It's all about EWE, ME, and NH too

Today was our family day.  Initially we had planned on spending it at a local amusement park but due to weather forecasts of thunder storms we scratched that plan.  To get ideas, I took the kids to the hotel lobby to gather what brochures they had available.  While there I spotted another CGOA  Conference attendee ... Prudence Mapstone!  She had just arrived after traveling 36 hours from "tomorrow" to get here today.  (Gotta love those time zones!)

We decided we'd head east to visit the town of Exetor to see the American Independence Museum.  Unfortunately we failed to read the fine print on the brochure.  An hours' drive later we discovered that due to limited funding, they're only open from Wednesdays to Saturdays.  Dooph!  Scratch that idea.

So, being so close to the New Hampshire coast we decided to drive up the coast and see the sights.  That was an interesting trip!  Our first stop was in Hampton Beach.  Hungry and with a great need for a potty break we decided to visit the only McDonald's on the strip.  That was a mistake as it was so dirty.  So we got back on the road and continued to head north.  With bladders at full capacity, I advised Mr. Dee we needed to stop somewhere, anywhere, with a restroom that was savory.  No sooner did I state this to him, and we started to round a little corner, that he'd reply, "Oh, look a little yarn shop."

Just like that.  I screamed, "What?"  Totally not expecting for a yarn shop to appear in the middle of housing dating back to the 1600 and 1700 hundreds.  I figured the bladders could wait; there was a yarn shop to be explored!  So, Mr. Dee pulled over and that's just what we did! 

He had found the yarn shop, Yarn For Ewe in the town of Rye -- and what a delightful shop at that!  I took my time wondering around the store petting various "new to me" fibers while deciding upon some to consider as "souvenirs."  I bought two bags worth of goodies, and yes, we were relieved to use the "facilities" too!  I had the most delightful conversation with the owner and her son; if ever I'm in the area again I'll be sure to visit again!

Once we were back on the road we decided to head even more north, made a few more stops on the way, and ended up in Maine.  We did a little souvenir shopping there -- just enough for the kids to say they were there -- and then headed back home to the hotel. We had a very fun & adventure packed day!

Since our return to the hotel, I have bumped into many crocheters -- all of which are looking forward to tomorrow's "Professional Day."  With that I'll end off.  It's going to be a busy day indeed and it will start very early in the morning!  :)Tags: CGOA 2007 Conference, New Hampshire, Maine, Yarn For Ewe, crochet

We're Here!

We arrived in New Hampshire earlier this afternoon.  It was quite a lot of fun to watch people passing us on the highway while smerking our way.  I'm sure many of them were questioning why a vehicle from Connecticut was hauling a large branch from a maple tree to some unknown destination!  LOL

The branch will be used for part of the International Freeform Group's display that will be in the Vendors Market.  They'll be hanging a variety of freeform ornaments from it, so for now, the branch will reside in our hotel room.

Prudence Mapstone, renown for her freeform works and books, jokingly mentioned that perhaps my family enjoys having trees in our hotel rooms -- a reference to last years "Beach Theme" room we stayed in while we were in Pennsylvania.  Many giggles over that!!  (Of course we're wondering what our housekeeper will think when they see this huge leafy "guest" in our room!  LOL)

So, tomorrow more people will be arriving, mostly those that will be attending the CGOA's Professional Day on Wednesday (myself included!).  Thursday will be the official kick-off of the Conference.  It will be fun hooking up with old fiber friends and meeting new ones. Tags: 2007 CGOA Conference, Crochet

The Shopping Experience

Mr. Dee gave it all he had, but it looks like a second revival of the laptop will not be happening.  So, we said goodbye to our "trusty friend" and went out this afternoon to adopt a new one.

I think shopping for laptops is much like shopping for yarn.  The first thing most crocheters do is check the price point.  "Sure this yarn costs $2.29, but what am I getting for my money? How does it compare to this model, er, skein, over here?"  And so we wonder off to examine the next dye lot, the next fiber content, the yardage, the next "must have it now" yarn craze fav that is heating up the conversations in various online groups.

Ah, but is price point the best way to judge?  What about softness, or about how hardfast it is?  And what about judging hand-dyed against machine?  My logic is, if you're going to be investing time into the project, then you should invest money into the raw materials.   No, you shouldn't need to take small a mortgage out for every project that will end up on the hook, but certainly we should consider it for those that will be for our loved ones -- and for ourselves.  At least, this is my belief. 

So this is what I told Mr. Dee this afternoon as we looked each one over.  He looked at the price points, he ran his fingers across ... the keyboards, and checked the yardage screen sizes.  He asked the questions, and in the end came home with a new laptop that promises to not only make his online experience better, but mine too.  Can we say WEBCAM??? LOL Oh, boy, once I figure out how to use it, there's no telling what crochet topic will be not only discussed -- but shown! -- here on CrochetingWithDee!  Now isn't that exciting?  :)

Guest Blogger: Casey

Hi, it's me, Casey, better known as Mini~Dee.

I thought I'd give my Mom the day off from blogging so she could concentrate on what to pack for the Conference.  I'm really excited to be going again.  This will be my third Conference -- and my second Conference where I'll be modeling during the Fashion Show.  The good news is that my Mom tells me more kids will be there; I can't wait to meet them!

Right now I decided to create a dress for my doll.  I named her "Angel."  She joined my doll family not too long ago when we were out shopping.  We were in a sports store when I saw her sitting on a shelf NAKED!  I felt really bad for her that she had no clothes so I asked if we could buy her.  Mom said yes, so I had been waiting for the right yarn to make her a beautiful dress.

