Part of piece 1 for the tree

As you know, fittings are important, be the fitting for a garment to ensure lines, drape and shape work as intended or for a crochet art project to ensure the thing will fit.  Over the weekend I went up to Matzke Fine Art Gallery & Sculpture park to see if the pieces I am working on will actually fit as per the sketchy dimensions I created for the project.

Boy am I glad I went to do this, I conned my son (who prefers to just be known as Fearless Son) with me to hold the pieces in place so I could document the process AND have a record of how much I may need to add to the pieces for the right fit.  I knew I was close to fitting, but didn’t want to make the pieces too large, that would make sewing on to the tree a little difficult.

Checking the fit and stretch on Tree 1

Reference for how much more to add to the piece

Piece one needs a bit more crochet to fit on it’s assigned tree. Piece two was assigned to a different tree after the fitting. Another good reason to take the crochet art pieces up to the gallery  and get a look at them in situ.

In the very left hand side of the frame is the base of the other tree – this picture is just to remind me how much I will need to work on either side of the hoop.

Oh yes, and I plotted the position of the hula hoop.  I needed to know where I was going to put the devilish beast (I’ll blog more about why that’s it’s name later)…  It will go in between tree 2 and tree 3 – as you can see I’m going to have to rig some fancy attachments to make this happen – never fear I can crochet AND weave

So, after son grumbled a bit about requiring payment for spending the sunny afternoon at a “stupid art gallery” and “I don’t know why you make me do everything”,  I walked up to the gallery to see if what Karla Matzke thought of the pieces so far.

Karla really loves the flowers, and is intrigued by the hula hoop, and also wants this done by the end of June, which is a good thing to know. In all of the excitement of being asked to do this, I forgot to get a deadline and I wasn’t sure if she knew how long it can take to make things crocheting.  There is a fabulous art tour every Mother’s Day weekend and she was hoping I could have something up by then… um… okay, how about flowers on the trees? The hula hoop? Not a chance – but we’ll discuss the devilish beast next time.

So if you’re in the area for the Camano Island Mother’s Day Studio Tour, make sure you stop by Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park and look for blooming trees.

The post Crochet Art Project Update appeared first on .

CLF members YOU ROCKED this class!

Crocheters aren’t just generous, kind and creative, they are smart, savvy and ready to grow!

In our two hour class about how to prepare your  crochet business for successful sales, we worked on accepting our fears and doubts and then using them to not only overcome our blocks to success; we plotted how to use those very doubts, fears and problems to create products, services and other forms of revenue!

In this 2 hour recording  You discover how to get out of doubt and fear and move forward plotting your course – You learn how to look at your cash flow without fear, turn those negative thoughts into product ideas and how to manage your time so that you’re not working harder, you’re working smarter. PLUS bonus information about how to earn “passive revenue” in a way that helps you while helping others do better in their lives too! It’s all about working together!  One of the biggest favors you can do is invest in yourself so you can successfully sell crochet products, supplies, services and designs.

This is a great 2 hour course! Cost – $25 without workbook Take the Class

Workbook sold separately $4.99 Buy the Workbook

Members remember to check your email for your special price

The post Do you really know how to sell crochet? appeared first on .

A funny thing happened on the way to the art project…

So there I was, crocheting on a concept and poof – inspiration failed. For two weeks I tried to work on the project, but nothing I crocheted seemed to do the trick. Then something strange happened…

The Chipmonk’s Christmas Song came into my head, you know the one, where Theodore just wants a hula hoop?  I think it’s Theodore anyway, maybe it was Alvin, but I digress, so I have this stupid mind worm going through my head and then it strikes me… I want a hula hoop too, for the art project.

Then the creativity began to flow! Tree 1 will be celtic knots and color  in between Tree 1 and Tree 2 a covered hula hoop

Tree 2 will be festooned with flowers

with a wind chime  Tree 2 will be festooned with flowers and Tree 3? Well, we’ll have to see where that goes, probably pinwheels and shiny things, because that delights me!

I’m using Edie Eckman’s new book Connect the Shapes for inspiration. As usual I’m not following any patterns directly, but as ALWAYS so inspired by the great shapes, stitch work and easy to follow instructions that get me started.

    Crocheting flowers in May just feels so right and I know that Edie’s new book will help me get everyone connected well and proper! One of the things I’m doing that’s kind of fun (besides burn through my stash) is repurposing objects like disposable coffee

cup lids to give the pieces more height and 3-D fun, as well as a donated hula hoop by my growing up too darned fast niece, Ms. Gwen. She still plays with her 18″ collectible dolls though, I’ve been informed so I think quid pro quo is a new outfit, don’t you?

