Crochet Scarves blog book tour hits the road

Ah, the glamorous life of an author, jet-setting all over the place to promote a new book. Maybe that happens for top novelists or independently wealthy writers, but for the rest of us the blog book tour is a worthy substitute. (How's "My book went on vacation and all I got was this lousy T-shirt" for a new slogan?)

Actually, I don't have any complaints. I'm delighted that some top crochet designers and industry professionals have agreed to be a stop on the Crochet Scarves tour. I've left the format up to them: book review, interview, Q and A...I'll even write a guest blog for them if they so choose. Stackpole Books has sweetened the pot by offering each blogger a book to give away to a fan. I hope you will visit all of the blogs--they have so much information and insight to offer crocheters!

The first one out of the gate was Underground Crafter. She took the time to send me an extensive list of questions, and wrote a very thorough assessment of the book. http://undergroundcrafter.com/blog/?p=6481 It was great to hear from Marie and be reminded that she took a class I taught at Lion Brand Yarn Studio!

Yesterday's entry was from the inimitable Doris Chan. http://dorischancrochet.com/  I knew that she lived nearby but for a long time I was too intimidated to contact her. We finally met this spring and it made me wonder why I had waited so long! She's intelligent, interesting, funny, and a pleasure to spend time with. Her crochet designs are amazing, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. Here is a brief excerpt from Doris' post:

The concept of this book is quite brilliant.  In Sharon’s hands, the lowly scarf becomes the canvas for the exploration of various crochet techniques, ranging from mitered squares to lace and colorwork, broomstick crochet and (what I consider to be her specialty) Tunisian crochet. Each of the 21 scarf projects is accompanied by an achingly complete tutorial, including step-by-step images of hands, hook and yarn, stitch symbol diagrams and close-up shots of the fabric.  No matter what sort of learner you are, Sharon’s got you covered. 

I don't think even my own mother could have said anything nicer.

Tour stops coming up are StyledbyKristin.com (Kristin Omdahl) on 7/24; Modeknit.com (Annie Modesitt) on 7/27; GoCrochet.com (Ellen Gormley) on 7/30; CrochetbyFaye.com (Robyn Chachula) on 8/3; Handsindelight.com on 8/10; Crochetville.org on 8/13; Crochetconcupiscence.com on 8/23. There are a few other blogs for which we're working out dates. I'll let you know when those are firmed up.

Meanwhile, I've been working on a throw for a kit, a shawl for another kit, the wintersky Blue Heron Egyptian Mercerized cotton openwork item, and some design proposals. And I check the mailbox every day to see if Crochet Scarves sent me a postcard from the road!

TNNA then back home to PA

My flight from Philadelphia to Columbus was delayed, but the wait was eased by having JoAnne Turcotte (formerly Plymouth's design director, now the owner of Knitter's Edge in Bethlehem PA) and her daughter and daughter-in-law waiting for the same flight. This was JoAnne's first trip as a buyer instead of a seller. Can't wait to hear what she chose for her beautiful shop! www.theknittersedge.com

Finally got where we were going. The festivities at TNNA got off to a wonderful start thanks to Marly Bird, a.k.a. Yarn Thing, who organized the designers' dinner Friday night. She doesn't need that gold mask to be a superhero! Putting together sponsors, getting the invitations out, managing the RSVPs, assembling the goodies for the swag bags...when I talked to Marly afterwards she said it had been as much work as planning a wedding and I believe it. The evening's "Masquerade" theme was the springboard for many introductions.

 

I guess I am slowly making inroads in the design community, because I have some big names to drop: Robin Chachula, Ellen Gormley, Miriam Felton, Stefanie Japel, Lily Chin, Karen Whooley, Kristin Omdahl, Mary Beth Temple, Doris Chan and many more were in the room--several were at my table. I enjoyed having the opportunity to hear more about their lives as designers and as people! It's a friendly, interesting group.

 

Yarn companies, accessory purveyors, book publishers, etc. generously gave items for the swag bags that every attendee received. I'm not talking about a tiny plastic bag of stuff, I'm talking about a full-size tote bag stuffed to the gills with wonderful items. Look!

Get a load of all this swag! Knitting needles, tape measures, yarn yarn yarn, books, gauge measurers, crochet hook, books, liquids for hand-washing...you name it. It's good exposure for the sellers; I'll definitely try out their products

Didn't get much sleep Friday night due to noise from above and next door. (Changed rooms for the rest of my stay--I think the first room might have been under a wedding party suite, and it was definitely next door to a hospitality suite.

