Crafty Tails

Anime Industry Charity Update

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:37:00 +0000

If you live in the Los Angeles area, anime industry members and artists are coordinating a fundraiser hosted at Meltdown Comics tonight. There will be voice actor signings, an art auction and free booze! Please see the We Heart Japan website for more details.

Every year, the amazing folks at Anime Detour host a large charity auction benefiting the Twin Cities chapter of the American Red Cross. This year, they are routing the funds to the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund. Carrie Savage and I are hosting the auction and have already shipped five boxes full of rare and wonderful items. Everything will be viewable at the Art Show on Friday and Saturday, April 1-2, and we will start the auction around noon on Sunday, April 3rd. If you plan to attend, please check the schedule to confirm the time and location.

At midnight on Sunday, I will appear on the unofficial One Piece podcast with Christopher Bevins. The schedule has been posted and I believe the times are in the Eastern time zone.

There are many other projects in the works and I will post another update when more information is available.

Charity Auctions - Tips and Suggestions

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:18:00 +0000

Over the past few days, I have noticed many groups of people starting fund-raising drives to help support the relief efforts in Japan. Since I have been heavily involved in helping coordinate charity auctions for various anime conventions, it occurred to me that people may be interested in learning a few tips and tricks I have picked up over time. Please note that I do not run auctions as a profession, but there may be some valuable information I can share after six years of trial and error. This is not meant to be a comprehensive step-by-step guide; just a basic overview of the process.

Disclaimer

Before you accept donations for any reason, always check your state laws. In some states, charitable raffles may potentially infringe on local gambling laws, so do your homework ahead of time.

Choosing a Charity

Charitable organizations are simply everywhere. So, how does one go about making the right choice? First, think about what you want to accomplish. If you want to directly impact individuals, choose a charity that suits your needs. Always research the organization's non-profit status, as well as the percentage of donations that will directly support the cause you want to help. Some NPOs need a large amount of money to run their organization and this may make people feel uncomfortable. Also, be cautious when donating money to a third party. There is no guarantee they will disburse the funds they promise, so keep in mind that you are sending your hard-earned cash into the wild at your own risk.

Live and Silent Auctions

When you run either a live or a silent auction, the preparation beforehand can make the difference between raising $500 or $5,000. Organization is a key factor and while my experience is specific to auctions at anime conventions, some processes will work across the board. First, you need to understand your target audience. If you have a room full of anime fans, it’s difficult to try to auction items specific to other genres of entertainment. I’m not saying there will not be any crossover appeal, but I cannot stress enough that it’s better to choose your items based on what the majority of people are looking for. The higher the number of interested parties, the higher the likelihood of starting a bidding war. Period.

Once you have chosen your items, think of a way to organize the information. Create a document or spreadsheet with the description of each item and its estimated value. For gift baskets or items normally available for purchase, the SRP is usually a good gauge. If you have an autographed item, ballpark what you think it’s worth and add this to your documentation. You may have a specific goal amount for the total donation at the auction, so this will serve as a reality check to see if you are likely to meet expectations. It’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that you can raise $10,000 with a $5 item, just improbable.

When values of all items have been estimated to the best of your ability, think of a starting bid. Use your eBay skills! We all know sellers do not want to part with an item at the opening bid price. Since the auctions I am discussing here are for charitable purposes, it is even more important to try to maximize the bidder amounts.

If you are holding a silent auction, create a bid sheet to place near the item. All bid sheets should have a detailed description of the object and enough space for people to write in their bids. The rest of the information on the bid sheet will depend on the circumstances of your auction. If you have a group of people who will stay at the event until the end, you can leave a space for their name. To be on the safe side, you may ask for an email address so you can get in touch with the winning bidder at the end of the auction.

Auctioneer

At a live auction, your auctioneer is critical to the success of the event. If possible, choose someone who is a good public speaker, enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the items, charity and sponsoring group. Always acquaint them with the items ahead of time and make sure they know how to pronounce names correctly. I cannot count the number of occasions where auctioneers were unfamiliar with the items and mispronounced multiple names. This does not instill a feeling of excitement in your bidders, so this is a position that cannot be phoned in for any reason. It’s a tough job to maintain a high level of energy for hours at a stretch, which is why I usually leave this task to someone far more qualified than myself.

During the Auction

I have found the greatest success happens when someone is keeping detailed records (that’s me!) during the auction itself. While people are busy looking at items or furiously screaming at each other during a bidding war, I usually stay hidden behind a laptop with a spreadsheet, documenting the total amounts for each item, as well as the total amount for the entire auction. It is also important to remember that people who are serious bidders will want more than one item. While the auction is running, I am busy compiling receipts for each person and sorting their items into piles. This greatly speeds up the checkout process at the end of the auction when 30-40 people want to make payments at the same time. No one wants to wait 30 minutes to pay after sitting in a room for four hours. No one.

Extra Stuff

Try to maintain a water station and a snack table. People are more likely to be in a good mood if they are not thirsty or hungry. Depending on how you are running the event, you can break up the monotony of the auction by giving away freebies. In the past, we have given each attendee a numbered ticket and chose prize winners at random all throughout the auction. This was a really big hit and discouraged a number of people from leaving the room to attend other events.

Payment Options

This is a tough subject to tackle because there are many potential pitfalls. In addition to accepting cash, credit cards are an absolute must. This can present a problem if you do not have a way to process credit card payments. Paypal and other similar services charge a processing fee and will cost quite a bit of money. They are also an electronic record of income that may come into play during tax season.

The best option I have found is to get in touch directly with the charitable organization and ask if they can be physically present at the event. Most organizations will be able to process credit cards at a lower cost due to their status as a non-profit. This way, you can guarantee that all of the money is going to a reputable source and your bidders will be able to obtain a receipt for tax purposes. If you have specific questions about taxes, get in touch with a CPA and not someone like me. I have no clue.

