Good afternoon!

What a beautiful day… cool, in the 60s; this is my kind of day! I am just loving it.. and today has been a pretty productive day so far. I pretty much have the last 5 patterns edited and ready for the deadline to be sent out for publication.. More on that soon when I sign the contracts!! (You all are going to love them!) I cannot wait to tell you more, I truly want to burst with it.. but alas, I must wait. But I can say- I think this is going to be huge! So let’s hope the paperwork goes in and out fast so I can let you in on what is soon coming!

I want to give a thank-you, to all of my testers. Many have been laboring hard with everything that is going on.. My admins keeping tabs on posts and organization of the board.. testers testing and really working diligently..

Something on the Crochet Garden Testing Board is a point system. Testers get points for testing, posting, etc.  With these points, there is an arena area where these points can be redeemed. It is really, truly a neat system. One of the areas is “Guess Events.” A photo is posted, and each guess is a certain amount of points. Another area, are regular events, usually one posted per week, and “tickets” for those can be anywhere from 10 points to 1000 points. The more “tickets” one buys, the more chances to win. Those can be either known or unknown.. Like for example, one event may be 50 points per ticket, and it is a surprise of what the winner gets. Then there may be another event where there is a photo posted of the winnings.. It really adds a fun element to the testing board.

Here is one of the latest things for grabs in one of the events: 6 hanks (440y each) of Alpaca Cloud, 100% baby alpaca. Oh my it is soooo soft.. and the color is just absolutely gorgeous!! I love pale, almost icy colors.. One of the lucky testers will be winning this lot!

Closeups:

And oh my, it is so soft. Not scratchy at all. It is a laceweight.. I am imagining a beautiful lacy shawl or stole.. or maybe even some gorgeous lacy baby dress.. OR even a dainty young miss cardigan. When I get through all of these publications and through the winter launch for the website.. I will be getting more of this yarn to work up a pattern or two with. What shall I make with it? It is just so beautiful and ideas storming through…

But one lucky tester will be winning this.

Next time I go up to Chicago, and visit my sister in Wisconsin.. I am going to hit that store and get some yummy Yerba Mate for some events! (See This Post on Yerba Mate Tea)

Ok, so in my last post I talked about designing patterns for women. I would like to make both regular sizes, as well as plus sizes. I know about a year and a half ago I was going to work on plus size crochet wearables, but unfortunately, the time never presented itself. I am now wiser, in that time will never come to you! One must make the time. So this coming year, I will be treading into this new territory of designing.  I even have some goodies to help me along in this adventure- will delve more into that on future posts and keep you all posted on the proceses I use as I develop these new skills. I already have a zillion sketches.. some awfully cute camisoles.. some dainty but classy looking tops… and a few sketches of some skirts. One of these though I think I may send in for publication.

In the meantime, I am doing much needed research for myself in this area.  A lot can damage a great design.. for example, when it is best to have a dropped sleeve.. when to have set in sleeves.. Even the sleeve length can impact the overall success of a design. And of course, the material used.. I have pretty much sworn off anything bulky-wise for plus sizes- we do not need all that excess! But then, I really do not like bulky yarns anyway, at least for most of my designs… They are fine maybe for a baby hoodie.. but for tops, I do not think I will be using them. For majority (both plus sizes and regular sizes) I plan to use from size 3 to a worsted weight)- depending on the project, style, and stitching used.

Fingering weight- a maybe… depending on the sizes and what the item is… same thing for size 10 thread. I do not want to make a garment that takes so long many never finish.

On the same note of material weights.. The Craft Yarn Council has now redone their pages.. There is a new, or well, updated yarn labeling system. (For example, worsted always termed as a 4, etc.) There are now weights 0-6. Check out the yarn weight system through the CYCA!

They now have sections for designers! If you design.. check out: Submitting a Project Idea: Where To Start, and  Designer Pitfalls (A great read!). There are many other great articles and sections.. so go check it out at all the revisions and updates at the CYCA (Crochet Yarn Council Of America)!

