Kanzashi

Kanzashi Flowers have been all the rave on the crafty internet in recent years, but it seems I've just come around to it. Kanzashi is the Japanese art form of folding fabric the way one would fold paper in origami. Inspired by the new book Kanzashi In Bloom by Diane Gilleland I got really into exploring the medium. I thought I'd do a review of the book while I was at it, so here goes.

Kanzashi In Bloom by Diane Gilleland

PROS- The book is written in a very clear and effective manner. The history of the craft is done respectfully and eloquently. The instructions for seemingly complex folds are excellent, with photos linked to each step smoothly and very clearly. The projects in the book are attractive, feasible and open to enough interpretation to inspire unique work.

CONS- However my one gripe is the book only shows how to do three folds, and where that is good for a beginning crafter, it leaves craft junkies like me hungry for more!! I actually googled 'Kanzashi' images and saw lots of pieces made with a wonderful petal fold that was not in the book that thankfully I was able to teach myself! See the images below for what came from the book and what did not.

Kanzashi flowers I made from instructions in the book.

However the image below is of a necklace that I'm making with a Kanzashi flower fold that was not in the book.When I 'googled' images of Kanzashi flowers many were made with a unique petal fold that left one side of the fold in double layers. I sat down for a while anad played with the fabric and eventually taught it to myself!

Kanzashi necklace that I'm making detail shot click to see

So I have found that I like the silk fabric of abandoned men's neck ties for Kanzashi the best (though cotton patterned fabrics are fun too). There is something about taking a very masculine fabric (neckties) and converting them into such feminine flowers.

Kanzashi is addictive and very meditative much like crocheting or knitting. You will however need a thimble if you plan on making a bunch.

I like using both fabric covered brads (in the scrapbooking section at the craft store) or covering my own buttons with matching fabric.

Kanzashi Flowers made from one of my bosses 'vintage' neckties!!!!

I am planning on creating a tutorial for this fold here soon so stay tuned!--Amarettogirl

Apron Mania

This past holiday season I decided to make many of the domestic divas in my family aprons to suit their personalities. Like many a crafty chica, I began to feel drawn to these seemingly outdated pieces of fashion and wanted to try my hand at it.

However, tonight after eating the awesome pearl cous cous, shrimp and lemon cream dinner my hubs just made me I'm beginning to think I need to make some man-prons!!

Anyway thought I'd share these with ya'll

An Apron for my mom the bird lover Bird Lover Apron by marisol diaz So Sassy Cherry Apron for my cuz Crystal by marisol diaz Woodland Creatures Apron for MOI!My Apron by marisol diaz The too sexy MILF Apron for my cuz Mimi

Witchy Women/ Making an OOAK Fabric Doll @ Sugarloaf

Some of you may remember I posted about a wonderful fabric shop I found in Warwick New York this past summer - if the not click here to read it. The name of the shop is Fruition Dolls and Gifts. The owner Linda Gargano makes her fiber-filled fun shop even more enticing by hosting classes in the space.

Fruition business card So my first class was this month to make a Witchy Woman fiber doll.

Being the big crafter, fabric lover and halloween fan that I am, I couldn't wait to make this doll!

OOAK means one of a kind and regardless of Linda teaching us with a fabric pattern for the body and head, when each student makes fabric decisions and soft sculpture happens on the face, every one of our dolls turns out completely unique and one of a kind.

Linda's Demo doll and an unfinished body sample

The class was incredibly pleasant with 4-5 of us students sitting in a fiber-filled haven around a wooden table. Seeing each of our efforts evolve in a few hours was incredible. Class was only two-three classes long so we did much embellishing and stuffing outside of class. Linda's expertise in fiber doll making was a wonderful treasure trove of excitement because every stitch brought the characterless face to astonishing life!

the characterless heada witch head getting her color appliedLinda's Witchy WomanAnother classmates Witchy WomanAll of our Witchy Women Dolls!My Unfinished Witchy Woman Doll!All of our Witchy Women Full body pic!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FOLKS!!- Amarettogirl

Guerilla Knitting in NYC

Names of Participating Guerilla Knitters

Guerilla Art and Guerilla Knitting is not such a new concept but when you get to see it in action, its always refreshing and innovative.

While my hub and I were visiting the city this summer, we ran into this corner on 1st avenue on 9th St. more than once (a very cool urban art/toy and graphics store called Giant Robot resides on that street).

green flower

Guerilla knitting is a great way to add color and warmth to the cold, and often hard face of the city. In this project, which was sponsored by the PS 122 Gallery last Spring, the work spawned from, and in conjunction with, a larger effort entitled Yarn Theory.

