suite.living

Moving Soon

2009-11-19T11:22:00.000-09:00

Hi all!!! I swear I am crafting . . . crafting up a better blog that is!

Oh, and of course getting ready for the Public Market (woohoo!) and making more baby things for people, and thinking of holiday gifts, and preparing my lists for turkey-day ingredients I need.

So, as I work towards the new place at www.alaskacrafter.com I would LOVE you all to help me improve it. Right now it is getting there, but it still has a way to go. Let me know if you like/dislike/couldn't care less and if things aren't properly loading or any of that jazz.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, in advance.

Love and crafts!

Baby Shower Pennant Tutorial

2009-11-09T09:44:00.002-09:00

not only have i just been crowned a new Auntie (see last post- whale pattern tutorial), but i have tons of friends who are currently preggers right now- what fun!!!!

one lovely lady was celebrated over the weekend with a fabulous baby shower. i got down to crafty business in the decor department. the colors for the bash were zesty orange and lime so not only did we decorate with fruit (you use what you can up here in Alaska!) but i whipped together a cute pennant that works both as decor at the party, and gift to decorate the baby's new room. and just for you i've whipped up a tutorial to go along!

Funsy Pennant Tutorial

Materials Needed:
- various scraps of fabric
- scissors
- bias tape
- sewing machine
- cardboard (to make pattern)

mark out and cut a triangle on your cardboard (I like to save and use the inserts in fat quarters)

fold your fabric with wrong sides together and cut triangles along fold (so the pennant will be double sided)

make a whole bunch of yummy triangles in within your color scheme range - don't ask why i happened to have tons of orange and green fabric . . .

grab some matching bias tape - this tape i purchased at the thrift store. it is soooo old, I love it!!! It actually had the original price, 15 cents, stamped on the back. I only bought it for 25 cents! What a steal!

Wrap bias tape around folded top of triangles and sew in place- feed and attach next triangle after first. Continue in this way to finish entire string.

now hang it up and see how fantastically fun it is!! look, you can even use this to decorate your craft room!!

A Whale for Baby Pattern

2009-11-06T11:07:00.001-09:00

I wrote this week's article on crafting for baby's because my lovely sis just had her first. We were there when the tyke was just 3 days old and got to love his tiny self!!

And then, of course, we inserted him into our carved pumpkin because even at five days old the boy is CRAFTY!

I brought the new nephew a little gift of a stuffed whale, which was just right for his little hands. It was great fun coming up with this pattern, because of course Cap'n wanted a whale too! So here it is (it's also in the article if you want to check it out there). Please give me feedback on the pattern for improvement!!

A Whale for Baby Pattern

Supplies: Blue top fabric, fun belly fabric, matching thread, scissors, baby-safe stuffing, needle, whale pattern (print out image above- scale to size you like!)

1. Cut your contrasting whale fabrics - Two top pieces of blue and one belly piece of a fun fabric.
2. Pin the belly pieces to the body, right sides together starting at the tail and heading toward the nose.
3. Using a ¼" seam allowance, sew the 2 body pieces to the belly using a straight stitch from dot to dot (nose to tail).
4. Sew the two body pieces up the back with a straight stitch, leaving open the space for turning the whale.
5. Turn whale right side out and stuff.
6. Sew whale closed with a slip stitch. (Optional) Pull thread through whale and knot tight to create a "blowhole" indent.

You may repost, remake and redistribute as long as you link back, give cred, and not sell!! Thanks so much!

Vacation Part 1: Michigan

2009-11-02T20:01:00.000-09:00

we've finally returned! and now I can share our adventures with you! what fun!!

the first leg of our trip was in Michigan where we saw a few leaves change, went to a football game, and most importantly coveted some fresh apple cider straight from the mill. MMMMMMMM!

outside the mill they have delicious treats to take home. we bought some cherry butter- sooo good!

the mill is entirely powered by a creek that runs a turbine that cranks a lot of gears and wheels that eventually squashes hundreds of apples and spills out delicious cider- so clever!

once the cider gets pressed it flows into a spigot that flows into a vessel that then flows into my cup. Yum Yum!

Coming up next- vacation leg 2: gettin' crafty in Mexico!

Heavenly headbands in Seatac

2009-10-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

>> Our first stopover was Seatac airport where the crafties were out
>> in full force. Besides meeting a lovely craft addict on the plane
>> we saw lots of local crafted goodies in the fun crafty stores -
>> mire craft updates to come on the road.
>>

Mmmmmmm dogs

2009-10-04T15:39:00.001-08:00

While visiting some fantastic friends in Seattle a few weeks ago we
went to a nice little beach and made these- yes, bacon-wrapped hot
dogs. So amazingly delish.

Getting Ready for Vacay

2009-10-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

okay, in three days the Cap'n and I will be off travelling to many exciting places - Michigan, Mexico and Colorado! And we get to meet my new nephew/niece (we don't know yet which!). I am sooooo excited!!!!!

so, here is a parting pic of the new craft room which will be lonely for a few weeks- sorry dear craft room! but know that upon my return the craftin is back. in fact, stay tuned because i am about to bring Craftrama back with a vengeance because we have some great ideas, and great crafters ready and willing. Yippee!

i may even be posting on my travels if i can get my phone to rock it- so stay tuned!

Mushroom Shelfs

2009-10-01T12:55:00.000-08:00

Check out this project- perfect for SE AK!

100% thanks to Paul at Findermaker! Totally brilliant and he even has a tutorial for you! I want to see these oot and aboot next time I'm over to your place!

