sneak peek

Ahhh, a new one! Here's a sneak peek, though it will be quite a while until it's revealed. I know you can't tell, but it's purple with pale green, one of my all time favorite combinations.

I hope you all had a good weekend, we did! It was gorgeous here near Cincinnati. The kids were outside playing all day yesterday and came in covered in dirt and sweat, just like kids are supposed to. DH was home and tinkering around in the yard. We had dinner with my Step-Dad and Step-Mom, Hi Glenda! (my family tree is a long, not-so boring story, that I may not save for another day). It was great to see you two!

The kids had their final swim lesson and both advanced to the next level. Chickee even skipped a level. Chief conquered a particularly difficult 100 piece puzzle without any help.

My weekend was productive crochet-wise too, which always makes everything else better. More sneak peeks to come!

Sneak peek, sorta

Hmmm, What do you think these are going to turn into (two different projects, that is)

This is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Chunky in Lakeview.

And this is TLC Cotton Plus

Just imagine the possibilities! It never ceases to amaze me, that we can take yarn, twist it, knot it, loop it and create something with one continuous strand (and sometimes more). Simplicity and Complexity in harmony!

I'm not Picasso or anything, but I'm totally identifying with his "Blue" period.

sneak peek

I made this, and tried it on, and left it on the rest of the day. Very comfy.

New knitting needles for me!

At the Gathering of the Guilds, I won this set of Silvalume/Bates knitting needles in a zippered case!

Yay me! It makes me want to knit!

Unfortunately, they'll just have to wait! Now, they are just sitting on my coffee table so that I can admire their organized completeness!

I've been tagged

My good crochet friend over at Jaybird Designs has tagged me!

Here are the rules:

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So, here ya go! Seven random things about me:

1. I have received over 100 rejections (crochet designs) in the past 4 years, I stopped counting about a year ago.

2. I'd rather have a milkshake than a scoop of ice cream alone.

3. I'm glad the novelty yarn trend is over.

4. I use both Bates and Boye hooks without a preference.

5. My first crochet design was a 3-D Rubik's cube when I was like, ten.

6. I have never crocheted broomstick lace.

7. I tried Hairpin lace briefly, but couldn't get into it, and I'll have to try again.

This is where I am supposed to "tag" somone, but I don't really have the time to look up and plug in the addresses, so consider yourself tagged!

Summertime Tote Revealed!

This shows you how long it takes from completed project to publication! See the Christmas tree? Back then, it was called the "Wintertime tote" (just kidding). I'm so creative, I had been calling it the 'hexagon tote'. I have one in light gray, dark gray and white that I use as a purse/backpack. Anyway, this is a fun tote for Crochet Today May/June 2008

Gathering of the Guilds

This weekend, the Dayton Ohio area crochet guild and the SouthWest Ohio Crochet Guild got together! Mary Jane Hall, author of "Positively Crochet" was our keynote speaker! Hi Mary Jane! It was so fun to meet everyone. In the morning, a project was led by SWOCG member, Cathy Robbins (thanks Cathy!) and Mary Jane Hall spoke about publishing opportunities for crochet. Karen Blumberg, contract crochet extraordinaire, was also instrumental in bringing the event together. Thanks to our sponsors, Spinrite and Lion Brand who helped make the event possible. It was so great to meet everyone! I was so sorry to have to skip out abruptly, but the family was waiting for me and I made my meeting time with them with mere minutes to spare!

Check out Mary Jane's book, Positively Crochet! She brought several items from the book with her and we got to see them in person. The great photography in the book still does not do these items justice! I even got to try on the cover design, and promptly fell in love! now I'm going to have to find time to make one for myself! Mary Jane has a new book coming out in September-ish. I'll keep you posted as more information is revealed.

In the photo of Mary Jane and me above, I'm wearing a design by Doris Chan, called the "Mesa Jacket". I've told you about this great design before, but here it is on. It was on the cover of Crochet! magazine sometime in the past 18 months or so, but it was in blues/purples on the cover.

Fiesta Throw Revealed!

Please, don't mind the mess! Here's the Fiesta Throw for Crochet Today! In the new issue, May/June 2008. http://www.crochettoday.com/

Edited because I got the pub date wrong! Now, it's correct! Thanks Vicky for helping me find the error.

Nashua yarn

A new favorite to add to the list!

