Interviews With Creative People Page Four

Click on a person's name or image to read that article: (images copyright original owner)

Michael Leach, a man on a two-year quest to master the art of knitting and crocheting

  Dino Foxx, founding member of Yarn Dawgz and expert yarn bomber

Nemo, an artist blogging about his cross country journey to sell his art

Steve Malcolm, creator of a 2012 calendar that tastefully combines yarn & nudity

These interviews may not be reproduced without including the following credit: copyright Gregory Huff. Please visit www.CreativeHelps.com for more interviews like this and many other resources designed to energize your creativity.

ANOTHER COLORFUL LIFE: MICHAEL LEACH

The Yarn Project: a raw and vulnerable fusion of fiber art and the "knitty gritty" of what it is like to be Michael Leach. This is a man who never knit a stitch in his life, yet decided to learn and master the art of crochet, loom knitting, and knitting within the span of two years. As we read his Yarn Project blog, we become privy to the struggles, the joys, the highs and the lows of a man on a mission, no holds barred. We're invited along on Michael's journey to challenging his boundaries of working with yarn while overcoming boundaries within himself. We join Michael as he celebrates the halfway point through his ambitious two-year Project:

Michael Leach celebrating the halfway point through his Yarn Project.

What were you doing before you started the Yarn Project?
The truth is, I was looking for something like this Project for quite a while before taking it on. I was working was at a low-paying retail job and needed something that was mine. I needed something to fully divulge myself in. Before this Project, I was just Michael. I went from day to day doing the same old thing, every single day. It never changed. I got up, went to work (where I counted the hours until freedom) then came home. I would go to bed, wake up the next day, and start the whole process all over again.

Just days before my last day of work, prior to my surgery, I was out on the sales floor. In one day, I overheard about 5 people talking about crocheting. I remember thinking to myself, almost half a year before actually picking up yarn, that crocheting would be something that I would like to learn.

What inspired you to begin blogging about your Yarn Project?
The Yarn Project and the blog were always going to be something that I did with one another. The day that I finally decided to work with yarn, my friend was visiting. She was on her laptop typing away in a blog that she used to keep, and she was telling me of all the joys of writing a blog. (It is rather funny that she now cannot stand the very idea of blogs, and I am completely obsessed.)

I remember thinking to myself that a blog was perfect for me. I would get to write, which is something that I love. And, writing a blog would give me something to do. I would have an outlet, to help keep my mind focused on something other than the pain of recovery.

And so, I decided to write about yarn. Right after my surgery I was given some crochet magazines, and all the writing therein made working with yarn seem like complete bliss. Every entry made it sound so simple and easy.

But I knew that it could not possibly be. Like anything, there were bound to be complications. So, why not write a blog about learning to work with yarn, and keep it real? When it was easy, I would write that it was easy. When it annoyed me, I would let it be known.

Also, at the time of beginning this blog, I was still pretty limited as to what I could do. I was still not able to move that much. And so the blog and The Yarn Project together; kept me busy. Watching TV gets boring after a while. Even reading (which I love so much) was only something I could stand, for so long. As I wrote that first entry, I remember thinking that, while I may not stick with it, writing along with the Project would help keep me a little more dedicated. 

Describe your disability and how the surgery helped you do what you could not do before.
Ever since I was 9 years old, I had been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. At age 13 I was told that I would eventually wind up in a wheelchair. The doctors told me there was nothing I could do to stop it.
As a teenager, I searched online and determined for myself that I did not have Cerebral Palsy. I had none of the other symptoms, apart from the trouble walking. But, the doctors would not listen when I told them this. They refused to test me and continued to call my disability Cerebral Palsy. At the age of 22, I was in the wheelchair full time. Over the next year I gave up hope of ever getting out of it.

Five years later, a doctor gave me that hope back. I was informed that I did not have Cerebral Palsy. Tests were done which FINALLY proved that I did not have it. My problem was that the tendons were not growing with the rest of me. So, I had the tendons stretched in both of my legs. And now, with tons of effort, I am walking once again. Sure, I use a walker. But it is more than I ever thought I would do. I will strive to get even better. But, at this time I am just thankful to be out of the wheelchair.

The surgery changed everything for me. It gave me a new beginning. Though being misdiagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and eventually winding up in a wheelchair was horrible, I am almost thankful that it happened. Because now I get to be completely thankful for simple things other people tend to take for granted. This past December, I was at Big Bear Lake, CA for my wedding anniversary. I got to walk in snow. I got to feel my boots sink into it. I will NEVER forget that feeling!

In what ways is working with yarn a metaphor for your physical recovery from surgery?
Well, I think yarn is a metaphor, because (just like with my recovery) I am constantly learning something new. Sometimes I will drop a stitch or fall down. But you just have to get right back up, dust yourself off, allow time for a brief fit, and carry on.

Before my surgery, I did not know how to walk. I was in a wheelchair, and I knew that once the surgery was done I would have quite a bit to learn. I was terrified. I was afraid of walking because it was foreign to me.

Before the Project, I knew NOTHING about yarn. I was interested, but that was it. After that first post I threw myself into learning. And, I added a deadline. I had a bit to learn in a short amount of time. And, just like walking, I was terrified, but terrified in a wonderful way.

Were you a writer before you began writing your blog? What did you write about?
Yes. I have called myself a writer ever since high school. The funny part is, I remember that up until my senior year, I hated writing. It was just awful. Then, months before graduation, I wrote a report. My teacher pulled me aside and told me I had a talent with the written word. Since then, I have not been able to stop.

About 4 years ago during a semester of college, I wrote for the school newspaper. I wrote front page columns for every edition. The editor loved the way I wrote. I still have copies of each of these papers. I look at them frequently.

I have also tried my hand at writing novels. Before the blog, I wrote a novel which I thought would be a huge breakthrough. I remember thinking to myself that I would easily get this book published. It would be put out on the market, and people would love it. You can imagine my devastation when I could not even get an editor, much less an agent, to look at it. I was told that it was just not worth publishing at this time.

My novel was a fairy tale. It was geared toward teen readers. It had enough fantasy for the younger crowd, with just enough scares for the older. While preparing to write it, I extensively studied the myth of fairies. I had great hopes for it. It was the first in what I thought would be 9 books, culminating in an ending that I thought was brilliant.

If I had the funding to self publish it I might just do it. I did look into it at one point, and found that it is rather pricey. So, maybe later.

Time passed after my failed attempt at a novel, and I had the desire to start a blog. And so, The Yarn Project began. I didn't expect anyone to read it, but I knew I had to write it. And, since writing that first entry back in June 2010, I have not regretted a single moment of writing this blog.

