The Saint Paul Craft Mafia Kitchen

Established in 2006, the St. Paul Craft Mafia (SPCM) is comprised of
10 independent, hard-core crafters in Minnesota's Twin Cities. We all
share DIY passion - from fashion to craft to beauty to art and
everywhere in between. Most members of the SPCM own and operate a
respected and established business, representing the DIY spirit.
Together, through our individual unique talents and crafts, we provide
mutual resources of support, promotion, information sharing and fun.
We assemble as a group to represent DIY at its finest, and spread the
love and splendor of hand-made craft!

The first Craft Mafia was founded in 2003 by nine crafty business
women in Austin, TX. Since it's development in Austin, other Mafias
have popped up across the globe, including but not limited to the US,
Canada, England, and Australia.

Lunch in the kitchen. Rebecca and Brooke enjoy a little yarn pasta.


My Pasta


Julia Child embroidered by Oona of Run Amok.


Blended Monkeys. Rebecca created this, they're being BLENDED!!


Grinder monkeys. If you look closely you can see that the monkey is gringing himself.


Hallway shot.


So Sad, That onion got cut.


Thanks to everyone at the Textile Center!


You can check out our website and blog for more info on familia.
Saint Paul Craft Mafia
Saint Paul Craft Mafia Blog

The Quilt is Done

Yes! The baby quilt is finished! This was my first quilt and I loved making it. This is for a friend who is having her first baby. I used Amy Butler, Heather Ross and Kaffe Fassett prints.





I took a class at Crafty Planet with the lovely Trish. It was a four week class and was very reasonably priced.

My Birthday and much more

Happy Birthday to me! This last Saturday was my 27th birthday. I had a great weekend away with all of my girlfriends. Last night my mom brought over my present, 11 knitting books and two gift certificate to my favorite local yarn shops! I will be glued to these books for the next few months.


I'm taking a quilting class at Crafty Planet! I love it! Here is a photo of what I have done so far. We're making a baby blanket. I'll post more photos as it takes shape.


MORE about my trip to northern California

Noe Knit!! is one of my new favorite yarn shops in San Francisco. This large yarn shop is in a quite neighborhood, and is a great place to find something special. I had already spent most of my yarn budget by the time I got there :( But, I picked up 3 balls of Dalegarn. I'm planning on making THIS with it.


You can check out Noe Knit's website HERE.

This is the beautiful Art Yarns Silk Rhapsody I purchased at Art Fibers in Saratoga, California. I'm planning on using one of the lace patterns in Arctic Lace to make myself a scarf.


Ahh, Santa Cruz beach. My sisters and I went down to the beach for a afternoon. I love the ocean.


On my needles:
My Cable sweater in Silky Wool. I have about 14 inches of the body done.
Lace Scarve in Louet Linen/Silk. I have one more lace repeat to go.
Finished Noro cable/button hat! I just have to sew on the button.

My favorite blog these days Brooklyn Tweed

My Fiber Vacation

I am currently in northern California visiting family. One of the best parts of coming here is the fiber shops. Yesterday I went to one of my favorite yarn shops, Knitting Arts in Saratoga. I gained 3 skeins of Blue Sky Alpace, Alpaca/Silk for the stash! Also two skeins of the most amazing hand-dyed pink silk/mohair with sparkle! I will post photos of both when I get home.
Photo of Knitting Arts.


On Monday I'll be driving to Kensington so I can visit Deep Color Studio. This place is a tiny gem. They carry a lot of fiber. Last time I went there I got Alpaca, Llama, Polworth and silk noil.
Picture of Deep Color Studio.


Between the fiber shops I am going to the beach, eating great food and just relaxing. I have also been getting some knitting done, that sweater is cruising right along.

I also found out today that Saint Paul Craft Mafia will be at Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago this September! As of now we have Aisha Celia Designs, Hazel and Melvin's Room, Hezzamade and RunAmok representing SPCM!

Happy Summer and I'll see you at Renegade Craft.

Aisha Celia Designs

Shop Update!

Hi! I updated my online shop this evening. I will have a lot of hand-dyed yarns posted soon.

Just "click" on the Shop link to the right ------------>

New gadgets!

I started knitting my first sweater. Yes, it's true I have never knit a whole sweater. I like knitting smaller projects (the kind I can finish). I found this beautiful pattern by Louisa Harding. I chose Silky Wool in a great brown color. The picture doesn't quite show the true color.


Here the picture of the sweater. I'm not going to do stripes, just simple and pretty brown.


I got a new swift, the old one needed to be retired. I really like this one!


Also a new ball winder. This ball winder will wind up to 1 pound of yarn.


I'll be posting pictures of new yarn very soon.

Fo Hawk, Market Bag and Yarn!

