tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5317862926361441662024-03-13T04:42:34.873-08:00Alaska CrafterAlaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-69850744287280489562015-03-20T00:30:00.001-08:002015-03-20T00:30:49.490-08:00Bird-A-Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sometimes when life gives you a big pile of work, you need a little artistic escape; and so was born the Bird-A-Day. I'm only on my fourth day, but so far it's been fun. These are super loose, done in Illustrator, with no expectations and just for fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53e40080e4b0176384485645/5409f3f1e4b0faf3641de057/54e76efbe4b0ffad52aa3235/1424453534049/?format=1000w" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53e40080e4b0176384485645/5409f3f1e4b0faf3641de057/54e76efbe4b0ffad52aa3235/1424453534049/?format=1000w" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">I had the stupendous opportunity to make the 2015 Alaska Folk Fest poster! It was TOTALLY nerve-wracking and exciting to make this piece for all the Folk Festers out there. I wanted the design to reflect springtime in Alaska and the frenetic frenzy that I feel comes with Folk Fest. It always feels like something big is coming at this time of year - people are everywhere, days are getting long, anticipation for summer is in the air, and it's starting to get warm. On every corner you'll find musicians collaborating and folks of all sizes dancing up a storm. The energy is palpable, so I tried to have the poster reflect that sense of energy and excitement with layers of little surprises that remind me of Alaska. I mean, who doesn't like a treasure hunt?!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">See if you can find . . . an octopus, fiddlehead ferns, a seiner, waves, beer, rain, trees, birds, whales, northern lights, forget-me-nots, seaweed, mountains, plaid, scales, feathers, and devils club. Just to name a few ;)</span></div>
Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-82870036403413616792015-01-04T17:31:00.000-09:002015-01-04T17:34:44.359-09:00Seeking Snow and Sun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hike Day in Juneau - still no snow, but sun and wind are whipping us up the mountains instead.<br />
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Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0Mount Roberts, The Tongass National Forest, Juneau, AK 99801, USA58.2861111 -134.326111132.764076599999996 -175.6347051 83.8081456 -93.017517099999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-62922637364717418402014-12-22T10:25:00.002-09:002014-12-22T10:27:58.384-09:00Handmade Holiday Gifts: Jewelry Plates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
These little plates are for my sister, I saw the idea for the lace version at top on<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/217087644513775483/" target="_blank"> Pinterest </a>(of course!).<br />
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Mine are a bit wobbly, but I kind of like that. <br />
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I got the idea for this plate from a local potter who was making these amazing beautiful bowls with topographic maps carved into the bottom. So gorgeous, I thought it would remind my sis of her favorite mountain and home.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Nx8DJFcO6E/VJG3Jv7qPKI/AAAAAAAADZ8/9b4rFOzEgaU/s1600/IMG_2453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Nx8DJFcO6E/VJG3Jv7qPKI/AAAAAAAADZ8/9b4rFOzEgaU/s1600/IMG_2453.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a>This project took just one evening if you need a quick gift. I used some Sculpey I had on hand, rolled it out, carved and then baked it. You can carve it after you bake it if you like. I did throw some white paint on them to make them look clean. </div>
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Enjoy and Happy Holidays, more holiday ideas coming your way this week, stay tuned!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that's me arm knitting on a plane - it can be done!</td></tr>
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<b>Ever heard the adage ‘Give a man a knit scarf; he’ll be warm for a day. Teach a man to knit, you’ll be warm forever’?</b> Alright, that isn’t quite accurate, but it does have a ring of truth. If I could only give one gift for the holidays I would teach all my loved ones to knit to keep themselves (and me) warm throughout the season. But the time commitment on a craft like knitting can be daunting, so I put aside that thought until I heard of the newest and goofiest sounding trend in the world of weaving, Arm Knitting.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arm Knit Scarf with Buttons</td></tr>
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It’s not a joke, but you do look silly, because you really use your arms as knitting needles. With wide availability of extra bulky yarns and the two largest knitting needles possible, a scarf can take under an hour to whip up using this method, making a plane ride enough time for anyone to learn and walk away warm. Another body knit, Finger Weaving, is also an easy craft for kids and adults alike. So if the whole fam is hopping a plane for the holidays, pick up a few skeins on the way and get your body knit on. Plus seeing that row of entanglement will be a holiday gift for the rest of us this Christmas.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Weaving turned into a Looped Infinity Scarf<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr>
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<strong style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Arm Knit Infinity Scarf with Buttons</strong><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PMW04eV240Q/VJN7wEXhpOI/AAAAAAAADbE/ICongcGyVBg/s1600/Tutorial%2BStrip_Arm%2BKnitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PMW04eV240Q/VJN7wEXhpOI/AAAAAAAADbE/ICongcGyVBg/s1600/Tutorial%2BStrip_Arm%2BKnitting.jpg" height="640" width="134" /></a></div>
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<strong>Supplies</strong>: Three skeins chunky weight yarn, your two hands<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O1Tjza6TOX8/VJN7nnTPbkI/AAAAAAAADas/KwWAhgztrjw/s1600/2012-12-14%2B23.04.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O1Tjza6TOX8/VJN7nnTPbkI/AAAAAAAADas/KwWAhgztrjw/s1600/2012-12-14%2B23.04.23.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a><strong>Step 1:</strong> Hold three strands of chunky yarn together to make one thick strand and about 2’ along make a slip knot and pop it over your wrist.</div>