How have you grown as a person as a result of the Yarn Project? What have you learned about yourself?
Two words can summarize this: Self confidence. Before this Project, I was lacking it. I did not think highly of myself, I am sad to say. I thought I was quitter, and would never do anything that I could genuinely say I was proud of. This Project brought me life. It may sound extreme, but I can guarantee it is true. Now, I am anything but a quitter. Every time I create something new, I have something to take pride in. I have learned, through this Project, how to be a new Michael who is comfortable and confident in who he is. And for this, I am grateful.

Why did you find it so difficult to achieve your goals prior to the yarn project? How has that changed? In what ways does the yarn project provide you with a sense of accomplishment?
I think The Yarn Project came at an opportune time. By the time this Project came I was already changing from the old me. I think that I found it hard to meet goals in the past, because I was not fully happy. I was miserable with being in the wheelchair. I just felt like I should not be in it, but I was. I was in state of depression which spilled over into every aspect of my life. There was no real desire to do anything. When I started this Project, I had already had the surgery which allowed me the chance to walk. With that surgery, everything shifted. I came to this Project actually wanting to succeed at it.

The Yarn Project gives me a sense of accomplishment every single day. By writing in my blog, I feel joy. And, every time I pick up a project, I get that much closer to finishing it. I get closer to checking off another project from the 'to-do' list. Every time I do get to mark a project as done, I feel an extreme sense of accomplishment. 

Do you still wear the bracelet that you created as one of your first projects?
Oh, yes. I wear it every single day. I have had to stitch the button back on numerous times. But, this bracelet is a sort of symbolic thing. I find that I look at it quite a bit. And, I remember how excited I was when I made it. Even to this day, I consider this bracelet, which is so basic, to be one of the coolest things I have made.

How was it for you to crochet in public, never having done it before, much less doing it in public?
I remember it rather clearly. It was a rather 'unique' feeling, for a while. I felt this sense of pride because here I was, working with yarn. I was actively creating something, and I was letting the world see. And yet, I was terrified. I felt like at any minute someone was going to judge me. Someone, either from my blog or at the park, was going to look at one of the things I had created and say something awful. And I would be devastated.

Now, I love it. I love writing about it and posting all of the pictures. Whenever I go to any appointment, I try to take my yarn with me. The fear of being ridiculed went away, long ago. But the sense of pride stayed. Now I love working with yarn in public. It feels natural to me.

Have you consulted YouTube to watch any demonstrations of stitches you had trouble with?
I have this rule of thumb.: I try to learn everything I need to know from the books I am learning from. I will try numerous times before finally admitting that maybe I need further assistance. I really prefer to use just the books. But, I know that sometimes I will have to use other learning tools. One particular example that comes to mind was the broomstick lace. I looked at the instructions for this stitch and tried them, and they just did not make one bit of sense to me. No matter how many times I tried to work this stitch, using the pattern from the workbook, it was clearly not going to happen. So, I had to consult YouTube. The first I time I watched the video, I nailed the broomstick lace.

Who has helped you the most on your journey so far?
My readers. I have a few readers, who have been with me since the beginning. I am so thankful to them. They have helped to make The Yarn Project such a wonderful experience. They have given their time to read my posts. They have donated yarn. One reader even mailed me a teddy bear she knit for me, right before I went in for a surgery. I was extremely touched by this. Without my wonderful readers, I am really not sure if The Yarn Project would still be going.

One huge help is Drew Emborsky. I have collected a few of his books. There is something about his patterns and the way he writes. His books are like friends. I would love to meet him one day, just to say thank you. Even though he does not know me, he has kept me motivated.

What is the most interesting thing you have learned about yarn?
I think the biggest thing for me is the fact that yarn comes in all different fibers. You have acrylic, which is what I use most of the time. It is cost-effective, and for whatever reason I just love the way it feels. You have wool, which I have only recently used. I love the way it felts. Then, there are silk blends, cotton, and even wood blends. All the different fiber choices completely fascinate me.

Is the Yarn Project a hobby for you, or are you hoping to turn it into a business?
This is one of those great questions. Would I like this Project to lead to some type of business? Absolutely! I would love in some way to turn this Project into more. And, who knows? It may happen. I hope it happens! I guess we can wait and see. As of right now, I would say it’s a hobby, with hope for more.

What is your favorite yarn to work with?
I know it sounds funny, but I am a Red Heart boy. Sure, I love wool. But, Red Heart...there is just something about the way it feels. It has a crisp feel that, for whatever reason, I completely enjoy. Plus, it is reasonably priced, which is an added bonus. I can make an afghan using Red Heart for less than 20 dollars. That is an amazing deal.

I am sure that, given time, I could learn to be a 'yarn snob.' But for right now I am a cheap acrylic kind of guy.

What are some of your favorite projects you have knit so far?
First, there is the doily:

I would say this is one favorite projects, and I am very proud of it. This particular project meant a lot to me. I crocheted it using a hook that was my grandmother's. She loved the color pink. It was like she was there with me as I worked this doily.

Next, there is the Broomstick Lace Pillow:

This project is still something I am proud of. It was rather difficult for me to learn this particular stitch. And so when I did, and I made this pillow using the broomstick lace, I was extremely proud.

Lastly, this is the Old Glory Blanket, which I created on a loom:

I am extremely proud of this project. It was a rather big project to take on, as I just started to loom knit.

In what good ways has the Yarn Project impacted your marriage?
Well, I think it has given me my own 'thing' to take an interest in. My sweetheart is a huge fan of the Moose Lodge (fraternal/service organization), and I am really not. It is fun, from time to time, but not my cup of tea. So, now we each have our own little things which we enjoy. We can spend time on ourselves. And then, at the end of the day, we can come together as a couple and enjoy the time together. Also, I am sure that all the yarn goodies I make don't hurt!

In what other areas of your life are you (or would you like to be) as persistent and determined to master as you are with knitting?
I hope to be as determined with school as I am with my Project. I hope that my education will come to consume me, much the same way The Yarn Project has. If I can devote even half as much energy into school as I do my Project, then I will be an A student.

I am happy to say that, when it comes to learning to walk, I am very persistent. When I am not working with yarn I am on my feet, walking around. I am stretching the muscles in my legs and going to physical therapy. And, I have even made a goal. I am going to try my very hardest to be walking with just one cane when I make the pilgrimage to Minnesota at the end of this Project.

You have recently enrolled in online college. What made you decide on journalism for your major?
Journalism has always held a special place in my heart. In the past, when in college, I worked on the newspaper, which I loved. I would also say that in some way I think my blog is a type journalism. I think that, for me, there was really no other real option. Journalism just seems like the right fit.

