Meet Anna from Mochimochi Land!

Another author coming this winter is Anna from Mochimochi Land!!! I did a little interview with her for you to enjoy!

UCU- Tell us a bit about your book?

MML- I'm so excited about my first book! Knitting Mochimochi contains 20 all-new patterns for knitted toys that can be appreciated by both adults and kids - the designs are all kinds of creatures, from Squirrels on Wheels to Feet Eaters (slippers with big buck teeth) to a Grouchy Couch. The book includes photo tutorials on all the special techniques that I use, and it also has an illustrated glossary of basic knitting techniques. And there's also a section on how to design your own knitted toy.

UCU- How did you get into knitting adorable monsters and other creatures?

MML- I was knitting as a hobby for a few years before attempting to design my own knitted toys. In late 2006, the company that I worked for was opening a new gallery, and I thought it would be fun to knit some creatures for my coworkers in the shape of our new gallery logo.

Once I knitted a shape and put a pair of eyes on it, I was instantly hooked, and I just kept coming up with all different kinds of creatures to knit. I keep wondering when I'll get tired of it, but I haven't yet!

(I'm happy to say that gallery hanahou is still going strong, and one of my logo dudes is on the office wall.)

UCU- How often do you get to create new work vs. the time you spend on orders, emails, photos, etc.?

MML- Designing is definitely my favorite thing, so I try to make as much time for it as I can. Since last summer, one way I've been ensuring this is through my "Tiny" series - every week, I design a new miniature knitted toy and post a photo of it on my blog. It's been a really fun and rewarding challenge, and I've made patterns for some the Tinys too, which are available on my website.

Link to Tiny series: http://mochimochiland.com/category/tiny-things/

UCU- What are you looking forward to most when you come out to Seattle?

MML- I'm psyched about my first trip to Seattle. I'm looking forward to visiting Schmancy, along with some knitting stores that I know in the area, and I'm hoping to try some local food favorites. I also can't wait to meet all the west coast crafters at Urban Craft Uprising!

Meet Twinkie Chan!

We are already getting our author lineup and I thought it might be nice to learn more about them. So I would love to introduce you to < href="http://www.twinkiechan.com/" target="_blank">Twinkie Chan!. You may already be familiar with her work or her pictures! She's cute and so is her work. Here's a little interview I did with her.

UCU- Tell us a bit about yourself and your new book!

TC- Hi, there! I live in San Francisco, and I started my business in 2005. I've been crocheting zany doodads since I was little, and I finally combined my love for fake food and DIY into one giant yarn-y mess of food-themed crochet scarf madness! I worked in publishing as a literary agent for about 10 years, and it was very surreal to be on the other side of the publishing coin once I got my own deal for a crochet book!

It's coming out in November by Andrews McMeel Publishing, and it's called "Twinkie Chan's Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies: 20 Yummy Treats to Wear." People will get to see the ins and outs of all my funky patterns. Most of the book contains patterns for scarves, but I threw in some patterns for smaller projects as well. I shot all the photos in one night at 4am in my living room, and I drew most of the diagrams (but my friend helped me with the how-to-crochet illustrations because I'm a terrible artist!), so what's in the book is pretty much 99% Twinkie Chan!

UCU- Writing books is a different experience for everyone. How did the process go for you? Any parts you really loved or really didn't love?

TC- Since I'd worked in publishing for so long, I'd seen all the ups AND all the downs of the whole process. I am the type of person who prepares for the worst, but I got really lucky and had a really positive experience. Since I was so familiar with how a book comes to be, I didn't experience many surprises along the way. The only surprise was how DELIGHTFUL it was to work with everyone at Andrews McMeel! My deadline to write the book was a bit tight since I had a lot of other crafty stuff going on at the same time, but I really loved the whole process anyway. It was most fun to see how the publisher was going to lay everything out and turn all my random tidbits into a BOOK.

UCU- Where else are you going on tour with your book?

TC- Right now, I only have a mini West Coast tour planned for November/Decmeber: San Francisco, L.A., Portland, Seattle. I would like to tour the book on the East Coast, too, at some point soon! I am going to try to hit up more craft fairs out of California now that I have the book to sell!

UCU- What's your favorite part of crocheting awesomeness?

TC- I love figuring out a pattern for some object that I've conjured up in my head. It's like a discovering a new wonderful planet! But I get really antsy and repetition really gets to me ... so I'm always on the lookout for the next new project to conquer!

UCU- Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in Seattle!

TC-
1) My friends! I actually have quite a few friends living in Seattle now, and I can't believe I haven't really visited there for like 7 years!

2) Is there still a bar there called Cha Cha? I had fun times there!

3) Pike's Place Market. I have been there twice, but never for long enough. My boyfriend "Hairy" and I love food (natch!) so we really like to visit big marketplaces wherever we travel.

4) Seriously, I look forward to visiting Fancy and Schmancy! Schmancy (I believe) had a scarf show back in 06 or 07 and this was the first place I ever shipped my scarves for consignment. I actually hung out with Sally from Fancy with a group of people on one night in maaaybe 2002 before Twinkie Chan ever existed, and I visited her store the next day, so it will be fun to see it again!

5) LEAD ME TO YOUR CUPCAKES.

Call for Vendors: Kitsch N Stitch

Kitsch N Stitch's Aug 22nd show is accepting applications now! Click the Contact link at mourningmarket.com to apply.

Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs- Round Table Event

We are excited to announce a special special round table reception hosted by The Conference for Creative Entrepreneurs.

The event will feature small group discussions about running a small business, networking opportunities with members of the the art, craft and design community, craft and product demonstrations, special discounts on services and products from our sponsors, and sweet snacks too!

Free To Attend
Friday, August 13th from 4:15 - 6:00 PM
Century Ballroom , 915 East Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98122-3849

RSVP now at: http://roundtablecce.e.../

As a SPECIAL THANK YOU to the first 50 people who register by August 11th, you get one FREE conference session of your choice on Saturday or Sunday! Session registration will take place on Friday when you check in for the round table event. RSVP today to ensure your space at this amazing event!

To see conference choice options on Saturday and Sunday check out our schedule: http://www.creativecon...

Additional classes will be available for $25 per session - cash only - register day of at venue location.