At the last Chapter meeting my friend Margaret gave me some pretty ribbon yarn.  I drew out the dress, and took measurements of my doll.  Now that the dress is nearly complete I've been busy sorting through my Great-Grandma's button collection.  I never met her, but I bet she was as amazing as her button collection!  My Mom told me stories of when she was a kid and enjoyed going through them, so I like thinking about that when I'm looking at all the different colors and shapes.  My brother likes looking at them all too.

All I need to do is decide which buttons to use, add on the trim and tuck in my ends.  Then it will be done.  I'm thinking of holding her to show off while I'm modeling at the Fashion Show.  I think Angel will have fun there too!


You can visit my website at www.CaseysCrochet.com

Bagging Today

Things are not going well today:
1. During one of the thunder storms we experienced here in Connecticut today, AOL decided to delete some 600 of my emails!  If you've emailed me for help in the past week, please resend it! 

2.  I have not been able to locate that missing skein of yarn I mentioned on Tuesday; I figure it's either in the school library (fat chance of getting it before September); or I dropped it during one of our Coffee, Crochet & Chat sessions @ Borders; or it's at one of the parks, or any other of the gazillion places I toted the project to in the last month -- aka I'll never see it again.  This means the project won't be ready in time for the conference.  {{UGH!}}

3. The laptop died again.  This close to the Conference I really don't know if Mr. Dee can pull another miracle out of his hat.  If he can't then day-by-day updates will be sparse and without pictures.  Can you, my readers, do without pictures from the Conference?  If Mr. Dee can get it running again, then it just reconfirms what I've been saying for years -- he's awesome!  Then again, if he can't get it running again, I think he's still an awesome guy just for trying!  Please cross your hooks & stitches he can!

4. There are other stress factors, but rather than bore you with the gory non-crochet related details, I thought I'd mention that due to problem #2 I decided to work up a Doris Chan pattern -- the stitches I did yesterday are beautiful, well worth admiring!  But the work I did today {{shaking head}} sadly shows my stress -- talk about tight!  Yikes!! I should have gone NO WHERE NEAR a crochet hook today!!

So I did what anyone feeling the stress should do: I took out my scissors, a pattern book from the 1900s, some "antique" paper and worked it out! ((serenity now; serenity now))

The results?  A "one-of-a-kind" gift bag to hold the goodies I'll be giving at the Crochet Exchange!!  I wonder what the receiver will think of it?   :)

"On a Wing & a Prayer"

Regardless of what my son, Dee Jr., will tell you, I am not, I repeat, I am NOT a Drama Queen!  I do not exaggerate the facts, I rather tend to embellish them.  It's what crocheters do best.  Embellish that is. 

I'm in a near panic funk today as I've misplaced a much needed skein of yarn!

"What do you mean you misplaced a much needed skein of yarn," my son skeptically repeated back to me.

I show him my work and the yarn labels.  "I should have enough, but seem to have either misplaced or lost a skein when I was toting the project around," I replied sadly, looking around the room hoping to find it.

"I don't know why you are so upset, Mom. You have TONS of yarn!" he exclaimed while waving his arms around to emphasize my out-of-control yarn stash.

"Yes, my son," I replied, "I do have a lot of yarn.  But I need this brand, in the same dye lot.  Believe me, it does make a difference!"

"Right Mom. You want me to believe you, don't you?  I think you're just creating all this drama so you can create an excuse to go out and buy more yarn!" he said while shaking his head in disbelief.

I don't have time to go into explaining the importance of brands & dye lots with him at the moment; the Conference is next week and I want to complete this project to wear while I'm there.  Maybe it rolled out of the bag while I was driving & it's in my vehicle ... I look at my son and exclaim in my best Adam West impersonation, "There's no time for that now, Robin!  To the Batcave!" as I dash out the front door ...

Question From Reader: Polish Star Stitch/Technique

I found your site at random the other day. I'd posted a pic on another group of a Polish star afghan I finished (which I have offered to Peter Franzi as an auction item to raise funds for the food pantry he volunteers for that hosts his Men Who Crochets CGOA chapter meetings), and someone asked me how to do the technique, which sent me in search online for tutorials on it. I couldn't find any.

I noticed your site has a lot of good info, I was hoping you could put together a pic tutorial of Polish Star stitch to put up on your site, so SOMETHING online would be out there.
Anita

Anita, this is a great question! Everyone, take a look at Anita's Polish Star Afghan ... isn't it beautiful -- and very patriotic too!!  To view more of Anita's fantastic crochet work on Flickr click here.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Polish Star stitch/technique, let me state that it was Pauline Turner, of the UK, who introduced it to the United States -- if memory serves me correctly, she did so at one of the very first CGOA Conferences that was held in the mid-1990s.  If Pauline's name sounds familiar, it should!  Pauline has been on the forefront of crochet, with a number of books published, for quite some time!  In fact, I featured an interview here with her last year when she Wow'ed everyone with her Peacock Cape! 

Right now, Anita, I am pressed for time -- in preparing for the upcoming Conference and working on design proposals, so doing a how-to-tutorial is not in the future at this time.  I will say this, though, for those that are curious about it:

The Polish Star technique is a textured stitch that uses the most basic of crochet stitches!  The key is in the way chain loops are later interlocked together.  Want some practice in making chain loops in your work? Give this pretty Tulip Stitch a try.  Or, if you're interested in learning the Real McCoy, The Polish Star stitch/technique, then you'll want to give AnniesAttic a visit and order their "Spectacular Polish Star Fashions" book.  They're currently having a 4th of July sale featuring it for $2.99 (reg 7.95).

Anita, I think the question here should be: how does one go about placing a bid for your beautiful afghan???    :)  Tags: crochet, polish star, tulip stitch, crochet loops, pauline turner, cgoa