Geek Crafts

I was taking an animation class just for fun at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design when Spirited Away came to the USA.  That was more than a decade ago, but I remember hearing about the movie, pining to see the moving, and begging some friends to come along and watch it with me. We saw it at the beautiful Landmark Oriental Theater and I can’t remember a time before or since that I was so riveted by a movie.  If you haven’t seen it, I implore you: Stop what you are doing right now and go see it.

It is certainly difficult to pick a favorite character from the movie, but one of the most memorable is surely No Face. A strange, silent spirit overcome by greed. Unable to verbally communicate on his own, we’re left to ponder his intentions and motivation.

Love & a Sandwich (aka Chelsea Bloxsom) captures this unusual character in an embroidery hoop: the distinct mask paired with an amorphous body, among spa tokens and cold coins. Absolutely perfect.

Selecting a project from Love and a Sandwich was rough, by the way. She’s got a million projects (OK, maybe a few dozen) on her Flickr that made me FREAK OUT, but No Face takes the cake.

• No Face embroidery hoop on Flickr
• Love and a Sandwich on Etsy
• Love and a Sandwich’s photostream
  

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Over on Craftster, there has been a great big HOOPLA! Actually, this Hoopla has been going on for a couple of years now and has not lost momentum like so many other crafty trends. The term applies to any sort of needle work framed in an embroidery hoop regardless of size.

I have to say this particular set of Hoopla is some of my all time favorites. It combines R2D2 and C3PO, needlework and felt. How awesome is that??! Loveandasandwich stitched up these wonderfully detailed pieces bringing our favorite ‘bots to life. She even gives us a bit of insight as to her creative process towards the end of her original post.

Fantastic work loveandasandwich! The Force is with you!

R2D2 and C3P0 – NEEDLEWORK.

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So last week Bret McKenzie won an Oscar for the awesome song, “Man or Muppet” from the new muppet movie.

If you don’t know the song check out this video. 

If you don’t know who Bret McKenzie is, check out Flight of the Conchords. 

If you don’t know who the Muppets are…….I’m sorry, have you been living under a rock for the last 50 years?

Well, to celebrate this amazing Oscar win, you can do this pretty awesome Muppet Craft. It’s a 3d paper car, full of the Muppets. It’s not the fanciest, most original craft, but maybe it will inspire you to make a Muppet painting or a Muppet hat or a Muppet Theater Playset.

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Since yesterday’s post was a duplicate of an earlier one (oops!), I decided to atone for the mistake by posting something delightful (and not a repeat). Voilà the following awesomeness.

Damn, I would totally join the Dark Side if work parties involved cakes like this one! Talented baker Bernice Camlin (aka Smurfesque) has not just created a Death Star cake that both looks awesome and sounds like it tastes amazing, she has graciously posted a tutorial so even those of us who aren’t professional cake artistes can make our own. At some point in my life, this is going to happen. I will make it so! Wait, that’s the wrong sci-fi. See, I’m just that excited about this cake.

• Death Star Cake Tutorial on Cake Central
• Bernice’s Website, Cute Sweet Things

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I’m not much of a quilter – and after seeing this amazing little piece I think I know why. They are all in support of The empire! Clearly us needleworkers, dressmakers, papercrafters and up-cyclers need to form an impromptu branch of the Rebel Alliance and quell the evil quilters to re-establish the reputation for good that crafters have so long held dear. Just as soon as we finish chuckling.

I spotted this piece on Strawberry Jam Designs, a craft blog ran by an anonymous ’30 something gal in San Francisco’, that is well worth checking out for some amazing embroidered and quilted craft inspiration.

Strawberry Jam Designs

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It’s pretty apparent that I really like Captain America. He’s my favorite Avenger. With the Avengers movie quickly approaching, I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of a Captain inspired outfit. One of the most iconic pieces of his uniform (aside from the shield), are the wings on the side of his helmet. I decided that I was going to make my own version of those wings.

With some left over felt I had from other crafts, I cut out a pattern of the wings that I created. In order to get the to be able to clip in my hair, I cut a small opening on one side to slide the snap clip through. Hand-stitching two pieces of felt together I left the top open a little so that I could add a little bit of stuffing. Not a ton, just enough to give the clip a little plump. Lastly, I hand-stitched the lines to define the wings a bit more.

Overall, I think they’re going to be an excellent addition to my outfit for the midnight release of The Avengers. It was a really easy and super cheap craft.

• A video in which I talk about these clips
• Avengers crafts on Geek Crafts

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