West Coast Leg of Tour!

Hey there! I leave in the morning for the West Coast leg of my tour and even though the scoop is on my calendar, I thought I'd also post it here:

Sunday January 28th-Tuesday January 30th
CHA (Craft & Hobbies Assoc. Convention)

Tuesday January 30th
7pm
Knitty Gritty Knits Book Signing
Barnes & Noble
791 South Main St., #100
HOrange, CA

Wednesday January 31st

3pm
TV Appearance
"View from the Bay"
ABC CH. 7

7:00pm
KGK Book Signing/Vickie Howell Collection Yarn Tasting
Full Thread Ahead
169 Main St.
Los Altos, CA

Thursday February 1st

10:00am
TV Appearance
"Bay Area Focus with Susan Sikora"
KBCW-TV

7:00PM
KGK Book Signing/Vickie Howell Collection Yarn Tasting
Stash Yarn + Inspiration
1820 Solano Ave.
Ste. B-2
Berkley, CA
Wine, cheese & cake, too!

Friday February 2nd

9am
TV Appearance
"AM Northwest"
KATU-TV (ABC Ch. 2)

630pm
Knitty Gritty Knits Book Signing
The Yarn Garden
1413 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR
Champagne & chocolates, too!

Saturday February 3rd

1:00pm
Knitty Gritty Knits Book Signing
Pacific Fabrics & Craft
838 NE Northgate Way.
Seattle, WA

Sunday February 4th

2-8pmPST/4-10pmCT/5-11pmET

Super Bowl Sunday Knit In/ LIVE BLOG CHAT
Watch a 6-hour Knitty Gritty Marathon on DIY and chat with me live through the DIY website!


Hope to see/chat with you West Coast peeps, soon!

--Vickie

ACM Newsletter-January 2007!

Hey all...for those of you not already subscribed to the Austin Craft Mafia Newsletter, I thought I'd post the one that went out today, here. Thanks for reading! *-*, Vickie

Happy New Year from the Austin Craft Mafia!! We know, we know. We never write, we never call. Holy majoly though, have we been busy! Here's the skinny on what we've been up to:

Group Stuff
Have you seen the current issue of Craft Magazine? In it there's an article featuring the Craft Mafia. Oh and speaking of Craft Mafia(s), take a look at our ever-expanding list of sister groups popping up internationally!


In other news, last November Stitch Fashion Show and Guerilla Craft Bazaar presented two very
deserving craftspeople, and Stitch participants, with the first annual Stitch grant. The decision was very difficult with all of the fantastic applications that we received. Winners were chosen based on their craftsmanship, business sense and future plans for their business.


The first place recipient of the Stitch grant went to Freshie and Zero. The second place grant went to Austin's own Vinca.


Interested in applying for next year's Stitch grant? Well, information about 2007 will be up in a few
months, but for now, you can study up and prepare for next year's grant application!
Sign up for the mailing list and get all of the latest info about Stitch 2007.

Individual Company News


Naughty Secretary Club
Wowsers there is a new season of Jen P's show CRAFT LAB
LAB airing over at HGTV.
Check out episodes weekdays at 9am Central. Oh and
you can still catch season 1 over at DIY
Network at 11am.

There are new and exciting goodies being added to Naughty
Secretary Club almost weekly! This week alone
there is a new stash of Barkcloth Purses, Revamped
Vintage Earrings and Nostalgic Notions Bracelets!

Watch Craft Lab everyday on DIY Network & HGTV!

Sparkle Craft

Out with the old and in with the new!
Sparkle Craft is going to see some exciting new changes for 2007; the biggest
is that Tina'll be phasing out all accessories to focus solely on guitar
straps. If you've always wanted a Sparkle Craft belt, headband,
wristband or scarf, this will be one of your last chances and you might as
well get it on sale! She wants to end this era with a bang, so She's
having a big sale January 22nd-January 31st. To get 20% off your entire
Sparkle Craft order, simply type in 'love' in the voucher section during
checkout. http://www.sparklecraft.com/
In other news, we're really pumped to announce that Tina Sparkles
Spring 2007 party dresses are set to arrive just in time for your special
Valentine's Day date. The dreamy dresses will be available at Parts
& Labour in Austin, TX starting the second week of February. Sparkle Craft and Tina Sparkles have been buzzing
in the press over the last couple of months. Check out my press page to
see all the exciting mentions in Alternative Press, Venus, Nylon, Jewell,
Austin Music Magazine, The Onion and the Austin Chronicle.

