I need to upload photos from my epic (Ok, I need to start using an alternative to the word “epic” … how about “bitchin”?) L.A. week/weekend, but in the meantime, please check out my contribution to Gala Darling’s “I want to be …” series about people with interesting/unique occupations! This is probably one of the most detailed articles you’ll ever read about my adventures in turning a hobby into a career.
Click on the pic of me biting a blinged out crochet hook to see the article!
p.s. I am signing books tomorrow/this Tuesday at Books, Inc. in Berkeley at 7pm. Come say hi, East Bay! Free gift baggies while they last! 🙂
WOW!!! Great interview!!! I enjoyed getting to know you a bit better. You have a great outlook on life. I’m sortof a fulltime knitter/more crocheter myself and I LOVE it. Ido alot of charity stuff and for my grandkids and friends. I also test patterns for 2 designers which is nice and helps out with a wee bit of cash. I’ve even done models for one of the designers books, which is totally cool!!! Knitting/crocheting is who I am and what I do.
lois
Crochet for me!! 🙂
Really????? I do love your stuff!!!!!
Are you serious?
Lois
Where are you located?
I live in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It’s just ourside of Milwaukee.
Every little thing you had to say was so inspiring and informative, and very helpful to me! I don’t crochet, but I’m trying to find and carve my own path in my art career. I look up to you and commend you for all of the hard work and success you share with everyone! Thank you so much. <3
Thanks, Kt! It is a really hard path, and you sometimes have to make hard choices. I wish you all the best of luck!
Lady, this is so good! I am so glad actually that you admitted things were not always so fantastic (financially, at least) because sometimes it is good to have a reality check. But I am also super the most happy that things are going so well for you!
OH yeah I never deny that I was not doing well financially for a while, I just never wanted to tell my parents exactly what my credit card debt was… 😛
I bought your book!!! Aaaaaaaah!!!! So freaking excited!!! I just wish the post man get a move on! 😀 😀 😀
Thank you so much!! Hurry, postman!!!
Wow, what a great interview! Thank you for being so honest and open, what an inspiration!
I’ve been a fan of yours for a while now but I have to tell you that once I read through your book, I really felt like I had found a kindred (crafty) spirit! I love your realistic and blunt (for lack of a better word) approach to crocheting.
Like in your book when you provide affordable yarn selections and admit your wariness of hats. Your book is the first that I’ve immediately started a project, actually finished it (lol) and then immediately started another one. It’s the first crochet book I’ve had where the diagrams are actually helpful and easy to understand. lol
I prefer off beat and quirky crochet myself (we need more books and ideas like yours in this industry!) so your book was a God send and I can only hope you write more in the future!
Now, just one more question because I’m obsessed with everything sparkly: where did you get the bling-y hook?!?!
Thank you for being you and sharing your talents with us! 😀
Maggi! Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment. I’ve always just had a “I’m wingin’ it!” attitude toward my crochet, and I never wanted to pretend that I knew exactly what I was doing in my book 😛 😛 :P. Lord knows I probably do things the wrong way or a weird way since I am by and large self taught.
I blinged out my own hooks! 🙂 Gold spray paint, glue, and lots and lots of rhinestones 🙂
I’m self taught for the most part too, maybe that’s why your book is so easy for me to understand. LOL
Thanks for the bling tip, I just might have to do that to my some of mine. Glitter FTW!
so excited that you did this interview! i love gala’s site, and it was definitely interesting hearing your take on the ‘business’ side of twinkie chan! very inspiring, indeed! 🙂
I like to pretend the business side doesn’t exist because I’m so bad at it 😛
COME TO ITALYYYYY! PLEASE! <3
I need a venue to host my event and to pay for my flight!! 😛
Love that interview Twinkie! You express yourself so succinctly with words, as well as your craft. It was interesting to read how you felt like a “fraud” in the publishing industry at times. I’ve felt that way before in my previous job as part of the marketing/corporate scene. I left earlier this year, in favour of taking a more creative path. It’s hard to carve your own little niche in the beginning, and I have no formal training, but slowly, slowly. It’s a discovery process. I’m not exactly stuck in the most “creative” city, in fact, our biggest industry here is mining. Oh well, your interview certainly inspired me!
It can be really hard in the beginning. It’s still hard 🙂
the new issue of east bay express is already out so i couldnt get a hardcopy of the article but here is the digital copy..
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/crocheting-cupcakes-with-twinkie-chan/Content?oid=2186198
Thank you!!!!!! It’s better than nothing! 🙂 🙂