What a Load of Craft recap + hanging with Leslie Hall

Let's just cut to the chase. I got to meet Leslie Hall. She's crafty. She sings and dances. She's awesome. Leslie is insanely sweet and she and the LYs put on a super craftastical show at What a Load of Craft last weekend, plus signed an autograph for Lo and took the time to chat a bit about Yo Gabba Gabba.

This picture will absolutely make me laugh out loud every time I see it for the rest of my life. Oh my. Such a rad time.

Craft talk ...

craft talk ...

work through the pain, work it through the pain.

Anyway, it was a great day to spend with a couple of crafty pals from Des Moines, like Lara of Handmade Pretties.

And my lovely Erin (StellaJames.)

And lots and lots of other super fun vendors.

Forty, to be exact.

I picked up some yarn and an apron from Diane of BugSnugger, and a very cool t-shirt from the kind folks from Cicada Grove.

The show drew in quite a crowd and we had a very good, busy day.

Set to the music of several local bands, like Lipstick Homicide.

And Killed by Death.

And the Craft Death Match did not disappoint!

The whole experience was definitely not your average craft show, and big thanks to Grace and Susan for all the imagination and hard work that went into this very cool event.

And now, I'm getting ready to do it all over again. I'm knitting up a brand new pile of cowls and scarves and hats to sell at my very last and final craft show of 2009. Seriously. This is it, people.

I got some new tags for my hand-knits.

And I've been making a few of the coffee cup sleeves for sale as well.

And even yarn ball ornaments.

So where will I be vending this Saturday evening? So happy you asked. I'll be at the First Annual Helliday Party and Craftacular at the edge of downtown Des Moines. Come on out and check out what I've been knitting – you'll be sure to find some great last-minute gifts. The entire block of the Western Gateway shops is having a block party, including Finders Creepers, Vitae, Dorothea's Closet, Robert Spellman Gallery and the Jaded Lotus, who will be hosting several local bands to keep your ears happy, ending the night with DJ Starscream (yup, Sid Wilson of Slipknot!)

knitting resolutions

I have been so busy knitting for craft fairs and orders that need to be filled the past few months that come January, I have a nice big list of projects that I am dying to make. Here's what's going to be on my needles after the holidays ...

Just Enough Ruffles (by Laura Chau) I'm planning to buy a couple of skeins of Misti Alpaca Tonos in this awesome yellow color called 'Michelle's Dress' ... as in Michelle Obama's Inauguration dress. Or I might use some deep turquoise Malabrigo that I've been saving.


Then there's this Paper Dolls sweater that I would love to make for Lo. Pretty much just amazing. (How sweet is this pic?)


And I have some rad colors picked out to make Lo the Drive Thru Sweater – I think I'm making it in indigo/purple, fuschia, navy, gray and sky blue. Unless I change my mind again.


Braided (by Susan B. Anderson) My pal Sarah recently knitted this crazy cool scarf in a pretty smokey gray Spud and Chloe yarn and I must make one of these, too.


Cozy Bolero (by Jane Richmond) I actually want to knit all of Jane's patterns on Ravelry, but I'm going to start with this one.


And hopefully make it to this sweater, too. Oatmeal Pullover (also by Jane Richmond) I have some crazy yellow/green yarn ready to go for this one. I might make the sleeves full-length, though.


But then there's Amber...


and a garter stitch cardi for Lo ...


and this Braided Cowl...


and Noro Fingerless Mitts...


and Owlet!!!! (I mean, are you kidding me?) It's bad. These projects just skim the surface of what's filed in my Ravelry queue/favorites. And I'm aware of the hopelessness of the situation here. But I'd love to challenge myself and see how many of the things on the list I can make by this time next year.

Journal Your Christmas

Every December, I look forward to Journal Your Christmas. Two years ago, I decided to give J.Y.C. a try and now it's sort of becoming a tradition that I can't stop. (You can see a mix of my 07 and 08 pages here.) This year, I've totally fallen behind, but plan to take a simple (and smaller) approach and put my book together around photos I've taken each day this month. The cool thing is that once you join Journal Your Christmas, you're in for life. Me? I do it mostly for my kid. But it's more than just making a page a day. You're documenting the season, the memories, the music, the food, the feeling, the nostalgia, the preparations ... along with thousands of people from all around the world.

You can make it into a scrapbook, or you can use it as a writing project with just a journal and pen. Either way, you're going to end up with something that brings back the magic for you (in your quest to 'take back Christmas,' as Shimelle says) and keep your memories fresh for you and others to look back on years from now.

And the perfect thing to go with your Journal Your Christmas or December Daily album? These date/number tags, available in my shop. (Remember these? You might have seen them last year. I kind of forgot about them but decided to bring them back.) This set is a digi pdf file that you can download, print and cut/punch yourself. These tags will take you from December 1 all the way through January 7 (the twelfth day of Christmas!)

can't stop won't stop ...

Here's a quick peek at some of the hand-knit super chunky scarves and cowls and hats and neck warmers I'll be bringing with me to What a Load of Craft. Yes, I'm pretty sure I have either carpal tunnel or arthritis or both after this season of knitting. Ha. (Again, W.A.L.O.C. is this Saturday, as in tomorrow – December 12th – at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City. You can find a map and info here.) Come out to shop for some last-minute holiday gifts (and check out the live music and DJs.) I'm super stoked for a road trip with my Erin and the chance to see Leslie and the LYs perform at – what else – a craft show. I'll be listing any leftover items in the shop after this weekend. I really hope to see you there – make sure to stop by and say hi!

what a load of ...

YAY - I've really been looking forward to this weekend – craft show, Leslie and the LYs, plus a road trip with two other crafties from Des Moines? Awesome. What a Load of Craft is this Saturday, December 12th at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City. (4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd, Iowa City - directly off Riverside Dr/Old Hwy 218) (See a map here.)

