The Artful Hooker

Of Ninjas and Crochet

2011-06-11T23:08:00.000-07:00

True happiness--how do we know if we have found it? I have ALWAYS found it difficult to answer that question. I am pretty easy to please, but then in the back of my mind there's a little voice asking, "Is this it, or is there something better?"

It took a lot of courage to step back and examine my life, as objectively and honestly as possible. I decided that unless I try to make changes, I'll never grow as a person, as a writer, and as a crafter. I had interpreted the happiness I felt as contentedness, when it really was COMPLACENCY.

And so, I covered my eyes and took that leap into unchartered territory--in my full-time work, in my craft, and in my personal life. I'm really hoping it all pays off. After all, I didn't rush into it unprepared--I have my God, my family and friends at my back. :)

Of Ninjas
I quit from my (stable, relatively high-income, low-effort) day job. I really want to grow as a person, and I think that in my new job, I will get tons of opportunities to do just that. I now work as content writer for Lemonade Stand Media, an advertising company that wants to explore the new frontier in media: the online universe. We have a group buy site: http://www.nakamuraka.com. Right now, that is our focus. Aside from writing content for the site, I also play a role in promoting it through different social media channels.(Please click the link to see more ninjas :D)

Of Crochet
I have been writing for Crochet Spot since November 2010. I love helping people learn more about crochet, and writing patterns for them to enjoy (plus it doesn't hurt to have a little extra income doing something you like doing anyway). Rachel (founder of Crochet Spot and crochet superwoman) has been a very considerate and generous person in my life. Recently she asked me to write patterns for the Crochet Spot Store and of course, I was only too happy to oblige! So far I have had the pleasure of submitting two patterns for her, and I'm working on a fabulous third. ;)

I don't know when Ravelry started doing this, but boy oh boy, how happy am I that I can now share all of my patterns with non-Ravelers!

And Another Thing...
Another BIG change is coming to the artful hooker.

...

The artful hooker is getting married! (It's kind of weird talking about myself in the third person) :D To a civil engineer I met in college. To me he represents a lot of firsts (first boyfriend, first kiss), and I look forward to sharing more "firsts" with him, our families, and our friends. The wedding is about eight months away, and I'm happy to report that I have not (yet) become a bridezilla. :)

I'm not sure where all of these changes will take me, but I have steadfast faith that EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT. :)

Cheers to change, happiness, and love!

P.S. I Made This...

2011-03-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

So I can't believe I just found this site: http://psimadethis.com/

It's a site for all the girly-girls out there; doesn't matter if you haven't done a DIY project at all before. New York-based Erika Domesek (psimadethis.com's founder) explains all the steps in every oh-so-stylish project through a single collage-style photo! And don't worry, she also makes tutorial videos for her DIY projects.

Here's my favorite so far: her chunky pearl necklace. It's a great way to recycle all those pearl or bead strands you've grown tired of wearing, or have faded in some parts.

Fabulous, no? :) Happy crafting!

Lovin' Lace

2011-03-29T05:38:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been fascinated with lace. I only learned this week the different textures for lace like Chantilly and Duchesse. So lovely and romantic--each one more intricate and detailed than the next.

I'm so thankful that I know how to crochet. This lets me achieve that lacy look without spending too extravagantly! I love the designs of crocheted lace by Doris Chan, Vashti Braha, Lily Go and our very own Mimi Alelis. I even love the look of freeform lace (by Myra Wood) even though I don't personally like making freeform crochet all that much.

So for those whose interest I managed to get piqued, I'm sharing with you the link to the latest free ebook from Interweave Crochet:

http://www.crochetme.com/Crochet-Lace/

"Crochet Lace Pattern #1
Corset Belt by Sandi Wiseheart— Inspired by such Hollywood stars as Queen Latifah, this easy crochet lace corset is crocheted using suede and accented with three crocheted flowers. Corset belts can be worn high or low, to accentuate your own favorite curves."

"Crochet Lace Pattern #2
Broomstick Lace Capelet by Kate Pullen—Looking from broomstick lace patterns? Light and airy, the Broomstick Lace Capelet by Kate Pullen combines mohair and silk yarn with broomstick lace to create a capelet with the perfect combination of elegance and practicality. Surprisingly warm, this accessory highlights the beauty of broomstick crochet. Stylish enough for an evening out and cozy enough for a stroll by the water, the capelet makes a beautiful addition to many outfits."

"Crochet Lace Pattern #3
Crocus Scarf by Laura Rintala—The Crocus Scarf by Laura Rintala lends the perfect crocheted lace touch to your spring ensemble. This easy crochet lace pattern is crocheted from luscious silk and begins with a simple fan-lace pattern."

"Crochet Lace Pattern #4
Tunisian Lace Ascot by Ellen K. Gormley— If you want to learn Tunisian crochet, the Tunisian Lace Ascot by Ellen K. Gormley is a great introduction to this technique. This quick and simple crochet lace scarf transitions seamlessly through the seasons, and the easily memorized crochet lace pattern makes it an ideal travel project. Though simple, the result is elegant and practical."

"Crochet Lace Pattern #5
Victorian-Inspired Lace Bracelet by Sarah Read— Don’t let the tiny hook and thread fool you—this charming crochet lace pattern works up quickly. The Victorian-Inspired Lace Bracelet by Sarah Read is reminiscent of historic thread crochet. Inspired by vintage Weldon's patterns, this charming lace bracelet makes a fast gift and shifts effortlessly from elegant to modern."

Of all these patterns, I've only made the bracelet (and I made it a looong time ago!). I made a few variations, though: I made a strap with an improvised, crocheted toggle clasp for easier closure. Here are a few pictures, and you can see my Ravelry project page for it, too: http://ravel.me/clairethere/vilb

I do love the Tunisian ascot and broomstick lace capelet! I don't see any practical uses for those though... *sigh* But it's always great to learn a new crochet technique. :)

Happy hooking!

Totally Crocheted Apartment

2011-03-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

Madness. Crochet madness, that is.

It's what came to my mind as I browsed through the photos of the "World's First Thoroughly Crocheted Apartment."

I mean, I love crochet, and I love art. I even love me some crocheted art. But... Why. Why?? WHY?!?!

I mean I know it makes people see crochet in a new light, but I'm not sure if that new light is all that flattering. It's bound to draw reactions along the lines of a "WTF?!" instead of a "Ooohhh.." *sigh* ..At least now we know where all that Red Heart Camo Print is going.

The Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework

2011-03-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

The Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework

I was so happy to see this book on sale at my favorite bookstore. I went into the store just planning to browse through their craft books for inspiration... But then this beauty presents itself to me, with a heaven-sent 40% off tag to boot!

I love reading it. Somehow, while reading it my posture is ramrod straight. I instantly feel maidenly and proper. I guess Madam Therese's voice transcends through all those translations--I feel like a private tutor bent on my social survival is constantly chastising me. LOL.

Even though the language is a little outdated, I love the comprehensive coverage of everything yarny and thready and hooky and needly. Every time I pick up the book, I learn something new.

Plus, this handy dandy color wheel comes with it! It's placed in the back of the book, sort of where an accompanying CD would have been placed for something like a concise encyclopedia. How eminently proper for something so properly crafty. :)

I absolutely recommend getting a copy. For a craft compendium, it's actually portable! And it's a true timeless classic you'll consult over and over again.

Busy-ness. And Crochet for Pets...

2010-12-26T16:27:00.000-08:00

I have neglected my blog lately because of all the things I've been juggling. To be honest I'm a little tired of writing right now--it used to be so much fun to share my thoughts, views and creations by blog. But lately I've been doing too much of it for work!

So there, I feel better after writing that. :)

On to the main point of this post... I want to know if people really love crocheting or knitting for their pets.

I mean, on the upside, they won't say anything bad about your work, right? But you wouldn't really know if they would like it or not until you see their reactions to the finished item. So there's a chance that your efforts would go to waste... Wouldn't it be nice to understand your pet's thoughts? LOL. I would've freaked out if my dog suddenly started speaking, but hey, who wouldn't want to have a conversation with their pet? :)

I'm asking because I submitted two patterns to Rachel of Crochet Spot, for pets.

Houndstooth Pet Scarf

Computer Mouse Toy

What do you think? And what do you do? Do you like crafting for pets?

In my case, crocheting for pets is a new idea. I hadn't done it before Rachel's requests for patterns... But my dog seems to like both! Bully for me, but does this go for everyone else too? :)

My Christmas Gift

2010-12-15T01:24:00.000-08:00

I shared a photo here of the Christmas tree hat I wore last year to our company's Christmas party. Can you still remember? *Giggles*

I'm happy to say that I won the Best Hat Category last year. :D The cash prize was unexpected (and deeply appreciated!). But I valued mroe the reactions I got while wearing this hat. Its glory was extended to the family reunion we have yearly... Where it met its demise at the hands of overeager relatives. :|

A Crochet Spot reader requested the pattern for this hat, so I remade it and shared the pattern for everyone! Check it out!

Christmas Tree Hat

Hope you like it. Better hurry, there's still a little ways to go before Christmas. ;)

Good News!