Covered iron bars

As you can see, the project certainly does add color and warmth, but I also think it creatively adds to the interdependent nature of the chaos and distraction of the city, especially into a space that is already a stimulating environment. That sounds negative, but I see it as a positive contribution to the meaning and symbolism evoked by the architectural features we walk by daily in the city.

iron fence on an angle

The PS 122 Gallery presented an exhibit this past Spring from April 25th to May 17th called Yarn Theory in hopes to spur on the realization that there is a deep relationship between science, math and knitting and crocheting:

Highlighting the work of some of today’s most interesting practitioners, Yarn Theory juxtaposes installations and art objects made with a scientific or mathematical basis as a starting point, and with mathematical models and items made explicitly to explain or clarify abstract concepts, which end up being compelling aesthetic forms unto themselves. Because of their incremental structure, the crafted shapes often mimic growth systems found in nature. Today’s needle workers, many of who are also scientists and mathematicians professionally, are exploring such correlations.

whole web

My personal favorite out of the Guerilla knitting on the corner of 9th St. is this grey web. It is brilliant in the way that it complements the color, complexity and interconnectedness of the city. The relationship between the yarn and the iron fence becomes truly symbiotic and relevant.

The way the web travels up between the iron bars is nothing short of artistic brilliance in my humble opinion.

detail of web

Discovering a Crafter in Sugar Loaf, NY - The Arts and Crafts Community

Finally, this Memorial Day weekend gave me some time to scout out a local town that I've been really curious about, Sugar Loaf, NY. The Welcome to Sugar Loaf Sign at the Town's Precipice.

The hamlet of Sugar Loaf is a community of creative craftspeople and artists nestled under Sugar Loaf Mountain in picturesque Warwick Valley, Orange County, New York. Surrounded by apple orchards and horse farms, it has had a distinguished reputation as a crafts community for over 250 years, Today, Sugar Loaf remains true to its heritage as the year round home of over fifty independent business men and women. Many of these artisans live and work in the original barns and buildings which date back to the 1700's.

While I was walking along the street of candle, leather, potters, painted gourds and art frame shops, I came across a place named FRUITION Time Well Spent owned by Linda Gargano. The second you walk into this fabric filled store with hand-sewn delights dangling in every nook, you imagine yourself walking into a no-longer-virtual Etsy shop...but as I found out Mrs. Gargano doesn't have any Etsy shop! Which to me, makes her and her wares highly exclusive, since I equate having an Etsy shop with being accessible to the world.

As it stands, you'll have to contact her through her website or make your way to SUGAR LOAF NY if you want one of her hand-made art dolls, bags, aprons, eyeglass holders, or countless other pattern and fiber-filled treasures. Like me, Mrs. Gargano can't bear idle fingers...hopefully I can convince her to open an Etsy shop!

Linda Gargano owner of Fruition Time Well Spent

"I began sewing at a young age of 11 and had always busied myself by drawing and coloring before that. My hands were always doing something and to this day the aroma of a box of new crayons still brightens my day! I'm happiest when my hands are busy and I have something to show for my efforts. I've dabbled in many art forms but I always wind up in my chair behind a sewing machine (or two) and find it's where I am most creative." - Linda Gargano

My new Apron made by Linda Gargano owner of Fruition in Sugar Loaf Ny

Idle Fingers Need(le) to Felt Dogs or other animals for that matter...

Fleece Dog Book by Sinco

I have always struggled with allowing my hands to be idle. Whether in meetings, on a plane, in a car ride, waiting room or subway...idle hands (mine of course) drive me insane. So through out the years I've taken up all sorts of portable string and hook activities like embroidery, crocheting and knitting. When I was eight yrs. old on my weekend trips to go see my grandmother, I used to crochet on the number seven el train while I sat alongside of my mother.

However, when it came to needle-felting arts, what I had seen the most of were felted fruit and I was never really intrigued with hairy strawberries and grapes. Infact, I was kind of 'ick' about it. So I never got into it, until thirty years later when I ran across Sinco's book Felted Dog. Dogs (unlike fruit) SHOULD be hairy!

In addition, Sinco has an entire site to support, supplement and encourage you called www.fleecedog.com! She has tutorials too and even guides you in how to incorporate REAL dog hair into your little miniature faux dog!