Sublime Stitching
Jenny has a new Sublime Stitching project in a just-released book called "Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book" from Black Dog Publishing (UK). Check out the unicorn-embroidered satin bomber jacket on page 41!

And, if you happen to have the current issue of ReadyMade, be sure to look for Jenny's 'Sewing Card Saint' on page 72. It's an embroidered photo of her mother from 1952. Glamorous and lovely.

Sublime Stitching has new stuff in the store! Just visit us to see what awaits you...

Hot Pink Pistol

Hot Pink Pistol has just added brand new goodies!
Check out my new series of new Dead Rappers, vintage hand painted suitcases, new girly girl paintings and new clothes!

Vickie Howell
Knitty Gritty: Knitty Gritty is now not only on daily on DIY but also on HGTV! Tune in weekdays at 11am/10amCT. This just in, new epsiodes from Season 6 will air daily for the first 3 weeks in February. See Vickie's Blog for a complete list of shows (and all kinds up up to the minute news).
Don't forget though, Knitty Gritty is only on HGTV for a limited time. If you don't have it already, make sure you call your cable provider and demand, "I want my DIY!", so you don't miss out on upcoming seasons!

New Book: Knitty Gritty Knits, a compilation of kick-ass projects from the first 3 seasons of Knitty Gritty, has hit shelves. Grab it on-line at at your local book store or get a signed copy at one of the spots on Vickie's book tour!

Book Tour: Vickie Howell's coming to town! Starting this weekend, Vickie will begin a 13 city tour! From Anaheim, CA to Boston, MA, she will be visiting yarn stores and Barnes & Nobles accross the country. Check out her Events Calendar for details. She'd love to meet you all so please stop by and say "hi" at any of the appearances!

New Yarn Line: Vickie has joined forces with the amazing SWTC to produce her very own yarn line! The Vickie Howell Collection consists of 3 yarns: CRAFT (35% Milk Fiber/65% Organic Cotton), ROCK (40% Soysilk/30% Wool/30% Hemp), and LOVE (70% Bamboo/30% Silk). Look for it in a yarn store near you! Psst...most of the yarn store book signing events on the tour will also include "yarn tastings". You won't wanna miss it! Knit In: On Superbowl Sunday, please join Vickie and the DIY Network for a Television Knit In to benefit Warm Up America. There will be a 6 hours of back-to-back Knitty Gritty episodes, accompanied by a simulateous live chat/blog session with Vickie during the entire marathon! Save up all of those hot burning Knitty Gritty questions and she'll answer them personally on the DIY Website, on February 4th 2007. Check your local listings for Knit In times.

Kiwi Magazine: Vickie now has a regular column in the new healthy parenting magazine, KIWI, focussing on eco-friendly crafts. Check out the current issue for how-to on making super-cute felted pillows out of recycled sweaters! KIWI Magazine's on newsstands today!

As always, thanks for reading and for shopping indie!

Needles & Gluesticks,

Austin Craft Mafia

(Jenny, Karly, Vickie, Jennifer, Jen, Tina, Jesse, Hope & Susann)

P.S. Don't forget to check us out on MySpace!

New Knitty Gritty Everyday on HGTV!

This just in...February 1st-19th, HGTV will air brand-spankin' new Season 6 episodes of Knitty Gritty, EVERY DAY! That's right, 13 more episodes , no reruns, on every weekday, for almost 3 weeks. Here's the episode schedule:

< href="http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/about_us/text/0,1783,HGTV_3080_4964,00.html">this form. It'd be great to join Uncommon Threads & Craft Lab in the daily format!

Oh, and don't forget, Knitty Gritty will only be on HGTV for a limited time. If you don't have it already, make sure and call your cable provider to say, "I want my DIY!" So you don't miss out on future seasons!

