For your inner zinester, check out this interesting filmstrip about how offset printing works. It's from one of my favorite distros, Fall of Autumn.

Sister Diane on 03/18/07#

Have you heard about Second Life? It's an entire 3D virtual world on the internet. (Addictive as all get-out.) You can create an avatar of yourself to inhabit it, and you can own virtual land and build a virtual house. You can meet people, buy clothes and furniture, join groups, and even fly.

. . . And now you can knit! I was wandering around Second Life the other day, and found this charming little knitting shop, Knit This, created by Ida Keen. (Ida Keen is the avatar name of a real-life person, but in Second Life, you use only your avatar's identity.)

Ida has created a series of virtual knitting needles, balls of yarn, and knitting bags, which she sells from these cute kiosks. They have a kind of motion-program attached to them, so that when your avatar picks them up, your avatar actually begins knitting! Crazy.

If you're a Second Lifer, then you can find Knit This on Amida: 88,140,27. If you're not feel free to email me and I'll help you locate it.

Sister Diane on 01/16/07#

Here's an interesting social networking system for creative types. Lov.li bills itself as a "community art market," and offers photo and video postings for sharing your work, plus the ability to message other users, form groups, and make your own blog. You can also sell your work through the site, or buy other people's handmades. Perhaps most significantly, lov.li seeks to bring makers of "art" and makers of "craft" together in the same online space, and mix it up.

Sister Diane on 12/26/06#

I am in love with cathy of california's blog. Lately, she's been posting the most gorgeous images from holiday craft books of the 60's and 70's. I especially dug the package wraps made from office supplies from BHG, and the Q-Tip angels, and this amazing catalog cover.

Sister Diane on 12/13/06#

. . . I'm really digging Pete Goldlust's amazing work in poly clay and carved crayons.

Sister Diane on 12/10/06#

Lauren Porter, she of the knitted Ferrari, has completed a knitted Christmas living room, right down to the chair, prezzies, teapot, and cookies. Fantastico.

With thanks to Wise Craft.

Sister Diane on 12/08/06#

For anyone who hasn't discovered it yet, Leslie Harpold's online advent calendar is one of my favorite things this time of year.

Sister Diane on 12/03/06#

. . . So I got to do a podcast interview with this really cool lady named Tsia about her new book. You should give it a listen.

Sister Diane on 10/21/06#

I'm really loving IKEA Hacker these days. Now that you can get cheap, assemble-it-yourself, light-on-character furniture everywhere, it's great to see people taking this stuff and customizing it. This site is loaded with cool ideas.

Sister Diane on 10/14/06#

This podcast is a bit old, but well worth listening to if you're a fan of the needles. Radio Open Source is an amazing community/radio project from Boston, and a while back they did a show called "A Passion for Knitting." Great conversation with Debbie Stoller, Joe Wilcox, Kevin Lundeen and Elise Goldschlag. Give it a listen while you're . . . you know.

Sister Diane on 09/27/06#