A blog about

A BLOG ABOUT CRAFTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR NORTH

Thursday, December 22, 2011

News Trees and Snowflake Stars - 3 days till the big day!!

That's right!  It's time for the yearly holiday crafts creation!! Here are a few links to years past:
News Trees are a simple bit of decoration you can do!

Once again, it is time for us at the Capital City Weekly to give a little gift back to the fine folks of Southeast Alaska in the form of some DIY decorations.

In years past we’ve tackled topics such as wreaths, ornaments, coasters, bunting and gift-wrap, so this year it is finally time to get down to the nitty gritty of a holiday crafted tree. Unless you’re reading this story online, you are holding in your hot little hands the key to making a fun holiday tree, or a forest of them for that matter. As an added bonus we’ll also include a pattern for an easy snowflake star to keep your holidays bright and white.
Pattern for a news tree layer

NEWS TREES 

Tools: A CCW, a dowel, tape, a foam base, extra decorating tools (like glitter).
Directions: Place the dowel into your foam base — this will be the tree trunk from which you will build. Cut circles of CCW graduating in size from small to large. You may use a decorative scissors for a fancy edge or create your own wavy edge.
Cut a pie wedge piece out of each circle (see illustration). Starting with the largest circles, bring the two edges of the pie wedge together to create a cone shape. Tape the underside to secure the cone shape. Slide the cone over the dowel trunk and repeat this process placing the larger cones at the bottom and gradually getting smaller.
You now have a news tree. Use dots of glue and glitter to create a snow or ornament effect on your tree. With an entire CCW, you have enough to make a forest of winter wonderland décor.

SNOWFLAKE STARS
Tools: Square paper (you can use the CCW for this project too), scissors, glue or tape.

Directions: With two folds and three cuts you can build some lovely 3D snowflake stars. Take a square piece of paper and fold it in half to create a triangle. Then fold it in half again for a smaller triangle. Now cut along the three lines according to the illustration. Unfold the paper and you will have some triangle-shaped cuts.

click here for the original article in full and completion to snowflake stars . . .

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Seaside Yarns- a new knit shop and pattern!!

Check out this new spot downtown and the pattern for this fabulous cozy cowl:
From the moment you walk into Seaside Yarns, a cozy warmth washes over you, and it’s not just from the hanks of wool roving and skeins of yarn bursting out of every corner. Friendly shop owner, Melissa Highfill, has been peddling yarns, roving, tools of the trade and more out of her small bright shop in the downtown Wharf building since May of this year.

Just five short years ago Highfill looked up a YouTube video on knitting and was literally hooked. Since then her love for knitting, spinning and dyeing yarns has led her to find a community of crafters to share with. Catering to both locals and tourists, Seaside Yarns offers hand-dyed yarns (have you ever seen A Treehugger’s Wife yarns at a local craft fair? That’s her as well!), fair trade products and locally made crafts aimed at giving a lift to the small business-owner as well as working with a variety of budgets. And according to Highfill, there is room for more.

“There are so many kinds of yarn out there,” she said. “One local yarn shop cannot have everything.”
Seaside fills a spot alongside at least four local shops that carry yarn here in Juneau.
 Hang around at Seaside for a minute and suddenly you’re surrounded by women coming to wind a ball, grab one more skein to finish a project, or shop a bit while the kids play in their very own playzone equipped with kiddy kitchenette. And as knitting picks up in this town you may be apt see a few men picking up some fodder for holiday gifts as well (I know my husband has).

Seaside also offers a variety of classes like Hat 101, Fingerless Mitts, Magic Loop and Socks taught by Crochet and knitwear designer Amy O’Neill Houck. Or swing in for the free Saturday knit and crochet group from 2-5 p.m., or spinning on Fridays – it’s BYOS (Bring Your Own Spindle). Find out more about classes at the shop or on their group Ravelry page, friends of Seaside Yarns at Ravlery.com.
Here Highfill shares a pattern for a perfectly giftable infinity cowl.

SEASIDE YARNS INFINITY COWL
Click here for the rest of the pattern and article . . .