In closing, there is a wealth of information online about the subjects I have covered. If there are any questions, please leave them in the comments section and I will address them as best as I can. Organizing charity auctions isn’t a science, but with good organizational skills and hard work, you can make your auction a success. When a few more projects are underway, I will create a follow-up post with a list of donation resources from the anime community and industry. If you have read this far, thank you! I have worked for 12 hours and I fear I may be a bit incoherent at this point.

Out of the Cold Snap

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:09:00 +0000

Coffee Cup Cozy
Originally uploaded by craftytails

The sudden arrival of unusually bad weather within the past month has definitely upset the applecart. Two weeks of ice and snow are quite odd for Texas and the roads were too treacherous for travel. One of the days was so cold that I watched the windshield of my car crack horizontally across the middle. Even though I originally wanted to buy a new car next month, the damage accelerated my plans. An unexpected financial burden, coupled with five days of being trapped in my home and followed with a convention trip took the wind out of my crafty sails.

I did, however, manage to bring my second drop stitch scarf with me to Naka-Kon. Although I had a wonderful time this weekend, the schedule kept me too busy to make much progress. Upon returning home (after some minor stress with a flight cancellation), I put the scarf aside in favor of my Hourglass Sweater. Knitting a skirt is still very tempting, but probably not the best decision until my waistline has diminished slightly.

In other news, KnitPicks is now carrying Kromski spinning wheels. Their pricing looks comparable to quotes I have received in the past. Now, if only there was a way to raise this much money at once. There are other, more urgent purposes for these funds, but a girl can dream, right?

Next month, my friends Ryan and Wolf are shaving their heads to raise money for St. Baldrick's Foundation. This is a great cause and if you have a local event in your area, it’s a fun and worthwhile way to spend an evening.

Since spring is on its way, I will close with a free knitted daffodil pattern that should make a cheery centerpiece for a coffee table or living area.

New Hats for the New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:45:00 +0000

Corkscrew Tassel Hat
Originally uploaded by craftytails

Project-wise, there has been a lot going on these days. During the holiday break, I finished the Mr Greenjeans cardigan and it fits like a dream. The project is a particular success because I wore it to work and no one asked if I knitted it. This may sound odd, but I am happier when someone can't tell if a garment is handmade.

Crafts aside, my main project for the year is a major overhaul on my home. Many possessions will be donated, tossed or sold within the next few months. The yarn stash will also be pared down to exclude anything I will never use. The prospect of simplifying my life is really exciting and the first round of purging already looks promising. Hours were spent organizing the button and bead stashes and everything is now stored in plastic ziplock bags in shoeboxes. This probably doesn't sound too interesting, but there is a sense of relief that comes with never having to worry about finding a specific button or buying something I already own.

Speaking of organizing, I have become addicted to making lists. The month of January has been spent on various hat-knitting projects:

Two Trilobite Hats (Cascade 220 Heathers and Berroco Ultra Alpaca)
One Ballard Slouch Hat (Malabrigo Merino Worsted)
One Mod Beanie (Cascade 220)
One Corkscrew Tassel Hat (pictured in Knit Picks Swish)

After knitting a few more hats, perhaps I'll make my first skirt. There are a bunch of choices out there and in making the list, I have noticed most of the patterns come from one of my favorite online resources, Knitty.

In hindsight, a skirt should have been started before the cold snap. Possibly, I may be able to start on a smaller size in a few weeks after my new exercise routine is in full swing. Losing a few pounds should help me feel more motivated when picking garment patterns. My next order of business should be locating some websites with healthy, low-calorie recipes. Any ideas?

Pseudo-NaKniSweMo

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:56:00 +0000

Mr. Greenjeans
Originally uploaded by craftytails

Once again, NaNoWriMo is almost upon us. For many knitters, November marks a concentrated effort to knit a 50,000-stitch sweater in a month. The criteria is detailed on the original blog and looks quite daunting. My schedule doesn't allow for the full completion of a new sweater from scratch, but I am determined to finish some UFOs on the needles. My Garter Yoke Cardigan is finished and fits amazingly well. Now, I am working on the second sleeve of my Mr. Greenjeans cardigan in a vibrant tangerine heather (pictured). The Tilted Duster is still awaiting sleeve seams and buttons. If I budget my time correctly, all three cardigans will be ready for the winter weather (such as it is in Texas). Not a single sweater actually fits the rules of NaKniSweMo, but the spirit is still there.

In the midst of these large projects, there are surprises in the works for the holiday season. This year, I refuse to get caught in a last-minute dash to the finish line. Patterns have been purchased and yarn orders placed, so all should go according to plan (appendages crossed). With the exception of a scarf, most projects have been chosen for their simplicity and beauty. Viewing my craft life with a "less is more" attitude has really helped me evaluate my struggle between being both a process knitter and one who enjoys the finished object. My ambition has the tendency to override common sense and a new way of thinking has severely curtailed both unnecessary spending and starting things that will ultimately remain unfinished.

Besides knitterly pursuits, some time will be dedicated toward the task of infusing vodka, specifically with cardamom and ginger. I am not one to be trusted in the kitchen for most purposes and this idea reeks of potential disaster. Either way, the thought of having jars full of mysterious potions in my cupboard makes me feel like I am pretending to be a booze-friendly Professor Snape.

My dance card (aka convention schedule) is rapidly filling up for 2011 and will continue to be updated on this blog. The most recently announced appearance at Sakura-Kon has become more exciting after being informed that many staff members either knit or crochet. In light of this news, I will donate a hand-knitted Jayne Cobb hat to the charity auction. It's always nice to have the ability to combine two seemingly disparate interests in a relevant manner.

Now, off to hyper-focus on costume ideas for Halloween. After promising to go to a party, I find myself lacking something clever to wear.

Cardigan Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Thu, 20 May 2010 04:30:00 +0000

Garter Yoke Cardi
Originally uploaded by craftytails

After a few months of non-stop work and little time for side projects, I am finally making my craft life a priority again.