2010-11-17T21:52:00.000-08:00

Do you remember this necklace from my last post? I finished writing the pattern for it (with a few changes). I added a small star in the center, made the strap shorter, and made it in Christmas-y colors...

And voila! It became a Christmas ornament!

You can find the pattern at Crochet Spot: Star in a Flower Ornament. Yes, I'm writing for Crochet Spot's Rachel Choi! I've also written another post for the site, a tutorial for the popcorn stitch.

I can't even begin to express how happy I am about this. I finally found a way to combine two things I love doing: crochet and writing. And make a little extra money, too! I think (and hope) that this will develop me both as a writer and a crafter. Already, I'm learning a lot about writing better posts and how to make patterns simpler to read. Rachel, I can't thank you enough for this great opportunity. :)

Accessorize!

2010-11-06T22:23:00.000-07:00

They say the key to a good outfit is having the right accessories. Sometimes you need small pieces to accentuate a bold outfit; sometimes it's the other way around.

Yesterday, I felt I needed something eye-catching to make my otherwise plain outfit stand out. So I made this necklace yesterday before going out. :)

I'll be sharing the pattern with everyone soon. I'm thinking that it would make a great Christmas tree ornament too, using the right colors. :D

Watch out for the pattern soon!

Whoot!

2010-10-22T07:06:00.000-07:00

Owls. I became OBSESSED with them last week. For no particular reason that I could fathom. I mean, I haven't even seen The Owls of Ga'hoole yet (I'm not particularly excited by the story, but it amused me to no end that the owls had English accents). I noticed that there are a lot of crochet patterns for owl-y things. They ranged from fugly to frakking cute.

Hands down, my favorite was Rupert the Owl by Irene Strange. I gazed at it during all my breaks at work for one week before caving in and buying the pattern on Ravelry. I both love and hate that designers can have pattern shops there--it means easy access to all the lovely patterns. Instant gratification which unfortunately equates to increased spending (at least for me :D).

But for this particular pattern, I knew that I was going to get my money's worth. I've seen how the author explains the pattern via written instructions, graphs, and photo tutorial. She has some free patterns available on her website and on Ravelry.

I immediately set off to work on it. But I didn't make a toy... I made a cozy for my MP3 player! My player looks like Mickey Mouse. Seriously.

Whoot with Mickey

close,

I attached a button on the back so I can open and close Whoot's head, and a loop on top so I can wear her on a necklace. :)

open!

I don't often make things that have color changes after every single row, and lots of sewing and finishing involved. But I'm really happy with this one. I just might make another. :D

Phone-y Turtleneck Sweater (Phone Cozy)

2010-10-08T06:07:00.000-07:00

I’ve been away from my blog far too much. To make up for it, I give you…

*drumroll*

A free pattern! My first evereverever. Ever.

It’s October already, and you know what that means. Holiday gift cramming! I came up with something that would be a great gift to guys, gals, and just about anyone who has a phone or gadget. Plus, it uses up your scraps! It uses up small amounts of worsted acrylic (hurrah for cheap yarn). It’s like a win-win-win situation.

Phone-y Turtleneck Sweater (Phone Cozy)

by Claire Ortega, October 2010

I love sweaters. Unfortunately they don’t look good on me. I’ve always wanted one –so I make it for my phone! I have a Samsung Champ 3303 (I think it’s a standard size for touch-screen phones). If you’re making this for something else, the pattern is easily adjustable though. Read on to the customizing tips at the bottom.

These would make fast gifts for Christmas. Now you can finally, really, truly make a sweater for everyone for the holidays. LOL.

Skill Level: Easy

Materials: about 30-40 yards worsted or medium weight acrylic (But I’ve been informed that other fibers work fine, too. J One even tried it in DK weight and it still came out about the same size.)

H / 8/0 / 5.00 mm hook

Tapestry needle/ yarn needle, for weaving ends in

Gauge: Not overly important – but my gauge was 8 sc x 8 sc rows = 2 inches.

Finished Size: Stretches to fit most phones and some rectangular gadgets. My phone measures 96.3 x 53.8 x 12.97 mm. Cozy could be made bigger by starting with more chains (to add width) or by making more row repeats (to add length).

Notes: Cozy is made back in forth in rows, constructed from side to side and then seamed at one side. It is designed to be stretchy, so if you’re customizing it for a specific gadget, make sure to take that into account. Ch 1 at end of rows does not count as a stitch. Optional notes are added in italics.

Stitches used: US Terminology

Ch = chain

Sc = single crochet

Hdc = half double crochet

Hdc 3 together = (yarn over, insert into back loop of next stitch) three times, yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.

Other terms: Blo = back loop only

FO = Fasten off.

Row 1: Ch 18.

Sc in 2^nd ch from hook. I like working the stitches in the back loop, but do whatever you’re comfortable with. 1 sc in each of next 9 stitches. 1 hdc in each of next 6 stitches. 5 hdc in last stitch. Continue working on the other side of the starting chain. I crochet over the starting chain’s tail at this part for easy/lazy yarn-tail hiding. 1 hdc in each of next 6 stitches. 1 sc in each of next 10 stitches Ch 1, turn. ~ 20 sc and 17 hdc ~

At the end of row 1, you should have something like this:

From this point forward, all stitches will be made in the blo.

Row 2: 1 sc in blo of 1^st sc and each of next 9 sc. 1 hdc in blo of next 8 hdc. 3 hdc in blo of next hdc. 1 hdc in blo of next 8 hdc. 1 sc in blo each of next 10 sc. Ch 1, turn. ~ 20 sc and 19 hdc ~

At the end of row 2 it should already have a hint of a shape:

Row 3: 1 sc in blo of 1^st sc and each of next 9 sc. 1 hdc in blo of next 19 hdc. 1 sc in blo each of next 10 sc. Ch 1, turn. ~ 20 sc and 19 hdc ~

After row 3:

Rows 4-8: Repeat row 3.

After row 8:

Row 9: 1 sc in blo of 1^st sc and each of next 9 sc. 1 hdc in blo of next 8 hdc. Hdc 3 together (in blo of the 3 stitches). (Counts as 1 hdc) 1 hdc in blo of next 8 hdc. 1 sc in blo each of next 10 sc. Ch 1, turn. ~ 20 sc and 17 hdc ~

hdc 3 together:

Row 10: 1 sc in blo of 1^st sc and each of next 9 sc. 1 hdc in blo of next 7 hdc. Hdc 3 together (in blo of the 3 stitches). 1 hdc in blo of next 7 hdc. 1 sc in blo each of next 10 sc. ~ 20 sc and 15 hdc ~

Finishing

FO, leaving a long tail for seaming. Seam sides (I just used the good ol’ whipstitch). You can also try slip stitching or sc’ing together the two sides, if you’re more comfortable with that. Weave in ends. Fold the top over (the part with 10 sc) in half to make the “turtleneck.” If you seam it neatly enough, it would be reversible.

After folding the top over

Make it your own (optional tips and suggestions to personalize your cozy):

1. The first and last ten stitches make up the “collar” of the cozy. Add more stitches if you want to make it more turtleneck-y.

2. To make the cozy larger, add more hdc’s before the increases in the first rows.

3. Embellish! Make appliqués (flowers I think would be great) in thread or thinner yarn and sew/glue them to the cozy. I think beads and charms would work great too – wonderful for those bits and pieces of beads you may have. It would look like brooches for the sweater.

4. Line it. Some acrylic yarns can be very stiff – if you worry that it might damage your phone’s screen, better line it with soft cloth (I think the ones that come with eyeglasses would be great). You wouldn’t even have to sew it in; just put it in, making sure that the cloth goes over the part where the screen will rub against the inside of the cozy.

Enjoy your new cozy!

Sneak Peek...

2010-10-06T05:48:00.000-07:00

I've been away from my blog for far too long. I know, I know... It's criminal.

I wanted to make it up to y'all so bad... That I decided to make a pattern. Just for you. For free. :) Just a little something to make a serious dent in your yarn stash, and quickly diminish your Christmas list.

Curious?

Wait for it....

Wait for it...

Wa... All right, I'll tell you.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is with deeply overwhelming, sincerely overflowing, everlasting happiness that I give you...

Could it be knitted? Nope, it's crocheted...

Were those mismatched booties? (As I've been asked, twice. Hmph.) Nope, they're phone/camera cozies.

And yes, it only uses up about 30-40 yards of worsted acrylic yarn!

Pattern coming... Soooooonnn. ;)

...After I "szuzz" it up a little. Thanks so much to a group of lovely ladies over at Ravelry who tested my pattern and gave me ideas on how to improve it.

Help Rebecca sell her "Decorative Doilies"

2010-07-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through the new online games when I came across something peculiar... Could it be? An online game about crochet? And crocheted doilies nonetheless??? XD

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with deep honor and explosive delight that I present to you:

Decorative Doilies

Love that start page, by the way. From the game description:

"In the land of pioneers, a doily makes the ladies feel like they're not living in the wild..."

... Because "in the land of pioneers," ladies often feel like they're in the jungle, hmm.

Hooray for Rebecca! Such entrepreneurship skill at that age! :D I really do feel like helping her out. Although she looks more like a chef (with a rather dirty coat) than a young ~~hooker~~ crafter living in the age of pioneers.

Let's play!