Nashua Creative Focus Cotton Dk. 100% Egyptian cotton, great stuff, awesome colors. This is available at Royal yarns for $5.49 per 1.75 oz, 50 g, 118 yd ball. It's kinda like Lion's Microspun only cotton, softer, with less glare. It does split some, but not nearly as much as the Microspun.

yarn swift

I shopped 'Victoriously" and "won" this gorgeous Birch Umbrella swift on ebay. I think it is a "medium" and it is jus the right size. It turns soundlessly without any wobbling. It is a work of art in itself!

Chester

I guess if my cat, Charlie is my Mother-in-law's "grandcat", then my mother-in-law's cat, Chester, is my Brother -in -law?

I found him under the couch while hunting for Easter eggs!

Tunisian Lace Ascot-Process

First, here's the original swatch made out of Patons SWS in Geranium

And here are some photos that will be a good companion when you are trying to make the pattern that is in Interweave Crochet, Spring 2008

You'll have to pick up a copy of Interweave Crochet to get the specifics, it's a great issue.

yummy yarn

I've got some gorgeous new stash! These boxes are packed with Blue Sky Alpacas, Lorna's Laces, Louet North America, Plymouth, and Westminster Fibers! I can't wait to try them and do some yarn reviews for you! Just look at those awesome colors. I wish your computer had "feel-o-vision" because these are just a treat.

Cory or Avril?

Here's my new dressform, and as you may know, every dressform needs a name. I'm thinking of giving her a name that reflects an attitude, a kind of edgier, hipper, innovative, cutting-edge, text-messaging, Jeep-driving, black eye-liner wearing, I-pod toting, bad girl with a heart of gold. Like a cooler little sister. yep, that's what I'm going for. Any suggestions? I'm thinking Cory or Avril or maybe something with a little ethnic heritage... She looks shiny and plastic, but she's actually covered in a fabric so that you can pin things on to her.

JoAnn's had the dressforms on sale earlier in the month and they ran a coupon for free shipping. With such a big item, I couldn't resist combining the specials.

Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

This is one of my favorite yarns. In fact, I have never met a Debbie Bliss yarn that I didn't like. Yum! This one is Cashmere, Merino wool, and microfiber. It is worsted weight and I love it. This is a lovely purple color. I think I bought it at Yarnmarket.com or Yarncountry, both of which I have had good experiences with.

Crochet! May 2008

Here it is! The latest issue of Crochet! This issue is an obvious departure from the Crochet! magazine we have been accustomed to the past 2 years or so. There are more afghans, more simple designs, a lovely wedding dress by Darla Sims. Matter of fact there are a few designs by Darla Sims. Darla continues to have a long and distinguished career as a crochet designer.

There is also a fun Las Vegas choker (necklace) by my pal, Tammy Hildebrand (hi Tammy!). Tammy continues to be innovative with beads and has a "Easy Bead as you go" pattern booklet that is currently sold by Annie's Attic (among other pattern books she also has produced).

I'd really like to hear opinions about the direction of the magazine. What makes you decide whether or not to buy a magazine or book?

More stitch markers

yep, after last month's panic, I bought more stitch markers. These "Boye" makers come in a cute little case, and they lock! They are a little "rubbery".

Because the ends are rounded and the whole thing is a little rubbery, they were a little tough to poke under a stitch. They didn't "glide" against the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran I was using. Maybe they will slide better with acrylic? (like likes like?). If you wanted to intentionally split the yarn, these would not work. The locking part was a little awkward. Once I got it locked, I had to use my fingernail to get under it to get it unlocked. It was not a smooth first go and I admit that I didn't make it halfway through my project before switching back to my beloved Clover locking markers.

Sketching garments

I like to think of myself as "artistic" and I did manage to pass my drawing classes in college, but I don't feel very comfortable sketching garments for submission or design, until now. Probably a year ago, I got this "average woman" picture from Threads Magazine's website I don't know if it is still up on their site, and I don't know where on the site it is.

They also had toddler, adult man, and a few other diagrams. I printed it out and now I put it under tracing paper. I sketch on the tracing paper, on top of the diagram, and Viola' I have a sketch that is in general proportion to the person I am designing for! I add lots of notes around the sketch about yarns, stitches, areas of interest, and suddenly, I can see it.

Crochet as Art: Ruth Asawa

Check out this website of Ruth's crocheted wire sculpture...go into her gallery pages for more views.

and lest you forget my attempt at crochet sculpture....

Amy O'Neill Houck's new book!

The Color Book of Felted Crochet


I've only seen a few of the designs in this book, but I like them! I hope to write more about this book and other upcoming books, but today I'm learning some technical blogging stuff, so this is all you get for now!