In order to needle felt you need carded wool Felting Needles vaible from Sinco And in craft stores or Felting Sites

The one downside to needle felting is that you need barbed needles that are VERY dangerous (think of the tip of a fishing hook multiplied a thousand times AND reduced to microscopic size!) Since the action of needle felting is to repeatedly move the felting needles in and out/ up and down (like a sewing machine) through the fibers in order to entangle and bind them - it is often easy to poke your finger.

Glass Eyes from Sinco Two Unfinished Dogs I've started (Chica and Chulo) My Maya Maya by me!

My friend Laura has a pug named Nugget and I made her this felt dog (though I haven't given it to her YET- but I will!) So here is Nugget:

Nugget by marisol diaz

If you're interested in this or in other felted animals (like cats) there are many new books available including one called Little Felted Animals.

Marie Antoinette Display Doll Dress

The front pattern sewn the first skirt layer The button detail Unfinished torso...almost finished by marisol diaz

Stay tuned for the up and coming sleeves, the second and third layer of the dress and the coat!

My Spoonflower Custom Fabric Arrived!

Wow! I am so, so, so impressed! My custom order of my collages and illustrations onto fabric via Spoonflower (my new favorite company) has arrived. Except for the first 'Let The Eat Cupcakes' print (which I ordered a larger piece of). I only ordered small 8"X8" swatches of the fabric before I make in the investment into yardage. It looks like I might have to adjust the scale to which the large one was submitted (the pattern is rather large), but overall fantastic results! Check them out!

This last one is great for making Ipod cases!

Hope you like them! Let me know what you think!

Kat Macleod - Inspiring Artist

The Cocktail by Jane Rocca, Drawings by Kat Macleod

I came across Australian based illustrator Kat Macleod's work when I went to Philly (Philadelphia, PA) this summer for a day trip. My hub and I took the two hour drive out to Philly to attend a craft fair that was happening in the Philadelphia convention center. However, it wasn't at the craft fair, where I did see so many varied (glass, jewelry, wood, fiber) and wonderful artists/crafters that I saw her work. In fact, it was in the most unlikely of places that I saw my first Kat Macleod piece! I was in Reading terminal (One of my fave Philly spots) taking a break and getting some lunch when I walked by a cookbook shop and I saw this book sitting by the register.

Upon closer inspection I was mesmerized instantly at the this illustrator who was fusing the world of fine art and craft majestically in her delicate watercolor illustrations. by Kat Macleod

Her fluid fine line is perfectly accented with a vibrant sense of color and design. Part fashion illustration, part fabric and paper collage, Ms. Macleod's work is fresh, inspiring and a lesson to us all to be open minded about materials. You can even ind some hand-stitching in there.

by Kat Macleod

Since this illustrator is from Melbourne, Australia, she is having a solo show in a gallery there called Lamington Drive. The name of her show is entitled The Tiniest Spark and boy do I wish I had a trip to Australia planned for this month, because the exhibit is up until November 29th (what a great Thanksgiving trip that would be!). So if you're luckier than me and headed to Melbourne Australia this month, you know one art stop you most definitely have to make!

Upon some more research I also discovered that Kat Macleod also does the illustration for a site called Michigirl which is an Australian based online style magazine site. It looks as though we can get another book illustrated by Kat Macleod too - Its written by Michigirl and is entitled Like I Give Frock Fashion Forecasts and Meaningless Misguidance.

Custom Fabric Printing!!! Crafter Alert!

Oh My gosh I am in love! I was reading this months Craft zine and I came across an article on printing custom fabric - with a company called Spoonflower which offers online custom fabric printing! Compared to pre-existing fabric printing companies, Spoonflower offers low fees, fast production, easy-peasy digital accessiblility and best of all low minimum yardage requirements!

The great things is that most companies that would allow artist to do such a thing in the past had large minimum orders, making it nearly impossible for artists to order small swatches or batches.

So I just couldn't wait to try my hand at it! If you have a photo-editing program (I use photoshop), either scan your artwork into the computer or take a high quality photo of your art. Then using your photo-editing program start to think about what I like to call a quadrant (a square that can be repeated to develop a pattern.) Spoonflower offers clear and easy instructions on how to prepare your art for uploading. I used some old collages, most of which my readers may recognize. Here is one of the many images I uploaded. However before you start I must warn you - it is HIGHLY ADDICTIVE! I'm going to place an order and update you all with the results!!! You can follow when I place the order - how long it takes to get to me, and what it looks like as fabric!

Marie Antoinette Fabric Design by marisol diaz