Rachel Carlson

Friday Feature: KNITTY KNITTY BANG BANG

 

happy friday peeps.  THANK GOODNESS too huh.  are you feeling the RUSH.  the PUSH.  the MADNESS.  enough of the drama, i KNOW.

here's a fun feature to lighten your heart.  especially if you have a soft spot for your favorite furry family member.  and who doesn't!

i found my next feature at the recent holiday handmade event by fancy tiger and the denver handmade alliance.  what a great 'handmade' community we live in.  did i tell you that we were #3, 4 and 5 in line to get a goody bag.  only the first 50 people in line were guaranteed a goody bag. thanks for braving the FRIGID temps with me!

knitty knitty bang bang - scarves for pets!  who knew.  i can totally see my sweet 'girl' in one of these.  not sure about the unruly boy of course.  he's a show-off as it is already - tee, hee.

 

introducing:  michelle  reilly

you can find her etsy store here:  knitty knitty bang bang

and take a peek at a few of her creations:

 

 

and you all know how much i love great packaging:

 

cheers to michelle for making goodies to take care of our furry ones too!

you can see more of her client's here:

flickr photo album

a few questions i asked of michelle:

1.  Scarves for pets!  What gave you the idea?

Pets have always been important members of my family. It seemed while there was a lot of things you could get your dog, other animals were out of luck. I was specifically looking for a way to make a cute but not too constricting item that would stay on a kitty (I have two) so I came up with the kitty scarf pattern. The result was so cute I decided to sell them on my etsy store.

2.  Easiest to work with, dogs or cats?

Well while dogs are used to wearing the scarves and are better behaved, there actually have been a few kitties who simply LOVE to wear their scarves and provided me with the funniest photos. Cats seem to like to strike GQ poses and must watch a lot of ANTM because they are good at smiling with their eyes like Tyra suggests.

3.  What is your most favorite design you have made?

I made a scarf for a small dog named Daisy and knitted a little attached daisy to it as a special surprise. Her owner loved it! Other than that, I have also knitted a few Dr. Who Scarves as gifts that I am truly proud of...they take about 40-50hrs to compete and are 14 feet long!

4.  What kind of yarns do you use?

I use mostly wool/cotton sport weight blends as these scarves need to hold up to a little rambunctiousness, but have upon request of clients made scarves with both non-animal fibers as well as cashmere blends.

5.  I have a very fussy puppy (almost 2 years old), he would look awesome in a scarf but I'm afraid he would destroy a lovely scarf.  What is your advice?

Is your puppy used to wearing a collar? If so, he probably won't notice the scarf as they are lightweight. I'd also suggest putting it on him for the first time for maybe around 10 mins, praising him on how dapper he looks and giving him a treat, then taking it off. Try it a few times while increasing the length of time he wears it and I bet he'll bring the scarf to you after a while! :)

6.  If you could knit a scarf for a famous animal, who would it be?

Sockington the tweeting cat, definitely (and maybe his sockelganger and roommate Penny too).
 

7.  How long have you been knitting?

I remember knitting a little with my Nonnie when I was around 5-7 yrs old but didn't pick it back up again until after she passed away, so I had to learn from scratch all over again about 3 years ago. I've been knitting ever since.

 
8.  What's your advice for beginners? 

Don't get frustrated if your first project doesn't come out exactly as the pattern states. Try to make small, easy to finish projects (like pet scarves) and also enlist the help of your local knitting or craft night group. I learn best while watching others and going to craft nights have been fantastically helpful when I've been stuck in a project. 

9.  What inspires you?

I like to make people smile. I also enjoy knitting things that are a little outrageous or left off center.

10.  If money were no object, what kind of yarn would you buy (since there are so many)?

I'm a HUGE fan of the Norwegian knitter, Pickles and her home-made yarn spun from organic wool. I'm looking to do an extreme knitting project soon and her Pickles fat-and-happy large unspun wool yarn would be perfect. Fancy Tiger also carries some of the softest, most luxurious Cascade Eco Alpaca yarn I have yet to find anywhere else. I would love to use it for a sweater or chunky cowl!

11.  Do you have a knitting circle, regulars you knit with?

Not exactly. While I have attended the Fancy Tiger craft night, I mostly enjoy knitting at my or a friend's house as we can pull out a bottle of wine and just kick back to some quality knit time. 

12.  Where locally do you get your yarns?

Fancy Tiger and The Lamb Shoppe. The people at both stores are so incredibly helpful if you need advice on what to get for a particular project. Don't be afraid to ask for help!

13.  How did you pick your company name?

I love puns, and old movies. I came up with this name in late 2006 when I was trying to think up what I'd go by should I do any guerilla knitting and knitty knitty bang bang just popped into my head.

