Book Sale for International Crochet Day

 

Wednesday, 9/12 is International Crochet Day! To celebrate, I'm offering 25 signed copies of Crochet Pillows for $16 each (plus shipping) on etsy. The cover price is $24.95, so it's a savings of almost $9. My shop link is here. You don't have to wait until Wednesday, the listing is live now.

 

A recent shopping trip revealed some hot trends for this season. Color block is everywhere--Piet Mondriaan-style geometrics with black, white, yellow, blue, occasionally red. (I remember trying to paint an imitation myself, taping off a canvas so the edges of the paint blocks would be straight. There's a good reason I went into fiber arts and didn't become a painter.)

 

The other thing I saw a lot of was chevrons, which is great because I love to crochet those!  The Lakeside Cliffs Shawl that I just did for My Crochet Kits is based on a chevron variation.

 

The Knit & Crochet Show is in Reno this week. I won't be attending, but I'm eager to hear about it from those who will be there. Several of my patterns will be there with My Crochet Kits. I'm very grateful to Debra for her interest in my work. If you are there and see someone wearing the green "Ripples on the Lake Wrap," please say hi to her and tell her you know me! This is Debra's first show--the Crochet Liberation Front graciously invited her to share some space in their booth--and it should give her a good feel for the interest level in her wonderful kits. She's doing a giveaway every day, so make sure you stop by and enter if you're on site.

 

I finished up a bunch of non-crochet projects recently. Now it's time to concentrate on the next round of design, and to work on the formal proposal for my next big project. Things will be a little challenging this week because the roof is getting replaced. I jumped out of my chair a couple of times today when a sudden BANG! from above startled me, but it really hasn't been too bad. And at least it keeps me awake.

 

What will you be doing to celebrate International Crochet Day?

 

 

Blog Book Tour, Tidying Up, New Projects

What a fun month Crochet Scarves has had on the blog book tour! I'll include the links to August's tour stops at the end of this post.

One review that brought tears to my eyes was from Kim Guzman, who is a designer, Tunisian crochet expert, teacher, blogger...and someone whose approach I really respect. Kim is always kind to crocheters who are making her projects (even when they ask her ridiculous questions that she shouldn't have to deal with). She explains things well and has always been super helpful in discussions about Tunisian terms. She has a few new books and classes of her own, so please check them out.

Here's a brief excerpt from her review:

This book shouldn’t have been called Crochet Scarves. It should have been called Learn Just About Any Technique in Crochet With Amazing Photography and Extreme Close Up Tutorials and Use Those Newly-Learned Techniques to Create A Beautiful Scarf Because a Scarf is A Perfect Way to Learn and Practice Them. You think that title is too long? Then, you haven’t seen the book.

What a wonderful endorsement from an industry luminary!

The winner for the most unusual blog book tour stop, though, has to be Kathryn Vercillo at Crochet Concupiscence. She crocheted scarves for a month and kept a diary of her experience! It is so interesting to read her insights about her yarn choices, pattern selections, and how she felt while she was making the scarves. And it is great to see her projects take shape.

A huge thank-you to all of the bloggers who participated.

With Crochet Scarves getting settled into yarn shops, bookstores, craft stores, and online sites, it was a good time to do a major office/studio cleanout. I try to do this regularly, but I still accumulate way too much stuff. Yesterday I got rid of two bags of papers to recycle, two stacks of books to donate to the next used book sale, and one wastebasket full of trash. I went through all of my desk drawers; reorganized magazines, leaflets, booklets, and patterns on the bookshelves; ripped out a couple of UFOs that were never going to be FOs; wove in ends and steam-blocked almost-finished items; and got some pictures and a print ready for framing.

(Still to be done: a complete tour through my 12 file drawers, with the goal of emptying at least 4 drawers so a cabinet can move out of here. Lest you think I am really on top of this, let me confess that I have had this goal for several years. If I ever really do it, I will reward myself with a nice upholstered chair perfect to crochet in. Meanwhile, I console myself knowing that the longer it takes me, the longer I don't have to spend money on new seating.)

I've designed another shawl for MyCrochetKits.com: Lakeside Cliffs.

This one uses the yarns in the Stimulus Package from Dyelot Yarn, colorway "Beverly." The yarns range from smooth to mohair to curlicue.

My first idea for the shawl didn't work out, so I had to do a lot of careful ripping out before I could try this version. It's a variation on a chevron pattern, and I think the long stitches in the mohair and curly yarn came out very cool-looking. Next I'll write up the pattern and send the whole package to MyCrochetKits so they have a sample as well as the pattern.