On another note, a dear successful, published and well known designer friend of mine began a blog on blogger oh maybe a couple months ago. I know many people out there use Blogger, so I figured I would throw this out there to my dear fellow crocheters who have blogs on Blogger.

In correspondence through email, she told me she changed her blog to another name, because the old name was similar to another person who crochets and she did not want the two blogs and designers to be confused (valid reason). So, she deleted her old blog about 3 weeks ago and began anew with an entirely new name.

This morning I was doing a search to get to the new blog using Google, and I clicked on what I thought was her new blog, but was her old blog. And oh my, it was quite full of explicit adult material. I emailed her straight away alerting her to this. It did not looked hacked, since she had given up the old name of the previous blog.. but what is bad, is that when doing a google search, that name is affiliated with her name, but just different content (very different!).

I did some research.. and I came across someone who had the same thing happened. He warned, never ever delete and give up your blogspot address/name/account. See, many of these blogs have people out there in the world wide web linking to them. So unscrupulous people take advantage of this known fact- basically, knowing they will get instant traffic. So they wait and snatch up any deleted blogspot names, and put there content in, and just watch the traffic go on.

The gentleman on this site suggests leaving the site there and simply making a link to your new site. Anyway, this is just a forewarning so this does not happen to anyone else- nobody deserves to have their name associated with things they not wish to be associated with. I have to look into it, and so does my dear friend, maybe there is something that can be done.. but even for the time it takes to get something done, it can be unnerving and unsettling waiting for it go away…

So I leave you with that heads-up if you have a blogger account.

Time to get back to work… Take care everyone

Well, things have been so insanely busy. Deadlines galore! This entrance into the publication has definitely put me on my toes! My dear blog has been sorely neglected- and I apologize for that! I have a deadline for 6 patterns, all due this third week in October (eek).. So between writing and editing…and crocheting like a mad woman, time to breathe has been a luxury! One should see me.. I am very quickly learning there is a dimension above and beyond the realm of master multitasking… And my dear testers.. they are feeling it too, but soon it will be done with and we can all have a break.

I have this new fiber material I am working with.. And it is a shrinking fiber blend. So this past week I have been doing research galore on fiber materials and their properties.. For example, is it ok to stretch something when blocking it above and beyond its natural state? I found that many yarns behave vastly differently.. And what about fibers that shrink? Design something larger to allot for the shrinkage… ? Design it to size and then block back out? If it does not shrink, and you plan to include blocking in your instructions.. should you make it to size, or smaller and then block out? So many questions I have looming in my mind.

With this particular yarn I went on a detective hunt, so that I would have the most perfect pattern that I could possibly have. What was really amazing, is that I came across a pattern that Annie Modesitt designed using the same yarn! So I figured, what the heck.. let’s email her and see what she things about this shrinking/blocking/designing issue. So I explained to her I am using the same fiber yarn she used for a particular pattern, and that my issue- and within 5 mins she wrote me back! My jaw dropped.. what a sweet and kind person…

Thank you Annie for lending your expertise to me! I genuinely appreicate it! And for everyone else, check out Annie Modesitt’s Blog– this kind lady who gave a helping hand to this designer…!

I also called the yarn company itself and found the go-to lady for this specific yarn. She was quite helpful- told me everything there is to know about the yarn, any possible issues from customers on the shrinkage etc… So many little tidbits of information really valuable in helping me to design the most perfect pattern… So with that, and all of my detective work reading blogs where people discuss blocking and shrinking etc.. and then also working up my own swatches, and washing, drying , wetting and blocking I now feel strongly in which way to pursue this design.