What other creative abilities do you have?
Apart from yarn and writing (which I like to think I am good at), I enjoy sketching. If you put a pen and paper in front of me, in no time at all I will begin sketching out shapes of people.

I am not sure it is considered a 'creative ability,’ but I love to garden. I have a ton of plants, ranging from herbs to flowers; even cacti, and a bonsai. I like to think I have been blessed with a green thumb.

What do you know now that you wish you could have told yourself before you started the Yarn Project?
Wow! This is a question that I ask myself quite a bit. There are a lot of different things I would say. First, and foremost...Yarn is ADDICTING! Do not think that you will go into learning to work with yarn, and then be able to get away. Once you learn that first stitch, you are hooked. It may be hard to believe, but before The Yarn Project I had never been completely obsessed with anything. I had no real desires or goals. Imagine my surprise when, just shortly after starting the Project, I found that I was totally obsessed. I found it hard to do anything without thinking about yarn. I found that I was boring people by talking about yarn all the time. I was even dreaming about yarn. There was not a single second of the day when I was not thinking about yarn.

Next, I would say that I am not a flake. I had never really stuck with anything before this Project. I would start something, and then, before even getting completely excited about it, I would abandon it. I remember this being a huge issue for me when I first began my Project. As I wrote that first post, I knew that I wanted to see The Yarn Project through to completion. I thought to myself, as I wrote that initial entry, that if I could finish this I would have something to feel proud of. But, past experience had proven to me that I would most likely get bored and just give up. Well...Here we are. We are past the half-way point, and I am going strong. I know that I am not a flake. The Yarn Project has proven that to me.

Then, there is possibly the most important lesson The Yarn Project has taught me. I have even dedicated a post solely to this little bit of knowledge: any time you embark on a goal, you are embarking on a journey. That sounds completely obvious. But, nevertheless, there it is.

When I first began The Yarn Project, I just thought that it would be a fun thing to do. I thought it would be nice to learn a new project. I never expected it to completely change me. But, it did! I learned to be patient. Sure, things may be hard. Be it learning a new stitch, or learning to walk, there will be things that are incredibly hard to you. And, you will get frustrated. Maybe, if you are me, you will even get a little bit 'vocal.’ But, if you don't give up, and you keep trying, eventually everything will turn out.

And, I have learned to 'never say never.’ Believe me, there have been certain projects that I want to just give up on. One project that comes to mind was an octagon granny square that simply refused to be an octagon. And, though I really felt like giving up (because it would have been so easy to say, "Well, I can't do that!"), I stuck with it. And, eventually, I got it down. The only time you fail at anything is when you give up.

And lastly, I would tell myself that it is okay to have something that is just mine. Over time, I have come to find that my family and friends have no interest in my Project. At the beginning, it really bothered me. I wanted everyone to take interest in it. Now, while I still wish I could get a little more support than I do, I have come to find that it is alright that this Project is just for me. Not for my family, or friends, but for me.

When people offer to buy your creations (i.e. Halloween bag), have you ever considered saying, “It’s not for sale, but I would be glad to make one for you or sell you the pattern. Here’s my business card.”
At the time of the Halloween Bag, I was not sure enough of myself, to offer to sell anything. Sure, the bag came out very nice. And yes, I still plan on submitting it to a fair. But, I did not have the self confidence to sell anything. Now, I would do this. I would gladly sell something if someone wished to buy from me. After all, I could always use extra money for yarn and other goodies.

Do the people that you write about in your blog ever read it? What has their response been to the things you’ve said?
Sadly, no. I wish that they would. Everyone in my life knows I am writing the blog, and I have given them all the address. They choose to not read it because it is not of interest to them.
I am not really sure what their reactions would be. I imagine some would be upset. But, I only write the truth. I have no regrets with what I write. The blog is a type of freedom, and I would allow that same freedom to any of them. If anyone wanted to write about me, be it good or bad, well...as long as it is the truth, more power to them. To be fair, I did tell everyone at the beginning that I would be writing about EVERYTHING, including how people react to me.

What will you do with your newfound knitting skills once your yarn project is completed?
I plan to get involved in making afghans to donate to hospitals. I still have the afghan that was donated to me during my hospital stay. It is on my bed as I write this. Even now, years later, that afghan means so much to me. I would love to give that feeling to someone else in need.

I also think that it would be fun to get involved with creating my own patterns. I would especially love to make an elaborate afghan all out of my own design. And, once I have enough leg strength, I would LOVE to learn how to spin yarn.  

You still have the remainder of your Project to complete. If someone wants to donate yarn (or anything else), where can they find your wish list and what should they do?
First off, I should say that I am always so thankful when people donate yarn, or money, or anything else. Please keep in mind that, should you donate anything to The Yarn Project, I will mention it, and say a public thank you, in my blog. To donate to The Yarn Project, there are a few different things you can do. If you wish to donate money (which I use ONLY to buy yarn and other essentials for the Project), you can visit my blog, at www.theyarnproject.livejournal.com. I have a fixed entry which remains at the top of my blog. In this entry you will find a PayPal donate button. By clicking on this you can donate any amount to The Yarn Project.

I also have a wish list, and I am always happy to accept donations of yarn. (Whenever I get a package of yarn, through the mail, I get extremely excited.) If anyone should wish to donate yarn, crochet hooks, looms, knitting needles, or any other thing, they can do so by mailing it to me at
35925 Sunny Hills Rd
Winchester CA, 92596

I should also say that I encourage people to mail patterns to this address, as I will end each method by working a project submitted by a reader.

What would you say to encourage other men who want to learn how to knit but are afraid of peer pressure?
First off, yarn work is a hobby. It is my firm belief that a hobby cannot and should not be limited to a specific gender. I believe that a hobby should be open to anyone who desires to do it.

Also, I would say that there really is, in my experience, nothing quite like creating some grand thing from a simple strand of yarn. It is such a wonderful feeling, and it brings such a sense of pride and accomplishment. When you finish that first afghan, or that first scarf, you have something that you know you made and there is no better feeling in the world.

Lastly, I would say that I was surprised by the reactions that have come my way. There have been a few people who look down their noses at me. But, on the whole, people are very accepting; curious, even. I have quite a few people who will see me working on something and ask what I am creating.

My opinion is this: if it is something that would make you happy, then just go for it. If The Yarn Project has taught me anything, it is that. You need to do whatever it is that makes you happy. Stop worrying about what others may think. You are the only one that really matters. It is, after all, your life.  

Michael Leach knit these party goodies to celebrate the first year of the Yarn Project.

