Resolution time ...

It's hard to ignore the urge to start anew each January, eh? Here's my list of things I'd like to do more of or do better at in 2010. I'm not gonna be shy about it. And I hope I will find a good place to tuck this list away where I can check up on myself periodically. Change is good.

1. travel to CA or NYC (better yet, both)

2. more dance parties with Lotus (to music that's not on Nick Jr. or Playhouse Disney)

3. take a break from the internet for (at least) one weekend every month

4. hone my bento skills

5. spend an entire afternoon taking photos of my fave places in our city

6. knit at least one sweater for myself and one for Lotus (and a beard hat for Bo)

7. find five new meals that our whole family would like to eat

8. watch less tv

9. make pancakes in fun shapes

10. visit the Des Moines Art Center + Science Center more often

11. tackle potty-training, once and for all

12. get good enough at crochet to make Lo a throw for her bed

13. make at least one quilt

14. tame my google reader subscription list

15. get on the treadmill + take more walks

16. organize the office/craft room

17. leave anonymous notes/drawings in public places around town

18. dress more adventurously

19. give more

20. love more


Sooooo ... what's on your list?

so this is Christmas ...

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

What a Load of Craft recap + hanging with Leslie Hall

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

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

Craft talk ...

craft talk ...

work through the pain, work it through the pain.

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

And my lovely Erin (StellaJames.)

And lots and lots of other super fun vendors.

Forty, to be exact.

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

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

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

And Killed by Death.

And the Craft Death Match did not disappoint!

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

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

I got some new tags for my hand-knits.

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

And even yarn ball ornaments.

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

knitting resolutions

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

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


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


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


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


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


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


But then there's Amber...


and a garter stitch cardi for Lo ...


and this Braided Cowl...


and Noro Fingerless Mitts...


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

Journal Your Christmas

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

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

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

can't stop won't stop ...

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

what a load of ...

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

Schedule of events:

11:00 am – Doors open to public

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

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

7:00 pm – See ya' next year!

that's cool ...

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

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

1canoe2's 2010 Letterpress Calendar

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

wood coasters (from my pals at urban posture)

Barcelona Chair Notes (set of 6)

Big Love Ring – Winter Colors (love the gray)

sun, cloud sky necklace

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

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

what's on your cool list?