Graphics = Excellent

Intentions = I think, were good

Gaming Experience = FAIL

I've NEVER seen such angry comments on a game before! LOL.

What a tragic end to such an auspicious beginning. :(

http://www.girlsgogames.com/game/Decorative_Doilies.html

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T04:08:00.000-07:00

You don't have to father a child to become a father. If you inspire other people by living an exemplary life, then you become a surrogate father to them. Sometimes without even knowing it!

Today, we went to PICC for The Feast (the weekly gathering of the Light of Jesus Catholic community led by Bro. Bo Sanchez). After the mass, and Bro. Bo's preaching, he called on all the fathers to gather in front of the stage. He gave each of them a rock, telling them that they are the rock of the family. That their equivalent is St. Peter, for what he is to the Church. It was a touching sight when all of the men raised the rock in their hands, while we all prayed for them as they guide their families.

And, me being me (I being I???), I did this:

My dad wanted to display it somewhere he can see it every day, so that he would be reminded of his calling as a father. Why not cover it with crochet, then? :D Now, every time he sees it, he would also be reminded of how much we love him, too.

Don't forget to thank your fathers today. Even if your paternal father is gone, I'm pretty sure we all have other people who stood in their place in some way. :)

See this project on Ravelry: http://ravel.me/clairethere/lrr

Mama for my Mommy

2010-05-12T23:26:00.000-07:00

Catholics here in the Philippines affectionately call the Blessed Mother “Mama Mary.” My mom has always been a devotee, specially to Our Lady of Guadalupe. When I showed her this shawl, she literally begged me to make it for her. :) The pattern is called Blessed Mother Shawl, and is available for free (!!!) at Crochet! Magazine's website.

I love how it came out. With such light rayon thread, it feels like a hug when worn. Doesn’t really make you feel all that warm -- perfect for my mom who scarcely feels cold.

Finished the shawl in 3 days. Delayed adding fringe until the last minute. Just in time for mother’s day! :)

Love the pattern, even though the tiny filet chart may have caused permanent damage to my eyes (I swear they’re a little closer together now).

If you want to talk shop, visit my project page for this shawl at http://ravel.me/clairethere/bmps

I hope you all had a wonderful celebration of mother's day! :) I think no matter how much we do for our moms, we'll never outdo all they've done for us... Hurrah for moms!

Proof That All Knitters/Crocheters Are Loopy

2010-04-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

I found this charming little book through Google books. The Mary Frances Knitting & Crocheting Book is a lovely introduction to crochet and knitting.Detailed tutorials are given, in story format! With talking needles and yarn! I love it.

My only problem is the title. Why can't it be the Mary Frances Crocheting & Knitting Book? Crochet does come before knit in the dictionary, after all. Plus, crochet is shown first in the book. Boo. Knitters have all the fun. :(

Enjoy! :)

Oh Baby, Baby, Baby (pronounced "bay-beh")

2010-04-23T17:44:00.000-07:00

I just finished making the first ever baby-related crochet project. ... And now I understand why people skedaddle to crochet things at every drop of a baby.

Soooooo frakking cuuuuuuuuute... I wish it fits my head. But then again, only a cute innocent little angel can do justice to this hat. :)

Thanks (a million times over) to Ms. Mimi for the free pattern... She posted about this on her blog, but the pattern is available only on Ravelry (login needed).

The flower is from Suzann Thompson's Crochet Bouquet. The five-petal Traditional Rose. :) Lovelovelove.

Hole-y Week

2010-04-06T05:08:00.000-07:00

As I was going home from work last Wednesday (Holy Wednesday), I mentally prepared myself for a long weekend of contemplation. The following days, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday are observed traditionally at our home. I found myself wishing that I'd bought "Crochet Today" magazines at Booksale--what better way to pass quiet days than working on a mindless crochet project, right?

I decided against that though, since I felt guilty of all the books and magazines I had at home already. Lent is partly about shedding unnecessary trivialities, after all.

So I get home. Waiting for me is a package from a local courier. It's my Interweave Crochet magazine! :D And it's the Spring issue, too! I subscribed to Interweave Crochet last year... I was disappointed when January rolled around and I hadn't received my Winter issue yet. I let their office know, and they sent another copy. February rolled around, and I had lost hope. Not in Interweave, but in our local post office. LOL. So I was SHOCKED when I saw the magazine calmly waiting for me (Yes, it appeared so very calm as opposed to my shock. :D).

THE VERDICT:

I love it. Comparing it with Crochet Today, it's meat compared to fluff. Crochet Today is filled with easily completed projects. Whereas Interweave Crochet has in-depth discussions, and a wider range of difficulty levels for projects. Don't get me wrong, I like Crochet Today too. Mainly because the projects they publish look so current and are easy to complete. But I especially loved the designs from Interweave because a lot of them used shells, plus there was a complete article about shells from Doris Chan. She discusses the varieties of shell stitches (all of them lovely) and how they can be used to contour garments and projects.

So, without further ado, I present to you my first Tunisian entrelac project:

This is the Forest Petals Shawl (or at least a miniature version). I loved learning how to do Tunisian, and entrelac at the same time too! Granted, I made quite a few attempts before the thing bore a similarity to the picture... All the same I'm proud of myself because I managed to learn how to do it based on instructions that assumed readers knew the basics of Tunisian entrelac. Here it is, totally unblocked and curling at the edges. :D

I used a regular size F hook -- the diamonds were small so I could use the normal hook. I was just so happy that I was able to manage the gauge swatch, that I just continued on until my Canon size 8 thread ran out. Here is a closer look at the diamonds:

Oh and as for the free pattern, Interweave is giving away an e-book with 8 Free Scarf Patterns.

And the fabulous Mimi Alelis just published a free pattern, perfect for summer. :) It's the Tropical Shawl -- a lovely openwork shawl made in multicolor Cannon thread with a large hook. The pattern for the cute flower accent is also available at her blog. :)

That felt good.*sigh* This is what happens when I don't blog often -- sorry for the uber long post! :D Happy hooking everyone!

Oh, and update: I got the Interweave Crochet winter issue today! :)

My Hot Valentine Date

2010-02-14T04:29:00.000-08:00

2010's day of hearts is about to close. At least for us here in the Philippines. It's about 8:30 PM here. I just finished my hot date! :)

Want to get more juicy details?

I saw the classic Gone With the Wind. For the first time! Soooo romantic, I know...

...With my mom and dad. At home. :D

You see, every year, Valentine's Day is not just the day of hearts for our family. It's also my mom's birthday. We had a lovely family lunch, caught up with each others' lives, and went home. My eldest brother went home to the seminary; my elder brother and his wife to their home; and my parents and me to Scarlet and Rhett. :D

I fell in love with the movie... :)

Why can't we still wear those huge gowns every day? And the ladies doing needlepoint together, how lovely. Then again, they didn't have Ravelry or Craftster. Neither did they have internet or TV. :| I guess that's why their homes were crawling with doilies and afghans and pillows and bedspreads and blankets.

I really like the picture of the South that the movie painted. I mean, sure there was slavery and all... But chivalry was still alive there. And did I mention that all the ladies were well-versed in fiber arts? I can still remember my delighted shriek when I spotted Mammy holding a ball of yarn. Haha.

Hope everyone had a great day of hearts! :)

But on the upside...

2010-02-08T06:41:00.000-08:00

CrochetMe is giving away a free eBook: 6 Free Crochet Hat Patterns: Crochet Hats with CrochetMe.

You just have to subscribe to their newsletter though. :)

Sorry...

2010-02-08T06:17:00.001-08:00

So I logged in tonight just to delete my last post about the giveaway. I received some feedback that some people were not able to post comments on the album. So in fairness to them, I just took it out of Facebook too.

Boo. Me. Boo.

I've just been busy at work with a new project for our client. Combine that with writer's block and laziness and you're going to come up with the laziest worst blogger ever = me.

Boo. :(

On the other hand, my crafty life is not dormant (as my blog would make it seem). I have a lot of projects that I haven't uploaded here and even at Ravelry. There are no pictures either. Dry spell much for digital creativity? Sigh.

The big news I haven't shared is that my mom bought me an awesome insanely cute little sewing machine. :) I hope I get around to blogging about it sometime in the near future.

Public Menace at Large: Carlyn "Cahz" Delos Santos

2010-01-21T19:53:00.000-08:00

I was involved for a while in buying/selling online at Multiply. I had a lot of fun making connections with great sellers and buyers. There was only one person with which I had a FOUL experience: Carlyn Delos Santos or Cahz Delos Santos or Carlyn Eve Delos Santos.

This girl had also scammed other beaders and sellers at Multiply. She still owes me money. After our "incident" she erased her account instead of taking action to rectify the situation. She also stopped using her mobile phone and YM account for a while.

After a few months, she started using her phone again. (Yes, I ring it once in a while. I was THAT angry at her.) By the way, her number is +63915.535.9140 and she also used +63927.779.4917 to contact me. She even logs in at YM again (username princess_cahz20).

And then horror of horrors, I find out that she has a Sulit.com account: http://cahz.sulit.com.ph/

And a Facebook account: http://www.facebook.com/carlyn.delossantos

Twitter account: http://twitter.com/princess_cahz20

I just want to warn everyone who would want to make a connection with her. Looks like she's at large again (pun intended, LOL).