14.  Where do you see yourself going with Knitty Knitty Bang Bang?

I'm looking forward to expanding my pet product offerings (look for more ugly sweater cat toys and a few other surprises very shortly) but might add a few human knitted items as well. I am also interested in creating more kits that teach people knitting techniques through quick, and easy projects.

thanks again michelle!

best wishes for a lovely weekend everyone.  i will be on hiatus for a few days.  OK, i'll be dog sitting in someone's home for 7 days - all the way to christmas eve - friends away on a family emergency.  will come visit the hubby during the day but aforementioned pet needs a sleeping partner at night.  she's a sweet pet.  will do my best to check in!  it will be nice to get away from bob who is about to CROAK - and if you don't know who bob is - that's okay too.

happy FRIDAY.  happy WEEKEND.

♥ rachel

i am featured on Todays Mama.

 

TWO posts in one day.  GULP.  it's the pain meds.  NICE.

check it out, just in time for the holidays too.  it's not too late to make some treats.  tea time!

 

you can see it here:  FRIENDSHIP TEA

thanks erin and todays mama for featuring me!

know when to STOP.

 

*google image*

who ME.  yeah right.  in case you didn't know, this definition was made especially for me:

stub⋅born

 

–adjective

1.	unreasonably obstinate; obstinately unmoving: a stubborn child.

2.	fixed or set in purpose or opinion; resolute: a stubborn opponent of foreign aid.

3.	obstinately maintained, as a course of action: a stubborn resistance.

4.	difficult to manage or suppress: a stubborn horse; a stubborn pain.

5.	hard, tough, or stiff, as stone or wood; difficult to shape or work.

ENOUGH said.

so i chose some winners from the last december blog posts:

dec. 7th - gypsy goodness - LORI

dec. 8th - holiday reflections - LAWREN

dec. 10th - brown paper packages - AMY

dec. 11th - no friday feature - ANISA

cheers to all of you!

♥ rachel

friday feature

FF is taking a break today.  check back next week for a fun and fabulous feature - yeah, i don't really like talking about my flair...

i leave you with this:

 

my needles/threads await me...

happy friday, happy weekend!

♥ rachel

brown paper packages

 

tied up with string.  these are a few of my favorite things.

THE best things come in small packages.  a good thing i have gypsy goodness in which to wrap up goodies with.  WHEW.  now to get these in the mail.  AND if you are one of the lucky ones to get a package like this, it's okay to open early, i'm santa's 'other' elf - i won't tell.

back to sewing....

♥ rachel

holiday reflections so far...

 

at least the ones we are making right now.  we had a GREAT tree experience this past weekend.  we did not get a 'tree' - we got a forest - ha.  i need to get a 'good' photo of it in the 'day' - the light indoors at night is too yellow.  NO ONE on this planet has a tree like ours - i dare you to find someone that does - ha.  pictures to come soon hopefully...

 

i am a SEWING fool.  i have 18 (last time i counted) sewing projects to finish before the end of the year and a few for january.  all gifts, with the exception of some 'charm'ing gifts will be handmade.  i am SEW proud of that. 

 

even the boy has joined the festivities!  i found a star on his head a few days after decorating the tree.  you can tell he does not want to be left out.  who said boys couldn't wear sparkles!

what memories are you making right now....

for all my local peeps, please STAY WARM and safe - brrrrrrrrr.

♥ rachel

Gypsy Goodness

 

have you heard...joggles is doing a huge 7 gypsies giveaway.  for the next two weeks (during the weeks of december 6th and december 13th) you can win a binderie package that includes a binderie punch, adapter and other gypsy goods.  plus you can also get gypsy goodies with your purchase at joggles.  it's not too late for holiday shopping.  get further details on the joggles site - 7 gypsies giveaway.  happy shopping!

but wait, there's more...check out our Gypsies Journal for more fun.  we are giving away a prize package just for having the gypsy badge on your blog.  show us that gypsy spirit!

 

show your gypsy pride by adding the badge to your sidebar.

 

detailed instructions to add the gypsy badge to your blog's sidebar can be found in this post.  and don't forget to comment on the two aforementioned posts to put your name in the drawing.  it's that simple.  and what a great prize package to win!  you will also notice that under my gypsy badge i have added the oh so talented gypsy creative team members.  i'm so lucky to work with them.

christmas comes early for THIS gypsy - GULP.  i received my 7g's box in the mail the other day.  the box must have weighed 50 pounds.  the new VENICE line is delish.  the line evokes what i imagine venice to be like.  ah, someday i will travel there.  the photo stand is perfect to interchange photos and projects.  the new 4x6 artist's printers trays are simply cool.  the new stamp set - awesome.