Schedule of events:

11:00 am – Doors open to public

12:30 pm – Live music begins
Bands include:
Lipstick Homicide
Kate and Amanda
Skye Carrasco
Olivia Rose Muzzy
Pete Balestrieri

5:30 pm – Craft Death Match
Speed Knitting
Gingerbread house construction
Play-doh Holiday Meal
Human Gift Wrapping
Gem Sweater Creation featuring special guest emcee LESLIE HALL!!! Leslie will also present a lecture on the history of gem sweaters for your entertainment.

7:00 pm – See ya' next year!

that's cool ...

Just a few pretty things around the internets that have caught my eye ...

Wood Type Collage no. G – Original Art in a Limited Edition (my daughter's initials ... well, except for the K)

1canoe2's 2010 Letterpress Calendar

super rad Amy Tangerine t-shirts – huge sale at The Mini Social (sign up for huge discounts on the coolest kids' stuff anywhere)

wood coasters (from my pals at urban posture)

Barcelona Chair Notes (set of 6)

Big Love Ring – Winter Colors (love the gray)

sun, cloud sky necklace

Moop Letter Bag – in rosewood (or any color ... they all rock)

Handmade Pretties (I had to scoop up one of these appliqued earwarmers for Lo – my crafty pal Lara makes amazing things!)

what's on your cool list?

#winterdeathstorm09 + gem sweaters

Iowans everywhere are tweeting and FB-ing and talking and complaining about this huge snowstorm that we're weathering. We might boast about how tough we are, how good/bad we are at driving in it, and how it's ruined our plans (or made them better ... because the next day or so has a chance of being a snow day.) No matter what, no matter how much you hate it, you know you kind of love it.

Mostly unrelated ... these bearded Icelandic caps are all kinds of awesome (from Birkiland.) If you want to make your own, here's a free pattern on Ravelry. I might have to bust one of these out for Bo.

And this Saturday, I'll be vending at What A Load of Craft in Iowa City. I'm extremely excited. There's going to be a Craft Death Match, which pits crafters and audience members against each other in a brutal tour-de-force craft battle. Participants create a pre-determined craft project within the time limit, set to a metal soundtrack provided by local dj Killed by Death (and other bands throughout the day.) Death Match rounds include speed knitting, gingerbread house construction, play-doh meal, and human gift wrapping. Do you see why I'm giddy about this weekend? Could there be a cooler craft show?
So in preparation, I've been knitting my face off, per usual, and then I saw something on What A Load of Craft's Facebook page that said 'special guest emcee ... Leslie Hall, plus a performance by Leslie and the LYs!!!' Right, like that Leslie! We first became a fan when she was a guest on Lo's fave show, Yo Gabba Gabba. But then we discovered Leslie's craft-tastical music, found out that she's from Ames and the rest is just craft talk. Anyway, I could not be any more stoked.

I must be dreaming. (Make it make it make it make it faster faster faster faster ... work through the pain, work it through the pain.)

dareness

Dare #153 is up today. I took a break on the last two rounds and really missed it. But wow, the girls have been rocking it. Hard. This week's topic: don't stop ______. I love the different directions you can take this. And can I just say one thing? You know you're part of something kind of perfect and awesome when if feels right. Every time I've done a Dare, it's been easy. Even if it was something difficult to express or if I had no idea what direction I was heading when I started putting the pieces together. When other people see it and it doesn't make sense, it's often something I needed to say even if it's just to myself. It's good, it comes naturally, and that's how you know you're supposed to be doing something and you're in the right place. Some things can't be forced.

I made this last night.

I had been searching and searching for a knitting pattern for a coffee cup sleeve that used my beloved Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick, but never had any luck. It was driving me nuts. Surely such a thing exists. I have a huge pile of leftovers that I've been dying to use up, so I finally just sat down last night and made one on my own. I'm not a pattern writer by any means, but this is so simple that even I can spell it out. So here you go (you can find this here on Ravelry, too.) These are insanely quick to make, are great for stash-busting and would make perfect last-minute gifts.

thick and quick starbucks sweater

yarn: lion brand wool-ease thick and quick (less than .25 skein)
needles: US 13 / 9.0 mm DPNs

c/o 20 sts, join and PM

1. k1 p1 rib
2. k1 p1 rib
3. k
4. k1, k2 tog, k to last st
   (repeat rounds 3 & 4 four times = 16 sts)
5. k1 p1 rib
6. k1 p1 rib
7. b/o loosely in pattern + weave in ends

That is it! Yup, 20 stitches, 12 rounds ... um, this could be the easiest fastest project in the world. Go forth and make coffee cup sleeves. It's December, people. Go, now!

shopping local

Just wanted to share a few rad photos by the talented Cat Rocketship from Market Day. (Cat is an amazing artist, by the way. See her work here and check back every Friday for her One Day Friday Payday Sale.) Anyway, yes – Market Day's Black Friday Sale was a huge success! You might have seen us on KCCI or ABC5 on Thanksgiving night. Or check out the story on Market Day on CNN Money.

One of the best parts of hanging at local craft fairs is meeting cool people, like Dan Welk of Click Photography. I picked up one of his Travelers prints. Check out his brilliant perspective on the day here.

I'm also a new fan of Kevin House's original collages and prints. I had to snag one of his small collages.

There was also tons of handmade jewelery.

And fun holiday garlands and decorations, like these from Disco Lemonade. (She made me a cool custom garland made from cut-up circular sweater pieces.)

And here's the view of my booth, while I still had a rainbow-colored pile of hand-knit goods on the table. Thanks again to Cat Rocketship and all the MSMF peeps for a fantastic holiday show and super successful first year of Market Day. See you again in the spring. :)