She describes herself (carefully leaving out the scammer part of course):

"nAmE -cahz
DOB - 10/30/1988
hEiGhT - 5'1 jz a short gal,but cute......('' feel like vomitting'' )
emm..........wat else about me????????
Mmm.......actually i jz a simple gal..i like to sing n dance..when i'm primary school,i took part in singing competition every year oh......but when secondary school i bcome laz to do dat....it is better i take some time to sleep....hehehe
bcoz now i'm a hrm student n alwiz not enough time to sleep...hahaha
im....
A bit clumsy but smart sometimes
A bit careless but Caring
A bit stupid but friendly~
A bit fierce but easy going
A bit chubby but like 2 act cute lol~
And like 2 meet my friends n hang out all d time ya!!
So conclusion is..im a trouble maker but nt faker n a nice person dat u guys looking for(coz most of the times i like 2 joke n geh boh lah!!)
So if u guys interested in me?remember add me up ya!!wait yah.."

***
So if you see this mug, be warned.

THIS PERSON IS NOT TO BE TRUSTED.

Victorious!

2010-01-15T04:21:00.000-08:00

Let's flash back to the first ever shrug I made. It's the Shells and Flowers Shrug by the wonderful Mimi Alelis.

Perfectly lovely, soft, pretty, nice, beautiful, yarnlicious. The only problem -- It didn't fit me.

I always thought of this shrug as the one that got away... Yes, that was how much I loved it. It hurts, putting so much effort into something so pretty, and eventually ending up not having it. So I promised myself that I would make another one and make it right, demmit.

But then other patterns got in the way, and it got shoved in the back burner of the crochety part of my brain. ... Until I came across this lovely beige shade of Monaco Raylon. :D So last December, in the midst of my yuletide mass production frenzy, I hunkered down and made this.

Hurrah! Success! Altered the pattern by adding more repeats and changing some things here and there... Forgot exactly how I did it, but here it is! It came out a little loose in the back. But I do love that I can wear it with both light and dark tank tops. And that it gives me modest coverage, but is still very open. I absolutely love Monaco Raylon for wearables -- they always feel fresh to the skin, light but drapey.

I apologize for the poor photos -- I took them myself. Never mind the bizarre lighting -- I never know how to arrange myself harmoniously while posing for the camera! :|

I felt like a hardcore DIY-er for life today, wearing this shrug with a necklace and earrings that I made too. I can't believe that I'm that girl--the one who makes her own clothes and accessories. :) Just last year I never would have thought this possible.

Crafting has really changed my life... *sigh* :)

Goodness gracious, great balls of...

2010-01-06T15:22:00.000-08:00

I reach the office early today, my McDonald's breakfast in tow and brimming with anticipation of what the new day shall bring.

I boot my computer, and as part of my usual routine, log in to Ravelry and peruse the recently added patterns to the database.

And what do I see???

Men's Jock Strap*

*I'll let the title of the link warn you about itself.

It is too frakking early in the morning to encounter something of this magnitude. I still haven't even had a cup of coffee, man!

As if to add to my early morning distress, the pattern is FOR SALE for $5.00. Wowowowowow.

New year, new threads (yarns?)

2010-01-03T17:53:00.000-08:00

What were you doing while you were waiting for the new year?

I was crocheting. Working on this quick project. Here in the Philippines, Christmas and new year are big events–specially for kids. They parade their brand spankin’ new outfits on Christmas day and new year’s day. I remember always having new outfits for these special days in my childhood.

On the first day of the year though, it’s popular belief that wearing polka dots will bring luck for the whole year. LOL. My grandma never failed her tradition of wearing her red and white polka dot house duster, reminding me of clowns… I miss my lola…

Anyway, since I didn’t buy new outfits for either Christmas or new year’s, I made something! I love this pattern, turned out so well and so quickly. It's Doris Chan's Anisette Vest from her book Amazing Crochet Lace. Made this with yarn I bought in Baguio by the kilo. Unlabeled, of course, the vendors simply called it “velvet.” It’s a little furry, kinda bulky. Came out feeling like terry cloth in this vest. :)

I love that it gives me coverage, but is still breezy. I made it in S-M size width-wise, but made it in L-XL size length-wise (it wouldn’t cover my chest if I made it shorter :|).

I so love Doris Chan’s designs – they are almost always very flattering for most women’s bodies. And I love that her patterns almost always come with a diagram. Other crocheters find her patterns a little difficult to understand, but I don’t. :) It helps that each of her creations has a story behind it. It makes every garment not just an ordinary project, but a journey taken with her.

Happy new year everyone! :)

Handmade Gifts Fail

2009-12-27T20:54:00.000-08:00

I promised myself that I would personally make all my gifts for this year's holiday season. I happily saved patterns I found that I thought useful. I even purchased acrylic yarn by the bulk (I planned to give home accessories, hats, and small bags).

But then... the orders started pouring in. My mom requested 15 snowflake doilies for her corporate clients. My sister-in-law asked me to make ten hats and ten bookmarks. I crocheted all of those in less than two weeks. By the time I finished them all, I didn't know if I had the perseverance to finish everything for everyone else on top of the massive orders.

And in between these, I made a triangle scarf, a shrug, and a beret for myself (yes, I put my needs ahead of others >:D). I haven't even managed to take pictures in the holiday rush. :|

So... In short, my family was able to gift hand-crocheted items to their friends. While I had to sneak to the mall to buy myself some mass-produced 2010 journals. :|

Here are some of the items I made (I wasn't able to take pictures of everything):

I hope everyone has a happy new 2010!

Wordless Friday -- Merry Christmas from the artful hooker! :D

2009-12-17T18:01:00.000-08:00

Feeling angelic

2009-12-07T18:19:00.000-08:00

I finally made the angel. :)

I was depressed yesterday. Just from watching the news. So I wanted to make something to remind me that there still is beauty in the world. And that no matter how bleak everything starts to seem, I can help transform it with some yarn and a hook.

So, let me rant now. :D

1. The Maguindanao Massacre

I cannot believe that I actually live in the country where such a horribly evil tragedy happened. The day I read about this, I actually felt tears burning in the back of my eyes, from anger, from helplessness.

It's not the number of deaths that depressed me (although it is quite large -- 57 casualties discovered to date). It's the way the whole thing was staged. And how very brutally violent their deaths were. And how maddeningly rich the Ampatuan clan is -- when they live in one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines. And the fact that they have their own private effing army. How could this all have happened under everyone's own noses?

2. Martial Law in Maguindanao

I think this is a good call from PGMA. Suspending the writ of habeas corpus enables the Philippine army to go about the region without further delays. I don't think the evidence against the Ampatuans would amount to much today, if it weren't for this.

The only thing I don't like about this is its name. Saying "martial law" here in the Philippines amounts to the same thing as saying "Voldemort" in Harry Potter world. Anti-administration officials and lawyers are all shooting their mouths off, saying that this is clearly another power trip on PGMA, and that this could lead to proclaiming martial law in other areas, or even for the whole country. These people are only encouraging more fear in the term.

Martial law, in today's Constitution, is not the same as it was in the Marcos regime. I'm confident in this. I mean, the media is covering the movements of the Army in Maguindanao. In the Marcos regime, media reports were heavily censored -- some stations and newspapers were even forced to close. But today, the media run alongside the government's forces as they uncover evidence concerning the massacre.

So, while there are some who reasonably question the legitimacy of the President's call, I support it. Given the way that the legislative government operates, the Army should be able to go in and out of Maguindanao by the time all of this is sorted out *crosses fingers*.

3. The 2010 elections

Amidst all the sadness and outrage that the Maguindanao massacre created, candidates in the upcoming elections are still busy campaigning. Why can't we all just set down our personal agenda, and unite against this? I mean, if all the money these politicians spent on advertisements and commercials, were spent on protecting the massacre witnesses, I bet a lot more will come forward. And people can hold all the prayer rallies and demonstrations they want, but that won't directly help bring justice to the victims' families.

I mean come on, our country's been disgraced enough. We've become the crime scene where most journalists were killed in one day, in the same place. Add to that a former president (who was ousted for corruption) seeking reelection. And the family of the man who put the nation under dictatorship for more than 20 years, all seeking office as congresswomen and vice-president. And a current president running for congress in her home province. What's happening to us? Is the nation just a carnival to these people?

So. I'll go back to crocheting now.

Feeling very Christmassy

2009-12-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

I logged on to Ravelry this morning, and found myself in rapture when I found this little angel pattern for free!

I've always been an admirer of Elizabeth Ann White's designs. I love traditional crochet and quirky color combinations, and she combines them both in her patterns. I love the colorful crinoline ladies and textured flowers that she uses to adorn her doilies -- even though I'm no big fan of doilies.

The only real problem I have with her designs is... That the ones I like are not available for free. :D

So I was really happy when I came across this lovely little angel. Check out the free pattern over at the author's blog: http://bellacrochet.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-angel-free-pattern-for-you.html

Me wants bested yarns.

2009-11-27T03:53:00.000-08:00

WARNING: Incomprehensible traipsing into fairy-yarn-land up ahead.

I do wonder.

