3 posts tagged “blogs”
One of my long-term favorite crafty/fashion/artsy blogs, Red Lipstick, ceased publication yesterday. I'm disappointed! I haven't been following a lot of blogs lately, but I've started to get back into it, and it was a blog I was definitely planning to catch up with.
Staceyjoy's second-to-last post at Red Lipstick was about Weekend Designer, a site I think a lot of crafty types will want to check out -- sewing patterns for recent runway items. Many of the patterns are simple -- skirts, blouses, and accessories made mostly from squares -- but some are as complex as jeans or tailored vests.
I'm not sure whether you will actually wear a caftan after you make it, and I think I might put some waist darts on that pencil skirt; even so, it's worth more than a look. Their tagline is, "It ain't rocket science." You'll learn a lot about drafting your own patterns if you do some of their more complex projects. They seem to be taking the mystery out of sewing as much as Threadbanger aims to, but with less of an indie-rock vibe.
I'm not sure where else this has been featured lately: I'm keeping up with WhipUp and not so much with CRAFT, these days. Both are good, but about a year or so ago, CRAFT started to focus a lot on local craft shows & other stuff that isn't of much interest if you don't live in [insert hipster-friendly metro area *here*], along with a lot of patterns for sale (great if you're the person selling them, not so much if you're interested in free tutorials). A lot of the same free tutorials show up on WhipUp first. That said, I always enjoy CRAFT when I do get around to checking it out.
(Creative Commons photo of Chanel boutique in Paris by Flickr's wallyg.)
There are different sites that I read for different reasons, but three of them are a mood-lifting pleasure any time I drop by:
- iCiNG - Happy blog by Gala Darling. The focus is on the girly, sparkly style side, cheerful and uplifting without being simpy... sort of like having a really awesome friend. Difficult to describe, so just give it a visit.
- Posie Gets Cozy - One of the most popular crafty-ish blogs out there. Something about Alicia, the way she writes, and the things she says just makes me feel good.
- LA CARMINA - The newest on the list; I just discovered this one about two weeks ago. Carmen focuses on Gothic Lolita fashion, but has lots of posts that cover tangential interests: DIY versions of clothes by designers like h.Naoto, a Lolita of the week, related historical fashion, makeup, designers. Working my way through the archives!
Now, to address those rumors --
Yes, as those of you who read Valleywag (does anyone who reads this blog also read Valleywag?) might already know, DIY Life will be on hiatus, perhaps permanently, starting on August 1. As far as I know, there are some extrapolated "reports" linking back to that which are inaccurate.
We're all super-bummed, but, you know, it happens. You'll see that we're still publishing, but those are posts we wrote and edited last week, doled out through the week... my work is almost done except for a few loose ends. The bright side is that my to-do list just got a lot shorter, which in itself is a relief!
This post about making a cute decorated jar full of felt strawberries is actually my last; however, I'm rescuing some research and written material that never got published, which may hit the web in some form sooner or later (here or somewhere else). I had a number of half-written articles in draft.
What have I been doing since the news came in Wednesday night? (Aside from apparently coming down with a sinus infection.)
Watching:
Reading:
Yes, I should be asleep.
Yes, I had intended to be asleep.
Yes, my sleep "schedule" is currently a thing of havoc and dismay.
But it's very, very cold in my bedroom, so I've been up while waiting for my new heated mattress pad to dry! A wonderful early Xmas gift from my mom, to ensure that I don't have ridiculous chill-induced foot cramps while I'm trying to sleep.
I found a few utterly wonderful things. I wrote about one for DIY Life, and you'll just have to see that when it goes up. The other is not really appropriate for that site, so here it is. I think it's wonderful.
(They showcase the sort of things that I collect... and are perfect for all those of you who have lately been head-over-heels about that Petit Pattern book series from Japan. Oh, I'll admit it: there are a few of them on my Amazon Wishlist, too.)