First things first, the knitting portion of my Tilted Duster is finished. The only parts left are sewing in buttons, setting and seaming the sleeves and blocking. Some minor modifications were made after reading notes from Ravelry users. The back and two front pieces were increased from 4" to 6" in order to create a more flattering bust (from 21 to 31 rows using a size 9 needle). The sleeves were made one size larger to improve fit around the arms. If I manage to avoid major mistakes in the seams, the sweater will be my new weapon against the uncomfortably cold climate in my office.

As a result of my unchecked problem with "start-itis", the Garter Yoke Cardi is now on the needles. It's seamless and will satiate my need for instant gratification. Plus, the yarn is quite soft and will not irritate my skin like wool. A trip to Golden D'or this weekend yielded a treasure-trove of buttons which will look perfect with the pink colorway.

Speaking of which, the new Knit Picks catalog arrived and to my delight, it included some limited edition colorways of Felici. I have never been tempted by this yarn in the past, but Abracadabra immediately caught my eye. After a moment, I noticed a colorway next to it called Time Traveler. I am definitely ordering enough for a pair of socks because I am a huge Doctor Who fan. In case someone doesn't know the reference, here is an example of the matching scarf. I used a pattern from this website to knit a scarf for a friend.

For the time being, however, there will be no new socks until the cardigan frenzy subsides. Next up is Mr. Greenjeans, then perhaps the Vine Yoke Cardigan since I love Ysolda Teague's patterns so much.

Ravelympics 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:08:00 +0000

Liesl #1
Originally uploaded by craftytails

After missing the last few Ravelympics events, I thought I would never get the chance to join the festivities. My participation online has historically been minimal and the Liesl cardigan was started with the full knowledge that it may end up in the UFO pile with the others. To my great surprise, the sweater was completed in a mere six days.

The Ravelympics is an event sponsored by Ravelry and its purpose is to inspire people to start and finish a challenging project during the Olympic games. While this pattern was not challenging in the area of personal skill level, the true test for me was following it to completion in a limited amount of time. I usually lack the dogged persistence others have seeing a project through to the end. In fairness, I must credit the incredibly talented pattern designer. The instructions are easy to follow and offer a lot of options with sizing and customization. For my sweater, I chose the three-button, wide neck version with 3/4-length sleeves. Since I have two more skeins of a different Malabrigo colorway burning a hole in my stash, my second Liesl will have cap sleeves.

Perhaps this small success will enable me to dust off the three sweaters in my UFO pile. I have been avoiding this task because they have languished for so long that I don't remember where I stopped. It doesn't help that my detailed pattern notes disappeared into a box somewhere. Surely they will fail to resurface until I have meticulously backtracked and finished the projects. This gets me a little depressed, but it isn't all bad news. I have finished a total of nine projects this year. Three hats, four scarves and a pair of fingerless gloves are either sitting in my drawer or awaiting their recipients.

Now if only I could figure out the charity knitting... Time is running out and I am determined not to buy new yarn until at least one of my plastic tubs is empty. I am a long way from fiber stash acceptance and organizing my craft life will hopefully have a positive impact on other areas needing attention.

First Knits of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:22:00 +0000

Mistake Ribbed Scarf (again)
Originally uploaded by craftytails

The year was kick-started with a craft day at a dear friend's house. She invited a number of ladies and we shamelessly indulged in knitting, cross stitch, hand-tinting and sewing. Plenty of wine, gossip and homemade spinach dip was consumed. All told, our first gathering was a great success. The next one is scheduled and this is probably a good opportunity to finish up some of the projects promised to friends.

Speaking of which, a long-overdue obligation project has been completed. Several more are awaiting my time and attention. Hopefully, all items for family and friends will be out of the queue within the next few months. This includes a few sweaters languishing on the needles. After all, I can’t allow myself to start new garments when the old ones are still sitting around.

This afternoon, I finished a hat intended for a friend. Should have swatched, because the hat is too small and will have to be given to a child to wear. I have not knit cables in a while and forgot they would not stretch to the proper size. My version was made from Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride worsted-weight and size 7 needles. Bad, bad idea.

The Noro Silk Garden purchased at the end of the year is almost completely gone. I made the spiral hat, fingerless mitts and the usual mistake-rib scarf (pictured). The colors are a blend of both icy and warm tones. Once the scarf is off the needles, the yarn can officially be considered de-stashed.

There are three charity auctions coming up in April, so I am toying with the idea of knitting up a few items. Decided to post a poll to see what people are interested in purchasing. Anyone have suggestions? I am open to anything that is relatively quick to finish.

Damson No Longer in Distress

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:47:00 +0000

Damson Shawl
Originally uploaded by craftytails

The holidays are finally over and the car remains in poor condition. The result? A lot of knitting time at home.

Officially, I decided to go shawl-crazy. There are dozens of skeins in my stash, begging to be used on projects other than socks. Most of the yarn has been dyed in short color repeats and may not adequately show off stitch-definition. This calls for a lot of experimentation.

The reason for the new craze is the completion of the gorgeously simple Damson shawl. Instead of using the bamboo blend initially earmarked for the project, I decided to start over with superwash merino. The change in game plan was a good one, indeed. When I used the right yarn, the problems focusing on the pattern quickly went away. It's funny what a little enthusiasm will do.

As penance for my selfish knitting, I am now working on a long-promised scarf for my aunt. She requested off white wool and this is absolute torture for someone like me, who prefers vibrant colors. I settled on the Midwest Moonlight scarf in Cascade 220. Due to the difference in gauge, I cast on 33 stitches instead of the recommended 49. If I have enough yarn left over, I will also make her a hat as an apology for being delinquent.

Another project in the works this week is the mass purging of books and miscellaneous craft supplies. In order to simplify my life, many items need to be either sold or donated to make my home less overwhelming. Perhaps if I make enough money, the car repairs can be expedited. If the financial compensation ends up being low, at least I can feel a little more sane in my own environment.

Caught, Bagged and Tagged

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:48:00 +0000

Future Project Organization
Originally uploaded by craftytails

After being trapped in my home for an entire week during the holidays, I decided to organize my craft supplies. This meant embarking on a project I have had in the back of my mind for quite some time.