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Workin' the Runway

We have been having too much fun all over this town with our TP gear!
Fabulous Anna Hoke at Southeast Living Magazine (see more shots at her website!)
took some amazing shots at the "No Umbrellas" fashion show, and then I saw
such lovely ways of wearing TPall over Gallery Walk in downtown Juneau. 
If you're wondering where you might still get some check out 
Figment Gallery downtown in the Senate Building or www.tpalaska.etsy.com!
Shyla rocking a Lucy Cowl
The new Riding Hood looks cute up or down
Men need warmth too!
This model even flew in from Washington to get her warm on!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Media blitz!!

First off, the Cap'n rocked the front page of the paper this Sunday - what was he doing you ask? Knitting!! AWESOME! 


 Wow!  Public Market was rad this year- we sold enough wares to escape and play in the snow with my little nephew OWL on day 3.  We have the remainder of scarves plus a few new ones headed to Figment (downtown in the Senate Building) tomorrow afternoon so make sure to swing by for Gallery Walk!!

A lot of the traffic was due to the "No Umbrellas" Fashion Show which was so much fun . . . and the media blitz continues :)  I'll post more from that throughout the week.  See you out and about in your TP gear this Friday!!
Love, the Cap'n and Tanna

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Public Market is Coming!!

Where is the best place to rock some holiday shopping on the blackest of Fridays?  Juneau's Public Market of course (shameless self-plug warning!!).  Come check out the new wares this Friday, Sat and Sun - though get there earlier for best selection.  Doors open at noon on Friday so no need to drag yourself out of your turkey-induced coma too soon!
That's me sporting The Riding Hood
 
The Riding Hood (worn in shawl style)
The Rapunzel
The Leyla (long infinity)
The Leyla (long infinity) worn another way.

The Lucy (triple button big)
The Lucy (triple button big) worn another way.
The Hipster Beanie and The Leyla Scarf
The Terry Beanie and The Lucy Cowl
The Captain sporting The Skipper Tube Scarf

A HUGE Thank you to all the fabulous models who helped with the shoot, and to Anna Hoke who did the amazing photography!!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Fashion for Charity!!!

Hello fabulous people - what are you doing this Thursday?  
Coming out to see some Juneau fashion and supporting 
Hospice and Home Care of Juneau?  FANTASTIC!!!

Get your tickets at the usual haunts plus the Brewery and Depot as well!

What do I have to do with any of this?  I LOVE fashion 
(Cap'n and I host PR nights - oh, that's Project Runway of course) and am donating what I can to get this fabulous event rolling.  The photo from the poster was done by my amazing friend Joel Irwin of irwindigital.com and the beautiful leg model is the famous dancer Gretchen Bucki formerly of Juneau.  Plus, this event will debut the 2012 winter knitwear line of yours truly! 
So much knitting and so many buttons, this is going to be fun!!!

Now, as you prep yourself for fashion, fun, and fancy french cocktails think about this . . .

Where is your runway?

a dock, a beach, the pasta aisle at Freddies? I want to know where you 
WORK YOUR RUNWAY!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Five crafts to keep you warm for winter

I'm headed out of town for two whole weeks to enjoy a fabulous vacation with my new husband.  While away the following fabulous projects will be brewing that you CANNOT MISS!

The Rookery re-opening with a brand new bar in the back - woot woot. 11/1/11

Nov First Friday which will be full of new things- Copy Express/AK Litho has a newly remodeled space and you can vote on their photo contest, Bauer & Clifton Interiors will be opening a storefront- and there will be frost in the air, perfect for sporting your TP Alaska First Friday scarfwear! 11/4/11

The most radically one-filled day ever 11/11/11

A Fashion show with proceeds going to charity, sponsored by the Brewery. 11/17/11

Public Market Madness with a booth by yours truly 11/Thanksgiving Weekend/11

And I am working on a fabulous Opera by Dvorak: Rusalka - which won't open till 2012 but it's on my mind as I'm designing it now~ eek!

So it should be a rousing November to be sure!!

Meanwhile, keep yourself warm with some winter crafts on me!

October in Alaska is the perfect month for crafting. Soggy gray days turn dark quickly while the white dust creeps down the mountainsides, so I cozy up with a giant caramel latte and my favorite craft. But let's be honest, the October nip in the air is sometimes hard to contend with as my cold crafter's hands try to stitch and string one more strand. So I've come up with five crafty ways for us all to cut the chill and get back to the task at hand.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Kodiak Coats and Steam Punk Funk together!

Jasmine Allen of Kodiak Coats tries out some new wares in the Kodiak Coat workroom.
For the Capital City Weekly
JUNEAU - "My job is to make messes," says Bridget Milligan, the owner, designer and seamstress behind the Kodiak Coat Company.

