seller. Buyers would rather pay more for an item than pay more for shipping (as a result of the "ebay effect"). I would like to keep prices fair but shipping can be expensive--more so these days as high fuel prices keep shipping costs high--and no more predictable or timely.

My husband just emailed me this article from the WSJ and I am definitely going to check out the price comparison sites mentioned: ShipGooder.com, FreightQuote.com and RedRoller.com.

A Lil' PR from Lil Sugar and Casa Sugar

2008-09-12T13:48:00.001-07:00

Pimp Your Crib: Terrific Design-rific Bedroom Decals

Jul 29 2008 - 10:30am

I adore wall decals because they are a fun, but semipermanent decoration option that kids and adults can both love. (Unlike say, crayon murals all over the walls!) Etsy seller Lunule sells these imaginative wall art installations made from hand-cut vinyl for about $25.

She designed her first decal for her daughter's room and later included the patterns in the book Making Stuff For Kids. Apparently, so many people commented on the decals that she expanded the series. And the best part? She accepts special requests!

The only tools you will need for application are a pencil, level to make sure they are straight, and a squeegee.

To check out more designs:

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

Illustrator CS3 Help

2008-09-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

from the Poppytalk blog:

Today I'm going off a bit of the beaten path and offering a wee tutorial on making a clipping mask in Adobe's Illustrator CS3. It's one of those things I always wanted to know before I knew how, and the fact that it's so easy, I thought I'd share it here. I made a cover for last week's newsletter using a clipping mask, and so I'm using that as the example. Thanks to Dallas Shaw for the use of her image (of her beautiful new vintage key series) and to dafont.com for (Bleeding Cowboys) courtesy of
lastsoundtrack.fontspace.com. I may not do it the correct way, but this is the way I do it. Here it goes:

1. Open a new document to the size specs you need. Place the image you wish to use onto your document.

Read more...

Labels: d.i.y., how-to, tutorials

Homemade Notepads

2008-09-10T06:44:00.001-07:00

From Craft Magazine by way of Sarah Neuburger at the Small Object:

I have always wanted to do this! What a great way to recycle paper too or notebooks for my notebook obsessed husband and daughter!

I hope that you can purchase brush padding compound in Canada!

Sarah from The Small Object shares her adventures in making her own notepads using this handy-dandy brush-on padding compound. I'm totally inspired to run around my place gathering up scrap papers to turn into notepads now!

sewing help from the purlbee

2008-09-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a super-clear and useful piece from Molly's Sketchbook (Purl Soho, The Purl bee) on how to use marking tools in sewing.

And, for your listening pleasure while you work Shugo Tokumaru.

One last one before I get back to work...just thinking about some children's chairs I am working on for Hoopla in September...I was just checking out Colorlovers and just came across this post--wowee! simple pack a punch (or maybe kick in the pants) colors. Grouped together, these are a bit frightening! Compare to the strength/complexity of the graffiti colors...

2008-09-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

This is a great link for an explanation of sizes and terms for Japanese patterns. I have a couple of pattern books that I covet but have not tried mainly because I cannot figure out the sizes. Thank you Japan Craft Journal!

2008-09-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

I have decided to make a blog for the craft/design work that I am doing and to keep "lunule" for my art practice. Both will progress at different paces depending on what I am working on but I hope that they will intersect from time to time. I hope to share my inspiration, process, (and yours) and link to interesting tidbits that I stumble across on my web walks.

I think I will start my day off with some images from the Japanese Jeu de Paume books that I recently purchased...never mind that the text is in Japanese--the images are so fantastic!