Several huge sales a few years ago prompted me to purchase enough yarn to make a bunch of sweaters. The fiber was dropped into the recesses of deep stash, never to resurface. Needing to simplify my life, I went through everything last May and got rid of any materials that would never realistically be used. This purge was intended only for the acrylic yarn gifted by well-meaning friends and family. Recently, I turned a critical eye on the rest.

First, I located the boxes of 1 and 2.5 gallon Ziploc storage bags from the last stash overhaul. The smaller bags were designated for tiny projects like scarves, hats, toys and gloves. Larger bags held a sweater’s-worth of yarn. This was the primary focus. I managed to assign patterns to almost every big batch of fiber from the same dye lot. I wrote project information on large note cards. Each card had the name of the project, approximate number of skeins needed, intended size, gauge, list of notions/tools and miscellaneous notes. (Will I need to download errata? Have other bloggers complained about the garment stretching after blocking? Does the designer typically write clear instructions?) We know the drill.

When I managed to track down all of the patterns and transcribe the necessary information, the note cards were placed in bags with the yarn. All of these bags were then put in their own clear plastic storage tub, away from the other tubs containing unassigned skeins. The photo was taken partially through the process and doesn’t show the end result. My yarn collection is quite scary and I am not entirely sure it’s a good idea to expose the entire mess to the world.

When I had a roommate last year, yarn was sneaked into the house surreptitiously at odd hours when she was not present. Even though I didn’t go overboard with purchasing, the addition of any new materials would have sparked a discussion where she would be confused but accepting and I would simply be ashamed. Assigning projects will help me work my way through the rest of the stash and prevent potential yarn binges. If I feel like making a sweater, there are at least a dozen options waiting for me. An accessory? Right there in the tub containing single skeins of yarn. Love the new system so far and hope it continues to work the way I intended.

My knitting life has been revitalized as well. Searching through boxes, I have located most of my UFOs and can finally work on finishing everything. Single socks are bagged with their needles and sweater pieces have been located and stored in the same place. Huzzah!

Speaking of knitting, the Damson shawl has been ripped back and re-knit, only to discover a huge mistake about ten rows back. I will have to frog hundreds of stitches to correct the error and hopefully I will be able to find the patience. The pattern is extremely well written and the screw-up occurred as a result of my own lack of attention to detail. I may write about this later in detail when I can correct the problem and continue the pattern. Keeping this project with me during social visits was a huge failure. Apparently, I can only do mindless garter stitch while talking to people. There are plenty of charity blankets to work on, so looks like they will be my next go-to items.

Finally, a dear friend sent me this wonderful link on CNN about urban knitting. Some of the items I knew about- others I didn’t.

Edit: Blogger has once again rejected HTML tags, so here is the link: http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/12/04/knitting.irpt/index.html

Hopefully, Not a Wool Allergy

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:38:00 +0000

Sockhead Hat
Originally uploaded by craftytails

In the days following the convention, I have managed to contract another sinus infection. Never have illnesses appeared back-to-back before and the need for an allergist has become more urgent. After the Thanksgiving holiday, a number of calls will be made. I am desperate to get an appointment before the end of the year when my insurance provider hikes up the co-pay for specialists. It's quite ludicrous what we are expected to fork over when certain specialists are absolutely necessary. Is skipping my yearly female examination suddenly an option? What a lovely present to receive right before the holidays. The only worse surprise would be finding out I have a severe allergy to wool and bunnies (thanks Ally!).

The convention itself was fairly quiet but nice. Attendees were very sweet and had interesting and thoughtful questions. All in all, I had a good time catching up with old friends and knitting on every panel and autograph session. Some progress was made on the hat (pictured) and more has been completed since the photo was taken. It should be ready for the decreases very soon, if not for one snag. This is really embarrassing to admit... but I never knew there were two different size 2 needles. I truly deserve this slap in the face for not learning my metric sizes. As it turns out, I own the 3.00mm 16" circular, but not the double pointed needles. All of my DPNs are 2.75mm, necessitating an order from Knit Picks. No LYS in my area ever has the sizes I need. This is part of the reason why I miss Yarns Ewenique so much. Their "wall of needles" was unrivaled (at least for my purposes).

Like everyone else I know, my mailbox fills itself with bills every month. To my delight, some publications arrived in time to amuse me during the quarantine. After a few months of mild disappointment, Interweave Knits once again has me excited about patterns. For example, Nora’s Sweater has three of my favorite elements, combining a cardigan with a tailored fit and lovely use of negative space. It probably helps that the model is wearing my favorite color for a sweater (eggplant) and fiber (alpaca). The Alpaca Pleats Jacket is equally tempting in its sheer cuteness and lovely drape. And yes, also because it’s purple.

The entire exercise of pattern-stalking on my part is quite ridiculous. After grousing endlessly about the number of UFOs laying about the house, I need to actually finish something. But in the interim, I will use my sickness as an excuse. *cough*

Just Sock It

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:43:00 +0000

Sockhead Hat
Originally uploaded by craftytails

Happily, the chevron scarf is finally finished and moved out of WIP status in my Ravelry queue. Poor impulse control, however, has caused me to relapse into start-itis. There is a convention in Fort Worth this weekend and I need a mindless project to keep my hands occupied during panels. No one can tell me if they think it's rude to knit while speaking in public. Perhaps it's because the idea that someone would bring yarn and needles onto an anime-related panel is fairly farfetched. Whatever the case, I will accept this reality until someone has a compelling and valid reason why knitting shouldn't be allowed. And for the record, it better be convincing.

This brings me to the pictured project. After languishing in the stash since my last birthday, Dee's stunning Iris colorway is finally getting a new lease on life in the form of a Sockhead Hat. After staring longingly at the skein for quite some time, I decided it was far too beautiful to knit into a pair of socks. Some yarns deserve to be showcased in more public forum. Everyone should know the dyeing expertise inherent in Blue Hands Fibers.

