Jom, let's get back on track!

In the last 3 years, I was busy organising & assisting in craft & artistic ventures, i soon found that i was just a bystander while others have moved up and increased their skills while enjoying themselves immensely. This year, as the guild is more stable, with a good team in-charge, i am gonna immerse myself in all the crafts that i loved but have set aside. I started slow by making more than twenty 4-strand macrame bracelets for frens during Xmas. Small & quick projects to get the energy and passion flowing.

Then I asked Ben Toh whether i could run a Macrame workshop at D7 SEED - Sentul East Design Centre. So I've been brushing up on my macrame skills and sourcing and testing out suitable strings & yarn. Next on my re-entry plan is try out Macrame stone wrapping.  It is part of Art Jamming session. 

Jom, Let's Art Jam
Date        ;       17th January, 2014 (Friday) (Thaipusam-Public Holiiday)
Venue      :       Courtyard at d7 Sentul East, Jalan Sentul, Kuala Lumpur
Time        :        12pm - 3pm
Fee          :        RM 30.00 per person (Children /Adult)
Includes one(1) Stretched Canvas 30cm x 30cm, painting materials and mineral water

Light raw food testers provided by Delicious Detox Delivery KL

For Craft lovers:
Make a pair of Macrame Owls Workshop
Fee           :         RM50  
                          (10% discount for ACG members)
Instructor   :        Crazeepatches (Jane)

For registration and further enquiries, please contact:
012 205 0716 (Ben)
012 218 8851 (Gary)

012 330 7240 (Maxine)

Crafting to help animal shelter dogs & cats

Consider this :

"Animal rescue shelters must be built and furnished in a practical manner that allows for a sterile environment.  That means steel and cement in most cases.  Warmth and the comfort of something to snuggle into is invaluable to homeless animals like cats, dogs, and even birds.  Shelters usually accept old towels and blankets for animal cages and will also welcome crocheted, knit or sewn items.

Beginners and students especially enjoy these fast, easy patterns.  The best part about crafting for animals is the results don’t have to be perfect, fancy or color coordinated.  They make awesome scrap or recycling projects too

read on... to see what crafts u can do to help your local Animal Shelters like PAWS & SPCA.

http://allnaturalpetcare.com/blog/2011/11/05/free-pet-knit-crochet-and-sewing-patterns-for-pet-animal-shelter/
 
Before you begin:

• Crafting materials should be tough and easy to wash & dry, such as acrylic yarn.
• Use solid, tight stitches that will hold up to wear, rough handling and frequent washing.
• Avoid patterns with holes as they’re not as comfortable or warm,  and little paws can get tangled in them.
• Quilt batting and stuffing is usually discouraged as it can easily be ripped apart.  According to The Snuggles Project, layers of recycled scrap material is preferred when stuffing is required.

 Taken from
http://allnaturalpetcare.com/blog/2011/11/05/free-pet-knit-crochet-and-sewing-patterns-for-pet-animal-shelter/

Are your craft materials a MESS?

Bits of paper, string, ribbons lying around... To throw or not to throw? A real crafter never throws away anything. Every bit can be used! That's creativity!

How then do you keep it organised? You know you still have that piece of paper that's perfect for your next craft project, but where is it ? Buried under tons of bric-brac !!

Martha Stewart, the queen of perfect living & cooking has lots of tips :

Check out : http://www.marthastewart.com/organizing-crafts?lnc=5a1e758a65cee010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=leftnav_crafts

You can also view her home, where she puts all her organising & decorating tips to practice.

Crafty Vegans

Please bear with me! I'm a new Vegan. All things vegan attract me... but keep an open mind and you may understand my reasons for becoming one & what fun we vegans can have!

Check out: "Creating without Cruelty"
http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/craftivism/article/one-womans-road-to-veganism/2284/

Link, courtesy of my new found on-line friend, ccm. Tx.

Junk to Funk!