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<strong>Step 2:</strong> Cast on 6 total stitches onto your right arm. The original slip knot does count as the first stitch. Casting on is the most difficult step so follow the images here. There are also other options for casting on. I’ve outlined the quick and easy method, but search online for other versions and videos. Make a 4 shape with the tail of the yarn (the end not connected to the skeins) in your left hand. Insert your right hand into the top of the four and cinch the loop down onto your wrist. Repeat this until you have 6 loops on your right wrist. With this easy cast-on method you then must transfer these stitches to your left arm by sliding them over one at a time.</div>
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<strong>Step 3:</strong> Six loops should be on your left arm and the working end (the end connected to the skeins) will be hanging near your left hand. Grab this end with your left hand.</div>
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<strong>Step 4:</strong> Pull the first loop off your left hand with your right hand. Keep holding the working end in your left hand.</div>
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<strong>Step 5</strong>: Pull up a loop of the working yarn through the loop you just pulled off and pop it over your right hand. First knit done! Cinch this down and take the working end in your left hand again. Continue the process of pulling the loops over your left and creating new loops onto your right until all are on your right arm.</div>
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<strong>Step 6</strong>: Reverse the process exactly onto your left arm. Continue until all except 2’ of yarn is knit.</div>
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<strong>Step 7</strong>: Cast off by repeating Step 6 but for each loop on the final row you will pop it over the loop behind itself to bind off the end.</div>
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<strong>Step 8</strong>: Attach large buttons or weave the ends of the scarf together to make a loop.</div>
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Now wrap it up or wear it!</div>
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<strong style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Finger Woven Looped Scarf</strong><br />
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<strong>Supplies</strong>: One skein chunky weight yarn, your two hands</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tg21-aDj4lE/VJN7ikvxArI/AAAAAAAADak/ObPsmDeLYhA/s1600/2012-12-14%2B23.07.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tg21-aDj4lE/VJN7ikvxArI/AAAAAAAADak/ObPsmDeLYhA/s1600/2012-12-14%2B23.07.15.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a><strong>Step 1: </strong>On your right hand (you may reverse this onto your left hand if you’d like) hold the end of the yarn between your thumb and index finger with your palm facing you.</div>
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<strong>Step 2:</strong> Bring the working end of the yarn behind your index finger, in front of your middle finger, behind the ring finger, around the pinkie and weave the rest of the way back to the start. Make a small knot securing the yarn.</div>
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<strong>Step 3:</strong> Weave the yarn again as in Step 2.</div>
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Step 4: Bend your pinkie finger and pull the bottom loop up and over the finger. Repeat on each finger from left to right.</div>
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<strong>Step 5 & 6: </strong>Repeat Steps 3 & 4 until yarn is completely knit. This will create a large icord (invented long before the other i-electronics). Knot off the end by running the last tail of yarn through the loops on your fingers.</div>
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<strong>Step 8:</strong> Loop this long cord several times and then neatly wrap and tuck the end to create a multi-layered looped scarf. Enjoy!</div>
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Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-31409290258888334262014-10-30T08:23:00.002-08:002014-10-30T08:23:35.964-08:00Halloween makeup for the procraftinator<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Alaska Crafter column is back! Check it out in its print edition in today's Juneau Empire, or read on for a last minute halloween fix!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Here we are again Juneau, another blustery year gone by and October ushering in the crafter’s most hectic holiday, Halloween. If you’re anything like me you’re aflutter with a mixture of trepidation and excitement brought on by a little thing I like to call pro</span><strong style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">craft</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">ination. Yes, the fine art of waiting till the 11th hour to whip together your Halloween costume. I hear you protest, that has never been me! Hah! Even the most dedicated and honed crafter has slipups — some years the Halloween deadline approaches and we all find ourselves sheepishly in the ransacked costume aisle with no supplies, no shipping options and a touch of panic.</span><br />
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Never fear, the Alaska Crafter will help set you back on track! Years of self-inflicted procraftination mean I know every trick of the trade to make it appear as if I did not wait until the last minute to hastily assemble my costume. And this year’s secret weapon . . . makeup.</div>
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Makeup can be transformative in a very efficient amount of time, is readily abundant and if you can channel your inner artist a few hours before the big spook night you may just be able to convince your friends and family that you are not a procraftinator, which seems like the best of all possible solutions to never repeat that word again. Ever.</div>
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<strong>Alaska Crafter’s 6 Steps to Makeup Success</strong></div>
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1. <strong>Plan</strong>: Whether you’re a ghoul, goblin, vixen or vampire, you’ll need a little bit of research to keep you on track. Find an image of your ideal makeup and keep it handy. Map out your makeup beforehand by drawing an outline of your face and the general sketch of the design you’d like to apply on paper first so you have it as a reference.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Check out more after the jump</span></b></h4>