Drink Beer- Organize socks- Tute

2009-09-30T19:37:00.000-08:00

so, in the early morning when i stumble from bed, to shower, to underwear drawer i always seem to run into the same problem - mismatched socks! i know you're surprised. but tanna, you say, you're so alert and perky in the morning, how can this be possible! hah!

let's just say socks are picked before coffee is consumed- ACK!

so, i have devised a solution to the miserable state of my sock drawer, and luckily for the cap'n it involves drinking lots of beer!

Here is the before

You need a couple of these- any flavor will do - even non-alcoholic!

Now don't drink all the beverages right before you do this.

Remove socks - insert six packs and mark the packs at the top of the drawer sides.

Cut the 6 packs on your marked lines.

refill your drawer like a really organized person would who wears equally matched socks every morning. ahhhhhhh.

Back to School and Plastic Free

2009-09-25T10:26:00.004-08:00

ok, technically i am not going back to school- but I still need sandwich wraps, (see above) lunch bags and snack bags and veggie bags and reuseable portable devices of all shapes and sizes- don't we all?

so in honor of that ideal- and the crafty spirit behind making instead of just using the plastic-status-quo I've written this week's craft column about ways to GET CRAFTY, NOT PLASTICY! boy, that probably would have been a much better title, hah!

so, check out the article here. i was assisted by friend and fellow crafter, Anji Gallanos. Check out her blog Ruby's Hill - she is a mom and a fabulous crafter. I LOVE her seaglass creations.

also, check out the links from the article:
- the No New Plastics Facebook page if you want to join Anji in trying to cut back/cut out plastics for a week- it sounds like a real challenge, but worth it
- Tipnut has 35 reusable bag patterns for FREE for you to make, handy-dandy!
- Instructables user Scoochmaroo has a sweeet pattern for a Reusable Sandwich Wrap- totally worth it, I'd say
- and get clever making your own yogurt instead of collecting hundreds of little unrecyclable cups (well, at least they are unrecyclable in SE Alaska- maybe other places have 5!)- WikiHow shows you how!

And coming up i'll be gettin' crafty with leftover plastics so all those bags you've been saving until now won't go back in the landfill- but can turn into something super-stylish instead.

AF 2009- Wheeeee!

2009-09-16T12:46:00.006-08:00

well, the craft addicts and I gear up for the Autumn Festival craft fair all year because it is just right up our alley- crafts, friends, goodies and even craft beer! who could ask for more?

so, I've written it up a bit in my most recent column (as you could guess!). Take a peek at that if you'd like!

i won't give away too much about what is in store at our table but I will say we will have things for small ones, things for tall ones, things for delicate touches and things for rough play. papery things, and boxy things, and soft things, and hard things. things you can wear, and things for your hair.

and a SUPER surprise i hope i can pull off inspired by this blog post.

see you saturday at the JACC!!! mwah

i love pumpkin spice lattes

2009-09-04T08:14:00.002-08:00

and so does flash forward on etsy! She's included me in her etsy treasury- yum, yum, yum!

Community Garden Fair

2009-08-27T16:04:00.004-08:00

last weekend my ma, aunt and i geared up (literally- it was pouring cats and dogs) to check out the community garden's yearly competition. it was so lovely!
it is quite different to get vegetables and flowers to grow in such a rainy, cool climate so it is always fun to see what people can get to grow here! a few things that even i can plant, or that grow wild- rhubarb, blueberries, salmonberries and lupine. this year we had strange bouts of SUN! so, it was fun to see all the things the gardeners coaxed up.
there were gorgeous flowers at this year's fair. but i was spoiled on flowers from ma's garden.

ma lives right on the bay and has a garden on the beach and one up near the house. it is really impressive. this year she planted swiss chard, lettuce, carrots, peas, zuchinni (they were enormous!), garlic, brocolli and tons and tons of flowers. her favorites are forget-me-nots, the state flower. they are a tiny little blue flower and they are delicate and beautiful. i'll have to get a pic of one for you to see.

coming up this weekend is the second annual farmer's market downtown at the JACC. If you are here you should go! i will be whiling my time away in Seattle! yay! where i will be attending a wedding, doing some bridesmaid shopping, and having a generally fantastic time in the SUN! see you when i'm back!

Crafting-on-the-go-go

2009-08-20T22:32:00.005-08:00

Who is this lovely lady? She is a crafter on the go. Yes, that's right - vacations are coming on and I have to get ready. So, first things first, I did a little research and whipped up an article about crafting while travelling. Check it out next Wed on the CCW site.

PS - sorry for the delay in posts! busy buzy bee! actually, I've been getting some design work done for the upcoming Autumn Fest. Stayed tuned for more info on our yearly indy craft fest!

