Nov
movie night tonight
Posted by Shannon in events, movie night
who doesn’t love johnny depp? i mean, come ON, he’s handsome, talented, interesting, and he started out his career in “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” one of the scariest horror movies of my youth. he played a narc on 21 jump street. he dated JENNIFER GREY, folks. and, tonight, as a segue between our monster-movie theme and our holiday-movie theme, he plays one of his most endearing characters, edward scissorhands.
from imdb:
“An uncommonly gentle young man, who happens to have scissors for hands, falls in love with a beautiful teenage girl.”
and, some interesting tidbits on casting our boy johnny from wikipedia:
“Casting of Edward Scissorhands was a lengthy but simple process. Tom Cruise was initially interested in playing the lead role, but dropped out as he wanted a happy ending for the film rather than the bleak one intended. Robert Downey Jr. was then considered by Burton, however Downey turned it down. Jim Carrey, who was then a struggling actor, auditioned several times for the role of Edward. In 1989, Johnny Depp read the script and “wept like a newborn”. Meeting Burton and producer Denise Di Novi in Los Angeles, California, he and Burton got on very well, and he was cast a few weeks later. In preparation for the role, Depp watched many Charlie Chaplin films to study creating sympathy without dialogue, and lost 25 pounds. Depp stated in the process of removing the make-up ‘Wow. This is it. I’m saying goodbye to this guy. I’m saying goodbye to Edward Scissorhands.” It was funny, I was kind of sad. But in fact, I think they’re all still in there.’”
so, come on over to twisted tonight, chill on a comfy chair, do some knitting, and weep like a newborn with johnny depp as edward scissorhands.
Nov
Gems worsted is here!
Posted by Emily in yarn, patternsAround Twisted-ville it’s no secret that I heart Louet Gems.
It’s tightly plied, machine washable (and, they claim, dryable), and soft enough to merit its own series of TV commercials with a cartoon bear wandering the woods… In any event, given all the great things about the Gems Fingering and Sport we already carry, we figured it was time to expand our offerings to include Gems Worsted as well.
Right now we have ten colors, with more to be added as time goes on. We’ve also printed out copies of a free pattern
from Louet that uses Gems Worsted to help get you started (photo at right).
Gems Worsted is great for sweaters, but it would also be perfect yarn to use to make a first pair of socks if you’re not quiet brave enough to go down to sport weight yet. So, whatever worsted weight project you’ve been plotting, we’ve now got you covered.
Nov
making a list…
Posted by Shannon in the shopand checking it twice…
having a hard time deciding what to get for the crafter who has everything? or, are you a crafter who wants specific crafting supplies? well, we twisted chicks have you covered, because we are encouraging our crafters to fill in a wish-list, which we will keep on file here. come on in, grab a sheet of paper, and go shopping - we’ll hold onto your list and share it with your loved ones. we’re totally low-tech this year - all paper and pens, no computer kiosks to navigate, just a good ole’ fashioned wish list.
Nov
Seriously local
Posted by Emily in yarnWe’ve got a wonderful new hand-dyed local yarn line to report. Lavender sheep is superwash merino in both fingering and sport weights. Both fingering and sport are $24.
Even the colorways are local, with names like Mt. Hood and Columbia River. What a perfect gift for a friend or family member who is far away and missing Oregon. A handknit pair of socks from someone they love to both keep them warm and remind them of home. What better holiday present could there be?
Nov
focus on local, take one
Posted by Shannon in the shop, yarnwe loooove being portlanders - this town is a mecca of sorts for the craftiest of crafty folk, and we are pleased and proud to be able to help support and foster that craftiness by showcasing local designers here at twisted. you all know about the yarn traveler, and her fabulous little project bags, and you’ve met mean bean, who makes little notions bags, and the talented laurie ann and her scrumptious upholstery-and-silk anything-bags. we’ve got anna’s beautiful little journals, gorgeous hand-dyed sock yarn from knitted wit, and painted skeins, and there are three other fabulous women we have yet to introduce you to. today, we’ll start with the fun and funky sharon of stitchjones.
sharon is a knitter with an eye for color, a beader with a sense of sparkle, and a rush fan with a great sense of humor. her colorways are named after her favorite rush songs, and have struck a real chord (heehee) with fellow rush-fanatics on etsy and ravelry. her love of bright colors and fun textures really comes through in her hand-dyed yarn, and if you are looking for a little something-something to add to that holiday gift for your favorite knitter, you can’t go wrong with her lovely stitch-markers.
we have also received other fun local products, which we will post on another day.
we are open today, regular hours (11am - 8pm), and we have some yarns and needles on sale. we also have over 40 flavors of teas now (perfect for this chilly weather we’ve been enjoying), including some really yummy holiday flavors. oh, and we received big shipments of yarntini and mama e cyeber fiber sock yarns, which have caused much droolage from the twisted gals. come on by and get out of the rat-race that is black friday (such an ominous and scary-sounding name, huh?) relax with a cup of tea, some yarn, and some good friends on this day after thanksgiving.