Contact information:

Michael Leach, e-mail: yarnproject@ymail.com
The Yarn Project blog: http://theyarnproject.livejournal.com (Note: some language used in this blog may not be appropriate for children.)

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ANOTHER COLORFUL LIFE ~ DINO FOXX

Dinometer: one of Dino's favorite pieces. Photo by: SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, EDWARD A. ORNELAS / eaornelas@express-news.net

Yarn bombing – the art of covering ordinary objects with knitted yarn, making them into extraordinary objects that provoke thought and inspire conversation. From the whimsical to the outrageously unexpected, yarn bombing is a colorfully explosive art form that is growing in popularity worldwide. One such master of the craft is Dino Foxx, a founding member of the Yarn Dawgz, a group of men and women who are covering their world and ours with yarn, one stitch at a time.

What inspired you to get into yarn bombing?

My best friend and Yarn Dawgz co-founder, Billy Munoz taught me how to knit in the hill country one cold January. I got hooked and found myself knitting more than three times a day and we were excited to explore all of the cool knitters and fiber artists out there via the internet. One day, Billy came into the office and told me that I had to check out what this artist by the name of KnittaPlease was doing. We were mad inspired by the work she was doing and the art nerds in us were totally geeked by the idea of doing something similar. After finishing my traditional “first scarf,” I started another piece to practice different stitches. It wasn’t something I’d wear as a scarf so I decided to go for it. Without telling Billy, I installed the piece around the tree in front of Jump-Start Performance Co. where we work. I wasn’t being secretive; I just really didn’t know how it was going to look. It got a lot of positive responses from the artists in the complex so we started doing smaller pieces all over the neighborhood where we work.

What other creative talents do you have? What were you doing creatively before yarn bombing?

I am a nationally presented actor, singer, dancer, playwright, published spoken word poet, arts educator, and hip-hop artist. I have been a performance artist for 28 years.

Do you consider yourself to be a fiber artist? What other things do you knit?

I knit as a part of a public art project, so I suppose I’ll eventually need to be comfortable calling myself a fiber artist. Aside from scarves, shawls and fingerless gloves, I’ve made other accessories, beer cozies, iPod holders, bags, wine bottle covers, etc.

How does your current employment relate to your creative endeavors?

I am currently the Director of Public Relations for Jump-Start Performance Co. I’m very lucky to be able to do what I love as a “grown up” job. I am an employed artist and educator. This is all I ever wanted to be when I grew up, that or a train conductor. I never looked good in overalls though.

Dino knitting. photo by Troy Wise.

Does your cultural background or identity inform what you choose to yarn bomb?

It definitely motivates us. As Latino men, with the levels of machismo we grew up around, we would never have been taught such a “feminine” craft. The image of our grandmas knitting and crocheting blankets that kept us warm and brought us comfort were met with the idea of them being things that “only girls do.” We have a wonderful time shattering that stereotype and working to perfect these skills that are in our blood. I wouldn’t say that it directly informs where we install.

Where did the name Yarn Dawgz come from?

Billy and I were having lunch at Kings Court Frankfurter Express and we took some time to knit after our meal. After weaving in my ends and snipping the excess yarn from my project, I put all of the scraps in the tray that my hotdog came in. When the server came to bus our table, he looked down and laughed, asking, "did you order the yarn dog?" We laughed and as he walked away, I looked at Billy and said, "We're the Yarn Dogs. But we'll have to spell Dogs DAWGZ. Just because." 

Tell me all about Yarn Dawgz – how you met, how it started, what you do, your first project, your biggest project to date, future projects, etc.

The Yarn Dawgz was founded by me and Billy Munoz. Billy and I have been best friends and co-workers for over a decade. We met at Jump-Start Performance Co. where we are both company members as well as educators for the education program where we teach basic visual art, theater, creative writing, dance and yes, knitting to at-risk youth, adults with severe mental illness and their children.

After Billy taught me to knit, we decided pretty quickly that we wanted to continue yarn bombing together and we then grew this group called the Yarn Dawgz. Other members include Sasha Zeilig (the feminist men we are weren’t going to turn the ladies away), Manuel “Cros” Esquivel, Laurie Dietrich and we also work with many other knitters in our community when the pieces are larger.

Founding Yarn Dawgz members Dino Foxx (center) & Billy Munoz (right). Photo by Troy Wise.

The Yarn Dawgz project focuses on the knitting of covers for large preexisting structures that others would normally walk by without noticing. We have been commissioned to design a cover for a hat rack in an urban living space. We are currently working on expanding our brand to include interior design elements as well as a trunk show featuring women’s knit (or knit covered) accessories.

Our biggest project so far would be the 60 ft pipe we covered in the Pearl Brewery in front of the Culinary Institute of America’s Bakery Café:

This is our largest “Yarn Dawgz” project.

In December we were featured in the Toyota Prius commercial where we, along with the KnittaPlease crew and other Texas knitters covered a Toyota Prius in knitting. That would be one of the top 3 things we’ve gotten to do so far.

My work with the Yarn Dawgz keeps me very busy. We have a wonderful group of artists that help us knit when our projects are larger. A few of them knit with other groups, but I generally only get to knit with them when they are helping us out. Our multicolored aesthetic is pretty recognizable in our community, but you can always tell it is a Yarn Dawgz piece if it has a random red stripe in it.

We have some pretty large scale projects on the horizon but like every project we work on, they will remain secrets until they are unveiled. You’ll have to watch our Facebook to find out when and where. Our work can be seen in our own neighborhood, but we’ve worked on installations in Minneapolis, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Austin, San Francisco and Sovakia.

How long does it take to complete a yarn bomb? Describe a yarn bomb, from concept to bomb.

It really just depends on how big the piece is. The 60 ft pipe took us knitting off and on for 1 ½ months. But because of our other artistic projects, there are times where we don’t get to knit but an hour a day. The dreaming process is kind of different each time. Generally I pass by something and start to dream about what it would look like covered in knitting. Then Billy comes in with his left brain and figures out the measurements and patterns. Then we knit until we’re ready to install. We made a good team together.

Is your work with the Yarn Dawgz intended to make a statement or social commentary, or is it all in fun? Do you yarn bomb for special causes?

We are in the business of suspending reality. Whether it is in theater or in our knitting, we want to have folks take a second to ask themselves, “Is that stop sign wearing a sweater?” smile and keep on walking. Hopefully we make them laugh, or smile or talk about it to someone during their day. For us it is so much fun to do. We keep getting bigger and quicker and we help folks stop to look at their surroundings, even things they normally wouldn’t pay attention to.

We do often work for different causes using our art. We’ve knit installations for “168 Hours: A Creative Response to AIDS Awareness”, we work with survivors of domestic violence and whenever possible, we use our work to bring light to the dangers we currently face with major funding cuts to education and the arts.