Stay tuned for more updates on the Crochet Art project as I hook my way through inspired by mind worms and my garden

By the way, you really should get Edie’s book, it’s delightful! I’m just recommending it because I love it, no one sent me a copy this time, I bought the book at my local book seller, because duh it’s Edie Eckman. (hint, hint Edie, I’d LOVE to do an official review of  your next crochet offering!) It’s available here on Amazon

The post Crochet Art Project Update appeared first on .

Congratulations to our lucky winner! Margaret Aslanis Nystrom - recieves one copy of Crochet Projects to Go, a special issue of Crochet! Magazine.

Congrats to our winner!

The post Crochet Projects To Go Contest- We have a winner! appeared first on .

It’s funny how there are certain words and concepts that are guarenteed to cause a ruckus.  Talking about business to creative people is one of those words – so often we associate it with corporate greed that we forget that little local endeavors, including Etsy stores and E-commerce sites are often micro – businesses.

  Then there is the whole you can do business OR have fun… But, what if it was both? What if you could have fun, do business and do better? That’s a question I asked myself a few years ago. I was sooooo attached to the idea of not wanting to participate in the evil economy which did so many people harm, that I had disenfranchised myself. AND then there was the whole pride thing, you know the whole “What about my street cred?” and “But I’ll end up looking like the man…” issues… Any of these sound familiar?

Of course then there’s the scared fuzzless part too – business, now that’s serious. That’s not fun, that’s REAL – if I’m just doodling with yarn or blathering in blog posts that’s just having fun – but business? Man, that’s crazy – I left the stress, I left the dog eat dog – why would I EVER think of going back?

And then a little angel appeared in my life, her name is Judith Manriquez and she set me straight. You see Judith is one of the most compassionate women I know, and she got me to look past my biases and see the blocks I’d set up for really doing some awesome things in this world… Plus she taught me that I can do business AND have fun, it is not an either/or proposition.

That’s why I started the membership service, I want to give you those same opportunities to change how you see what you do, and the lies we tell ourselves -

You know the ones like

  I’ll never make enough to do more than buy more yarn.

Artists never make a living

I’m not qualified to do this

Here’s the secret to success: You can be the best at what you do and never go anywhere you want to go –  To “Get SOMEWHERE” you need to have an idea of the destination.  You don’t have to plot the entire journey because as we all know too well the journey is awesome, but having a destination in mind means the difference between the eternal stop in the Fire Swamp (with the Rodents of Unusual Size) or making that a mere pit stop as we wander through verdant hills and amber waves of grain…

Join me for our classes and masterminds and you can start plotting your global domination efforts and maybe just maybe buy more ice cream.  Our next class is all about sales and making it fun, you don’t want to miss this – You’re going to have fun – Come on! It’s me teaching!!  Discover more here and CLF Members you have a special deal, the class is only $20! 

Fearless Leader at Tory Johnson’s Spark and Hustle.

Ready…Set…Sell happens May 7, so register soon to secure your place!

The post What if fun IS your business? appeared first on .

If you’ve been thinking about joining as a Basic Member you’d better do it pretty quick like – On May 10, 2013 I am ending enrollment in the Basic Member Service level.

To make it clear, the member level WILL be supported, I am just prepping for some new awesome member programs in the next month and I want to make room for these!

So, if you’ve been thinking about signing up it’s only $19.00 for the year, you get special member info, discounts and inside info through member only email broadcasts. Once you’re at this level you can stay there, or you can upgrade by emailing me for instructions at info@crochetliberationfront.com.

You can find out more and register by clicking the link http://www.crochetliberationfront.com/welcome-to-clf-3-0-2/

The post Basic Member Service Enrollment Ends appeared first on .

Join me for a fabulous crochet retreat at World Wide Yarns in Soap Lake, WA!

Come explore new skills and have a blast!

I’m super excited to announce that I’m going to World Wide Yarns’ Crochet Retreat in June! Debra & I had so much fun together in Reno that she invited me to come play with Karen Ratto Whooley and the great folks coming to the retreat… I thought about it for all of two seconds before saying “DUH! Of course I’ll come!”

Meeting crochet peeps is one of my favorite things EVER! This is Josie (right) and I (left) in Reno at the Fall Knit and Crochet Show! We had a blast!

