Check out the latest in the Craft and DiY books to come out from Black Dog, interesting small publisher in London, and because I have a pattern included!
Text-swipe from the Black Dog Publishing Website:
Making Stuff is a craft book for the 21st century. Filled with exciting and inspirational ideas to make at home, ranging from felted teacosies, to knitted i-pod covers, bread lampshades crocheted plastic bag hats, and everything in between, this book is for all those who are beginning to tire of the high street, and who are looking for something a little bit more personal, a little bit more individual... something they’ve made themselves.
The book is laid out clearly and accessibly; An introduction by Bust contributor Victoria Woodcock explains how the perception of craft has changed over the past century. Her writing is an informal, energetic call to arms, and the proceeding pages explain how to respond to that call. The first section of the book provides explanations of the basic skills; knitting, crocheting, sewing, felting and paper mache. The rest of the book is a collection of over 50 ideas, or 'recipes', if you will, for things that people can make in their own home. This is subdivided into five categories:
• Made to Measure - clothing and acessories
• All that Glitters - jewellery to complement the look
• Hipper Homes - a collection of homewares
• Sticks and Stones and Ice Cream Cones - a selection of random fun things to make
• Small Wonders - things to make for and with children
The ideas have been supplied by crafts-people and makers from all over the world—both professionals and amateurs. Each one is personably laid out in easy to read, step-by-step instructions, with a short biography of the contributor at the end. Photography and hand drawn illustrations guide the reader every step of the way, and a clean contemporary design, provides a much needed counterpoint to traditional craft aesthetics.
Making Stuff brings a fresh, exciting approach to a sorely neglected genre, and gives a voice to a new generation of young people, who find inspiration in making something out of nothing. It is beautiful, eccentric and useful, all at once, and is sure to become a well thumbed favourite for all people of a creative nature.
Other info:
Available:
UK: October
US: November
ISBN10:
1904772617
ISBN13:
9781904772613
The show was fantastic. It was fun to do a large-scale work and meet other Toronto artists. The installation took about 5 days from start to finish. I thought that it would go faster. I spent most of my days a top a 15 foot ladder-no small feat for someone with a fear of heights-the ipod helped. Don't look down!
today's drawing is for a favorite word swap. I chose "fantastic" because I like to use it either sarcastically or enthusiastically: there is the energetic "FANTASTIC!" and the sarcastic, "Oh, that's fantastic."
I thought that I could install everything on Friday evening but in reality, I needed Saturday and Sunday to place letters in between converstations. I thought that this was frustrating at first, but people really seemed to like to talk and were some how confused about what materials I was using for the lettering. Most people thought that I had stencilled on the quote rather than hand-cut sign vinyl. People were also confused about the lettering to the side thinking that I was using some kind of Islamic calligraphy. Especially the "moon and star" tile to the right of the second "13" which is actually an upside down right quotation mark and a period. Double-edged punctuation?
I am charging my batteries and sorting my letters. I wish I had thought of this while I was cutting! I will take more pictures this afternoon as things progress.
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