paperandglue.net

This week I finally buckled down and started to teach myself to crochet. Now, I’ve crocheted for years, but only on an intuitive level — I didn’t know many stitches and I couldn’t read patterns. The siren call of the granny square was too much to resist. My pledge to refrain from purchasing new craft supplies this year and work through my stashes instead has propelled me in the direction of the ultimate stash-buster.

Above is a photo of some of my early progress. Given the limited size of the granny square, I decided it was wasn’t worth the effort to frog the early products, and thus I can illustrate my progress. Misshapes are quite c

My pal Mama Cutsworth is a DJ who also has crafty tendencies. “Drop the Needle” is a name she hatched years ago, but now she’s got the event to go with the moniker — a monthly series of music + craft nights at the Lo Pub!

This is the second installment. Unfortunately, I was out of town for the first (though, to be fair, so was Mama C — it was a very last-minute thing she threw together before taking off for NYC for a holiday), but we’re both back in full action for Drop the Needle: the Book-Binding Badge.

Chantale Maynard will drop the book-binding knowledge; I will curate a special set of craft-related music.

Here are the details per Mama C:

Drop the Needle is Winnipeg’s new monthly crafting and DJ party at the Lo Pub!!!!!

This month, learn how to make hand-bound books with paper, needles and thread with artist Chantale Maynard while Mama Cutsworth plays the night’s soundtrack! We’ll have a curated music set with Jenny from CKUW’s The Book of Right-On at 7:30!

We kick off each party around 7pm and feature a mini workshop with a local artist between 8 and 9. Live DJing begins a bit later, dancing and prizes topping off the night!

Bring your friends and your own projects to work on too – any form of handicraft is welcome! Embroidery! Collage! Puppet making! We’ll have desk lamps on most tables to light your crafting. For this workshop, we will provide some materials, but we will send out a note to all attending soon regarding materials.

SUNDAY, February 21st
Lo Pub, 330 Kennedy street
Doors are at 7, the workshop begins shortly after.
Admission is 5 dollars.

Drop The Needle is brought to you by Mama Cutsworth, Kerri-Lynn Reeves, Sew Dandee, MAWA, Kustom Kulture and UMFM 101.5

If you have a business that is interested in sponsoring future Drop The Needles or have a crafty prize to donate, contact sarah at mamacutsworth.com

>>> Facebook event

>>>mamacutsworth.com

>>>thebookofrighton.com

I don’t know about you, but in my family, much of the holidays is spent sitting around, before and after meals. Yeah, I know we should be tobogganing or cross-country skiing or something HEALTHY but we DON’T DO THAT, OK?

Anyway, I may be sitting, but I’m not idle. I like to have a little something handwork-wise on the go in between rounds of turkey, trifle and Apples to Apples. On Christmas Day, I pulled a ball of blue yarn (Vanna’s Choice, come to think of it) out of my bag and started knitting. I ended up with this bunny. The ears took a few tries, but overall I’m happy with Blue Bun Bun. I think I’ll make another and draft a pattern while I’m at it. (It’s knit in th round on DPNs, naturally. Like I’m going to put unnecessary seams to sew in a pattern of my own making.)

Krissy of PonyBoy Press is just the best for many reasons, but I’m going to be specific about one: she has some really great ideas.

Krissy writes:

Every year I make a list of the people I am buying gifts for and I make a list of people I am sending Christmas cards to. Sometimes I record how much I have spent on people and sometimes I keep a record of Christmas cards I have received too. I also use the journal for any other Christmas lists including things I need to do, craft ideas for gifts, Christmas mix tapes, ideas for next Christmas and whatever else comes up.

Each year when I take it out I look through the previous years. I moved to Portland in June of 2000 and this journal starts that December. It is neat to see what I got people in the past. Most of those gifts I would have long forgotten, but I can be reminded each time I look through the journal. It is also neat to see the crafts I made or considered making.

I am definitely going to start one of these this year! When I’m picking a notebook/album for my purposes, I think I’ll make sure there’s space for saving some extra-special Christmas cards as well as space for making lots of lists. LISTS!

I feel fortunate that my family and social circle is not one where gift giving is laden with obligations and expectations. When it comes to my immediate family, my problem is that I have to rein myself in from buying too many gifts (I love getting gifts for people I love!). I always take joy in picking up small items to give as unexpected gifts to dear ones. Sunday’s craft sale provided plenty of inspiration in this regard.

My gift list is such that I only have a few people I’m “obligated” to buy for; the rest I can do as the spirit moves me (which, of course, it often does). I’m looking forward to recording all of this in my new Christmas journal!

Beforehand, I wondered if the below-normal temperatures would put any sort of damper on this year’s This Ain’t Your Grandma’s Craft Sale. I should have known the answer to that question. The answer is no. There were 500 people through the doors… in the first hour alone! And everyone’s $2 admission fee went to Art City. Win!

I have prepared this image for you. Click to see a larger version.

TAYGCS is held each year in the Park Theatre — an old movie theatre transformed into a concert venue, coffee shop and movie rental place. In between some of the rows of seats there are tables (back in the day when you could set your snacks on a flat surface in front of you rather than balancing them on your knees!), and vendors set up their wares there as well as on tables brought in for the occasion.

Last year was my first year at TAYGCS, and I made the mistake of thinking I could run my table alone. This year I brought help, and good thing, because it was even busier than last year! Also, having a helper meant I could browse the other vendors more. I bought a couple of gifts, but of course I indulged in items for myself, including this:

Manatee stuffie by marathon1981

I love manatees (they are so fat!), and Kami sold me a sweet ornament (actually, her husband Mike did).

Adding to the festive and fun atmosphere: Wanda June’s clutch of little girls, who would appear from beneath the rack displaying her wonderful handmade clothing. Also, Grumble Toy’s adorability was in full effect even with the absence of Ainsley, one half of its two person creative team. Still, Chris was there with his big smile and fantastic plush as well as his Japan-made, self-designed, hand-painted plastic toys!

Grumble Toy plush

Speaking of plush, a thrilling new discovery for me at this year’s sale was Jill Zurzolo. A maker of bags and handmade buttons (right up my alley, obvs!) she has recently ventured into doll-making, and the results are nothing short of wonderful.

Drew Bear by Jill Zurzolo

As I write this now, I’m kind of regretting not buying one of these rice-bag weighted dolls. She also makes girl-shaped and rabbit-shaped ones!

Last year’s sale was such a success, I couldn’t imagine anything topping it, but Roy, Dallas and Kylie continued the tradition with force, curating a diverse and fantastic combination of crafters. No wonder people flock to this sale — it’s solid gold in terms of content, and you’re guaranteed no sellers of Norwex or gourmet dips. (Don’t get me wrong: I love Norwex and dips are delicious, but they don’t belong at a “craft” sale.)

To go with the mittens, a hat — a slouchy beret. I searched the internet for an appropriate pattern and came across the Gwen Slouchy Beret by Lauren Nell. The lace pattern was simple enough to appeal to me (I wasn’t in the mood for anything complicated) and I surmised that the pattern would translate well to vintage acrylic yarn, which is what I used, instead of the fancy-ass bamboo blend the designer used.  I’m pleased with the result! I made it nice and big to accommodate my big head and possibly bigger hair.

I’m trying to deplete my yarn stash, but I think I’ll venture to the yarn store for some inspiring (and natural-fiber) yarn to make a new scarf. I’m thinking chunky, variegated yarns, possibly using more than two kinds in the same project, a triangle-shaped wrap scarf.

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