(Image used with permission from Interweave Press) Also in my quest, I came across this book: No Sheep For You, by Amy Singer (editor of Knitty Online Magazine). (If you knit, check out this magazine, looks like an excellent resource- articles, patterns etc.)! This book is available through Interweave Press- and we all know how great Interweave is!. I have it now on my wish list.. Do I have a wish list?? No.. but why not make one.. I guess this is an “in-the-mind” wish list.. one of these days to get that book.. it looks like an ultimate resource, especially for those like me who are thirsty to learn all they can about the the different fibers out there and their properties. Especially with the rise of natural fibers.. hemp, bamboo, etc. This book includes info on these, all the way to linen and cotton and other materials.

I also found this little tidbit on YouTube, of Amy Singer and her book in Toronto, discussing the different types of fibers (hemp, bamboo, soy etc.).. very interesting. There are models showing off her beautiful knit designs in this book.. and oh my- you have to see the fitted Aran Cable sweater, very chic, modern and plain sexy!

And the cover? Absolutely awesome…! VERY catchy, very unique, fun, has a sense of humor and a character all its own… Need I say more? Who could walk by that book on the shelf and not get it? Just by the cover you know it is going to be great… When I do finally get it.. I will definitely be posting about here!

There will be more info on this design in the months coming ahead, but just not yet… But the point is, that designing is not just designing.. it entails so much more.. detective work, research, problem solving.. for example, I had to modify the stitching of this pattern due to the results after washing and drying, as the stitching kind of “warped.” Good designing entails LOTS of swatching and experimenting.. troubleshooting, expecting the unexpected. Thinking outside of the box. Lots of science in a way… developing a hypothesis and then testing the theory under many conditions (as with blocking, washing, drying)…

Designing without serious swatching and testing is playing with fire- yes very cliche’, but it is. I think that, at least for me in designing, the first step is always to swatch swatch and then do more swatching.. I am now seeing how important it is to really become intimate with the fiber material you are working with, whether natural or synthetic. A designer is not just writing out the instructions of a pattern.. that is only a small portion of it.. So much more is involved in the designing process.

And that brings me along to my patterns.. What else can I do above and beyond writing instructions? Include any tips that you yourself have experienced… If a yarn is known to shrink when washed and dried.. put that in.. If a material is very weak or brittle when wet, let the crocheter know that. The art of designing, to me, is so much more.. It encompasses passing on your knowledge and expertise, so that the crocheter can make the best item as possible.

On another note… My son has been having difficulties with his girlfriend.. she is a sweet kid.. but very confused. My son has been by her side… walking her home after football games, there for her when she needs to talk.. But I am actually proud of my son for this break-up. I guess for a while she has been liking another boy. And my son was tired of it. He said she was quite surprised that he broke up with her, that she thought she would be the one breaking it off. They may end up back together, they may not. But I must say something must have gone right in raising him.. that he had enough self-respect for himself and know that he is worth a lot and should not be second best.. That is one big things I always feared for him.. since he has always been a kid to please others, and to make people happy.. and SO laid back I always was afraid that people would walk all over him. Even when I scold him, he never says anything back and just says “ok mom..”

I have been really trying to push him to voice his opinions and to not fear the consequence.. that it is more important to voice what he is feeling and thinking to others, including myself (lol was not sure what I was getting myself into there by saying that). But I knew, it had to be said and pushed for his best interest. Maybe that was it that brought him to do the breaking up, maybe not.. But somewhere along the way something went right, and although I truly feel empathetic.. I am proud at the same time.

As per the lady at the thrift store.. I did not send her flowers- not that she did not deserve them.. (a little out of my budget) but I did leave a card… I have not been in there since that day, but hope to go soon.. every other weekend they have everything half-off. I really hope things are getting better for her.

Well, back to my superwoman-multitasking-crochet-clean-insanity-day!

Take care, all!

This has been a busy couple of weeks.  Each day, there always seems to be something new. First, about a week ago, I had my largest order ever. I was so ecstatic.. a customer purchased one of every single crochet pattern I have ever designed. Every single one… Can you believe it? She was so excited and completely fell in love with my patterns. She bought one and then another, and another, until she decided that she wanted every single one… I still have a smile on my face. She told me, spend it wisely.. Oh I said, will be going toward winter coats for the kids and the electric bill.