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2. <strong>Supplies</strong>: Think of your face as a painting surface like a wall or canvas. For your home you would purchase quality paints and a few nice brushes, and I am willing to bet your face is a bit more precious. So skip the premade Halloween kits of white cream and grease pencils and head toward the makeup aisle. Think of eyeliners as sketching pencils, and use eyeshadow as small paint pots. Depending on your look, lipsticks and lipliners can come in handy for bright reds, cuts and blood, while purple and yellow eyeshadow can make truly realistic bruises.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RIdtwFxZt6k/VFJj0-2kikI/AAAAAAAADUg/JlxORZve630/s1600/Base%2Band%2BCut%2BIn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RIdtwFxZt6k/VFJj0-2kikI/AAAAAAAADUg/JlxORZve630/s1600/Base%2Band%2BCut%2BIn.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a>3. <strong>Base</strong>: Prep your face just like a canvas. Cream or liquid base provides the best coverage, but in the case of the Halloween kit makeup, can get sweaty and streaky as the night wears on. Follow the cream or liquid base with a powder overlay and you’ll get consistent coverage. For ghouls and goblins try a light-colored liquid makeup base all over with a smooth sponge and then follow with a white or green eyeshadow applied with a larger powder or blush brush. Blue works for a frozen face, and red for a devilish look.</div>
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4. <strong>Cut in</strong>: Once you have an even basecoat, cut in the rough outlines of your makeup. Pull out that makeup plan you previously sketched on paper and use an eye or lip liner in lieu of a pencil. Another option is to use a small angled eyeshadow brush and a powdered eyeshadow. Wet the tip of the brush and use the powder like a small pot of paint. This will give your makeup softer edges and a more artistic look than the clean lines of a pencil.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3y9MGbtxQY/VFJj0CTLgrI/AAAAAAAADUY/u_Ef2StMaC8/s1600/Detail%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3y9MGbtxQY/VFJj0CTLgrI/AAAAAAAADUY/u_Ef2StMaC8/s1600/Detail%2B1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a>5. <strong>Detail</strong>: Now is the time to fill in the outlines and to have a little fun with your look. I like to start abandoning the pencils and brushes and get into the artistic side of things by using fingertips to smooth and shape the contours of the design. Another technique is stippling which uses a stiff brush or textured sponge to make an uneven, coarse or dotted look (like five o’clock shadow or lumpy warts).</div>
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Have makeup removal wipes handy in case there are little missteps. Remember, under all the layers is your lovely skin, so any big booboos can always be carefully cleaned and recreated if necessary. For hairy, scary type makeups this is where creeping blood drips and big bruises come in. For fairy type makeups the eyelash applications and glitter dusting happen now.</div>
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6. <strong>Set</strong>: The last step to ensure enduring success is to apply a final coat of loose powder to set the entire makeup. Shake a bit of translucent powder onto a large powder brush and lightly apply this all over your face with a tapping motion. This last step will keep your crafter glow alive and keep you looking as fresh as if your ghoulish self just stepped from the grave.</div>
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Read it in the original <a href="http://juneauempire.com/art/2014-10-30/alaska-crafter-halloween-makeup-procraftinator#.VFJkoYt4pv0" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-10532432468482814092014-10-29T10:00:00.000-08:002014-10-29T10:01:36.807-08:00Knitting Up a Storm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.etsy.com/assets/js/etsy_mini_shop.js'></script><script type='text/javascript'>new Etsy.Mini(5183479,'thumbnail',5,4,0,'https://www.etsy.com');</script><br />
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New items up in the etsy shop!!</div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-54599710567237181512014-10-21T14:58:00.000-08:002014-10-21T15:00:07.081-08:00DAILY WALK INSPIRATION<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
FROM LAND<br />
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TO SEA<br />
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Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-35903913852553642042014-10-15T16:57:00.000-08:002014-10-15T16:59:18.519-08:00Hair-Beards, Halloween and Fame<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is a long-belated post about my foray into the world of fame via a beard and some beer.<br />
Just to start with a visual . . .</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">For halloween one year while working at the Alaskan Brewing Co., I came to work dressed as an old man complete with union suit, Elmer Fudd hat and a beard crafted from my own hair. I have to say the hair beard was a winning look and quite easy to put together. Tutorial to follow ;)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In comes <a href="http://craftbeer.com/">craftbeer.com</a> to the story - the crew at Craft Beer created a contest for the "Beards of the Brewing Industry", and I </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">was submitted (along with a few other locals) to rep Alaskan. In my bio I wrote </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-style: italic;"><span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;"> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #332929; line-height: 13px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><i>“I want to win to give hope to the scraggly, the patchy, the peach-fuzzed, the thin and under-bearded and the naturally beardless masses of the brewing industry!”</i>, b</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">ecause</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;"> who better than a woman in a union suit to do exactly that?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Well, did I win? </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">No, but I made it into the top 20 (out of 75) and repped in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/13/craft-beer-beards_n_2870379.html" target="_blank">the Huffington Post</a>. I also felt what it must be like to be a hipster, and I think I liked it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Moral of the story is that you never know where your crafty moments might lead. Might I have preferred my 15 minutes to be slightly less hairy and ridiculous? Nah.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;"><b>Now for that tutorial . . .</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Step 1: Tip your head forward slightly and part your hair down the middle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Step 2: At the nape of your neck grab about a 2" bundle of hair from either side and pull them down along your chin line. Attach them together ponytail style in front of your chin. This will look funny, believe me. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Step 3: Take the rest of the hair from either side of your face and wrap it under your chin, then tuck it up between your chin and the pony you created. The idea is that this hair spills out and covers the ponytail from view to create the "beard". If your hair is long enough you may want to wrap it around a couple of times to mask the ponytail hair.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Step 4: Take a few strands from either side by your cheeks and string them across your lips to create a "mustache". Pin them in place.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Enjoy your new hair-beard!</span></span></div>
