The Princess Has Spoken!

Who needs a magic wand, when you have the CRAFT¦

*stares thoughtfully at the computer screen*

What can I say here about myself that would be interesting or useful? What do people want to know about me?

*thinks back to the beginning, cues Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, dims lights*

I’ve always been a crafter. From being very young and jealous of all my grandmother’s shiny beads and her ability to make pretty dresses¦.to decades later, watching other people craft and thinking “I can do that.” Like many, I started with one craft, dabbled in a few, found my strengths, and my niche in the Harry Potter world.

*turns lights back up to see better and settles in with cup of tea and one of her current projects as she tells her story*

As a crocheter, it was difficult at first to find a craft for me that fit into JKR’s world. I mean, Molly was a knitter¦something wholly different than crocheting. But I stuck with it¦making my own scarves, my way. But it wasn’t until a random chance on LiveJournal one day that I found my kindred spirits and through them found my way here. You see, I’d just been to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where I was enamored by Ron’s Chudley Cannons blanket. Knowing it was knitted, and having only seen bits of it, I knew I couldn’t recreate it, but I could re-imagine it.

*digs through a tottering pile of graph paper, notes, patterns, and pencils, pulling out a much abused pattern*

For about 10 years before, I’d been working with my own patterns to create various crocheted projects with lettering and had only recently advanced to designing graphics. Not having much skill beyond stick figures, I persevered nonetheless, and designed my own Chudley Cannons blanket. And as I posted pictures of it at various blogs, I started finding new friends. But it wasn’t until Lumos 2006 that I really broke through my voluntary shell.

*refills cuppa and goes back to her project, still telling her story*

Before Lumos, I had crafting friends, but I had more non-crafting friends. I had entered my work for the art gallery, fully expecting it not to be accepted because it was not art in the traditional sense. Imagine my surprise when I got the email telling me my work was going to be where over 1000 people would be able to see it! I met a few fellow crafters there, but still most of them were online. With my breakout of the Cannons blanket, I started designing more ideas, making more projects, finding more people. Last year, I attended Phoenix Rising, and there began some of the greatest friendships I could ever have expected in my life. They’ve encouraged me to try new crafts, gifted me with not only plenty of awesome goodies, but also friendship, and held my hand through the internet when life gets in the way of crafting.

*flips through picture book, showing off various pictures with friends*

Shortly after Phoenix Rising, I joined the staff of Leaky Cauldron as a Crafty Witch. I was thrilled as I had long admired Leaky and some of my work was already pictured on the galleries. However, it was apparent to me, right off, that if I were going to find my niche with them, it wouldn’t be in the coding of all the lovely crafts that were in the queue to pop up on our section of Leaky. A chance conversation with one of my fellow crafty witches led me to my current position within the Witches, something that fits my style well when I’m on game, that of the weekly updater. I mean, sure, EVERYONE knows about Leaky, but was everyone aware that we Crafty Witches were prepared to take over the world from our little tower room?!?!

*does fair imitation of evil laugh before she realizes she just typed that and her delete key doesn’t seem to work*

So, for the past six months, I’ve found my home with my gals, who kindly leave me weekly lists of updates. We will briefly debate over what antics I will find myself up to in the Crafty Witch “office” as I compile all the updates for the week, and produce “the funny of the week.” And though weekly I wibble over what our readers will find funny this week, I know the girls are 100% behind the Princess¦waiting for her to trip and sit on her own tiara.

*remembers that incident clearly, with a wince*

So, welcome to our blog. Have a seat and pull up a craft. I’m sure there are a few lying about. It may be a bit messy in here, but we like it.

Craftily,

Amber (hp5freak)

a.k.a. The Princess

Crafty Witch