It was the perfect time, and then it brought me to another thought-The realization that I am doing it. People truly do love my patterns, and my unique sense of style. And to think, when I first began designing, I was terrified that people would not like my work, that they would think it is too untraditional and not of the norm.

Sometimes, I think that I am too picky… If I do not like something, I will rip it out… it can be very time consuming, crocheting, then ripping out, sometimes ripping of 2-3 skeins worth. I am not sure what it is, but it is my downfall. I keep thinking, if I would stop doing this, how many more patterns I could put out. But for some reason, I just can’t do it. If I do not like something, out it goes.. Even if I partially like it, if I am not completely satisfied, forget it.

On other notes… this weekend is my son’s first High School Homecoming Dance. My little boy is growing up into a man… I am so proud of him. Such a nice boy, gets good grades, has a truly magnificent circle of friends.. He is jovial, laid back, just the kind of kid everyone wants to be around… And you know.. he is 6’4! I had the hardest time looking for black dress socks for him.. finally found some that fit shoe sizes 13-15. Since he wears a size 14 shoe, he is able to use his choir shoes- they are black. But the socks, black dress socks, oh my that was quite a hunt. But finally found some. This is a very busy week for him. This week, before homecoming is spirit week at school. Yesterday was pajama day.. and today is nerd day.. hehe… He dressed up in black slacks, a white shirt, black suspenders pulling his pants up high.. then rolling his pants up at the bottom on the inside to make them higher, with long white socks.  So, between Spirit week this week in school, homecoming this weekend,  Tuesday, he gets confirmed. Such a busy week for him.. and time is just passing by so fast.

Update: My son just arrived home from school.. and well, he won “Nerd Day.”

I guess they go by applaud.. that there is applauds for each student, and the loudest applaud wins. He is a pretty popular kid, not snooty popular, but the kind of person everyone just likes, no matter what “crowd” they are in.. Incidentally, he won a candy bar   Keep checking back for a photo.. need to charge the camera.

This reminds me, I went into the Thrift Store yesterday, to get him a funky tie for nerd day. The lady there did not seem happy at all. Her face kept cringing, her manner was one of a silent lashing out.. As if at any moment, she would explode. I went into the back saw a little play high chair, and a Leap Frog electronic ABC game. I asked her how much they were, since they were by everything else, but no tags. Things that have not yet been gone through are generally behind the long rope that divides the room. She sighed, walked over and looked each over for about 5 mins, continually sighing. She muttered a few times “they are not priced because I have not looked at them yet…” I had the feeling that she thought if she took enough time, I would just walk away. However, her demeanor did not distract me as all I could think of was my daughter having a wonderful time with these 2 items.

She continues to sigh, underneath my breath I felt like walking out that it was not worth it, but thoughts of my daughter did not waver my stance… Her complete depressive state was literally zapping my energy by the second… Finally, though seemingly reluctantly. she said $5 for the high chair… And then $4 for the game..

So I went browsing around the store while thinking about this.. they were both in fairly good shape.. and knew my daughter would just love them.

I do not know what happened, but I kept thinking about her and my irritation left and I felt sympathy for her.. I told her it’s a sale and then gently asked her if she was ok. She didn’t really answer, just looked away. I kept probing… not sure why. Finally, she broke down and said she was having problems with her kids.. I do not want to go into too much detail, but I could sense she was deeply, deeply hurting on the inside, and I think my instinct told me she was not trying to be a terrible saleswomen, but something really took hold of her and wasn’t letting go.. So I talked to her a few minutes to try and make her feel better. They are closed today, but tomorrow I am going to get her some flowers with a little anonymous note. I am not sure what to say in the note, but something that hopefully will bring a smile to her face.

The only reason I am not going to sign it, is that I do not want her to feel awkward, and I don’t know.. sometimes thank-you’s make me feel awkward coming from other people. What do you all think?

