Sir Thomas Beecham famously said, 'Try everything once, except folk dancing and incest'. So I am trying something new. A couple of things in fact.
Number one, this post is part of a blog tour (if that makes me sound like a groupie, then that's nothing new as I always have been a Kaffe Fassett groupie) and number two, it comes with a giveaway. (I don't count the time I gave away copies of The Gentle Art of Domesticity because that was my book). I have one copy of Kaffe Fassett and Liza Prior Lucys' new book Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts to give away to a reader in the UK or Europe. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me which craft you would most like to try for the first time. I'll pick a comment at random at the end of this week and contact the author (so don't forget to include your email address) for a postal address.
There is a good reason for asking which craft you would like to try, because I have been thinking about Kaffe's approach to craft, art and life itself. Can you imagine if, as an art student all those years ago, he had decided to confine himself to paints and canvas for the rest of his life? If he had turned his back on trying new media and different skills? Where would all the colourful, exuberant, liberated knitting, needlepoint, patchwork, mosaic, fabric and rug designs be? Who would have benefitted from his ground-breaking books, his inspirational talks and workshops, his brilliantly eclectic, rule-ignoring, eye-opening approach?
Over the years, Kaffe has been accused of dabbling, of not sticking with one medium or craft or mode of expression. Well, isn't that just a little narrow-minded? Life is not neat and tidy and carefully divided into compartments and categories, and beyond encouraging us to see more, do more, enjoy more and use more colour, Kaffe is also giving us a life-lesson and telling us that the whole world is our studio and our palette. Why confine ourselves to one thing, when we can apply the same ideas about pattern, colour, inspiration to different surfaces, textiles, fibres and end-products? Why not play a little, experiment a little and have some fun, instead of worrying about rigid rules and pursed lips?
This is also the underlying message in his wonderful new book published by the equally ground-breaking Melanie Falick at STC Craft. It's written with Liza Prior Lucy who is a powerhouse of energy and font of all quilting knowledge; it was Liza who pursued Kaffe for years, knowing that if he could be persuaded to dabble in patchwork, he would never regret trying it. Together they have made a beautiful book; the photography is stunning and the quilts look amazing with the very urban London backdrop. (See, that's another thing Kaffe has tried for the first time - moving quilts outside and into the big, wide world.)
One last word. A while ago Simon and I went to a birthday party at Kaffe's house in London. Liza gave us a tour (we are so English we nearly declined her invitation to look over the house until we realised that everyone was moving in and out of the rooms, and we duly met up with Kaffe showing guests his bedroom) and all I can say is that if this is dabbling, then I'm all for it, because I have seen its beauty and humour and richness and depth and breadth, and it's not dabbling but a way of life.
So, if you live in the UK or Europe and would like to be in with a chance of owning a copy of the book, please leave a comment (with your email address) by 18.00 GMT on Friday 21 May telling me which new craft you would like to try for the first time.
(All images from the excellent 'look around you and see' pages in the book.)
Hi Jane, I love your blog - it always inspires me. I've loved Kaffe's work for years and years. He amazes me. I am a knitter who would love to try mosaics. And papermaking. And printing. Crochet too. Quilting however scares me a bit. xoxo, Kniterature
Posted by: Debbie | May 18, 2010 at 09:14
I am thinking about trying spindle spinning but can't figure out how to do this without my fiance noticing. If I start another craft/hobby, he may finally lose it! I keep trying to justify it by telling him that our friends have 10 sheep and nowhere for the fleece to go and it would save on my vast wool costs when crocheting big blankets.
Posted by: RavenJoolz | May 18, 2010 at 09:36
It was my resolution to try chrochet this yea and i have tried, but failed. I am not goiing to let it beat me and taunt me forwver though. I am going to try again and again and again.
By the end of the year, I will have cracked it. So that is my craft resolution
Posted by: TheMadHouse | May 18, 2010 at 09:48
Wow, that book looks amazing. I've had a go at some very basic patchwork, but I'd love to give something more complicated a try.
I saw some beautiful jewellry made from old silver spoons this weekend; I'd love to experiment with that.
Posted by: Emma | May 18, 2010 at 09:53
That man is so clever. He proved you can knit circle shapes. He showed how to use colour. I wish I could use my brain the way he can.
Watercolour Painting! That is what would choose as something new! I have tried and succeeded in most things with a crochet hook, knitting needles, needle and thread, bobbins and a tatting shuttle and a pair of scissors.
Julie xxxxxx
Posted by: Julie | May 18, 2010 at 09:54
Hi Jane, I've been inspired by Kaffe Fassett's work for years, too. My aim is to learn furniture carpentry (forgive me if this is not the correct term in English) - I would love to be able to create my own furniture. I can imagine simple shapes, upholstered stools and benches with quilted/embriodered/fabric painted covers also made by me. I have plans for upgrading my children's room with new day beds made by me. Thank you for letting us have this opportunity to articulate our plans and possibly receive a very interesting book in return.