Fishing Tackle into Jewelry Tutorial

2009-08-11T21:50:00.009-08:00

up here in alaska fishing is not just for fun, it is a way of life. that's why i, as a crafter, have found a way to incorporate the fishing into my crafting world! yesssssss.

so, for this week's article in the Capital City Weekly i've written about taking fishing tackle (literally, the tackle off my dad's boat) and making a couple of really fabu necklaces out of it! I am not kidding- these are some really fun bedazzled pieces. So, check out the article here - and look below for pics of the process. Thanks all!
here's my dad on the boat with his tackle box full of beads and "gumpucky" (don't ask me!)
quick break to take in the view.
oooh, look at all the beads! and those are for fishing . . .
here's what dad actually does with those beads- the squid is called a hoochie- fish love 'em
oops, a quick stop for a humpback whale watch- cap'n is soooo jealous!
show some flukes whaley!
ok, to make the necklace I took the tools home, here is my actual jewelry accessories case (left) next to dad's tackle case (right)
here's what you need- fishing line, beads, and some stuff that looks like jump rings and swivels.
chain all the metal pieces together- the swivels and hawaiian snaps and weave in a hoochie- cinching it down with a zip tie for security.
works as a long bohemian necklace or a shorter choker.
here are the beads (used in fishing) laying in my actual jewelry beading tray. teehee.
i made a simple pearl-like necklace out of these. you could easily layer this necklace several times for a chunkier look.
i used hawaiian snaps, hoochie head fillers and a swivel to finish the necklace. it gives it a touch of pizzazz!

i'd love to see other versions of these tackle necklaces! leave your links here- thanks!

Lovely Summer Headband Tutorial

2009-08-03T21:05:00.011-08:00

we had the best time making some fun quick headbands the other night - i thought i might whip up a tutorial for all to share. this is just a guideline- so have fun trying it a million different ways!
start with your supplies, an elastic hairband (or use a ribbon, or plastic headband covered in fabric), scissors, felt sheets, and later you will need a needle and thread.
fold over your felt about 1" and cut. no need to be too precise here.
snip off 1" squares of the folded over piece you cut. if you were to unfold them they would be about 2"x1"
keep snipping down your felt strip
with the folded edge in your fingers cut the top edges in a simple leaf shape. Keep the folded bottom wide for now.
soon you will have a little stack of felt soldiers. admire your work. ah lovely.
get out your needle that is in your pincushion (mine is a shameless plug of my rowdy ravens up now on etsy)
back to it! take one leaf and squeeze it between your fingers so that the folded edge gets ruffled.
stitch through the leaf to maintain the ruffles
continue with the same process adding each ruffled leaf to the last to create a row of ruffles
like this lovely row- do you have enough? make some more quick if you feel like it!
now start stitching your row of petals to your hairband. if you are using a plastic headband covered in fabric make sure you don't sew the leaves on right in the center- believe me, it looks silly.
stitch stitch stitch, you are almost done!
and there it is!
here are some tries with other styles - little layered flowers and such!
i made five the first time i tried! i'd love to see yours- send me pics or links to show them off!

beautiful cuckoo

2009-08-03T15:59:00.007-08:00

so i am going to post tonight or tomorrow am the tutorial that went along with the Craft Addicts fabulous Craftrama night of headbands.
but briefly i just found this via APT and i soooo want to make a version! i LOVE trees and birds. and we have no clocks in our house. not that this would really help me keep track of the time. but whateves- come back, i may just make my own this week!

One Red Lady

2009-07-30T15:42:00.002-08:00

well, it's official - cap'n's thumbs are green!
i mean, i'd love to take credit for our indoor garden, but the truth is cap'n diligently waters each morning and puts on his bee suit each evening (ok, i just wish he did when he pollinated!)

but the red lady above was the first green guy to sprout- before we artificially swapped pollen! yes, this tomato is 100% natural.
thank you nature.

Alaskan Crafts Profile: Taxidermy

2009-07-28T19:55:00.010-08:00

about a month ago i was in Haines (a little town up the coast from Juneau) having a deliciously crafted homebrew at the Haines Brewfest and suddenly craft column inspiration hit me!

what is the quintessential Alaskan Craft (besides brewing craft beer)? Taxidermy! It may take a second to get the connection, but I assure you taxidermists are multi-talented crafters and masters of their domain.

So, this weeks article is dedicated to the art of preserving and mounting animals- a fascinating subject. Find the article here with some images. And check out more images below-

you can purchase these high-density foam deer head mounts pre-made. they are carvable!

the bear's hide gets stretched evenly and nailed down (in preparation to become a rug).

the hide gets stretched around the head mount, glued and pinned.

parts of the hide will have to be pleated and stitched to create a flat rug.

neat huh? these are musk ox horns- not every day you get to see these up close!

the pinned hide gets epoxied into the mouth and then airbrushed with several colors to create a realistic face. i would not want to meet that guy anywhere around town!

Crafty Raven Pincushion

2009-07-26T17:28:00.005-08:00

here are raven sisters Berry and Blue.
they are the best of friends, but they aren't sure about the new raven in town, Peachy.
but honestly Peachy is more interested in you than in Berry and Blue.
Peachy, Berry and Blue are all handmade pincushions living out their dramas in the tpALASKA etsy store. i am sure they would much rather be used in someones home. a magnet tail keeps needles in place and the rest is filled with batting for pins galore.

not only are they sold online they are also in local stores in Alaska, and i hope to put up a pattern on Etsy soon.

shoes shoes shoes!