What has been the public reaction to yarn bombing?

Like all forms of art, it is a mixed bag. We have established a fun following that supports the work we do, but I will admit to having to commit to not reading the comments on websites, blogs or video sites that feature our work. The ability to talk trash has been made easy, being able to hide behind a computer monitor. My mother is the one who usually starts each conversation post bomb with “it looks great; I’m proud of you, don’t read the comments. People are stupid.” Magda herself told us back in December, that you really had to remind yourself that for every bad comment, there are a 1000 people who love what you do. We try to stick with that mentality. Maybe one day we really WILL have 1000 people loving what we do.

What is the general reaction to yarn bombing among traditional fiber artists?

I don’t know traditional fiber artists personally, so it would be hard to say. The fashion designers we’ve met along the way really love what we do. When traditional knitters find out that we are two young men of color, they usually freak out and tell us every yarn related story they have in their memory. We also cherish moments we get to spend time knitting with women who’ve knit for decades. We learn so much and we love that they are down with yarn bombing.

In what way is yarn bombing like graffiti (if at all)? Is yarn bombing the new graffiti? How long does a yarn bomb piece stay installed?

Having grown up around many graffiti artists, I have a huge respect for cats who slang paint. I do call it knit graffiti, but I don’t really compare the two art forms often.  There are a few similarities to the two art forms, but they take two different skill sets that hold them separately as art. One of the similarities is that both art forms reclaim space, using urban landscape as a canvas. Another would be the danger when working in some spaces. Some of our earlier work included highway signs and other street signs that can be dangerous when installing the way it is when creating a piece with paint.

I also think that another similarity would be with how you hand over your art the universe to do with it what she will. For the most part both are considered somewhat temporary forms of art, after it is up, it could go away overnight or it could stay up for years. It really depends on what it is and where it is. When we do sanctioned installations, the weather usually allows for up to three months of good color before it starts to fade and not look so good.

Unsanctioned pieces really depend. We’ve had stuff taken down in a week, and I just got word that a piece I installed in Minneapolis back in October is still up and looking good.

We take a lot of pride in our work. When we do larger sanctioned installations, we usually visit the piece three times a week to make sure that stitches are in place, the color is doing well and they aren’t sagging or being moved by passersby. Once they start to look bad, we remove them, wash the pieces and repurpose when possible.

What kind of yarn is the best to use outdoors?

We have a massive collection of yarn. Many of which we use for garments and accessories. We enjoy using good ole Red Heart for our outdoor stuff, if they have the colors we’re using in the installation. The synthetic blend helps it stand up to sun and weather damage pretty well. The Yarn Snobs at the specialty stores we shop at tend to say… “At least Red Heart is good for something,” but it is good for us. This is Red Heart’s cue to offer us an endorsement. J

Has someone ever yarn bombed your personal items? Has anyone ever vandalized your yarn bomb?

I don’t usually give people a chance to yarn bomb my stuff. I am convinced that I will eventually cover it all myself…if it already isn’t covered in yarn.

I did have someone slash a sign post cover I did in Frederick Douglass Plaza in San Francisco. It was a clean slash down the side of it (that took me two minutes to stitch up). I want to believe it was a large over-excited dog that got to it, but I’m sure it was someone walking home drunk from the bar.

Tell me about the Yarn Graffiti Documentary. How were the Yarn Dawgz selected to be a part of it? When is the release date and venue?

The Yarn Graffiti Doc is currently being filmed and I think will move into editing at the end of 2012. They have a Facebook page and an IndieGoGo page that tracks the progress of the documentary. Sarah Gonzalez and her crew are super nice and we’re excited that we were able to link up with them to film our installation for International Yarn Bombing Day.

Yarn Dawgz: (from left to right) Billy Munoz, Karen Arredondo, Dino Foxx, Sasha Zeilig and David Buckstien of the Yarn Graffiti Doc. Photo by Troy Wise.

If a person or organization wants to commission a yarn installation, what should they do?

If folks are interested in commissioning us for a piece or having us set up shop to knit in their bar, they can contact me, Dino Foxx at dinofoxx@gmail.com. We are blessed to be commissioned to do work very often. Aside from our larger installations, we are also asked to join art auctions or gallery shows. We’re currently working on an Altar for an art event hosted by Celebration Circle in San Antonio and will be working on a large piece for a fundraiser at Melissa Guerra: Tienda de Cocina in November 2011.

If someone is interested in volunteering to help Yarn Dawgz with a knitting installation or project, what should they do? Does Yarn Dawgz accept yarn and monetary donations? What is the process?

If we seek knitters for our projects, we put out open calls on our Facebook page. We encourage folks to "like" our page and keep up with us that way. We are so lucky that we've had wonderful folks donate yarn to our project and we've been able to put it to good use. If people are interested in donating yarn, needles, knitted projects to be repurposed, or monetary contributions, they can contact me at dinofoxx@gmail.com for our mailing address.

Contact information:

Dino Foxx e-mail: dinofoxx@gmail.com

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/YarnDawgz

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ANOTHER COLORFUL LIFE: NEMO

Meet Nemo, an artist blogging about his fascinating cross country journey in an RV, selling his art and making a living on the road:

What inspired your art tour in the first place?

nemo: It came about from sort of a “big fish in a small pond” feeling we had while living and working in San Antonio, TX. I was a full time artist having regular shows and being a big part of that scene while Hannah (my wife/manger) was freelancing a bit and running the business end. We were doing just about everything we could do to be fully immersed in an art scene as any artist could be. We thought about moving to see what other stuff we could get into; at the time we were also showing in Austin and a few places in the Hill Country. She got a job offer from a company she was freelancing for to work full time in Denver, CO and it was one of those offers we couldn’t pass up. It was a chance to expand my fan base and since she was getting a regular pay check it would be ok if I failed with my art business, but I didn’t. The first weekend in Denver I had lined up a chalk art event and was in full swing meeting some of the best artists Denver has to offer right in the first week of being there, so it was easy for me to line up shows and find work. After about 6 months of being there we felt the same way as we did in San Antonio. Once again, we needed to get more out there, and touring in an RV seemed like the best way to do it.

Why was it important for you to blog about your journey?

nemo: What inspired me to blog in the first place was because of all the stories I have read about people who have done great things but they were only looking back and telling a story. Since life is about the journey, and not the destination, I wanted to write my story while on my journey and not afterwards as an old man thinking back on my life. I had been blogging about my journey to becoming a famous artist already, and the touring was just another step for me to try and report on. I had been taking on many different subjects, from finding a voice to getting in a gallery, to building a name and even becoming an art icon. So touring is just another thing I wanted to try to see if and how it could be used in building an art career. Everything I do, I do for my readers. It’s a trial and error type thing and you can read all my outcomes - I’m brutally honest and never sugar coat a thing.