Saturday morning it was off to the show. First task: drop off the samples from Crochet Scarves to the manufacturers with those nice signs Stackpole made. Once that running-around was done, I had more time to go booth by booth, getting a look at new products. Wow, did I see some gorgeous yarns and some amazing garments. Over the years I have learned how to take meaningful notes that make sense when I read them at home. Sure makes follow-up easier

One fun part of TNNA is that most of the attendees on the yarn side (the other part of the show is needlepoint, embroidery, cross-stitch, etc.) is wearing a gorgeous handmade garment. It's perfectly acceptable, even encouraged, to go up to a total stranger and say, "I love what you're wearing!" then get to talking about whether it's an original design, from a published pattern, or was received as a gift. I ran into Patty Lyons from Lion Brand Yarn Studio. I'll be going there for a book-signing in October, and we talked about the possibility of teaching a class sometime later in the fall. The Studio is a wonderful space with spacious classrooms upstairs. I taught a Tunisian crochet class there and enjoyed the experience.

Sunday was the launch of Crochet Scarveswith a signing at the Unicorn book distributors' booth. They do a fine job setting everything up--thank you to everyone at Unicorn! I met so many nice people who got the book for themselves or a gift or prize.

The winning name: Tammy (and Tammie): I signed three books addressed to people with that name. A lot of folks are interested in Tunisian crochet and were happy that seven of the twenty-one patterns are Tunisian. I have to be careful if I'm having a conversation with someone while I'm signing their book--it's easy to write what they're saying instead of signing my name!

Throughout the weekend I met with yarn company reps, publishing industry luminaries, and other designers to talk about what's up-and-coming. In the next days and weeks I will work on my business plan to figure out what's next for me. Stackpole Books has published all five of my crochet titles, and we'd like to do another book together. It has to be the right project, though, and the right timing. Leaflets and magazines are another option. I could do those in parallel with a book, or perhaps to fill the gap while I figure out what my next big project should be. I have some ideas, but anything I work on can't be just for fun, it has to make sense from a business perspective also.
I came away feeling very energized about the possibilities!

T(NNA)-minus three days and counting!

What a long checklist I have before departing for The National NeedleArts Association trade show in Columbus, OH on Friday! (Everyone just calls the show "TNNA," as in, "Are you going to TNNA?") Here are a few items:

  • Block scarves, then attach labels/business cards to each;
  • Pack the display signs to give each yarn company with the display scarves (beautiful but heavy);
  • Pack two copies of Crochet Scarves, one copy of Tunisian Crochet and one copy of Crochet Pillows (ditto), plus some of my other patterns;
  • Assemble all relevant paperwork, including passport, airplane reservation, hotel reservation, frequent flyer/stayer numbers, party invitation, all TNNA literature (badge, show floor map, events listing), business cards, background information/resume ;
  • Learn how to use iPad, at least on a rudimentary level;
  • Buy new pair of light brown huaraches or hope that nobody notices that my current pair is falling apart;
  • Make mask for designers' masquerade party;
  • Confirming appointments with yarn companies and other TNNA folks;
  • Decide which projects to bring to work on.

Those are only the show-related items. Also on the list are the "stuff of life" things I have to do here before I depart, like watering the plants, doing the laundry and deciding which clothes to pack, fixing a leak in the frog pond tomorrow so we can run the stream without draining it, trying not to ruin my nails while working on said pond, mailing cards for occasions I'll miss while gone, writing a newsletter for the Brandywine Museums and Gardens Alliance, and doing some last-minute shopping.

I think this is my fourth time attending TNNA, and this time I really feel prepared. I'll be doing a book-signing for Crochet Scarves, which is so new that I just received my copies today! (If you'll be at TNNA, my signing is at the Unicorn Booth, #109, on Sunday at 12:15. Please stop by their booth earlier in the weekend to pick up your free ticket.) I have pored over the exhibitor list and found all of the booths where I need to drop off scarves and signs. I also set up several appointments with yarn company reps and other fiber folks. I think it will be a very productive show from many standpoints.

Friday night is the designers' party hosted by Marly Bird, aka Yarn Thing. It will be wonderful to connect with some of the people I've met before, and to meet others whose names I know but whom I haven't had the chance to see in person. Interestingly, the fashion show that is usually in the evening is scheduled for Saturday morning. There are always some really incredible garments. I probably won't have enough time between the show opening (10 a.m.) and the start of the fashion show (10:15) to drop off my items for display, so I'll have to wait until the fashion show ends at 11:15.