Posted by: Ingunn | May 18, 2010 at 10:01
Hi Jane,
I am German married to an Englishman and came across "Gentle Domesticity" because my sister-in-law recommended it to me. I ordered it and it was just the book for me! I am into knitting and all kinds of textiles (crochet, needlecraft, the odd bit of sewing) and photography. I've done felting and would like to go on a little bit with that and learn some more and use silk fibres with bits of lace. I've been bookbinding for years (making my own "log books" with notes and pictures, with drawings and paper-cutouts) and now I would like to start papermaking. All the beautiful colours you can use and the lovely irregular structure of homemade paper. That is my next project.
Posted by: Heide Worthington | May 18, 2010 at 10:02
Those pictures are inspiration enough to want to photograph and quilt everything together in one kleidoscope of craft and colour! And on that related theme I would love to try mixed media collage with embroidery, painting, photography and beautiful vintage paper.
Posted by: Clare | May 18, 2010 at 10:06
Thanks for the invitation - and for your generous blog. I feel like a flower drinking when I log on! After years of living in Asia, I want to design and make some garments using vintage kimono and batik sarong fabric. There is something intoxicating about everyday couture and the luxury of using a whole length of handmade fabric...patchwork is great, but am I the only person who feels guilty cutting it up?
Posted by: Veronica | May 18, 2010 at 10:06
The book looks very inspirational!
WhatI really would like to learn is drawing.
Posted by: Hetty | May 18, 2010 at 10:11
Hi Jane - I have been lurking around here since I read "The Gentle Art..." two years ago and have been so inspired by your work and musings.Actually it's the quilts in YOUR book that have "quiltmaking" on top of my list for my next craft to try for the first time! But I'd love to see more of Kaffe's too.
Posted by: Leanne Willars | May 18, 2010 at 10:13
Lacemaking; definitely lacemaking. All those beautiful bobbins and the challenge (it seems to me) of working out what goes where and with what else. And then dyeing the lace. And then embellishing a quilt made from home-dyed fabric. And. And. And. But I'll start with lace-making, I think.
Your 'Domesticity" encouraged me to crochet. Now this 'competition' will encourage me to get on with my other 'things to do before I reach my dotage'.
Posted by: Corinne Inglis | May 18, 2010 at 10:18
I'm really not sure what I would like to try next... maybe yarn dyeing... or spinning, or weaving. Or maybe a non fiber related craft: paper cutting. :)
Posted by: Elisabet | May 18, 2010 at 10:29
That's easy I've wanting to try sewing and patchwork in particular for some time now. I've been reading some books about patchwork, but since I don't know how to sew, patchwork seems evem more distant and difficult. Am I wrong? Probably. Well, my LYS is carrying a patchwork workshop next month, maybe I can join!
Posted by: teres ac. | May 18, 2010 at 10:35
love reading your blog im very new to all this and rely on my 16 year old son to guide me through pc land . but i love to sew, knit,and dream new project , i would love to try felting . maybe soon.
Posted by: sue | May 18, 2010 at 10:40
I look forward to clicking on to your blog everyday. It is full of inspiration, and your list of books puts me in touch with books I may never otherwise come in contact with. As to a new craft - the list is endless. I love to knit - particularly corsages and dishcloths in every imaginable colour and design but I do lust after being able to crochet .... and I keep trying to find time to sew, dress make and embroider .... hopefully on a hot, sunny day this summer .....
Posted by: Victoria | May 18, 2010 at 10:52
I've been trying to summon up the courage to try crochet. I consider myself a reasonably good knitter, and there's something daunting about becoming a beginner at something again. Perhaps this will give me the incentive to get going.
Posted by: Sarah | May 18, 2010 at 10:56
I'd like to master crochet; in fact I'm booked into Fibre and Clay for a workshop so I really do mean it! I'm SO jealous of you knowing Kaffe and going to his house - I'm going to listen to whale music and try to calm down :)
Posted by: paintdropskeepfalling.wordpress.com | May 18, 2010 at 10:58
Yay for dabbling! I'm a dabbler myself, perpetually feeling like an amateur at life, but I believe I found my calling in the domestic arts. I'd love to expand my sewing skills by finally getting a quilt under way, and try some paper piecing.
Posted by: MzTallulah | May 18, 2010 at 11:01
Only one craft? Okay - I pick weaving. My other halves Grandma is a weaver and walking into her house is a bit like entering textile heaven. The opportunity to learn is tantalisingly close, but massive looms and tiny London flats don't mix... one day though!