How did you give yourself permission to take the risk to quit your job and travel across country on an art tour? Did you test your idea first, or did you plunge into it? Was your wife 100% on board?

nemo: It was easy for me since I had to quit my job in order to keep up with the demand of my work a few years ago. For Hannah it was hard to take a 40 hour week job in order to move to Denver in the first place. She owed the company a year by contract, so all we had to do was wait that year, although she worked a bit longer to make sure she finished what she started. We did start with a few art festivals but there’s no way to really test the waters to do what we are doing…you really gotta plunge in head first.

How did you know when the time was right to start your tour?

nemo: We just felt like it was time. There's really no "right time" to do anything; you gotta, like Nike says, "Just Do It."

How did you save enough money for the trip?

nemo: We didn’t have a savings for the trip which is why we do about 40 to 50 shows a year. We needed to make money at every step of the way. Its very hard living show to show, but we have faith in our product and it has never let us down. So we keep jumping in head first waiting till we pop out the other side rich and famous. We are always looking for any help we can find, from places to park, to a meal, to a tank of gas. We don’t have a major sponsor to fund our trip by any means; as for right now, its all my art. What I can offer a sponsor is that I meet 1000’s of people every weekend, they see me, hear my story and some choose to become part of it. I have a pretty good online presence and can drive a few click-overs to sites from links. I have also been building a nice e-mail list of people who actually want to know what I’m doing and have quite a bit of blog followers. My platform isn’t a large one but it’s pretty active.

How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for all the long hours of driving? Had you driven an RV prior to this trip? If not, what were you accustomed to driving before, and was it a difficult adjustment?

nemo: We try to only drive about 5 hours a day when we make long treks but we mostly stay in an area or state about a month before moving on the to the next place, its not as hard as some people think. Since artists have their shows on weekends we have all week to get to the next show. You can drive 1000 miles very easily in 5 days. Our van isn’t that hard to drive. Its got a turbo-diesel and handles like a sports car. It took some time to learn how to back up, but Hannah’s got it down. Oh yeah: she does all the driving and I do all the dumping, and if you have ever dumped before you know she’s getting off easy. RVing on the other hand was a whole new learning experience, there’s so much we didn’t know about it. From finding places to park to finding water to finding places to dump and charge our batteries. We drove a Honda Element before that and it was great for carrying everything but we had to stay in hotels and motels which gets very pricey, very fast. As we spent more and more time running around doing shows and seeing all the other artists in RVs and trailers staying out in the parking lot it just made sense. So little by little we sold off everything we could sell and gave the rest to Goodwill. We left behind a studio and apartment and moved into a van. We don’t even have a storage building, all we’ve got is just what we have on. We are minimalists and feel less is more. We still try to get rid of stuff, even though we use everything we have.

What did you learn about RVing that you wish you knew before you started your tour?

nemo: Everything, but if I wasn't learning something new every day I wouldn't be doing it.

Is your travel itinerary online?

nemo: We post our up and coming shows on our site and update it as soon as we hear about a show we are in.

How do people contact you to schedule an appearance or a show? 

nemo: E-mail is always the best: info@artbynemo.com. We go coast to coast so if we can drive there we will go there. Also I use Twitter as my main way to communicate while out and about so I usually get back to people quicker @artbynemo.

What has been the most successful or meaningful stop on your tour so far and why?

nemo: I feel our show in Kansas was the biggest surprise success in that before going there we got a lot of crap from people about going there. Everyone was like, “Why Kansas?”, but our show in Salina was one of the best, everyone wanted to look at art like they were hungry for something new and they understood what it was they were looking at. It was a good feeling to go to a new place and feel welcomed. The show had water and power for the RVers and everyone wanted “art by nemo” on their walls.

The most meaningful stop so far has got to be the Grand Canyon. We both have always wanted to see it and it was special to finally see it. I joke about how we go to places for work that most people only get to see on vacation.

How do you work with your wife and still make your relationship work?

nemo: We have always worked well together since the first day we met back in an architecture firm many, many years ago. Even when we lived in a house and I had my studio and she had her office we would still end up working in the same room and most times on the same desk. We just get along very well and living in 96 square feet is still too much room, sometimes when I‘m up front and she‘s in the back I tell her that it seems like she‘s still too far away.

Work wise, I get off easy, she does everything but draw the circles. She sets up the drawings, tells me what colors and styles to use, then when I’m done she scans them and frames them and markets them. I fill in her drawings much like coloring in a coloring book, only with circles. Time is money so she helps out as much as she can since it takes a long time to do what I do, about an hour to fill in a square inch.

Do you think that you will always draw circles? What is it about the circle that has meaning for you?

nemo: I have been drawing them since I was 12 or so, so I don’t think they are going anywhere. I have been branded the circle guy and if I do anything other than circles people ask, “Where’s the circles?” For me personally the circle is only a way to relax and free my mind and plus there’s no deeper meaning than “because I can.”

What other shapes have meaning for you and why?

nemo: I like all shapes but the circle is something I feel no one else can do like me, so I stick with it.

What is your greatest mistake as an artist and how have you learned from it?

nemo: There are no real mistakes in art, but if I had to come up with one its that I didn’t start earlier and now I feel I need to work harder and longer than everyone else to make my mark on this planet. When I was little I never knew you could become an artist or even what an artist was. I’m just making up for lost time.

Do you set new goals for yourself every year, or do you simply work on accomplishing your goals until they are completed, whenever they are completed?

nemo: I set a few here and there. I set out to do something and if I write it down it gets done. I have done anything I ever wanted to do and now its all about doing more of everything. I’m working on licensing products and getting in stores so that the normal buying public can see my art. I’m in the middle of my first ever children’s book where we teamed up with an author to do the drawings for a story she wrote. I am trying to show my work in every state and I’m 10 states into that and should have another 5 or 6 done before the winter comes. The sky is the limit and I can’t see the sky yet. But my goals come organically now, I don’t sit down and make a list like I used to.

Are you naturally outgoing or did you have to force yourself to become an extrovert in order to go on tour? What advice would you give to creative people who are introverted and struggle with being more outgoing?

nemo: I am pretty outgoing. I love talking and talking about me and my art. I love BSing and I love talking to random people. Always have, so for me its easy to talk to people that I meet along the way. And as an artist and with my art most of my buyers seem to be the kinder, more gentler, fairer kind, and most of the time they just so happen to look amazing too. So “talking” or “flirting” is the biggest benefit to being an artist. You just gotta feel like you’re playing a part in a movie or play and get carried away with your artist self and make it art. Its always hard to do with a slow or non-profitable show, but when you’re wheeling and dealing, oh man it’s a rush and nothing beats that high.

