Fabric wrapped architecture and landscapes
First, there was Christo … In the 60s and 70s, Christo and Jeanne-Claude had the world talking about their monumental, fabric-wrapped architecture and landscapes. Amanda Browder takes up the reins, using acres of cloth to ‘electrify’ the drabness of cities and towns. Her urban artworks are joyous celebrations of texture and colour. By Janai Velez […]
“Stoked” by Sun, Sewing & Sustainability
Sarah Lancaster hits on the road, spruiks nature’s wonders and sews up a storm – all from her trusty caravan, called Cecil by Janai Velez If you’ve been in New Zealand recently, you may have seen a white and aquamarine caravan with a solar panel and yarn-bombed fixtures driving past or parked at craft markets […]
Designer Edge: Meet Joy Pitts
Showy types like to flaunt their designer labels all over town, but for most of us lesser mortals, clothing tags stay hidden from view. Now, one very fine artist is getting in on the act and making masterpieces from these rag-trade IDs. By Janai Velez UK-based artist Joy Pitts uses labels by the thousand. She […]
Welcome to Jennie Larsen WORKROOM
Buying a new home meant JENNIE LARSEN finally had a craft room. And she takes full advantage of the luxury, by making it a happy and social place to create in retro-style surroundings. By Janai Velez Bright colours and room for craft gatherings were top prioriBuying a new home meant JENNIE LARSEN finally had a […]
Ideas file: Craft Christmas Wreath Ideas
Stitched-up Wreath’s by Janai Velez Let’s put a stitcher’s spin on wreath decorations. Bye-bye holly and ivy. Hello pompoms and spools, fabrics and ribbons. Use these ideas to create an extraordinary Christmas Wreath’s made from oridnary material! Felted Acorns Wreaths Made by Claire Armstrong From Pillarboxblue, www.pillarboxblue.com Yarn Wrapped Wreaths Made by Ashlee Park From My So […]
Karen Roark welcomes you to her Workroom
Childhood summers of making projects for country fairs combined with an interior-architecture degree are reflected in KAREN ROARK’s bright and cheery craft room. Warm country meets contemporary pizazz. By Janai Velez No detail is overlooked in Karen Roark’s crafty corner of the world – from the neatly stacked fabrics in crates to the thread-filled jars […]
Designer edge: Meet Claire Read
“They made me smile, made my heart leap a little. I guess you could say I fell in love.” Claire Read recalls when she first discovered her passion for making ‘storybox’ sculptures – little whimsical worlds created with repurposed materials. “I take the unwanted, the unloved, the damaged, the decayed and put them together in […]
Get to know author, writer, producer and now STITCHER – Tara Moss
TARA MOSS: Author, Human rights advocate, Documentary presenter, writer and producer, Vintage lover, Doctoral Candidate at the University of Sydney, Journalist, Charity worker, Blogger and now… STITCHER There’s not a lot of downtime in Tara Moss’s schedule, but what little there is now taken up with her new-found passion – sewing. And in typical form, […]
Got spare time? Quick Stitch! Aaaah, Tissue Box!
Banish boring cardboard tissue boxes from your world with Michelle Hickson’s pretty patchwork cover. This is a great project for using up leftover pre-cut strips. For an even faster finish, omit the patchwork and lining and just use one pretty quilted fabric for the whole cover. What you’ll need to create this tissue box: * […]
Designer Edge with Ulla-Stina Wikander
So you can’t afford a Van Gogh! So what? You can always stitch one in tapestry form. And if you are Ulla-Stina Wikander, you can then cut up your finished masterpiece and use the oddments to cover your vacuum cleaner. Or telephone, or typewriter, or pram. Or…. by Susan Hurley That might sound like stitching […]