Why, it just fails all logic.

...

Yarn is good.

Therefore, yarn can never be not good.

Not good as in bad.

But... How come there are so many WORSTed yarns???

I want BESTed yarns.

COZ YARNS ARE THE BESTEST!

Sometimes I wish I can high-five my yarns.

Haro Baggu

2009-11-26T01:38:00.001-08:00

Haro is a handly little robot in the anime series Gundam. He's a personal assistant of sorts to his owner and inventor. More information on Haro here: http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/Haro

My friend and co-worker Paolo was given one for his birthday this year by his lovely girlfriend Maris. Yes, a real one! Well, as real as possible -- it can't violate laws of physics and gravity like its animated counterpart. But it does talk, and wobble, and move. And has appendages. :)

Paolo asked if I would make a crocheted pouch for him... And here it is!

He always did joke around that if I ever did crochet anything for him it would be black, covered in spikes and burning in flames. Haha. My bad--everything I crochet is girly and lacey, and he of course doesn't want that.

But he's perfectly happy with this pouch made with tapestry crochet. And so is Haro:

This is my first time making color changes in tapestry crochet with three yarns. My hands and eyes were all a-goggle from the effort. Here's Haro looking piteously at the confunded yarns:

I like it, so I put a ring on it.

2009-11-24T17:09:00.000-08:00

Finally finished!

The WR1935 Everyday Tote from Coats & Clark -- a free pattern.

Added the last stitch and wove the last end in last night. Started this before Ondoy hit Metro Manila. Was sewing the pockets into it when the water entered our house.

In the flurry of saving whatever we can, and preparing to flee to a safer place, I promptly forgot about this.

Then I saw New Moon during the weekend, and I remembered my abandoned project. This bag's colors and accents were inspired by the Twilight series. Although I don’t care much for its literary worth, I am amazed at all the things that the series inspired into being – shirts, bags, necklaces, bookmarks, dolls and all manner of teeny bopper accessories.

So last night, I added the last flourish – an apple-shapped button for closure. :) And it was done!

I love this bag – my first venture into tapestry crochet. It has a bottle pocket on the side, a back pocket, and a tiny coin purse that can hang either inside or outside.

I added my favorite key chain -- one shaped like a diamond ring. I helped my mom host her friend's wedding anniversary last year, and the keychain was the lovely souvenir. :)

By the way, I don't care how many death threats from Twi-hards I receive... But I'm sorry, the movie was sooooooooo funny. :D I guess only Twilight fans can really enjoy the movie seriously... Although Taylor Lautner did look hot. Team Jacob, yay! Mrawr.

A little humor in the midst of dark times, courtesy of typhoon Ondoy and SmartBRO

2009-10-09T01:36:00.000-07:00

My last blog post was about Typhoon Ondoy and how it affected my family, our area, and the rest of Metro Manila.

Today's post is about how it brought a little (okay, a lot) of laughter to my day, today.

I am a subscriber of SmartBRO (a local ISP from Smart Communications). It's the connection we have at home. Since we recently relocated for an unforeseeable amount of time, I inquired via email if I could have our account temporarily disabled.

I said,

Hello,

I would like to know if it is possible to temporarily disable my SmartBro account. Our home in Pasig City is still submerged in water following Typhoon Ondoy. We have not availed of the SmartBro service since Saturday, September 26th, 2009. We estimate that we won't be able to go back and live in our home for the next month or so.

These are my details:

xxxxxxx

Please let me know what I have to do to carry this out.

Thanks,
Claire Ortega

I sent this five days ago. I received a reply today (formatting added by me):

Dear Ms. Ortega,

Thank you for letting us know of this matter.

We acknowledge your request to put your Smart Bro account on temporary hold due to recent typhoon and we would like to be of help.

We are sudden to hear about what happened to your area and we apologize for the inconvenience it may have caused you.

In this light, may we suggest that you visit your nearest Smart Wireless Center in order to request for temporary disconnection. Rest assured that you will be assisted accordingly.

We hope that this merits your understanding, Ms. Ortega.

Should there be other concerns we can be of help with, please feel free to email us again.

Sincerely,

xxxx xxxxxxx
Customer Care

...
LOL.

So in very uncertain, flowery, grammatically incorrect terms they're telling me that they sympathize but cannot do anything to help me at all and please go somewhere else to seek help.

Oh, and it took another person to point out to me that "sudden" might have been meant to be "saddened" hahaha.

Ondoy's Wrath

2009-09-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

Our country is no stranger to strong typhoons. We're desensitized to images of streets and lands submerged in water. But typhoon Ondoy, which hit Metro Manila last Saturday, literally took us by storm. It's the first time that floodwaters entered homes in our area.

I took this picture from our front door. Night was about to fall, Saturday. This is the last I saw of our first floor, before I took refuge in the second floor of our home. No proper light because authorities turned off the power supply for our own good.

The two pictures above were taken Sunday, from inside the house. The water partially subsided, and we were able to wear rubber boots to protect our legs from the murky water.

We sought shelter in Grace to be Born, a shelter for pregnant women and abandoned babies. We helped build this halfway house about a year ago. Ironically, we're the ones seeking shelter there now. We packed a week's worth of clothes and supplies, and braved the waters outside our home to get there. It's only knee-deep inside our house, but outside, the flood reached up to waist level. Farther away, whole houses were swept away in Marikina and Cainta. I still feel fortunate even after all this -- all of my family are safe, and we were able to save most of our belongings.

I specially appreciate my brother Michael, for coming to Grace to Be Born last Sunday:

He had to brave the muddy wake of Ondoy in Marikina, just to get to us and make sure we were safe. He panicked because we were unable to respond to calls and text messages (all mobile and landline service providers were down). Note the remnants of mud on his backpack. :|

I had to leave all of my accessories back home. And all my yarns and books. :( I feel... orphaned without them. I bought some relief yarn and hooks yesterday, and made this for myself:

Crocheting keeps my mind off my worries. I worry about Ate Vita, who stayed back at our house to supervise the cleaning and to take care of our pets. I worry about my dogs, who I left shaking with fear... :( I worry about everyone who lost their homes-- much more about those who lost their loved ones.

This calamity is bringing out the best and worst in everyone. Reports of selfless heroism appear side by side with reports of looting. If there's anything I can count on, though, it's the cheerfully resilient spirit of the Filipinos. We'll get over this soon.

Stitching Confusion

2009-09-22T17:47:00.000-07:00

I made this shawl for my Mama. Not my maternal mother; my other mother (no, not at all like Coraline's Other Mother). She was my nanny since infancy, and left us when I turned ten. Mama Gie taught me a lot of things -- including the art of crochet. :)

Followed the pattern for Blue Curacao Shawl in Doris Chan's Amazing Crochet Lace. Turned up quickly, and it's one of those patterns I wouldn't mind doing again and again.

Anyway, I went to 2GO in Megamall to send this by courier (Mama lives in Danao, Cebu). I was informed by Noy, the person manning the store, that it would take 3 days to get there. I said it was fine, and took out the shawl.

His eyes widened and he asked, "Wow, cross-stitch ba 'to?" ("Wow, is this cross-stitch?")

To which I answered with a smile, "Hindi, crochet. Gantsilyo?" ("No, it's crocheted.")

He good-naturedly nodded, and asked "A, yung gamit ung dalawang hook ba un?" ("Oh, the one using two hooks?")

Wow. Haha. First of all, cross-stitch is embroidery. I would understand the confusion with knitting and crocheting, for craft Muggles. But cross-stitching? :-/ If crochet was an apple, knitting would be an orange. And cross-stitch would be a potato. :|

Colorrificacious

2009-09-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

I saw this bag at the Coats and Clark website under their free crochet patterns section:

... And I fell in lust. :D

I love the color changes, and how the dots look like little hearts. This is a challenging project for me--I hate tedious construction. But I love it so much that I'm willing to try it. :D

The first part to make is the base. This is what I've got so far:

Tres cute, right? Wait till you see the back, though:

It looks like a houndstooth pattern drawn by a kid. Or a houndstooth pattern made by a hound with his tooth. :|

This is my first time doing colorwork, and I'm afraid I'm doing it wrong... :( Hope it's supposed to look like this.

P.S. Yes, that's my spankin' new glow in the dark crochet hook! Found it in CraftWorld Megamall. Oh, and you can get the free pattern for the bag here: http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/Accessories/WR1935+Everyday+Tote.htm

Amigurumi Love

2009-09-15T01:17:00.000-07:00

So I came across this lovely website today: http://suncatchereyes.net.

She sells doll parts and doll patterns online. Most importantly, I found her free patterns page!

Clicky here. NOW.

A few of my faves:

Baguio Bagyo

2009-08-31T18:43:00.000-07:00

In Tagalog, the word "bagyo" means typhoon. Something that occurs in our country a lot. Even though we've been through countless typhoons, a lot of disasters still happen, unchallenged and unprevented -- flashfloods, soil erosion, heavy flooding.

Which describes our trip to Baguio City quite well. :|

I was so excited to go up there because my parents and boyfriend all need and deserve a break from work. And we're celebrating my birthday! What better place to be than Baguio to kick back and relax, right?

WRONG.