Happy Knitting!,
Vickie

Life Lessons from Nacho Libre

My whole note writing life has been a lie! For the past 20+ years I've been signing letters with some variation of "xo". Sometimes with an emphasis on "x"s, sometimes the emphasis on "o"s --all depending on the intent of my note closure. Confident in the way I was handing out penned hugs and kisses, I've carelessly x'd my little heart out (often excluding the jezebel "o"s completely), thinking that I was sending out tons of huggable love. But no. At 33, I have learned that all of these years, I have been wrong.
We were watching Nacho Libre over the weekend when Jack Black's character narrated a letter he wrote to his Nun-crush that ended in a series of "xxooxxoXooo"s, which he read one-by-one.."hug- hug-kiss-kiss- hug...". I commented to the BF, "They screwed up. He's reading it backwards. The x's are supposed to be the hugs and the o's for the kisses. Duh." To which BF says, "Ummm, no they didn't."
"Yes!", I say. "The 'x' is for the crossing of the hugging bodies and the "o" is for the kissing mouth."
"Noooo", BF remarks, "the "o"s are for the arms wrapping around someone and the "x" is for marking the kissable spot."
"Seriously?", I say. "But all of my life I've been writing it the opposite way."
"Seriously.", he says.

This realization has me cataloguing every letter, note and e-mail I've ever written. Is is because I signed a note "xx" (what I thought to be, hug-hug) to the boy in 4th grade who was clearly "just a friend", that he suddenly asked me to "go around" with him? Surely the actuality of my "kiss-kiss" verbiage must've thrown him! Would signing "oo", which looks vaguely like boobs BTW, have been any less confusing? Does the fact that I across the board, tend to use more "x"s than "o"s make me seem less warm and more hussy-like? Seriously people, I'm totally a hugger! Furthermore, is the inner turmoil caused by this newfound clarity, evidence of some sort of lack of social maturity on my part?

I do not know, friends. I. Do. Not. Know.

That is all.

--Vickie

Knitty Gritty Knit In on Super Bowl Sunday !

Hey, all! FYI, here's the press release for the big Knitty Gritty Knit In, on Super Bowl Sunday! Hope to chat with you virtually! xoxo, Vic

DIY NETWORK TACKLES SUPER SUNDAY'S BIG GAME

BY ENCOURAGING VIEWERS TO KNIT FOR CHARITY

Knitty Gritty Marathon Kicks-Off Year-Long Initiative with First Annual Knit In

Host Vickie Howell Blogs Live During DIY's Super Knit Sunday

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -January 2007 - DIY Network is playing the field on Super Sunday with its first ever Knit In by encouraging needle arts enthusiasts to knit and crochet for charity. On Sunday, Feb. 4, when football fans are glued to the tube, DIY is challenging all knitsters and crocheters to pick up their sticks and grab some yarn to help kick off the network's commitment to create shawls and blankets for the less fortunate. Get started by tuning-in at 5 p.m. ET for a marathon of DIY's popular series Knitty Gritty, and learn how knitting one small square will help keep hundreds warm throughout the year.

DIY is partnering with Warm Up America!, a charitable organization dedicated to the creation of handmade blankets, clothing and accessories to help those in need. The 7"x9" squares knit and donated by DIY viewers will be sewn together into blankets, and distributed to women's shelters, nursing homes and daycare centers. For more information on how to participate in DIY's year-long initiative, including a pattern for the square, log on to www.DIYnetwork.com/knit, beginning Friday, Jan 19. Also join DIY knitting expert and Knitty Gritty host Vickie Howell for a live blog during the 5-11 p.m. ET Knit In on Super Knit Sunday, Feb. 4.

"Busy schedules often make it impossible for people to commit to making an entire blanket or garment for those in need, but by simply knitting a 7"x9" inch square you're helping someone stay warm," said Howell. "Scraps of yarn and a few hours of time can collectively make a big difference in someone's life."