This made me think… for now one, when I get in the drive through and someone is in a bad mood, or any store or place for that matter, instead of thinking I will take my business elsewhere or letting them zap my energy… I am going to say “cheer up!” or something… Even if they are just a grumpy person, I think most really just need that friendly customer to give them that smile they are lacking.

Ok.. time to get back to work and then get working on dinner.. I really need to one day get a deep freezer. It would be so nice, to be able to make extras, and then throw them in the freezer, and then days like this I can just relax, heat up some food from the freezer.. Right now, if I put too much into the ice box, for some reason, it makes the food in the fridge all freeze. This has happened too many times to count, and then everything, well not everything but a LOT of things in the fridge have to be thrown out.. This fridge has cost me so much, so now, I put barely anything in there, as I cannot afford to throw food away. The landlord did have someone come out and look a couple times at it.. but he couldn’t figure it out, and basically that was the end of that.

I am thinking maybe next year I will be able to get a deep freezer.. Oh will be so nice!

Ok.. will write more tomorrow as I have a few more things to catch up on here, but work to do and dinner to make…

Take care all!

Oh it is so beautiful today.. Finally this heat or rather, humidity is now gone. 83 degrees, a nice breeze.. perfect laundry day.

I finally got a pic of Henry. Though not the best picture.. he now has taken up residence on the window, but disappears often. One day I saw him all fuzzy and dusty.. I think he was under the fridge or something. Here is Mr. Henry:

The other night, I went outside, and above my door on the outside- guess who I met?? Welp, Henrietta. I did not get a picture of her since it was dark.. but Henry better watch out. His head will be bit off by her if she decides he is the one… You can see in the photo, Henry’s head is tilted back and his little beady eyes are looking at me. I think he is getting over me trying to kill him. I think he is now actually starting to take a liking to me.

Well, remember that company that accepted my designs? Seems they have accepted another one as well… I have been so super busy… crocheting, designing.. Hopefully soon I will have a launch.. just a couple more things to get into testing. It really seems like there is never enough time in the day. I have so much I want to get done this month.. we shall see if I meet all my goals. Another goal is to blog at the LEAST once a week. So, when you do not see me on here.. just means I am really busy designing lots of patterns for you all!!

I am still so excited about Interweave’s winter issue.. I cannot wait! I just cannot stop bringing it up either.. The day I get that issue, watch out! On that note, I am also getting published in other places as well! I cannot say yet,until the contracts are signed, but once that is done.. I will be blabbing away here about it… So keep checking back.. It is amazing, all this publication happening at once.. It has become quite a task balancing getting stuff done for the website, as well as for these companies. I think I should take up stock in Advil.. yes? My joints are definitely getting a workout. And with my daughter in preschool, I have so much more time in the day to work.

I am so happy I put her in preschool. It has done wonders for her. The socialization has really made her blossom. Potty training happened overnight.. I still put a diaper on her at night just in case, but she has now been day trained for a few months. It is nice.. saves so much money on diapers. She also absolutely needed the rigid structure. It was hard, since being a single mom, and this being my full time job, to give her the absolute schedule and things she needed. Some kids may not need such structure, but she definitely needed it, and I needed time to work. It was hard cramming in designing and crocheting in the wee hours of the night and during her nap times. During the day, forget designing and crocheting… she needed me, interaction, etc.

