Who remembers Reverie?

Australia is full of amazing artists, we need to get behind them!

Back in the 80's a man named Gary Dellar produced a comic book anthology showcasing some of the most amazing writers and artists in Australia. The publication was called Reverie.

Gary himself, is a great writer and artist, and with the help of some of our amazing comic book talent, made this publication an amazing International success.

Reverie, also helped start the international career of some of the best in Australia.

Two of the big names that contributed to the publication are Fil Barlow and Michal Dutkiewicz

Fil Barlow, is now an artist, cartoonist, writer, production designer currently based in Los Angeles and he became the creator of Zooniverse.

Michal Dutkiewicz, is a professional illustrator and comic book artist based in Adelaide, South Australia, Michal went on to work for DC Comics

Gary, with the help of George Hall (another exceptional writer/artist who also contributed to Reverie in its first run), have decided it's time to show off some new talent, there is plenty more to choose from in Australia.

They have spent a lot of time and effort reviving Reverie, and have many new and exciting stories with a new generation of talent, along with some of the originals.

This is an exciting time for Australia, please get behind it by making a pledge in the kickstarter and spreading the word with everyone you know.

Read more about Reverie here: http://comicsdownunder.blogspot.com.au/2007/04/reverie-remembered.html

and here: http://www.oocities.org/ian_thomas_graphics/Reverie.html

Find the kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1263712862/reverie-australias-favourite-comics-anthology/description

One Week to go

Sunburst Mandala Cushion CAL

 one week to go

With just one week to go, you might want to make sure you have got all the items you need. But if you're ordering it, and it hasn't come in yet, don't worry, the first part is easy and quick. You'll catch up in no time.






Of course the main thing you'll need is the yarn (or wool, as we call all fibers in Australia).

The original pattern was designed with 8 ply yarn, which is DK in US.  I realize it's not easy to get this weight in America, so if you don't want to bother ordering it, you can just use Aran weight, worsted weight (10 ply), you'll have a larger cushion, but it will be lovely. You could also use a finer yarn, or even thread. I'd love to see them done this way.

I chose acrylic, because it's nice and cheap, easy to get in Australia, and it's so easy to wash and dry. It also blocks beautifully with steam. 

But if you prefer, you can use wool or cotton, or whatever your favorite fiber is.

There are 4 colors in this pattern. I originally designed it with yellows eg. white, pale yellow, medium yellow, and a deep yellow. I have also made it with white, pale grey, darker grey, and black. You can use four shades of a color, or choose any four colors you prefer.

If you're using 8 ply acrylic, you will need approximately 120 grams of the palest color, and 100 grams of each of the other colors.

You will also need a 3.25 mm crochet hook, and a 3.50 mm crochet hook.  Or larger, or smaller, depending on your yarn

You might also want to familiarize yourself with these special stitches. (But they really aren't difficult)

Special stitches used:

• Front Loop Only (FLO). Work this stitch in the front loop only, leaving back loop free.
• Back Loop only (BLO). Work this stitch in the back loop only, leaving front loop free.
• Front loop double crochet (fldc). Front loop double crochet is a dc worked in the front loop only.
• Back loop double crochet (bldc). Back loop double crochet is a dc worked in the back loop only.
• Front loop treble (fltr). Front loop treble is a tr worked in the front loop only.
• Back loop treble (bltr). Back loop treble is a tr worked in the back loop only.
• Front post double crochet (fpdc). Front Post Double Crochet is worked around the front of the post of the stitch on the previous round. Insert hook through the right front and back out the left front, yarn around hook, pull through 2 loops.
• Front post treble (fptr). Front Post Treble is worked around the front of the post of the stitch on the previous round. Yarn around hook, insert hook through the right front and back out the left front, yarn around hook, pull through 2 loops, yarn around hook, pull through last 2 loops.
• Front post double treble (fpdtr). Front Post Double Treble is worked around the front of the post of the stitch on the previous round. Yarn around hook, twice, insert hook through the right front and back out the left front, yarn around hook, pull through 2 loops, yarn around hook, pull through another 2 loops, yarn around hook, pull through last 2 loops.
• Back post double crochet (bpdc). Back Post Double Crochet is worked around the back of the post of the stitch on the previous round. Insert hook through the right back and back out the left back, yarn around hook, pull through 2 loops.
• Back post treble (bptr). Back Post Treble is worked around back of the post of the stitch on the previous round. Yarn around hook, insert hook through the right back and back out the left back, yarn around hook, pull through 2 loops, yarn around hook, pull through last 2 loops.
• Back post double treble (bpdtr). Back Post Double Treble is worked around the back of the post of the stitch on the previous round. Yarn around hook, twice, insert hook through the right back and back out the left back, yarn around hook, pull through 2 loops, yarn around hook, pull through another 2 loops, yarn around hook, pull through last 2 loops.