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Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-5210677520580914802012-09-02T17:47:00.000-08:002012-09-02T17:47:23.866-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is what I should have been doing today!!! But instead I made this . . .</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SEGQ5AxtMWk/UEQKXz1XbaI/AAAAAAAACgE/VxMMjXAVhdk/s1600/TP+Designs_DIVAS+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SEGQ5AxtMWk/UEQKXz1XbaI/AAAAAAAACgE/VxMMjXAVhdk/s640/TP+Designs_DIVAS+ad.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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But the Cap'n and I are gearing up for scarf-wearing season with new knits, new designs, new hats and new prod! Check it out on instagram (tpalaska), <a href="http://pinterest.com/alaskacrafter/">pinterest</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tpalaska">etsy</a> : </div>
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use it #tpalaska, #tpgear #alaskacrafter</div>
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Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-83641958884957577382012-07-22T13:58:00.002-08:002012-07-22T13:59:25.865-08:00Sunday #Craftroom Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sometimes I want to be a fashion blogger. Except with crafts. But maybe with fashion too. </div>
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Except my fashion pics would all be "Shirt: Fred Meyer's (do you have that? it's a west coast thing kind of like a target but less hip and with more groceries), Pants: Naked Ladies Party, Ring: stolen from mom, Sweater: shopping trip in the real world 3 years ago" </div>
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Hahahah, that's true Alaskan Fashion!</div>
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Here you go, Crafshion blogging attempt 1:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/c6f4398ed44211e1974722000a1e8c8b_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/c6f4398ed44211e1974722000a1e8c8b_7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curtains: Target with adjustments, Mirror: Salvation Army Thrift Store, Dress Form: JoAnns, Desk: found on side of road, adapted by Cap'n, Tiny Hat: project I'm working on, Bills: mine I have yet to pay, Receipt bin: Fred Meyers ;)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/83b39b22d44411e19b0622000a1e8a4f_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/83b39b22d44411e19b0622000a1e8a4f_7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clothespins: stolen from my mom, Sewing Machine: Brother EX-660 from Costco (LOVE!), Filing Cabinet: "Vintage" from Alaskan Dames (Local Consignment Shop)- Cap'n still won't forgive me for getting it, Felt pile: gift from my favorite crafting buddy Lucy when she moved, Paper cutter: found on the side of the road with free sign</td></tr>
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So, how'd I do? :)</div>
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<br /></div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-6277070290069917532012-07-02T20:57:00.000-08:002012-07-02T21:10:09.381-08:00Limpets, Pinterest and Instagrid<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/f429109cbe4d11e1989612313815112c_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/f429109cbe4d11e1989612313815112c_7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limpets live in colonies? Who knew??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ok crafty people, if you're like me you're super obsessed with Pinterest (it's like porn for crafters!). Sorry, that is a tad raunch, but reality people, Pinterest is an ooey gooey craft fest with all the toppings!! You "pin" to these "boards" all the best images all over the net and soon you're lost in an abyss of handmade hunkiness.<br />
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And through no doing of my own, the ole AK Crafter here has been pinned a few times - eek! FUN! But in this ever changing world I've been having a hard time posting here (noticed much?). Between my new full-time gig at the <a href="http://www.alaskanbeer.com/home.html">Brewery</a>, the Cap'n and his antics, attempting to stay fit, and of course crafting up projects, I've found next to nil time for actually documenting my progress. FAIL! That's when my next love came into play . . . instagram.<br />
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Hello Instagram, you are beautiful and make all my pictures look weird and old-timey and for some reason that is totally addicting . . . almost in a creepy way. So today while I was drooling over Pinterest I thought, wouldn't it be radtastic (yes I made that word up) if I could take an Instagram pic and somehow it could be pinned magically on my Pinterest, but no, Instagram is only on my phone . . . or is it?! NOT ANYMORE!!!!<br />
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Boom, my <a href="http://instagrid.me/tpalaska/">Instagrid</a>. Now at the risk of letting the whole world know I love myself some Settlers with a Rita side . . .<br />
<a href="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/f96ca20e8c5111e180d51231380fcd7e_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/f96ca20e8c5111e180d51231380fcd7e_7.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Or that on occasion I wear oversized fake glasses and make duck faces (hey, at least I am wearing TP headgear!)<br />
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But, these are the kind of sacrifices I am willing to make so that the world can share in instant crafting!! Ok, ready? I'm going to test this . . .<br />
#1 - make awesome crafty thing, or just this once take picture of local friend's awesome art<br />
#2 - Instagram it<br />
#3 - Find it on Instagrid and grab url<br />
#4 - show you! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/d39cc01cc4c911e181bd12313817987b_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/d39cc01cc4c911e181bd12313817987b_7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't worry, he looks at everyone that way! Art by Alana Ballam-Schwan who co-owns <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Figment.ak">Figment Gallery</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>#5 - PIN IT! Wait, I have to post it first :) Also, you can try following me on Pinterest - I've put a link on the sidebar over there :)<br />
