Feb 132011
 

2011 Indie Craft Trend Report

Craftster has just released its 2011 Indie Craft Trend Report, using anecdotal stories from its community of 225,000 crafters and data from its 1.3 million visitors a month to compile these trends.

Some of the trends they report for 2011 are:
*Colors from nature
*In fashion: Lace and flannel, shorter hemlines, lots of layers, mixing 1940’s and 1970’s styles with modern finishes, and clothing with advanced details like creative and structural pleating, smocking, pleasant finishes and detailed embellishments.
*In textiles: newer techniques like stitching on mixed media and free form stitching, quilters will increase the use of non-traditional embellishments and art quilts
*In knitting and crochet: super soft acrylics, wool and natural yarns, cabled knits, amigurimi
*In paper: aged and antique look, digital scrapbooking image sheets
*Handmade gifts: accessories for electronic gadgets (e.g. cameras, phones, iPads, Android Tablets), reusable gifts (e.g. quilts, scarves, hats), gift basket with handmade goodies

The trends are mainly representative of Craftster users (vs. other crafters who might not visit the site), but the report does give a good snapshot of what makers of different genres can look forward to and plan for in 2011. (It would be great if other websites like Etsy created  a report similar to this one each year!)

What do you think: Do you think all, some or none of these trends are spot on?

(via Hello Craft)

 Posted by on February 13, 2011 Craft, Resources No Responses »
Nov 262010
 

Book Cover: Better Homes and Gardens (1967)

One of my favourite thrift store finds of all time is a 1967 Better Homes and Gardens: Treasury of Christmas Ideas book with tons of retro holiday inspiration. To get  you in the mood for tonight’s Craft-mas installment in Ottawa, here’s some photos from the book to get you making some awesome stuff:

DIY Holiday Ornaments: Better Homes and Gardens (1967)
Pipecleaner tree ornaments

Christmas Card Ideas: Better Homes and Gardens (1967)
Pop Up Christmas cards

DIY Retro Wreath: Better Homes and Gardens (1967)
Retro Wreath

DIY Retro Wreath: Better Homes and Gardens (1967)
Retro Wreath made from paint can sticks

DIY Retro Holiday Hanging: Better Homes and Gardens (1967)
Thread Christmas tabletop tree

Christmas Cookies: Better Homes and Gardens (1967)
Yummy shortbread Christmas cookies

DIY Tabletop Tree: Better Homes and Gardens (1967)
Tabletop Paper Christmas tree

DIY Tree Ornaments: Better Homes and Gardens (1967)
Little drummer boy doll ornaments

Inside of Book: Better Homes and Gardens (1967)
Back cover

Sep 102010
 

So here’s the last of four posts related to batik, and a few of the resources we checked out for our DIY batik chic picnic:

Batik - House and Home Video

Batik - Ashley Ann Photography

Batik - Java Women - Design Sponge

 Posted by on September 10, 2010 Making Stuff, Resources No Responses »
Jul 082009
 

british textiles stamp – paul nash, originally uploaded by maraid.

Continuing from the last post, here are more postage stamp design resources found during the hunt for this month’s project and poster:

Grain Edit has a Mid-Century Modern Stamp, Sticker + Label Club on Flickr with lots of interesting, colourful vector designs that influenced the design of the poster for this month’s event (including the stamps above and below).

stamp 4, originally uploaded by ap.roos.

 

The Canadian Design Resource features a collection of vintage Canada Post stamps:

 
Postage stamp font from Dafont:
via IDIY
 
via IDIY

 

And the United States Postal Service recently released their Love: King and Queen of Hearts stamp (which fits in perfectly with our theme this month!)

 

Jun 142009
 

Next up on our around the world segment is New York City and Brooklyn. Spins & Needles visited in September 2007 to check out the crafty scene and host a party at the Etsy Labs! I also took a personal trip last year and was able to check out some craft on the streets.

What I love about NYC are the walkups and imagining how they are decorated inside…

The distinct flavours of each neighbourhoood…

The mix of architecture, of the old and new…

The randomness you encounter on the streets…

The quiet moments…

and the surprises around each corner.

We spent a lot of time in Soho and Williamsburg. But right near the big box chains on Broadway are local vendors, many who are selling and making their wares at the same time. I picked up some awesome  leather studded earrings that I still wear all the time.

Our visit in September 2007 culminated with a trip to the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn, where we hosted a special Spins & Needles party in collaboration with Etsy.

The labs are an amazing place, filled with crafty materials to the ceiling, tons of light, decorated walls and tons of inspiration. Just imagine your dream craft workroom – that’s probably the best way to describe the space.

The night was filled with beats, crafty chatter and a few drinks…We had tons of fun meeting crafty people based in New York and Brooklyn, who came up with some amazing creations that night!

There’s definitely no place like NYC! Here are some interesting resources in case you plan on visiting soon:

Kid Robot has a guide for urbanites on NYC accommodation, places to eat and shop, and more.

DesignSponge has a design guide focusing on Brooklyn, specifically Williamsburg, Park Slope, Dumbo, and Bococa.

The New York Times spotlights the best of the city in 36 hours.

The Village Voice, Time Out NYC, Nonsense NYC, Free Williambsburg and FlavorPill let you know what’s happening in NYC and Brooklyn that week.

The Garment District Area is 8th Ave to 6th Ave between 36th Street to 40th Street.

If you have any other resource suggestions for NYC, such as places you’ve visited or links to check out, please add here.

Feb 042009
 

A couple weeks ago the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) launched the first of its films to be digitized and made available free online.

Today I finally checked out the website and was amazed at the number and diversity of the films – there are currently 700 films now online, with more to be added each month on lots of different topics and from as early as the 1920s.

The RailRodder (1965)

The Big Snit (1985)

Montreal by Night (1947)

Stitches in Time (1987)

Oma’s Quilt (Clip) (2007)

The animated films from the 1960s are great for illustration inspiration. If you imagined a scene as a framed picture, it would be very similar to some of the illustrations today characterized as having a crafty or DIY aesthetic.
The Great Toy Robbery

The House that Jack Built

My Financial Career (1962)

As a kid, some of these films had been an integral part of my Canadian childhood television viiewing experience. The Log Driver’s Waltz and The Sweater, anyone?

The Sweater (1980)

 Posted by on February 4, 2009 Culture, Resources No Responses »