Knit & Crochet Show, 2015 Friday

 Shall we start with dessert first? The yummy brownie from Friday night's dinner. :) Which was a great ending to my day which started with....

A book signing with Shelby Allaho!  We signed our book, Crocheting Clothes Kids Love. We brought a few of the models from the book for people to see in person. Thank you to the Crochetville team for hosting us!

Shelby and her husband have also begun a new creative venture! Look at Shelby's necklace and the kits on the table in the top photo of the two of us. She and her husband create these wood frames that can be filled with crochet, knit, embroidery, cross-stitch, etc. Check it out at https://www.etsy.com/shop/ewoodstory 

 

 Here's the lovely Jenny King and can you see a corner of what she is purchasing at the Crochetville booth? It's one of Shelby's e-woodstory kits!

Marly and I both have the chevron thing going on!  

 Shelby and I are with legendary Margaret Hubert. Did I tell you that Margaret was the one who recommended Shelby and me for the Crocheting Clothes Kids Love book? Thanks again Margaret!

 

Coming full circle to the brownie at the end of the day... I started the day with a 4 mile run through San Diego. :)  Those silly local people apologized for the humidity. San Diego humidity is nothing compared to southern Ohio.

Knit & Crochet Show 2015

Many people are confused, let me try to explain. The Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) used to have a convention that they called "Chain Link".  People some times refer to this current event as "Chain Link" but that is just an affectionate nickname at this point.

Several years ago, the CGOA and TKGA (The Knit Guild of America) both hired a management company to help with all their business stuff. The management company suggested that CGOA and TKGA create a show that benefits both guilds... hence THE KNIT AND CROCHET SHOW (consumer show) was born. (Not to be confused with Knit and Crochet Now!, the tv show).

At this annual event, the CGOA and TKGA hold (independently) their membership annual meetings, classes, banquets, fashion shows, competitions, etc) But both knitters and crocheters may attend classes for both and we all share the vendor market.

This year's Knit and Crochet Show was in San Diego!  (whoohoo!  I had never been to San Diego so this was fun!) Thursday night was the big market preview! We get a crack at all the vendors before the general public. Above is me with designer/author Tammy Hildebrand and designer/author/writer Brenda Bourg. (I can't wait to see Brenda's new book!)

 Here I am with designer, Kristin Lynn.  If you don't recognize her name, pay attention to it and tuck it in your mind for later.

 Again, here I am with Brenda.  I have learned from experience that I should get as many photos as possible from the very first night because it only gets more busy from there. I designed the top I am wearing a few years ago and never wrote it down. It's made of Southwest Trading Company yarn.

A little selfie with designer/author Karen McKenna and designer April Garwood.  So much talent these ladies have!

And of course, me with super-pal, Marly Bird. Her description is too long: designer/author/podcaster/personality/spokesperson/design director, etc... I'm sure I missed something awesome that she does... oh! teacher! 

More tomorrow!

CITW: Crochet in the Wild, San Diego

Welcome to the first of many posts about this year's Knit and Crochet Show, in San Diego.
On the first day I arrived I went to dinner and shopping with Marly Bird and Crochet! and Crochet World managing editor, Jackie Daugherty. While shopping, we found this lovely lady with her CITW entry. Crochet in the WILD!

She kindly let me take photos of her bolero with the V-neck and rounded hem. I'm especially impressed by the cleverly (and not unfortunately) placed medallion motifs.  With the wrong placement, that could have been bad.

My Next Book?

I would like to write another book...

Any ideas?
Did you vote on my poll at the top of the page?

I'm torn... I know what I would LOVE to make a book about but there is a balance between what I want to do and what people want to read...

Do I use budget-friendly yarns? Do I stick with treat-yarns?

Do I make easy and fast things? Do I go with show-stopping harder items?

So much to consider!

Crochet with me in Ireland!

I’m so excited!
Annie’s is putting together a Crochet trip to Ireland next summer with Jennifer E. Ryan, aka celticknotcrochet and I’m going along!

There will be sightseeing and crochet classes with Jennifer and a local Irish teacher. I will be answering questions myself along the way if anyone has any.

It’s going to be so awesome. The money is not due all at once. Just a deposit and then a payment plan that takes you up to the trip next June 2016. Here is a link to the details.

Here are a few of Jennifer's beautiful designs:

And I can't wait to see some sheep!  

Knit and Crochet Show!

I'm at the Knit and Crochet Show in San Diego this weekend, come see me! 

We are already having loads of fun. Here I am with Tammy Hildebrand and Brenda Bourg, being photo bombed by Marly Bird. 

I'll be signing books at 12:30 with Shelby Allaho. 

Random Knit and Crochet Now photos

 Here's more random photo from Knit and Crochet Now. Here I am with Deborah Norville. She has been a broadcaster with Inside Edition for many legendary years. Find her also on Instagram.

