Yarn bowls... This was expected

With my recent knitting adventures, it was inevitable that yarn bowls would make an appearance. Many of my collectors who found out I was knitting, asked me, "When are you going make yarn bowls?"
I had seen several traditional yarn bowls, thrown on the wheel and swirl cut of it. They looked nice, but you know with me with it doesn't start with a yarn bowl concept, it has to start with a fabric concept. I considered the style of my casseroles, which look like pieces of fabric wrapped around and attached with buttons.

This is the design I came up with and it takes care of some issues I was having with knitting.

I wanted more functionality out of it. I was recently working on a knitted project in which I had to use the yarn held double. It can work fine with a yarn cake using one end from the outside and inside, but can land up being a tangle. In my new yarn bowls you can lay the cake horizontal and pull the yarn from the swirls at opposite ends.

These are also good for color work and can fit two yarn bowls.

If you like doing socks two at a time also known as TAAT socks, this is perfect as it will hold both the skeins in it.

They are big enough to hold one 100gm skein of fingering - worsted weight yarn.

I have listed several of them in my etsy shop. Do check them out

Niche Award 2015 Finalist

If you have been reading my blog or have talked to me about my Mojari shoes, you know how they came about. From an exhibit at Nordstorm during NCECA, to ripping off my wife's wedding shoes and how I just got deeper into making more of these shoes. You can read more about that story here.

Well I have some good news, one pair of these shoes has been chosen for the Niche Awards 2015!!!
Now send good thoughts that I win. :)

Featured in the American Craft Council Magazine

I am thrilled to share this news with you. My story and work are featured in the "American Craft Council" magazine in the October issue.

I got a two page spread with lots of pictures accompanied with a well written article.

Now you can read where my design aesthetic comes from and feel free to share with your friends and family.

Browse my online store and get my signature pieces as part of your collection.

Pottery with Knitting patterns

I finally got around to it and completed my dishes with a knitting pattern. I had mentioned about them in my previous post and I am so excited to see how they came out. I LOVE them!!! Great for tea bags, spoon rests and even holding stitch markers
I listed them in my Etsy shop and very soon I sold 20+ of them.

I made more and listed them here
I also have a SPECIAL going on for Free shipping till August 29th. Just use coupon code AUGFREE14 at check out.

My mind is now creeping up with more ideas, so let's see where this goes

Knitting and now Weaving???!!!

That is what I was asking myself when my friend Ann Meersman from Meersman Inc, mentioned to me about a small table top loom for sale.

I had tried a floor loom at the Madrona Fiber Festival in Tacoma early this year and got really interested in the pattern designing.... similar to putting 1s and 0s together to make pattern. Might be the engineer in me that got intrigued.

Anyway, I met Barbara Newton, who was offering this loom which she never used. It was such a pleasure to meet her and talk about color, fabric and fiber. She does amazing paintings and make sure to visit her website. So at the end I got the loom and now I am waiting to try it out.

I got a lot of knitting inspiration and help from ravelry but haven't found much on weaving there. Anyone have any suggestions?

New Dancing Divas

I had not made some of my popular dancing divas for a while and the main reason was the lack of inspiration. I make the forms and then it is the process of dressing them up in unique outfits, figuring out construction, clothes, jewelry etc.. After making these for years, I know exactly what women mean when they say they have "Nothing to wear!!"
I am really happy with these new divas, their movement and grace makes me want to dance too. Which one is your favorite?

Knitting pattern makes to my pottery

I knew it would happen eventually, but didn't know exactly how. This is a small introduction of the knitting patterns to my pottery.

These small dishes are in progress and will be great for holding stitch markers, darning needles and other knitting notions. Several of these will be part of the goody bags being given at the Men's Fall Knitting Retreat. And guess where it takes place, just 2 miles from my home in Federal way. Who knew a hobby I pick up will have a retreat so close to home. I am really looking forward to it and learning more about this craft.
These dishes will be available for purchase later in my Etsy shop. If you want to reserve some, just send me a message on Etsy.

Can I loose weight by knitting??

I know stupid question.... right?
May be not really.... I have been enjoying knitting as much as I hate to get on the elliptical in the morning. On listening to the radio one day I found a a guy broke a Guinness record for a longest scarf knit while running a marathon. You can read about it here if you don't believe me.

