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Inspiration: Zoe Vest

2012-02-15T09:50:00.001-05:00

Originally published in Interweave Crochet, the Zoe Vest is available as a digital PDF download. The nice people at Interweave wrote: Sometimes you need just a layer to keep you warm—something jazzier than a sweatshirt but not so fancy as a cardigan. This bright shell-stitch vest is as warm as a fleece but adds pizzazz to your outfit. The cropped styling emphasizes a smaller waist and gives

Design Binge

2012-02-13T08:37:00.000-05:00

Never fear, in this case, no news is good news. I've been quiet on the blog because I have been in a serious design binge. These are the result of FRIDAY's efforts. Just Friday. I'm so excited.

Photo Friday

2012-02-10T07:26:00.000-05:00

Here's my pal, Carol, who completed her Striped Shoulder Bag. It was published in Knit n' Style in June 2010, but now is a FREE pattern offered by Coats & Clark. Carol was able to find the handles easily at our local JoAnn's store. Great job, Carol!

Inspiration: Go To Scarf

2012-02-08T08:37:00.000-05:00

What was I thinking? I originally designed the Go To scarf to try out a ball of Stitch Nation Yarn, Bamboo Ewe, when it first came out. I wanted something easy and repetitive, that could be lengthened or widened. I love yarn that shows great stitch definition. For me, it's all about the stitches. I wanted a project that would highlight the shell stitch pattern. What I ended up with was a "

Photo Friday

2012-02-03T07:39:00.000-05:00

It's a long story, but here is the Carousel Capelet I made for Chickee. She didn't want the flower on it. It's in Stitch Nation Yarn, Alpaca Love. I'm not sure who designed it, the project page says Heather Dixon, but it also says Debbie Stoller, so maybe it was a joint effort. The is an adult "small" and you can see it fits Chickee well. In this same booklet (that is available as an e-book)

You have to see this!

2012-02-02T12:26:00.000-05:00

Oh my gosh, I have been waiting MONTHS to reveal this project with you. I can't even wait until a new post tomorrow, so you get another post today. Interweave Crochet has put out a new e-book called, "A Snowflake Story" 4 crochet accessory projects, featuring me, Doris Chan, Linda Permann and Natasha Robarge. Here is my contribution: The Wintergreen Cowl is in the Bruges Style. Shown here

Motivation anyone?

2012-02-02T07:34:00.000-05:00

I've been very productive the last few days, but in case you are needing some motivation and humor, here is a fun post on the Positivity Blog "Mark Twain's Guide to Living an Awesome Life" "I can live for two months on a good compliment" Mark Twain. So funny, so true. Enjoy!

Inspiration: Amazing Grace Wrap

2012-02-01T08:44:00.000-05:00

Originally in the Interweave Crochet Spring 2009 issue, the Amazing Grace Wrap is made of SWTC's A-maizing Corn fiber yarn. Though the yarn might be discontinued (I couldn't find it on their website), a good substitution might be SWTC Bamboo. Make a swatch in your stash yarn and then make a decision. If I were going into my stash to give it a go and I didn't have the SWTC Bamboo, I might try

Photo Friday

2012-01-27T06:02:00.000-05:00

I think this deserves TWO photos. Here is my Mother and Father-in-law's cat, Hope, who has a broken leg. While they were on vacation, I took Hope to her two follow up check-ups. She is expected to make a full recovery. No one really knows how she broke it. How do you get a cat with a broken leg into a cat carrier? Very carefully.

Fiction

2012-01-26T08:47:00.000-05:00

Scarlet Nights by Jude Devereaux I listened to this one on audiobook. I learned later that it is part of a series of books. I'm not sure where it was in the sequence. Which, I guess is a good thing that I wasn't able to notice that I had missed on previous installments. A big city detective has to go back to his home town to uncover a fraud/murder plot. Reluctant to go back and face his past,

Inspiration: Beach Sarong

2012-01-25T10:52:00.000-05:00

Today's "What was I thinking" is the Beach Sarong! It was in the Summer 2009 issue of Interweave Crochet. Here's the link to the Ravelry page for the project. Originally when the call came out for designs for the summer issue, I was thinking about weddings and items you might wear on your honeymoon, or items to wear on the beach. (Remind me to tell you about the Amazing Grace Wrap). I was

Scrap projects!