Speaking of talented ladies in my ~~stalking~~ social circle, Zabet Stewart is personally handling a "going out of print" sale on books at the AntiCraft website. There are only 115 copies left at this writing and these projects belong in any interesting crafter's collection. They even have a cephalopod menstrual cup cozy! Seriously, people. If this isn't your cup of tea, then check out the other projects that are not knitting-related. Cross-stitch, sewing, crochet and others represent, yo. And where else can you purchase a discount book that Zabet “may” have snogged? Hotness.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have completely altered my appearance. Apparently so drastically that various bartenders, the TSA (almost got rejected from airline travel to Oni-Con) and acquaintances (at NYAF) no longer recognize me. After looking at old photos and realizing I looked like a tomboy, this is a good change. New ID pictures will have to be taken, but I am pleased to look somewhat more feminine. Best to let suckers figure out the true nature through personality. Predators in the wild are typically spotted by their colorful plumage or colors. Guess losing 35 pounds and growing my hair out makes this coral snake less poisonous, at least to the casual observer.

End of the Hiatus

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:51:00 +0000

After finally getting over my fall knitting slump, projects have been progressing at a rapid pace. Since the last post, I have made another beret out of my latest soulmate, Malabrigo yarn. Once my next appointment comes up, the gorgeous recipient (my hairdresser) will be photographed. The trend of making her a hat every year was born from her deep, abiding love for beanies. How could any knitter resist such a captive audience?

Next up, I am finishing my chevron scarf. There is very little yarn left and the project needs to finally come off the needles. For some odd reason, most items get about 80% completed before I lose interest. This definitely needs to change and my first order of business will be tackling some old UFOs. My needles have been held captive for far too long. Often, the urge to cast on new projects makes me lose focus.

Speaking of which, the hoochie cozies are quite the temptation. What a great way to use up a lot of excess worsted-weight scraps!

Many ladies I know are having babies these days, so stalking more free patterns became a necessity. Them Apples and Autumn Leaves are begging to be made from stash yarn.

For those of you who want something for yourselves, there is a lovely online magazine containing unconventional patterns. They are on an indefinite break, but pledged to keep their archives available. I would love to hear more information on fit and pattern quality if anyone out there has tried knitting up some of these creations. Although checking Ravelry is nice and addictive, it's even nicer to start a dialogue with fellow knitters. After all, one can only lurk for so long.

Mega Cardigan vs. Giant Distraction

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:28:00 +0000

Featherweight Cardigan
Originally uploaded by craftytails

(Because, quite honestly, seeing Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus tonight cannot fail to make an impression. The clip that sold all of us prompted a quick addition to the Netflix queue.)

The Featherweight Cardigan made an appearance by continuous knitting throughout the movie. I am nearly halfway through the second sleeve and dread picking up stitches for the collar. Unsurprisingly, I failed at picking up the two stitches under the arms when making the sleeves. There are huge holes that need to be fixed during the finishing process. Since I have decided I love this designer and wish to eventually make the Gooseberry Cardigan, I need to find a solid resource that clearly explains picking up stitches and garment construction. So far, all of the books I own don't seem to adequately cover the topic. When I began knitting, I had no idea how many techniques would remain unexplained. It's almost as if it is assumed that people will figure out certain technical aspects without proper training.

A freak storm knocked out most of the electricity in the neighborhood. I will continue to knit until I actually lose power and have to light candles. The thunder this evening was deafening.

Under Lock and Key

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:03:00 +0000

Striped Scarf
Originally uploaded by craftytails

Finally, my exhaustion this week is explained. This morning, I was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. Thankful it isn't the flu! As a result, my doctor has recommended that I stay home from work. There is a lot to do and my body has decidedly inconvenient timing. Perhaps it's better that I am taking sick time because my brain feels fuzzy and the featherweight cardigan is mindless enough to allow me to indulge in some knitting. Surely no one at work wants my sneezing, corpse-like body passing out germs like candy (despite being in the true spirit of Halloween).

Guess my own brand of self-help will be a blitz of new hats that I will rarely ever wear in the Texas heat! I am dying to go into serious production with a few of the patterns in my queue: 1 Across, Piper, Hurricane, Cairn, Phoncible, Noro Spiral One-Skein, Fake Isle, Zinnia Dahlia and Slacker.

For the time being, I will continue the cardigan and perhaps the laziest scarf in all creation (pictured). I have no idea why this is taking me so long to finish, but motivation is lacking. For some reason, I will only work on this while watching recorded episodes of Warehouse 13. Interesting premise, but it really made me crave episodes of the Friday the 13th television series. Incidentally, this is now available for purchase, albeit at a prohibitive price point. Guess this Christmas will be full of requests for Amazon gift certificates so I can buy all of the crappy TV-on-DVD sets my tasteless heart and mind desire.

Getting Back on the Wagon

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:12:00 +0000

Star Crossed Slouchy Beret
Originally uploaded by craftytails

The title exists for several reasons. All of which are obviously referential to an addiction of some sort. The most important (to me at least) is the breaking of the yarn diet. Some may consider this falling off the wagon, but I feel differently. Honestly, I have not knitted in a while. The needles have felt foreign in my hands and the fiber has been lifeless. This is cyclical and seems to happen at least once a year, but never this long. After taking a trip to NYC and visiting School Products and managing to buy nothing, I feared the worst. Is my favorite hobby dead? Will I no longer feel joy stalking Ravelry patterns and groping strange yarn in small shops? How will I feel without my friends alternating mocking my "weird" hobby with asking for handmade gifts?

Consider my personal myth officially debunked! It all started with a guilty, nagging feeling. My ex-roommate wanted a beret and I was determined to make one for her. After miserably failing one attempt at the Gretel Beret, her hat has been in "time out" for the past year. Thanks to an email newsletter regarding a new shipment of Malabrigo at my LYS, an idea was hatched. I would knit her the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret (Ravelry link only). Never having worked with Malabrigo before, I wasn't sure what to expect.

It was far better than I imagined. The soft merino slid like butter in my hands and the hat was completed within two days. The picture here is the FO (un-blocked) in the Saphire Green colorway and this will surely look stunning on the redhead.