I am not saying I want to run a marathon and win the Guinness record, but it got me thinking if I could be coordinated enough to knit while on the elliptical. It happens so that I can.
I did choose a project that would be small and exciting enough to keep me going. I chose the project Squares on a roll by Frankie Brown. It involves making small sqaures individually which will all be attached at the end to make a blanket. So this is my workout blanket. LOL! YOu can see updates on my blanket here

Rather than using a very colorful yarn, I chose Woobu in shades of green and purple. I did modify the pattern a little bit, so I only knit and not purl. It is harder for me to purl on the elliptical, plus I got ladders on the DPNs on purls. It takes me approx 4-5 hours to knit a square which is approx 2500 calories burnt!

Of course it would be more effective if I just did the elliptical without the knitting, but knitting the blanket at least gets me to exercise.

It will be interesting to see how long it will take me to knit this blanket. I know I am going to be short on yarn so I am in search for more Woobu yarn. If anyone has any sources for less price, do let me know. Thanks!

Knitting Project Bags

Now that I am knitting, I am realizing that it is nice to have bags to keep projects in while travelling or while they hibernate.
I had purchased a huge lot of tote bags to use as retail bags for my customers at local art shows. But due to the limited amount of space in small booth I haven’t used them much. And with my recent venture into knitting, I have realized these make great knitting bags. 

• They fold really small so they are easy to store when not in use. 
• Unfolded Size: 18 in x 14 in x 5 in. Great for big projects. Can be modified and upcycled with more features. 
• Top zipper closure 
• Durable, Fashionable, Easy to clean. 
• Material: Waterproof polyester 
• Made in China

I have an overstock of these bags (200+). I need to space in my garage for my pottery, which is my full time job. 
I am offering them at a special pricing (lower than my costs) as I need more room. 
8 bags for $36 - FREE Shipping within United States 
16 bags for $48 - FREE Shipping within United States 
40 bags for $100 - FREE Shipping within United States

Email me at creativewithclay@yahoo.com if you are interested

Knitting... Beware, it is addicting

As some of you know I have been bitten by the knitting bug and it is an addiction.
I don't know what it is that keeps me going, but the slow build up of fabric one stitch at a time, shaping it slowly is just very exciting.

Here is an update on somethings that I have been knitting. You can follow me on ravelry to see the progress.
As you can see I am really enjoying knitting socks. The complexity of the shape of a foot, the calculations required to turn the heel and the fact that you don't need a lot of yarn to knit socks, keeps me going.

Make your own DIY Swift

As several of you know I have recently been bitten by the knitting bug. If you wish to follow me and my projects on Ravelry here is the link.
One thing I really wanted was a swift which is used when making your ball of yarn. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on gadgets though I love too.  Here is a pretty cheap and simple way to make your own yarn swift. I didn't spend any money on it as I have everything at home except for the pvc pipe. The ball winder I am using is from knitpicks and works really well with this swift

Featured in the New Edition of the Extruder Book

I am thrilled to have my work included in the second edition of "The Extruder Book" by Daryl E. Baird.
The book is filled with great insight on organizing spaces, techniques, designs and lots of inspiration. Daryl does a great job with the demos. Available as a book or an ebook!

I connected with Daryl few years back over facebook and was delighted to meet him in person in 2012 during NCECA in Seattle. He had come by my studio to see my setup and was impressed by several things which he has included in his book. Organized Extruder space, CD shelf reused for storing extruder dies, my dies made from Aluminum sheets... are all included in this book.

My Oil Vinegar Bottles and one of my Dancing Diva Sculptures is also included in the book.

New work Wine Bottle Stoppers

I just checked my blog and realized it has been a while since I posted. I apologize and hope to be more active about it.
It has been a busy year and this year my schedule changed, since the trade show I do, Buyers Market of American Craft also known as American Made show was early in January. So didn't have much of downtime during the holidays and it was work in full swing. Anyway... enough of excuses.

I have been busy and really excited about my new Wine Stoppers. I used to make some before but wanted a new style and a new technique for making them. I really like these designs that go well with my line of indian inspired pottery.

I have three basic shapes and the Spade and Fan shape can also be customized with initials for personalized wine stoppers for a wedding gift. You can see that they are nice large size stoppers which an really make a statement with the wine bottle you gift. A great hostess gift as well.

Which is your favorite shape and you do you have suggestions for more shapes?