Everything was going okay. We found cheap lodging, and knew our way around the city well enough to know the good places to be and eat. On the second day of our trip though, my mom slipped near a grotto/fountain... Her back was sore and she had gashes on her right elbow. My boyfriend caught a dreadful cold. My dad had to go back early.

And THEN the worst thing happened... My camera got stolen!!! :(( I cried. People stared. I didn't care. All of our memories, gone...

On our way back, my mom, my boyfriend and I had to go on different buses because of the number of commuters.

We bought two kilos of yarn. Wonderful.

But I can't effing post effing pictures because my camera got effing stolen.

:((

I cry.

My first Japanese pattern success!

2009-08-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

I've had this book for over a year now:

I bought it when I first started to learn how to read stitch diagrams for crochet. Looking back, I understand now that I was so full of myself then. LOL. When I got home, I realized that I couldn't understand any of it. I mean, I understand the stitches well enough, and could make good guesses about what kind of yarns and hooks would work for the projects. But. And this is a very big BUT. (That last sentence reminds me of a song... I like big... hmm. :D) I couldn't make heads or tails of the construction of the projects! Which is of course the most important part of the whole thing.

So it stood on my bookshelf. Not forgotten, though. From time to time I would pick it up, in the hope that my brain rewired itself somehow.

Well. I decided I needed a tote to carry my current WIP. Something not too big and not too small... I picked up the darned book again, and something just... Clicked. :)

And so, without further ado... I give you... My first ever Japanese pattern success!

Ok fine, so the construction is simple. It was designed for the body to be made in one piece, and the straps attached after that. But I patted myself on the back when I thought of a way to incorporate the handles into the pattern, to make it sturdier (and not to have too many ends to weave in!). I also finished it off with a crab stitch to make the last round sturdier. And I didn't sew or glue that ribbon. I tied it around a stitch. So simply stupid and lazy, it's ingenious. Yay, me! :D

Thank God the stitches are snug enough to not need a lining. :D

I'll use this to carry around my WIP's. Here's a sneak peek of my current project:

Happy weekend everyone!

Searching for Happiness

2009-08-06T00:14:00.000-07:00

...the lazy way.

I sure wish it was this easy. *sigh*

How can you tell if someone's been crocheting too much?

2009-07-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

...
When this happens:

Okay, so this particular hook has been under a lot of stress. I made three shrugs with it in the span of three weeks, with many in-between projects to boot. And it didn't help that I was carrying it around in my spacious bag without a cover or case. I shared this with Ms. Mimi (who created the shrug pattern I'm so addicted to making). She replied, "Anong klaseng hook ang nababali?!" Roughly translated, means, "What kind of hook gets broken in half?!"

Well, erm, this one. It sort of looks like Ron Weasley's spell-o-taped wand in The Chamber of Secrets. :|

Teeheehee. :)

I've been too lazy to write down separate entries for my recent FO's. It's so much easier on Ravelry. XD Here they are, in a wordless flurry and no particular order:

Red Rose SSS for Ms. Meikah

Green Lacey-the-not-so-lacy Headband for me

Anti-CarpalTunnelSyndrome Cuff (based on the pattern for Nancy's Wavy Scarf) for me

XL denim blue SSS (looks like this is going to my mom, or someone else)

Green necklace for me (polymer clay pendant not by me :D)

Green Archer shrug for me - SSS with clover edging

I've been knitting!

2009-07-24T18:01:00.000-07:00

And it's been so fun! And cheap, too. I didn't even need to buy knitting needles and yarn.

Interested?

Head on over to Sue's Knitting game at gamesgames.com.

...
Teeheehee. :D

Outrageous Prices for Local Handicrafts

2009-07-12T18:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my mom and I went to the trade fair at SM Megamall. It was full of local handicrafts, delicacies, and other products. It was the last day, and all the merchants lowered their usual prices. Lots of steals, yay!

We found some pastillas (um, sort of, candies made with milk). Only 20 pesos (roughly 50¢) per pack. Very cheap, considering it's made from carabao's milk and not cow's milk. Yay!

We found a stall selling yummy-smelling coffee. There was even civet coffee available there, considered by connoisseurs to be one of the best in the world. We had a cup, only 15 pesos each! Yay!

And THEN we came across a stand full of crocheted items. Shrugs, pullovers, cardigans -- even a full-length dress! I almost peed my pants. I then asked how much a short-sleeved bolero-type shrug costs... And the woman answered, "100 pesos lang po (100 pesos only)," with a wide grin. That's like, less than 2 USD. I processed this information, while she waits on a woman slowly cleaning out the rest of the merchandise. I accosted her, asking, "Sino po ang gumagawa nito? (Who makes these?)" To which she replied, "Mga manggagawa po sa Tarlac (Workers from Tarlac)."

That did it.

My nostrils flared. I started hyperventilating. I fumed at no one in particular. I started thinking of those poor workers in the province, who had to slave away day after day, crocheting garments for less than half of the minimum wage requirement in the Philippines. At 100 pesos each, I shudder at the thought of how that could have accommodated the cost of materials, the cost of labor, and of course the store owners' income. I assume that they would pay a woman 50 pesos at most for making a piece like that. Okay, the bolero was made with simple stitches, and full of airy spaces, but still. How many pieces can one worker make in a day? :(

It's even sadder that the workers are from Tarlac, Pampanga. It's a province that was very much affected by the Pinatubo volcano eruption in the 90's. Whole towns were wiped out. It's been more than a decade now, but some towns are still covered in lahar (volcanic mudflow).

My mom had to drag me away from the stall. The whole day, I just get angry whenever I remember that crochet store.

Now I know what "outrageous prices" really mean. I never got outraged at prices before yesterday. :( Crafters and other skilled workers should be paid better. :(

Just gotta shrug it off...

2009-07-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

So I've been pretty excited about working on shrugs -- the very talented Mimi Alelis' shrugs.

For the past weeks, the beautiful shrugs have occupied my brain and my hands. I've been crocheting away and I finally finished my first shrug last Sunday, on the last day of June. I had it washed, and I was planning on wearing it to work today:

But alas, the shrug is too tight! :( The shrug is forcing me in a perennial couture pose! You know, the shoulders-hunched-forward-with-slightly-pained-expression pose. And it's soooooooooo prettyyyyyyy tooooooooo =((

Anyway, I'm looking for someone to adopt it. My officemate says it looks nice on my anyway. But I am not one to suffer for fashion. I take being comfortable over looking great, any day.

I'm not giving up on this though. I'm working on a second one, with purple Anchor thread. I'm moving up a hook size, and hope that fixes things.

I'm also working on a new shrug: the Simply Striped Shrug, by Ms. Mimi, too. I love love love this one, because I can fit it as I go. I also moved up a hook size just to be sure. :D It's so easy, but the shrug looks fab-yuh-lous! Can't wait to finish this one.

You spin me right round, baby right round...

2009-06-30T22:57:00.000-07:00

I just love making a crocheted item when the pattern calls for working in the round because:

1. It works up really fast.

The picture above was taken in the car, on my way to work this morning. I started working on that in the car! I was only about 10-15 minutes into the project, but it's already larger than a coaster.

2. It's so easy to hide the tail!

This is the tail of the project, the one left off at the start while making the beginning chain. I picked up this very useful technique in Debby Stoller's book, Stitch N' Bitch: The Happy Hooker. I crochet over the tail in the first round. That way, I the tail is hidden under the first round and I can just snip it off at the back!

See? Tail-o incog-neat-o! (Ooh I'm loving that pun! LOL)

3. It doesn't have to be round.

Just because I'm working in rounds, doesn't mean I'm working on a circular object. It can be any shape, with or without corners. The one I'm working on is a hexagon.

And the finished product? :)

I made the Travel Jewelry Pouch from Drew Emborsky AKA The Crochet Dude. It's a free pattern -- go ahead and give it a try! I finished mine in one morning--a work day, at that!

Two basic hexagon motifs are stacked on each other. I crocheted together the spaces in the motif, so that the little pouch could have six tiny panel pockets. I love it. I'm not sure I'm going to use it, though. It's so pink! I can't seem to stop making pink things!

This would be a nice accompaniment if you're thinking of giving jewelry to someone. I was also thinking how it would make a great organizer, if you use it inside-out.

Putting the RAVE in RAVELRY

2009-06-29T00:58:00.000-07:00

I just love ravelry. The ravelry team describes their own website concisely, "Ravelry is a place for knitters, crocheters, designers, spinners, and dyers to keep track of their yarn, tools, and pattern information, and look to others for ideas and inspiration. The content here is all user- driven; we as a community make the site what it is." (from the Ravelry About Us page)

It's a great place to connect with other crocheters, knitters, and yarnies. I specially love it whenever I come across fellow Filipino crafters there. I can also keep my projects and materials organized online. The best part is... THE FREE PATTERNS! Lovelovelovelove. The irony is that, while my projects are kept organized, my backlog keeps growing... Hee. ^__^ And for me, that's a happy problem. Hell is when I run out of ideas and things to do.

So if you want to join the community, sign up here.

And if you're already there, add me up! See my profile at http://www.ravelry.com/people/clairethere

Hope to see you there!

Claire: Heck, yeah!

