Coming Full Circle

It has always fascinated me how life comes full circle, no matter what the topic, the location, the event.  It always completes itself.

Take last summer when I attended the National Crochet Conference.  My family and I drove to New Hampshire.  While they were experiencing the local life, I was attending Professional Day, and later attending various classes.  So, if I were to start drawing my circle, it would start at my home, where I would then draw a straight line up to Manchester.  Then I'd grab my protractor and start drawing that circle-of-life counter-clockwise slowly (because we have to allow for "time" to catch up to my thoughts of life being a full circle).

So, there I was, at the Conference, more specifically there I was attending one of the "break out" sessions of Professional Day.  (The "break out" sessions are where you can go and sit with various people "in the know" about specific information you would like more information on.)  At that moment, I wanted to learn a bit more from Lily Chin.  So did a few other people.  We got to chatting prior to the start of the session and I snapped this picture of two new authors (see image on left):

It had always been my intention to go back and see if I missed reporting anything from the Conference, but you know how things get ... life throws you speed bumps and detours, and soon you're on to new projects and topics.

By now, time is starting to catch up with my protractor as it starts curving near Pawling, NY.  It seems that one of the lovely ladies in the picture here is practically one of Margaret Hubert's neighbors, something that they too have recently discovered.  Margaret sent me an email a few weeks back asking if she can bring a guest to our monthly CGOA Chapter meeting.  Oh, we LOVE guests!!

And so she did, just as my protractor's curve neared Danbury, Connecticut.  Margaret brought with her Phyllis Sanford, who turns out to be one of the very authors from the book, "Crochet Kid Stuff" I had snapped a picture of last summer!  In the aforementioned picture, Phyllis is sitting on the right, Sharon Mann, the other co-author, is sitting on the left. 

In talking with Margaret and Phyllis I made the connection that I had met Phillis (and Sharon) before -- at the Conference!  It took me a few minutes in thinking about when & where, but finally it all clicked together.  I was so excited!  ((In the picture here on the right, Phyllis is autographing one of her books for a fellow HHCC member.))

Come this summer we'll all be headed back to Manchester -- and the circle will be completed.  Life, full circles, indeed!  :)

For more details about our February monthly CGOA Chapter meeting, you can read entries at Priscilla's, Margaret's, and Nancy's blogs.  The really cool news here, is that Phyllis is now one of our Chapter Members.  How cool is that!?!

For more details about the Crochet Guild of America's National Conference, visit www.crochet.org and/or www.KnitandCrochetShow.com.   And yes, it is true!!  The reason I was ʎoɾ ɥʇıʍ ƃuıddılɟ the other day is because I have been selected to be one of the teachers this year.  It's a dream come true, and yet another example of life coming full circle.  Tags: blogplugs

The Wood that Could ...

... not only inspire me, but also caused some "ohh's" and "ahh's" by all ages: I'm talking about the new book, Creative Crochet Lace: A Freeform Look at Classic Crochet by Myra Wood. 

Crochet, being one of the last remaining fiber art forms that must be made entirely by hand, allows the crocheter to create rhythmic stitching, like spring water babbling in a brook, each yarn over bringing tranquil motions of inspiration.

And, I think, because of the freedom crochet offers from traditional crochet rules, just like the water in the babbling brook, we can choose to change the flow, to change the rules as we see fit.  We can do so by changing the hook, the stitch, the direction, the dimension, even the fiber anywhere in our work.  And when we shift our crochet hooks into AWD (all wheel drive) and take our crochet into unmapped territory, that is when true individual creativity blossoms around the babbling brook of our crochet work!  And it's called Freeform Crochet.

In Myra's new book, she offers five methods of learning how to create stunning freeform crochet lace! She calls them:  Funky Filet, Tossed Salad Style, Wild Irish Crochet, Doodle Lace, and Organic Lace Scrumbling.  Each offering immediate results to get you started in off-roading your crochet stitches.  The beauty behind each technique is that although you are freeforming, Myra provides enough directions that one could consider them a "GPS" (Global Positioning System) so those just starting out won't feel lost. 

The projects are inspirational too; I already have some project concepts floating around in my head using her "Doodle Lace" technique.  But don't just take my word for it.  My children have been hogging the book, taking it to school to show it off to their classmates!  They've NEVER done that before!  They point to Myra's work, then flip to the back and show all the beautiful works by other freeform artists in the Gallery.   They get a kick out of showing their classmates what yarn, what crochet, can do.  I love that!

And then, once I got the book back from my children, I brought it to my monthly CGOA Chapter meeting and passed it around.  All those that flipped through the pages felt as inspired as I did when they looked at it, and planned to order it immediately.  

Currently Myra's book is available through Amazon.  OR if you'd like to have your copy autographed, you can order it directly through Myra by visiting her website at www.MyraWood.com.  Either way, I highly recommend this book for those interested in taking their crochet on new journeys, in the land of freeform!  :)

Note: for those on a budget, consider checking with your local library to see if they have it available for loan.  It's a brand new book, so if they don't, consider asking them to order it for availability to their patrons.

 

This Girl Must be Dreaming

Last night I settled in to finally watch the 2007 Golden Globe Winner for Best Picture movie, "DreamGirls."  I was mesmerized by Jennifer Hudson's fantastic performance, who won an Academy Award for her roll as Effie -- and I was also pleasantly surprised to see some great crochet! 

In the scene where Beyonce Knowles (who played the roll of Deena) marries Jamie Fox (playing the roll of Curtis), Beyonce/Deena wore a crocheted wedding gown.  It looked a bit like Filet Crochet; you bet I'll be returning to that scene later today to study it some more!