2009-07-24T09:15:00.007-08:00

clarks at around $99

well, shoes aren't exactly crafts, but I love them just the same. today i am doing a bit of online shopping for the perfect shoe . . . because i live in a remote town which has 0 dedicated clothing stores and 1 fabulous shoe store, that currently isn't holding just that pair I need. desperate times call for desperate measures.naturalizers at $75
not that i'm that desperate, but i have a wedding to go to (excuses excuses!) and it doesn't hurt to windernet shop! (that was an amalgamation of window and internet if you didn't get that). so check out my picks and let me know what you think!Anthropologie $150
btw- i'm looking for vintagey heels with a modern twist- not too tall, but with some kind of shape to the heel- and something that i can wear in colder weather (meaning either socks or tights with them- i know, i said socks)
sofft $99.90

Quick Chandelier Tutorial

2009-07-22T08:09:00.006-08:00

so, i had a bit of a bedroom panic the other day. does this ever happen to you? one day i just woke up, looked around the room, and went "ugh". it was obvious that the bedroom got shifted to last place in the priority line. no art on the walls, a cream comforter with no headboard and no superfluous pillows.

i mean nothing says luxury and comfort like superfluous pillows. so in one afternoon i had a redesign panic and i totally made over our bedroom while the cap'n was out, well, cap'ning.

i'll show more pieces soon, but here is a quick view of one little project- the freshened lighting fixture. since we're in a rental it come with some standard domes for the lighting fixtures. blech. so, i decided to (on the cheap) make up a quick polka-dot chandelier. Sooo easy, sooo quick!Wanna make one too?
1- thrift a circular item. i def. got a bit of luck here. i knew i needed something circular as the base and i thought i would have to refashion a hangar into a circle. but no need! i found a multi-tiered circular thing at my local thrift for $0.50. i think it was possibly a piece to the base of a christmas tree stand? no idea. anyway, lucky me! (i have been advised it is probably a wreath frame/base- that def. makes sense!)
2. buy 2 packs of circle sticker labels and 2 boxes of white dental floss (i went for non-minty).
3. cut one length of dental floss and start sticking the circle stickers together, sandwiching the floss in the center. it works really well if you have a nice clean, flat surface and you can lay out several lengths of floss at a time and just go to town with the stickers. make sure that you evenly space the stickers so it comes out neat. i just cut a piece of the box the floss came in to be my measuring length and it worked fine.4. make 20 or so of one length of circles. i think mine had an inner row of 20 with 10 circles each and an outer row of 20 with 6 circles each. attach them to your ring by wrapping one end of the floss over the ring and then sandwiching the end and the main floss between two circles right below the ring. perhaps i shall try to take pics of this for more clarity.
5. use floss or fishing line to hang your masterpiece.

eventually mine did make it to the bedroom light fixture, but it was so pretty in the sun we left it up in the living room for a few days. have fun!!

Check out These Booties!

2009-07-18T17:47:00.003-08:00

so i have three wonderful ladies in my life who are going to have babies!!! yay yay yay! one of them is my sister, so i am going to be an auntie for the first time. it's so fantastic! sooooo, i've started the baby crafting with a some booties.

froggies are for my sis- she looooves them. lets hope the baby does too.i crocheted these by looking at some different booties online and then just whipping them up. the blue slippers above are knit with an elastic yarn so they can stretch as the feet grow. perfect for new twinkle toes.

The Best Summer Skirt EVER!

2009-07-13T21:26:00.006-08:00

look out for this weeks capital city weekly and a fun tutorial for a great summer skirt/dress.
and a big THANK YOU to Shyla Germain who helped with all the strechy sewing tips!!

this is a special sneak peek of the pattern -with link posted above. check out below all the ways you can wear this reversible, zipperless stretch-knit wonder-

excuse the house mess!

even a shirt or babydoll dress!
this weekend was super sunny and i wore it as a dress all weekend long!

Craftrama Thursdays?

2009-07-09T12:25:00.003-08:00

You're invited!!! What do you think of a Crafty Thurs night fun- every other week. A million topics - a thousand crafts, and mostly a lot of laughs. Leave a little note below if you're interested!

4th FUN!

2009-07-02T08:58:00.006-08:00

so this week in the paper we're all about 4th of July (who could have guessed?)- aaaand, a sweet story about portable dome homes! very interesting - so check out the article here and check out the paper online here.
also, last night I gave a presentation to the Rotaract (the 25-35 year old version of Rotary) on CRAFTS!! and we made duct-tape wallets as a quick dive into the crafting scene. what fun!

it made me have a new burst of enthusiasm for a bi-weekly craft night- so i think i'm going to make it happen. anyone out there want to join? any ideas about what you'd like to craft or learn? i can't wait!!! the cRAFT aDDICTS are bACK!!!

not that they ever went anywhere- i just think they could grow a bit bigger, you know, the more addicts the better!

that's it for now- i have tons of fun projects i've been working on that i will try to post on soon!

wedding crafts in SE Alaska- a wetter story

2009-06-25T14:08:00.003-08:00

for the latest article (2 part this time!) i've covered some crafty wedding tips- of course with a leaning towards the southeast alaskan climate (think rain, and if you've read the Twilight series, we live in exactly the place they would love to live, actually she writes about our town and university- UAS). oh lovely rain.
this wet bride is sporting classic x-tra tuff boots and has a bouquet of bulb seaweed for a classic touch. i know you're quite jealous!and here is my dream cake- don't you think it would be fun to make this in plush form and keep forever and ever? okay, maybe not, but it would be fun to see!

mwah - talk soon!

i (heart) google

2009-05-18T11:09:00.002-08:00

i am pretty sure i am waaaaay behind the eight ball on this one, but i just discovered google analytics! totally brilliant!

i can see how many people visit here, where you're from, what type of browser you're using, everything! (ok not everything . . . just the important stuff)

my favorite part is looking at where people are coming from- brazil, europe, here- and laughing when i know who it is by where they're from (i keep getting hits from athens, GA- hi lucy!)

you can do it too- just get a google account (for free) and it walks you through the steps to put a tiny piece of code on your site. bam, you're in!

then you'll be getting lots of alaska hits i'm sure!
-tp

mother's day is a few days away

2009-05-06T16:38:00.006-08:00

if you haven't got a thing for mom yet, never fear, crafters are here!

check out my article this week at the capital city weekly site. there's a pattern to please any mom for a lovely white carnation.

here's the pattern illustration- seems to have gone missing from their site-

have a great thursday!

