University of Southampton Winchester School of Art

Oh the cuteness of this...

Image from the Textile Art BA Degree Show of University of Southampton Winchester School of Art.

mein wall hangings

mein's version of potholders on the wall - it is so much fun! I use these creations to encourage my crochet practice.

I mixed ready pieces with new creations. I must admit my doily fixation is rekindled!

mieke willems

On top of loving every single thing on mieke willems' websiteand blog, I cannot get these potholders-on-the-wall out of my mind. When I started picking up crochet a few months back, this image was on my mood board to inspire and motivate me.

When the going got tough, I started to crochet spirals to practice. Now I hang the practice pieces on our studio notice board at home. I will post them when I get round to taking pictures.

[images and text from mieke willems]

Find the store of mieke willems at aalmoezenierstraat 28, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; opened Monday till Saturday between 10am and 6pm. This will be our first stop if we ever visit Antwerp.

chez sucre chez

While searching for pretty clouds to quench a cloud fixation, we found chez sucre chez by Kimberly Scola, a multi-talented artist, crafter and blogger.

Love her cross stitch clouds with silver lining, mounted on sewing hoops.


Find Kimberly's blog, flickr, online shop, etsy and website.

[via the lovely CHEZ SUCRE CHEZ]

noussnouss - clouds

Another amazing variation of of clouds. These ones are sewn by Alice Bernado of noussnouss.

For more information, visit noussnouss and her flickr.

[via noussnouss.]

Paper Boat Press

Paper Boat Press is Kylie Johnson, the multi-talented ceramics artist and poet. Her ceramics cloud brooches transports me to another world.

Ceramic tags, which are stamped with Kylie's writing, are a fusion of text and crafts.

For more information, visit Kylie Johnson & Paper Boat Press.

via the every inspiring Paisley st claire.

noussnouss

This image has been sitting in my folders for a long while. noussnouss has included a free pattern with instructions in the link here.


For more information, visit noussnouss.

[via noussnouss]

Martha Stewart - Lunch Bags

I cannot get these oilcloth lunch bags out of my mind. As seen in Martha Stewart, link here for a step by step guide to making these at home.

via the lovely ohdeedoh & Kim Vallée.

Martha Stewart Weddings - Lace Clutch

Another great idea, pretty clutch bags! Elegant beige and blue lace patterns (beige template here & blue template here) are printed onto heat-transfer paper, ironed onto fabric and sewn into clutch purses.

Find Martha Stewart Wedding's step by step guide here, complete with links to clip arts for you to print out for your home projects.

Other inspiring lace decorations & projects from Martha Stewart Weddings can be found here.

via the lovely Martha Stewart Weddings. All templates and images copyrights of Martha Stewart Weddings.

Martha Stewart Weddings - Lace Projects

I am addicted to the beautiful crafts in Martha Stewart Weddings and even though we have just celebrated our wedding recently, I still find myself running out for the latest copy. The latest issue Spring 2009 has the most beautiful lace ideas.

Intricate lacy patterns (template here) can easily be imprinted on white favour bags on your trusty home printer and folded on the sides to form a puffed up favour or gift bag. Secured with a nice piece of ribbon, they are good for holding cotton candy or even confetti. The hand-punched round gift tags printed with blue lace patterns (template here) are cut using a 2 1/2-inch punch makes perfect gift tags, book markers, coasters even place setting.

Find Martha Stewart Wedding's step by step guide here, complete with links to clip arts for you to print out for your home projects.

Other inspiring lace decorations & projects from Martha Stewart Weddings can be found here.

via the lovely Martha Stewart Weddings. All templates and images copyrights of Martha Stewart Weddings.

Paper Studio - Glueing

Please watch this even before starting. We always believe in good practise for all creative processes. This video is really fundamental glueing "etiquette" to develop before even starting! Once again, Cindy from Paper Studio delivers her presentation with absolute clarity.

Paper Studio - Book Binding

We are very inspired by our paper blogging in mein™ inspiration, so there is alot of excitement in researching paper processes and crafts for our own projects.

Cindy from Paper Studio has the best bookbinding videos! She is clear, concise, knows her stuff, and we are posting her clips here because we will be referring to her instructions constantly.

