Place Makers review: tapestries interweave traditions with a new sense of place
The white-walled Australian Tapestry Workshop is a perfect fit for its location, with a wall of glass facing South Melbourne Street. The street is a few meters away from the gallery, with cars, trams, and shoppers. The occasional pedestrian watches the observer. The space is arid and unsuitable for introspection. However, it’s appropriate given that eight artists are exploring […]
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Crafting in times of crisis helps critters and creators
The bushfires raging across Australia have a devastating effect on our native animals. While a record number of animals, both injured and orphaned, are being treated in Australia, people from all over the world, including France and The Netherlands, are knitting, crocheting, and sewing pouches for the animals to keep them calm and warm when they […]
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Men craft too – but do they need support to raise their artistic profile?
Louis Le Vaillant, director and curator of the Johnston Collection, was tired of hearing men say they couldn’t knit or sew. William Johnston is an antiques and decorative art dealer whose estate includes the East Melbourne House Museum. Le Vaillant decided to create an exhibition for the summer to challenge audiences who are used to seeing the […]
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Do homemade masks work? Sometimes. But leave the design to the experts
Sewing face masks are desperately needed in American Hospitals to stop the spread of COVID-19. Many people are now wearing homemade masks in an effort to be safe. While they may look cute, homemade masques can be a sign of both positive social change and serious social failures. According to the American Center for Disease […]
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Great time to try: knitting your first woolly scarf
Its popularity is due to its portability and practicality, and it is proof that knitting is good for your mental health and can be used as a form of relaxation and meditation. Many people associate knitting with home comforts and stability. Knitting (and other crafts) are becoming increasingly popular among people who live in isolation. They use […]
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The experience economy will not fully recover – consumers will pay to perform in future instead
The Experience Economy by American academics B Joseph Pine and James H Gilmore, a bestseller in 1999, is a must-have for any list of seminal books on business. The authors argued that selling experiences is the fourth stage of consumer development, after goods, services, and commodities. The following example explains their idea: Mothers made homemade birthday cakes […]
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Wondering what to do with kids in lockdown school holidays? Ideas from a happiness expert
We are once again in the midst of school holidays. Before the pandemic, parents and caregivers would have been busy planning holidays, day trips, play dates, or visits to friends and family. A significant number of us, however, are still in lockdown. We live with restrictions and work from home. Many parents feel burned out by […]
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Learn how to make a sonobe unit in origami – and unlock a world of mathematical wonder
Few of us are confident in solving equations like x3 + 3 x2 – x+ 3 = 0, which is an equation to find the value of x. The two activities share some common skills, including precision, the ability to follow an algorithm, intuition for form, and a search pattern and symmetry. I am a […]
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Christmas Craft With Kids!
I love the Christmas school holidays! I spend the end of school term creating and crafting all things Christmas with my kiddos, then get to come home and craft with my girls. It really is a magical time of the year, and I love that some of the craft activities we do now were things […]
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DIY Christmas Decorating Tips
I secretly plan, and buy and dream about our Christmas decorating well ahead of the actual event. These are some of my favourite DIY decorating ideas. Christmas Tree Forest – this is cute and can be customised to include your colour scheme. Such a great tutorial! Pinecone Tree from Sugar and Charm – gorgeous table centerpieces. Rolled Paper […]
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