My frugalness has been the butt of many jokes in the past but thanks to the current credit crisis and using my craftiness to repurpose things I think I’m slowly but surely proving it’s no bad habit.

My projects are small fry compared with those of other more experienced crafters but I’m still tempted to send a couple over as suggestions for the Call for Entry for inclusion in 1000 ideas for Creative Reuse over at Extreme Craft.

ExtremeCraft just inked a contract with Quarry Publishing to write the next book in their “1000″ series.  They’ll be writing 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse, a book filled with 1000 (you read right) examples of craft, art and design made out of repurposed, reused and recycled materials.  The book will be bristling with amazing contributions from artists and crafters around the world.  What do you make out of reused stuff?  They want to hear about it!  Here are some of the categories they’re looking for:

• Paper Craft– Consigning paper to the recycling bin is a shame. Do you make interesting things out of paper?
• Art– Does your art involve clever reuse of materials in installation, sculpture, collage, painting or other media?
• Jewelry and accessories– Their definition here is very broad—they’re looking for all kinds of personal adornment, handbags, belts, hats, etc.
• Clothing– They’re seeking all kinds of clothing mash-ups, stitch-ups, and makeovers.
• Fiber and fabric- How about renovated soft goods made from recycled or vintage linens, quilts, fabrics, fibers, sweaters, yarns, rugs?
• Housewares and furnishings– They’re looking for repurposed furniture, ceramics, serving dishes, utensils and miscellaneous home goods.
• Houses, interiors, and environments– Is your living space made of reused materials? Have you made a visionary environment out of recycled materials?
• GeekCraft and ManCraft– Do you make repurposed items with geek appeal? What about traditionally “manly” items such such as grills, antler furniture and armchair go-karts?
• UnClassifiable– They are encouraging the submission of work that doesn’t fit into any of the above boxes.

The Call for Entries is hot off the presses.  Download it today for image guidelines and more information.  The deadline on this puppy is January 5, 2009, but early submissions are HIGHLY encouraged.  They’ll be adding more information to this page as it becomes available.  In the meantime, feel free to email them with your questions!  All of the information is in the call for entries.

Posted: October 13th, 2008 under Books, Competitions.
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You may recall a while back I was on the hunt for a nice colouring book…well, it’s seems my wish has been granted in the form of Peer. This great new colouring book features self portraits from 25 contemporary artists and is available to buy now from wolfie and the sneak.

Posted: September 19th, 2008 under Art/Illustration, Books.
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While walking round the Barras today I pointed out to Him Indoors those colouring in boards. You know the white bits of card with the outlines in a sort of raised black fuzzy felt? (I hope you know what I mean). Anyway it got me thinking about how when I accidentally ended up with 3 copies of Craig Thompson’s Blankets (1 hardback, 2 paperback) I decided I would use one of the paperbacks as a colouring in book. Thus far I have yet to brave enough to ’spoil’ such amazing drawings. Perhaps a better venture into adult colouring would be the Mario Mandala Colouring Book by Mario Tauchi? Yet, the whole mandala colouring as part of inner healing thing is a little bit on the hippy dippy side for me. And, yes, before you ask I always stay within the lines (perhaps the only thing in my life where I don’t manage to make a mess!!)

Posted: July 13th, 2008 under Books.
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Deadline: 19 September 2008 (RECEIVE)

THE 2008 ARTIST’S BOOK PRIZE
AT THE TEMPLE GALLERY
ARTIST’S BOOK FESTIVAL
4 & 5 October 2008

The Temple Gallery will host an Artist’s Book Festival on October 4th & 5th with an exhibition to last the whole month of October. The Temple Gallery is hosting this festival to launch its permanent display of Artist’s Books.

What is an Artist’s Book?

An Artist’s Book is an artwork inspired by the book format. Within the tradition of the book it draws from bookbinding, printmaking, design, fine art and a variety of other rich art and craft disciplines. A growing number of artist’s choose this format as it can be a great way to bring narrative, collections and text & literature to their audience.