 

this gypsy girl is off to play with goodies.  i felt like i was having a relapse with the recent illness.  feeling a bit icky again.  the weekend was fun and HUGE thanks to my peeps that were up so early to wait in line (in frigid temps) to get a goody bag at holiday handmade.  we were #'s 3, 4 and 5 - they were only giving away 50.  cheers to lexis, my recent friday feature - it was great to meet you!  thank you for the shout out on your blog about me - that was sweet.

have a great week everyone!

♥ rachel

p.s. here are my december winners so far:

dec. 1st winner - shannon

dec. 3 - no comments - no winner

dec. 4th winner - roxane 

SEE how i did that for the element of surprise.  i posted on the last friday feature if you comment in the month of december (EXCLUDING FRIDAY FEATURES) that there will be surprises along the way.  i'm sneaky like that.  if you see your name above, please contact me.

Friday Feature: LEXIS*WORKS

 

welcome to friday, WHEW!

i am beyond tickled to introduce you to lexis grapp of LEXIS WORKS.  a graphic designer by day and crafter by night.  WOW.  and just in time for today and tomorrow's holiday handmade fair presented by fancy tiger.  i've yet to actually meet her but i will get my chance on saturday.  i found her name via a postcard from fancy tiger (link on right sidebar).  in fact, she is the one that stood out the most whilst researching all of the names on that same postcard (you'll see why later - wait for it).  YES, i actually do research for my features.  makes it all the better.  we have been exchanging several emails this week and it was so worth it.  read to the end and you will see the special she is doing for my FRIDAY FEATURE readers - thank YOU lexis!

  

LEXIS WORKS - the blog

LEXIS WORKS - the shop

most of you know my love of paper, the illness that inspires me to keep the TINIEST pieces of my favorite paper, TINY pieces.  and also my recent love for fabric, lexis works with fabric too when time allows.  and a few of my closest peeps can tell you that i'm holding on to the LAST sliver of 'olivia the pig' fabric.

lexis has inspired me to get back to my paper and probably even paints.  thank you lexis!  her mixed media prints and cards are fantastic and inspiring.  the colors burst with life yet have a hint of mystery.  the one that i like most right now is this one:

 

you will see what inspired her to do the above print during her interview below...

let's get started:

1.  Art and mixed media, what does it truly 'mean' to you?  Nothing like a hard question straight out of the gate!
Yes, a hard question indeed! I think art is a really broad term. I've gone to the museum with my boyfriend and he says "I could do that" to the Jackson Pollack splatter paintings. But I tell him, "You didn't." In art history I learned very early that it's mostly about the idea. Think of DuChamp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Duchamp) There is a lot of art, that "I could do" but it wasn't my idea. That same "I could do it" keeps me from buying a lot of handmade items as well, because I think I'm crafty enough to do it. But most of the time I don't. It keeps me from buying things though! I've gravitated toward mixed media because I really love the story and history behind items. I enjoy being able to find a new use for items. This means I pick up all sorts of items-and I keep a lot of paper bits. 

2.  Is this your profession, your bread and butter?
I am a graphic designer by day and a crafter by night and weekends. Although I find the type of medium that I work in lends itself toward graphic design. I hope to one day turn my art into my "bread and butter," doing freelance graphic design and artwork.

3.  Are you doing what you truly 'love' to do?
I may not always be working on projects that I love, but I do love being a graphic designer. I wouldn't have it any other way. Getting to sell my artwork outside of work is icing on the cake-or cupcake.

wait for it...

 

4.  What things inspire you to create your works?
I get really excited about art books! I have a whole list of books on my Amazon wish list. Usually I'll check them out from the library, so it's more of a reading list. I bought Naive Modernism this fall, which I've talked about alot on my blog. And I just got 1000 Handmade Greeting Cards ( http://www.amazon.com/000-Handmade-Greetings-Creative-Correspondence/dp/1592534732/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259870889&sr=1-6 ) for my birthday that I haven't had a chance to look at. I enjoy window shopping at cute boutiques looking at the cards and other paper crafts. 

5.  If you could do a print for someone famous, who would it be?
Sabrina Ward Harrison. She is my hero... and my mom.

6.  What is your 'favorite' medium, I know it's hard but do you favor one more than the other?
I really love to work with my hands, and I hoard paper like it's my job. So collage.

7.  I really like your "Chance At It All" print - what inspired you to do this print, is there a special story behind this piece?
When I was a senior in high school, a friend of mine sent me a very inspiring e-mail. She told me how special I was and how I deserved the world. The text comes from this e-mail. The imagery comes from a birthday card I made for my boyfriend. A friend saw it and said, you should make a painting like that. 

