Craftside

Thoughts from the Information Design Workbook: Graphic approaches, solutions, and inspiration plus 20 case studies

OK, I'm a little "thinky" today. Bear with me. (Pun intended as I see there is an illustration of a bear on this page.) Oh my crafty brain, it just goes to places that you don't see coming. But, back to the "thinky" part here. The quote on this page is from the book Information Design Workbook.

"The function of the designer is to increase the legibility of the world." -Will Burton

So what is the function of the crafter? I always thought my function was to make fun stuff from other stuff and then show people how to do it too.

But I guess where I'm going is beyond that. What is the purpose of crafting? I know it's great for your mind and soul. But is there anything bigger? Or is it just that simple?

Click on the page to enlarge and read more, including another good quote about lists!

To see more inside, pop on over to Qbookshop.com where there is a Google Preview button and you can see lots more inside!

Information Design Workbook

By

Kim Baer

with

Jill Vacarra

This new volume takes a methodical yet comprehensive approach to conveying the fundamentals of avant-garde, innovative, information design by examining history, theory, criticism, technology and media, process, method, and practice.

Opening with a very brief history followed by an instructive breakdown of the discipline, readers will get an intimate understanding of the complexities of crafting information design to effectively improve communication both functionally and aesthetically. The back half of the book contains a wide range of case studies from design firms around the world so designers can see the techniques previously outlined in the first half of the book. The author critiques and explains why the design is successful in terms of formal quality (Aesthetics) and function (How does it improve communication?).

Kim Baer, is principal of Los Angeles-based design studio KBDA, which she founded in 1982.

The firm's client list ranges from nonprofit organizations, such as the Prostate Cancer Foundation, UCLA, and Chamber Music Los Angeles, to consumer-oriented companies, such as Nike, Nissan, and Hilton Hotels.

Hello My name is ???????? Name the Amineko and win a copy of the book Hello My Name is Amineko

I am the new proud "Crochet Mom" of what I think is the perfect embodiment of a cat: cute with an attitude.

I can't figure out her name though. So that is today's question.

Leave your name suggestion in the comments of today's post by Midnight  ET Thursday August 5th, 2010 and you are entered to win a copy of Hello My Name is Amineko so you can make your own Amineko!

Here is just a sample of the super cuteness that is waiting for you inside! I was so charmed I can't tell you!

 

Click on this page from Hello My Name is Amineko to see this super cuteness!

Hello My Name is Amineko

by

Nekoyama

Hello My Name is Amineko follows the journey of Amineko the Crochet Cat and his crocheted friends as they eat, sleep, and have lots of fun and adventures. The book comes with complete step-by-step photography and instructions for creating an Amineko of your very own and personalizing this cute cat with different facial expressions, clothing, and even bedding. Hundreds of color photographs tell the adorable tales, and mischief, that Amineko and his friends find themselves in, with complete instructions for knitting adventures of your own.

Born in Tokyo 1967, Nekoyama has been a life-long lover of cats. Cats and their endearing mischief have never failed to cheer her up. She created her first Amineko by accident and has never looked back. Today, she and her husband are the proud parents of many Aminekos. Nekoyama’s first book, A Day In the Life of Amineko, was published in Japan in 2005. 

How to needle felt a cute face from the book Wool Toys and Friends by Laurie Sharp

Is this not the cutest little Japanese needle felted doll ever? It is from Wool Toys and Friends. What makes it so darn cute is the coy sideways eyes combined with the pretty smile.

Creating faces can be the most daunting aspect when creating a plushie of any kind. I recently did a bunch and I was really intimidated when it came to the faces. It is what truly gives the creation a personality.

Click on the images to see how to needle felt this adorable Japanese face.

Want the rest of the great tutorial? Then grab yourself a copy of:

Wool Toys and Friends:

Step-by-Step Instructions for Needle-Felting Fun

by

Laurie Sharp

This volume teaches and illustrates fun, needle-felted projects to add to your collection of Wool Pets. The instructions include wet-felting and various embellishment techniques along with the needle felting and discusses the ways that folk art and nature inspire the projects. Heirloom hand-crafted wooden or cloth toys, birds and other animals have inspired and influenced the projects which have been translated into needle-felted art.

Laurie Sharp is a full time artist and has been needle felting for over 7 years. She raises her own sheep and shears and processes the wool for most of her projects. She has been featured on HGTV's That's Clever. You can view her web site at www.woolpets.com. Her work has been shown in a number of galleries in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband and business partner, Kevin Sharp. Kevin is a professional photographer, and provides both the beauty and how-to photography for this book. His work can be viewed on www.sharpphotography.com.