I finished the baby hat! It was a quick knit and it turned out great. If you want to make your own scroll down for more info in my last post.


This is a pattern I picked up at The Yarnery recently. It's a market bag pattern by Theresa Gaffey. I knit it in the yarn suggested, Rowan Glace. It was a good mindless knit and I think it turned out well.


Oh my! You know sometimes late at night you find yourself shopping on the internet. The next morning you wake up and say "what have a done!". Well I was so happy when I received my Fleece Artist Jacket kit in the mail. It's more beautiful then I remember.


Picture of the jacket. I purchased the kit through www.colorsongyarns.com


I have been spinning like a maniac. Here is a photo of my new Louet S20. I decided it would be a good idea to get a teaching wheel. I love my students, but it's hard to watch a newbee man-handle your fancier Ashford (you understand, right?).


Another view of some of the yarn drying.


That's it for now, as my mom would say "upward and onward".

Fo Hawk Baby Hat!

I am knitting this pattern right now. It's a great pattern, not too difficult that you can't bring it to your knit night at your local bar, but enough patterning to keep your attention.

Here is my hat. I'm using self-striping sock yarn. The pattern has you change between two yarns, and I'm just too lazy for that.

The cute mug in the picture was made by my friend Jennie. Check out her website www.jenniethepotter.com

This is the pattern photo:


copy and paste this link:
http://grosblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/16/sweet-baby-cap/

Oh, Shepherds Harvest

Today was the first day of the Shepherd's Harvest festival here in Minnesota. I am so tired that all I can do is give you an inventory of all the great things I got today:

2 mugs made by Jenny
1 lbs. dyed mohair locks
10 oz. mohair curls
2.5 lbs. cormo x merino fleece
5 lbs. 2 oz. Corriedale x Romney fleece
5 lbs. Corriedale fleece
Sock kit
Mitten patten
Pom pom makers
Spinner's yarn gauge
6 skeins worsted weight merino yarn
600 yard skein of beautiful alpaca yarn
12 oz. hand-dyed merino roving
12 oz. coopworth/silk dyed roving
1 lbs. shetland roving
8 packs of Angelina sparkle
1 lbs. 2 oz. crazy color batts
felt cap to be embellished
Louet S20 spinning wheel (my new teaching wheel)!

I'm so tired and so happy! More info and pics later.

HERE ARE THE PICTURES!!!!

Merino Ram! He was so pretty.


Cashmere goat.


This is one of the sheep that was going to be shorn that day. I'm not sure what breed they were.


Shearing


Shearing more


Shearing more and more


When the shearing was over only 3 minutes had passed! That's right, it took her only 3 minutes to shear that huge sheep. After the sheeps hair cut she got a pedicure.

Art-a-Whirl 2007

St. Paul Craft Mafia will be participating in the Northeast Minneapolis Art-a-Whirl! We will be located in the Casket building.

Come and see:
Aisha Celia Designs
Crafty Planet
Giraffe
Hazel & Melvin's Room
HezzaMade
RUN AMOK

For all the info go to www.nemaa.org

See you there!

Craftstravaganza 2007, done!

Craftstravaganza 2007 is done! It was a beautiful day and tons of people came to see the 90 vendors, musicians and participate in workshops.

I had an absolutely wonderful day! So many people came to visit during the day, telling me lovely things about my yarn. Thank you for all the support I appreciate it greatly.

Here are some photos of the event:

Crafty Planet

Hazel and Melvin

My Friend Jess

Small Motor Designs

Small Motor Designs necklace

Me at my table

My table

my table again


Shop Update 5-1-07!

Crazy April!

Craftstravaganza is approaching and I am so excited. I did a head count of skeins the other night and I'm feeling that this time I will really have a good amount. I am focusing on handspun yarn, local (yarn comes from a farm in MN) hand-dyed yarn, hand-dyed yarn and spinning fiber. Right now I should really be making batts, but that can wait til Sunday.

I am about to run out the door to my SPCM (Saint Paul Craft Mafia) meeting. I am so glad to be working with such a great group of craft artists. You will definetly be seeing more of us soon!

Here is a hint of what will be at Craftstravaganza






Have a great weekend, I won't be writing for a little while. Going to Florida (with all my girlfriends) then hopping to New York (yarn shop hopping and a little work), then Craftstravaganza! It's going to be a wild couple of weeks.

Craftstravaganza! 2007

April 28th, 2007 will be the second Craftstravaganza! This is a great craft fair being held at the Minnesota State Fair grounds. Come to the Fine Arts Building and enjoy great crafts, music and workshops.



For more info go to www.craftstravaganza.com

psss.... Aisha Celia Designs will be to your right as you enter throught the front doors.