A guy from Comcast was just here to install my cable. The modem is in my spare room, which is where I keep my not insubstantial array of craft supplies. As he was leaving the technician said, “You sure are a crafty little thing!” Usually I’m a bit on the touchy side about comments that can be interpreted as sexist, but he truly didn’t mean it like that. Also, although it’s all neatly arranged and for the most part hidden, when you go mucking about with wires and plugs you end up having to move at least three under-bed containers of yarn, one tub of fabric, a sewing machine, one very bad painting, a largeish container of various kinds of paper, and my printer. I looked up from re-stringing the poles of my backpacking tent. “Yes,” I said. “Yes, I guess I am.”

I heard a radio show last weekend on OPB called Destination DIY. It is, not shockingly, about DIY in Portland, and the fact that for something to be DIY does not mean it has to involve a hot glue gun. (Though I do love me some hot glue.) For example, this show included a segment about people who represent themselves in court. This isn’t necessarily what springs to your mind first when you hear the term DIY, but goshdarnit, if you think about it it totally makes sense.

And last week we had a meeting with our accountant where I was feeling down right crafty. We were running reports right and left and trying to solve a small mystery and getting all creative with our problem solving integrating the two different software programs we use to track inventory and expenses. I felt excited in the same way as when I’m learning something new when I’m knitting, or making a lot of progress in a pattern I like. I mean, what’s more DIY than teaching yourself accounting and web design and new software programs and starting up a business? Whether your selling yarn or widgets – that’s pretty crafty.

So here’s my little new nugget of knowledge. The part of me that likes to knit and sew (and hot glue things to other things) is the same part that revels in keeping our bookkeeping super tidy and knowing that all the little columns balance out perfectly. And making the web site look pretty. And designing ads. It’s all about problem solving and creating order out of chaos and something useful out of raw materials, whether it’s data or a ball of yarn.

This week, our Sale of the Week is all about helping you break into another crafty hobby. Yeah, you’re very welcome!

From Monday, July 19th through Sunday, July 25th, we are offering 25% off all of our crafty goodness, including:

Louet Dye Kits
Roving
Needle Felting Needles and notions
Embroidery patterns, hoops, floss, etc.
Crewel kits, patterns, yarn, etc.

And, remember, our Sale of the Week #8 runs from Monday, July 19th through Sunday, July 25th, and is limited to stock on hand. For best selection, please come early!

-shannon & emily
shop online at twisted!

This led to a rousing discussion between Emily and me about difficulty vs. fussiness. You see, a pattern can have a low difficulty rating but be super fussy, which doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s hard. Pain-in-the-butt-to-do patterns aren’t always hard-to-do pattern. The components themselves can be fairly easy, straightforward, even, but the putting-together of those components can equal a process that is kinda painful.

So, the verdict for our dear customer? Fuggedabout it! She started another pattern, and walked away much happier and less stressed. The finished object will be in better shape, too, because she will have actually enjoyed the creating, no matter the difficulty level.

Have you had a showdown with a fussy pattern? Do you press on through, or find something a bit more…amenable?

These handcrafted recycled glass buttons are made in Africa, through a free trade agreement. They are made only from 100% recycled glass bottles, discarded dishware, and other repurposed glass. Each button is both beautiful and unique, and each and every button makes our crafty hearts literally sing.

We’re tempted to cast on a sweater just so we can use these buttons. Can ya blame us? At $2.40 a piece, they’re actually a great deal!

We carry all of her patterns, and she occasionally teaches classes here, and she designs for our Single Skein Club. Yay for us! We are also now carrying these superduper awesome Connect-the-Dots embroidery sets.

And, the making-of, which is every bit as awesome as the commercial itself:

We’ve got the old standby’s, the hilarious and crazy Funky Sock Monkey kits and pattern from Blue Moon:

We also just got Woolpets, these amazing little felted cute-thing kits, and one just so happens to be a traditional sock monkey:

And, harkening back to our post from last week, we’ve got Sock Monkey project bags from Flower Pie:

So come on in to Twisted and getcher Sock Monkey on!

Inga, aka Rockpool Candy, Jimbo and his insanely ginormous and record-breaking (whether or not the Guiness folks will recognize it) crochet hook, and Laurie from the Crochet Liberation Front are descending upon Portland, Twisted in particular, for an event of epic proportions. Jimbo’s bringing Dippy (Diplohookticus Jimbosei),

Inga’s bringing her artistic vision, and Laurie’s bringing her mad crocheting skills. The goal is to create a HUGE spider web, by first spinning, and then crocheting it. Please come on by, bring some fleece and your own hook, and create with us this Halloween weekend.

Thanks, Tree, for the link!