Posted by: dozenoaks | May 18, 2010 at 11:16
I knit and sew and spin and quilt and embroider and cook and the husband paints and draws so between us we have very little storage space which I think is what might put us off trying anything new in case we get seriously addicted. I think top of the list is pottery though. I nearly did a course last summer but in the end the dates didn't work out but it's still there on the to-do list. On a slightly more practical level, I want it to be sunny enough this year to break out my screen printing kit!
Posted by: Carie | May 18, 2010 at 11:31
Have tried most crafty things - but have yet to try screen-printing. One day ... still lots of time.
Posted by: Robina Forfar | May 18, 2010 at 11:31
I'm a craft fanatic. One thing I would like to try and I'm almost ashamed that I don't know how to do it, is knitting.
Posted by: Tami | May 18, 2010 at 11:41
lovely collors
zita
Posted by: Zita Pires | May 18, 2010 at 11:44
Ohh what a fab question to ask us all, i have loved reading everyone elses comments! I now have a very long list of things I want to try (and hadn't thought of until i read all your commenters ideas!) Top of my list is a bent wood chair, did anyone else see the Monty Don series on C4 over the winter? There is a place in Dorset where you can go and live in a wood and make a bent wood chair or a woven stool! How much fun would that be? Would love to win this book, many thanks x
Posted by: Debs | May 18, 2010 at 11:45
Hi Jane,
I'm a huge fan of Kaffe and Liza's work, as well and thought I would share one of his quilt designs that I return to over and over.
http://danawarnerfisher.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-favorite-baby-quilt.html
Some day I want to knit one of his fabulous sweater patterns.
Cheers,
The Quilted Librarian
Posted by: Dana Fisher | May 18, 2010 at 11:48
Watercolour painting is a very old wish :)
I've never tried quilting as well - it seems very complex - but I'm ready to try little project soon.
Posted by: méri | May 18, 2010 at 11:51
I almost struggled with this, as I feel like so many crafts in my life have been tried once, loved and then not focused on enough because I can't put down the knitting, or step away from the sewing machine. But I would love to learn to dye and spin my own yarn. I'm sure it would all be blues and greens, but it would be my blues and greens, and I can imagine nothing more lovely than makng a garment completely from scratch and then giving it to someone as a gift. Perhaps this realisation will make me go out and find some classes in hand dying and spinning...
Posted by: Rebecca | May 18, 2010 at 11:56
Love your blog, and visit most days. Your new book The Art of Quilting has inspired me, I have a small stash of some nice fabrics, so will start small, maybe a cot quilt. I think I could get hooked.
Posted by: Barbara | May 18, 2010 at 11:59
Oh, how exciting. I've had a hankering for years to try carpentry. My only experience of carpentry so far was making a model boat in secondary school! But I would love to design and make my own chest of drawers, with different-sized drawers. It would be asymmetrical too. I'd love to learn how to use different types of wood.
Also - a couple of years ago I nearly enrolled in a lace-making class. I saw some very old ladies doing it at an exhibition and it looked so beautiful (and complicated). Truly a disappearing art. Thanks. P x x x
Posted by: Paula | May 18, 2010 at 12:09
Only one? Well I think it has to be quilting. I am so inspired by the many photos on the blogs I read (especially yours), that it has to be just a matter of time.
Dawn
Posted by: Dawn in NL | May 18, 2010 at 12:17
Sewing! I plan to take sewing classes next autumn, by the way. From there to patchwork, I bet it will be but a little step...
Posted by: Luisa | May 18, 2010 at 12:45
I'm planning on trying to combine my interest in photography and textiles by trying blueprinting onto fabric. I've bought the book and kit from Ruth Brown. Now I just need to wait for a free sunny day!
Posted by: TheBigMango . | May 18, 2010 at 12:48
What a wonderful looking book! I keep kaffe's
glorious colour on hand for inspiration so i'd love to see this one. I'd love to try weaving, but might then have to get a bigger house. Thanks for the give away.
Posted by: Nina | May 18, 2010 at 12:53
I think mine would be dressmaking - having got hooked on quilting and discovered all the beautiful fabrics there are out there, I would love to try making clothes for my little daughter (who will look lovely whatever I put her in!)
How nice to read everyone else's comments too - we should all JFDI!
Posted by: Elaine | May 18, 2010 at 12:58
I have tried so many crafts over the years - papermaking, crochet, knitting, quilting,rag rugs embroidery.
I think the next thing would be to spin but my workroom is so full of half finished projects I don't know if I would have room.
Whatever my next project it would have to be FULL of colour and textures - without which life would be very dull.
Posted by: Karina | May 18, 2010 at 13:02
Your book has been an inspiration for me and there is no bigger KF groupie then me!! As I told you in an earlyer blog I had exactly the same combination of 'chintz' Philips Jacobs fabrics lying around then you had. With your book as an inspiration I made a quilttop of them. I used the pattern of the cover with the Chintz. Here is a picture of the top.[IMG]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s41/Tehya2/quilts/DSCN3746.jpg[/IMG]
I hope you approve and like it.
