October 31, 2006
Check out this program at Sunbridge College!
It is listed as “A Four Year Part-Time Program for Handwork Teachers”.
Here are some of the courses:
Dyeing Yarns with Plant Colors
Knitting in the Round
Felted Items for the Home,
Create a Vessel
Felting Gnomes and Crystal Caves
It is geared towards individuals aspiring to become Waldorf school teachers. Makes me want to go back to school!
left: felted gnomes
right: studio class in session
~Alison Lee host of ” the online crafting podcast,“ CRAFTCAST
October 30, 2006
I think that half the fun of crafting are the beautiful tools you get to work with! I saw these beautiful spinning wheels when I was at the Sheep and Wool Festival last weekend. They are so amazing that I am thinking of taking up spinning! Check out their website, journeywheel.com to see Drop Spindles, Boat Shuttles, Niddy Noddies as well as their traveling spinnning wheels!
left: Jonathan & Sheila Bosworth
right: a “Journey Wheel”
~Alison Lee host of ” the online crafting podcast,“ CRAFTCAST
October 25, 2006
Today I talk to Kaffe Fassett and Liza Lucy! Kaffe and Liza partner together to make some of the most spectacular quilts that double as art and home decoration. Looking at their work leaves you feeling happy and inspired. To quote Kaffe, “My logic tells me why strive for complicated, difficult-to-sew arrangements when simple squares, diamonds and triangles are so endlessly fascinating as long as the colors are alive.”
Here is the link for information on the amazing stamps that show off the Gee’s Bend Quilts! Don’t miss these and the interesting history behind them!
Also make sure to listen to this weeks homework assignment, making your own “Crayola Crayon” color box!
Keep Crafting!
left: Kaffe’s studio
middle: Kaffe Fassett
right: “Passionate Patchwork” by Kaffe Fassett and Liza Lucy
~Alison Lee host of ” the online crafting podcast,“ CRAFTCAST
click here to listen
October 24, 2006
It’s getting to be mitten time! I think the history behind the craft of mittens is fascinating. These are some Latvian Mittens that I made from Lizbeth Upitis’s book Latvian Mittens: Traditional Designs & Techniques. These were done on 000 needles! Not casual knitting, but still a lot of fun! Women in the Laplands would make 100’s of pairs for their dowry. That’s impressive!
above: pair of mittens from a pattern in Latvian Mittens: Traditional Designs & Techniques
~Alison Lee host of ” the online crafting podcast,“ CRAFTCAST
October 23, 2006
Putting on one of Karren’s shawls, I felt like a goddess wrapped in a kaleidoscope of color! Go to www.Entwinements.com and read Karren’s blog on how she makes these amazing pleated silk shibori accessories. Each one is a wearable painting! Thank you Karren for the beautiful accessories.
above: one of Karren’s pleated silk shibori wraps
~Alison Lee host of ” the online crafting podcast,“ CRAFTCAST
October 20, 2006
I’ll be taking CRAFTCAST on the road this weekend, and doing a remote cast from the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY. Stayed tune for more information as to when you can hear that show. I also am going to try a video cast!
For all of you who purchased the felted evening bag kit that appeared in this fall’s issue of “Knit Simple” I thank you. Even though I have sold out of the kits, I have made available the instructions for $4.95. You can make the bag with wool of your choice! The directions are simple, and can be easily adapted to any 100% wool! Just click here and email me. If you are looking to shop online for some yummy new yarn, check out a new site called The Skein!
left: NYS Sheep and Wool Festival website
right: CRAFTCAST’S evening bag in the month’s KNIT SIMPLE
~Alison Lee host of the online crafting podcast, Craftcast
October 18, 2006
Today I talk with Daniel Vosovic! Daniel was the first runner up from season two of PROJECT RUNWAY! I hope you enjoy hearing what Daniel has to say about behind the scenes of being on the show, plus the new projects he is working on! Thanks Daniel!
Also check out this weeks homework assignment as well as the review of the book, Celebrate Your Creative Self, by Mary Todd Beam.
top: Daniel Vosovic
bottom left: military dress bottom right: lantern sweater & chocolate pants
photos/Michael Turek
Come back next Wednesday when I talk to Kaffe Fassett and Liza Lucy, quilters extraordinaire. Listen in as Kaffe and Liza give their advice on the business of crafting, quilting, and creativity!
Keep Crafting!
~Alison Lee host of “the online crafting podcast“, Craftcast
click here to listen
October 17, 2006
I love this jewelry concept!
C. Jill Hofer makes jewelry from silver. Nothing too unique there, except that Ms. Hofer’s work is imbedded with silver granules that “talk to you” in Braille. Ten percent of each sale from the jewelry designer’s www.aNiceworld.com website go to nonprofit organizations in Tucson.
“It’s like a karmic boomerang,” she says of her business philosophy.
Thanks Jill for expanding communications using the art of jewelry!
left: silver jewelry with braille markings
right: C. Jill Hofer at work
~Alison Lee host of ” the online crafting podcast,“ Craftcast
October 16, 2006
Seeing things from a different perspective!
A concave mirror made of polished stainless steel 35 feet in diameter is standing nearly three stories tall at Fifth Avenue and 50th street in NYC.
Anish’s sculptures have been referred to as creating an intensely spiritual and psychological experience, drawing viewers in by layered colors, unique surfaces, and visual effects of depth and dimension.
above: Sky Mirror installation on 5th Avenue, NYC
Thank you Anish for your creative spirit!
~Alison Lee host of “the online crafting podcast,” Craftcast
October 12, 2006
Take a look at Frankoma pottery and see that good design never tires!
In todays world of throw away trendy dishes I’d rather spend a slight bit more money on collecting this stunning dishware from the 40’s and 50’s!
Originators, John and Grace Lee Frank, were proud that they never wavered in their determination to offer good art “for those who like nice things” that virtually everyone could afford to own and enjoy in their own home. Their goal was to manufacture everyday tableware with “pleasing artistic designs and colors that complimented food and the dining experience”.
Thank you John and Grace for your design commitment!
top: some Frankoma serving pieces
bottom: some Frankoma dishes from my collection
Keep Crafting!
~Alison Lee host of ” the online crafting podcast,“ Craftcast
