Anti-craft

Can you be crafty and anti-craft at the same time? I suppose the answer is yes, as it is evidently what's going on in the world of craft. I actually wrote an article for a Chinese magazine (http://www.theoutlookmagazine.com/) on this subject. The title loosely trnaslates to "Craft: wandering on the edge of high art and pop art." I'll upload it here as soon as I get a copy of it.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is I ran into this "anti-craft" blog (which unfortunately is not being updated anymore) and it is absolutely HILARIOUS! Check out the archives for a good laugh.

Kids Craft

One of the greatest gifts that my parents had given me is the desire to "make things". They probably weren't conscious of it. But I remember watching my mom knit, sew, and cook for as long as I can remember. My dad isn't really a handy person, but he loves to make new uses out of old objects. I still remember he used to make beautiful paper decorations and put them inside glass jars so we can use them for storing miscellaneous items.

I've decided to pass this on to my boy, Genghis. We do a lot of different crafts when we're home on the weekends. And, he loves it. Every weekend, he would ask me if he could do saau gong, which means handicraft in Cantonese, with me. To keep things interesting, I always try to do different crafts every time. And, that's how I started reading blogs on kids crafts.

One of my favorites is SouleMama by Amanda Soule. Not only is her blog a joy to read, but it's also full of great craft ideas - not all of them are for kids, though. Her book, The Creative Family, is the perfect guide to building stronger relationship with kids through creative activities.

And, you never know, I often get inspired by what Genghis does with his saau gong.

Lotta Jansdotter

I've always been a big fan of stationery. I have a thing for anything made with paper, and have been dreaming of some day learning to make paper scupltures.

A friend of mine introduced me to New York-based (well, at the time she was still based in San Francisco, though) screen printing artist Lotta Jansdotter about a year ago (Thanks, Maggie!). I have since been totally in love with her fresh and dainty designs. I especially love her journals and bags.

But what's more exciting is that her new book - Lotta Prints - on how to create your own prints with essentially anything just came out. I'm soooo going to buy it.

Tutorial on How to Make Matchbox Books

First post of my remodeled blog: a tutorial from Crafty Crow on how to make books using recycled matchboxes. Aren't these just adorable?

(Image courtesy of Craft Crow)

My Remodeled Blog

Lately, I've been silently doing some remodeling work on this blog, both editorial and esthetic. I changed the template and header picture, and have, after serious consideration, decided to use this blog not only to share with you my own projects, but also interesting projects that i found in the cyber craft world.

I hope it will help revive this blog. And I sure hope you'll like it.

Hooked

I'm not talking about crocheting, because I don't crochet. But lately I've been totally hooked on design & crafts blogs. I spent so much time reading different blogs that it feels great & terrible at the same time.

I got so inspired by all the very talented artists out there & I keep wishing I'm determined enough to just work on all the crafts that I've been *thinking about doing*. Good gracious! It's almost Spring now & I haven't even finished the ruffle scarve that I've started back in October of last year!

My ever-growing list of crafts that I would like to work on includes, first & foremost, the ruffle scarve, a blanket for Genghis (actually there're 2 underway, one that I just started knitting, & another one that I've cut out all the different elements that's awaiting me to sew together), an afghan for the living room, a felted necklace, decoupaging the closet doors in Genghis' room, creating some artwork for Genghis' room (yes, we're forever re-deocorating our house!), a sweater for Gary, a knitted bag for myself...

It's not too difficult to imagine that between reading these wonderful crafters blogs that I recently discovered & adore and whining about my pathetic attitude towards the whole thing, I, of course, have no time to work on anything. The prospect of me becoming a full-time, professional craftster is getting more and more unrealistic...

Meanwhile, amidst my pitiful self and the new world of crafting, allow me to share with you some of my new-found discovery:
How About Orange
Craftzine Blog
Design for Mankind
Soule Mama
Wise Craft

first scarf this winter

It has been an unexpectedly busy fall & winter. I've started knitting this scarf since November & am only half-way through.