Kind regards
Posted by: [email protected] | May 18, 2010 at 13:05
I'm sorry but the links does not work. I will put a picture on my blog for you.
Posted by: [email protected] | May 18, 2010 at 13:08
Hi Jane
Your blog inspired me to start quilting two years ago and it has brought me immeasurable pleasure, so I would like to say thank you for that. I am tempted to have a go at crochet now, although think I might be a disaster as I am completely unco-ordinated!
Posted by: Jenny | May 18, 2010 at 13:16
I would love to try quilting this year! It seems like I'm seeing gorgeous color combinations and patterns everywhere I look lately.
Posted by: Soveh | May 18, 2010 at 13:18
jewellery making! One day I will add an eye for bling to the other crafts I am into (knitting, embroidery, applique, felting, dressmaking, hatmaking obsessive) to my painted canvasses (abstract/often inspired by fashion illustrations from the big wide world!). I hope it will be one glorious combination of every craft i can turn my hand to! And maybe a bit of millinery-turned-sculpture combined with a little flower-arranging for my home.
Posted by: Rebecca Macham | May 18, 2010 at 13:28
I have a lovely great wheel that is at least two hundred years old and in beautiful working order. But I don't know how to spin with it. I so much want to learn to spin on my gorgeous wheel! It was a birthday gift last year from my family and friends who, knowing how much I love knitting, thought that I might like to try spinning my own yarn. :-) Now I just have to figure it out!
Posted by: Teish | May 18, 2010 at 13:32
Tatting! I remember my mum tatting when I was little, but at that age I had no interest in really examining the process in detail. Now, I find it incredible that such delicate designs can be created with a shuttle(!) - I'd love to have a go. I picture a winter window full of little starched doilies, like snowflakes...
Posted by: Emma | May 18, 2010 at 13:33
Oh my, one more hobby, you say. At the moment I am squeezing my other fibre-related hobbies in the little spare time that I have, as I already knit, crochet and spin. If I were to try a new hobby, that would be quilting, as I'm fascinated by the possibilities given by manipulating the colours and shapes.
Posted by: Olga | May 18, 2010 at 13:36
Quilting! Definitely. I can't, in fact, believe that I have never tried it. I've been pondering and slowly building up to it; this book might truly give me the much needed push.
Posted by: Kimberley | May 18, 2010 at 13:37
Hello Jane,
how lovely - I'm waiting for the said same book to arrive here tomorrow courtesy of Amazon - so you just made me even more excited at it's arrival!
Well if Kaffe dabbles, all I can say is that it's pretty successful dabbling! The key thing I think is that it doesn't matter two hoots which medium he's working in - you always know it's him. His 'art' really transcends the mediums that he works in. I can't think of anyone else who achieves this. Which makes him pretty cool in my book....
best wishes,
Helen
Posted by: Helen in Switzerland | May 18, 2010 at 13:39
I am mainly a knitter, and have dabbled a bit with crochet, but I would love to give quilting a try... Maybe it's time I start...
Posted by: Anita | May 18, 2010 at 14:08
Hi! Well, actually just a few short weeks back I decided to give quilting a try for the first time! I was pretty apprehensive but I'm about halfway through my first and so far so good. I love Kaffe - particularly since he designed 'Rochester' for 'The Knitter' magazine this year. So refreshing to see such a wildly colourful pattern that was aimed at MEN!
Posted by: Mark Sabine | May 18, 2010 at 14:13
Hi Jane,
I went to a talk by Kaffe about this book but couldn't afford a copy - he kindly signed my ticket to the talk instead! The most inspirational part was when he spoke about 'thinking big and going for it'. A good motto for any discipline I think.
I'd still like to try pottery on a wheel. I signed up for a class while at high school in the US on student exchange, but it turned out to 'only' be clay sculpting. Still fun, but not the same. A mere 16 years later I'm hoping to do a skills swap with a neighbour who's a potter - I'll teach her to knit in exchange.
I love to dabble anyway - knitting, spinning, sewing, making jewellery. Reading your first book inspired me to 'start' quilting. I've got all the kit and have gotten as far as collecting FQs and cutting out a pile of squares. Hopefully my toddler will give me enough spare time to make it one day!
Best wishes,
Rosee
Posted by: Rosee Woodland | May 18, 2010 at 14:15
I remember years ago when traipsing the country, art folder under my arm to college interviews and being scoffed at by a couple of hoity toity art lecturers for daring to mention how much I loved Kaffe's approach to colour and art and yes that dirty word "craft".
I would really really love to learn to weave, not something I can very easily teach myself,but I hope one day...
Posted by: Jeanette | May 18, 2010 at 14:22