Lovely Planting

2009-05-05T13:09:00.003-08:00

work gets a bit cold and sterile with all the computers and mice. so in an attempt to bring home to work (without covering the office with lime-pop), i've PLANTED the place. haha!

wheatgrass

clipping from a neighbor

sweet basil from mom

plus, a small jade start from one at home and TOMATOES!
oh yes, soon i will be eating tomato and basil salad with wheatgrass topping.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

did you know you can plant your tomatoes upside-down?
the things you learn!

Mini shop update

2009-05-02T10:39:00.002-08:00

Just put a few new knitted goodies up in the ole etsy- check em out if you'd like here!

Plaid Loves the 80s

2009-04-30T14:12:00.002-08:00

juneau has a few thrift stores of note- st. vincent de paul's (my fave), and good ole sally ann's (salvation army). a few months back S.A. re-opened in a new, improved space so on a lark we headed over. it was very nice, bright and organized (which was a major improvement over the darker messy space in the previous place). we scored bright red 80s belts to pair with the plaid of the day.
it really rocked my socks! and, at $1 a piece, even i can afford that kind of fashion. also, mine has this crazy silver snake in the front- totally brilliant.
please don't be too jealous.

Getting Ready to Celebrate Mom

2009-04-30T11:23:00.002-08:00

i've been brushing up on my mother's day history for my latest craft article. i am amazed every day by the things I DON'T KNOW! i mean, the woman who tirelessly worked her entire life to create mother's day subsequently protested it's existence until her last dying day.

why would anyone spend a life life that? because the commercialization of the holiday became overbearing and she couldn't stand to see the day set aside to celebrate her mother tarnished by an industry greedy for money. and that was only in 1920! what would she say today nearly 90 years later?

i know! she would say "get to crafting!" and i am not saying card-makers or florists are evil, but a handwritten note saying how much you love your mother is sure to have more impact than a card playing the beegees with sequined disco dancers all over it.

just a thought.

Earth Day article . . .

2009-04-23T15:28:00.004-08:00

yesterday was earth day which might as well be crafty day as far as i'm concerned just because a lot of crafters out there are super-eco-friendly, thinking of new ways to recycle, reuse and most importantly REDUCE! (although cap'n wishes i would do more reducing and less creating- but no matter)

i wrote about the point at which the two meet in my latest article for the CCW, check out here.

and have a crafty earth week!

Billy, the first bird

2009-04-22T10:10:00.002-08:00

so far there are three beauties in the birdy collection: felix, phil, and billy.

here is billy.

she is the first in the line of three, making her a bit, hmmmm, shall we say "loved".
with a swirly red and white tail and blue polka body she is not going quietly.
thanks!

More Birdfaces

2009-04-21T11:33:00.003-08:00

meet phil.

he is super-loosely based on the stellars jays hangin outside our windows in the auke these days. they have such brilliant hair-dos i couldn't resist a bit o' mohawk action. i wish i could muster up the courage for a bit o' mohawk action. fo sho. - t

Birdy-licious

2009-04-20T14:17:00.004-08:00

well, i agree with you, i certainly have not been posting properly. but, there is no rule that says that a person cannot make resolutions on April 20th (as opposed to Jan 1), so here goes:

i resolve to post once a week consistently (one must start small in these kind of endeavors).

Aaaaah, i feel better already.

now, to the birds. i have been making birds with my fabric scraps and bringing them into work to liven up the place. after a heavy load of design work, i was feeling a little out of touch with my handmade side. i started knitting briefly but all that jetted out was mittens, which a. it is supposedly spring and even if it doesn't appear as such outside i don't need to be supporting winter's bad habits of clingyness, and b. you have to make two matching things for mittens which means by the finish of the first i either want to totally redesign both or give up altogether, or i've forgotten the pattern.

in any case, pairs aren't my friend(s).

so, here is singularly what i have turned to instead. felix. she is a yellow gingham-feathered, tangerine stripe-bellied, curly-tailed soul who appears to be missing eyes and beak. but i think i'm okay with that.

i really want to make a bird-a-day because i like the sound of it and i feel as if everyone could join me and we could amass a giant bird collection of recycled scraps and then be happy. but right now i'll just settle for a bird-a-post.

hope you like her! - tp

The Aftermath

2009-02-18T10:17:00.001-09:00

Wearable Arts was a crazy time this year- I have to thank the Cap'n for his tireless efforts on our behalf- besides that he rocked his booty up onstage to help us out! (can you spot him above?) Mwah!

And my hat was three feet tall, and looked kind of like a tree. I think it was a fairly good likeness to the sketch I made beforehand, so at least there's that.

I was in a group of five and each of us were one of the Alaskan Brewing Company beers.

And I have to give a big shout out to the photographer Mihael Blikshteyn who captured us in all our glory (?)

Soon to come, projects for the new apt. and pics as well . . .

Wearable Arts Sneak Peek

2009-02-06T08:53:00.008-09:00

Here are some puzzle pieces of my kooky sketch for Wearable Arts. I'm using 90% reused materials like bubble wrap, insulationy bubble wrap stuff, white foam that wraps around paper rolls, and cardboard 12-pack beer inserts. We'll see if I can finish it in time. Everything below the neck is pretty much done- but I guess I've got a lot of work on the headpiece. I'll reveal more as the days progress, because I know you have no idea what I'm supposed to be!