Her job seems more about making high-quality handmade outerwear, so I was a bit skeptical of these first words out of her mouth upon entering the Kodiak Coat workspace. Looking around at the yards of fleece, half-made coats and piles of dyed wool, I thought that for a creative space it was fairly neat and tidy. With her daughter Jasmine Allen around to keep the business running smoothly and assistant Dani Byers at her side, it turns out Milligan can both crank out coats and have time to make creative messes, which for her is where the fun is.
The custom-designs board at Kodiak Coats shows that the company is ramping up for the busy season.
 "I'd rather play and make things, but my job is to make coats," she says, slightly wistfully.
Milligan faces the quandary of almost every successful crafter-turned-pro: how to find time to experiment in between creating the money-earning staples. But with a little help she will unleash both a batch of new coats and new crafts this First Friday, as well as welcome jewelry artisan Angie Lawlar to her current storefront above Paradise Café.
Just one of the vintage pieces from Angie Lawlar of Steampunkfunk.etsy.com

click here to jump to the article in full . . .

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

All Married Now (but I still don't know my name)!

No, it's not a country song.  I just have had a rough time deciding.  But I think I secretly know what it will be, it's just the implementation that I'm having a hard time with . . .

But who cares about that- let's see some pictures!!! Here is just a light smattering of shots from the day.  I plan on writing more about the six weeks it took to plan this wedding and all the craftiness that abounded, from the diy wedding website (now everyone can take a peek!) to the guest-crafted wedding origami invites, to the whale ring-bearer pillows, to the home-made photobooth and everything in between.  But in the meantime, see if you can spot all my costume changes . . .


















Friday, August 5, 2011

Cha cha cha Married Tomorrraaa

Yup - tomorrow

nails done check
hair tomorrow check
fake juneau tan double check
what else is there

oh yeah . . . vows?

we'll write those right now :)


wish we could invite everyone everywhere!!!! why can't they invent the transporter for real . . . for cheap!?

Monday, August 1, 2011

New Name Poll

ACK- number one hardest decision for the wedding . . . my new name?!

Take the poll right now and tell me what's the best!!

Love love -tp

Thursday, July 28, 2011

9 Days Until . . .

Well, where have I been? 

Looking for a ring and getting a bit crafty for a big day that is almost upon me/us. 


The short version: we switched the date and location of our wedding to the beginning of August.  When did we make this big decision?  Five weeks ago.  Yup, I had six weeks to plan a wedding.
 :)

With all the hectic craft-sanity going on I have been trying to do some documentation, so after this whirlwind we will try to decompress and show off a bit.  But for now I leave you with this irony . . .

In a town full of jewelry stores (literally filled, Juneau is a mad summer tourist destination and the streets are lined with the same store in every port, plus more, let's say there are about 40 jewelry stores) I cannot find a wedding band that I love that fits with my engagement ring.  Any fabulous ideas???

Thursday, June 16, 2011

My Dad, Dad's Day and Dad-Crafts



The Cap'n and Cap'n Mom looking on while Dad filet's the catch of the day.
 Hello crafters near and far.  You might have noticed my blogging and articles have really slowed in the past month or so.  Sadly, the reason this time is not my busy-ness (or laziness) but instead, my father had an unexpected heart attack and died on May 6.  If I sound blunt in my explanation, please forgive me.  It has been a sad time and difficult to navigate the waters of etiquette surrounding this event.  He was 66 years old and a wonderful, loving father, grandfather, brother and husband.  The most amazing help has been the words of encouragement and care from family and friends, so thank you for that.  In his memory I wrote this father's day piece for the Capital City Weekly which truly does speak to the heart of why I love him, and why he loved Alaska so much. 

Pick up a new Dad-craft this Father's Day
There is a special bond between Alaskan fathers and daughters that, generally speaking, does not come in the form of traditional "crafts." Rarely are Northwest father-daughter duos found at Stich 'n' Bitch sessions poised with needles (and tongues) at the ready. Juneau daddies are not often passing down their family lace-making traditions or secret tatting techniques. But if we think outside the bounds of tradition a bit, we see that other kinds of Dad-craft are everywhere: in the familiar hum of a working water heater, in the worn wood of a handmade deck, and in the zing of a FISH-ON. His cooking might involve a venison steak and grill instead of rhubarb and an oven, and his staple gun might be a little hefty for darning socks or stitching up pillows, but the same steadfast care for craft is equally there, even if it is wrapped in stainless steel. So if you are a daughter who loves a Dad, think about rooting around in his craft this Father's Day, and you might just learn something Alaskan.