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</div><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskacrafter.com%2F2012%2F07%2Flimpets-pinterest-and-instagrid.html&media=http%3A%2F%2Fdistilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd39cc01cc4c911e181bd12313817987b_7.jpg&description=Local%20Alaskan%20Art" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal"><img border="0" src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It" /></a>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0Juneau, AK, USA58.3019444 -134.419722257.7680284 -135.6831497 58.835860399999994 -133.1562947tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-47263160664860055752012-03-02T10:08:00.000-09:002012-03-02T10:08:17.352-09:00Creating Rusalka, Opera-To-Go's Production Opens Sat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I wrote this about my most recent set design for Dvorak's Rusalka. The show opens this Saturday and runs for two weekends. Find out more info about tickets and such at operatogo.net and please come out and see the show!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKDWJ1DUzDs/T1EYDaGkkyI/AAAAAAAACe0/Yn_l58ACIdI/s1600/9.6+lake_moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKDWJ1DUzDs/T1EYDaGkkyI/AAAAAAAACe0/Yn_l58ACIdI/s640/9.6+lake_moon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rusalka's scale model was created using chipboard, foamcore, fabric and wire.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>“So it’s a Czech fairy tale, with a lake onstage, three acts, two scene changes, oh, also there will be puppets.” <br />
And with those words from William Todd Hunt, artistic director of Opera To Go, I was signed up for the set design of their latest operatic feat, “Rusalka,” which opens this Saturday evening at Thunder Mountain High School. <br />
Dvorak’s “Rusalka” toys with the same plotline as Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Little Mermaid,” so immediately my mind fluttered to dancing crab puppets, sparkly tridents in pools of water onstage and nasty purple witches leaking ink everywhere. Whoops, too many cartoons as research for me. But just like every craft project I tackle, when creating this set design I had a few basic tricks up my sleeve to keep me steered in the right direction (and away from dancing crabs).<br />
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<b>Begin with a Concept</b><br />
Besides a forest and lake onstage visually, the score for “Rusalka” resonates with magic and mournful moments of lost love and love forsaken. How do you make a lake mournful or trees forsaken? Well if you are director Emily Smith, you breathe life directly into them through otherworldy puppets. Puppets in an opera? Well, you know what comes with great risk . . . so, (spoiler alert) there are puppets in our production to create a world where trees dance (I knew something would dance!) and water is alive, literally. But still, how to make that lake onstage?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0adrDaKGc_U/T1EYrFRXBnI/AAAAAAAACe8/82KxzlqBSSI/s1600/1.3+4+Alphonse+Maria+Mucha+%2528Czech+Art+Nouveau+artist%252C+1860-1939%2529++Winter+Night+1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0adrDaKGc_U/T1EYrFRXBnI/AAAAAAAACe8/82KxzlqBSSI/s320/1.3+4+Alphonse+Maria+Mucha+%2528Czech+Art+Nouveau+artist%252C+1860-1939%2529++Winter+Night+1920.jpg" width="317" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NmFxAj7Bx44/T1EYztkEIYI/AAAAAAAACfE/yqDAHoKn9JA/s1600/8+hut+paint+research.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NmFxAj7Bx44/T1EYztkEIYI/AAAAAAAACfE/yqDAHoKn9JA/s320/8+hut+paint+research.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><br />
<b>Research (aka beg and borrow, just don’t steal)</b><br />
With any new craft it never hurts to peek at others’ work. Heck, thumbing through the Artists Gallery or Public Market can often get my creative juices rolling enough to strike gold. But gold would not be found in “The Little Mermaid” (as I do not have a budget for gold tridents), nor in real water onstage (Perseverance Theatre already rocked that), so instead we took to the Czech roots of Dvorak’s story to give both the costumes and scenery rich visual research to sift through like intricate fabrics, slatted wood huts, witches and nymphs. But still, what about that lake?<br />
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<b>Create a prototype</b><br />
As crafters, we know how to make a pattern for a hat or scarf -- first you start with a process of guesses and trial and error. But how many times can you fill a pool with water onstage and chalk it up to “trial and error” if it goes wrong. Not a good plan. So instead we take a page from our architect friends by creating a miniature model to exact scale (just like they do for a new building). Except of course we use cardboard, foamcore, illustration board, metal, wood and whatever is lying about the craft room. This is the stage when playing really begins. Like, what about a vertical lake made of fabric? Risky perhaps, or maybe just the right kind of risky for an opera with puppets?<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://juneauempire.com/art/2012-03-01/crafting-scenic-world">Click here for the jump . . .</a></span></i></div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-70858068246745421922011-12-22T09:41:00.000-09:002011-12-22T09:41:23.192-09:00News Trees and Snowflake Stars - 3 days till the big day!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's right! It's time for the yearly holiday crafts creation!! Here are a few links to years past:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alaskacrafter.com/2010/12/three-christmas-wreath-stories-to-craft.html">holiday wreaths</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alaskacrafter.com/2010/12/turn-winter-bills-into-holiday-thrills.html">winter windowflakes and gift card holders from envelopes</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alaskacrafter.com/2008/12/my-holiday-tree.html">holiday wall tree</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alaskacrafter.com/2009/12/get-your-glitter-fix-without-mess.html">ornaments and icicles</a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">News Trees are a simple bit of decoration you can do!</td></tr>
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</div>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.<br />
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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.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pattern for a news tree layer</td></tr>
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<b>NEWS TREES </b><br />
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Tools: A CCW, a dowel, tape, a foam base, extra decorating tools (like glitter). <br />
