Double Tour Stops: Linda Permann's blog and the Tangled magazine Blog

Two-time author and more-than-I-can-count designer, Linda Permann is hosting my book on her blog today.  
While you are at her blog, poke around and look at her innovative crochet and sewing projects and embellishments for already-made garments.

Tangled magazine blogged about my book today too! I'm so excited to have 2 designs in the latest issue of this cool online magazine. I LOVE that they incorporate both knit and crochet. (and do a great job doing it).

Tomorrow, my friend and designer, Rebecca Velasquez talks about the fun things you can do with my motifs in addition to blankets.

Salt Water Taffy

Here's the second design in the new issue of Tangled Online Magazine!  This one is called Salt Water Taffy. It is also made of Spud & Chloe Fine. I'm so in love with the aqua trim.  Here's the link to the pattern. I can't wait to get it back and wrap up in the lovely wool/silk blend.

Primrose

I have TWO designs in the Spring issue of Tangled online magazine.  First is Primrose, made of lovely Spud & Chloe Fine.  This yarn blocks like a dream. It goes from lovely to spectacular with just a little spritz of water and pinning. Get the Primrose pattern here. It's made with join as you go motifs for no sewing!

This design was inspired by my lovely cousin, Stephanie.  On Facebook, Stephanie had sent me a message asking for a scarf. At the time I was SO busy that I thought, "Honey, I'm so busy that if the Mother of God herself asked for a scarf I'd be hard pressed to find the time".  LOL. And it got me thinking... what would the Mother of God want?  I originally designed this scarf in off-white and blue, but maybe Mother Mary is tired of blue?  I'll have to see how Stephanie feels about green and pink!

Tour Stop: Karen Ratto-Whooley's Blog

Thank you Sharon Silverman for yesterday's blog stop.  She made some really excellent observations! 

Today's blog stop is out West with Karen Ratto-Whooley!  Many of you have met Karen, she is a teacher and designer.  I took a top-down raglan shaping class with her last year at the Crochet Guild of America's conference in Manchester, NH. Her class was great and I wouldn't hesitate to take another class with her.

I'm so flattered that Karen told me she liked my book well enough that she wanted to GIVE one away and BUY one for herself!  So, head on over to her blog and poke around her website, designs, and class schedule.

The next tour stop will be 5/31 with Linda Permann

Tour Stop: Sharon Silverman's Blog

Thanks everyone who participated in the Virtual Book Launch Party on Ravelry last night.  We had so much fun! There was cake (virtually), there were prizes (actually), there was fun (abundantly).  Any other adverbs we want to throw in there? 

Congratulation's to the Winners!  Renee won a kit of all the yarn needed for French Country.

Irene won a kit of all the yarn needed for Yours Truly:

And Moriarty58 won a Signed book! 


The fun is not over, however, the fun continues!  This afternoon, Sharon Silverman, author of Tunisian Crochet and Crochet Pillows and Basic Crocheting is reviewing my book! Here's the link to Sharon's blog.  Poke around her website while you are there.

 Sharon's Blog

If you already have my book and would like to leave a favorable review of it on Amazon, when you are done, go HERE on this Ravelry thread for a little chance for a prize. 

Virtual Book Launch Party

Tonight!  9pm EST, come visit me and my Ravelry friends for a live chat in my Ravelry group chat room.  Here's the plan:

anytime, log onto www.Ravelry.com (it's free).
Under the "groups" tab, you can search for 'GoCrochet with Ellen Gormley' (notice, I didn't put a space between Go and Crochet)
On the right side of the main group page, you will see a "join chat" button. click it.  You'll be able to type in the bar at the bottom to join the conversation.

I hope you can make it!  If you can't, comment anytime here on the blog or on the Ravelry group.

Tomorrow, check back here for links to all the other tour stops!

This motif, is in the book :)  I was really interested in creating interesting holes.  In the art world, we call that "negative space".  It reminds me of eyelet cotton fabric.

Blog Blitz!

The next several days are going to be so much fun!

Here are the events that are scheduled so far:

5/24 Tomorrow, see me here! Ask any questions you want on comments about the book
5/25 The Virtual Book Launch party on the Ravelry group 9pm EST
5/26 Sharon Silverman's blog
5/27 Karen Whooley's blog
5/31 Linda Permann's blog
6/1 Rebecca Velasquez's blog
6/2 Doris Chan' blog
6/3 Kristin Omdahl's blog
6/6 Tracie Barrett's blog
6/7 Robyn Chachula's blog
6/8 Laurie Wheeler and the Crochet Liberation Front Blog
6/9 Naida and the Crochet Mama's Blog

I'm also working on a few more visits to 2 or 3 other blogs.



But TODAY...

Here's the basic premise of Go Crochet! Afghan Design Workbook. 
There are 50 motifs in the book. 10 of each hexagons, rectangles, squares, octagons, and triangles. All the sides of all the shapes have the same number of stitches.  (Except of course, the long sides of the rectangles are 2 stitches longer by definition, I tell you how to work with that in the book).  Because they all have the same number of stitches ALL the motifs can fit together.  There are a few motifs that are "join as you go" and those can be incorporated too!  Matter of fact, the last project in the book uses ALL 50 motifs at least once! 

