BellaCrochet

And the Winner Is:

2013-05-18T09:13:00.002-05:00

Lauren LaFleur

Lauren, if you will send me an email at:

bellacrochet.info@yahoo.com
and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

My daughter Amanda and I had several long discussions trying to decide if these ears belonged to an elf or a fairy.
In the end, she became the Woodland Fairy.

I forgot to mention "fairy ears" when I was listing unusual things that I have crocheted yesterday. I am almost embarrassed to tell you how much time I spent trying to get the ears on this fairy just the way I wanted them, and then I covered most of them up with her hair. But, I like how they turned out.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Friday Contest and Bizarre Crochet

2013-05-17T09:05:00.001-05:00

Many years ago, when I was just starting out as a free-lance crochet designer, I got a letter from a publishing company. They were asking for submissions of quick and easy crochet designs, items folks could make to sell at craft shows or bazaars. My daughter Robyn watched me reading the letter, then asked me what it said. "They want me to come up with some bazaar designs," I told her.
"Hmmm. How about one of those things people make to cover up their toilet paper," she said. "They are pretty bizarre!"
I don't remember now exactly what I ended up submitting for that book, but as the years went by, I have designed my share of 'bizarre' items, including several toilet paper covers.
One reason I love doing my Lovely Ladies Doilies, is that they give me an excuse to create tiny little creatures and accessories, something I love to do, but wouldn't have much reason to design otherwise.

Snail from Woodland Fairy

Dragonfly and mushroom from Woodland Fairy

Bat from Stella Luna

Cat and pumpkin from Harvest Moon

Scottie dog from Lucy and Jack

Turkey from Angel of Thanksgiving

A cro-tat pattern set I did for Annie's Attic.
The little doll's skirt covers up a roll of toilet paper.

But, it is Friday, so how about a contest? I will give one person their choice of any PDF pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com.

I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won.

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:

What is the most unusual thing you have ever crocheted?

This contest is now closed.

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

And the Winner Is:

2013-05-11T07:41:00.002-05:00

Koni

Koni, if you will send me an email at:

bellacrochet.info@yahoo.com
and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

This is a cover my daughter Bethany made for her Kindle. She not only crocheted it, she designed it, too. Can you tell what a proud mama I am?

Thanks to everyone who entered, and thank you to those of you who shared your memories.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day, and a Friday Contest

2013-05-10T08:12:00.003-05:00

Even though we crocheters are a diverse lot with different personalities and preferences, when it comes to our crocheting I think there is one thing that we all agree on. We love crochet, and want to pass that love on to future generations. So many folks have told me that they learned to crochet from their mother, grandmother, aunt or other family member. So many put in the time and effort it takes to teach their children or grandchildren to crochet. It is a link that ties the generations together.

I learned to crochet from my mother, who did not have a lot of patience when it came to teaching (I like to think that she just had a high opinion of my ability to learn!) I wrote about this experience a few years ago:

http://bellacrochet.blogspot.com/2011/05/learning-to-crochet.html

I have 6 children and 15 grandchildren, and so far, the only ones that have learned to crochet anything more than a chain are my youngest daughter, Bethany, and my granddaughter, Ana.
But, I have hope that more of them will learn someday.

My daughter Bethany, learning to crochet by making granny squares.

But, it is Friday, so how about a contest? I will give one person their choice of any PDF pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com.

I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won.

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:

Did you learn to crochet from a family member, or have you taught any younger generations of your family to crochet?
This contest is now closed.

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

And the Winner Is:

2013-05-04T07:44:00.001-05:00

Jena

Jena, if you will send me an email at:

bellacrochet.info@yahoo.com
and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

When I was posting pictures of birds I have crocheted, I forgot to add a picture of my little turkey. He is part of the 'Angel of Thanksgiving' doily, and one of the more unusual things I have ever designed. Maybe next week, I will do a post on the strangest things I have ever crocheted!

Crocheting Birds and a Friday Contest

2013-05-03T08:12:00.004-05:00

My granddaughter Ana sent me a letter a few weeks ago. She is in the choir at her school, and they are selling subscriptions to magazines in order to raise money for a trip. While I was trying to make up my mind what to order, one title caught my eye; "Birds and Blooms." I seem to remember my mother used to subscribe to this magazine years ago, so I ordered it (along with another year of 'Southern Living') hoping it will give me some inspiration for a new set of doilies.
I have been really wanting to design more doilies featuring birds and flowers (with some butterflies thrown in for good measure.) I will call the set 'Birds, Blossoms, and Butterflies' or "Flora and Fauna' or something like that.
It kind of surprised me when I went back through my patterns and realized how many doilies featuring birds I have already made:

But, it is Friday, so how about a contest? I will give one person their choice of any PDF pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com.

I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won.

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:

Do you have a favorite bird? If so, what is it?