I haven't decided whether to attend the designer/teacher meeting Saturday evening. I went several times in the past, and found that the same issues kept being raised with no resolution. I think I get more from my informal conversations with other designers than from the structured meeting. Maybe I'll just see how exhausted I am at 6 p.m. Saturday before I decide!

Even though I'm in "administrative mode" getting ready for the trip, I did take time today to enjoy the wonderful experience of opening a box full of copies of my new book. I can hardly believe that this is my fifth crochet title, and my fourteenth book overall. (I must be getting old!) It was a fun project to work on. Loved having the shots of the finished items taken at the Art Association of Harrisburg and the riverfront across from there. So happy with photographer Alan Wycheck's pictures, as usual! This is the first time I've included symbol charts with my patterns. It was a lot of work back and forth with Stackpole Books to create the charts, but worth it to accommodate those who like charts. Tammy Hildebrand, Board Member and Professional Development Chairperson for the Crochet Guild of America, wrote a lovely endorsement for the back cover. I hope crocheters will enjoy the projects--all 21 of 'em, including 7 Tunisian crochet patterns and 1 broomstick lace--and will post pictures of their finished scarves.

Now I can check one item off my list: update blog!

New website, new pattern

A website is like any other publication: the more planning and design you can do before you dive in, the better the results are likely to be. In a way, it was good that my old site was so outdated and hard to use: there was no question that I needed a new one. My list of goals was long, and included a stylish, clean look; easy for me to update on my own without a computer expert; all external links to open in separate windows; places for my photos; newsletter signup...and more. Sandra Perilli at FolioFLY to the rescue! Sandy and I met through a mutual friend a couple of years ago. She helped me with some professional things then, and with the time right for me to have a redesigned website, she was my top choice. I can't say enough about how well this process went, and how happy I am with the results. There has been a tremendous amount of back and forth, especially in the past month, but the time we spent making decisions about how things would look and work is well worth it. On Friday, Sandy walked me through WordPress training. She prepared a fantastic document, complete with screen shots, circled items, reminders, and tips. I'm not the brightest pixel on the screen, but the way Sandy explained things, even I can be successful updating my website. This blog entry is my first stab at it.

One thing I want to use the website for is to announce new designs...et voila! Here is the Anaconda Wrap, worked in Tunisian net (full) stitch and Tunisian simple stitch with Plymouth Wilde yarn. The yarn is super bulky thick-and-thin, but the weight doesn't change as dramatically as some other thick-and-thin yarns, which makes it easier to work with. I love the neutral colors. It was tough to decide which stitch pattern to use, so I opted for both! The pattern is available for download on Ravelry. (Ravelry requires a signup but isn't in your face like you-know-whatbook. ) I haven't added the information to the "showcase" page on my website, yet, but plan to try in the next day or two. I can only learn so many things at once!

With so many different devices and platforms in use--we tested as many as possible--please let me know if anything on my website doesn't look right on your machine. If you ever send a message through the website and I don't respond, I'm not ignoring you! Assume that there is a technical problem, and please email me directly (outside of the website) at Sharon@SharonSilverman.com to tell me. Thank you for your assistance during the site's shakedown cruise!

Win Gail Callahan's Original Colorgrid!

[This contest is now closed and congratulations to all our winners!] It's interesting how people make connections. I first heard Gail Callahan's name in, of all places, the dentist's chair. When I told my dentist that I was working on a crochet book, she said, "A friend of mine's mother-in-law does something with yarn. I think she dyes it." Dr. Lee forwarded Gail's information to me later that day, and we've worked together several times since then! I used Gail's Kangaroo Dyer yarn for the Loop-de-loop, Furry Fun, and Honeycomb Bolster pillows in my Crochet Pillows book; two of the scarves in my new book, Crochet Scarves (coming in June!), Sea Splash and Grecian Ladders, feature Gail's yarn. (See how important it is to get those regular dental checkups?)

I've been very impressed with her colorways, which is why I was delighted to learn about her new product, Gail Callahan's Original Colorgrid. Gail, the author of Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece, explains her inspiration for the product:

"I was challenged to write a chapter on color," she says. "In doing research I observed that every book on color had a color wheel in some shape or form. For me, the color wheel was `The dreaded color wheel!' because I never understood it. Why did my box of crayons have brown and black but the color wheel did not? I told my editor, Gwen Steege, that I did not want a color wheel in our book because it did not work for me.