The top photo is Brilliant Starburst, a throw made with one triangle and one hexagon from the book.  It's made of Louet Gems in Bright Blue and Eggplant. I think it might be my favorite project in the book.  I love lighter blue and purple together.  Hexagons are so popular right now that I've been joking that hexagons are the new black.


I'm also a big fan of OVALS!  Here are two oval inspired rectangle motifs from the book. There is at least one more than I can think of off the top of my head. The oval shape is so underused. I need to change that! You'll see more ovals pop up in unexpected places from me in the coming months. (hint)

Did you hear my interview on Getting Loopy with Mary Beth Temple?  You can listen on archives at any time. You have one more week to listen, get the secret word and enter the giveaway for a free book.  Here's the link.


Also, once you have a chance to look at the book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon (It helps more than you know!)

Tunisian and Cable Baby Blanket

 Caron yarns has come out with a new baby blanket booklet.  Go Crafty Crochet Baby blankets, has my Tunisian and Cable blanket in it.

I've heard that the booklets will be available in JoAnn's stores.  If I learn of other places to get the book I'll let you know.
This blanket has fantastic drape because it's made with two Tunisian panels. Three narrow traditional cable strips act as "bookends" to the panels. The edging also has some texture with crossed post stitches.

The SECOND half of the surprise...

Many of us got together to design 24 squares for Pam's Comfort Cable Blanket for designer Pam Gillette. When we found out that last fall that Pam was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, we knew we wanted to show support in some way.  What do knitters and crocheters do when they want to send love? They make a square :) A bunch of us (and I mean a BUNCH) made cable squares because cables are among Pam's favorite techniques.  We chose black, gray, and pink, because she enjoys those colors and pink in recognition of her journey. I showed you my square some time ago. KnitPicks donated the yarn (thank you!).  We sent Pam the finished blanket months ago. While she was surprised by the gift, we are thrilled to finally give her the second half of the gift.... We partnered with KnitPicks to bring you the 20 page pattern and send ALL the proceeds to Pam!  Here's the link to this incredible pattern for only $4.99.

The contributors are a few people who's names you might recognize (in no particular order):

Tracie Barrett, Angela Best, Gwen Blakley Kinsler, Vashti Braha, Bendy Carter, Robyn Chachula, Doris Chan, Drew Emborsky, Lisa Gentry, Amie Hirtes, Mary Jane Hall, Jill Hanratty, Tammy Hildebrand, Amy O’Neill Houck, Margaret Hubert, Kimberly Kotary, Marty Miller, Annie Modesitt, Diane Moyer, Kristin Omdahl, Dee Stanziano, Mary Beth Temple, Karen Ratto Whooley

Thanks also to tech editors KJ Hay, Susan Lowman and Annette Petavy who contributed their expertise to the project as well.

What crochet designers say they would never do again

You'll find this interesting I think.  I called upon my designer friends to answer the question, "What would you never do again?"   Here are their answers:

I will never again: Mail the project without writing the pattern first.

I will never again wait until the last minute to start a huge project.

I will never again send a submission to a yarn company using another company's yarn.

I will never again overnight a project, which takes away from my earnings. 

I'll never again offer a design based on craft store materials in addition to yarn. (Beads, jewelry findings, string, leather/suede lacing, certain flosses, flat-backed rhinestones, foam sheets, etc.)

I may contract 1 or 2 designs out a year, but I never will let her weave in the ends and sew the garment together.

I'll never again agree to a design swipe from a clothing catalog without knowing the yarn they have in mind!


I'll never again propose three skirt and top sets done in all single crochet.

I will never forget to measure the item before felting it. 

I will never again send a pattern to a contractor without making sure I've specified which kind of increases and decreases to do..subtext - wonky stripes.

I will never again submit an intricate garment design without thinking very carefully about how I'm going to size it up and down...

I will never start a sample garment for a yarn store owner without agreeing on a price and terms of payment because I want to be nice.

I will never work a booth at a trade show without knowing how much I will be paid and the terms of payment.

I will never take a project with an impossible deadline.

I will never turn down a dream client the first time they offer a job because I don't think I can meet their deadline. 

I will never offer to do volunteer work when I have paid work to do.

I will never not have paid work to do.

I will never again agree to do an afghan that has 180 pieces that have to be sewn together!!!!

I know, I know, you want to ask, "why?" to all these answers, but, I didn't ask them "and why?" LOL. 

GIVEAWAY Today

FaveCrafts today is giving away a copy of my Princesses & Heroes booklet today on their blog.  Here is the link.

Get your signed copy!

I'm currently taking orders for signed copies of my Go Crochet! Afghan Design Workbook.

For US orders, you can click the Buy Now button and Paypal will charge you $20 USD. This includes your book and shipping.  In your memo, make sure you leave your full shipping address. Your book should arrive in 7-10 days from your order. Please email me when it arrives safely.

For orders outside of the USA, email me with your full shipping address to Ellen @ GoCrochet dot com and I will calculate your shipping and reply back with your total, then you can choose whether or not to purchase. You'll also be using Paypal, and I'll give you the email address to do that.