My top 8 Dad-crafts to tackle together this Father's Day (in no particular order): 
Go fishing with Pops- I'm in the middle, this was in a short-hair stint for me!
 #1. Go fishing! Though the 4 a.m. tide change might make you cringe, think of it as a great time to catch the sunrise this summer. And instead of making Dad fillet all the day's catch, get in there and get at those guts yourself.
Dad demos the right way to bait a hoochie (that's the little squid thing- not a fast chic!).
 #2. Work on his truck: How many times has he changed the oil in your rig? Daughter, it's time to reciprocate and give back the love. Just ask him to hang around as your assistant this time.

#3. Grill together: Sometimes a Dad does not like to relinquish grill control, but perhaps a joint grilling session can give you both a new perspective on charred meat and veggies. Just remember on Dad's day it's your duty to clean and cover the grill when the festivities are over.

#4. Take aim: The range (either archery or shooting) is a great place to pass on some Dad-craft skills that can be used in the hunting field or just for sport.

#5. Play with power tools: One of my favorite Dad moments was the day mine gifted me a Dewalt 12V driver for Christmas. I don't think he was ever more proud of me squealing with glee. Build something for Dad or just get a crash course in garage fodder so that you know how to use more than duct tape and hot glue to keep things together.

#6. Reminisce: Talking about crafts past may be more geared for a Chatty Cathy session with Grandma, but chances are Dad has quite a few stories of "The big one that got away" stashed. This activity never gets old, as the stories will only get bigger and better year after year.

#7. Brew up some cold ones: Watching America's favorite pastime is hard to beat on Dad's day, so imagine a frothy cold brew made just by you. Either start a few months early, or start your brew with Dad now; that way when it's ready for consumption you have a fresh supply for football season!

#8. Do Mom's Honey-Do list: What better way to please Dad than to make Mom happy too? Tackle the little projects around the house so Pops can put his feet up and Mom can be relieved that the latch is attached and the tree is trimmed.

Whether your dad's craft is cleaning the driveway, skinning a deer, or pushing your buttons, chances are there is something he does better than most with a particular vim and vigor that you could learn from. So this Father's Day let him know that you love him by learning from and paying homage to his Dad-craft.

In loving memory of my Father, James Russell Peters, whose amazing Dad-craft led to my Daughter-craft.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

FREE PAPER FRIDAY!

Nothing in life is free . . . except for awesome paper this Friday!!

It's a crafter's paradise here at Alaska Litho (one of my day jobs is working at a local printing company akLitho) and we are clearing out extra inventory of paper this Friday and Saturday - all day starting at 10am! Totally Brilliant!

There is neon paper and white paper, 8.5x11 sized and 11x17 sized, cream paper, and recycled paper, aaaaaaahhhhh- it's full of endless possibilities- my brain can barely comprehend, and my craft room is about to cry from overload.

Also, we've got extra monitors if you're a computer junky who needs to stock up.  Or teachers who want to load up for kids playtime.  Whatever your shtick - there is paper here for you.

This Friday and Sat at Ak Litho- near the mall at 8420 Airport Blvd.  Across and down one from Les Schwab- or better yet, right next to the new Aspen Hotel!

See you here!

Monday, May 2, 2011

I'll-Ask-A-Crafter: Crafter Coming to Alaska

Dear Alaska Crafter,
I'll be in Alaska for a week on vacation in August-- Anchorage, Seward and thereabouts, and a drive up to Denali.  I am always on the lookout for local craft shops-- fabrics, yarn, other cool local craft items.

I live in New York, so I have plenty of stores here for this stuff (and not enough space to store all my purchases! :) ,  but I would love to get something super Alaskan on my trip.  For instance, in France, I bought a cross-stitch project of a blue Vespa and some Provencal fabric for table linens, in Japan I bought some scraps of kimono fabric that I haven't figured out what to do with yet.

In my cliched imagination, I see some bear- or moose- printed fabric that would make an awesome throw pillow for my city apartment.  But what does a local crafter think I should get in Alaska?  And do you have any suggestions where to get it?

