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March 31, 2006
The Workmanship of Risk: the Performance of Craft
Pictured above is Sherri Wood's "Prayer Banner: REPENT," a 2004-ongoing, communal mourning blanket. Link to the exhibition The Workmanship of Risk: the Performance of Craft curatored by Sabrina Gschwandtner at the Richard F. Brush Art Gallery
Posted by cat at 02:08 PM
March 28, 2006
Entertainment Weekly: The Must List
Crochet book makes this weeks CNN The Must List "Smoking," crocheting, and eight other things we recommend this week: includes #6. "Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker," Debbie Stoller A seamless treat for madames and misters alike, this nifty new guide in the best-selling series lets home couturiers crochet their way to funky chic, with needles 'n puns galore.
Posted by cat at 10:43 AM
March 26, 2006
Crochet Lab
Posted by cat at 07:24 PM
Democracy In American Workplaces? Joke, right?
By Jordan Barab, Reprinted from Confined Space No, this isn't America in the 1880's, it's America in the 21st century, if you can believe it: Above the photographs of Fidel Castro, Kim Jong Il of North Korea and an American union president, the full-page advertisement contains a provocative quotation: "There is no reason to subject the workers to an election." Below the photographs, the advertisement asks, "Who said it?" For the answer, readers are directed to a Web site, which explains that those words were uttered by Bruce S. Raynor, the union president and the leader of Unite Here, which...Via WorldChanging: Another World Is Here
Originally posted by Joel Makower from WorldChanging: Another World Is Here, ReBlogged by cat on Mar 26, 2006 at 07:14 PM
March 25, 2006
Happy Hooker
"Hooker" is a homonym -- it's 2nd (or 1st) definition is a person who crochets, and this is the title of Debbie Stoller's new Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet book that came out a couple of weeks ago. My contribution is this granny square color bar blanket (pictured above) p 271-273. Note the 1/2 naked girl sticking out her tounge trying to figure out how to make a granny square! Also the nude painting hanging up in her room! Seriously, the book has a lot of useful stuff and okay, that girl is pretty hot. See more here I also have Debbie to thank for the idea for knitPro 2.0... she was the first one who told me that knit graphs are the 7:5 ratio to prevent graphic distortion!
Posted by cat at 08:12 AM
March 24, 2006
Crate Art in Melbourne
Last night sam, gab and jerry hit the factories of Melbourne to give morning train commuters something fun to look at as they ride into town.
Originally from Wooster Collective, ReBlogged by cat on Mar 24, 2006 at 12:39 PM
Indigenous Activists in Ecuador Suspend Protests
In Ecuador, indigenous activists have temporarily suspended protests against the Free Trade Area of the Americas. On Thursday police fired tear gas at hundreds of student and indigenous protesters during a march on the government palace in Quito. On Tuesday the government declared a state of emergency in four areas giving the police and military power to ban public gatherings and make arrests. Indigenous activists say the demonstrations are being temporarily halted after 11 days to allow the protesters to regroup and to give them a chance plan new actions with greater radicalism. "The indigenous communities have mobilized themselves in the places in which they live. In the different provinces of the country they have shut down the highways and have blocked the transportation of resources to the cities," said Alexandra Meida of the Ecuadorian group Ecological Action. "This is the form of protest that is occurring. The government has responded by militarizing these zones - the soldiers and the police are completely armed. They are strongly suppressing the indigenous population. Via today's headlines at Democracy Now
Posted by cat at 12:27 PM
Cat Chow
Cat Chow is a textile artist with a lot of interesting work, including a dress made out of 1000 $1 bills, funded by 1000 sponsors. Check out her site here read more here
Posted by cat at 10:03 AM
US government supports Apple stand on French law
In what's shaping up to be the biggest Franco-American battle since US lawmakers renamed their favorite side dish "Freedom Fries," the US government has now declared its support for Apple in the company's dispute with France over DRM interoperability. US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, questioned about the case on CNBC, declared that he would "compliment [Apple] because we need for companies to also stand up for their intellectual property rights.Continue reading "US government supports Apple stand on French law"
Originally posted by Evan Blass from Engadget, ReBlogged by cat on Mar 24, 2006 at 09:37 AM
March 23, 2006
Quarky Knitwear and Knitting for the blind
Sassy photo from lion brand website i like this image because she's got that retro knitting poster girl look! hot! it's also a bit off in that nerdy bad style knit way that i adore: closer look and it's fun fur, cross skulls in her bandana (?) and fishnet stockings... funny. charming. if anyone out there makes this will you PLEASE send me an image of you wearing it??! this post was really for another reason:
The PR guy for the above site posted about Knitting for the Blind
Continue reading "Quarky Knitwear and Knitting for the blind"
Posted by cat at 09:05 PM
Knit Graph Paper Generator (No Image)
Of course, there's always knitPro for generating grid needlecraft patterns from digital images, but maybe you're old school and want to sketch it out on customized graph paper by hand. This knit matrix is handy!