Moving . . . What a Mess!

2009-02-05T12:20:00.003-09:00

Okay, so on a wild whim Cap'n and I moved from our tiny little "suite" to a new place with a teensy bit more room. We are giving up the view of a downtown filled with busy bustling happy people for a floor to ceiling bank of windows exposing us to breathtaking Auke Bay harbor.

If you are not a Juneauite or never have been, there are no words to describe a streaming ocean sunset behind a calming harbor full of lovely boats all lined up like ducks. Somewhere in the middle there are snow-covered mountains and broad evergreens. Actually, right at this moment we live in a soothing sea of white- as the walls of our white-washed apartment blend directly into the tall windows that are filled with snowcovered boats, mountains, yards, buildings, gardens, cars, bikes, bushes, trees and people! As you may guess, I often prefer to stay inside and see it all from my new windows (as opposed to wrapping myself head to toe in knits and venturing outdoors).

But I have been enjoying a new line of neckwear and hats this winter season that have been keeping me quite cozy. I like to bundle up and bundle down until all that you see is a funny madeleine-esque silhouette and two shiny eyes peeking through.

In fact, right now I am having troubles figuring out how to hang/display/store my scarves and hats properly. Any ideas?????? I'd like them to be somewhat stored, but when I get ready I want to be able to see them all at a glance without any digging. Tell me what to do!

I think I may need to put a mirror somewhere in our split-level entrance because I often like to check my exterior outfit more than the interior. Isn't that what they say- it's what's on the outside that counts???? Oh dear, no no, that's not it.

Well, stayed tune. I promise promise promise to tell you all about wearable arts- starting with my column coming out next Wed.

Adorations- TP

Amazing Acorns, Ornate Ornaments

2008-12-29T15:46:00.003-09:00

Over the holidays I was fortunate to be able to discuss crafting with TONS of people!! I'm talking family, friends, friends of family, family of friends, friends of friends and family of family. Phew. And the greatest part was their willingness to share their crafts with me.

Here, I got a few snaps (with my iPhone- I LOVE that thing) of some lovely things made by the aforementioned. And, it never ceases to amaze me how interconnected we all are!

These two lovely little crafty morsels were made by two entirely separate peoples. As in, one is my co-workers mother, and the other is the Grandmother of my brother-in-law (i think? so confusing).

Both have bases of a foam ball/egg and then the little fabric squares are folded and attached with straight pins. How clever! Each has their own nifty embellishment- lace and embroidery, and a luscious pile of ribbons dripping off the top!

Well, no, neither of these items belong to me, but I'm crossing my fingers for next year . . . oh, then I would have to get a real tree!

Stay tuned for postings on the most AMAZING gifts my family exchanged for this years "made" gift. You won't even believe what I got!

my holiday tree

2008-12-18T07:17:00.000-09:00

Public Market Fun

2008-12-01T09:43:00.004-09:00

This last weekend (after Thanksgiving) was the Public Market. I had a few items on a collective crafters table. I've forgotten to get my own pics, but I'm sure you can find them soon on spotted from the Cap City Weekly! Anyhow, it was so amazing and wonderful to see all the things that people have been working so hard on all year long!

I have to say I was so impressed with the multitude of items people make. I mean, I make aprons and thought that I was really starting a collection when I had 15. One woman had a booth with what looked like upwards of 150 aprons! I couldn't believe it!

But it sure was fun I'll tell you what. And now I'm prepping for Gallery Walk which is THIS FRIDAY! HELP!! I have a little window display going in outside of The Creating Place and then a few items inside. Should be fun so don't forget to swing by!

Getting Ready for Giving Thanks

2008-11-17T11:59:00.003-09:00

Click here for the latest installment of "The Yarn" or "Crafty in AK"- whichever you'd prefer. I'm including the illustrations because they make me happy to think of fall!

Along with this article I will be updating the sidebar of this blog to reflect any upcoming craft events I hear about in SE Alaska. So let me know here if you have any to add or email me at tanna.craft@gmail.com!

Mom's are Wonderful!

2008-11-17T11:07:00.005-09:00

I recently had a birthday in which I travelled out of the state (what fun!) to see sunshine, shopping and lots of fun animals. More to come on that topic. But as traveling gifts my mom and Cap'n's mom gave me some pretty killer gifts.

Here is the Vera Bradley quilted tote that Cap'n's mom gave me. Wonderful colors that match all my coats and the size is just perfect for a carry-on purse!
My mom went way over the top and got me a delicious iPhone which I used to take the above pics. What a treat for a trip! It was so amazing to have google, email and maps all at the touch of a portable button. Not to mention how we used it to watch shows on the plane, talk to friends on the road, and find every taco bell within reach (weird what you miss living up here in AK). So, now we're back all refueled and ready for a crafty winter!

Handmade For the Holidays!

2008-11-17T10:54:00.002-09:00

Check out the latest installment of my column for the Capital City Weekly here!

How bees get wings

2008-11-07T13:02:00.004-09:00

Always ask the beekeeper! It's the easiest way! Here's cap'n tying on my wings for halloween.

He's not very good as a beekeeper as you can see. But he's a very nice fellow!

And me as queen bee, I'm not so nice you see. That's why my minions were after Cap'n. Poor guy.

To Felt or To Full

2008-10-21T11:05:00.002-08:00

Well, here I am with the second installment of "The Yarn" thanks to the Capital City Weekly. This week my image was published in the paper, but somehow not online, so here it is for the internetly inclined. It goes along with the article found here.