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. <br />
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. <br />
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.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.morris.com/images/juneauccw/mdControlled/cms/2011/12/21/931737689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://images.morris.com/images/juneauccw/mdControlled/cms/2011/12/21/931737689.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<b>SNOWFLAKE STARS </b> <br />
Tools: Square paper (you can use the CCW for this project too), scissors, glue or tape.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.morris.com/images/juneauccw/mdControlled/cms/2011/12/21/931741004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://images.morris.com/images/juneauccw/mdControlled/cms/2011/12/21/931741004.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><br />
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.<br />
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<a href="http://capitalcityweekly.com/stories/122111/ae_931736448.shtml"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>click here for the original article in full and completion to snowflake stars . . .</i></span></a></div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-6242702246390185052011-12-15T16:34:00.000-09:002011-12-15T16:34:10.487-09:00Seaside Yarns- a new knit shop and pattern!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Check out this new spot downtown and the pattern for this fabulous cozy cowl:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rb_9I0jYJRg/Tuqe7x-TnjI/AAAAAAAACeU/qBjI0sb-lA4/s1600/Seaside+Yarns_cowl+pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rb_9I0jYJRg/Tuqe7x-TnjI/AAAAAAAACeU/qBjI0sb-lA4/s640/Seaside+Yarns_cowl+pattern.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>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.<br />
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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.<br />
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“There are so many kinds of yarn out there,” she said. “One local yarn shop cannot have everything.”<br />
Seaside fills a spot alongside at least four local shops that carry yarn here in Juneau.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0U211Pw5rfE/Tuqe2oy-O4I/AAAAAAAACeE/TSdveXY7miY/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0U211Pw5rfE/Tuqe2oy-O4I/AAAAAAAACeE/TSdveXY7miY/s640/DSC_0005.JPG" width="424" /></a></div> 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).<br />
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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.<br />
Here Highfill shares a pattern for a perfectly giftable infinity cowl.<br />
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<strong>SEASIDE YARNS INFINITY COWL</strong><br />
<strong><i><a href="http://juneauempire.com/art/2011-12-15/seaside-yarns-newresource-crafters#.Tuqef0rh3WY" style="font-weight: normal;">Click here for the rest of the pattern and article . . . </a></i></strong><br />
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</div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-68384926975983888942011-12-06T14:13:00.001-09:002011-12-06T14:15:57.285-09:00Workin' the Runway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have been having too much fun all over this town with our TP gear!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fabulous Anna Hoke at <a href="http://www.seakliving.com/">Southeast Living Magazine</a> (see more shots at her website!)<br />
took some amazing shots at the "No Umbrellas" fashion show, and then I saw<br />
such lovely ways of wearing TPall over Gallery Walk in downtown Juneau. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you're wondering where you might still get some check out </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Figment Gallery downtown in the Senate Building or <a href="http://www.tpalaska.etsy.com/">www.tpalaska.etsy.com</a>!</div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.seakliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_7893.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="426" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shyla rocking a Lucy Cowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seakliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_7941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.seakliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_7941.jpg" width="488" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new Riding Hood looks cute up or down</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seakliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_7909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.seakliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_7909.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men need warmth too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seakliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_7927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.seakliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_7927.jpg" width="464" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This model even flew in from Washington to get her warm on!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-10178312808870796472011-11-30T07:55:00.000-09:002011-11-30T07:55:46.725-09:00Media blitz!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>First off, the Cap'n rocked the front page of the paper this Sunday - what was he doing you ask? Knitting!! AWESOME! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://juneauempire.com/local/2011-11-27/its-beginning-look-lot-shopping-season"><img border="0" src="http://jun-cdn.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/10702891.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Figment-Contemporary-Gallery-Gifts/186672791393096">Figment</a> (downtown in the Senate Building) tomorrow afternoon so make sure to swing by for <a href="http://jahc.org/">Gallery Walk</a>!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">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!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Love, the Cap'n and Tanna</div></div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-49663451124930049982011-11-23T09:45:00.000-09:002011-11-23T09:45:51.607-09:00Public Market is Coming!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">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!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1V9jL1779Ug/Ts07EshApjI/AAAAAAAACds/XcLnAKMlc3M/s1600/IMG_8543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1V9jL1779Ug/Ts07EshApjI/AAAAAAAACds/XcLnAKMlc3M/s640/IMG_8543.