Posted by cat at 08:56 PM
no nostie? no problem
If you want to wind a centre pull ball and you don't have a nostepinne or a ball winder you are in luck! Check out des ballons dans la vie for a great use of a balloon. other links: Hatchtown Farm Winding Center // originally posted on princess knits again reblog TD...
Originally posted by Ryan Block from Engadget, ReBlogged by cat on Mar 23, 2006 at 03:21 PM
The Wealth Gap
A few days ago, I got this little squib from the Economic Policy Institute which looked at some data from the Federal Reserve that I haven't seen discussed anywhere:The rest of the snapshot is here.The data in the report reveal that in 2004, minority incomes were about 56% that of whites. However, a far larger gap exists when we compare net worth: minorities' net worth was about 27% of whites, about half the size of the income ratio.
Originally posted by Coyote from Coyote Blog, ReBlogged by cat on Mar 23, 2006 at 01:55 PM
Africanised dandies and astronauts
Yinka Shonibare's work addresses cultural identity by juxtaposing African batik patterned cloth with the poses, idle hours and depravity of Victorian Dandies. The colourful installations reflect his interest in the long-lasting and pervasive effects of European colonialism.
For Space Walk (image below), Shonibare silk-screened text and photographs from 1970s Philly Sound record albums. The fabrics are also adorned with the names of famous African Americans, such as James Brown, Billie Holiday, Barry White and David Hammons as well as Philadelphia sites from the days of Philly Soul.
More information and images: African Arts, Fabric Workshop Museum, universes in universe (2), artnet, absolute arts, wikipedia, art blog and Tate Britain.
Originally from we make money not art, ReBlogged by cat on Mar 23, 2006 at 09:45 AM
Small World Story & The Physics of Friendship
By comparing people to mobile particles randomly bouncing off each other, scientists have developed a new model for social networks. The model fits with empirical data to naturally reproduce the community structure, clustering and evolution of general acquaintances and even sexual contacts.
// this link came out of a pleasant encounter i had with Eliel a passenger i met on a train in a recent trip home from the city. It was a total joy to meet him because he had a passion for semiotics and was able to tell me about "molecular revolutions" -- the concept that "micro revolt" is loosely based on. s o o o exciting.
Posted by cat at 01:00 AM
March 22, 2006
I HEART NAO BUSTAMANTE
If you're in NYC, no excuse: PS 122 March 30-April 1
Posted by cat at 11:33 AM
March 21, 2006
Zulma: artist, activist and nerd (in no particular order)
Got this image from Zulma's Blog a Chicana artist responsible for the video Juarez Mothers Fight Femicide made for a non-profit called Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa a.c. May our daughters return home.
Posted by cat at 04:25 PM
Tit Bits and the Nipple Project
Tit Bits is a website for women living with breast cancer.
Another related site The Nipple Project is having an open call: March 2006: Send a hand-made artistic interpretation of your nipple or of someone's nipple you love! We are creating a community based art installation consisting of 3-dimensional craft media such as knitting, crocheting, beading, sewing, felting, gourds, leather, metal, wood and other creative materials. The final piece will feature all nipple submissions sewn, wired or stitched together to create a large wall installation and will be displayed in October, 2006 to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Posted by cat at 04:06 PM
March 14, 2006
We have Knit Knit 6!
At the microRevolt store
Posted by cat at 09:34 PM
Iran: Police Attack Women's Day Celebration
Iranian police and plainclothes agents yesterday charged a peaceful assembly of women's rights activists in Tehran and beat hundreds of women and men who had gathered to commemorate International Women's Day, Human Rights Watch said today. link // this was not via hack a day, but human rights watch, having some reblog tech crisis...Originally posted by Eliot Phillips from hack a day, ReBlogged by cat on Mar 14, 2006 at 05:32 PM
March 11, 2006
RC paintball tank built from printer parts
You could spend hours exploring the R/C Tank Combat website, so we will
highlight one project to get you started. Steve Tyng built this
awesome model based on the Russian T34-85 tank. The body is all
wood an uses stainless steel axles salvaged from a printer. The original drive system used 24-volt DC motors from
dot-matrix printers, but they’ve since been replaced. The most tedious part of this build appears to be the tracks
which are made from a treadmill belt sandwiched between wooden blocks. The turret rotates and the barrel can elevate as
well. The entire turret package can be easily removed. Inside is a cheap paintball gun that has been lightened and has
a small RC servo bolted on to depress the trigger. Definitely have a look at the Maryland Attack Group’s other projects
like their field artillery and armoured cars.