Also, posties on the Autumn Fest to come soon!!!

Autumn Fest Sneak Peek

2008-10-14T07:09:00.001-08:00

Get ready for COZY! Come to the Autumn Festival this Saturday from Noon to 5 at the JACC! Crafts, fun, and cozy stuff by tpALASKA designs! Can't wait to see you there!

My great-granny is hip!

2008-10-09T13:39:00.002-08:00

So who knew great-grannies loved lime-pop too?

This sweet soft crocheted hanger cover was just inherited by yours truly! My mom went down to visit my grandparents in the Seattle area and to help them move from their long-time home into one of those "active community" type dealies. That meant downsizing the grandparents stuff, which meant fun stuff for me! I also received a divine jacket which will have its re-debut this holiday season. Stick around!

First "Crafty in AK" Column Published

2008-10-01T08:57:00.005-08:00

So, I'm a published person- I mean in print. The link for the online article is here

Here is the illustration that I whipped up, but it didn't make it to print. Asi es la vida!

She is a lovely Rainy Day Girl knitting up Southeast Alaska (the darker bundle is Juneau) where this publication, the Capital City Weekly, reaches. Hope you like her and article!

"On The Go Knit Kit" Tutorial: Part 2

2008-09-22T15:39:00.011-08:00

Yesterday I posted Part 1: Making the Needles of the 2-part Tutorial "On The Go Knit Kit" (I know, hardcore)

Here, today is Part 2: Rockin' the Knit Kit. Enjoy!

Rockin' the Knit Kit:
Not only is this kit meant for travel on busses, planes and autos- I also like to think it's a bit green. That is, when possible I always try to use items thrifted from my local Sally Ann's rather than purchased new. In that vein, I began to gather materials.
I found two old sippy containers (sans straws) with convenient holes in the lid for 50 cents apiece. (these will make sense later)
I gathered together some other items: scraps of fabric from my collection and the needles I had already made. I also sprayed the bottle white after washing it. But honestly, it doesn't need to be painted, because the fabric will cover all it's markings anyway.
First I measured the circumference of the bottle (yeah math!). It was about 10.25". I also measured the height.
Then I took those measurements, added an inch (for seam allowances on both sides) and cut two rectangles of that size.
They were a bit wrinkly so I attacked them with an iron. There are a lot of shortcuts that I take in sewing that I KNOW I shouldn't, but ironing is one I never skimp on! Everything comes out neat, clean and pretty with ironing. So, iron iron iron! I swear you will love it more!
Here I found a scrap of elastic and measured two lengths a couple of inches shorter than the width of the fabric. These will hold the handy needles we made in Part 1.
Of course, plain elastic is a bit dull so we need to make a little sleeve to cover the ugliness. So, here I measure a piece of fabric a bit wider than the elastic, and about twice as long.
I used the elastic as a guide to know where exactly I want to sew my elastic tube up.
I want to flip the tube inside-out so I pin one end . . .
stick the pin in, and push/pull it through to the other side. (then iron of course!)
Use the same pin to guide your elastic through (which should be much shorter than your fabric tube)
Oh yeah, make two. Then pin the two onto your original fabric on one end, and sew it down.
Scrunch the tube fabric up and evenly distribute so that the tube end meets with the other end of the elastic. Then lay the two scrunched tubes across your fabric and pin at regular intervals (I used 1.5". If you want to transport smaller needles, make your intervals smaller! Then sew your elastic tube to fabric at these regular intervals.
Put the two sides (one blank and one with elastic scrunchies) right sides together, pin, and sew three sides.
Insert elastic loops periodically (more scraps I had around- black was nice but white would have been better I think) and sew the fourth side shut by folding in the seam, ironing and securing the elastics along the way.
Sew buttons in matching positions on the opposite side of the rectangle (look below, I swear it will make sense!)
Look at your work and pat yourself on the back.
Now shimmy that bottle into it's new hotsy totsy outfit. Wowsa.

Now, insert the needles and yarn into your new "On-The-Go-Knit-Kit". The yarn should come out the hole in the top of the bottle that way it remains in your bag, not running away down the aisles. And the whole kit is super-light and portable for whatever life throws at you!

Stay tuned for a pattern specifically designed for the Knit Kit!

Thanks!

The "On the Go Knit Kit" Tutorial- Part 1

2008-09-21T21:02:00.005-08:00

I've been riding the bus lately (to save on gas and spend some relaxing time riding instead of driving). Well, often I want to knit a few stitches but feel uncomfortable with the length of my needles, and then the yarn decides to leap out of my bag and roll down the aisle. Oh, such a mess!

So, I decided to make the "On-the-Go-Knit-Kit". Below is Part One of the tutorial: Making the Needles. Hope this helps other bussers!

Making the Needles: My needles were too long so I decided to make my own. Here is how.
Start with some wooden dowels from your local craft store. I also found some wooden balls to cap the ends (not necessary if you want to make double-pointed needles). I chose a couple widths of dowel because they are cheap and I might want to switch. Lately I've been using some heavyweight yarn so I chose a larger dowel to start with.

I attached the ball to one end and secured it with some wood glue. Okay, actually, I lied. I didn't use any glue because it just fit so snugly- but it could come off so I am telling you YOU should use glue. Yes. well. Then I very scientifically decided I didn't want the needle longer than my fingertips, because past that it would def. run into my bus neighbors. So, that is how I measured.

