Lupey Loops at Maker Faire Adelaide 2016

The official 'Maker Faire ADL' postcard.

It's been almost a month since
Maker Faire Adelaide and you have been patiently waiting for news.

The official word is that Maker Faire Adelaide (#mfADL) is now the largest in the southern hemisphere!

No wonder it has taken me so long to recover!
It  was a fun and fantastic day.

At last, I am up and about again, ready to tell you about my very first crochet exhibition:

There's so much to tell, from the practicalities of participating in a large event while managing chronic illness, to setting up the exhibit, meeting people and having as much fun as possible.  This will probably take more than one blog entry so be prepared and consider yourself warned!

Fashioning the Fab Four (Part 13): Take a Bow

The Fab Four come out on stage and take a bow (the kind that rhymes with 'cow') but before they can perform properly, they need to remove that bow (the kind that rhymes with 'tow' or 'toe') - but not the horsehair kind used for playing violas (the musical instruments, not the flowers).

I'm sorry, the English language has a lot to answer for!

"Fashioning the Fab Four (Part 12): While My Guitar Gently...Warps", tells the story of how the Fab Four's guitar necks bowed under pressure. Today, "Part 13: Take a Bow" describes their fix.

Knitting & Crochet Blog Week 2014: 1 - A Day in the Life #5KCBWDAY1

Today is the first day of 2014's Knitting & Crochet Blog Week facilitated by Eskimimimakes and the task for today is to "describe a day in the life of a project that you have made, or are in the process of making."

April Update

It's the 1st of April but this is not an April Fool's Day joke - just a quick update on my current activities.

Fashioning the Fab Four (Part 12): While My Guitar Gently …

… Warps?

The Fab Four guitars are so cute, right down to their little strings!

Obviously strings are very important on a guitar. These particular strings (right) had a major influence on the finished product.

Fashioning the Fab Four (Part 11): Crash Course

A drum kit is not complete without crash cymbals.  Creating them was also a crash course for me in working with wire and crafting with other materials.

Fashioning the Fab Four (Part 10): We Can Work It Out

 At first, I could not work it out. Why were my instruments out of proportion?

In Fashioning the Fab Four (Part 8): Tools of the Trade, it was noted that
“gauge is not critical for this project” but I am here to tell you that it is!

 

Warning: this post contains mathematics!

Fashioning the Fab Four (Part 9): A Different Drum

Bass drum.
Black rim is the final round of the skin.

The bass drum was easy enough and quick to make;   the snare drum was next!

It all looked easy enough but there were some surprises and problems along the way which slowed me down.

Fashioning the Fab Four (Part 8): Tools of the Trade

All ‘musos’ need good ‘axes’ so while I was waiting for inspiration on the amigurumi Fab Four's hairstyles, I got started on the Fab Four Amigurumi Instruments.

Fashioning the Fab Four (Part 7): Marketing the Image

All successful music groups need to market their product. Finding a unique image helps them to stand out from the crowd.  My Amigurumi Fab Four certainly needed an image of their own. Faces and hair would be a good start!

Loose ends...

My goal for Lupey Loops is to post at least once a fortnight for at least a year.  (Goal #9 in the list of My Ten Crochet Goals for 2013)

I am sorry to say that three weeks have gone by without a new blog entry.  I appreciate your patience as you visit Lupey Loops only to find nothing new. Meanwhile I wrestle with the end-of-semester exhaustion in a year of having extra commitments and events.

Petal Pullover: In Print!

This project caused The Fab Four Amigurumi to be set aside for a time. Readers of Interweave Crochet magazine's Spring 2013 issue might know all about it!

(There's a clue in the preview's  'Departments & Features')

Fashioning The Fab Four (Part 6): Production Time

When rehearsal is over, it's time for the production phase.

Fashioning the Fab Four (Part 5): Rehearsal

Any professional musician or entertainer will advise that the key to a polished performance is preparation. Whether it is live on stage or in the recording studio, rehearsals are essential.

The practical experience of rehearsing allows artists to experiment, practise new techniques, consolidate skills and organise their plans. A rehearsal is often the only way to identify potential problems and iron them out–I know I would rather discover a hitch at rehearsal than during the main performance.

As it is for musicians, so it is for crocheters.

Deadlines & Disappointments

I've been away from the computer for a little while because of busily trying to complete a particular project and I am disappointed that I have missed my deadline to have it finished.

Fashioning the Fab Four (Part 4): Yarn shopping!

It was a year ago, almost to the day, that I went shopping for yarn for the Fab Four Amigurumi. The original pattern was published in an American magazine and I knew that I would not be able to find the recommended American yarn locally. This meant that I would need to substitute a different yarn for the project.

Fashioning The Fab Four (Part 3): Read The Pattern

First things first! When starting a new pattern certain time-honoured tricks will help to head off many problems.

Fab Four Designer Profile: Monica Rodriguez Fuertes

 

Monica Rodriguez Fuertes in her design studio

No sooner than I had posted the last blog entry about Fashioning the Fab Four, I received a lovely email from Monica Rodriguez Fuertes who is the designer of the Fab Four Amigurumi and many more "little friends". She was delighted to share a little bit about herself and her other projects.

Fashioning the Fab Four (Part 2): Fab Four Fine Print

Fab Four almost complete, at rehearsal

Most crochet and knitting patterns sold today are sold with the proviso that they are for personal use only; e.g.the purchaser of the pattern can make as many items as they like from it, but cannot re-sell or copy the pattern or its products and make a profit that otherwise would have gone to the designer.

The idea is that the creator of the pattern should reap the rewards for their hard work and intellectual property.

Fashioning The Fab Four (Part 1)

Do you like amigurumi? I have made many amigurumi and other little toys. I like them because they are quick, easy and cheerful. In 2012, these mirthful 'mop tops' captivated my crochet hooks and sparked my spirits but they were unlike any amigurumi I had ever done before.