This contest is now closed.

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

And the Winner Is:

2013-04-27T07:47:00.000-05:00

Pam S

Pam, if you will send me an email at:

bellacrochet.info@yahoo.com
and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

I entered this afghan in a contest Annie's Attic held back in the 90's. It was for crocheted quilts and afghans (I am still not sure what a crocheted quilt is.) It did not win, but they bought the design anyway and published it several times.
If anyone knows of someone who ever entered the national contest I wrote about yesterday, I would love to hear from them. It doesn't matter if they won or not, I just think it would be interesting to hear about the experience!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

My Friday Contest (and some Crochet History)

2013-04-26T08:03:00.002-05:00

A window display in Perry's department store in Gilmer, Tx, circa 1956.
Photo credit: "Growing Up Gilmer" Facebook Page.

Back in the 30's, 40's and 50's, there was an annual National Crochet Contest (it was not held for 6 years during WWII, due to shortages of crochet cotton). It was sponsored by a group called the National Crochet Bureau, and thousands of crocheters entered each year. There were special divisions for teenage girls, women over 65, and a division for men. To qualify for entry in the contest, each item had to have already won a blue ribbon at a state or local fair. There were categories for tablecloths, bedspreads, luncheon sets, doilies and scarves, chair sets, household accessories, hats and bags, and edgings or insertions (I believe the categories changed somewhat over the years.)

The winners received cash prizes, and an all-expense paid trip to New York City, where they appeared on a radio program and were given a tour of the city.

I found several newspaper articles about the contest by doing a Google search for 'National Crochet Contest', and I found this article from the Talking Crochet Newsletter about the very first contest:

talkingcrochet

The picture above was taken in my home town of Gilmer, Texas in 1956, a year before I was born. It shows a display in the window of Perry's department store which features posters advertising the national contest. Don't you wish it was in color so we could get a better look at all of that thread? I miss Perry's, which closed down several years ago; I bought my first balls of crochet thread there back in the 70's!

But, it is Friday, so how about a contest? I will give one person their choice of any PDF pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com.

I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won.

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:

Have you ever won a crochet contest?

This contest is now closed.

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

And the Winner Is:

2013-04-13T08:23:00.002-05:00

Vee

Vee, if you will send me an email at:

bellacrochet.info@yahoo.com
and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

Annie's Tea Room in Big Sandy, Texas.
Picture Credit:

Upshur County, TXGenWeb

Someone wrote and asked me if the tea room in Big Sandy I that I mentioned yesterday was the one run by Annie Potter, who founded Annie's Attic. It was indeed; I worked in the editorial department of Annie's Attic for several years, and then as the in-house designer. The Tea Room was right across the street from the office I worked in, and it was always a treat to have lunch there. It closed several years ago, and I am not sure if it has reopened or not. But it was a lovely place to have a glass of tea!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Tea Time and a Contest

2013-04-12T08:03:00.000-05:00

I love tea pots, even though I seldom use one. Living in the south, I prefer my tea iced, and make it by the gallon in a pitcher, although I don't drink sweet tea anymore. In my neck of the woods, making sweet tea meant adding 1-2 cups of sugar to a gallon of tea; I don't even want to know how many calories that would be per glass! So, even though I loved it and drank it daily when I was growing up, I now stick to unsweetened tea (I don't like the taste of artificial sweeteners.)
When I worked in Big Sandy, Texas it was a special treat to go to Annie's Tea Room for lunch; I loved their special flavored teas. They had hot tea available, but we always ordered iced. When it is 95 degrees in the shade, a cup of anything hot just doesn't appeal to me.
But, my point was (can you believe I had one, lol!) that even though I don't use them very often, I do love tea pots, and have several designs featuring them.

One of Grandmama's Favorite Potholders

Tea Party Doily

Time for Tea Set

And it is Friday, so how about a contest? I will give one person their choice of any pdf pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com.
I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won.
Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:
Do you drink tea, and if so do you prefer it hot or iced? Sweet or unsweet?

This contest is now closed.

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

And the Winner Is:

2013-04-06T07:52:00.003-05:00

Kaylene

Kaylene, if you will send me an email at:

bellacrochet.info@yahoo.com
and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Pink Roses and a Friday Contest

2013-04-05T08:23:00.003-05:00

When I was in second grade, everyone in my class made cardboard Easter Bunnies to hang in the hallway of our school. My teacher had brought several books of wall paper samples for us to use, and we were allowed to pick the samples we liked best to make clothing for our bunnies. Mine had a blue dress, a yellow bonnet and lots of pink flowers all over it. When my mother came to the school for our Easter party, I proudly showed her the bunnies lining the hallway and asked her to guess which one was mine. She immediately pointed at mine and said "This one is yours." I was amazed and thought she must have some kind of special psychic powers that allowed her to pick my bunny out of the dozens on the wall. Years later, when I asked her how she knew which one was mine, she said "It was easy; I just picked the one with all of the pink flowers on it."

