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February, 2007 Archives | Homepage
Grouch Cakes for Grouches
 Earlier this week the Paper Crafts Magazine blog was kind enough to remind everyone that there are grouches in this world we live in.
I'm sure we all know a grouch or two in real life. Perhaps it's a crabby neighbor who always finds fault with your lawn, dog, kids, etc. Maybe you have a mother-in-law who has no problem sharing "her" way of doing things. Perhaps you have a boss who walks around with a constant frown on his face.
Whoever you are, wherever you live, grouches live among us.
Fortunately, the Paper Crafts Magazine blog had a method for cheering up all these grouches. The solution: Grouch Cupcakes! These cakes look like a sure-fire way to cheer up any grump. You can see the instructions on the sesameworkshop website.
Posted on February 20, 2007
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Coral Reef Crocheted
 The Institute for Figuring (via Craftzine) has a wild Crochet Hyperbolic Coral Reef display. They call the display a "celebration of geometry, handicraft and marine wonders." The image on the right shows crocheted "striated coral" made by Daina Taimina, with "brain corals" by Spring Pace.
The project is a collaborative one so if you want to contribute you can.
We invite crocheters everywhere to contribute models to the reef. This is a collective project and all contributors will be fully acknowledged online and in future exhibitions.
You can see many more pictures on the Institute for Figuring's website. There are also a few here on Flickr.
Posted on February 17, 2007
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Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting
 The Christian Science Monitor is reporting on a new display at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York called Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting.
Crafts have long played second fiddle to painting and sculpture, at least as far as museums were concerned. "Crafts" have always had domestic connotations. Now, a landmark exhibition here at the Museum of Arts and Design explodes that homey image, and lays to rest the notion of crafts as inferior to the fine arts.
"Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting" brings together 27 artists from eight countries to stretch the definitions of fiber and scale. The work on display ranges from micro-knit sweaters to room-size installations of rope, elastic, wire, and rubber, and tackles issues as varied as war, global politics, and gender roles.
Contemporary art, with its everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach, has played a huge role in blurring the line between "crafts," which traditionally meant folk art that did not require formal training, and "fine arts," which implied a more academic background.
"More often, you find a crossover, with artists who knit and knitters who have fine-arts backgrounds," says artist Sabrina Gschwandtner.
You can see the exhibit's information page here on the museum's website. There are some very cool photographs there including photos of tiny knitted gloves and a screenshot of knitoscope animation software. Be sure to look at the last image on the page called Craft Kills. The exhibit runs until June 17, 2007. More discussion of the exhibit can be found at Make, Womantak.org, The Intrepid Art Collector, Crochet Me, Knit Together, Knit 1, Men Who Knit and Femminista Della Casa.
Posted on February 16, 2007
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Make Techno Nerd Socks
 Every geek needs socks that remind him or her of Atari games. These TechGuy socks should do the trick.
This sock pattern, written for supersoft, superlight, superwash sport weight yarn, is a great basic pattern that can be used to make your tech guy smart looking socks with just a touch of tech. Or, if your guy's not so geeky, leave out the tech and make regular guy socks. (Heck, knit the small size and make some for yourself!) For techy socks, use one of the charts provided or make your own. In fact, most of the images from old video games or computer screenshots are already pixelated for you. Just draw in the graph lines and you’ve got yourself a chart!
Magknits has the patterns and instructions here. Here's a good techno song to play why you are making them. (via Make)
Posted on February 9, 2007
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