 
9.  Unless you have already done it, where 'in the world' would you travel to be inspired by your surroundings to do a print or other?
I really enjoyed the traveling I did in Europe-Scotland, Amsterdam, Paris, England, Italy, Spain. I collected every piece of paper I could get my hands. I loved seeing the different graphic style over there. One of my favorite pieces was the sugar packet on an Amsterdam airline. It had a mini self portrait sketch by Rembrandt.

10.  Describe THE perfect 'art' day...
I have this giant journal I bought at Paperchase (http://www.paperchase.co.uk/) in London, their products are now available at Borders in the US. The pages are bigger than 11x17 and it's all craft paper. I would love to allow myself the day to paint and collage in there. To really return to the visual journaling I used to do. I haven't allowed this for myself because I tend to use any craft time I have for making finished pieces that I can sell, rather than playing an experimenting.

11.  OK, 'this' question I have to say is self-serving (hence the name of my blog) but can you share with us a glimpse of working at a cupcake shop in LONDON!?  *sigh*
A little background: I went to London after graduating college with an internship set up with a design firm. But once I arrived, I couldn't get in touch with the firm. To this day I have not heard from them. So I was in London jobless. I found the job at Buttercup Cake shop ( http://www.buttercupcakeshop.co.uk ) and worked there for the remaining 7 weeks of my stay. In charge of the frosting, I had a giant mixer that I added cups and cups of powered sugar and logs of butter. It was a new shop and the American owner encouraged us to taste all of her cupcakes. In fact, myself and 2 other American girls ran the shop for 3 weeks in the beginning while she was in Hawaii. I think working at the cupcake shop was more beneficial to my resume than the design internship would have been. Everyone always asks about it ;)

see how i made you 'wait for it'.  cupcakes.  in LONDON.  7 weeks of frosting.  and taste testing ALL of the shop owner's cupcakes.  SEVEN WEEKS.  *sigh*.  i clicked on the link lexis offers above.  yummy.  take THAT design firm!

 
12.  What, if anything, would you do all over again?
Sometimes I wish I would have gone to an art school for my graphic design degree, instead of a liberal arts school. I think perhaps I would have gotten a better "art" education. Even though I still took lots of art history. But I've always loved learning, so I would have missed out on all of the history classes and sociology classes that I took. Also, I think some art school grads tend to think they are better than others who didn't go to art school. And in the end, it's not about the school you went to, it's your own talent. I think we all make choices and handle them in the moment the best we know how. It's really hard to choose a school for what you want to be when you grow up at 18, or 17. My mom didn't want me to get an art degree like she did because "you can't do anything with it." (She went back to school for a fiber arts degree.) But graphic design is a profession with a direction which was the compromise my Junior year.

13.  How many art journals do you have started and can you remember at what age you started them?  Do you tend to go back to them for inspiration?
I started keeping a written diary the summer before 8th grade. I wrote in it several times a week and eventually it became an everyday activity. I have piles of journals filled with my writing in a hope chest at my parents. It wasn't until my Freshman year of college that I started incorporating imagery into my journals. My first Senior year of college ( I was in school for 5 years) I kept a visual journal for the year as a New Year's Resolution. You can see some of those pages here http://issuu.com/lexisgraap/docs/2006_journal. Since then I haven't been the best at visual journaling. It might be another one of those New Year's Resolutions this year. I like going back to look at them, but sometimes they make me more sad because I went through some tough stuff and it brings it up all over again. Journaling was a good way for me to release all of those feelings. 

14.  Canvas or paper?
I've been working on canvas for over the past year. I used to work on paper because it was cheaper and now I'm thinking of moving on to wood.

15.  And finally, this might be really hard, what is your FAVORITE piece of paper to work with?  For example, do you keep stashes of newsprint, a 1x1 inch of your favorite art paper (guilty), torn pages from a dictionary, etc.
I think it would be the dictionary pages. I have 4 old dictionaries at home, plus another my mom wants to give me AND a set of 1950s encyclopedias sitting at my mom's house. They make a great base to any project and I love the texture of all the words and the yellowing pages.

lexis also does cards.  just in time for the holidays too. 

 
the above is my favorite card set.  it's perfect for us folks that live in colorado where WINTER sticks around until hmmm, ARPIL sometimes?  brrrrr.