The opportunity for a photo session, combined with the studio tidying, encouraged me to have some items photographed for my etsy shop. I've been slow to populate the store, but I have a lot of lovelies that could use a good home! Now that I have pictures, I can increase my etsy presence and let people know that I'm selling my samples. I hope to finish that this week.

Also on my to-do list: learn to use iContact so I can send my first newsletter to those who have subscribed (thanks to all five of you!) and encourage new subscribers; submit design proposals to five places; follow up with my local JoAnn Fabric to see about a book-signing and maybe teaching a class; do close-up photography of crocheted items; solidify my schedule for September and October.

I submitted a teaching proposal to TNNA for the February show in Long Beach. Several years ago I taught a class (the same class twice at the same show). All of the ratings I received were "10," the highest grade possible. One woman even wrote that it was the best class she had taken in all her years attending TNNA. So it makes perfect sense that when I submitted future teaching proposals, every single one of them has been turned down! I know, the decision isn't based solely on whether the instructor does a good job: popularity of the craft, number of people who would be interested in attending, and other factors count, too. Trying to find something that appeals to the decision-makers has obviously eluded me until now. I actually gave up attending the designer/teacher meetings at TNNA because this question, "What kind of classes are you looking for?" came up again and again and there was never a satisfactory answer--my time is better spent on the show floor or comparing notes with other designers. Anyway, we'll see if I have better luck this time.

I expect to be blogging more frequently now that I'm in "back to school" mode!

Here are the lists of blog book tour stops in August:

Robyn Chachula's blog: http://www.crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com/2012/08/crochet-scarves-fabulous-fashions.html

Mary Olivier's blog--in France! http://livredefil.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/crochet-scarves/

Eurona Tilley's blog: http://handsindelight.com/

Donna Hulka's blog at Crochetville: http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?p=2491106#post2491106

Kim Guzman's blog: http://kimguzman.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/book-review-crochet-scarves-by-sharon-silverman/

Dora Ohrenstein's blog: http://www.crochetinsider.com/article/new-patterns-and-books

Kathryn Vercillo's blog: http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?p=2491106#post2491106

New Patterns and More Tour Stops

Ever seen one of those balance boards that are on top of a cylinder? You put one foot on each side and try to keep the edges of the board off the ground.

 

That's a bit what it feels like marketing a finished project while working on new ones. It's best to go back and forth, not leaning too much to one side.

 

Some top crochet bloggers have been helping me get the word out about Crochet Scarves by hosting a blog book tour.  In the past few days, Annie Modesitt (www.modeknit.com) and Ellen Gormley (www.gocrochet.com) have blogged about the book. Please visit their websites to learn about their many books and patterns!

 

I've been pleased that the bloggers understand how the scarves in the book are also teaching tools to help crocheters learn new things. Here is an excerpt from Ellen's review:

Many of the projects caught my attention, but the one I will try first is the above photo, Premium Cable.  This is a simple Tunisian CABLE pattern.  There are 21 photos that illustrate step by step how to do this technique. Don't be scared though, 21 photos doesn't indicate how hard the pattern is, but how thoroughly Sharon teaches!  Have I brought home my point yet? The point is... this book is about learning new things... and scarves are just the vehicle to make great projects in the process. You can apply these techniques and stitch patterns and apply what you've learned to any project.

Coming up shortly are blog stops with Robin Chachula (www.crochetbyfaye.com) on 8/3, then the tour's first international stop with Mary Olivier (www.livredefil.com) on 8/9, followed by a visit to Eurona's wonderful blog, www.handsindelight.com on 8/10.  

 

So, that's one side of the balance board, marketing the latest book. New designs and projects are on the other side. I've just finished Ripples on the Lake, a pattern for the second kit I've designed for World Wide Yarns. This one in Dyelot Yarns "Recovery Package" set of four yarns in one colorway (avocado). There's one thick-and-thin yarn, one smooth cotton, one chainette-ish yarn, and a lusciously draping rayon. The kit with pattern will be available from WWY on or before September 1; I'll announce the availability as soon as I get the go-ahead.  I really enjoyed working on this!

 

Next, it's time to return to some UFOs and finish them up. There's the asymmetrical garment in Blue Heron's mercerized cotton "Wintersky" colorway that's almost done; a navy and cream striped sweater that I stowed away and want to return to; and some baby items for gifts and for publication. As my space fills up, I'm also getting ready for a "sample sale," offering some finished items for sale on etsy or elsewhere (haven't quite worked out the best way to handle this yet).

 

Don't forget to keep up with the blog tour stops and enter to win your copy of Crochet Scarves! Each blogger is offering a giveaway.

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!