In another scene, where Eddie Murphy (playing the roll of James "Thunder" Early) is recording a new sound/song with Anika Noni Rose (in the roll of Lorell), he was wearing a really cool crocheted hat, solidly striped in single double crochets ending with "air vents" towards the center.  Yeah, that's another scene I'll be revisiting today.

Lastly, I spotted crochet in a scene featuring Beyonce/Deena and Jamie/Curtis.  Beyonce/Deena was wearing a black, open stitch sweater; at least on the sleeves. (For those that follow color themes and hidden meanings, I'll leave it up to you to guess why black was used in the scene.) The back of the sweater looked like a bunch of open-work circles connected here & there.  I'll be "freezing" the frame to look closer for sure!

Considering that the movie reflects the 1960 and 1970 time periods, these three crocheted items could easily fit into today's fashions!

With a mixed bag of weather, rain & snow, forecasted for this weekend, I'll have plenty of time to re-watch this movie, and enjoy the crochet cameo appearances.  If you like the Motown sound (which I do!), then go ahead & get the movie.  Your local library may even have it available for loan!  Pop a bowl of popcorn and be prepared.  Watching Jennifer/Effie sing the song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" is just awesome!!  :) 

And the Winner ...

I got my biopsy report back today;  it was a tumor but not the kind I should get worked up about.  It was surgically removed.  End of Story.  Unless we count the celebrating that I'm a lucky, lucky gal!  Did you hear me let out that huge sigh of relief?

And look what was in my mailbox this week:

I'm going to really enjoy adding all those pins to my crochet hat that I wear at various fiber events!

And because my health scare is now behind me and I'm feeling like a winner, I thought I'd let the cat out of the bag as to whom was the winner of my 4th Blogiversary ...  and that would be Sandyfroglegs!!  Congratulations Sandy!!

Thank you everyone for making my 4th Blogiversary Celebration so special!!! 

Fooled, and it's not even April yet!

I taught a private crochet lesson yesterday.  Prior to starting the lesson I bumped into a knitting teacher I know.  "Hey Dee, how are you doing?"

"I'm doing great!  Want to see my knitting progress," I asked back.

"Sure!"

I tossed my "knitted" hat to her. She examined it closely. "Wow, Dee! This looks great! You really coming with along nicely with your knitting!"

"Thanks," I said with a huge grin. "It's 100% crocheted!"

"Crocheted," she asked back, a bit startled and confused.  "But how?"

"It's a new (to me) crochet technique I'm playing around with."

"Oh, you fooled me, Dee, shame on you!" And with that she playfully hit me with my own hat.

If I can fool a knitting teacher with this technique, then who might be next? 
Wha ha ha ha ha ha!

Ohhhhhhh......!

With Mini~Dee, I joined my friend Grace and her grand-daughter for a crochet adventure.  We decided to take a trip to Sturbridge, MA, to visit the Wrights store and see what they had available for crochet supplies.  We were NOT disappointed!  We had a great time picking out a variety of supplies!

My favorite moment while shopping was meeting two crocheters discussing which sized crochet hook they should use for a planned baby blanket one of them would be creating using the afghan stitch.*  (The Afghan Stitch is another way to reference the Tunisian Crochet technique.)

Since they seemed unsure, I decided to see if I could assist them.  I politely interrupted, suggesting to go with a larger Tunisian crochet hook since it would soften the drape.  At this point the friends separated; one went off to do some more shopping while the other remained with me to discuss the various crochet hooks they had available.  I sensed she wasn't grasping the concept of bumping up the hook size to soften the drape, so I said to her I'd be right back. 

I left her for a moment and went back into another section of the store, grabbing the book, "Big-Hook Crochet," and went back to where she was waiting.  I turned tothe Boudoir Elegance Pillow pattern and showed her the size of crochet hook I used to design the project.

She said, "Wait a minute!  YOU designed this?!!"

"Yes," I replied.

"Wait right here!!" and with that she was dashing through the store to bring her friend back to rejoin our conversation.

She took the book out of my hands and showed it to her friend exclaiming, "Look!  See this," pointing to the picture and then to my name printed above it, "that's her!!  She's a crochet designer!!"

At that point the friend got very excited too.  What could I do but smile and feel a little bit like a rock star celebrity?  {VBG}

At this point Grace had come over and joined in our conversation.  We soon discovered they're from Connecticut too and invited them to join our CGOA Chapter for a meeting some time, at which they both exclaimed in unison, "there are Chapters?!!!"  Grace and I then enjoyed telling them about the CGOA, about our Chapter, and also mentioned that there is going to be a huge Crochet Conference in Manchester come July. 

I think if there was room to do so, these lovely ladies would have done cartwheels -- they were overjoyed to hear of such wonderful things going on in the crochet world!  I gave them my business card and encouraged them to contact me for more information. I hope they do!  :)

Have you ever met a Crochet Designer in a store by pure chance?  If so, please share your story!

Eyes Needed Re: Brianna Denison

Just a few short months ago crocheters united to help successfully find a missing teen.  The following plea for help comes from another crocheter very dear to me. 

 

Brianna Zunino Denison
Last Seen:  January 20, 2008
Height: 5' in RENO, NV
Description: long dark brown hair; blue eyes


A website has been set up to aid in the search of her:  http://briannadenison.com/

02/16/08 Update:  It has been confirmed that Brianna has been identified.  May she rest in peace.