I love clicking around on the internet. I love getting into rabbit holes; that's one my favorite ways to find new artists making cool and interesting work. In the early 2010s, I'd often find folks by going to the "links" section of a personal website. Remember that? When people had entire pages dedicated to people you should visit next? We should bring that back. But as social media became what it is today, I sat back, a bit, and let the alogrithim give me a place to start.
Alogrithims have been on my mind, as I mentioned last week. It's because of the the TikTok ban. A ban seems imminent, whether it's temporary or permanent. It really bums me out (to say the least!). I've often said that the TikTok algoritim did such a good job of showing me things I was interested in but would've never searched for on my own.
I learned so much through the app, like urban planning and the type of cursive I learned in school! I got a peek into how people spent their 5 - 9 before their 9 - 5. I don't think the Instagram algoritim can serve all that up to me.
You know how else the TikTok app was helpful? In writing this newsletter! I've discovered a lot of artists that way. I've followed them on Instagram, though, so I can keep up with what they're doing.
Ok, that's enough eulogizing my TikTok experience. Scroll down for 5/5: 5 creatively inspiring people/projects and 5 ways for you to DIY!
👉 ICMYI: William KW's "trash embroidery" was the most clicked link in the last 5/5.
✨ 5 creatively inspiring things
1️⃣ You can eat crochet! Daniella Motizuki crocheted dough “yarn” into an edible blanket and then topped it with olive oil, salt, and rosemary. (It might’ve needed a little longer in the oven.)
2️⃣ Hannah Austin of Needle or Thread shared that she’s been perfecting kinusaiga, a Japanese technique that involves forcing fabric shapes into grooved sections. The result is a colorful fabric collage. I had never heard of this before, but as a fabric and collage lover, I’d love to try this out!
3️⃣ Looking at this coffee table, I wouldn’t have thought it was made of cardboard. The transformation by Penny Brooshooft is incredible. At first glance, it could be stone; but it’s actually cardcrete, a paper mache-like material that’s made from recycled paper and cardboard waste.
4️⃣ Printmaker Tatiana Svistunova shows how a detailed, multi-color linocut print comes together. Mild spoiler: it’s like a puzzle!
5️⃣ Textile artist Alexandria Masse creates giant—and I mean giant—bugs out of crochet. They are all species found in Southwestern Ontario and Michigan, which is where she’s from and lives. Here they are adorning the walls of her home.
🪡 5 ways to DIY
1️⃣ I took a punch needle workshop last year and loved it. I’m a big fan of Crystal Ross’ work, and she has a book coming out at the end of February with 15 folk-inspired punch needle projects. I’ve pre-ordered!
2️⃣ I love this idea, which I first saw on Soeun Lee’s Instagram: “When your brain goes on strike, just fill in squares.” (PS - I wrote about Soeun’s work on my blog, Brown Paper Bag, this week!)
3️⃣ Embroider a bookish owl and perfect your thread painting technique with this downloadable pattern by Amanda Fox of Crewel Ghoul.
4️⃣ Here’s something for fashion! This DIY shares how to make a hair clip using polymer clay and paint. It’s a great way to customize your look and is easier than I thought.
5️⃣ The Seattle area is in the midst of the Big Dark, so I’m sure many of us are dreaming about spring. If you’re wishing for longer days and beautiful blooms, sew some giant flowers with this pattern and tutorial.
If you're in the Seattle area...
- I'm going to be vending at Handmadeland next month at Magnuson Park Hangar 30. The dates are Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16. It's going to be a super fun shopping experience. I can't wait!
- Tickets are now on sale for Camp Craftaway, the three-day adult craft camp I co-host with my pal Melissa of MCreativeJ! We'll have over 20 different workshop throughout the weekend. Join us August 1 - 3 in Des Moines, WA.
Talk to you next week,
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Sara Barnes
Embroidery illustrator and writer
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