I cut it by rotating around with Cap'ns multi-tool. A small hack saw would be better, but I'm cheap. Oh, and then I just broke it when it got close.
Then, I whittled it with my mini-multi tool. Oh yes, very cheap.
I got it whittled alright and then just used some sandpaper to make it nice and smooth for knitting. You don't want your yarn to get caught on a stray edge.This stuff is really handy- tack cloth. It is basically cheesecloth covered in some sort of stickem. If you rub over the surface of your sanded needle it will make all the dust stick to the cloth and your surface will be prepped for painting.I then spray-painted the two needles I made with white glossy spray (I tried to use pink, but the bottle busted- harumph). Make sure it's glossy so you can easily slide the needles and nothing gets too sticky.

Okay, go make those and then get yourself a cup of tea and take a relax before Part 2 comes your way!

Bejeweled

2008-09-21T20:44:00.004-08:00

Awhile back I decided to get into making jewelry. I made a beaded ring- tried for a bracelet and then gave up.

So, in desperate need of new earrings I decided to take a fresh crack at the whole thing. With the assistance of my lovely crafty sister (who was on a visit), we did some fun beading.

Okay, so I just used the pattern from the booklet that came with the "how to make jewelry" kit my Aunt gave me- but they look pretty good!

Then I got a little ambitious and decided to make a pair for a friend with an upcoming birthday.
And on a whim even went for a necklace! I caught inspiration from Anthropologie (oh, I die for Anthropologie, but who can afford to die?) and whipped up a little triple-strand thing in yummy chocolate and caramel colors. Then the whole set sat in my apt for a week while I didn't deliver it! Shame on me.

Random Juneau

2008-09-21T20:40:00.002-08:00

I was walking down the hill to my apartment from my sweet little red Neon (yes, the cheapest and apparently most purchased car in this town) I had some hilarious musings about our little town.

It feels like mid-October (in mid Sept) with a bite in the air. Everyone is wearing the obligatory beanie and heavy coat (already!). I walk by a girl taking her ferret for a walk and an old roommate of Cap'n's puttering by on a near-dead motorcycle, I look down and notice I am wearing flip-flops.

The last day of summer is a bit funny round here. I guess I hold to a bit too hard. Oh well, bring it on Autumn- I'm ready!

Pattern Coming

2008-09-14T11:32:00.002-08:00

Just wanted to give a sneak peek (sorry for the cruddy photos) of the Cable Combo scarf.

I will be posting the pattern soon and it is sooo super easy so check back!!!

Treasure: Don't be jealous salt bird

2008-09-14T11:29:00.003-08:00

what is it: a salt shaker bird (lined with plastic to keep the salt fresh)
where: thrift store find
how much: $1

Limepop bookshelf

2008-09-14T10:54:00.003-08:00

When the cap'n and I moved in , the first thing we needed to address were the books. Cap'n loves to read and I love magazines. We decided to do a DIY project where we comboed two smaller bookshelves on an asym, incorporated a reading lamp (from a set of two crystal lamps we won at a charity auction), limepop the back, and paint the whole thing white.

Instead of painting the back (because these bookshelves had def. seen better days) we decided to purchase limepop fabric and wrap the backs in batting and cover them with fabric. That way it gave the back a little dimension and a cleaner look.

Then the fun stuff came when we decorated it! The cap'n is NOT a fan of the whole- organize your books by color, or wrap all your books in one color so the whole shelf is pretty-thing. He believes books should be individually cherished for the personality of color and size that they bring. I know, deep.

So, our compromise was this- The limepop shelf was pretty, and we would put all the other "real" books on another shelf. Works for me! (besides I totally made the other shelf pretty too- please)

Oops

2008-09-10T15:40:00.003-08:00

I might need this to lighten up the place this winter . . .

also, it comes in limepop (aka chartreuse)

i love these stray dogs!

Treasure: Tea set

2008-08-27T19:45:00.000-08:00

I know I should be posting about our apartment, but I couldn't resist showing you this:

Treasure time!

location: St. Vincent de Paul's (juneau, ak)
cost: $4.50 for teapot, $1.50 for cup and saucer (x2) = $7.50
best part: the saucers have an octagonal shape which the cup sits in like a puzzle, making it even more fun to drink tea!
other best part: it matches the new lemon kitchen color scheme

The Blank Slate

2008-08-26T21:24:00.000-08:00

Cap'n and I moved into our lovely "suite" in mid-June. Below is the exact reason we took the place . . .
But apart from the lovely view we had a kitchen that had the largest counter in the building.
We were not the most keen on the blue carpet and the white walls (unpaintable by apt. regulations) but when you live in Juneau, AK (unreachable by land- yes, only air and boat travel can reach us!) you get a bit less picky than when you are in the continental US. Besides they provided us with a lovely yellowish "accent wall" (below). So, we thought, what the hay?

Our next task would be to conquer the colors and design of this place, which you will see shortly! Stick around for more!!!!

JUMP ON IN

2008-08-24T16:00:00.001-08:00

Well, welcome! My name is Tanna, feel free to call me Banana if you like. Let me introduce you to the Cap'n. He says welcome too.

Cap'n and I live in Juneau, AK (Alaska, not Alabama). Cap'n is so aptly named because he is a captain who gets to watch enormous, majestic whales (humpback and orca) all day long *sigh. It rains a lot here which gives me LOTS of time to do, well, everything (in terms of crafting and design).

We live in a one bedroom "suite," hence the name suite.living. I wanted this to be a place to show and demo that one can be crafty, creative and live a life full of design on a small budget and in a small space.

Thanks for visiting and come again! Leave comments please please.

mwah- t