Do you believe that the slumping U.S. economy has contributed to an increase in people haggling with artists over their art prices at street fairs?

nemo: It’s always been hard to sell art; even when people have a ton of spending money, they still won’t want to buy art. I myself don’t get much haggling, but when I do, I say, “I don’t jack up my prices so I can come down like a lot of the artists out here.” My prices are firm, however I will do 10% or so if they buy more than one or I throw in a free gift, just depends on how I feel.

Have you seen any of the art reality tv shows like Artstar, The Next Great Artist or Art Race? What’s your take on them?

nemo: I saw a few shows of the Art Race one and I loved it. That’s how we do it. It’s a hard way to make it across the US but it’s the most exciting thing anyone can do. We don’t fly by the seat of our pants like they did. We plan and plan and plan but it’s about the closest thing to what we do on TV.

How do you define fame, achieve fame, and how do you know when you’ve got it?

nemo: Fame can be many different things to many different people. To me its people knowing who you are, what you do and how you do it. There’s a weird feeling when you get your first taste of it; my first experience with it was when I was in college and I had been having shows like crazy and I was talking to a few other students outside in the hall about art and stuff and one turns to me and says “wait, who are you?” all excited, then pulls back and asks “I mean like what’s your name?” He had heard other people talking about the shows we were putting on at the time. But its really cool when people want an autograph or when they want a hug or come to a show just to meet you. Fame is being able to go to a place and have people know you as soon as you show up. To get that way, you have to get your publicity out there long before you get there. That’s why most famous people come out on TV and the radio. And you know you’ve gotten there when TMZ is talking to you…

Why do you want to be famous, and does your wife share your aspirations?

nemo: I think fame only helps with your success, you can be successful and not famous but its hard to be famous without being successful. She is on board with the whole idea but we both know it’s a hard order to fill.

Will you be satisfied once you have achieved fame, or will you seek to be famous for something else?

nemo: I only want fame in art, I don’t want to be known for anything else. I would never be satisfied, I will always be making art, just building on my career and trying to get more and more people familiar with me and my work. You can never be too famous or have too much money.

Do you define fame the same way now as you did when you first began your art tour?

nemo: Yup, its always been the same since I started making art: fancy penthouses, fast cars and exotic models!

What is the difference between success and fame?

nemo: Success is doing or getting what you wanted. If in your mind you want to get written up in a newspaper, well once you get written up you’re a success. Some artists don’t even think about selling their work and just make it for themselves. So once they make that piece that moves them they are a success. I think fame is more about other people. You start working for the public, you start bringing more and more people into your process, you invite them into your world, into your life. You make a mark on this world. Being remembered for something you’ve done is a great thing, there’s got to be billions of artists who were successful in their own ways, but only a few made it into the history books and even less everyone knows about.

What are the life experiences you gained that give you wisdom, intuition and insight on what it takes to become a successful artist?

nemo: We as a team have great taste. When I set out to make a piece of art, most of the time it’s a great piece of art and it tends to sell, but not because I read the market, not because I listen to what people are saying is popular; nope, I just like stuff most people like. I’m very simple and simple stuff gives me pleasure and most of the time it gives other people pleasure too. I draw a lot of koi fish, birds and flowers, and who doesn’t like that?

I have learned that the most successful thing any artist can do is to work. Make art piece after art piece after art piece. I make a new piece about every 2 to 3 days and I’m still not making enough. I do make more of the same subjects and styles that sell, but its always changing. A few years ago I couldn’t keep any insects, then it was cats, everybody wanted a cat drawing. Now its hummingbirds and koi fish, so I try to always keep a few in the booth. To be successful you need to do as much as you can and keep doing what works and stop doing what doesn’t work.

Someone once sent me a quote: “The road to success is always under construction.” What do you make of that?

nemo: Oh yeah, with many detours and unpaved roads and dangerous cliffs you can fall down. There’s no GPS, no road map, no nothing to tell you what to do and when to do it, its so easy to turn down a dead end and even easier to get blindsided and taken back down the wrong way.

What is the Nemo brand?

nemo: Perfect Freehand Circles.

How has branding Nemo increased your visibility?

nemo: In my blog I talk a lot about building a unique voice and branding it. Before I knew what I wanted to do I used my signature as my logo, first show, first piece of art. Sure it was hard to use a name that has so many other things attached to it, but I did. Once I started using pencil on paper with my circles it all kinda fell into place. I knew early on I wanted to make and sell something and Hannah knew she wanted to run a business so everything kinda worked out by chance. I do feel if someone walked into someone’s house or a gallery of a café they would be able to pick out the “nemo.”

Do you feel an obligation to present yourself a certain way in public because you are a brand?

nemo: I personally don’t, because I came first and built the brand around me, so the way I am is the way I am, good or bad and that is the brand. I find that most of my collectors like that. I once heard an artist at her own show say something about it being weird cuz her coworkers and her friends from school were in the same room and that she acted differently with each group, but I’m not like that, I would act the same with no matter who’s around. I am what you get, online or in person. I don’t change the way I am for anyone or anything. I get a lot of flack about how I am online, but if you meet me in person I really do talk about the same things and talk like I write. Its funny because when some people first see my art they don’t think this big ugly guy draws such dainty line work, so I guess sometimes it doesn’t fit, but its all me.

When will your tour be completed?

 nemo: We are shooting for about 5 years and we are only 1 year into it, so who knows.

Contact information:

BLOG:http://artbynemo.blogspot.com/

WEBSITE: http://www.artbynemo.com/ 

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ANOTHER COLORFUL LIFE: STEVE MALCOLM

Meet Steve Malcolm, creator of a 2012 calendar that tastefully combines yarn & nudity:

How did you become interested in the craft of knitting?

As long as I can remember I have always loved sweaters. In 1993 I went into a store to buy one but was devastated to see a $500 price tag hanging from the sleeve. It was a stunning sweater though and I went back two days later to get it, only to find out that it had been sold. I decided then to learn to knit so that I could make my own sweaters in whatever color and fiber I wanted! 

What is your favorite thing to knit?

Without a doubt, sweaters!

How and why did you learn to master cables?