When you meet Deborah in person there is no doubt you are meeting a celebrity. She is tall and gorgeous and has a presence that exudes confidence.

Even when Deborah towers over us shorter folks, she is very sweet and funny and real. (Look at those killer heels!) Robyn's wedges are darn cute too! I think I have been inspired to go shoe shopping... I probably need more shoes that are not:

Getting make up done is fun but it's also hard for this crocheter to sit still without working!

 



I am a Teacher

Come see me this fall!  I'll be teaching Introduction to Tunisian Crochet, Crochet Un-chained (foundation-less crochet) and How to Read Crochet Symbol Diagrams.

BUT there will be tons of other great teachers for crochet there as well: Edie Eckman, Melissa Leapman, Charles Voth, Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby and MORE.

PLUS, there will be awesome teachers teaching other crafts as well... kntting, paper crafting, quilting, painting, cross-stitch, floral arranging, cake decorating, beading...

So this is your chance to attend classes and lectures in the crochet topics you want and also bring along your friends and family members who might like the other topics. OR learn something new yourself. I know there are many classes in other crafts I would love to attend.

Get all the information HERE.

CGOA: Knit and Crochet Show!

Just a quick note! 
The Knit and Crochet Show is this weekend in San Diego. I'm going, are you going?
Come see me! I'll be emceeing the Fashion Show Saturday night.

I'll be signing Crocheting Clothes Kids Love with Shelby Allaho on Saturday at noon. You can buy a copy there!

I'll have a few copies of each of my books with me if you flag me down and want one.

Go Crochet Afghan Design Workbook (hardback) is $20.
Learn Bruges Lace is $10
Marvelous Crochet Motifs is $10.
Go Crochet Skillbuilder is $20.

See also, the right sidebar of this blog page for links to Paypal to buy signed copies of either of the two Go Crochet books. Thanks! 

More? You want more Knit and Crochet Now?

 This might have to be my new headshot. Thanks to Robyn Chachula for taking it for me!

 

Really, this team made me feel so beautiful I had to take one more quick selfie as production wrapped and before I hit the drive home. I walked into a fast-food place an hour later and felt like a movie star. I imagined all the workers whispering... "Who is that? and is she really getting a chocolate shake at this hour?"  heehee.

 Again, thanks Robyn!

Here I am with Deborah Norville. Chickee tells me that when I selfie, not only am I supposed to take the photo FROM above, but I made an error in looking DOWN. Apparently I am supposed to simultaneously look UP. Oh well. Deborah has it mastered though! It was so nice to meet her and work with her. You all are going to love seeing her on the show. Keep an eye out for when Season 7 airs in January. Find the episode when Deborah takes to the hook herself. Awesome. The woman has skills and a great sense of humor.

Did you know you can become an All-Access member of Knit and Crochet Now? You get ALL the episodes on demand. ALL the patterns. AND a discount on purchases from Annie's? Seriously. Never miss a thing.

Back stage and On stage fun!

Season 7 of Knit and Crochet Now happened this past week.  We missed host, Brett Bara, terribly but are happy she's happy with her newborn twins and juggling her successful Brooklyn Craft Company.

What's new this season? Deborah Norville joins the cast as the host of the show. Welcome Deborah!
She is such a pro and knows her knit and crochet. She fit right in and we are thrilled to have her.

Here, Robyn and I are both polished and ready to go!

 

Here I am with Sandi Rosner.

Am I repeating myself yet? Top row is crochet expert Rohn Strong with Deborah Norville.

Lena Skvagerson and I are in the middle row. The front row is Kristin Nicholas and Robyn Chachula. There we are, the Season 7 cast.

Here I am with the talented and entertaining, Rohn Strong.

Knit and Crochet Now fun!

Here I am with my hair and makeup done by the first team. (We had a different team the other days). The variety was fun and they were all very skilled. Lena Skvagerson is in the chair behind me getting polished. She's already beautiful.

Here I am in a different outfit and a microphone already wired with color expert, sheep farmer, teacher, knit designer, fun lady, Kristin Nicholas.

Robyn Chachula, Rohn Strong, and Lena Skvagerson hang out on set until it's time to roll.

Here Robyn Chachula gets her polish from Emmy award-winning makeup artist, Amanie Mokdad. Her hair is being styled by salon owner and product development expert, Voula Isakov. Can I say, "Dream team"?

Knit and Crochet Now Season 7 (more....)

  In the work room is a big monitor so we can see what's going on in the studio and watch along as segments are taped. Here, producer and legendary designer and author, Candi Jensen, gives some direction to Robyn Chachula and Rohn Strong. In the background, Lena Skvagerson lays out items for the next segment.

Here I am with Megan, getting my make up done for day 1 of taping.

 

I'm always cold, so I grab a project from the table and put it on! A comfy cotton blend. Perfect.

Pre-taping silliness ensues with a little group selfie.  In the back is Rohn, and in the front L-R is Robyn Chachula, me and Lena Skvagerson.