2009-06-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

This post is in reply to Anton's question over at OurAwesomePlanet.

I started this blog, as a craft blog for crocheters everywhere. I wanted to have a place where I can let the world see the things I have done with my hands. I also wanted to have an avenue for crafters to communicate with each other. I find that no matter what country we are based in, people who craft make an instant connection. I would love to show that through my cyber home.

I also started this blog to showcase the creativity that is uniquely Filipino.

I want to show the world the artistry that can be seen in my country -- not only in fiber arts, but in general craft. I feel that the voices of our local artists are not sufficiently heard. For example, everyone in the Philippines knows of the great talent passed down from generation to generation by the sculptors in Paete. In cyberspace though, their talent has not received the attention that they deserve. Other indigenous arts like weaving (on giant looms with multicolor fibers nonetheless) may be lost to the future generations, unless people like me can somehow perpetuate them--in what better place, than in cyberspace.

I want to show the world that I care about the Filipino culture. I want to show everyone that our generation is not as apathetic as most people think. Blogging is a great way to reach a lot of people--specially the youth, and people overseas.

I want to be able to do all of these in the best way I can, in the most comprehensive way possible. And in order to do that, I have to learn more about how to capture people's attention online. I am so eager to learn!

If I make even just one person appreciate the vast talent, the inspiration, and enormous effort that local artists put into their bodies of work, I would be just thrilled. I think that it's so much easier to dole out money, than to make an active effort to consistently keep trying to enlighten other people about the beauty that is all around us.

Yey, Drops!

2009-06-25T22:45:00.000-07:00

Received an email today from GarnStudio Drops Design:

"

"The new DROPS collection for fall & winter 2009/10 are being posted online!

Thank you very much for your help in voting.

We greatly appreciate you taking the time to vote.

The design team read all the comments and feedback we receive. All your comments are extremely useful and we do our outmost to fulfil all your wishes and requests. There are some strong favorites and the best of these will be featured on the front pages of the DROPS catalogs.

We will begin posting the new collection this week. The patterns will be posted continuously as they have been checked, proof read, translated and all the diagrams have been completed.

As always we are looking forward to your comments once you begin knitting the garments. Remember that you can leave comments and feedback directly on the pattern itself. If you have your own blogg with pictures of your finished garment, please leave a copy on our pattern blogg.

SEE THE ENTIRE COLLECTION AND FIND THE PATTERNS HERE

Kind regardsDROPS Design/GARNSTUDIO"

I've always been a fan of theirs. Although most of their designs are for knitting, there are still quite a lot of crochet patterns -- eleven pages on their website, to be exact. Here are some of my faves (these are also quite popular over at Ravelry):

Crocheted Slippers -- Although these might be impractical for someone living in the Philippines, I love the look of this. I would gladly make a pair. In fact, I'm looking for an excuse to make one. =D

Crocheted Headband with Flowers -- This looks soooo cute. Just right for all the hippies-at-heart.

Crocheted Bolero -- I just love cropped cover-ups. I can never get enough of shrugs, wraps, shawls, and capelets! I specially love the lacy look of this one -- perfect for the ever-changing weather here.

Circle Jacket -- I truly love this one. I just want to have the guts (and proper yarn) to crochet this... The enormity of it scares me a little bit.

Crochet ADHD Therapy

2009-06-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

I think I've mentioned before that I have crochet ADHD. I always decide to make small projects. And if I do have to make bigger ones, I try to use the thickest yarn and any shortcut I can do to make the project faster to finish. Small projects = instant gratification, yey!

Mimi Alelis has the cure.

I met her last Saturday at Jollibee Philcoa. I bought some (read: A LOT) of crochet threads from her for some projects I had in mind. I was so honored to meet her... Being a successful Filipina crochet designer, in my eyes she was a goddess. LOL. She started showing me some of her projects. And I drooled. And envied. And lusted after the beautifully detailed designs. A sort of... Overwhelming artistic guilt (?) came over me as I stared at her works. The stitches were so perfectly executed -- even and consistent. I felt like such a poser. LOL.

I had so much fun talking with her, I didn't realize that we've been talking for hours! In the end, I made up my mind to start on one of her shrugs this very week. I bought her pattern for the Shells and Flowers Shrug:

I love the motif, and the innovative way that the whole thing is put together. I am making my project with the pink Anchor thread that I got from Ms. Mimi, too. I'm now on my third row. I hope I can do this pattern justice...

Thanks so much for everything, Ms. Mimi! Looking forward to our next meeting. :)

Free Pattern Alert! - Beyond the Sea Hat

2009-06-17T17:43:00.000-07:00

I just love this Beyond the Sea hat. The author originally sold this pattern for $2.50 on Etsy. Now, because of the original hat's untimely demise, she put up the pattern for free on Ravelry. Check out her blog for the Ravelry link.

I am SO making this! XD

How tough it must have been for those hookers...

2009-06-16T20:47:00.000-07:00

The first time I read about the history of crochet was from Debbie Stoller's extraordinary book Stitch n' Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker. I usually hate reading historical texts, but the way she wrote it was fun and so engaging. Apparently, crochet became famous in Europe and in the U.S. as a cheap alternative to expensive lace. But because of extremely low wages, crocheters allegedly resorted to prostitution to augment their income. Hence the word hookers.

By the way, I highly recommend the book to everyone interested in learning about crochet. I think it should be the very first book anyone should have. The author discusses everything involved in making crocheted pieces. I love the fact that she came up with the book because crochet instructions vary so much. She did a very good job in explaining all these variations, and adding what she thinks is the best way to go about crocheting. There are also a lot of fun patterns, and short biographies of the pattern authors. I've read other reviews of the book, and they mirror what I have to say and think of the book. One left-handed hooker complained though, that there aren't enough instructions for left-handed people. Which I wouldn't be able to relate to anyway, so I couldn't comment on that.

Anyway, back to hookers. So with all the negative and immoral associations that crochet had back then, it was relegated to the crafty sidelines and branded "EVIL: do not touch." And was only redeemed during the Irish Potato Famine, when Irish nuns taught crochet so that they can import their works and earn some money. Well, the hippies love it a few decades afterward, and made granny squares an everyday staple. And now, crochet is seen on modern and high fashion runways. Although it's not as popular and rooted as its sister knitting, it is slowly making its mark on everyday fashion and house items.

I just found myself wondering this morning, how I would have felt if I lived back then. Forced to do crochet lace every day, into the wee hours of the night (give or take a few "sideline jobs"). I absolutely LOVE crocheting, but if I have to do it to get paid, I think it would change the way I see crafts.

Here's an example: I LOVE writing, being able to express my thoughts and challenging myself to relate better to readers. But if someone took the freedom away from writing, and started paying me for it... It would change a lot of things. Like how I would start hating doing the same thing over and over again every single day. And how I wouldn't have the choice to write about anything I want, in whatever style I want. Or how I have to write like I believe in something I'm totally opposed to. And how I would go homeless and bankrupt if I stop doing it.

I mean, these women spent their lives crocheting. And the only souvenirs they got were poor eyesight, and really sore wrists.

* I got the image from this great collection of pictures. Please do visit the page! i love the one where a little boy is making such a neat... something. I cannot understand any word on the page, but the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Amigurumi Robot -- Thanks Rachel of CrochetSpot!

2009-06-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

This is my first REAL amigurumi. By real, I mean presentable. The first one I made was $#!+. Literally. I made amigurumi poo.

Exhibit A: Paraplegic, Faceless Robot

Now this robot is a gift for my officemate Paolo... He very generously agreed to make over my seller site at Multiply.com in exchange for this. =) I made it in his color choice. The pattern was originally in yellow and black. I followed all the directions to the letter, save for the face. Who knew that would be the most difficult part? Considering that it's the part of the project that uses up the least amount of yarn.

Doesn't he look like Shrek's Gingerbread Man? I love him. =)

Paolo loved it, and baptized him Swarley. I said that I thought the name sounded like a drunk pirate who loves to swear. And how much I wanted to make an eyepatch for him. =)

Get the free pattern at Crochet Spot. You get the pattern free when you subscribe to Rachel's weekly newsletter. Go visit her site for a lot of great tutorials and patterns!

Crocheted Lace Jewelry Frames -- thank you StitchDiva!

2009-06-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

I was so lucky to have found this great pattern at StitchDiva. It works up very quickly. The pattern is very flexible (any kind of yarn can be used). I was also able to substitute cheaper materials, and they still came out nice (if I do say so myself). I used felt paper instead of cloth, for the backdrop of the frame. And, I only used acrylic yarn (take THAT, yarn snobs!). I do have to say though, that these will look SPECTACULAR with some sparkly yarn and satin/ printed cloth backdrop.

I also changed up the attaching part. The pattern says, to staple the finished crochet thingie onto the back of the cloth-covered background. I didn't feel so good about that so I did a lace-up corset thingie. It looks crazy in the back, but it works for me. At least I won't spend sleepless nights worrying if my gifts have come undone.

That's a wrap! (Get it? Harharhahahaharhar I am SO funny.)