Because, it seems, I have always had a thing for pink flowers; especially roses.

I would really love to put them on everything I design, but honestly, I do try to use some restraint.

But still, I add them whenever I can.

I guess if I had to pick just one thing that defines my style, I would say that it would be pink roses. I just love everything about them.

But, it is Friday, so how about a contest? I will give one person their choice of any pdf pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com.

I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won.

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)
To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:
Do you have a favorite style element that you like to use when it comes to crochet? (Irish Roses, pineapples, textured stitches like popcorns or clusters, etc?)

This contest is now closed.

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

Sheryl Hendricks Is "Crazy About Crochet"

2013-04-03T07:22:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that I had sold several copies of my Blue Birds Of Happiness doily pattern in one morning. I checked back a little later, and saw that several more copies had been purchased. I was happy to make the sales, but I wondered what was going on. The pattern has been out for a couple of years, and its sales have been kind of flat for a while now.
The sales continued to pick up for the next several days, and I also noticed that I had gained several hundred new ‘Likes’ on my Facebook page. I figured that an online crochet group must have picked the pattern for a crochet-along, but I was wrong.

It turns out that I have Sheryl Hendricks to thank for it all. A few days earlier, she had posted a picture of a beautiful doily that she had made from my Blue Birds of Happiness pattern on the ‘Crochet Crowd’ Facebook page, and had kindly directed those who asked about the pattern to my website. Many people found my site for the first time through Sheryl, and I am truly grateful to her!

Sheryl's Blue Bird of Happiness Doily

I have always believed that word of mouth is the best advertisement, and this is a perfect example.

One of the people who admired the pictures of the Blue Bird doily that Sheryl had made challenged her to make a doily with cardinals, and she quickly worked one up; it is truly amazing!

Sheryl's Cardinal Doily

I asked Sheryl to tell me a bit about herself and her crochet work, and here is what she had to say:

“I learned to crochet when I was about 12 years old. My Mom taught me. I really enjoy being creative with my work.

What beautiful detail!

I'm 53, and a retired Registered Nurse. I have 5 children and 3 grandchildren. I had to retire when I ended up with COPD, a lung condition that requires me to use oxygen. About 2 years ago I started making doll clothes and just went crazy. In fact my Crochet page on FB is "Crazy about Crochet."

Crazy About Crochet

I also have a shop on Etsy called "Mimi's Dolly Things".

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MimisDollyThings?ref=pr_shop_more

Most of the doll clothes were designed by me and all of them are ‘one of a kind.’ I rarely follow a pattern through and through.

In the past 2 years I have made so many gifts and doll clothes that I can't even remember all of them. I do keep a pretty good picture record, though, so I can look back.

I get kind of frustrated some times when I know somebody really wants to make something that I designed but I have no pattern to share. I tried writing a pattern once...actually did write it...but it took away all the fun for me and by the time I was done I was a frustrated mess."

I think Sheryl's eye for color and talent for designing is evident in the beautiful items she crochets. Thank you again, Sheryl, for all of your help!

All photos in this post belong to Sheryl Hendricks, and are used with permission.

Happy Easter!

2013-03-29T08:18:00.001-05:00

I will be out of town this weekend, spending Easter with my family, so I will not be having a contest this week.
I hope you all will have a glorious and happy Easter!
Love,
Ann

And the Winner Is:

2013-03-23T08:44:00.004-05:00

Betty

Betty, if you will send me an email at:

bellacrochet.info@yahoo.com
and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

A Contest and Crocheting for Babies

2013-03-22T08:16:00.001-05:00

I love making doilies and potholders, but I have to admit, there is just something really special to me about crocheting for a baby. I cannot even count all of the blankets, caps, jackets and booties I have made through the years, and I loved making them all.

I know I am not alone; many people have told me they learned to crochet by making a gift for a special baby, and sometimes that was the only time they ever crocheted. If you look at the crochet pattern sellers on Etsy, some of the ones who have the most sales specialize in booties, caps and the cute little cocoons that are so popular right now.
But I am a threadie, and I guess I am old fashioned; and I really love the dainty look of baby items made from thread.

Ribbon and Lace Baby Booties

I recently designed a set of baby booties that also incorporate ribbon weaving. They were a lot of fun to make, not so much fun to write the pattern for!

There are three different styles of booties included in the pattern.

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)
To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:
What is your favorite thing to crochet? (Doilies, afghans, baby items, etc.)

This contest is now closed.