HUGE thanks to lexis for sharing a piece of herself with us.  if you are local, come out to the holiday handmade fair today and tomorrow to meet lexis and see her works.

a secret sale from lexis to be applied to ETSY orders only:

*Any order of Christmas cards over $10 will receive a free print with purchase. Please mention the phrase “Friday Feature” in the comments section and indicate the print you would like.

check out her ETSY site here:  lexis works on ETSY

thank you lexis!

a special thanks to all my readers old and new and to those that leave comments.  you will notice that i have been answering questions and/or replying to comments.  i'm also working on something special for those of you that comment in the month of december - wait for it...

happy friday, happy weekend!

WARM hugs, rachel

let the holiday fairs begin...

 

it begins tomorrow and for me and some peeps the fun begins on saturday.  you know how much i like fairs, markets, etc.  and while i'm just going to peruse the shops and drool over goodies, it's still a fun experience. i'm excited to see/meet new people too, making for great connections.  a good thing that i'm feeling at least better to get out and about - WHEW.  cheers to handmade!

stayed tuned for tomorrow's friday feature - i'm really excited about this one!

WARM hugs...do you have ANY idea how cold it is here...

currently 15.3 degrees with a low of TWO degrees later tonight.  NICE.  it reminds me of when i lived in illinois - the 'cold to the bone' kind of chill.

♥ rachel

welcome DECEMBER!?

 

*google iamge*

WHAT THE!  just the other day it was 'october' - really it was.  will i lament about putting the pumpkins away or the fall leaves.  OR.  being sick the last several days has NOT helped in the 'cheery' department.  or is it the fact we are unemployed and don't prepare or get excited about impending holiday STUFF as if you would when you have a job.  i.e. holiday office parties, gift exchanges, etc. 

today i woke up to ascertain:

• the tree is not up
• the holiday decor is not up
• the pumpkins ARE still out - can some put me out of my pumpkin misery?
• the holiday cards were not mailed out - WAIT, could that be a plus that the holiday cards WERE actually done TWO months or so ago?  one point for rachel.  but they are still sitting here.  take away that point - happy feeling gone.
• UGH

don't feel sorry for me.  i'm not looking for pity.  it's just that i NOW have to get a LOT of STUFF done and FAST.  it's great that all holiday gifting will be handmade/homemade, THAT i can handle. 

we head out on saturday to cut down our christmas tree - HUGE thanks to the walker family for our permit.  because it just wouldn't be the holiday season without the 'fresh smell of pine' in our abode - ahhh.  THEN it will feel like the holidays.  the kind of holiday we celebrate at least. 

i have to share with you a post by Vanessa Christenson of V and Co. - it's about her NEW tradition and cutting down their own tree this year - it pretty much summed up the entire month of december for me - thanks TONS v for allowing me to give you a shout out.  note to readers:  make sure that you do not have liquids 'in' your mouth before you go over to read - HA!

read here:  our not so beautiful tree

my response to her was this:

i am in HYSTERICS over this. we go out to cut our tree this weekend as we have done for the past TEN years since meeting my husband. yeah, that 'fresh pine' smell in the house camp and it must be a REAL tree, etc. AND i at times give in to the colored lights for the kid - oh WAIT, the 40-yr-old hubby IS the kid - and the 'yearly' ornaments, WELL, that's my gig. so cheers to you for a NEW tradition hey! warm hugs from colorado, rachel

with that said:

• i WILL let the hubby pick the tree this year
• i WILL let the hubby use the 'colored' lights
• i WILL let the hubby be in charge of the whole day

suffice to say, i WILL be putting half-eaten gingerbread cookies on aforementioned tree.  let me explain...

which brings me to my next topic:  see how i took an opportunity and went right into the next one - i'm drinking coffee again.  have not had it for FOUR whole days - NO, really.  stupid coffee.  happy feeling back again.

 
so we recently watched the ENTIRE catalog of STAR WARS movies.  yes.  we did.  cheers to the library!  allowing us to get rid of our netflix, it was only a few dollars per month but YES we cut that out too.  every little bit counts.

and in the spirit of hans solo in carbonite, i give you cookies in carbonite:

 

 

these are obviously not done but you get the gist of it.  and to my readers that will actually receive one of these, oops - surprise is 'out of the oven' - pun intended.  happy feeling gone again.  i just can't get it right can i.  i found this awesome tutorial for the above ornament on the elsie marley blog - thank you meg!  she posted it back in 2007 and many people have downloaded it since then. go make cookies!

of course i'm working on 'other' things too:

 

and don't forget to come by the Gypsies Journal - we gypsies are working on a lot of holiday projects for you to make - there is STILL time you know - no REALLY, there is, take the above pouting for an example.  a few peeks of my gypsy holiday projects to tease:

 

go forth and create STUFF.  is IS december after all.

have a great week!

♥ rachel