ToolGirl

What a Beautiful World

More info

Livio Di Marchi

Dave Scarberry sent these photos of the incredible woodworking skills of Italian sculptor Livio Di Marchi.  Thanks Dave!

http://www.liviodemarchi.com/ukmain3.htm

http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/DeMarchi.htm

http://mostlyglass.com/Artists/de_marchi/de_marchi_books.htm

 

What is Red Green doing now?

Red Green creator Steve Smith is having the time of his life with a new project.  Check out the story of The Fabulous Miromars and their inspiring message - "Getting older allows you to do what you love."

Vintage hockey cards get a groovy second childhood

I met Isa Bella Campbell at the One of a Kind craft show, which continues in Toronto until next weekend.  She's featured in the Rising Star section of the show along with some other fantastic artisans. 

Isa makes all of her belts, wallets, make-up bags, change purses and billfolds using vintage media and recycled leather apparel.  Like many artists, she came up with her techniques when she was making gifts for lucky friends and relatives.  Her first hockey card belt was a gift to her adult brother, who was thrilled...until he found out that she'd raided his hockey card collection from Grade 5. 

"You cannibalized his own hockey cards?!" I asked, amazed at her pluck. 

"I didn't use the really valuable ones, I swear!"

You can meet Isa at the show (her booth is Read My Hips) or check out Isa's stylish designs online where you can buy her stuff via PayPal (an easy, secure, no-charge way to pay for online purchases). 

How to paint a bathroom floor in a highrise condo

My friend Ellen sent me this photo via e-mail. 

If you live in a highrise building, this is a great flooring upgrade to freak out your relatives.

(Unfortunately, I can't find a credit for the PhotoShop artist, but you can see more human ingenuity at worth1000.com)

One of a Kind Craft Show - Toronto

I visited the One of a Kind craft show in Toronto yesterday and was blown away by the talent of several of the 800 artisans featured.  One of my favourites was Sorrentino Sanche, a joint venture of two artists - a welder (Nathalie Sanche) and a cabinet maker (Angelo Sorrentino) - who have fused their love of shape and sculpture to make the most incredible cabinets I've ever seen.   Their workmanship makes your knees weak with awe.  If you like what you see, you should probably contact them soon.  Several of their works were already tagged 'sold' within the first hour of opening day, and Nathalie said they're still working to complete all of the orders from LAST YEAR's One of a Kind Show!

ToolGuy Jim Barry

There are some amazing people in the world.  Some of them are busy building, creating, inventing and devising original solutions to puzzles that all of us face.   The projects they come up with are so bracingly ingenious you just want to smack 'em in a salute of glee mixed with respect and okay, a little envy.

Here's an example:  Canadian woodworker Jim Barry not only provides a massive list of the Internet's free plans at his Woodworker's Workshop web site, but he also shares his own work portfolio at Woodchuck Canuck - a glimpse into the wild-ass creativity he comes up with on a daily basis as he takes on jobs for neighbours, relatives, friends and clients. 

One of my favourite Jim Barry projects is the monogrammed gingerbread trim he created out of some scrap wood.  If you click on the photo at right you'll see how well the project turned out - check out the corners for the monogrammed letters.

New book on how to make metallic jewelry from clay

For those of you who like to make handmade gifts for Christmas, metal clay jewelry-making is a really cool emerging technique ('emerging' to me anyway - I guess it's been around for a few years) that allows you to make metallic clay objects and fire them with a propane torch instead of having to use a kiln.  Metal clay is loaded with tiny granules of precious metals.  You form it into earrings or small decorative objects and then the firing burns away the clay, leaving only the gold or silver.  How cool is that?

I've ordered the book and I'll provide a more definitive review when I get it and have a chance to try the techniques.  In the meantime, if you liked working with mud as child or if you've tried polymer clays like Fimo or Sculpey and you're interested in getting a jump on Christmas gifts,here's a link to the book and some nice reviews.

How to get a bear off a bridge

Photos below (click to enlarge 'em) show a happy new beginning for Boo Boo Bear.  This story came to me via e-mail from someone whose niece is in the U.S. Forest Service. 

A bear was walking across Rainbow Bridge (Old Hwy 40 at Donner Summit, Truckee) on Saturday when two cars also crossing the bridge scared the bear into jumping over the edge of the bridge. Somehow the bear caught the ledge and was able to pull itself to safety. Authorities decided that nothing could be done to help Saturday night so they returned Sunday morning to find the bear sound asleep on the ledge. After securing a net under the bridge they tranquilized the bear, who fell into the net, was lowered, then woke up and walked away, knowing, as always, that all was well in the world.

Hung

Click to enlarge the picture and you will see the bear hanging by her fingernails!  (Don't worry.  This story has a very happy ending.)

Got a Toonie?

This rocks (see press release below);  Next time you're at the Home Depot, please consider dropping a toonie to buy a Paper House - All proceeds from Paper House sales go directly to Habitat for Humanity to help buy materials for volunteer-built homes across Canada.   (Low-income families may apply to buy the hand-built homes.  Each selected family donates 500 hours of 'sweat equity' and receives an interest-free mortgage.)  There are 1.5 million families in Canada who live on less than $12,000 a year.  Here's your chance to give 'em a hand up.

Photo:  Mag shares a porch moment with Carl Meadows, Habitat's construction coordinator for Wellington County.  Carl designed this house, which is entirely built by volunteers, neighbours,  friends and members of the family that is moving into the house in Guelph, Ontario. 
   

clipped from www.newswire.ca The Home Depot Canada, working in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada, today announced the launch of the Paper House Campaign, a national project that aims to raise money and awareness of the affordable housing crisis in this country.     From August 2 to September 2, 2007, for the first time ever, The Home Depot Canada customers across the country have the opportunity to directly contribute to this cause by purchasing a Paper House for $2, available in all Home Depot stores. 100 percent of the net proceeds from the sale of the Paper Houses will go to support Habitat for Humanity Canada in building real houses for families in need.