Craftside

How to make a twig doll from the new book The Complete Photo Guide to Doll Making

This tutorial on how to make a twig doll is from the new book The Complete Photo Guide to Doll Making.

 

Click on the pages to enlarge and read about how to turn a stick into a doll with personality!

If you like making dolls out of all sorts of things then you will love this book!

The Complete Photo Guide to Doll Making:

Over 600 photos - toy dolls - nature dolls - folk dolls - paper dolls - cloth dolls - art dolls - more

By

Barbara Matthiessen

Nancy Hoerner

Rick Petersen

This book is a comprehensive how-to book about all aspects of doll making. It serves as a reference and technique guide for making dolls in a wide variety of styles. Full-size patterns are provided as well as artist galleries for inspiration. The organization provides easy access to information with step-by-step directions and color photos. Other doll-making books focus on one particular doll style. Some are purely inspirational, showing dolls made by other artists and crafters. This book provides complete how-to instruction on all types of dolls.

Nancy Hoerner (St. Paul, MN) is an accomplished artist and designer developing her artwork for the past 30 years. She has published art dolls and bead projects in nationally known magazines and studied doll making and beading with renowned artists. Many of her art dolls and bead work are held in private collections. Nancy also works with manufacturers in the craft industry. She is author of Felt Inlays.

Barbara Matthiessen (Port Orchard, WA) had a specialized degree from an interior design school and experience working for a design firm before she entered the industry as a full-time freelance designer. She has written 43 booklets and 3 books, contributed to 22 multi-artist books, and has done countless designs for magazines. While continuing to design for publication, she also works for manufacturers, developing kits, projects sheets, and sales models. She is the author of Small Loom and Freeform Weaving.

As a graduate of Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Rick Petersen (Edina, MN) has spent his life creating things. About eleven years ago he discovered polymer clay and has been expressing himself through this medium ever since. Rick has taught doll making, and has had his work published in national magazines, including Art Doll Quarterly.

How to make a retro fawn softie from the new book Palm-Size Softies

Is this little fawn cute or what? I knew instantly when I started flipping through

Palm-Size Softies:

Patterns and Ideas for 44 Stuffed Pets and Dolls That Fit in the Palm of Your Hand

this was going to be the first softie I was going to sew.

The patterns and directions to make this retro fawn softie were so easy to work with and follow.

First I made a copy of the patterns from Palm-Size Softies.

Then I cut all the pieces out of fabric.

All that was left to do was follow the sewing and assembly instructions (see below).

 

Want to make one yourself? Just click on the retro fawn and pony patterns and get sewing!

  Assembly instructions:

Accessorize your softie with faux fur and a pom pom nose.

 

If you like this cute softie (or plushie) project and want more awesome designs and patterns, grab a copy of:

 

Palm-Size Softies:

Patterns and Ideas for 44 Stuffed Pets and Dolls That Fit in the Palm of Your Hand

by Hitomi Takahashi, Mikiko Matsui, Akemi Tsubo

Packed with more than 40 unique, adorable projects,Palm-Size Softies shows you how easy it is to create some of the most stylish stuffed toys around. Full-color images provide a panoramic view of each critter, and the step-by-step instructions and included templates will make construction of your new friends effortless and quick. Whether you’re searching for a loveable little pup, kitten, bunny, or bear, you’ll find a fun, fast, low-cost craft project that the whole family will enjoy. Easy-to-find materials and distinctive fabrics will give your projects personalities all their own.

Hitomi Takahashi, is the Chief-Editor at Boutique-Sha, a leading craft publisher in Japan. Hitomi has published books on a variety of craft subjects. Mikiko Matsui and Akemi Tsubo are staff editors at Boutique-Sha. They are big fans of small and cute sewn creatures.
     

Stan our Craftside roving reporter packs his Steampunk Sweater Surgery Business card bag for Maker Faire

I would like to introduce you to our Craftside roving reporter Stan. He is an Amineko, or crocheted cat.

He just packed his Steampunk style business card bag and he is off to Maker Faire!!!!!! May 22-23 San Mateo, CA.

He will be in the Craftside booth #219 and all about the place checking it out!

Like his business card tote? You can make one. Here's how I made a recycled sweater business card holder Sweater Surgery style:

First I rough cut out a piece of recycled wool felted sweater at about 4.5 inches by 8 inches.

Then I folded it up with right sides facing and stitched up the sides. I trimmed the seam allowances down to reduce the bulk and turned it right side out.

