Arm Knitting on a Plane - Quick Holiday Gifts

Yes, that's me arm knitting on a plane - it can be done!

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’? 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.

Arm Knit Scarf with Buttons

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.

Finger Weaving turned into a Looped Infinity Scarf 

Arm Knit Infinity Scarf with Buttons

Supplies: Three skeins chunky weight yarn, your two hands

Step 1: 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.

Step 2: 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.

Step 3: 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.

Step 4: Pull the first loop off your left hand with your right hand. Keep holding the working end in your left hand.

Step 5: 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.

Step 6: Reverse the process exactly onto your left arm. Continue until all except 2’ of yarn is knit.

Step 7: 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.

Step 8: Attach large buttons or weave the ends of the scarf together to make a loop.

Now wrap it up or wear it!

Finger Woven Looped Scarf

Supplies: One skein chunky weight yarn, your two hands

Step 1: 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.

Step 2: 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.

Step 3: Weave the yarn again as in Step 2.

Step 4: Bend your pinkie finger and pull the bottom loop up and over the finger. Repeat on each finger from left to right.

Step 5 & 6: 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.

Step 8: Loop this long cord several times and then neatly wrap and tuck the end to create a multi-layered looped scarf. Enjoy!

Halloween makeup for the procraftinator

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!

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 procraftination. 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.

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.

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.

Alaska Crafter’s 6 Steps to Makeup Success

1. Plan: 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.

Check out more after the jump

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:

holiday wreaths

winter windowflakes and gift card holders from envelopes

holiday wall tree

ornaments and icicles

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 . . .

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 . . .

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.

Kodiak Coats and Steam Punk Funk together!

Jasmine Allen of Kodiak Coats tries out some new wares in the Kodiak Coat workroom.

 By Tanna Peters | 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 . . .

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

R&R At Martina's Fabrics

Interior of Martina's Fabrics in Lemon Creek

SABLE: Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy (craft slang).

Is this you? Do you have endless piles of fabric swatches, yarn skeins, or bead bins? This is what’s known as a crafter’s stash, and chances are, if you know what a craft stash is, you’re bordering on a little SABLE yourself. Since spring has finally arrived (cross your fingers), it’s the perfect time to take inventory and do a little purging of whatever SABLE you’ve got piling up. Don’t let your crafter’s guilt take over by throwing out perfectly practical fabrics. Instead give yourself a spring gift by taking them to Martina’s Fabrics for a little stash R&R.

Fabric R&R, a win-win for all!

 Not quite a spa vacation for your fabric friends, but the new Recycle & Replenish program at Martina’s Fabric is Juneau’s first fabric stash consignment where you can buy and sell fabrics that are in desperate need of a new life. The program was conceived by shop-owner Martha Narino-Torres when a fellow quilter brought in her stash of felted wool that had been destined for a project that simply fizzled. After pondering what to do with a pile of wool in a cotton-fabric quilt-dominated store, Martha’s crafty daughter gave her the key; why not upcycle the pieces into blocks for beading? The idea blossomed from there. Simply drop your stash extras at Martina’s and pick up a few new-to-you pieces at the same time. Not only does the program help in harder financial times, but it’s also a source of inspiration.

Tools of the (Crafting) Trade

Years of unending desperate anticipation have led to this moment as I now embrace my new title: homeowner. Was it the excitement of a mortgage? Was I waiting with bated breath to mow my lawn and shovel my drive? Was the thought of painting every surface of my house a different color getting me giddy? OK, maybe a bit, but the truly exciting part of the moving process has been the acquisition of my very own ... craft room (did I just hear you squeal?). And now that I have it, I'm at a complete loss.

Craft rooms take years to perfect. They are based upon delicate organizational systems that teeter on the brink of brilliance and insanity. At any moment a drawer full of fabric might be pulled one inch too far, causing a mountainous paper avalanche and a Rube Goldberg-esque unforeseen chain of reactions. It may take me 30 years to create that delicate balance, but thankfully I have spent the last 30 years gathering all the crafting fodder to fill the room for when the day finally came. Consolidating the craft stashes from all over my apartment into one craft Mecca has helped me refine my tools of trade into a top ten list to share with you, in case you'd like to get to crafting in your own room in, say, less than 30 years.


My top ten tools (in no particular order) to craft with are as follows: 

3M Super 77 adhesive spray: This heavy-duty adhesive spray has the perfect level of tack for paper, cardboard, and even metal. Be forewarned that it stinks and sticks to everything (meaning I only spray outside), but when you want a clean, flat bond it's the best.