This scarf is adapted from one of my mom's favorites. Me & my sis used to have this "girls' guide" scarf all the time to go with our winter school uniform - yes, in Hong Kong, kids have to wear school uniforms from kindergarten to high school.

I have been loving the ruffles since a couple of years ago & so decided to do a ruffled version of that. I like the look of it so far. Unfortunately, this has been taking too long. Between my job, my kid, & a series of home remodeling projects, I hardly have time to finish this up. This was meant to be a Christmas present (!) for my mom. Oh well...

I'll post some more pictures shortly.

Potential Projects This Winter

I don't know how I'm going to find time to do this, but my ambition is to at least start AND finish these projects this winter:

(1) the "tree of life" afghan for the home; (2) the "standout stripes" cardigan for Genghis; (3) the "cable luxe maxi" dress for myself; and (4) the "kumo" kimono for my hubby

Mickey Mouse Hat

Believe it or not, this is actually the first hat I made for Genghis. But since I was (still am) an inexperienced knitter, I just started with a vague idea of what I wanted to make & the hat ended up too big for my then 1-year-old.

This evening when we're playing dress-up, he pulled out this hat from his wardrobe & said, "Mommy, look! This hat has Mickey Mouse ears!"

To my surprise, it fits him much better now then it did 2 years ago. So I decided to take some pictures & post them here.

The hat is actually really easy to make. It's basically one big knitted rectangular piece & 2 pom-poms stitched together. The only slightly complicated thing is the cable pattern in the front. I don't exactly remember how I did it. I think I copied it from a pattern in a magazine. I always think that cables are something that look more complicated than it really is. I like cable patterns. It has that kind of unmistakable knitted look.

Anyway, I'm really pleased that Genghis likes the hat & he can still wear it 3 years after I made it!



PS. Genghis has the name tag on because we went to an office party this evening & they gave him the tag. He insisted keeping it on for the pictures (!).

Recommended Reads For Fellow Knitters

Since it is still too warm for me to start any knitting project, I thought maybe it's a good time to talk about 5 of my favorte websites and books/magazines that I enjoy reading when I'm looking for inspirations for my projects.


(1) Knitty.com
This is a GREAT site for free, innovative, one-of-a-kind knitting patterns. A collection of new patterns come out quarterly. All patterns are contributed by knitters not directly affliated with the website. Anyone can be a contributor, as long as you follow their submission requirements. They pay you, too! Not a bad deal to have your name and design out there for people to see.


Here's a couple of my favorite designs on Knitty:
Kumo - a men's kimono-inspired cardigan that I've been wanting to make for my husband for some time
Blu - the cutest baby jeans I've ever seen! I HAVE TO make it for my boy this winter.


(2) Interweave Knits
I like this magazine. Their patterns are alway unique and a lot of times very stylish. Each month they'll feature a few of their patterns in their magazine on the website free. Also, I like their staff projects very much - 3 or 4 of their staff will contribute a pattern on a specific topic every month, so you can have different design options for scarves, ponchos, etc.


(3) Nicky Epstein
She first earned her fame with her "Knitting on the Edge" book, which showcases tons of designs for, obviously, knitted edges. It's simply amazing how she can create so many edging designs. Her other 2 books on edging is on my wish list: "Knitting Over the Edge" and "Knitting Beyond the Edge" - just imagine writing 3 books on nothing but only edges! Amazing!


(4) Vogue Knitting
I like this magazine because it always ties into the latest fashion trends. It gives you designs that look like those appearing on the runway. Unfortunately, their website is currently under "remodeling". But it's worth to check back for their free patterns. It's sister magazine knit.1 is also great for teenage knitters - or people like me who wouldn't mind dressed like a teenager once in a while. There's a blog on the knit.1 website that's also worth browsing for latest news on their events.


(5) Craftzine
This is actually not a knitting website but a craft magazine website. But they do include knitting projects. I just discovered this quarterly magazine a week ago & had already subscribed to it. It's a hip magazine that gives you tons of ideas on various crafts projects.


After reading these websites, I have so many ideas in my head that my only fear is I don't really have time to work on everything that I'd like to...