Well, thanks but I don’t think I’ve mastered them yet. What I have learned about cables has come from a lot of reading and practice. Cables to me are the most interesting things to knit. I love the way they follow certain rules to create patterns that are limited only by your imagination, yet they also allow you to defy the rules and create even more patterns. The possibilities are endless when you’re dealing with cables. Since I’m a bit of a geek, I really enjoy exploring the mathematical relationships in the multi-strand cabled braids as well! Also, the extra warmth from wearing a cabled sweater with its three dimensional fabric can’t be beat!

Do you work from patterns or you create your own patterns? Has your work been published?

I currently work from patterns and also create my own. I haven’t been formally published yet but I have been approached by Vogue knitting to submit something for them to consider. I am working on a book of sweaters for men that I hope to have completed by fall of ’12.

How do people respond to your creations?

Hmmm, they respond well I like to think. I’ve had lots of compliments about Angel, the shrug I designed to show the cabled braids I developed in my e-book. It’s available on my website.

What is the most challenging part about knitting? The most rewarding?

For me the most challenging part about knitting is in the finishing of a project. This might sound like I’m a little full of myself (which I try not to be), but I like complicated patterns. The problem is, once I’ve worked it out and can do it without really concentrating on it, I sometimes lose interest in it. So I move on to something else and sometimes have something unfinished for up to or more than a year!

So obviously, the most rewarding part of knitting for me is actually finishing a project. It’s even better when it’s something for someone I care about and to see the appreciation on their face because they understand what went into every stitch.

What other creative talents do you have?

Again, not to sound like a braggart, but I really don’t think of myself as creative. Up until recently, knitting was simply following patterns and making minor alterations to it. When I see some of the work out there that inspires me, I am truly humbled and often find myself wishing I could come up with those ideas.

How do you organize your time to allow for your crafts and hobbies?

I’m lucky that I currently work as an extra on TV shows, movies, and commercials. While some workdays can be very demanding, I quite often get time while at work to knit. I also knit on transit and I’m never in front of a television without some needles and yarn in my hands. Since I am working on making my knitting my main source of income, I prioritize it and ensure I make the time to do it every day. It’s easy since I really do enjoy the actual act of knitting.

How did you come up with the title for your website?

Lol – I was joking around with some friends on the set at work one day. I was taking some friendly ribbing about the fact that I knit (very friendly ribbing as most of the people that I work with are very impressed with the things I turn out). I jokingly said to one guy, “Hey, it takes balls to knit, you know!” It got a chuckle, and I remembered it when I went home that night. I had the idea then, so I googled it to see if the domain was taken, and found out it wasn’t. All I found was that Skacel had once had an advertising campaign using that phrase – so I registered the site and started blogging!

Tell me about your 2012 calendar: how you came up with the idea, how it changed over time, how you developed the concept. Had you ever created a calendar before?

This is a good question. I have a lot of plans for things to do in the very near future, but I needed something to get the ball rolling. The website was going to be the first thing. After I had that going for a while, I decided that a calendar would be the next step. It’s fairly simple (in concept, anyways), and fairly low budget (or so I thought). I could create 13 scarves for a 13 month calendar, make them then photograph them and sell them on my blog! I was fairly certain I could convince 13 of my male friends to pose with the scarves – no one would be interested in a calendar of scarves with me being the only model. Since the title of my website was it takes balls to knit, the models would be nude with the scarves strategically placed. I also decided that part of the proceeds would go to prostate cancer as well.

So I was discussing the idea with Dino on set one day and we came up with enough ideas to make 2 or three years worth of calendars! There was a woman sitting at the table and she asked why does it have to be just men? Apparently, it was a very valid point as I quickly got quite a few women who wanted to be in the calendar! As a matter of fact, I found the women for the calendar before the men! So now it was going to be a mixed sex calendar, and appropriately, part of the proceeds would go to breast cancer research as well.
 

Did you produce and direct the photographs? What was the most difficult shot to arrange? Did you take more than 12 photographs, and if so how did you choose which ones to be in the final cut? How did you keep the shoots from becoming cheesy or tasteless?

At the time of me answering this question, all the photographs had not been taken. I had the ideas of what I wanted done in the photographs, but I’m flexible. Some of them are based on ideas of the model, and most of them highlight something personal about each model or emphasize their personality. A quick example is Sandra, a vivacious redhead who is in her 60’s – 70’s (I’m not going to tell her exact age) although you’d never know it to look at her. She is so full of life I only wish that I look half as good as she does when I’m in my 50’s!

There are definitely more than 12 shots – each month has a main picture with two or three others to emphasize certain aspects of the scarf and model. All final pictures were chosen with the help and approval of the model.

This was never about sex or nudity, so taking tasteful shots was actually very easy. The composition of the shot was discussed with each model before the shoot to make sure they were comfortable with the idea. I tried to create a symbiotic relationship between the model and the scarf. I actually asked each one what their favorite color was and then went from there.

Why a “nude” calendar? Did you have to overcome any personal inhibitions in order to be included in your calendar?

I did a nude calendar because of the title of my website, and also for it to be a little different. In the end, I want to sell these calendars, and it’s a very competitive market for people’s money. I thought the nude angle – if tastefully done – would give the calendars the appeal they needed to help promote sales.

Did I have to overcome any personal inhibitions? Absolutely! I have body image issues like most people but thought that I couldn’t ask anyone else to do it if I couldn’t myself.

Are the scarves all your own original designs? Are the scarves knit oversize to allow for more coverage of the models? 

The scarves are not all my designs. 3 were knit by friends (they’re credited in the calendar). I was originally going to design and knit all of them myself, but the opportunity arose to showcase the talents of two of my friends. There will probably be more contributors to the 2013 calendar.

The scarves are not oversized. As a matter of fact, 1 in particular is very thin. Most are of average size of a scarf. I was repeatedly asked to make them very wide and very long though – mostly by the women!

How did you organize your time to meet your deadline for the calendar production?

LOL – I’m laughing because this was the hardest part of this. It took a lot of phone calls, and myself stepping in as the photographer in several instances.

How can people order the calendar?

They can order the calendar directly on my website by clicking on the products and patterns tab. They’ll see a thumbnail with the title for the calendar. Here is a direct link: http://ittakesballstoknit.com/?wpsc-product=2012-scarf-calendar

What charities will benefit from the sale of the calendar? Why did you select those particular charities?

Prostate and Breast Cancer research. I have a close friend in the Czech Republic who is battling breast cancer, so when the women were added to the calendar that was a double bonus, and prostate was because the calendar was originally going to be all men.

Anyone you want to thank for assisting you with creating the calendar?

Many people – who I listed on the calendar itself. Special thanks to Crystal Carlson, and Frederique Remy!

Contact information: Steve Malcolm – Website: http://ittakesballstoknit.com E-mail: mrhugzzz@gmail.com Facebook/Twitter: mrhugzzz

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