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

And the Winner Is:

2013-03-16T08:14:00.001-05:00

Eileen Chrisjohn

Eileen, if you will send me an email at:

bellacrochet.info@yahoo.com
and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

I think the most unhappy I ever was with a completed project was a baby blanket I made years ago, not long after I learned to crochet. I worked on it for several months before my son Josh was born in 1978. I made it from a 'bargain' acrylic yarn, all I could afford at the time. The yarn didn't seem too bad when I was working with it, and I was proud of how the blanket turned out. But after I washed it, it became so itchy and scratchy feeling that I didn't even want it to touch my baby. I tried using fabric softener, but nothing helped. I wish I had used a better quality yarn to make it; I felt like all of the time I put into making it had gone to waste.

Friday Contest (and knowing when to stop!)

2013-03-15T07:54:00.000-05:00

Back in the Fall, I started working on a set of mini-doilies. They were quick and fun to make, and I was designing a couple every week or so. They were almost ready for testing, I just had to do some finishing touches on them, and do the photography. I put them aside until after the Holidays, but after the first of the year I got busy with a new cape design. When I finally got back to my mini doilies, I decided I didn't like the colors I had been using, and remade most of them in a new color scheme. While I was working on the last one, I had an idea for another doily, which didn't really fit in with the rest of them, but was just too cute not to try.

And while I was working on that one, I thought of another one I just had to make.

And then, when I was shopping for a birthday gift for my daughter Robyn, I saw something that gave me an idea for a really awesome little doily, something I had never tried before. I came home and started working on it right away. It took me over a week, but I finally got it right, and I think it will be the 'star' of the set. But, it doesn't quite fit in with all of the rest of the doilies. So I will have to re-do some of them.

I am beginning to wonder if this set will ever get finished!

But I went through the same thing when I designed my "Ripples, Ruffles and Roses" doilies a few years ago.

I guess that is just my designing process.

Ripples, Ruffles, and Roses Doilies

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)
To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:
Have you ever finished a project, and then wished you had done something about it differently?

This contest is now closed.

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

And the Winner Is:

2013-03-09T07:05:00.001-06:00

Denise

Denise, if you will send me an email at:

bellacrochet.info@yahoo.com
and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

I would like to thank all of you who have written me, asking if I was okay during the time I have been away. It means a lot to me to know that you care about my well being, and I appreciate it greatly. I will try to not go so long between posts in the future!

Well, hello again! How about a contest?

2013-03-08T07:18:00.003-06:00

Easter Bonnet Sachet

Hi Friends! I haven't posted in a while, but I thought this would be a great day to have a contest, since Spring and Easter are just around the corner.

Enchanting Easter Basket

I have been working on several projects this year; a new cape with cuffs design, a set of vintage-look mini doilies, and I have also been re-writing and testing a couple of my older pattern sets for re-release.

Springtime Tea Cup Bouquet

I hope you have been having a good year so far!
So, on to the contest! This week, I will give one person their choice of any pdf pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com.
I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won.

This contest is now closed.

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

And The Winner Is:

2012-12-22T07:31:00.003-06:00

Iris

Iris, if you will send me an email at:

bellacrochet.info@yahoo.com
and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.
I love all carols, too, but if I had to pick one, it would be 'Oh Holy Night.'
Thank you to everyone who entered, and I wish you all a very blessed and Merry Christmas!
Love,
Ann

Friday Contest

2012-12-21T08:33:00.000-06:00

Are you ready for Christmas yet? I am baking cookies and making candy today, but I have all my shopping done, thank goodness!
But, it is Friday, so let's have a contest!

I will give one person their choice of any pdf pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com.
I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won.

This contest is now closed.

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

And the Winner Is:

2012-12-15T07:03:00.000-06:00

Evelyn Smith

Evelyn, if you will send me an email at:

bellacrochet.info@yahoo.com
and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

My heart goes out to everyone affected by the horrific shootings in Newtown, CT yesterday. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Friday Contest

2012-12-14T07:30:00.003-06:00

Happy Friday, everyone! Are you ready for Christmas? I still have lots to do, but let's take time to have a contest!
I will give one person their choice of any pdf pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com. I will select the winner at random, and send out the pattern in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won.

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:
Are you crocheting any gifts this year, and if so, have you finished them?

This contest is now closed.

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

And the Winner Is:

2012-12-08T07:10:00.002-06:00

Tonni

Tonni, if you will send me an email at:

bellacrochet.info@yahoo.com
and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

I love Christmas movies, and it would be hard for me to pick a favorite (just like some of you!)
But, if I had to, I guess I would pick 'It's a Wonderful Life' or maybe 'Charlie Brown's Christmas.' But then again, I really love Cary Grant in 'The Bishop's Wife.' And 'Christmas Vacation' and 'Christmas Story' always crack me up. And it just wouldn't seem like Christmas without watching the Grinch! Oh, well, lucky for me I don't have to pick just one, I can watch them all!
Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season so far!