Oh, but did I stop the purchase with just her yarn? Nope! Two skeins of the Velvet Grapes colorway are sitting in a bag on my kitchen table, dying to be handled soon. I am not going to fret too much about what to knit with them because there is a sure feeling in my gut that Malabrigo and I are going to have quite the long-term relationship.

The sewing is progressing in a slow but confident fashion. I haven't been able to meet up with my friend very often and we finally started working on my owl skirt a few weeks ago. Perhaps in two weeks I can finish what I started. Char showed me how to construct flat darts and she continues to challenge me with techniques. Not expected, but definitely appreciated as a newbie. There is no end to my excitement about this owl skirt, guaranteed to beat up lesser, more boring skirts.

Better, Stronger, Faster

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:53:00 +0000

Adding to a laundry list of ill-conceived ideas, I intend to make myself a more efficient animal. My professional life has successfully drained most of my energy and intelligence, only to leave a desolate husk I refer to as "brain". Left with only a bare minimum of functionality, "brain" has decided to devote itself to planning offensive tea towel embroidery. This came as quite a shock when compounded with insomnia and the requisite twitchiness from nicotine withdrawal. Once again, "brain" has proved to be a hindrance to both my knitting and sewing. Surprisingly, I was able to make some progress on the Featherweight Cardigan earlier this week. One day, I may even take photos of the purple wonder in all its wonky glory. There has been a bit of fuss with casting on stitches in the middle of a row and joining the front panel with the back. "Brain" has, predictably, been fairly lax in providing assistance. Bah!

The financial devastation caused by a confluence of unfortunate situations has prevented yet another trip to Dragon*Con this year. Instead, I plan to visit the bad man at AnimeFest. Since knitting is the portable option, I plan to bring my cardigan with me. The Tea Towels of the Damned™ will have to languish until next weekend.

And maybe, just maybe, I will finally stop pining over the book that contained these quotes.

Achtung!

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:06:00 +0000

Due to an excessive drain on the free hotel wifi this weekend, I was not able to get as much work done as planned. Tonight was spent catching up on a few things until I realized there is something terribly wrong with the laptop. Guess it's going back to the hospital.

Thanks to the armadillo household, the craft nest has a nearly full box of nicotine gum. I think the recommended dosage is way too high, so I plan to use it only when absolutely necessary. Cold turkey may create far too much drama. The feeling of taking such a big plunge is really liberating! I am gnawing on piece number two, hoping it doesn't cause me to have yet another bout with insomnia. The fitful sleeping during the past month is taking a toll on my addled brain. I want to drink a glass of wine to help me feel drowsy, but that's just another trigger I need to avoid.

The need for cheer has never been more urgent, so here are two links that make me smile:

A lovely, classy friend of mine posted a link to the next purse I need to buy.

Bringing together two great loves, the open source embroidery project is nothing short of fabulous.

Frankenpost

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:12:00 +0000

Patternless Skirt
Originally uploaded by craftytails

(This blog entry was cobbled together from several lesser drafts sitting in my folder. Instead of posting separately like a rational person, I am dumping the entire lot here. Commence the disjointed rambling!)

My newest friend has taught me how to sew! (Or at the very least, how to use a sewing machine without trepidation or abject terror.) A confession needs to be made at this time about my collecting habits. The yarn stash finally appears gargantuan compared to my fabric stash. For many years, I scoured thrift stores, Ebay sellers, estate sales and clearance bins with the sole purpose of obtaining fabulous/original/quirky fabric. This has been a sideline addiction, going unnoticed and unchecked for over a decade. My closet is bursting at the seams with plastic bins full of bolts and remnants that I always "intend to do something with". The time has finally arrived for me to stop procrastinating and begin clearing out old materials and making room for new things. At the very least, I want to make my closet manageable for the first time in my adult life.

I continue to be plagued with low-light conditions in my apartment, so recent photos are not the greatest quality until I can purchase adequate lighting and a better camera (image stabilization is NOT overrated). The project pictured here is actually far more vibrant in real life and I love it, flaws and all. This is a gathered skirt with a wide waistband, trimmed with grosgrain ribbon and rickrack. I have not figured out which shirt to wear with it, but there is sure to be something appropriate out there.

The weekend at San Japan was wonderful! I met new friends and spent time with old ones. For me, the entire four days went off without a real hitch. I can attribute this to the hardworking staff who made it possible for the convention to run so smoothly. My flight immediately followed the charity auction today, making it impossible for me to get a final total. Once the Austin Browncoats finish working their magic, the auction will be finalized. Their tireless efforts truly made the difference this weekend.

Surprisingly, I am still awake. My "sleeping in a strange bed insomnia" mixed with my current "stress-related insomnia", creating an obnoxious cocktail which has wreaked hate on my body.

After sweating straight through six outfits this weekend, I am waiting for laundry to finish drying. Thanks to the scary flea infestation, my sheets are also being washed again to alleviate any lingering paranoia. The stupid life cycle of the pests has finally been broken and it's only a matter of time before my home returns to normalcy. I can't wait to stop vacuuming on a daily basis. The bruising caused by excessive housecleaning had to be explained far too many times this weekend.

Small Yarn, Big Smile

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:15:00 +0000

Chevron Scarf
Originally uploaded by craftytails

The aftershocks of the move continue to plague me, so I have turned to crafty pursuits to bury my woes.

Leah loved the finished chevron scarf so much that I decided to cast on for another (pictured)... and promptly lost the project in the vortex of boxes within my apartment. This was the icing on the bad-week cake, so I decided to cast on for the Featherweight Cardigan in order to keep my brain occupied. I bought a few skeins of Knit Picks Shadow in the Vineyard Heather colorway a while back with no specific project in mind. Eyeing the lace-weight fiber in my stash caused consternation a few months ago when I came to the realization that the yarn was too dark to show stitch definition and probably not an ideal choice for lace. This may end well, as I have been trying to figure out how to make a sweater in record-high temperatures. A pullover and a cardigan continue to lurk in the UFO pile until the heat subsides enough for me to bear working with heavy wool. The cardigan pattern will not only help me use the yarn, but is simple and light enough to carry with me when temperatures go well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Perhaps making a cardigan out of lace-weight yarn is a bit masochistic. Perhaps I am subconsciously preparing my brain to work on the Abotanicity sweater, which may be a relief in comparison. Checking the gauge, however, tells me otherwise.