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's me sporting The Riding Hood</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AGVaZqYYso8/Ts07MlmcexI/AAAAAAAACd0/IJN-EW0YLJc/s1600/IMG_8492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="506" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AGVaZqYYso8/Ts07MlmcexI/AAAAAAAACd0/IJN-EW0YLJc/s640/IMG_8492.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Riding Hood (worn in shawl style)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2695X5gZGDc/Ts06x54RGsI/AAAAAAAACcs/jnvGI3792hM/s1600/IMG_8507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2695X5gZGDc/Ts06x54RGsI/AAAAAAAACcs/jnvGI3792hM/s640/IMG_8507.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rapunzel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7gxmyp7D7Ik/Ts06z-GjfiI/AAAAAAAACc0/_GhXjFcxxMQ/s1600/IMG_8520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7gxmyp7D7Ik/Ts06z-GjfiI/AAAAAAAACc0/_GhXjFcxxMQ/s640/IMG_8520.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Leyla (long infinity)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c06RoeHw7Hw/Ts07C-7qw_I/AAAAAAAACdk/25x6almu6i8/s1600/IMG_8526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c06RoeHw7Hw/Ts07C-7qw_I/AAAAAAAACdk/25x6almu6i8/s640/IMG_8526.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Leyla (long infinity) worn another way.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--bsMG2DUDC8/Ts061lz-3YI/AAAAAAAACc4/csTRhAE3IEk/s1600/IMG_8602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--bsMG2DUDC8/Ts061lz-3YI/AAAAAAAACc4/csTRhAE3IEk/s640/IMG_8602.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lucy (triple button big)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8lgnv-CN1rA/Ts063WItyYI/AAAAAAAACdE/iNxRo0zKAfk/s1600/IMG_8618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8lgnv-CN1rA/Ts063WItyYI/AAAAAAAACdE/iNxRo0zKAfk/s640/IMG_8618.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lucy (triple button big) worn another way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A1VVS4gDEng/Ts064c3HM4I/AAAAAAAACdM/Tm9PYo3vNls/s1600/IMG_8628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A1VVS4gDEng/Ts064c3HM4I/AAAAAAAACdM/Tm9PYo3vNls/s640/IMG_8628.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hipster Beanie and The Leyla Scarf</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qWQM9SyreIU/Ts066bqMTnI/AAAAAAAACdU/7wgK8-2UpWs/s1600/IMG_8638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qWQM9SyreIU/Ts066bqMTnI/AAAAAAAACdU/7wgK8-2UpWs/s640/IMG_8638.jpg" width="462" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Terry Beanie and The Lucy Cowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iuF3EEY_gw8/Ts07NVcPlkI/AAAAAAAACd8/QDuXQJSNS0c/s1600/IMG_8597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iuF3EEY_gw8/Ts07NVcPlkI/AAAAAAAACd8/QDuXQJSNS0c/s640/IMG_8597.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Captain sporting The Skipper Tube Scarf</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
A HUGE Thank you to all the fabulous models who helped with the shoot, and to <a href="http://seakliving.com/">Anna Hoke</a> who did the amazing photography!!<br />
</div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0Juneau, AK, USA58.3019444 -134.4197222000000257.7119959 -135.44106420000003 58.891892899999995 -133.39838020000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-59221283645394254512011-11-13T12:32:00.000-09:002011-11-13T12:32:26.267-09:00Fashion for Charity!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YNkWnxuLPVU/TsA1uX5HHwI/AAAAAAAACcc/vcKjkUdm6FA/s1600/No+Umbrellas_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YNkWnxuLPVU/TsA1uX5HHwI/AAAAAAAACcc/vcKjkUdm6FA/s1600/No+Umbrellas_web.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hello fabulous people - what are you doing this Thursday? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Coming out to see some Juneau fashion and supporting </div><div style="text-align: center;">Hospice and Home Care of Juneau? FANTASTIC!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Get your tickets at the usual haunts plus the Brewery and Depot as well!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
What do I have to do with any of this? I LOVE fashion </div><div style="text-align: center;">(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! </div><div style="text-align: center;">So much knitting and so many buttons, this is going to be fun!!! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now, as you prep yourself for fashion, fun, and fancy french cocktails think about this . . .</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Where is your runway?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">a dock, a beach, the pasta aisle at Freddies? I want to know where you </div><div style="text-align: center;">WORK YOUR RUNWAY!</div></div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0Juneau, AK, USA58.3019444 -134.4197222000000257.7119959 -135.44106420000003 58.891892899999995 -133.39838020000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-12678357882710166052011-10-14T10:02:00.000-08:002011-10-14T10:02:09.732-08:00Five crafts to keep you warm for winter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">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!<br />
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The Rookery re-opening with a brand new bar in the back - woot woot. 11/1/11<br />
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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<br />
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The most radically one-filled day ever 11/11/11<br />
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A Fashion show with proceeds going to charity, sponsored by the Brewery. 11/17/11<br />
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Public Market Madness with a booth by yours truly 11/Thanksgiving Weekend/11<br />
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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!<br />
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So it should be a rousing November to be sure!!<br />
<br />
<b>Meanwhile, keep yourself warm with some winter crafts on me!</b><br />
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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.<br />
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<b>Crochet yourself a cozy cap </b><br />
Get a head start by making yourself a cap for crafting. You'll need one crochet hook, a skein of yarn and a little math. Start with a medium-sized hook, like a J or K, and a worsted weight yarn. Start by teaching yourself one stitch; a single crochet or double crochet can be found online or at your local library with good illustrations.<br />
Start at the crown of the hat by crocheting three chains, then crochet your next stitch back into the first - you've created a very tiny circle. Now mark that stitch with a safety pin as the beginning of your circle or round. For each round you make after this, move the stitch marker along to mark the beginning.<br />