 X-Acto knife with #11 blades: For perfect cuts of paper, illustration board, foamcore and more, I use my X2000 with padded handle every time. To store discarded blades, keep an old coffee can handy by slitting a hole in the lid and popping them in (and away from kiddos).

The Art of Cutting In

No, not the art of cutting in line, because who isn't good at that?  My best attempt at a cleanly cut line of paint after getting wise tips from local painting pros.

Three weeks ago I made a huge commitment, which forced me to learn a few things about myself. That commitment? I bought a house. (More on that in coming posts). The lesson? I realized I have no idea how to paint.

This came as quite a shock considering I spent a good 10 years of my theater career lurking around the paint shop. Don't get me wrong, I can paint a faux wood grain all up and down. You want a marble entryway? From 15 feet (a.k.a., audience distance) I can make sheetrock look like a Grecian temple carved of stone, but paint the ceiling in my living room with White Dove? You've got to be kidding! There wasn't a lot of ceiling painting or precision accuracy in those 10 years.

Thankfully, while I had a decade in theater, other more industrious types had spent those years gathering valuable house painting skills. A couple of my friends, house painter Robert Araujo and former house painter Patrick Barry, roused me from my fear coma enough to teach me the art of cutting in.

Cutting in is the first step in the interior house painting process, and to my knowledge, the most difficult. As a theatrician I am a huge fan of blue painter's tape. If you want a clean edge, tape it! Well, try taping the ceiling, the floor, the windows, the outlets, the trim and the doggy door - in seven rooms. Instead of wasting all the time of taping, actual house painters use a precision technique called "cutting in," which basically amounts to free-handing it. Perhaps you had the same reaction as I did: yeah, right. But no, this is a tried-and-true method that leaves a lovely living room even from 5 fet away. How is it done? A lot of practice. Beyond that there are a few tips I gathered from my expert friends to share.

Tip 1: Caulk it!
Robert's number one helpful hint to get a clean line between windowsill and wall was a nice bead of caulk. By creating a smooth seam between the wall and window or trim, he was able to get a long clean line of paint, as well as seal any cool-air cracks. A double-win in my book.

Let's Believe Again in Valentine's Day!

Xtra Tuff Love brought to you by AlaskanDermish.etsy.com

 Ah, Valentine's Day. Every year, if I actually have a date, inevitably my wonder boy doesn't "believe" in the holiday. How can you not believe in a holiday? It's on every calendar out there! But my conspiracy theorist exes would have you convinced that the card folders are in cahoots with the chocolate dippers who in turn scratch the backs of the jewelry setters who are definitely in bed with the flower de-thorners who, of course, all own the calendar cutters.

And this maze of deception has one end, to get their precious money that they otherwise would be spending on a 60-inch flatscreen with surround sound. So this year there will be no more excuses. Let me help you put the craft back in Valencraftines Day and believe once again in a holiday free of commercialism.

When NOT To Craft

Sometimes pork chops really are just meant for eating.

Once I made a pork chop ... out of felt. Yes, I made a plushy pork chop. The kind of plush a tiny girl might carry on all her journeys and cuddle with at night and brush its hair, except it had no hair because it was a pork chop. I proudly took my pork chop to my crafty co-workers and with gleaming eyes announced, "Look what I made!" Their wan smiles and feeble encouragements were all dashed when the next three words were spoken: "What is it?"

"What is it!" I cried in disgust. "It is a pork chop, of course! A witty, irreverent, plushy pork chop made of pink and brown felt that has been 'stuffed'" - I used air quotes - "get it? Stuffed!"

This did not help them "get it." I tried another avenue. "Well, it's a man thing. Boyfriend will think it's hilarious!" Sure boyfriend liked pork chops, to eat. My gift was sweetly rejected with, "Oh, you hold on to it for me honey." That day I met face to face with the realization that some days you have to know when not to craft.

Handmade Nation and Faythe Levine Come to Juneau!!

"Handmade Nation" a documentary about craft is brought to Juneau Jan. 26 by the Alaska Design Forum

In the world of artistic pursuits, “craft” often takes a backseat to its seemingly more prestigious cousin “design.” A crafter is seen as maker, following the steps of previous artisans where the pursuit is to replicate and recreate with precision, whereas the designer is the master of the invention, with an end goal of creating the new and never-before-seen. So it is apropos that the Alaska Design Forum has chosen to celebrate the new and inventive in the craft world with its upcoming showing of “Handmade Nation,” a documentary that follows the youthful, feminist, punk and rebellious side to the DIY craft movement.