Then I took a scrap of leather and punched holes where I wanted to attach it to the sides of the business card holder with brads. Once I had the strap on I trimmed the flap with nice rounded corners.

Then I die cut a pair of wings using the Tim Holtz Alterations Heart Wings die out of a coordinating bit of recycled wool felted sweater. I glued the wings to the flap and the final touch was a JHB Steampunk button #98886 that I stitched on.

Were you wondering how Stan was made? He was made using a pattern from the new book Hello My Name is Amineko which is available for pre-order now and will be out in October.

 

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.

Win a Copy of The Complete Photo Guide to Textile Art by Susan Stein

Do you love playing with fabric and making it your own? Then you will love this book! Want to win a copy? All you need to do is leave a comment in today's post by Sunday Midnight ET. May 30th and you will be entered to win a free copy of The Complete Photo Guide to Textile Art. The winner will be picked by a random number generator.

The Complete Photo Guide to Textile Art

By

Susan Stein

Individuality is key in today's DIY trends. Whether creating fabric art, sewing clothes, making home décor items, or quilting, people are looking for ways to make their projects unique and self-expressive. Fabric choices have narrowed and it certainly is not cheaper to sew than buy ready to use items, so when someone wants to use fabric to make something, their reasons are very often for the pure creative enjoyment of the craft. This is their comprehensive, how-to reference book illustrating all aspects of fabric art and manipulation. Artist galleries are included for inspiration.

Author Susan Stein is a nationally recognized leader in the quilt and fabric art industry, leading the way with her cutting edge store and classroom. She demonstrates fabric art techniques and exhibits her own art quilts at national quilt shows. Susan is the author of Fabric Art Workshop and Fabric Art Projects.

Because I need to share here is a little taste of what's inside The Complete Photo Guide to Textile Art.

I love pom poms and these dimensional circles are like built in perfectly matching pom poms.

Click on the image to read how to sew dimensional balls or circles in your fabric. And if you like this technique click on the The Complete Photo Guide to Textile Art link below to see more from the book!

Crafty Blogger links and Cake crafts galore!

These are a fun set of links to what a whole bunch of designers did with the Sizzix die cut cake box. You can vote for your favorite over at Eileen Hull's blog.This is my favorite because: A. I love cupie dolls and B. I love little vignettes like this. This one was created by Michelle Cummings.

If you like to create little worlds of wonder too, check out this great new book:

Mixed-Media Dollhouses: Techniques and Ideas for Doll-size Assemblages

By

Tally Oliveau and Julie Molina

Now onto all the other links to tasty cake crafts:

Ann Butler 

Bonnie Bruns 

Candice Windham

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Having my cake and a quote inspired by Lab 47 from the book Collage Lab

Debra Quartermain
Sew Cute Cake Basket

Einat Kessler 

How Old This Year?
Questionable Birthday

Jen Goode - JGoode Designs
A few of my favorite things in a pot of positivity

Just a Thought or Two 

Karen Burniston
Cake Gift Box

Laura Bray 

Life in the Craft Lane
Julie McGuffee

Lisa Rojas, Stampin' Queen Creations
Happy Birthday! Cake Box

Modern Surrealist Marisa Pawelko
Modern Surrealist Favorite "Cake" on the Sizzix Blog Hop!!!

Niki Meiners
Cake Box

Roann Mathias Calligraphy
Birthday Cake Box

Sandy Laipply
Sizzix Cake Die Tool Holder

Part 2: Crafty Blogger Links: Have a great inspiring day all you readers!

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
Florida is certainly beautiful, and so is the fabric they have at their quilt shops. Check out what Linda found on her journey.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge has sold her seventh book! Read all about it and about negotiating a contract in the fourth installment in her How to Write and Publish a Craft Book series.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Embroidered scissors from the book Redwork from the Workbasket.

The Artful Crafter
Ideas for decorating canvas tote bags.

About Family Crafts
Learn how you can make your own personalized garden stepping stones.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen's offering a Blog Giveaway! See what she's giving away and the many ways you can enter to win!

Beading Arts
Cyndi has launched the first installment of her brand new e-book on bead embroidery...and it's free! Hurry over for your copy!

Cathie Filian
Cathie shows you how to print your own fabric with dishwasher gel and cookie cutters. 

Cross Stitch at About.com
Create a stitching-themed sampler with a saying from Ellen Birdseye Wheaton. All back stitch and a single color of your choice. Challenging but quick stitch.