First time hat-makers have the inevitable problem of making a lovely freewheeling hat without marking their rounds, and in most cases the hat ends up with a few uneven lumps and bumps. Whatever pattern you choose make sure that you complete it for one full round and then you can switch to some other wild stitch in your repertoire. Believe me, in the end your round head will thank you.<br />
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<b>Tie yourself up in fleece </b><br />
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Once your head is under wraps, get the rest of your mojo cozy by creating an easy-for-anyone tied fleece lap blanket. <br />
Take two large squares of fleece (think blanket-sized), often sold as "panels" at the fabric store. Cut 1" wide strips that look like fringe about 4" deep all around both pieces. Place the two pieces with wrong sides together, and get to tying. This is a great project for the fisher or sailor in your life to show off their knot-tying skills.<br />
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<b>Warm the whole place with bread </b><br />
Now that you're enrobed in cozy wraps, it's time to get the whole house in on it, and nothing does that quite like a cozy oven. <br />
Throw together a quick bread, like banana bread made from older bananas sustained in the freezer, while adding walnuts and a bit of flax seed to pump up the nutritional value. Or warm yourself up by kneading your own loaf of homemade rising bread. Sourdough is delicious and with so many starters locally available you can keep both warmth and tradition alive. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.capitalcityweekly.com/stories/101211/ae_898642878.shtml">jump to the rest of the article at CCW here . . .</a></span><br />
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</div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-51449873827626211622011-09-05T20:35:00.000-08:002011-09-05T20:35:16.655-08:00Kodiak Coats and Steam Punk Funk together!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ibLlf200VHc/TmWiIzlVMFI/AAAAAAAACas/CZN2o5g3gGo/s1600/Jasmine+Allen+trys+on+some+new+wares.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ibLlf200VHc/TmWiIzlVMFI/AAAAAAAACas/CZN2o5g3gGo/s640/Jasmine+Allen+trys+on+some+new+wares.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jasmine Allen of Kodiak Coats tries out some new wares in the Kodiak Coat workroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="header"><span class="byline1"> By Tanna Peters | </span> For the Capital City Weekly</div><span class="byline2"></span><div class="bylines"> </div>JUNEAU - "My job is to make messes," says Bridget Milligan, the owner, designer and seamstress behind the Kodiak Coat Company.<br />
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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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iv7IKgFFfxg/TmWiKtS8iSI/AAAAAAAACaw/2PYoPeAYwig/s1600/sketches+of+custom+Kodiak+Coat+orders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iv7IKgFFfxg/TmWiKtS8iSI/AAAAAAAACaw/2PYoPeAYwig/s640/sketches+of+custom+Kodiak+Coat+orders.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The custom-designs board at Kodiak Coats shows that the company is ramping up for the busy season.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> "I'd rather play and make things, but my job is to make coats," she says, slightly wistfully. <br />
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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--gEbv6BVm64/TmWiDrHOqmI/AAAAAAAACao/tINiqt-zqxs/s1600/Angie+Lawlar+jewelry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--gEbv6BVm64/TmWiDrHOqmI/AAAAAAAACao/tINiqt-zqxs/s640/Angie+Lawlar+jewelry.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one of the vintage pieces from Angie Lawlar of Steampunkfunk.etsy.com</td></tr>
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<a href="http://capitalcityweekly.com/stories/083111/ae_879434860.shtml"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>click here to jump to the article in full . . . </i></span></a></div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-65971400687860172522011-08-24T10:48:00.001-08:002011-08-24T10:51:48.395-08:00All Married Now (but I still don't know my name)!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">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 . . .<br />
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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 (<a href="http://tannaandmichael.blogspot.com/">now everyone can take a peek!</a>) 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 . . .<br />
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</div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-35997802498285300192011-08-05T22:22:00.000-08:002011-08-05T22:22:09.652-08:00Cha cha cha Married Tomorrraaa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Yup - tomorrow<br />
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nails done check<br />
hair tomorrow check<br />
fake juneau tan double check<br />
what else is there<br />
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oh yeah . . . vows?<br />
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we'll write those right now :)<br />
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wish we could invite everyone everywhere!!!! why can't they invent the transporter for real . . . for cheap!?</div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-58321396732850459702011-08-01T15:58:00.002-08:002011-08-01T15:58:56.994-08:00New Name Poll<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">ACK- number one hardest decision for the wedding . . . my new name?!<br />
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Take the poll right now and tell me what's the best!!<br />
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Love love -tp</div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531786292636144166.post-40685842312577413512011-07-28T11:08:00.000-08:002011-07-28T11:08:04.884-08:009 Days Until . . .<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Well, where have I been? <br />
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Looking for a ring and getting a bit crafty for a big day that is almost upon me/us. <br />
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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.<br />
:)<br />
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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 . . .<br />
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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???</div>Alaska Crafterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461263014367765300noreply@blogger.com1Juneau, AK, USA58.3019444 -134.4197222000000257.7119959 -135.44106420000003 58.891892899999995 -133.39838020000002