"That got me thinking about how to talk about color. I placed three buckets of color on a shelf: blue, yellow, and red, all in a row. I envisioned the blue and yellow buckets pouring in droplets between each other, and watching them mix so you could see all the variations of these colors beneath them. Thus, the colors mixing, and the boxes of color. The same for the other mixes. This is how the grid developed. After playing around with the Colorgrid, I discovered that if you jump a certain amount of squares, you get combinations that work."

The grid itself is a shiny trifold with a detachable template. Open the grid to reveal 14 squares across by 11 vertically. The template has open circles, 3 x 3 with the center one a bit larger than the surrounding ones, and a rectangular slit. Simply position the large circle over the color you like--that's your Base Color. The colors in the surrounding circles are "close relatives" that Gail says you can use with confidence. Look in the slit for the Spark that will punch up your color selection. That's all there is to it! Position the template horizontally or vertically, with the holes at the bottom or the top, it works in any orientation. Just lay the template down and voila!

Gail suggests using the Base and Spark colors in a 9:1 proportion for the most harmonious results.

Yarnies will love the Colorgrid, but it's not just for fiber artists. Gail says, "The most exciting customer so far is a man who owns several tattoo shops. He wanted the Colorgrid for his workers to find the spark in their color combinations!" The Colorgrid is helpful for gardening (maybe my floral palette will finally work this year!), quilting, beading, home decorating, even arranging food on a plate.

My only niggle with the product is that the folds run right through the middle of squares, rather than between columns of squares. I don't like the seam showing through the holes. This is a minor flaw and does not detract from my excitement for the Colorgrid.

"I want to empower people to use color with confidence," Gail says, "and to explore what they like and get excited about it."

Gail, who lives in Greenfield, MA and is the house dyer for WEBS (wow!), hopes to do a Colorgrid in neutrals. Much like a field of prairie grass that looks monochromatic at first glance but is full of subtle, beautiful color on further inspection, neutrals are not devoid of color.

Gail Callahan's Original Colorgrid retails for $7.95 and is available through WEBS and on Amazon, among other places. The product is produced by Storey Publishing. Keep up with Gail at her Kangaroo Dyer blog.

WIN GAIL CALLAHAN'S ORIGINAL COLORGRID

Gail has generously offered to send a Colorgrid to five lucky winners! Here's how it works: Post a comment on this blog before 11:59 p.m. EDT Tuesday, May 1, 2012. Each commenter will be entered in a random drawing (one per person, no matter how many comments you post). The winners will be announced here on Wednesday, May 2, along with instructions on how to get your mailing address to Gail so she can send out your prize. Make sure you check back to see if you've won. Good luck!

My website, it is a-changin'

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

I have been struggling with my website for a while now. Because of the platform we originally chose, we were limited in design choices, and the palette and style definitely do not reflect my design sense. Another issue is that it is very cumbersome to update. Any time I wanted to add or change something, I have to get all the pieces ready, send them to my tech guy (a.k.a. husband), and have him do the updates--he's been wonderfully helpful, but this isn't his first priority, and neither of us has wanted to spend the time that the website needs. Developing the site was a good exercise for both of us, but it's a bit of a dinosaur now.What this means is that my major marketing tool is stale, old-looking, incomplete (so many of my designs aren't on here at all--you must think I've been sitting on my hands for the past two years!), and not very inviting. As for the blog part, Blogger has many quirks that make it frustrating to arrange text and photos. Sometimes it has been easier to say, "Eh, just skip it!" than to spend the time and energy it takes to do a presentable post.

Well, all this is about to change. I have hired a consultant and together we have chosen a beautiful new platform that reflects my design sensibilities--and which I will be able to update on my own! Also in development is a new logo and brand that will visually communicate my style (my "head shot" belongs in the back of my books, not as a substitute for a logo). As part of the redesign, we'll be switching to a different blog host. We will build in the capability for a newsletter mailing list, special offers, links to videos, information for yarn companies, and connections to FB. (It is challenging to decide which social media to use and how much time to spend on that--I don't want to spend so much time networking that I don't have a product to market!)

The redesign is taking place behind the scenes so we can work out all of the details before going public; I expect the launch before spring. Meanwhile, my current website will remain live (well, more like a zombie, but you know what I mean).

With Crochet Scarves coming out in just a few months, it will feel wonderful to have a fabulous new website that I hope you will enjoy visiting regularly for its content and visual appeal! Meanwhile, please accept my apologies for the stale nature of the current site and the way-too-infrequent blog posts.