Buy Handmade

Today it’s come to my attention that I have offended in my blog, and for my sins I apologize. I have good intent, but not always good execution. I make mistakes and I learn from them, and I do my best to fix my mistakes where I can. I have done so here.

Allow me to state for the record that I am a huge supporter of handmade, crafters, independent artists and designers.  I encourage everyone to support these people with their funds and encouragement so they can thrive in their chosen professions, and to encourage everyone else they know to do what they can to support indie as well.  If you need any help with this, I offer my Index of Indie, where I have gathered all sorts of sources, and which I continue to add to.

I do have things to post - my husband and I have made and decorated the very awesome 3-D cookies from Williams-Sonoma, and I did some decorating I was going to share.  However, I believe I’m going to take a hiatus from blogging instead, and come back when I’ve had a chance to think - I’m an introvert, after all.

Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with something I just found at the Craftzine and I strongly encourage you to participate as well. It’s the Buy Handmade Pledge for the Holiday season.

Go to BuyHandmade.org and sign the petition. You pledge to buy handmade for the holiday season, and to encourage others to do the same for you. After all there’s nothing as good as handmade, is there!?

Plaid Crochet Scarf?

My brother has requested that I make a scarf for his girlfriend Stephanie. This is no problem - just whip up quick fuzzy scarf, right? So - onto the choices. I put lots of thought into these things.

Stephanie’s personality makes certain things necessary. She needs to be able to wash  & wear this easily. Wool will not work. Also, she wears her stuff until she wears it out - so it has to be long-wearing. She doesn’t approve of a great deal of expense, either (actually, one of her favorite things is “sweet deals”). So it needs to be cheap. And she likes pretty stuff (who doesn’t?) and natural stuff, so we’re going to be approximating pretty wools.

The right yarn appears to be Lion Brand Jiffy. Mohair-look means soft and fuzzy. Acrylic means wash n’ wear and hopefully long-wearing. It’s pretty. And mostly, I really like the colors. This one’s going to be primarily caffe (soft brown) and avocado (bright green) with accents of apple green (essentially a lighter shade of avocado), denim and chili. They’re natural-looking colors, rich but still soft. I’m using a large gauge hook (K) to make it fluffy and because I need to weave it.  Why?

Here’s the kicker: it also needs to be plaid.

So I needed inspiration and looked about, and I found the following useful.  There’s the plaid baby blanket and the felted windowpane purse (the green/brown one) from Lion Brand. Or the afghan plaid crochet (top blue one) on eBay. There’s a Christmasy plaid scarf over at Michaels that has promise. Yarn market sells a kit for a plaid felted bag (the burgundy weaving) that I’d like to buy when I have time for a new project next millenium. An event plaid from the DIY network (the orangey pillow). I may have to purchase this book of tartan plaid crochet blankets. And a lovely pattern for a fringed plaid blanket (the bottom blue one) at Fairy Threads. And finally, because the plaid is really well done and actually really plaid-ish, the lovely green plaid toilet tissue holder. I shall work with these and see what I come up with.

Crafting for Charity:

I like writing.  It makes me think about things, and be more aware.  It’s nice.
I have a few charity-related items to post I’ve run across.

1)  One is a swap - the Stamping Out Alzheimer’s Charity Fat Book Swap (via).

2) A news item - Quilters’ handiwork speaks volumes to soldiers hurt in Iraq.

3) A fundraiser - Fiberart for the American Cancer Society by Virginia Spiegel (her stuff, by the way, is amazing.  You should really take a look).

Do you know what I think the best thing about charity and crafting is?  Crafting is something people generally do because it brings joy to their lives (for example, this woman for whom quilting is a source of joy).  And in many cases, it seems like crafts bring joy to people to whom they are given.  The fit seems , natural - joy in making and joy in receiving.

I’m always particularly struck by how many times I see quilting and knitting referenced in regard to charity. I think this is because quilts and knitted items are very comforting by their very nature.  By giving a quilt or knitted item, you are giving comfort by virtue of the materials, or the warmth it provides, or the knowledge of the care and work that went into it, and often the beauty of the item.

Makes me want to crochet something for everyone, thinking about it that way.  ‘Scuse, have to get back to work on those scarves and afghans for Christmas now!