Threads of Thought III

Finally, finally, I have finished making the bag! Three cheers for me! After so many trials and errors, over 10 times starting over, it is finally done.

I can’t say that it is perfect, as how I want it to be, but it is satisfactory for me. I have never made a bag this size before. I usually stick to small hand phone cases, wallets, etc. That is why I have had some issues with the calculations.

Nevertheless, it is done! I can finally put it to use. However, it does need decorating. Maybe I could make some crocheted flowers some interesting pins and badges.

All in all, time to get to work on another project!

Threads of Thought II

In my previous post, I have said that I would be updating my posts about my current project. Well here I am with the current progress! I am sad to say that I am far from finishing it. I have used up too much time to unravel and recalculate. I have redone this 7 times now (laughs). The major causes of this are:

1. discovering loose knots
2. miscalculation, which affects the size of the bag intended
3. not having enough wool

I have been moody in making this piece. That affects the elasticity of the crocheting. Sometimes I do it while I’m watching a movie or calling a friend so I tend to miss some loops which makes me suffer later. I was also quite naive to think that two rolls of wool would be enough to make a bag with the pattern I was making. Therefore, you can see in the pictures below that I have altered the pattern. I hope the wool would be enough now.

Here is my current progress:

A closer look at the pattern:

I hope to complete it soon because I am getting bored of it and I want to start on a new crochet piece soon. Wish me luck!

Threads of Thought

Crocheting has become more than a past-time activity for me. It’s therapy. There is just something soothing about knotting, looping, and weaving the threads of wool.

I usually let my mind fall into a reverie of past, present, and future as I am making the patterns. I think about some issues that were or would be and map them out in my head, exactly like how I would map out the patterns and calculations for an item I wanted to make.

Each loop makes a significant contribution towards a pattern. That pattern would turn into a bag, a scarf, or another type of accessory. Sometimes I have to think forwards and backwards at the same time. What would happen if I made this loop here? Or, what pattern would I have to make to make that item?

Then I find myself thinking about things like, what would happen if I said this to Mr. X? Or, would I get that opportunity if I went to Mrs. Y? Most of the time, I would weave the threads of questions into a pattern of possible answers. Occasionally, it would become a knotty mess so I’d have to untangle the thread and start again.

I usually have to deal with a couple of “mess-ups” before I am satisfied with the result. If I am lucky, I don’t have to redo much of the crocheting because I messed-up the loop somewhere near the end. However, it isn’t a rare occasion for me to start again – from the beginning. I’d have to pull the thread and unravel the pattern’s I’ve made right to the very first knot. That’s why it is so important to plan everything ahead and make a satisfying base. I also have to check all the loops and calculations all the time.

Anyway, I am currently working on a laptop case for my friend. The above is a snapshot of the pattern I was using. It’s taking a while, not only because of its size, but also because I keep redoing it. So it keeps changing. I can’t seem to get a satisfactory look yet. I’ve already redone it about four times. From scratch. (laughs).

However, I am enjoying it. As I said, it’s my therapy so it helps me think to get through some issues in my life. I usually do it while I am listening to some music. Currently, my playlist is a combination of songs by Birdy, Ed Sheeran, Cherry Ghost, Adele, and The Temper Trap.

I will keep uploading the pictures of the progress. Right now I am halfway through.

Wish me luck!

Kirigami for Cards

Recently, I became very interested in the alternative designs that could be used for card-making. Then I came across the kirigami technique which could implemented into a beautiful and dynamic design for pop-up cards.

Kirigami is quite similar to origami in that it is a form of paper art. However, in origami, you only fold paper to make artwork. In kirigami, you fold and cut paper.

In the United States, the term “kirigami” was coined by Florence Temko. She used the word kirigami in the title of her book, Kirigami, the Creative Art of Papercutting, 1962. The book was so successful that the word kirigami was accepted as the name for the art of paper cutting.

In Japan, the word kirigami had been in use for a long time because “kiru” means to cut, and “gami” means paper. So, kirigami meant “to cut paper”. You can access more information about kirigami at http://www.origami-resource-center.com/kirigami.html.

I haven’t made my own kirigami to present for this blog (shame on me), but I have collected some designs that I like. Maybe you can try them out too. I’ve linked the pictures to their respective sites.

If you want a detailed step-by step of how to make kirigami cards, you can check out all the tutorials available online. I especially like the designs and templates from easycutpopup’s. They provide beautiful card designs for all kinds of events with the complete instructions and templates.

Spiral Pop-Up Cards

My first impression of a spiral pop-up card was: hard and complicated. How could I manage to constuct such a dynamic shape inside a card? Here is an example:

However, I was bewitched by the beautiful technique and design. Thus, I read a tutorial and was surprised to see how simple it was to make it. You literally had to just make a circle, or any other shape, and create a spiral by cutting from the outside to the center. Here are some pictures I saw at Split Coast Stampers:

Then you put some adhesive or sticky strips on the center of one side and the tail on the other side. Stick the center of the spiral on one of the sides of the card. Close the card and make sure the tail sticks on the other side of the card. Then you open it and voila! You get a spiral pop-up!

Some would simply use this as the final design for the pop-up. I usually see this in the from of another shape, most often a heart:

Pretty, right? Some choose to add add more details, so they use the spiral as a base and add some pop-ups by sticking them on the spiral at various places and angles. The first picture is an example. Here is a simpler design:

So I plucked up my courage and tried the technique. I made a simple card out of construction paper. However, sturdier an thicker paper would be preferable for a pop-up base. It gives the pop-up a good shape.

Anyway, I made a thank you card for my friend. Here it is:

Not too bad for a first attempt ;p I plan to make some more soon. It’s addictive! Plus, it’s simple and easy. Try it yourself!

Art in Editing

I am itching to show off my friend’s work here. His name is Harvin, someone I met when I was still in college. He is a person who has unique personality, taste, and flair in art. I am one of his fans. So here it is, finaly, his combination of sketches and photoshop called “In The Shadow of the Stars”.

I personally love the creativity and imagination he has put into this picture. I like the combination of vibrant colors which ironically gives it a dark atmosphere. I don’t know exactly what was the inspiration behind it, but I shall summon Harvin himself to give his account in another post. I hope to post his other artworks here very soon. Tell me what you think about it!

The Miracles of Photoshop

In the past, it may have been impossible to correct any errors in a photograph or change the colors of a certain item in a picture. Editing photos wasn’t a simple task and required advanced skills.

Nowadays, since Adobe released Photoshop, almost everybody can make adjustments to their pictures. With all the tools provided in this program, people can not only fix their photos with ease, but also make artistic statements. It creates a new set of opportunities in the workfield, especially in the art and design world.

We might feel that echnology may sometimes “cheat” us by being capable of replacing human abilities. However, in another perspective, it creates more possibilities and incentives to be imaginative and creative.

*photo by: Aditya

A Birthday Card for My Sister

I love making cards for special occassions. I even search my calender regularly for upcoming special dates to see when I could make my next  card. I collect materials by scrounging my house, asking my friends for left over materials, and walking in and out of craft stores to supply this hobby.

On the day of my sister’s birthday, I didn’t have anymore materials. Thus I searched the house and found some ribbons, white cardboard, and pastel-colored construction paper. I then fashioned these materials into a simple and sweet-looking card for the special day. 

I got satisfactory effects and appreciation for it which was more valuable than any given amount of money!