DIY's Super Sunday Knit In (5-11 p.m. ET) is showcasing some of the best episodes of Knitty Gritty, featuring notable guests, such as Lisa Loeb, Billboard-topping singer-songwriter; Kelley Deal, lead guitarist of rock band, The Breeders; bassist and vocalist Share Ross of punk pop band, Bubble (also formerly of 80s glam band Vixen); and Lily Chin, world’s fastest crocheter. While making squares, let these guests and Howell spark imagination with projects ranging from guitar straps, rock star bags, sushi-roll inspired bathroom accessories, hippie belts, halter-tops and more!

DIY's efforts to help keep needy Americans warmer will be documented in a one-hour special, scheduled to air on the network early next year. DIY Network is available nationwide on DISH Network Ch. 111 and DIRECTV Ch. 230. For additional cable channel designations, check local listings or www.DIYnetwork.com.

DIY viewers who participate should send their 7"x9" squares to: Warm Up America! Foundation, Department DIY Network, 2500 Lowell Road, Ranlo, NC 28054.

About DIY Network

From the makers of HGTV and Food Network, DIY Network is the television source for the best know-how and how-to when it comes to any type of do-it-yourself project and is one of the fastest growing digital networks. Currently in more than 40 million homes, DIY’s programming covers a broad range of categories including home improvement, crafts and hobbies. DIY’s programs and experts answer the most sought-after questions and offer creative projects for do-it-yourself enthusiasts. DIY’s companion Web site, www.DIYnetwork.com, features step-by-step instructions totaling more than 15,000 projects online and averages over 2.5 million unique visitors per month.

# # #

PRESS CONTACTS:

Gary McCormick, 865.560.4143, gmccormick@scrippsnetworks.com

Brandii Toby, 865.560.4280, btoby@scrippsnetworks.com

Leah Sparkes, 212.983.9898, leahs@ferencomm.com

Snow Day!

Hey, all! You may've heard on the news about the storms we're having in Texas. Fortunately I made it home yesterday from TNNA without incident. Today though, it's snowing in Austin! This almost never happens, so we're all excited. I'm actually wearing something warm and wool. Woo hoo!

I'll report on TNNA once I catch up a bit from being gone but did want to share really quick that Noel the wonder pup got her ears from a few of us and her owner, Bernie, has posted pictures. Check them out here. Thanks to everyone who's shown their empathy and support!

Happy Tuesday!

xo,
Vickie

Away to TNNA!

Early tomorrow morning, I'm off to TNNA! I'm still *ahem* finishing my runway stuff, but there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel. BTW, why is it that my washing machine needs to break right before I'm scheduled to leave for a trip? I spent yesterday afternoon at Jenny's (aka my savior) while the kids ran around, I did laundry and we both worked on our respective deadlines. All a girl wants is a few pairs of clean underwear and some sanity. Is that too much to ask for? Saturday's the big launch of The Vickie Howell Collection (it'll be in stores this spring). Woo hoo! If you're planning on attending the convention, please, please come by the SWTC booth to check out my beautiful new yarns! I'll be hanging out there as well as at the Sterling booth to sign copies of Knitty Gritty Knits. Be there or be oval. Back to the yarn. For those of you who won't be there, you can see color swatches of all three yarns here on my site. Can you guess what movies the couples I named the LOVE colors after came from? What about the rockers from ROCK or the crafters from CRAFT? I'll tell you who one of the latter is, Ms. Jennifer Danielle Perkins, who just made me the perfect necklace to match my garment for the runway. She's totally the wind beneath my jewelry wings. Ok, that's enough procrastination nation from me. Have a good weekend and hopefully I'll see some of you soon! Vickie

Noel the Wonder Pup!

Hey all! I wanted to take a moment to spread the word about the incredibly sad story of Noel, a dog who's missing both of her ears due to being used as fight bait. Sometimes I'm ashamed to be a part of the human race!

She's a beautiful, kind eyed puppy whose story broke my heart into a million pieces when I read it. Thankfully however, she was rescued by a kick-ass woman named Bernie, and is on the mend. Last week one of Jennifer's Craft Lab guests (and Bernie's friend) Claudine, contacted me about getting people to knit hats & headbands with little ears on them that Noel can wear to make her feel pretty.