Thanks for any help or advice! 
Best,
On My Way to the Big AK

Dear On My Way,
Let me be the first to welcome you to our great state! The tourist season is just days away for us here in Juneau and, like each year, we welcome crafters of all kinds. From crafting cruises, to cruisers who like to craft, independent visitors, family, friends and even locals, our state offers handcrafted takeaways of every kind to remind you of adventurous times passed and still to come.

Read more after the jump . . . 

And as this article is mostly focused on the Juneau area, if you are in the interior area of Alaska and have info to add please leave a comment so that all crafters coming to Alaska this season can find out where to go to get the goods!! Thanks so much!!!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Have a Froggy Day!

Ribbit - maybe I'll get a pattern together for these to share the froggy footed love!
In the meantime enjoy a green day!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

A Crafter's Ergonomics

I love my new craft room. Paint on the walls, organization in the closet, every tool within a fingertip's reach - it is like living in a dream. So what happened to the crafter who suddenly got everything she always wanted? Like a childhood chocolate-factory fantasy, she lived happily ever after. But then a pain in her wrist started to develop, accompanied by a tweak in her back and a slightly pinched nerve somewhere in between. It seems that all those years of crafting over the coffee table, stitching on the floor, and using the bed as a cutting surface (don't ask) added up to pain in all parts. So she learned a new word: ergonomics.
From the US Gov's OSHA website on ergonomics

Ergonomics is an applied science "concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely," according to Merriam-Webster.

For a craft room there couldn't be a better plan than efficiency and safety in design. Crafters of all kinds create in small spaces meant for other activities (you know, scrapbooking at the kitchen table between meals) and according to the U.S. Department of Labor, ergonomic risk factors are found in exactly those kinds of spaces in jobs, or crafts, that require repetitive movement, fine hand-work, constant pushing and pulling, and most importantly "prolonged awkward postures." Sounds like my entire sewing experience. Though I can't go back and undo the years of cramped coffee-table sewing I endured, I can embrace ergonomics for the future and create a more friendly stitching station while encouraging others to do so too.

The first step in assessing your ergonomic situation is to sit at your sewing station as you would when stitching, stitch a few lines if you have to, and then take a look at your position. Are your shoulders raised, your wrists bent or forearms resting on the sharp corner of the table, your legs jammed as you push the pedal? These common awkward postures are often caused by a chair that is too short or too high. The goal is to create a supportive environment that keeps your body in a near-neutral position where knee, elbow and seat angle are around 90 degrees, shoulders are down and wrists and neck are elongated, not bent. Adjustable chairs, wrist pads, foot lifts and even adjustable height sewing tables are all tricky ways of getting your station to fit you perfectly.

Next, take a look at the other activities you perform while sewing. Does your hand get sore from scissors, or your neck tire from bending over to squint at a skipped stitch? Think about investing in more ergonomic spring-back and bent shears that require less force on your part. They even have electric scissors these days for just this kind of thing. Do you squint from lack of light or lack of sight? Whatever the issue, address it with a light or magnifying glass and hopefully you'll assist both your neck and eyes at the same time.

All activities you perform as a crafter have some potential for repetitiveness built-in, but that doesn't mean that every time you string a bead on a wire your fingers are doomed. The most important weapon in your arsenal against awkward pain is taking breaks and switching activities. Which means more crafts for you! So start crafting with awareness now and you might just live craftily ever after.

Find more information about ergonomics and your sewing environment at the US Government's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Alaska Folk Festival Preview: Poster Art

Poster art by Bill Hudson from the 17th Alaska Folk Festival
The streets are abuzz with the final countdown to Alaska Folk Festival number 37. Who can wait for balloon animals in the lobby, meeting long lost friends, dancing in the aisles and of course the musical styling of generations of folks from near and far. Take a closer look and you'll find out what begins the buzz: one singly crafted sheet of paper hanging plainly in a window. The poster.
Another Bill Hudson original Folk Fest poster.

 Artists and crafters have lent their creativity over the years to these brief but meaningful masterpieces. From drawing and painting a silk-screened poster to digitally rendering, scanning and printing, the processes of creation have changed dramatically over the years since Folk Fest began, but the heart of the artist has been ever-present. Taking a look back over the cadre of Folk Fest posters, one former Alaskan stands out as the most prolific: artist Bill Hudson.