Saturday evening after a hookalicious time learning from Karen, who is an AMAZING teacher, we are going to chat about unleashing our crochet-ivity and have a little bit (okay A LOT) of fun playing my crochet card game Hook Up™.

There are only a few spots left at this event, you need to call quick like if you want to get your spot. Call 509 -246- 6572 to secure your place at the crochet retreat!

Speaking of crochet awesome, did you enter to in the Crochet Projects to Go, yet?  All you have to do is send me an email to info@crochetliberationfront.com with the subject line – I want Crochet Projects to Go.   I pick our winner Wednesday May 1! Announcing the winner May 2! There’s still time!

The post Special Announcement! Crochet Retreat appeared first on .

Want to win a copy of Crochet Projects to Go? Yes, of course you do!

Well I want to know how badly you want to win this! So, please email me at info@crochetliberationfront.com and enter in the subject line : I want Crochet Projects to Go!

On May 1 I will randomly pick the lucky winner!

Enter to win a copy!

The post Contest! Win Crochet Projects to Go appeared first on .

The GREAT folks at Crochet! Magazine sent me a copy  of Crochet Gifts to Go to review (actually more than one, can you say CONTEST TIME!)  - WOW!

There are 40 projects big and small for you to put in your project bag to take with you EVERYWHERE. First of all we all know crocheting in public is no big deal, right? I mean you can sit there bored or you can crochet, right?  This special magazine issue is amazing -

I love that there are super cute and quick jewelry projects from the cutest button earrings to a super fun anklet as well as having to die for shawls and super fun home accessories.

As I flipped the pages, I made mental notes of some really super quick and easy projects I can whip up for the holidays (yes, I’m thinking that far ahead, we’re going to have a chat about that soon) as well as things I want to make for me!

You want this special issue, it totally rocks the hooks!  Oh you DO want it? How bad? Oh a contest bad? Ok – tell me how bad you want it and we’ll do a random drawing for one lucky winner. Leave comments about how BAD you want this special issue, I can guarantee it will be a well loved friend for years to come!

I’ll pick the CLF Blog winner on May 1, 2013 – so tell me how bad you want this baby!

The post Review: Crochet Gifts to Go appeared first on .

Fearless Leader at Tory Johnson’s Spark and Hustle.

I just spent two incredible days at Tory Johnson’s Spark and Hustle, a networking event for women (and men) who want to do more and do better. Listening to great speakers talk about their business journeys, and some of them were rough! It wasn’t just an inspiring rah rah session, we learned valuable tips and secrets to what helped these female enterpreneurs make it, even when they were told they were even nuts to try!

Like Sharelle Klaus, Founder and CEO of DRY Soda. I really love her product, cause hey drinking lavender soda is totally awesome, but once I heard her speak about how she so firmly believed in a corporate culture of generosity and giving back within as much as without, she had me. As you know, I am all about win-wins, and so was the over all message of every single success story.

Every  person there genuinely cared about their employees, they strove to find win-win partnerships and collaborations with other companies, and believed strongly that their success could help make the world a better place. In essence they were singing my song.

Here’s the deal, not all of them started with big capital, not all of them had investors, and almost none of them started with a lick of business experience. Every single one of them quickly learned the same lesson: If you don’t have sales goals, if you don’t earn revenue then you absolutely CANNOT help people and that includes your family, and ultimately yourself.

So, let’s chat about this… This wasn’t news to me. I was a sales trainer and manager for multinational corporations, I was fabulous at it even, I just had to readjust my life because of divorce, and running half way around the world to keep my kids safe and blah blah blah… What is important, is that I forget other people don’t know this stuff! So…

I wondered how can I help you learn more about how to set realistic sales goals and develop products that help you do better in your crochet business?

Here’s what I’m going to do to help you do better!  I’m going to teach a class on how to create a sales goal and determine how to generate the cash you need to do better.  Remember, it’s about working SMARTER not HARDER if you want to do better in your life. So,  Tuesday May 7 at 11am Pacific we’re going to do a class on how to create sales goals and how to meet them! You’re going to LOVE this…

Class Info – Ready… Set… Sell!

Tues. May 7, 11 am to 1 pm Pacific

Live Workshop:  Non – Member Price $40.00  

Limited Spaces so sign up today!  http://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=E955DC80814730

CLF members get a special discount, please check how to register in the Member Only Post  Click Here for your discount code

CLF Members  your class is only $20.00 for the live event!

The post Do you hustle? New Workshop!! appeared first on .