Pumpkins, storm, book review, Wrapture

A week ago seems like a month ago, so much has happened. We had beautiful weather for the annual Chadds Ford Historical Society pumpkin carve. Thousands of people came out to see the 60 or so pumpkins that different teams had carved on Thursday. There were some very clever and intricate designs as always. The Headless Horseman was one of them. Then, of course, we got socked with Sandy. We live in an area with lots of trees, so treefall is usually a big concern. We were fortunate: the only one that came down is far back in the woods, nowhere near the house. We did lose power for about 24 hours, but since we have a propane-powered generator that comes on automatically, it was pretty much a non-event. We had heat, refrigeration, hot water, and electricity for the computers and some other lights and outlets. We took a ride to see the flooding around the Brandywine. There were a couple of bridges that were covered, but we have had worse in other storms so we count ourselves lucky. We're still trying to reach some NYC relatives to check on them.

I got a nice surprise from Stephanie at SpaceCadet Creations. She posted a review of Crochet Scarves here. I used two of her yarns, Luna and Estella, for scarves in the book. It's nice to include some hand-dyed yarns along with the mass-produced fibers.

Another giftie that arrived for me recently was a bottle of Wrapture, my friend designer Kristin Omdahl's addition to the Eucalan line of no-rinse washes for woollens and delicates. It can be used in the washing machine or the sink; I chose the sink simply because I wasn't sure I would know how to stop the machine at the appropriate time and I was too lazy to read the manual.

Wrapture comes in a sweet little bottle with a round top like an olive (although I don't think Eucalan offers "martini" as one of their scents--yet!). I haven't used a no-rinse product before, and I was curious how it would work.Wrapture is jasmine-scented and contains lanolin. A tablespoon in a sinkful of tepid water (approx. 1 gallon) is all that was needed. The solution bubbled a bit, then I put in my Moonmist Shawl, squeezed it gently, and let it soak for about 20 minutes.  After that, I squeezed out the liquid, resisting the temptation to rinse. Voila! Moonmist--coincidentally, also in SpaceCadet Luna silk/merino--is currently drying happily on a towel.

I recommend Wrapture to anyone who loves the smell of jasmine and wants a safe, no-rinse wash. Thanks, Kristin! Find out more about this product here.

NYC

What fun it was to go to New York City and spend the evening at Lion Brand Yarn Studio!

It was raining and misty on my drive up, but the weather cooperated when I arrived. (Carrying an umbrella always guarantees that the rain will stop.) I enjoyed an hour or so of exploring the Flatiron neighborhood and watching the people. Lots of dogs, too.

Back at LBYS, studio manager Patty Lyons and I did a brief video chat for "Talks from The Yarniverse." Here's the link if you want to check it out. The talk was filmed in the second-floor classroom, a large space where I have taught before. 

Lion Brand likes to do things in the BIG way, so in the classroom they have giant knitting needles and hooks, a giant ball of yarn, and other oversized things. I was honored to receive what I'm calling "The Order of the Hook," a perpweight in the shape of a crochet hook from Lion Brand CEO David Blumenthal. It weighs almost 11 ounces and my best guess is that it is a size Q, although you wouldn't want to crochet with it because your hand would get sore in two minutes. Don't drop that thing on your toe, either! It's a very nice souvenir that I am pleased to use on my desk to keep my patterns from blowing away.

The event on the first floor, in the lovely retail space, was really fun. We had a good turnout. Scarves were enthusiastically modeled by volunteers, people asked lots of good questions, and my lovely cousin Arlette was there for family support.  Here are a few pictures:

 

The evening concluded with a book-signing of Crochet Scarves (and Tunisian Crochet--a few people were interested in that, too). I met so many nice people! I was also happy to be able to donate a hat to the collection Lion Brand is putting together for those in need.

After the event was over, I had dinner with my cousin at Mumbles in her neighborhood. It was great to spend some time one-on-one with her.

Now it's time to work on some new designs, a book proposal, a Crochet Scarves trunk show, and projects for MyCrochetKits.com. I hope all of you are feeling energized and are enjoying what you're working on!

Podcast, NYC-bound, and Thoughts on Windows (the Glass Kind, not the Microsoft Kind)

Happy October! It's been busy around here. Did you have a chance to catch my appearance on Marly Bird's Yarn Thing podcast? Here's the link in case you missed it. I enjoyed the conversation--Marly always asks good questions and is fun to talk to. Thursday 10/4 is my appearance at Lion Brand Yarn Studio in NYC. I'll be giving a short talk and hosting an audience-participation fashion show with scarves from Crochet Scarves: Fabulous Fashions, Various Techniques. Want to model? Now's your chance! The event is free, but you have to let them know you're coming. Did you RSVP yet? Here's the link for more information and to register.  I love the Studio and am eager to return there--this will be my third visit. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and I start doing my thing at 6.

Recently I've been attending to some home chores, including window-cleaning. (Now, before you read on, you have to promise not to give me any window-cleaning advice. I say this not because I am close-minded, or because I don't value your grandma's tried-and-true method, but because I promise you I have tried every technique you could mention. No matter what I still end up with streaky glass and the knowledge that I'm just not good at this! Telling me that you have a foolproof method will only reinforce my feelings of inadequacy in the window-washing department. So, thank you for your restraint!)

Here is a partial list of my unsuccessful attempts. I've tried vinegar (house smelled like salad dressing for a week), crumpled newspapers (ruined my rubber gloves), plain water, water with dish detergent, Windex, paper towels, environmentally friendly glass cleaner, a chamois, soft rags, old towels, and a squeegee. I've cleaned the windows in bright sunlight, when it's overcast, and when the moon is in the seventh house. I even followed a recommendation to wipe up-and-down on the inside and back-and-forth on the outside to make it easier to see which surface was streaky. (Answer: both.)

Even though I'm terrible at cleaning the windows, I am also really slow at it!You may think this is a minor issue, but with 21 double-hung windows, it is a time-consuming enterprise. Or maybe escapade is a better word. Fortunately, the windows tilt in or I'm sure that the caption by my picture would read "Splat!"

I do know to do the upstairs windows before the downstairs ones. Please don't ask me how I learned this.

The frustration of doing the glass is matched only by the disgustingness of cleaning the dead bugs out of the frames and drainage channels. Blecch! I read that there are more than 300,000 species of beetles in the world, most of which apparently sent representatives to die in my window frames. I brushed them out with toothbrushes and flushed them out with water.  Some of the not-quite-dead ones weren't too happy about this, including several torpid stink bugs and a quite angry wasp.

My goal was to finish this chore before the exterior painting began, so I wouldn't be washing dirt and bugs onto pristine new paint. As far as that goes, I am pleased to report Mission: Accomplished. The painters are here today and my house is ready for them. True, the windows could probably be cleaner and less streaky, but the bugs have been banished and I made enough of a difference that I can actually see through the glass now!

Now I can turn my attention back to my crochet projects. I'm enjoying my work for Debra at My Crochet Kits. She packages yarn and patterns together so crocheters have exactly what they need and can start on a project right away--what a super idea! Debra is featuring several of my patterns, including some I designed just for her. Here's the link to her site.

With the leaves turning and a nip in the air, I'm inspired to create nice warm accessories. Hope you are feeling invigorated, too!

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.