How to Draw Imaginary Creatures from the book Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists by Carla Sonheim

Feel like trying something new? Take a few minutes and try this technique from Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists for drawing imaginary creatures. I bet you will surprise yourself!

Click on the pages to enlarge and read how to draw imaginary creatures.

 

Like this and want more? Grab yourself a copy of:

Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists:
52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun
By

Carla Sonheim

Carla Sonheim is an artist and creativity workshop instructor known for her fun and innovative projects and techniques designed to help adult students recover a more spontaneous, playful approach to creating. Her innovative ideas are now collected and elaborated on in this unique volume. Carla offers a year's worth of assignments, projects, ideas, and techniques that will introduce more creativity and nonsense into your art and life. Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists offers readers a fun way to learn and gain expertise in drawing through experimentation and play. There is no right or wrong result, yet, the readers gain new skills and confidence, allowing them to take their work to a new level.

Carla Sonheim is a painter, illustrator, and popular workshop instructor at art retreats such as Artfest, Art & Soul. She has been called a "gifted facilitator" and loves to help adult students recover a more child-like play approach to creating. Carla's "Girls" paintings are in showcased in numerous galleries nationwide, as well as in private and corporate collections around the world. www.carlasonheim.etsy.com,  www.carlasonheim.wordpress.com

Grinder Maintenance from the book The Art and Craft of Coffee by Kevin Sinnott

Good Morning!

Along with today's Crafty Blogger links I am including an inside peek from The Art and Craft of Coffee that includes how to take care of your coffee grinder.

Click on the image to enlarge and read about grinder maintenance.

 

The Art and Craft of Coffee:

An Enthusiast's Guide to Selecting, Roasting, and Brewing Exquisite Coffee

By

Kevin Sinnott

“In the decades that Kevin Sinnott has spent meeting with and interviewing hundreds of coffee professionals, rather than crossing over to the dark side and becoming one himself, he has taken what he has learned and translated it from coffee geek-speak into English. Why? For the sole purpose of allowing you to better enjoy your coffee. In short, if you like coffee, you will love this book.” —Oren Bloostein, proprietor of Oren’s Daily Roast

There is no other beverage that gives you a better way to travel the world than coffee. You can literally taste the volcanic lava from Sumatra, smell the spice fields of India, and lift your spirits to the Colombian mountaintops in your morning cup of joe. The Art and Craft of Coffee shows you how to get the most out of your coffee, from fresh-roasted bean to hand-crafted brew.

In The Art and Craft of Coffee, Kevin Sinnott, the coffee world’s most ardent consumer advocate, educates, inspires, and caffeinates you.

Inside you will find: 

How green coffee beans are farmed and harvested Insight into single-origin coffee beans and worldwide coffee harvests A photo guide to roasting your own coffee at home How to choose the best grinder for your beans A complete, visual manual for 9 coffee brewing styles, including French press, vacuum, Chemex, auto-drip, Turkish ibrik, and espresso Delicous recipes for dozens of coffee and espresso beverages

Kevin Sinnott, host of the how-to video Coffee Brewing Secrets and curator of the www.coffeecompanion.com website, is the United States’ foremost consumer coffee authority. His latest project is www.missioncoffeecan.com, a web series following college students determined to win a national competition marketing their own brand of Guatemala coffee.

"Espressly" good crafty blogger links:

About Family Crafts
Now is the perfect time to get a jump start on your holiday crafting. Discover how you can make a fun and unique holiday gift for everyone on your list this year.

Aileen's Musings
If you're anything like Aileen you have a lot of extra embellishments you haven't used. Stop by and see her Altered Embellishment video where Aileen gives you some ideas on altering them to fit your project!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Inspired by an antique find, Carmi creates a new piece of wall decor.

Crafty Princess Diaries
It's baccckkkk! Tammy is working again on her new jewelry book and doing some last-minute tweaking before it goes to press.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
The Artful Crafter's motto is "Helping Crafters to Be." To turn a phrase, today we have "The Artful Crafter  and Cyndi Helping Crafters to Be-ad."

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Kathy Peterson has a new line of Adirondack chairs and five fabulous designers have been challenged to decorate them!

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has 4 books to give away this summer on crafting with tin! Book #2, "Tinwork," is up for grabs this week...come leave your comment and you may win!