Author of contemporary fiction with a touch of magic
Isn’t this amazing? Su Blackwell is a UK artist working mainly with paper. She’s created a series of book-cut sculptures inspired by fairy tales and storytelling and this one is called The Raven. To find out more and to view all of the sculptures, visit her website here.
[Via Terri Windling’s journal Myth & Moor]
I’m at the discovery stage of my WIP, which involves lots of staring out of the window, thinking about my book while I’m watching TV or when other people are talking to me (sorry!), making a book collage, a soundtrack, and doing lots of free-writing.
The last bit is the most important. I call it my ‘zero draft’ because it’s not even cohesive enough to be called a ‘shitty first draft’.
I love this stage. It’s exciting and highly creative, and it’s the perfect time for a knitting project. I like having something to do while I’m thinking (there’s a reason ideas come when I’m in the shower or driving), and it has to be something simple and repetitive so that my mind is free to roam. This ‘one row lace scarf’ pattern from Give Me A Purl is perfect.
I’m making one in a lovely green-blue sock yarn and 5mm needles (you use bigger needles than usually recommended), and it makes a lovely stretchy scarf. You can use any type/weight of yarn, so it’s good for stash-busting, too.
[Image Credit: Beautiful sock yarn from RedBarnYarn]
I used to run a craft and homewares blog and my lovely mum created this fab tutorial for it. I thought it should have another day in the sun, so here it is.
Vintage china cake stand
Do you wander around your local charity stores picking up
the odd pretty, but mismatched, china plate? Beautiful ceramics and bone
china are so enticing, but what do you do with them? It’s not sense to
keep them stashed away in a cupboard, and an entire un-matching dinner service
takes some chutzpah to carry off, but what about a pretty cake-stand?
[Read more…] about Tutorial (redux): Vintage china cake stand
I started reading blogs about seven years ago. When I joined an online writing forum and met lots of nice, helpful people, I began to read their blogs. I read the blogs they recommended and followed links and soon, like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, I found myself in a magical new world. Anything at all that I was interested in – craft, recycling, parenting, thrift, writing, reading, Buffy the Vampire Slayer – I could find someone who was writing about it.
I’ve made friends, been entertained and informed, learned new skills, and even gotten freelance work via blogs and blogging, but I’m still constantly amazed and thrilled by the sheer number of lovely people doing interesting, creative things, championing issues and trying to make the world a better place, or just supporting each other on t’internet.
All of which is a long-winded way of saying ‘thank you’ to one of my more recent blog discoveries. Lulastic and the Hippyshake is run by Lucy. She covers activism, parenting, recycling and re-using, and craft, and is very funny to boot. Do go and say ‘hi’.
I recently entered (and won!) a giveaway that she ran and look what arrived this morning in the post. A beautifully wrapped parcel of goodies from a new blog friend. Thank you so much, Lucy. I can’t wait to get crafting with my new fabric, book, and glue gun, and I *love* the china. What a fabulous way to start the week!
Much as recycling is important, re-using stuff is even better. This tutorial shows you how to prettify glass jars with paint. I can see these on my desk or craft table and the ‘how to’ is simple enough to do with the kids. Win!
Steampunk crochet bunny slippers.
Best. Header. Ever.
Just when I think I couldn’t love Jennifer Crusie any more, she starts brainstorming for a new series of books (which sound amazing – meep!) with steampunk crochet. Steampunk crochet, people.
Go check out her wonderful creations here and, if you’re inspired to make your own bunny slippers, head here for the pattern.
(Sorry for the quick post: I’m wrestling with the first act of the book and it’s putting up one heck of a fight.)