There’s a nice assortment of cool things going on to spotlight today… but first I’d like to thank Harrell and the MFA department at Portland State for putting on such a fantastic event last night. Andrew’s lecture was so much fun and everyone welcomed us so warmly and put on such a nice dinner afterwards — thank you!

On the crafty side of things, I wanted to mention that I’ll be at the Craft & Hobby Association show in Anaheim in a few weeks.

I had a great time there last year (hosting Pink Craftie, no less — I wrote up our adventures here and all my CHA photos are here) and I’m really looking forward to attending Natalie’s paper beads demo and talk on indie crafts on Saturday, and walking the floor for a couple of days. I’ll also be part of a crafty launch party on Monday, teaching a free jewelry project, and will post the invite information as soon as I have the visuals to share — but if you’ll be at the show, please mark your calendar for the event, 5:30-7 pm on Monday, 2/11. Details to come ASAP!

And speaking of shows, CRAFT: has just announced the Call for Makers for their upcoming Maker Faire in the Bay Area in May.

I loved teaching jewelry-making there last year and I really wish I could do it again, but my due date is exactly a week before the show… so let’s just say that I’m looking forward to Maker Faire ’09! All my photos from last year are here on flickr and my write-up on whip-up is over here if you are Maker-curious.

Last, my friend and birthday twin Christine also just passed on that she’s shifting from designing her marvelous Twospace line to working on an eponymous Christine Haynes collection. This paper doll sheet of her dresses and separates is so charming!

I love her designs, and I got to write about her work for BurdaStyle last month, which was a lot of fun… and most exciting of all, she’s writing a new book on sewing your own stylish clothes (without pesky zippers or buttonholes, even), tenatively called Hip to Hem, which will be out in Spring 09 from Potter Craft. Congratulations, Christine!

Back off the crafty, if you are a LOST devotee, did you know that ABC is re-broadcasting the final episode of last season tomorrow night? I cannot wait for the two-hour special on Thursday… and if you need a further refresher, there is an 8 minute, 15-second re-intro to all the characters and events up til now.