Photos courtesy of Faythe Levine

As a featured speaker for ADF’s 2010/2011 Un/Common lecture series, author, director, boutique owner and crafts artist Faythe Levine will share her film “Handmade Nation” (released in book form in 2008), and speak about her travels across the country connecting with indie crafters, artists and designers.

10 Big Projects from '10

I'm a big fan of reflection over resolution in a New Year. I mean, I make resolutions practically every day to be smarter, play more and craft more, so I take once a year to look back instead of forward. I'm hoping somehow the two will balance and I will embrace living in the now. So, here are ten of my craftiest projects from 2010 to reflect upon (and possibly resolve to never do again!):

 1. Working out while you craft. 

I'm a huge multi-tasker, so Craftercize just felt natural. And it could work, as long as you bring the gym to your craft room, not the craft room to your gym.

2. Applying mustaches to glasses.  (click here for the tutorial I made)

Why do glasses need mustaches? Because they are funny. Making mustached glasses for last year's holiday gifts was a great idea, until this year we found out they all washed off in the dishwasher! You can't win them all!

Turn Winter Bills into Holiday Thrills

The Cap'n and I want to thank everyone for their well wishes and for voting- so far it seems like Juneau may be winning, but I have a secret sneaky feeling that a tropical destination could still pull ahead!  Anyhow, keep voting, and we'll let you know what really develops.  

In the meantime here are a couple of projects I've posted a bit about before, but now you can have a more in-depth look at getting rid of dreaded bills by crafting them out of your life!!

With the holidays ramping up and the temperatures dropping off, the bills are bound to begin piling up around your house.  To defeat those winter bills blues think outside the box by using the bills themselves (ok, their fabulous textured envelopes) to spread some holiday cheer!  Here are two projects to take you from down and out to in the holiday spirit.

Winter Windowflakes

The interior patterns of security envelopes abound with perfect patterns for snowflake-style décor.  

Step 1: Gather a few of the white and blue interiors of envelopes, a circle punch, floss, and some small white circle stickers (the kind you use for pricing items at garage sales).

Three Christmas Wreath Stories to Craft By

This is the story of one night, three wreaths and two crafters . . .

  One magical evening a few weeks before Christmas I sat down to decorate my apartment in holiday style. With snow sprinkling beyond the twinkly lighted windows, I armed myself with three foam rings (thanks to the local craft store), some hot glue (and hot cocoa) and supplies scrounged from the depths of the craft closet, and got to work. With only one evening to get the décor done I needed to whip out three wreaths within record time to get the holiday spirit flowing.

 The first wreath started off in a blur of red and green yarn. Taking one strand of dark green and one strand of light I made a knot and pinned it into the foam wreath using a straight pin. Quick as a bunny, I began to wrap and wrap and wrap the strands around the wreath base. As I wrapped, the strands twisted together to make a mess. I wrapped and untwisted and wrapped and untwisted as I went. Suddenly, I looked down and noticed the wrapping had completely covered the base! I tied the ends around and left a long tail hang it by. The wreath was fully covered, but something inside me was unsettled. Where were the red berries on this green wreath? Where was the green leaf to the red berries on the green wreath? I sighed. But then it hit me, wrapping red yarn into red balls could easily make berries, and I could crochet a small green leaf in minutes.

My Top Five Knit-Quick Tips

The roomies knitting madly on their scarves before the snow strikes!

It's the perfect time of year to pick up those pointy needles and stick them in a skein of wooly, nubbly, cozy yarn. In the past week I've helped teach two new knitters the magical ways of weaving, bringing the total of knitters in my house to four. From youth to wizened ages, knitting is a pastime that appeals to, and warms, our hearts, necks and heads. So if you are a newbie to this historic method of cloth-making, then here are my top five tips to get started quick and get warm faster.

1. It's All About Tension
As a first-timer one of the hardest things to grasp is to relieve the tension. Tendencies towards super-tight knits make it difficult to insert your needle in the correct spot, and too-loose knits make it impossible to bring the loop through as it will just fall off midway. So watch the tension by practicing and keeping it consistent to be a better knitter.

2. Keep Your Fingers in Place
There are a couple of ways to knit - continental style (where you hold the yarn in your left hand) and English style (where you hold the yarn in your right). Either way you play it's important to keep an eye on your fingers. To help keep the tension consistent when I'm English knitting I wrap the yarn end around my pinky. That way the yarn slides through your hand while maintaining tension with a quick squeeze of the pinky and ring fingers.