Read about her junk adventure....
http://closetcrafty.blogspot.com/

A graphic designer, using her talents to create art/craft pieces from remnants/throw-aways/junk, with a purpose. Her creations are not for sale, but for championing environmental issues

Meet Pokok, the 'eco warrior'

Doll-Making Workshop @Kampung Kasih

“A hand-crafted doll is one of a kind, an individual which carries the spirit of the maker in its stitches and absorbs the spirit of the child who loves it” (Waldorf Homeschoolers)

Class Schedule (for ADULTS)

1-day project - Baby Bunting : Aug 23 or Sep 6 @ 10-11.30am (RM38)

2-day project - Baby with little hands & feet : Aug 23+Sep 6 (Sat) @2-3.30pm or Sep 13+27 (Sat) @10-11.30am (RM58)

2-day project - Standing Puppets : Oct 4-11 @10-11.30am (RM58)

Please register 3 days in advance before the start of each workshop for us to make the
necessary preparation. Thank you. For more information, please contact us at Tel: 603-7874-8913 or email: kampungkasih@yahoo.com

I met them at the Climate Change event @Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil last Sat (9 Aug, 2008). According to their brochure, Kampung Kasih, in SS2, Petaling Jaya is a pre-school that provides education through practical skills & life arts.

=> Nature exploration, creative play, natural & healthy vegetarian meals, snack preparation by children themselves, self-paced learning, simple natural toys, complete with their own organic vegetable garden!

=> Allowing the child the freedom to play, discover & develop naturally without stress or pressure.

Wah, wish I had this type of pre-school when i was young!! ha, ha...

Art Friend - craft shop

Found this in The Garden's, Mid Valley, next to Borders (above Robinson's)

Among the usual paints & paper, they sell a wide range of craft materials :

Gold leaf foil, Spanish moss, reindeer moss, styrofoam - human body parts, feathers, quilling, ice-cream sticks, alphabets, clothes pegs, wood items, clock base, copper/brass wires/mesh/tubes/sheeting, pom-poms...etc.

Oiyi - blogs

Just jumping around the craft blogs & found http://oiyi.blogspot.com/
Do check it out for blogs about her life surrounded by all types of crafts (knitting, crochet..), her baby, her dogs Caesar & Napolean (the splitting image of the General Napolean Bonaparte.. haha..) & her cooking & baking

DIY (Do -It-Yourself) !!

Who says crafts are for kids & little old ladies? Researching on the web, I've noticed that there are trendy, hip & funky crafters out there with lively, cute interesting designs.

The craft techniques may be 'old world ' eg. crocheting, quilting, applique,.. but given a modern twist -- such vibrant colours... many are fashion based ... I suspect they are either fashion designers or graphic designers ...

eg. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikrak/favorites/

Teens craft mags : http://www.adornmag.com/
Valentine DIY projects : http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=2004

Fashion DIY projects :
Fire skirt !
Wear your own special effects! Learn a glow-in-the-dark clothing technique that mimics the look of fire, using electroluminescent (EL) wire and a combination of reflective and transparent fabrics

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fire-Skirt!/


Shoulder bag http://tinyhappy.typepad.com/tiny_happy/2006/06/shoulder_bag_tu.htmltml

Video DIY projects
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3fr89_thread-heads-hats_school

CRAFT LIVES !!

Here's a list of awesome craft & art blogs you should check out!

http://craftgossip.com/about-craftgossip/
"CraftGossip is all the latest news from real craft people telling you about the real stuff. We scour the net looking for the best craft ideas and projects and review them for you. We have divided this blog into many sub-blogs, covering topics ranging from knitting, crochet, bath and body, candle making, jewelry making, scrapbooking, sewing crafts, paper crafts, recycled crafts, kids crafts, needlework, painting, edible crafts, indie crafts and felting. Each of these sub-blogs are managed by their own dedicated editor, so you know that you are getting personalized attention."

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http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/

Craft scene in London.

"Fashion and Textile Designer behind Sara's Texture Crafts - The home of handcrafted gifts, crafty kits and equipment. "
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http://indiefindsonetsy.blogspot.com/

Blog about Independent artists & crafters
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http://iloveindie.blogspot.com/

"There are so many Indie Designer blogs, but sometimes you just wanna SHARE all the cool things that you've found and that you love. That's why I wanted to start this Indie Love blog. To showcase the beautiful items that people create! I am a jewelry designer myself and I am also a self recognized shopaholic. So, I feel it is my obligation to share with others my finds and funs...I hope you enjoy them too!"

http://indielove.biz/

"A place for Indie Shopaholics"
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http://indieprettyperfect.blogspot.com/

"Indie/Pretty/Perfect interviews independent artists from around the world, looking at their lives, inspirations and creations. {Mostly women, but sometimes men too – if they're tough enough not to mind the "pretty"...
-- A peek inside the minds behind amazing art and fabulous finds"
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