Her speech has also blossomed… It is quite funny, I got her a pink little stuffed doggy, and she says “oooh mommy, so cute! Cute, cute, she’s so cute!” hugging her new little friend… I was cooking dinner and my son and I were in the kitchen and she comes in “hey guys!” lol.. we both laughed so hard, it was so sweet and funny, hearing slang. It is hard being away from her, but I know that is what is best for her. She also already knows all of her colors, counting, her ABC’s, incidentally, her favorite color is purple. Oh my.. what a phase this has been. Everything has to be purple. I told my mom, to get only purple! Some mornings it takes so long to get her dressed because she wants everything purple.. even down to her socks and panties!! Oh and then she also has a fascination with butterflies.. I had the hardest time last week getting her dresses, hunting for her shorts with the butterflies…

I think I will also have to take up stock in butterfly appliqués.. better yet, crochet and design a lot of butterfly appliqués and embellish all her clothes! That and dogs… she has an obsession with dogs. Well, any animals for that matter, but especially dogs. And oh my, such a passion for them. She is definitely an outdoors little one… everything in nature, from rocks, to bees, to squirrels. She would live outside if I let her. She also loves her babies and imaginary play.. here she is feeding her baby doll after her bath:

Every Saturday morning we go to the Farmer’s market. In the beginning, we got our favorite plants from our great farmer friend. He grows all if plants from organic seed and of course organically.. I bought a ton from him and planted them for our summer garden. I always ask him lots of questions.. What was really great is had so many types of basil.. lemon basil, lime basil, cinnamon basil.. yummm.. I made lots of pesto, and another favorite thing I like to do is take eggplant and slice it up into paper thin slices. Then I sprinkle kosher salt and let the moisture drain. Then, take 2 slices, and put a basil leave with a slice of farm cheese or mozzarella. I then squish the sides to make a sandwich per se, and then roll it in breadcrumbs. I then either fry them in Canola or Olive oil, sometimes bake them. Oh they are sooo good..! Olivia loves them too, and it exposes her to so many different types of herbs and vegetables, especially since I am such a veggie-herb nut. You should see how much chives and dill I planted! (I am obsessed with dill). Anyway- her is my farmer friend.. You can just see the energy radiating from him. And oh my, see that jug? that is full of his wonderful home brewed iced tea:

I love iced tea, especially homemade in the summer. I make big gallons of it. Mostly green tea, and then add in organic sugar, fresh lemons, and some honey and mmm.. the kids devour it. I get the caffeine-free for them. And of course, I make tons of Yerba Mate for myself.. now to just get myself a gourde. One of these days.. I save so much money by planting many of my own veggies and herbs. One day, when I finally buy a house, my dream is to have a huge backyard of nothing but herbs and veggies, and or maybe a greenhouse. One day…!

And here is my daughter, munching on some homemade biscotti at the market.. oh it was divine. My favorite was the chocolate macadamia. She is also sporting the hat I made her, which is part of the Nature’s Kiss outfit I designed, and holding “Scruffy” very close. Everyone has asked me to make that hat for their kids there.. everywhere I turned.. many begged me to set up a table at next summer’s farmer market… Will I have the time to make and spend there? We shall see. Of course it would be neat to mix and mingle with everyone, and talk about my crochet and designs. I was thinking of making up a photo album of all of my work, and one large poster size of my daughter modeling a hat.. It would be so much fun, but then I need to make sure I stay focused, as designing and putting patterns on the website and selling patterns to publication companies is what puts food on the table.

I wish my son would go out more with us.. but well, being a teen and so wrapped up with his friends and such, does not leave a lot for family time. But I am proud of him.. he is enjoying highschool, and is doing quite well. Each night we go over his Algebra and his other classes he feels he is weak in. He just found out he is getting an A in math.. and I told him, you can still be good at something and not like it, that everything you like, you will not always be good at! Then I kind of went off on a tangent of graphing equations and the theories of derivatives and matrices.. Well… I love math.. It was one of my minors in college. He now spends his evenings at football games, and watching his girlfriend cheer (she is a cheerleader), and then spending weekends playing Diplomacy with his friends. It is quite funny, he says people have basketball season, football season, they now have decided this is their Diplomacy season! lol.. Such a good group of kids.. well behaved, high morals, very outgoing and personable.. I am so happy that these schools here are ranked extremely high in this state.. and am so glad he has made such wonderful friends and is heading down the right path.