(Mis) Adventures in Hairpin Lace

2009-06-14T02:41:00.000-07:00

I went cuckoo when I found a hairpin lace loom/ crochet fork the last time I went to Dreams Yarn Shop. I asked about it the last time, and they said they didn't have it. Turns out, it's been there the whole time and the shop assistant just didn't know about it. =

Thanks to my boyfriend (who indulged me and bought me a skein of pretty sparkly pink yarn). <3 Talking Crochet:

I omitted the extra shells on both ends because I wanted to make a headband with it, instead of a bookmark. I tried it on my head though, and it looked costume-y so I abandoned it and chose more subtle colors for my next trial:

By this time, I was so confident with my hairpin lace capabilities, and decided to widen and lengthen the band. I got into the groove. Hairpin lace really is relaxing, and all that jazz. My mind drifted off contentedly.

Aside from overguesstimating the measurements of the whole thing, I ended up with this, a tangled, useless piece:

Lesson learned. Note to self: look at the project from time to time to see if it actually resembles the end product you want. =

What else can I do but try again? =) This time I used a much more pleasant color combination -- pale pink and silver grey (my fave color combination lately). I'll post a picture of the finished product when I'm done. =)

Faking It... With Style

2009-05-28T21:36:00.000-07:00

Love designer bags, but not the designer price tags?

(I expect everyone to say yes.)

Well, then why don't you crochet one? I came across this life-changing website this morning. The Counterfeit Crochet Project was created by Stephanie S. in 2006. A short description from her site goes:

"In 2006 I created a website soliciting crocheters to join me in hand-counterfeiting designer handbags: Fendi, Gucci, Chanel, Prada, etc. Participants troll the internet and choose a design that they particularly covet, working off of low-resolution jpgs which they download.

...

I am also interested in how this project parallels and diverges from contemporary capitalist factory production and distribution channels.

As a collaboration it parallels the idea of "outsourcing" labor, but also adds a democratic and perhaps anarchic level of creativity--within the basic framework, participants have taken liberties with their translations, changing colors, adding materials (cardboard, hot glue, etc.) to suit their needs.

Makers are encouraged to keep and wear their bags, in an attempt to insert strange variants into the stream of commerce and consumption. I ask for people to send me snapshots of their items to share with others.

This is an ongoing global project, with makers from all over the world. I am always seeking more collaborators, so please contact me to join up! In 2007 the project travelled to Manila, Beijing, and Istanbul for exhibitions and counterfeiting workshops."

This is my favorite of the bunch:

Now I'm trying to find a bag that I can *attempt to* counterfeit. When I do, I hope that I have the time and guts to crochet it!

Chrysanthemum Tea Shawl - FO

2009-05-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

Last night I experienced what an athlete must feel when s/he sees the finish line. I finally finished the Chrysanthemum Tea Shawl I've been working on for a week.

I've always had problems with big projects. I love starting a project-I'm so excited whenever I have a new one lined up. Ideas keep jumping off the top of my head. But once I'm IN it, swimming in it, up to my scalp in it, I somehow lose interest and leave it hanging there unfinished. I know, I know, I should always finish what I started... But it gets difficult for me when there are no conceptual facets of the project left. I just love solving the puzzle of how to get things done, but not so much the fact that I have to actually DO it to get it done.

Whew! I did it!

I admit that I have a form of crochet ADHD. That's why I always go for the small projects. And that's also the reason why I love making accessories, and not apparel. I just have to have instant gratification!

So I was amazed when I finished this gynormous shawl for my lovely crazy wonderful mom. It got so big, that my mom said we could use it as a tablecloth when we have guests over. As if I would let her.

I made this shawl for my mom to wear to a wedding. She is to be the couple's godmother (what we call here ninang). The occasion's motif is celadon green. CELADON GREEN!?!? *said incredulously* It was extremely difficult trying to decide what exact shade that is. It seemed that every person had a different opinion about it. I sought help from Mimi of Crochet and Other Stuff, and she said the same thing, that a simple Google Images search comes up with a hundred shades of green. My eyes (and brain) hurt just trying to differentiate the subtle tones of all the greens I saw.

So I reached deep down and sought counsel with the girl scout inside of me. She said that I should make do with the materials I have, and that a true artist would be able to make it work. *said a la Tim Gunn* With resolve (and a nagging suspicion that I just might be bipolar), I marched valiantly to my yarn stash and made the best of it. I got the huge mint green mystery yarn from Baguio, and mixed it with crochet thread of a darker shade. I thought it sort of looked celadonnish. Besides, that was the closest I made to celadon, so I just went for it.

Looking at it objectively in the early stages, the mint green totally dominated the subtle sheen of the mercerized crochet thread. So halfway through, I used two strands of crochet thread (I also thought this just might add more swing to the garment).

I still cannot believe I finished this piece in less than a week, considering that I do have a day job. It was difficult yet addicting -- I often fell asleep with this blanketed over me, crochet hook still clutched in my palm.

Thank you so much, Doris Chan, for dreaming up this lovely pattern. I do hope that I did not fail you and/or put you to shame with this piece.

Hot Fuzz! I'm all out of yarn! (I'm so lost without you...)

2009-05-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

I'm so inspired by (the ever so talented) Doris Chan's book Amazing Crochet Lace. I got my copy over the weekend. It was on sale in National Bookstore at Robinson's Galleria (at20% off, yippee!). Her whole concept of exploded lace is so new and appealing to me, that I was astonished when I saw that her book was published in 2006. I mean, I've wasted so much time looking for beautiful patterns! I wish I'd found you sooner!

Anyway, as soon as I got home, I sat down and made the first project in the book (the one featured in the cover). My mom is attending a wedding by the end of the month and she fell in love with the look of the shawl. The motif is celadon green - very close to the color used in the book, and my mom took it as a sign. I hope the author doesn't mind but I changed up the yarn (she specifically emphasized that the yarns she used would emphasize the pattern's beauty). Finding scrumptious yarns here in the Philippines is quite a task--there are no LYS's (local yarn shops). The closest we have is Dreams, a yarn store which I feel focuses more on knitting. And this offers a not-so-wide variety with few quantities of each skein.

Yesterday, I rushed home to watch the American Idol final performance episode (it airs here at 6PM in StarWorld). While watching Kris and Adam battle it out, I continued working on my mom's Chrysanthemum Tea Shawl. I wasn't able to do much because Kris and Adam (and Carrie Underwood!!) commanded most of my attention.

I hope Kris Allen wins... I do not debate the fact that Adam has the widest craziest vocal range ever, but I think that he's too... well, put together. It just feels like everything he does and sings are acts in a play. I can see Kris coming up with an album and everything, but with Adam...? I see him starring in Broadway. Which isn't bad at all.

UPDATE: KRIS ALLEN WON! YEY!

Back to my hooking. I surfed the channels for something else to watch, and settled on HBO when I saw Simon Pegg. The movie's title is Hot Fuzz. I don't think it was shown here in the Philippines and I'm so happy that I caught it on TV... In four words, IT ROCKED MY WORLD!

Before I knew it I was crocheting like mad, keeping up with the fast pace of the movie. It was so funny/crazy! The absurdity of it all, coupled with the quirky dialogue and the perfect delivery of the actors--well it was just perfect. I never liked action/comedy movies; this is the first one I liked. I am so recommending the movie to my friends! Thanks to the action-packed movie, by the end of the night, my project expanded to this size:

I'm out of yarn!!! Help!!!

The Artful Hooker's Mini-Gallery

2009-05-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

I love making accessories -- funky, chunky ones (or at least I would like to think so). I sell some of them, but majority of my creations go to my friends and family.

I want to share with you some of my designs... All kinds of comments are welcome and much appreciated!

This is my signature creation -- the bookmark-bracelet. I started making these because I always lose my bookmarks (I do wonder every now and then where they are and if they're happier wherever that is, but I digress). So, I made a bookmark that I can wear as a bracelet while I'm reading. Ta-daaaa! Problem solved. ;) And besides, it's a great excuse for accumulating all sorts of yummy-colored crochet thread. =D I love the positive responses that I get from other booklovers. Other hookers (or crocheters, if they prefer) love the idea and how easily it can be made. The pattern is very flexible too. Practically any kind of component can be integrated with it.

This is only one of the many that I've made and sold so far. I love making themed ones! I named this one, The Painter. I am such a sucker for variegated thread, and colorful beads and buttons.

This bracelet is my favorite from my Summer Collection. I named it Summer Lovin' because it's so full of hearts! And everything is so colorful.

I didn't name this one because... I liked it so much that I didn't put it up for sale! =D It shows how much I want to be constructive about my creations. I like making unique components out of beads and unconventional materials. I also love the movement of the two-toned glass pearls.

So far these are my favorite earrings. I named this pair Topsy Turvy because the flower is hanging from the stem. =D My idea of the perfect pair of earrings is something dangly but lightweight.

And finally... this is my favorite of all the pieces I've ever done. Miss Clara was inspired by a wonderful novel I read, Gramercy Park. I was so moved by the story of the heroine, a woman-child called Clara, that I was inspired to make this necklace. The setting of the golden cameo is actually a crocheted flower. I also threw in a mixture of charms that I felt appropriate for Clara's story.

These are only some of my designs... I just wanted to show you my style and my preferences in crafting. =) I hope that I'll be able to help out some of the people out there who want to learn crafts!

~The Artful Hooker~