How do I make a book?

A book can be made by simply stitching, gluing or stapling paper together. Go on have a go…

NOTE TO APPLICANTS

The deadline for all applications is the 19th September unless you are exhibiting with your books on the festival open days.

The gallery would prefer all books to be held for one month (the length of the exhibition). After that selected books will be held by the gallery as permanent stock for sale.

Books should be supplied with a trade price & a suggested selling price.

If an artist wishes to show work on a sale or return basis then they are limited to 15 works. They may be for example 3 copies of five different books or 7 books and one or two copies of each.

The book to be considered for the prize should be clearly marked and an application form filled out accompanying it.

Books will only be returned when payment of postage is received. Postage can be paid by card or cheque.

PRIZES OFFERED

Best Overall Book
Best Design
Best Content
Student Prize

Visit the website for complete details: http://www.thetemplegallery.co.uk/

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM
Book Festival Application Form.pdf

Posted: July 2nd, 2008 under Books, Competitions.
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So, I have just changed the recommended reads section of the site and thought some further explanation might come in handy (plus I am trying not to go out and buy cake on lunch and what better way than to busy myself site stuff). Then again, there’s a pile of change on my desk just begging to make that vending machine’s day

I have decided that all recommended reads from now on will be priced below £10 (on Amazon at least) but I fully appreciate that you can get them elsewhere (books I find in thrift/charity shops and book sales will be reviewed on the site too).

There also tends to be a theme within the 3 picked and, as you can see, I’m currently researching quilting as I have decided I’m going to attempt a quilt for Him Indoors’ Mum’s birthday later this year. So, while I have not read these books myself, they have come up time and time again when polling the craft world for where I should start on this project.

Any suggestions for future Recommended Reads are more than welcome.

Posted: February 8th, 2008 under Books, Site stuff.
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Perhaps it comes with age but more and more often I feel distinctly ‘out-of-the-loop’. I remember the days of my parents tutting in despair at my facial piercings and what I called music/fashion and yet these days I couldn’t name any band in the charts without it being a wild guess. Gone are the days of having my finger on the pulse and instead I’m slowly warping into someone who is the last to know.

I used to be pretty clued up on ‘the next big thing’. I saw those young upstarts Biffy Clyro play to 10 people and their mates in a pub almost a decade ago, I’ve had a blog for 8 years and some form of website for even longer. Yet, it’s seems that I was a little late to the party that it is Crazy Aunt Purl aka Laurie Perry.

This lady’s blog is addictive stuff and, ignore the name, you don’t have to be a knitter critter to enjoy her ramblings on life, love and cats.

I’d been reading the blog for around a year when it came to light that Laurie had been keeping a secret and a biggie at that…Crazy Aunt Purl had only gone and got a book deal! In reality it’s not *that* surprising if you read the copious amounts of crap that gets published these days but it was inspiring to know that good things can happen to good people.

It actually turns out that her blog is already global phenomenon and has been for aaaaaaages, so chances are that by now you’re already at the metaphorical party, slightly drunk and licking your finger to get the last crumbs from the snack bowl. Sorry I’m late folks!

The book is now out in the US and is available on Amazon UK too. Rather confusingly it says there that it’s out January 1st but says it’s In Stock and can be dispatched in 1-3 weeks (?!)

As I was passing Borders the other day and thought I’d check there. (Can you imagine the embarrassment of saying ‘Hi, Can you tell me if you have ‘Crazy Aunt Purl’s Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair’ in stock?). Suffice to say after much sniggering by the spotty yoof at the info desk I was informed it was due out on October 31^st (!?) at which time I would find it in the Divorced Women section. I kid you not – book stores have ‘divorced women’ sections!! What’s next? Crafty ladies sections?

Now there’s an idea…

Posted: October 12th, 2007 under Books.
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