2012-01-24T08:38:00.000-05:00

So many of you have stated that your Crochet New Year's resolutions include using up your STASH! I wanted to remind you of this fantastic designer collaboration that will not only be a great use of stash, but all sales benefit a designer friend who has breast cancer. The blocks in Pam's Comfort Cables can be mixed and matched to make a blanket or used along for dishcloths or smaller projects.

Sneak Peek

2012-01-23T08:20:00.000-05:00

I'm sharing a sneak peek with you. Just one of the fasten offs I am hoping to have this week.

Photo Friday

2012-01-20T07:39:00.000-05:00

"Citrus" has now been nicknamed "Piglet". I am so anxious to reveal some crochet to you! I can think of 4 items that will be in spring magazines, so keep your eyes open for the previews.

Inspiration: Blossom Trio

2012-01-18T09:10:00.000-05:00

Last week I talked about the Blossom Blanket, this week, I talk about the Blossom Trio! The three pattern set debuted in Interweave Crochet in Spring 2010 and is now available on their website. Look at the model's t-shirt! It matches so well! The stylist did a great job finding it! What was I thinking? I was thinking of how could I put flowers on the headbands but try to make them blend

BIG goals

2012-01-16T13:26:00.000-05:00

I'm trying really hard not to bust out singing, "I like BIG goals and I cannot lie". With the beginning of the New Year, it's a great time to make goals, but how big should they be? The bigger the better. But the bigger ones might be more long-term goals. In the meantime, break the big dreams into smaller goals that can be worked on yearly and monthly, even daily. Over the holidays, we

Business

2012-01-12T08:49:00.000-05:00

I made my deadline! Yay for getting to move on to a new project. I'm tallying up receipts from 2011. As a small business owner, it appears that the biggest recipient of my hard earned income was the USPS. I'm keeping the USPS in business. Also on my agenda today is wading through emails. If you are awaiting a reply from me, it will likely come today or tomorrow depending on how much research I

Petite Purls!

2012-01-11T11:04:00.002-05:00

Check out the Winter 2012 issue of Petite Purls. The online magazine interviewed me for their Renaissance Mom's series! Thanks!

Deadline Land

2012-01-10T10:51:00.002-05:00

I'm deep in deadline land, I'll let you know when I resurface. Keep those hooks flying!

Photo Friday

2012-01-06T08:43:00.000-05:00

Testing, testing, is my mic on? (Feel free to comment with your suggestion for a caption).

Inspiration: Blossom Blanket

2012-01-05T09:07:00.000-05:00

It feels like YEARS since this one was published in Crochet Today, but it was only May/June 2011. This fun hexagon blanket was made of Red Heart Sport Solids. Was one of your New Year's Resolutions to crochet down your yarn stash? I think this would be a GREAT stash buster. You can also change the colors of the blue hexagon "backgrounds" to use up more small amounts of yarn. If you change

2012-01-03T07:57:00.000-05:00

It's back to work for me today. But I have boring tasks on the to-do list, nothing worth sharing by photo. I'm actually planning on tech editing a pattern this morning. It will be great to have it off my to-do list. Chickee purchased this little critter over the weekend. This is Citrus. (Who I can hear running laps in her cage behind me). Too cute. She's a few-months old guinea pig and

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T10:27:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! For all of you aspiring designers... it's time! Time to wrap up your receipts from 2011, close out and print and save your balance sheet from 2011. Time to reflect back on the goals from 2011. Don't forget to give yourself kudos for things you accomplished that didn't even make it to the list. Time to make goals for 2012. Here's a birdhouse decoration that Tom and the kids

Photo Friday

2011-12-30T06:53:00.000-05:00

Oh Dear. Meet Ruby and Bumbles, Chief's new pet gerbils.

Knitting

2011-12-29T14:28:00.000-05:00

I just finished Susan B. Anderson's Twister pattern. It's available for free from the Spud & Chloe website. It's 2 skeins of Spud & Chloe Sweater. Since I didn't have 2 of the same color, I took two of what I did have, pink and yellow! I thought it might be fun and look like a variegated rose :)

GoCrochet

Inspiration: Zoe Vest

Design Binge

Photo Friday

Inspiration: Go To Scarf

Photo Friday

You have to see this!

Motivation anyone?

Inspiration: Amazing Grace Wrap

Photo Friday

Fiction

Inspiration: Beach Sarong

Scrap projects!

Sneak Peek

Photo Friday

Inspiration: Blossom Trio

BIG goals

Business

Petite Purls!

Deadline Land

Photo Friday

Inspiration: Blossom Blanket

More

Happy New Year!

Photo Friday

Knitting