So what are my plans for today? To keep crocheting. I have a few large projects I am working on for publication. They will take me some time… and in between I am squeezing in items to put into testing for the website to have a launch soon. I think though I am at my limit of things I can put into testing.. I think almost every single one of my testers is testing one more things, and are basically “full.” So I keep designing, and putting things on the side waiting for them to give them more. So far, I think they are loving it. One item, is a BEAUTIFUL , gorgeous dress.. oh my it is truly one of my most favorite designs as of yet… I debated whether to send it in for publication or to put it on the website.. But I think I will put it on the website… Any thoughts?!?!

One thing I scratched off my to-do list was rewrite the Rugged Mountain Scarf Collection!! FINALLY. WOW. I cannot believe how far I have come with my pattern writing. The idea is ingenious, I think to have reversible cables.  But implementing them using the written word was quite a task for a beginner designer, as proved to be the case when I opened up the files to reword. They have now 1/4th the size they were in length. I think another element that goes into good pattern writing is “smoothness.” You can have a long pattern, but if it is choppy and such, it will be overwhelming and the crocheter will put it aside. But if it is smooth, clean looking and logical with good flow, the longest patterns can be quite a treat for the crocheter leaving them with a thirst to want to do more of your patterns. Welp… the Rugged Mountain Scarves are now rewritten. If you have ordered this pattern in the past, please email me or go to the support page with your Transaction ID on your paypal payment and you will get a new version!

Do you ever wonder what people look like behind the written word? Well, I took a snapshot of myself the other day.. You can’t really see all of my hair, but it goes down to my hiney. Usually I am wearing it all completely up, but this time I sort of have it down, though it is in a ponytail. I wear a lot of kerchiefs and things, and scarves as a headband.. so much hair, and so long, yet I hate it when my hair is on my face. yes, I am an odd duck. Here I am:

Well, time to get back to designing.. so much to get done, and I have a “painting date” with my daughter..

A few days ago.. I am getting into the fridge to get some tomato juice (yes, this is my all time favorite drink), and I see some sort of bug on top of the fridge. I have this thing about bugs in that I catch them and take them outside..

Upon closer look since it was almost camouflaged with the bread wrapper (brown whole wheat)  I see that bug is really big! I estimated about 5 inches long- to me that is a big bug. I get closer and see it is a preying mantis. He turns his head to me cockeyed as if inspecting me.

All the while this is happening, I am on the phone with one my admins from my testing board. I am like, there is no way I am getting close to that thing to catch it! So.. I ask her to look up on the computer (because I did not want to take my eyes off of it) to see if it is dangerous.

First thing she says, it can catch and kill a hummingbird. Yep, ok, do not want this in my house (thinking of my dog and kids). But I also did not want to kill it, and the thought of squishing it just totally  – well, there was no way, it was so big I would get splattered. And how in the heck would I be able to get it from off the fridge??

So then I am thinking, get a chair and maybe catch it in a container. So I ask my admin, Does it jump? And she says, yeah, I think it said they jump. Ok, so container is out of the question.. and no way could I co inhabit my place with a 5 inch bug that can kill a hummingbird.

Ok, the vacuum is what the answer is… I hoped it would survive the journey- as I really did not want to kill it, but was afraid of it biting the kids or my dog. So.. I have my phone on one ear, balance myself on the chair with the vacuum hose. It was going to take some fancy maneuvering as the bug was much longer than the hose opening of the vacuum.

I am standing there, studying it, figuring out my plan of attack, and he is just staring at me, every so often bending his head a bit as if he were even studying me… The admin on the phone says, they have super sonic hearing.. Oh great I think… The minute I turn on the vacuum it will jump onto my shoulder or even worse, my face!

So… I am looking at him, and him at me. He is not moving or looking in the least bit scared. He is not scurrying away like I would think most bugs would do.

Now!

