Have you gotten your copy of Crochet Refresher yet? It has just been published by Leisure Arts. I'm still waiting for my box to arrive--the author is always the last to see the book! I have, however, seen all of the photos and the front and back covers, and I'm very happy with the way the book looks. The working title had been Crochet for Grandbaby, but I guess that was too limiting. All of the projects are for babies, but they don't have to be made by grandparents! There are photos, tutorials, and video links for any lapsed crocheters who need a refresher. I can hardly believe that this is my eighteenth book! Two more are already submitted, and a third is due in September. Crochet Refresher is available here from Amazon. Here are some photos:
(If the hat looks familiar, it's because it's similar to one I did in Tunisian Crochet for Baby, published by Stackpole Books--but this one is in regular crochet, not Tunisian. Too cute to limit it to one technique!)
New book!
Time has flown since the yarnbomb was installed at Hagley Museum & Library. I'm pleased to report that after several months out in the elements, everything still looks great! I moved one of the fleur-de-lis panels from a large stone pillar alongside the Brandywine River to a more sheltered location outside the Visitors Center. In the first location, the wind kept pushing the right-hand edge of the panel toward the left and it didn't look neat. The new spot is better, and the wooden dowels I put in also help to keep the panel square. The installation continues to get good press, like this mention in County Lines Magazine. (Thanks to my friend Audrey for spotting this.) It will be up through late July.
I really enjoyed doing this project, and I have my sights set on some other local institutions. We'll see how those proposals are received.
Our big family event in May was my older son's graduation from the University of Southern California (he got his undergrad and master's degrees in Astronautical Engineering--not too shabby!). We spent a week in Los Angeles enjoying the graduation-related festivities and playing tourist. Got a personal tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, including the opportunity to watch the Curiosity Mars rover's earthbound twin go through its paces. My son gave us a tour of SpaceX, where he is now working full-time on life-support systems for the Crew Dragon. The current version has been carrying cargo back and forth to the International Space Station, and the Crew version will take people when it's ready. We spent one lovely afternoon at Hermosa Beach, walking out on the pier and along the strand, then having snacks and drinks at an outdoor cafe. Another highlight was visiting with one of my high school friends in the Hollywood Hills.
Because of that trip, I skipped TNNA in Columbus. It just wasn't the right timing to be away again so quickly, especially with deadlines and other commitments. If any of you went, I'd love to hear what you thought of the show. What did you see that wowed you?
It's been a good month for cleaning and gardening, with some article deadlines but no books due. I got the garage completely reorganized and hosed out--good riddance, chewed-up snow shovels! Sunday I finished the three-day slog known as "doing the windows." We have 21 double-sash windows (mercifully, they tilt in for cleaning), one sliding window, two sets of sliding doors, and one set of French doors. Not a fun job, but what a difference it makes.
As part of general tidying, I put some copies of Tunisian Crochet for Baby up for sale on ebay. You can tell they're mine, the heading says "signed by author." The price is $11.99 plus shipping. A great deal if you want to buy some books now and put them away for Christmas presents--and you'll be doing me a favor by helping me liberate some shelf space--thanks! Please email me if you have any questions.
I hope you are enjoying spring wherever you are!