String Book

This is so simple yet very effective. One of those why-didn't-I-think-of-it things!

Moontreepress

Letterpress Greeting Cards - Style 2004, 2007
Printed on a Heidelberg Windmill press; limited edition - SOLD OUT.

The best part about starting a business has to be designing and making collaterals!
We found a very inspiring perfect binding session with Rebecca from Moontresspress that was featured on the Etsy Storque on Youtube.

Top Favourites This Christmas!

Find the complete step-by-step guide to Martha Steward's pretty snowflakes here.






Step 1: Fold paper in half diagonally to make a triangle.
Step 2: Fold triangle in half so pointy corners meet.
Step 3: Fold triangle in thirds. Adjust till sides match.
Step 4: Cut across the bottom of paper as shown.

Cutting Snowflakes: Cut the folded paper so it looks like the triangle. Unfold gently. Vary and explore!

[images and text extracted from Martha Steward.]

Discovered from Geninne's Art Blog.

Your Home and Garden

While searching for doilies, I came across this great lacy stenciled lamp shade from Your Home and Garden.

Lacy Stencil Shade
Materials:
Plastic doily fabric – enough to go around the lampshade
12mm double-sided tape
Scissors
Enamel spray paint
An old lampstand



1 Cut the doily fabric to fit the shade by rolling it around and allowing a small vertical overlap. Cut away any parts of the doily that you wish to remove. It works better if the pattern is not too intricate.
2 Cut a length of tape the height of the lampshade in half vertically and stick one piece down the seam of the lampshade. Press one end of the fabric vertically along the tape. Place the second piece of doublesided tape directly over the first and roll the fabric evenly and firmly around the shade till the overlap, then stick down and cut away any excess fabric.
3 Place the shade on the old lampstand so you can swivel the shade as you go. Spray evenly onto the shade, in horizontal movements to ensure even coverage until you have completely covered the shade. Leave to dry, then carefully remove the fabric and tape.
4. Voila!

[images and text extracted from Your Home and Garden.]

For more information, visit Your Home and Garden.

How Stuff Works

I am still researching for pretty ideas to enhance our reception on Boxing day. I found this brilliant technique from How Stuff Works. Sifting cocoa and sugar onto doily patterns is such a brilliant idea!

Sifted Cocoa and Sugar Patterns
materials:
waxed paper
doily with large pattern
large spoon
fine-mesh sieve
skewer or toothpick
unsweetened cocoa powder or powdered sugar



1. Cut waxed paper into strips, each 2 to 3 inches wide. Tuck strips under cake to keep plate clean.
2. Position doily on top of cake. Carefully position the doily in the center of the cake.
3. Spoon cocoa powder or powdered sugar into sieve. Hold the sieve over a sheet of waxed paper for easier cleanup.
4. Holding sieve over cake, gently tap sieve with hand to sift cocoa powder or sugar in an even layer over entire surface. Move sieve over cake slowly and smoothly for an even effect.
5. Carefully remove waxed paper strips. Remove doily with skewer or toothpick. Work carefully so you don't disturb the pattern.Work carefully so you donnot disturb the pattern.

TIP: Cocoa powder works well for light-colored desserts; powdered sugar is best for dark-colored desserts.

[images and text from How Stuff Works.]

For more great ideas, visit How Stuff Works.

Rubber stamping step-by-step!

There is a beautifully illustrated and photographed step-by-step rubber stamp carving tutorial by fellow blogger and talented freelance illustrator and designer, Geninne Zlatkis.

Please find Geninne's gorgeous prints on etsy here!

Stamping fun!

Inspired by Keiko Kuma's book, I carved 2 stamps on soft eraser, using wood carving knives. The tree and a bird motifs were straight forward and very easy to draw as well as to chip off! You should try it!
Here is the fun process of stamping to create original prints!















The finished print on Fabriano paper with Dye ink in Brown.

Keiko Koma

I just found the Taiwanese editon of the book Enjoy My Handmade Life, by Keiko Koma (ISBN 986-7039-02-5), which includes very useful information on the techniques to making rubber stamps! The book is filled with lots of great ideas and tips.

Keiko Koma works on rubber stamp crafts under the name komagomaya.

click on the image to see a bigger view
click on the image to see a bigger view