caffaknitted

Threadless Part 1

As part of the Threadless contest rules, we're supposed to document the entire creative process.  My creative process started today, when I braved the Black Friday crowds for discounted yarn.  There's nothing like venturing out into Michael's Arts & Crafts on the day after Thanksgiving to remind me that there are far too many humans in this world. Fortunately, it didn't take me long to settle upon Impeccable worsted weight acrylic yarn.  I normally avoid acrylic yarn like the plague, but this brand has a nice feel to it, a great choice of colors, and an even better price.  Picking the colors was relatively easy,as I've decided to interpret the design fairly literally. 

But enough of all this!  Between shopping crowds and writing this post, I'm losing valuable knitting time!  To the needles...

 

♥ Hand Turkeys ♥

A good friend and I were recently discussing our mutual love of hand turkeys.  While at home today with whole family, I came across this amazing drawing my brother did of turkeys in the city.  Not bad for a 29 year-old, right?  I bet you'd never guess he was a rocket scientist.  I'm only kidding, Wesley was slightly younger when he created this masterpiece.  He won a contest.  I recall being terribly envious, as I was already quite possessive of my role as the family artist.  But he turned out to be an artistic one-hit wonder. Too bad they don't give out fancy blue ribbons for building rockets.  The drawing is extra appropriate for this week.  Not only is it Thanksgiving, but in a few days, my brother will be accompanying me to New York for the Luvable Hugable opening.  We'll be a couple of turkeys in the city.

I hope everyone is having a lovely Thanksgiving.  I know I am.

ps...My brother suggested I title this post "Skanksgiving", but I declined.

 

Katie's Spectacularly Magical 100th Post Giveaway

It's my 100th post!  I haven't held a contest here in a while, mostly because I've been so incredibly busy and scatterbrained.  But I'd like to do one now!  Let's keep this as simple as possible, shall we?  Here's the deal....leave a comment, any comment at all, then I'll use a fancy random number generator to pick the winner.  I'll mail you something.  I'm not sure what yet.  It could be something I made, or it could be a rock, or half a bar of soap from my bathroom sink.  Does it really matter?  Who doesn't love getting surprises in the mail?  

In other crafty news, I've decided upon my next project.  Threadless is holding a contest for crocheters and knitters.  You can pick from any of their tshirt designs, and knit or crochet your own interpretation.  They promise really cool prizes (including cash!).  Seeing as how I love interpreting all sorts of random things into knit form...and I'm in serious need of cash...I'm pretty sure I'm destined to participate. Here is the design I'm thinking of using.  It reminds me of my daughter...

 

Check back to see how this progresses...

Hope to see you there!

Now if I can just finish the work......

Coming to gallery hanahou in December! 

Luv-able and Hug-able 

New 2009 theme: medium and mini!

December 3 - January 9

Opening party: Dec 3, 6-9 pm RSVP info@galleryhanahou.com

gallery hanahou / 611 Broadway, Suite 730, NYC / galleryhanahou.com

extended holiday hours Mon-Sat: 12 - 6 pm

The popular NY holiday plush show is returning to gallery hanahou with oodles of handmade plushes for you and yours! Spread warm holiday cheer with adorable, strange, and funny unique plush toys made by more than 50 top plush artists from around the world. 

The plushes will be even cuter and more affordable at this year's 3rd annual "Luv-able and Hug-able," with the special theme of "Medium and Mini!": toys that are either just the right size for hugging or small enough to fit in your pocket, swing from a keychain, or be worn on a pin.  

Many favorite artists from the past two years are returning with cuter-than-ever plushes, and gallery hanahou is thrilled to present plushes from a bunch of hug-able new artists too! As in previous years, the gallery will also exhibit plushes by Japanese artists whose original works are rarely available in the US - this year, that also includes designer toy giants Devil Robots and noriya takeyama! 

Plushes will be available for immediate take-home, so come early to the December 3rd opening to nab your favorites! Items in the show will also be available online via galleryhanahou.com starting the week following the opening.  

For more information and images: press@cwc-i.com

Returning Artists:

Anna Chambers

Anna Hrachovec

Betz White

Blythe Church

CHiCHiTOHTOH

Christina Gordon, Jam Fancy

Corinne Dean

Eloole

Flying Star Toys by Florence Forrest

Heide Murray

Heidi Kenney

Helle Jorgensen

Hello, Brute

I Heart Guts 

Jenny Harada

Kate Savage of girlsavage

Katie Park

Kup Kup Land by Joaquima Casas Bo

Lexi Knott, Orangefishy Plush

littleoddforest by Lynda Lye

Michael Bartalos

Michiru (Babydow)

Moxie

Ossu! Shugeibu

Risa Tanikawa

Robyn Fabsits

Saki Yamashita

Sayaka Imai

Yuriko Sera

Yuko Hara

New Artists:

APAK

Beetlegirl Design

Denise Ferguson of Yummy Pancake

Devil Robots

Diane Koss - Cutesy but not Cutesy

Eerika Valkonen

Elisabeth Doherty

Hiné Mizushima

Jen & Brian Gubicza (Zooguu)

Keighty Crochet

Kit Lane

Lisa Bunting Thoms, q.D.oaToOtieS

Marcy Jung Bridges

Melissa Sue Stanley

Ninon

noriya takeyama

Plush Goodness

Pock-it Palz

Robot a Day

Sanda Monat of herzensart

Sara White (a little sprout)

Scrumptious Delight

Happy Halloween!!

Beware the giant squid!  My costume is finished and ready to go!

In print

The incredibly kind folks at WNC magazine did an article on me, and you can find it here.

Also, I'm pretty darn excited about my Halloween costume this year!  Check back on Saturday for a peek!

Current Events

There are a lot of new things going on, so I thought I'd write a rare post about my non-art life.  I haven't done this in a while.  

The biggest news is that I've found a new job.  I'll be working as the full time baker/ kitchen manager for Parr Foods, which makes delicious granola bars and trail mixes from scratch. On the flip side, this means I'll finally be leaving my beloved coffee shop forever, after nearly 10 years. A few months ago, my husband and I split up.  He'll be taking the reigns.  The shop is full of bittersweet memories for me.  I can't begin to express how much I will miss it.  My heart is broken...but it's time to begin a new chapter.

I'm a little concerned that my new schedule will mean less time for knitting.  I think I'm just going to have to get better about managing my time.  I have the show in NYC to finish pieces for, and I'd love to publish a new pattern or two in time for Christmas gift knitters.

But now I'm off to work on my Halloween costume!  I'll give you one hint.....

New Design

I gave the blog a makeover!  I've been feeling a bit blue lately, hence the color.  If you can't see the new design, try emptying your cache.  It only took me about an hour to figure that out....

And finally the rest...

It's been a busy couple of weeks.  Two weeks ago was of course, High In Fiber, my show at the nth with Lindsey Cero.  Last weekend, I traveled to Seattle for Plush You 2009!  It was loads of fun.  I met some very cool people, and had a blast exploring Seattle with my brother.  Now it's on to the countdown to NYC, and the 2009 Luvable Hugable.  I only have 1 month left, and so much work to do!  

As promised, here are a few more pictures of my work from the nth show...

High in Fiber

We're about a week from opening night! Lindsey's work looks so amazing!  I'm really excited about the show.  Here's a quick sneek peek at a couple more things I've been working on...

Based on a dream I had.

And this is part of a series.  UiJin and I used to do a lot of bird watching together.  And that's all I'll say about it...

Look for more new work soon!  I'll be a very busy girl this weekend.