Claudine and her mom came up with a pointy-eared headband that you can find on her blog as well as measurements, if you want to design you own. I knit up a little floppy-eared number in her honor and, in case you're interested in showing a little puppy love for Noel yourself, I thought I'd post my pattern. The address to send finished doggy bobbles to, can be found on Bernie's blog. Thanks! xo, Vickie

Noel's Floppy-Ears

Materials:
1 ball bulky weight yarn
US size 10 1/2 needles
Tapestry Needle

US size J crochet hook (optional)

Abbreviations:
SKP= Slip, knit, pass sliiped stitch over. (left-slanted decrease)
K2tog= Knit two stitches together. (right slanted decrease)
Kf&b= Knit in front & back of the same stitch (increase)

Directions:
BAND
CO 3 sts.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Kf&b, k to last st, kf&b
Repeat last two rows until 11 sts.
Knit every row until piece measures 8 1/2" from edge.
Next row: SKP, k to last two sts, k2tog.
Next row: Knit
Repeat last 2 rows until 3 sts. remain. BO.

EAR (Make 2)
CO 10.
Knit 6 rows.
Next row: K3, SKP, k2tog, k to end.
Knit 5 rows.
Next row: K2, SKP, k2tog, k to end.
Knit 5 rows.
Next row: K1, SKP, k2tog, k1,
Knit 3 rows.
Next row: SKP, k2tog, pass stitch over to bind off.

FINISHING
Using a tapestry needles sew ears onto band at desired placement. Weave in ends.
Using crochet hook, pull loop of yarn through one end of headband and chain 22. Tie off. Repeat on other side. Alternatively, you could ad a braided or i-cord tie.
That's all there is to it!


This is my blurred attempt at snapping a picture of our dog Rio, wearing the ears. She's camera shy. ;-)

Happy 2007!

Happy 2007, everyone! I hope you all had a nice holiday. Things were good here. We drove to Dallas to visit the BF's mom and sister and then home to pick up my mom from the airport. The kids had a great time over Christmas and their respective birthday parties--it's toy-palooza here! My favorite of their presents is the junior drum kit and mini Fender Strat that Santa brought them. This is them at their first "band practice." Little rock stars in the making--bestill my heart! ;-)

Last Thursday there was a big ol' article about me on the front page of the Life & Style section of the Austin-American Statesman.

The cool thing about it was that it was written by the same reporter, Denise Gamino, who did the very first article ever on me when I started an Austin Stitch 'n Bitch group--way before Knitty Gritty. Kinda cool. Anyway, I really appreciate her support! If you're interested, read it here.

I spent New Years Eve with almost all of the Stylelicious girls. Hope and Karly (who live in the same duplex) had a party that was packed with people. Jen A. was home with her son Yoshi but besides myself, Jesse, Susann, Tina, and Jennifer P. were all there. It's really rare that we all get to see each other at the same time, which made an already hoppin' party an extra special treat for us!

Hey, speaking of Jennifer, as of today her show Craft Lab joins Knitty Gritty, Uncommon Threads, Creative Juice and B. Original on HGTV. Set your Tivo's for 9am daily to watch her!

Don't forget though, that different episodes of all of the aforementioned craft shows still air on DIY, every morning!

On the knitting/crochet front, this post is really just me procrastinating on projects for 5 deadlines over the next week and a half. I finished a market bag for a future issue of Knit.1 and sent off the pattern today. Also today, I need to make I-pod and Nano cozies for an issue of Creative Knitting. That won't take long though, once I actually get started. I promised Jonelle from SWTC that I'd finally start the runway project(s) for CHA (Craft & Hobby convention later this month) tomorrow-ish. The problem with working from home,and specifically, from my kitchen, is that I get distracted from work by things like the Christmas tree needing to get taken down and the house being a mess. Even if I just enclose the car port, I really need to get some studio space this year.

Oh, I almost forgot, Knitty Gritty Knits is now officially on shelves!

It's jam packed with tons of how-to info and projects from the first 3 seasons of Knitty Gritty. Check it out at your local book store or get it on-line here. I'll be updating the events calendar with tour dates/places as I get them.

Ok, enough babbling. Off to work!

xo,

Vickie