.: tunes :: pretty lights :: finally moving :.
I’ve decided that this process of digging through, sorting, and letting go needs a more honorable name.
Excavation.
It’s an excavation.
A more honorable name for a more honored process. Because there’s a lot of really good stuff going on here.
To be unleashed at MissoulaMADE Fair this Sunday, June 26th.
Sunday?
Good thing it’s the longest day of the year today because there’s a lot to be done.
And you are gonna love it.
So there’s this little saying I’ve been hearing recently:
Writing a blog is like opening your underwear drawer for the world to see.
Fair enough. I actually really like this perspective. Here in the states, there are far too many people walking around out in public in what appears to be underwear and not nearly enough actually opening their hearts and showing their internal underwear.
Underwear of the heart? That sounds cheesy.
This kind of internal vulnerability has strength and character, softness and amazing frailty. It’s beautiful to behold but requires a tender touch. It’s natural and free, inherent and fleeting.
Like a Wildflower.
Which, consequently, is the theme of my summer collection. A work in process with a whole lot of secrets to share. Stay tuned.
tunes: tom petty :: wildflowers
Hahaha. Have you seen that South Park episode?
What I’m actually giving you is a free crochet pattern to make your own hat! It’s more than just a pattern, it’s a tried-and-true technique that will allow you to create your own patterns. The possibilities are endless–no gauge worries, no math, no figuring things out. You just organically follow the lead of whatever you have on hand.
Since this is a technique, you are free to sell anything you make from the pattern and any derivatives created as well, which, in my book, is totally better than a free hat any day. You may not, of course, sell the actual pattern or copy and paste any part of the written directions into a pattern you plan to sell. Fair enough?
Can you tell I’m getting ready for summer shows? I’m full of random bits of information and things to sell. Here’s a few of the patterns I’ve been working on using handspun yarn:
Adonis, which is the manly version of Aphrodite. The only difference is that the edging is a little more tough looking, where the Aphrodite version is usually sparkly and more frilly around the edges.
Cherry Bomb, which is my other favorite hat. I like to truck around in new designs for awhile in order to test out the stretch of the yarn and to make sure the structure holds up under slightly abusive wearing conditions (if a house with two toddlers in Montana isn’t an abusive wearing condition, I just don’t know what is).
Here’s how I see it: if I’m going to charge 60 to 90 bucks for a hat, it better be pretty damn spectacular. Right? Right. The same is true of all of my gear.
And just for fun, here’s another rendition of City Slicker, whipped up in the colorway “Meadow”. This style hat hogs equal time on the old noggin there, pretty much all year round. I have a silk/wool version for those of you who don’t actually require something warm on your heads during the summer months. There’s one more custom spot available for a City Slicker right now, and that will be it until October ya’ll.
Now that’s enough about hats. Here’s your free pattern:
crochet a hat technique – thepeacefulpeacock.com
tunes: johnny cash - walk the line
Man alive, I love me some buttons. A few years ago, I talked my mom into making some for me, since she is the handy sort and she also really loves buttons. She developed a process using all natural materials for the fallen branches from the apple trees in her yard.
I got hooked, bad. So bad that last year, my man and the kids got me a shiny miter saw for Mother’s Day just so I could feed my own habit.
Seriously. If you’re making your own yarn, you might as well make your own buttons. They just look so good together.
Check it out:
While I was getting this particular pixie romp ready to ship to its new home, I stopped for a second to take a few pics of my handmade wooden button secret. The issue with these little guys is that any kind of detergent strips the finish right off, leaving a more raw version of their pristine selves. I like to use a combination of rose and lavender oils in the finishing wax, so detergent also strips the pretty stink away, which is just plain sad.
Here’s what I do:
I round up a button of comparable size and some elastic string. Make sure button #2 has holes large enough to accommodate the diameter of the elastic. (I can totally hear all the forehead smacks right now. Yes, it’s this easy.)
Thread the elastic through both buttons.
Tie and trim. Don’t pull the elastic tight–leave just enough room to hold it securely with a wee bit of stretch. A little dab of fabric glue on the knot is a good idea–keeps the knot from coming untied.
Note: this button is just a little bit smaller than I like to use for a wooden button this size if it were being used for clothing, but it will fit in the spaces of the knit hat without stretching them out. If you are using the buttons on clothing, just make a button hole the size that is appropriate for button #2 on one side and a button hole that is appropriate for the wooden button on the opposing side of the clothing. This way, you (or whoever buys the item) can simply pop the buttons off and wash the article without fear of screwing up such sweet little beauties.
Also, you can move it any old place on that sweet hat.
Win!
Edit: Pictures of how to use this technique on clothing:
tunes: lionel richie :: easy like sunday morning
You know what I love to do? Make hats.
Ya’ll know how I make my own handspun art yarn? Well, here’s the deal. It’s incredibly difficult to find patterns that use such a crazy material. So I write my own.
Here’s one, hot off the hook, that I just finished up for a friend, and after a few more trials, it will soon become a pattern that you can whip up yourself! Once the hat hits official pattern stage, it will also be available as a custom made (only a couple of slots per month, 84 bucks for this style with handspun yarn).
I think, at long last, I’m finally getting this production thing figured out.
This particular style is crochet, asymmetrical so it can be worn in eight hundred different ways, and made from about 110 yards of yarn. I think. I just kind of eyeballed it. The unique stitch really appeals to me because it looks like a thick textured knit and the density of the fabric maintains the funky shape.
Which is not for the weak of heart, for sure. Don’t fret: if you’re feeling a little less pointy and up there, just turn it around.
I am in love with this hat. Purely and hopelessly.
Want to know when the pattern and custom spots will be available for this style? Sign up for ye old newsletter by clicking here. (Don’t worry, I don’t send junk.)
tunes… beck – hell yes
When I shop in the traditional channels, I find myself thinking more about how I should exercise more and chill out on the cookies instead of thinking about the clothes. The focus of my shopping experience quickly, instantly, in a matter of a millisecond, turns into an evaluation of my self worth.
And no I’m not fat. You probably aren’t either.
I’m realizing that the body image factor is one more reason that I like to shop handmade. I like to see real people with real bodies wearing the actual clothes I’m thinking about. Call me crazy but it changes the entire experience. Try it.
You might notice that while none of these girls are fat, it’s unlikely that any of them would be considered for a job as “supermodel”. They have curves, normal stature, flaws that make them each unique and beautiful in their own right. It’s the element that makes women elegant and graceful, the ability to work with their imperfections. We’ll come back to this topic. You can bet on it.
Click on the links below for photo credits.
Anybody else kinda freaked out about this? Yikes. Come back tomorrow and I’ll show you why I like to shop on Etsy.
… skinny fourteen year old on the beach …
… stand up straight skinny chick …
… one two three little ribs do I see …
To the casual observer, I'm a web based writer who will remind you of who you really are.
To those unsatisfied by the limited scope of quick definition, come on over here and sit next to me. I'm Juliana.
I like to watch things change.
