I had complained recently on Twitter that I couldn’t crochet for very long because I would start getting a sore spot or blister on my pinky. I then wrap it up in a bandaid for padding, but the Bandaid Method just seemed ridiculous.

Elisha suggested I try out the Hamanaka crochet hooks, which you can find on eBay and Etsy. They are a bit pricey: $50 for a full set, so I opted to purchase just one hook off eBay. They sure are cute, tho!

Pic taken from this Etsy shop.

They are double ended, so you actually get 10 hooks altogether. I was hesitant to try out the Hamanaka because the hook itself is very different than what I am used to. I use a cheapo aluminum Susan Bates set. It’s what Grandma Wendleton started me on back in the day, and I have never strayed. The Susan Bates hook has kind more of a wedgey area for the yarn to get lodged into. The Hamanaka and Clover hooks have more a swoopy curvey area.

This blog has a really good comparison photo, with my favorite Susan Bates style on the right, and the swoopier curvier kind on the left.

I have tried using the Hamanaka on a few small things here and there…and my yarn keeps slipping off the hook! I will give it a little more time, but I wonder how difficult or important it is for me to change my crochet style to adjust to the hook.

I have also seen crochet hooks covered in polymer clay, like this:

So I wonder how much that helps in avoiding blisters as well.

I actually bought a bunch of polymer clay for another secret project, so I might experiment. I’ll letcha know if I do, unless it turns out super ugly and I have to go hide.

We were just in Minnesota last weekend for Hairy’s cousin’s wedding. The wedding was on their grandpa’s giant lake-side property. There were clouds of mosquitoes and big bugs running all over the place. It was terrifying! But it was fun to meet more of Hairy’s peeps. People kept saying, “Don’t mind our crazy family!” Oh, everyone’s family is a liiiittle bit crazy! It’s all good… until someone starts yelling angrily and threatening to bust every window in the house (been there, done that). But there was no yelling. Just fun people, yummy food, and cute babies.

Here’s the fun video montage!!!! A roller coaster ride inside the Mall of America is included for your barfy pleasure!

Untitled from Twinkie Chan on Vimeo.

And some photoz!

I think this is the 1st photo I forced us to take by the lake.

This is after I discovered the giant clouds of bugs hanging out by the lake.

Here is us in a sculpture garden. I had to pinch and tickle Hairy to get him to smile. Also I need to stop opening my mouth for photos and video. It’s a weird instinct that must go away.

Ginormous spoon and cherry sculpture by Claes Oldenburg & Coosje Van Bruggen. We studied Oldenburg – known for his giant soft sculptures – when I was in grade school, and we all made giant soft sculptures of our own. I made a giant squishy purple mailbox you could chillax inside of. I used it as a fort for a really long time. I made it purple so that it would match my bedroom….

He was so stern, he needed someone to be jumping around next to him.

We had dinner with Hairy’s friends – Hilary, and Isara and their menz. It turned out that Isara’s dude and Hairy had the SAME WALLET!!! TWINZZZ.

Finally, here’s me in our hotel room, cowing out over the best chips ever. Hairy’s fam was really nice and let me take home their chips! I brought the box home, too, and need to think of something funny to do with it…..

Next entry: The greatest Gundam model-builder in the world. You’ll see.

I tried to take an outfit pic today that included my whole body, but that I could take with Photobooth cuz I’m lazy, which ended up with me on the floor…and when you end up on the floor, you end up covered in DOGS!!

Bibi is so smelly right now! She’s like the stinkiest hound dog that ever did stink. I still kissed her dome head and gave her big hugs cuz she’s my stinky baby.

There were moments today where I wondered about the line between giving up on something cuz it’s too hard to fight against other people, and continuing to fight as hard as you can even though it’s probably hopeless, and they’ll think you’re the most annoying creature ever. I’ll keep trying, but nothing often works out the way that you hope. It can be bit hard on you mentally, and you just want to sit there and eat potato chips.

(p.s. stripey puff-sleeve top is UO/Urban Renewal, jeans are from Delias, and shoes are Miz Mooz)

(p.p.s. I am going to work super-hard in the next few days to get my shop update up!)

Hairy and I are back from Minnesota! We were at his cousin’s wedding. I will have a lil video for it maybe tomorrow, but tonight I want to catch up on work!

On our way to my parents’ house to pick up the pups, we stopped by Michael’s really quick. We saw some pith helmets & animal hats, and then we ran into the plastic-plants section to hide in the jungle and snap a pic. Good times! I’m the elephant who has been held in captivity too long and is going on a rampage!

Son, this safari’s been CORRECTED. *elephant sounds*

I wasn’t sure whether to post this in my blog or not, but heck, here I go!

I am looking for another crochet helper or two, based in Las Vegas. Why Las Vegas? My right-hand lady, Rita, lives in Vegas, and will be managing a Vegas crochet posse for Twinkie Chan. Rita has worked with me for a few years, is a delight, knows what I like, and is trying to help me keep my Etsy store more regularly stocked with goodies!!

Customers: fear not. All designs are still 100% mine (I’m too much of a control freak to have it any other way!). All items will still go through me and will be shipped by me. I put finishing touches on a lot of the items, and I still create whole items myself all the time. But, you can see how empty my shop is at the mo, so we need a little help ;). I also want to devote more time to designing new and exciting items, but have old favorites for sale simultaneously!

Interested hookers: again, please be in the Las Vegas area. This will make it easier for Rita to keep everything organized! Please email me at twinkiedink at gmail dot com, and I will forward everything to Rita. I would love to know a little about you, what kinds of stuff you like, favorite foods, favorite TV shows, etc, anything! If you blog or have a Flickr album with pics of your work, please include those as well. If you could also include about how much time you’d be able to devote to helping us out, that would be awesome, too! I know everyone has a life and a full-time job, but I also know that some of us like to be busy all the time and crochet in front of our evening TV!

Speaking of ETSY, I DO have a bunch of fun items coming soon!! We have just been traveling so much, that it is difficult for me to finish all the items, but they will be adorable, and I will do my best to have them up this week. This weekend, we will be in Minneapolis for Hairy’s cousin’s wedding. I will get to see the Mall of America!! Hehe.

Everyone else should go to the sparkle-fest that is occurring in celebration of JapanLA’s 4th anniversary extravaganza!