US orders only, $20.

Thanks everyone who listened to my interview last night on Getting Loopy!  It was great fun. Thank you to Mary Beth Temple for hosting. The show now can be found on archives HERE.

Congratulations!

 Congratulations to my talented, handsome husband Tom.  He's an architect working on building a new hospital for the University of Kentucky for the last several years. And it's DONE!  The Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was yesterday.  It's a beautiful cutting edge building and I'm so proud! Way to go, Captain!  Where you go, I will go.

It's Getting Loopy Day!

Are you ready to Get Loopy with me?  Tonight! 9 pm EST here's the link: Getting Loopy

Crochet & Chat at the Library!

 The Crochet & Chat library friends gathered yesterday for our usual monthly meeting. This month I brought BOOKS, and book projects, and Chickee made chocolate cupcakes.

 Our library and all the Librarians have been so supportive of the fiber crafts group.

A little congratulations gift from Judy, she knows me so well!  Thanks everyone for coming out!

THIS is the Chicken...

Who pecks at me when I try to collect the eggs.  She also lays blue eggs, so we'll keep her.

Look, the chicken on the right, is trying to push the eggs back under her belly, I guess they slipped out. :)

Firecracker Bag Revealed!

Bang! My Firecracker Bag is in the new issue of Crochet! If you can single crochet, you can make this bag!   It's in the same issue with the Mediterranean Dreams Blanket that I revealed last week!  Click on the project names above for the links to  Ravelry.

Getting Loopy! YOU'RE INVITED!

It's a count down to my "appearance" on Getting Loopy, Blog Talk Radio with Mary Beth Temple!  We'll be talking about my book, Go Crochet! Afghan Design Workbook.  Here's a link to the show.  I'll be on LIVE next Monday night 5/16/11 at 9 pm EST.  You can register for free on the site and log in to be in the "chat room" while the show is airing!  You can ask questions in the chat room.  (Or, you don't have to register, and can just listen).  Also, if you don't want to log on to your computer, you can call the Getting Loopy phone number during the show time and listen in on your phone by calling: 
                (646) 915-8371

You can also call that number during the show and follow the hosts instructions to get on the air and ask a question about the book!  (I think you press "1" and Mary Beth will say something like, "Caller from area-code  blah blah blah, do you have a question for Ellen?)

ANY TIME, after the show, you can listen to it on archives.  (See the right side bar of this page for the link to the show when I was on a year or two ago).

GIVEAWAY There will be a book given away on the show!  Listen to the show to get the secret "code word".  Then email Mary Beth at the address she gives out, put the secret word in the subject line to enter for a chance to win a copy of the book!  You have up to one week to enter after the show has aired, so even if you are listening in after-the-fact on archives, you can still enter! 

Also after the show, Mary Beth will put "show notes" up on her Getting Loopy blog. 

Special Olympics Scarf Project

THIS year. I'm going to do it.  I made a scarf a few years ago for the Special Olympics Winter games, but didn't get around to it last year.  THIS year I'm going to make it happen.  The Special Olympics and Red Heart have teamed up to make scarves for every athlete and coach.  This year's colors are: 

Red Heart Super Saver
387 Soft Navy and 319 Cherry Red

or

Red Heart Soft
4604 Navy  and 9925 Really Red

For all the information on deadlines, guidelines and free patterns:
Special Olympics site

Please enjoy this totally random photo of a Sea Lion from our vacation to Sea World, last year.
I love the look of the water.. blue and silver.

Books are Arriving!

My friends Kay and Moe received their books in the mail yesterday!  As it happened, we had dinner already scheduled, so I had my first book "signing".  Here is me posing with Kay.  (Moe is taking the photo!) Thanks!

Reveal and Virtual Book Launch Party

On Facebook, Crochet Magazine! offered a sneak peek into their next issue, and my blanket was on it! There was also a gorgeous shawl by Tammy Hildebrand on the peek.

Good News, THE BOOK, (lol) is shipping much earlier than anticipated and Amazon is telling notifying at least one person that her copy will arrive TOMORROW!  WOW!  I can't wait for you all to see it.

How can you get in on the fun?

I have so much planned in the next few weeks, I hope you'll join me...  I will be on Getting Loopy  (Blog Talk Radio) on Monday 5/16 at 9pm EST.

Then, there will be a "Virtual Launch Party" on Ravelry, in my group Chat room on Wed, May 25 at 9pm EST.  If you aren't on Ravelry, you should join, it's free.  Here's the link to the group.  We "chat" every Wednesday night, but what will be special about the Launch party is that there will be PRIZES.  

I have "stops" planned on many great blogs, I'll get you the list as soon as all the dates are confirmed.

Yay! It's not raining! What a great way to start the day.

Shifting Skies

I didn't get any crocheting done this weekend, but I wore crochet and it was still a great weekend!  Chief had his First Holy Communion, a very important day for our family.  Ah, the sound of children singing makes me teary.  Chief did a reading in front of the full church. We're so proud.

Recognize the Shifting Skies top from Inside Crochet?