Don't be intimidated by these stitches, they're just basic stitches worked into different places.

And now you should be ready to start.



Get the pattern here:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunburst-mandala-cushion  (available 13th February)

Join in the discussion here:  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/craft-cove-crochet

More craft Markets

There will be a special craft market at Wonthaggi on Easter Sunday.

I decided I will have a stall there again.

The following month, on Sunday 14th April I will have a stall at Traralgon.

Hope to see many of you at these markets.

The first lot of ear cuffs have been listed on my site. 

check them out here.  Night Cove for goth and chainmail

And remember most of them don't require piercings!

ear cuff

black and copper ear cuff

Lots of things

I've been doing all sorts of things lately.  I've been finding crochet the most soothing, and I can do that at night.

I find beading difficult to do at night, because I get lots of glare and shadows from lamps, and there's too many bits and pieces to keep track of.

I've made a few different crochet earrings, but I'm still in the process of stiffening them.  Then I'll take photos.

I'll be doing a tutorial on a blocking board soon, and maybe some information on blocking and stiffening crochet.

I've also made some wire ear cuffs and slave earrings, I just haven't photographed them yet.


Crochet baby clothes will be coming soon too.

I have so many ideas, but never enough time.

Victorian Beading

Victorian beaded dog

Victorian beaded monkey

Victorian beaded monkey

Victorian beaded duck

At first I thought this beading style was another type of French Beading, but I've since discovered it's actually Victorian beading. They're similar, but French Beading is created with the wires twisting at each row end, whereas Victorian beading is more like Right Angle Weave.

I just love the wonderful 3D animals that can be made with this weave, they just look so good. They're very much like the Beadies that's popular with kids, but this is a bit more difficult and creates three dimensional objects instead of just flat ones.

I'll have to do some more French beading soon too!

25% off selected bracelets

I'm having a sale this month for a massive 25% off these selected handcrafted beaded bracelets.

beaded bracelet

stretch cuff

See my website for more information: Handcrafted jewellery from Australia

More Spirals again

So here's the Cellini spiral. I've used size 10 seed beads in olive green, then size 8 seed beads in silver-lined lime green, and gold silver-lined seed beads in size 6. The pearls are 4mm greens. I've made it gradually narrower towards the back.

And this is the other spiral rope that is basically an embellished right angle weave.

I'll be photographing the other dutch spiral soon, and I'm making a tight spiraled herringbone rope as well and then I think that will be all the spirals there are.

More spirals are listed here:  
http://craftcove.blogspot.com/2010/04/all-spirals.html

Huge Sale on my web site this month!

A HUGE 10% DISCOUNT OFF ALL ITEMS! NOT TO BE MISSED!

Craft Cove is having a sale. This months special is for 10% off EVERY item in my jewelry store!

Craft Cove has a huge collection of unique handcrafted jewelry and gifts for sale. Including beadweaving, chainmail jewellery and wirewrapping. There are necklaces and chokers, bracelets, earrings, 3d ornaments and animals, keyrings, even amulet bags, all in many different types of weaves.

Everything in Craft Cove is entirely handcrafted by Jenny Lawson here in Australia.

For all of May EVERY item is discounted by 10%. Only till the last day of May, so don't miss out.


http://craftcove.weebly.com
craftcove@gmail.com