chosen

man, the etsy love has been flowing! last week the brilliant sabrina of super-cool indie art/craft zine knit knit was a guest curator on The Storque, and she chose one of my hats in her selection of favorite items. thanks! she has great taste, and she also picked on of callieco's rad pouches.

in related news, today i made my 75th sale! yippee!

the cat on the mat

since i did two projects for gertie for pets month over at CS, i thought i should make something for trissy, my new step-cat. i decided she could use a nice little mat to lie on, while protecting the furniture from fur and claws. piecing the squares was fun and i like how it turned out, and more importantly, so does triss!

double front page!

wow! apparently i was on the front page of etsy two days in a row! yesterday one of my coral cloches was on, and today the treasury with the dog sweater (that i mentioned on wednesday) was on. i would never have known about either one if it weren't for a kind commenter, so if you ever see anyone you know on the front page, do let them know! and for all you sellers, if you ever hear a rumor that you WERE on it, did you know that there's a flickr group that documents every front page? i have no idea how they do this, but i sure am glad they do.

my pet projects

it's pets month over at craftstylish! so far i've done tutorials for recycled dog sweater and crochet pet bed projects, and i've got one for kitties in the works for next week. and even though last month was the 'green crafting' theme, both of these happen to be *upcycled* so they don't cost anything to make. i just love using up materials that i already have on hand!

love from a stranger

one of my dog sweaters has been included in a treasury! the title is Love to a Stranger: with people we don't know yet! it will expire on valentine's day so take a peek before it vanishes. i like the really cozy, homey feel of the grouping. it was curated by branda, who makes lovely knitted items in argentina. thanks branda!

six warm ears

this past fall, i got an etsy conversation from the super cool kelty of satchel studio. she was interested in one of my earwarmers, and wanted to custom order one each for herself, her twin sister, and her mom for christmas. how fun! kelty knew exactly the colors she wanted and was a pleasure to work with. i made them up and sent them off, with a request for pics if she felt like it. i usually request that people send me a photo of the item in action if they should happen to take one, but rarely do i get any (with the exception of dog sweaters! everyone loves to photograph and show off their dog!) so imagine my thrilled surprise when, on christmas day, i got an e-mail containing the above photos. [yes, i know it's now february and i'm just getting around to posting this.] don't they look great? what a gorgeous family! the photos were taken by her boyfriend, who i imagine must be a photographer because these are fantastic. thanks again kelty!

i am always happy to take custom orders for items that relate to other pieces i've made, in other colors, sizes, or style variations. so don't hesitate to ask if you are interested in something that's not quite right for you...

crochet genius: helle jorgenson

i am long overdue in posting another crochet genius. way back in december i posed my five questions to the incredible helle jorgenson, whose crochet coral and barnacles could easily pass for real. she is an artist who has shown work all over the world and she is extremely inspiring. most of her pieces are made from recycled plastic bags or 'pre-loved' tapestry wool she finds at thrift stores. helle's gorgeous jewelry and art pieces can be purchased in her shop, gooseflesh, and you might also want to take a look at her embroidery and drawings. and if you want to crochet with plastic bags, she'll show you how!

1. how and when did you learn to crochet?

My paternal grandmother (Agnes Jorgensen) taught me when I was a little girl. During the last five years I have expanded my crochet knowledge by reading mostly vintage crochet books and patterns. Books from the 60's and 70's especially are fun............ it was a time when crochet design was wild and free. My favourite book is Crochet Workshop, by James Walters (which I bought for $2 in my local Op-shop). It's full of "groovy" photos and garments. This book teaches the complex fundamentals of crochet.

2. what is your favorite stitch?

The bullion stitch....... it's beautiful and lends itself to making ocean-related creatures, e.g. barnacles and sea-squirts, or Cunjevoi, as the Australian Aborigines call them. It's also makes a graceful crochet finger dance.

3. what do you love about crochet?

Its sculptural potential. Its mathematical quality. The freedom of movement provided by using one hook; it enables one to push the limits whilst experimenting. The rhythm of the hand movements (crochet finger dance) and the meditative quality of the repetition. Sometimes I find myself breathing in rhythm with the crochet movements. It also connects me to generations of crocheting women around the world.

4. do you have any special/favorite materials or tools that you crochet with?

At the moment, I'm using yarn made from discarded plastic bags to make sea creatures. The process of experimenting with unusual yarns made from recycled materials is one of my favorite things to do.

5. any interesting plans, projects, or new directions in your crochet future?

I plan to continue to push the boundaries of crochet by experimenting with materials, abstraction, scale and colour. Collecting is a big part of my practise......... I'd like to include found objects in my work and crochet whole collections. The possibilities are endless.

thanks helle!