Given a choice, I love lightweight sweaters that hug curves. I often find that chunky or bulky tops make me look like a pig in a blanket. Oddly enough, it makes no difference how much or how little I weigh. Thick clothing tends to overpower my features and looks either like a hand-me-down from an older sibling or an oddly-chosen costume. Neither option is particularly attractive to me.

These facts have not diminished my passion for the Buttony Sweater. Some bulky yarn was purchased during a sale with specific intentions on making this cardigan. Sadly, new garments will have to wait until I attack the increasing number of UFOs with full, systematic eradication.

Good Lighting? Never!

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:32:00 +0000

I found a drawback to my new home. The windows are positioned in manner that is not conducive to natural light. This means I have to actually do some research and become more skilled with photography. The horrible pictures I have taken of knitting projects lately are not to be tolerated. Thus, another portion of my laziness comes to an end. Damn you, apartment, for attempting to increase my skill set.

The chevron scarf for my darling friend is going to come to a bitter sweet end this evening. Sweet because it will finally be finished and bitter because I knit yet another scarf. I fully believe many people can sympathize with my scarf dilemma. Although they are wonderfully practical items, the actual process is slightly more interesting than watching paint dry. The pattern choice really doesn't matter because this is a series of repeats that simply feel like they go on and on... for eternity. I appreciate the simple pattern and gorgeous product. The inherent problem lies with my easily distracted brain, often drawn to late-night phone calls and accounts at these newfangled places like Twitter or Netflix. Those young whippersnappers are truly on to something.

Now, to the obligatory Cthulhian portion of this post. I must confess a deep, unabated obsession with all-things-Lovecraft. My stalking of Zabet will take a new and hideous turn after seeing a Cthulhu cross stitch pattern posted on the website. Cross stitch and I had a tumultuous relationship, resulting in a several beautiful children. Nonetheless, this is not my preferred technique and yet I have found myself yearning to pick up the embroidery hoop and needle again. Be warned.

The Good, The Bad and the Annoying

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:57:00 +0000

Betsey Johnson Shoes
Originally uploaded by craftytails

Some progress has been made since I last posted, namely in the form of wifi and gas. The exhaust vent for the dryer is still not installed and I noticed the disposal and dishwasher are not in proper working order. Go team!

In the interest of documenting the entire horror, I am sorry to report that a letter from my electric company arrived on Thursday. Elated at the prospect of receiving notice of a service credit, I was crestfallen to see they saw fit to serve me with a disconnection notice if I did not pay a $400 deposit! Odd because I am an existing customer and my account is in good standing. Odd because my credit score would not warrant such a high deposit. Odd because random charges are apparently an acceptable way to do business. I am switching as soon as this billing cycle is over. Mark my furious words, this will be done.

Tired of grousing about the move, a decision was made to talk about my hot new shoes. After losing a lot of weight, buying clothing has become a necessity. Hours of searching in discount clothing stores turned up a cheap pair of Betsey Johnson heels. They typically range from $100 - $250. Total. Score.

After all, let's face it. Any bright spot of cheer is more than welcome at this point.

The chevron scarf for Leah is moving along quite nicely. She absolutely loves the colors and thinks the piece is beautiful. As far as mindless knitting projects are concerned, I can't believe I never made the connection before. This is a memorable four-row repeating pattern that is infinitely portable. When I was a beginning sock-knitter, I bought a lot of 100% wool yarn that wasn't superwash treated. This is a perfect project to pretend my ignorant mistake was done on purpose. The best part? The pattern breaks up the colors in such a way that excessive pooling and flashing doesn't occur. How cool is that?

And Then Some

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:36:00 +0000

Five days after my move-in date and I still do not have gas, a dryer or a wireless internet connection! According to my landlord, the water heater is located in another tenant's apartment and she has to unlock the door for the service technician. This would have been valuable information to have before I moved in. The earliest they can arrive is on Monday and I sincerely hope she will respond to the call. If not, then I have more cold showers looming ahead in the near future.

The internet issue is an interesting one. The cable company showed up and did not install everything the way I planned. For one, I was promised a special on the premium channel tier. Apparently, the person I spoke to over the phone lied because no such special exists. This is not a dire situation, but the lack of wireless connectivity poses an issue. The technician was unable to install wifi (despite evidence pointing to the contrary) and the modem doesn't even work. I am calling in my personal tech support (i.e. drinking buddies) to help me solve the problem.

On a happier note, I sold some stash yarn to someone on Craigslist. When perusing my bins to see what I could add to sweeten the pot, I found a colorway that a non-knitting friend of mine adores. Since I have moved closer to her, I believe a gift is in order.

This is the Move that Never Ends

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:15:00 +0000

Foliage Hat
Originally uploaded by craftytails

This week has been the roughest I have experienced in quite a long time. Plagued with incompetent utility providers, bad luck and more bad luck, I feel the need to chronicle the debacle for review at a later point in time. The picture of the last knitting project completed before the move is the only craft-related portion of this post (and the only cheerful part).

Friday, June 12th - Water and electricity were due to be turned on at the new home.

Sunday, June 14th - Showed up to sign my lease as scheduled and the landlord completely forgot my current roommate and I were moving in. She eventually showed up without my gate opener and told me I should have reminded her that I still want the washer and dryer from my roommate's apartment. This prompted me to reiterate that I not only need them, but she also needs to pick up the refrigerator because I have my own to move in.

When I entered my apartment, neither the electricity nor the water was working. This prompted several calls to both companies. The water department said, "Oh, oops. We'll take care of it." And they did so before the close of business. Electricity was a different matter. At 11:00AM, I called my carrier to ask why my power was still off. The customer service representative stated that the provider (Oncor) was still dealing with outages from the storm last week and would get to the request as soon as possible. Shortly after, he recanted and said Oncor never received the service order. He assured me he would reissue the order and and stated he would call me back. He did not. I called again and reached someone else who also said the issue was with Oncor service outages and that my electricity would be turned on "whenever". It was 97 degrees outside, so one could imagine how miserable I became when I moved in my fragile items.