Nov
a place for everything
Posted by Shannon in the shop, bagswe are pleased to announce to all ya’ll that we now have meanbean bags at twisted. they are the cutest lil thangs you ever did see, and they are made by the uber-talented local woman kristin!
meanbean bags are the perfect little accompaniment to your knitting bag - fill it with notions, use it as your wallet, or put a wee project in it, and you are good to go.
happy turkey day to everyone out there - twisted will be closed on thursday, november 22, but will re-open friday at 11. there will be no movie night on friday due to the anticipated tryptophan coma we will all likely be in.
thanks, and we’ll see you soon!
Nov
open crafting tonight
Posted by Shannon in yarn, socks, events, patternscome on over to twisted tonight and craft with us. with the holidays quickly approaching, it’s really time to buckle down and get those handmade gifts DONE. or at least started, right?
we’ve got tons of great gift ideas. the ever-crafty michelle from mimoknits has graciously shared some free, one-skein knitting patterns with us. make a kureyon coffee cozy for that special someone who ALWAYS has a to-go coffee in his or her hand, or some gorgeous fingerless mitts for that freeze-baby on your holiday list. we have hard copies of the patterns, and the yarn in many beautiful colors. michelle has a noro problem, and is itching to share her obsession with all of you!
michelle is the creative force behind the pattern for the japanese vines scarf (which we have for sale in the shop, as well as the yarn to make one (or two) of your very own), so you know these patterns rock!
we also have a quick-and-dirty one-skein cowl pattern in the shop, and books and loose patterns galore to inspire some frantic holiday cast-on-itis. not to mention all the sock yarn - we have received some new ones (which we will visit in detail in later posts), but just to whet your appetite:
*lavender sheep - local dye-maven yvonne has blown us away with her use of colors
*even more dream in color smooshy - all 24 colors
*new-to-us trekking colors
*a cotton sock yarn! (sockina cotton)
and more sock yarns to come in the next few months - keep checking back!
Nov
Success!
Posted by Emily in charityWe wanted to report on what a huge success the Portland Grows a Cure fundraiser in support of histiocytosis was yesterday. We cannot thank enough all our wonderful customers (one calling in from as far away as Rhode Island!) who came out to support this great cause. Just here at Twisted, we raised $125 that will go towards researching a cure for this deadly childhood disease. No word yet on an event-wide total, but Laurel from Bella Stella (the event organizer) stopped by and said it had been an incredible success all around. Thanks to everyone!
Nov
movie night tonight
Posted by Shannon in events, movie night, charity
jack and joan have settled into a fairly domesticated life after their high adventure in columbia, but tonight, we visit them as they embark on a new adventure, rekindling their former life of intrigue and adventure in jewel of the nile, the sequel to last week’s romancing the stone. this film will round out our foray into the wild world of michael douglas and kathleen turner.
from hollywood.com:
“Six months after their first adventure Joan Wilder takes an assignment to do a biography on an evil desert ruler, eventually finds herself in hot water over a precious jewel, and Jack Colton comes to the rescue.”
and, from rotten tomatoes:
“According to legend, Catherine Zeta-Jones was 15 when this movie was made.”
Gregory Weinkauf, New Times
come on over, get out of the rain, and watch a mindless romantic-comedy-80’s-adventure-flick with us!
and remember, tomorrow we participate in Portland Grows a Cure, donating 10% of our sales to histio research.
Nov
shop for a good cause
Posted by Shannon in eventswe twisted chicks are proud to be a part of the “Portland Grows a Cure” day to benefit research on histio. we are donating 10% of our sales to histiocytosis research.
straight from the histiocytosis foundation of america’s website:
Histiocytosis is a rare blood disease that is caused by an excess of white blood cells called histiocytes. The histiocytes cluster together and can attack the skin, bones, lung, liver, spleen, gums, ears, eyes, and/or the central nervous system. The disease can range from limited involvement that spontaneously regresses to progressive multiorgan involvement that can be chronic and debilitating. In some cases, the disease can be life-threatening.
In some ways, histiocytosis is similar to cancer and has historically been treated by oncologists with chemotherapy and radiation. Unlike cancer, histiocytosis sometimes goes into remission without treatment.
The vast majority of people diagnosed with histiocytosis are children under the age of 10, but it is also found in adults of all ages.
It is approximated that histiocytosis affects 1 in 200,000 children born each year in the United States. This illness is so rare, there is little research into its cause and treatment, and it is often referred to as an “orphan disease,” meaning it strikes too few people to generate government - supported research.
laurel from the fantastic bella stella has organized this day to benefit these kids that are afflicted with a disease that is unfortunately severely underfunded. her daughter is afflicted with the disease, and she and her family are working tirelessly to raise money and awareness.
please come by on saturday - and remember that 10% of our sales that day will go straight to “Portland Grows a Cure.”