Originally posted by Eliot Phillips from hack a day, ReBlogged by cat on Mar 11, 2006 at 12:08 AM
March 10, 2006
Jessica Tromp
I have a new obsession with this site!!!! fair isle patterns free!
Posted by cat at 09:21 PM
[Im]perfect Articles
Hand made t-shirts in Chicago (featured above t-shirts by artists Serge Seidlitz & David Shrigley.)
Posted by cat at 12:45 PM
Beautiful Art Made With Knitting
Posted by cat at 12:33 PM
First International "SweatFree" Conference
First International "SweatFree" Conference to Mobilize Worker Rights Advocates, Producers, and Businesses from Four Continents -- Schools, Cities, States Unite to Fight for Historic Sweatshop Reforms
On the heels of historic new sweatshop-free purchasing laws in San Francisco, Madison, and Milwaukee, and an unprecedented agreement among nine Catholic school boards in Ontario to pool resources for monitoring and inspecting factory suppliers of school uniforms, proponents of "sweatFree" procurement will gather in a new international landmark: the first international SweatFree Communities conference, to be held April 7-9, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Presenters will include leading worker rights advocates from the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Haiti, and Central America, as well as sweatshop-free garment producers and businesses from Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and the United States.
Continue reading "First International "SweatFree" Conference"
Posted by cat at 12:29 PM
Costa Rica Blocking CAFTA?
I haven't see this anywhere in the mainstream press: the Financial Times had a piece on Feb, 27th (yeah, sorry, it sat on my desk and I just liberated it from the pile) which reported that the Central American Free Trade Agreement might be headed for tough times in Costa Rica: "The leader of Costa Rica's second largest political party has vowed to obstruct efforts to ratify a 2004 free trade agreement between Central America and the U.S."Originally posted by JT from Daily Blog, ReBlogged by cat on Mar 10, 2006 at 12:23 PM
Space Invaders wall decals invade your living space
Retro
blik surface graphics is selling these 13" blick INVADERS for your walls. They come in packs of 8 for an unreasonably steep $45, leading us to ponder who their intended market is.
What would one do with these? If they're just decoration, a simple stencil and some cheap paint seems like a far more economical solution; however, since they're decals, it follows that you're supposed to move them around. Every morning, right after feeding the pets and watering the plants, you could remove some of the invaders and drop the rest down a line.
Originally from we make money not art, ReBlogged by cat on Mar 10, 2006 at 12:21 PM
March 03, 2006
>self_passage<
Self Passage A project by the Swedish artist Otto von BuschIn
A re-examination of the paths and mechanisms of fashion [RE_TALL]iation is exploring alternative ways to organize fashion creation, production and distribution by putting an emphasis on local possibilities and autonomous self-organization. By creating an alternative production chain in the field of tension between art and design the project unveils new possibilities in the production of a fashion item through democratic design experimentalism.
The project aims at establishing a practical discussion in the political activity of design through reflective analysis and an augmentation of the design process questioning the social textures, cultural conditions and ruling conventions of the contemporary fashion design scene in Tallinn.
Posted by cat at 10:18 AM
Sinister tapestries
Kent Henricksen embroids seemingly innocent bourgeois sceneries with gruesome images as hoods, masks, ghosts and ropes.
The hooded figure is a universal symbol appearing in religious iconography and folklore in almost all cultures across many time periods. Our contemporary associations are strong reminders of this symbol's continued relevance. Contemporary personal associations can range anywhere from the parochial Dunce Cap to the photos of hooded Iraqi prisoners in the recent Abu Ghraib prison scandal to the racial hatred and venom embodied by the Ku Klux Klan.
Originally from we make money not art, ReBlogged by cat on Mar 3, 2006 at 09:35 AM
March 02, 2006
She shoots-she scores!
I bound off the last stitch of the body of Forecast a few minutes after the Olympic flag was handed over to my fabulous city's mayor for the 2010 games (!!), during the live broadcast of the Closing Ceremonies, around a quarter to 1 PST. There was a hairy bit there, when I realized I needed to wind up a new ball of yarn a mere four rows from finish, but I did it. Gold!
Originally posted by rosapomar from A Ervilha Cor de Rosa, ReBlogged by cat on Mar 2, 2006 at 04:56 PM
Governor's Coalition for Sweatfree Procurement
The Governor of Maine is calling for a Governor's Coalition for Sweatfree Procurement and Worker's Rights. If you can help persuade your governor to join this effort, please email or call me (207-262-7277). See Governor Baldacci's letter to other Governors: Governor's Coalition for Sweatfree Procurement
Continue reading "Governor's Coalition for Sweatfree Procurement"
Posted by cat at 04:46 PM