To compound matters, the previous tenant left the place filthy! I rented it over a month ago and was promised it would be clean when I moved in.

A bittersweet moment occurred when I met a friendly neighbor who helped me when the biggest spider I have ever seen leaped out from a crack under the front door and ran toward me. I killed him with a phone directory and my neighbor removed the remains. The image of the creature continues to haunt me.

Monday, June 15th - Still no power, so I called again. The rep told me my power would be activated by 2:00PM. If it was not, I should call them back. It indeed was not. When I tried to contact them again, two people hung up on me before I finished politely explaining the situation. Another attempt yielded a person saying they never sent the order to Oncor and that the rep I spoke to in the morning just made something up. After spending an hour on the phone, she said a technician would be onsite the next day. I notified her I was scheduled to work from home and they cost me time and money. Will I get a service credit for their shoddy treatment? Probably not.

But no, the trouble didn't stop there.

The gas company showed up to turn on the water heater and it was nowhere to be found.

The bathroom tower I purchased is too large and I can't find the receipt. Hopefully, the store will take it back and issue a credit.

My roommate moved into her apartment on this day to find that she didn't have electricity or water either. When the movers brought the washer and dryer from her apartment to mine, they noticed that an exhaust vent was never installed. Washer connections yes, dryer connections, not so much.

To make matters even worse, I locked myself out of the apartment and had to wait for my friend to come home in order to unlock the back gate. I proceeded to hoist myself up and enter through a window. Thankfully, the lack of electricity forced me to leave windows open!

Tuesday, June 16th - The movers showed up and started to load boxes and furniture. They estimated about 2-3 hours total for the move, but it took two hours alone to get my stuff out of the house. Although they complimented my packing skills, there were simply too many items to move quickly.

When driving to the new apartment to prepare for the movers, a car ran a stop sign and nearly T-boned me at an intersection. He came within one foot of slamming into the driver's side door and caused me to hit the brakes with full force. I heard them crunch and give, so this will be another expense to worry about in the near future.

Still no electricity, so the move went much slower than anticipated. Not only did they have to reassemble my bed in the dark, but they had to disassemble my refrigerator to get it into the kitchen. Thankfully, my huge fridge actually fit into the cubbyhole. Just barely.

All total, the move took twice as long as we originally thought it would and I paid double the amount. The lack of air-conditioning and light had a huge role in this.

In the middle of the afternoon, my power came on. Blessed air-conditioned relief! I scrubbed out the filthy tub only to discover that I left my shampoo and soap at the old house. Filthy, overheated and thirsty, I was rescued by my man. He brought water and went out to buy bathroom items so I could take a shower.

I then called my landlord to speak to her about the whereabouts of the water heater, gate key and exhaust vent for the dryer. I only got a chance to ask about the exhaust vent when she rushed me off the phone and hung up. She said the vent was never installed, but she didn't tell me this before I moved in the dryer. Generally a nice person, but a little forgetful, I think.

When the cable company called, I had to reschedule my appointment for the next day since the place was still a mess. Again, thanks to the lack of electricity putting me behind schedule.

Wednesday, June 17th - After much deliberation, I am getting rid of the dresser I have always stored in my craft room. There isn't enough space and I wish I never moved it over. Since the local Goodwill donation centers do not pick up items, I think the Salvation Army will get it. We will see what they say tomorrow.

I picked up the key to my post office box (finally), so that ordeal is over. Apparently, there is only one person in that location who can issue boxes and he only works from 8-11 in the mornings. This was not made clear when I paid for the box online and has never been the case with my past post office experiences.

Making a trip back to the old house, I grabbed my bathroom items and decided to move some boxes to the curb. To my dismay, the sanitation department failed to take the garbage bags sitting next to the bin. The first bag went in nicely, but the second one burst, spewing ant-infested trash everywhere. I finally cleaned everything up and decided to go to my boyfriend's home to do laundry, shower and complete all of my change-of-address forms. When I attempted to update the address on my driver's license, the online form kicked back an error message stating I could not do this because I have updated my information online once before. I guess it is out of the realm of possibility that someone may move two years in a row! I called their customer service line six times, only to reach a busy signal. When I finally got through, their office was closed.

Tomorrow, I may actually get a chance to work remotely. I am sure my inbox is full and the schedules are in dire need of attention. There is a nice coffee shop with free wifi and despite my personal woes, the world of anime still needs me.

Counting Down

noreply@blogger.com (Clarine) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:42:00 +0000

Diagonal Blanket
Originally uploaded by craftytails

It is now one week before the lease is signed for the new apartment and I have so much to get straightened out. Several items have been posted to Craigslist for sale and more items have been donated. The yard sale last night was quite a success! I managed to get rid of a large number of items and got good deals on bamboo wallpaper and an antique punchbowl set with twenty four glasses. A donation was made to a friend's hospital bill and in exchange, I was given a bunny and cabbage teapot and some assorted sewing patterns. The items I did not sell will be donated to various charities or put up for consignment. It's high time I began eliminating clutter from my life.

Knitting has been progressing steadily and the lazy blanket is now complete. I haven't taken measurements, but it is a nice size for a throw. Somewhere in the midst of my weighing, I miscalculated the amount of yarn before starting the decreases. This caused me to run out of yarn before finishing the last corner. The decision was ultimately made to call this "character" or 'charm", rather than a "screw-up". Despite my usual elitism against acrylic fiber, the blanket is quite soft and comfortable. Do I regret the impulse purchase? No. Will I do something this silly again? Probably not.

Since the UFOs are packed in boxes, I am working on the Foliage Hat in a burnt orange cashmerino aran weight yarn. Typically, I enjoy following charts but found myself knitting according to the written directions instead. It's a nice change of pace and the hat (so far) is looking quite lovely.