I throw on the vacuum and get his hiney into the end of the hose. Vacuum motor is blaring in my ears, and the bug will not move… the vacuum is sucking in all the plastic.. and he is too big for his whole body to get in the hose, and he is gripping on the plastic bread bag with no sign of letting go or coming loose…

So, I grab the bread and toss it on the floor, him still holding onto it. He then scurries onto the carpeted floor.. I aim the vacuum right at him.. nope, sucker is holding on like stone to the carpet.. not an ease of movement from the vacuum…

He then starts to crawl away and STILL he could not go into the vacuum with the suction full blast… he makes his way to under the fridge and well, that was that. Turned off the vacuum in disbelief that a bug outwitted me, or that it has supervacuum feet grippers…

Later that  night my son gets home and I said, we have a preying mantis. He says I know. I said wha?!?! You never told me? he said well it was just sitting there everyday  by the window in the same spot, I thought it was dead..

The next morning, there is the dear preying mantis, again, on top of my fridge on the bread. I wince at him give him a “Hrmph” and get out my tomato juice. I hop on the computer to start reading about this little guy..

I was dumbfounded. There are people who raise the preying mantis as a pet! I saw photos with kids holding them, like a cricket or ladybug. Another story how people buy them to help with bugs (like ants and such).. I am starting to like this little guy (but of course am not going to let him know that yet). No carriers of disease… another plus. No known negatives of this bug. Another good plus. No evidence of them ever being harmful to humans (unless really provoked, and the bite is very minor)..

I go to my fridge.. made a deal. Told him, he needed to eat moths and ants and if he did I would let him stay. So, I can really say, after I tried to kill little Henry, we have become close and are now bonded. So each morning, I say hi to him above my fridge.. I tell him he needs to keep eating bugs.. Can’t believe knowing what I know now that I almost killed him! Thanks goodness for those super soles of feet..

Despite my liking of this new house companion, I do not dare touch the bread – until I absolutely have to. One of these days will get a photo of Henry

Well, on another note, the 5 swatches or so I sent out, looks like 3 of them are accepted! (Yay). The yarn has already arrived, and I have begun working… I have also been working on putting things into testing, to get more things on the website..

I think I am running out of testers lol.. I have so many things in testing, but it is needed. It has been so long since I have put anything on the website since all of this publication submission time has been going on… A lot of testers are full too with the testing, one even said today, it is beautiful but I have too much on my plate! I guess I need to slow down.. but just trying to stay ahead and catch up at the same time.. lol is that even possible? Catching up from all the time I have not had a launch, and stay ahead, so that I always have something new in testing! Maybe??

My place has taken a back seat.. I REALLY need to do laundry – but who can do laundry when it is in the 90s and 100s?? This heat wave needs to go away. This August has been excruciating!

Also, on another note.. I participated in a swap a while back.. and I received my box from my partner! Thank you Loopey! Here is what she sent:

-beautiful caplet/shawl.. I will love wearing this, and it is oh so soft!

A lovely soft kerchief.. I LOVE to wear kerchiefs in my hair, so this is perfect

Little goodies, nail files, foot notes, stationary, and  post card and a lovely card  from her And a sweet little green and white tote/purse to hold everything in

A belt! This looks like it took so much time! I love the colors, and it is going to look gorgeous on!

Thank you so much Loopy! It was a great swap and I love everything you sent.. and you are silly thinking you did not do enough… I am blown away with how much effort and time you put into this! Thank you so much

Well, I have been a busy little bee… worked on about 5 swatches as proposals this weekend for a company. I just love it when I am swatching and I come up with something entirely new.. Actually, swatching is one of my most favorite things to do..

Sometimes, I already have the idea in my head.. and then other times, I just take hook and yarn and swatch. Usually something transpires that can be turned into something grand.. It just all depends on the yarn. The drape (though that can be somewhat changed by hook size), the fill factor, as I call it. I could take 2 yarns, and obtain the same number of sts per inch. But they can look totally different.. like thread, lacks the fill factor.. a mohair, lots of fill factor.. a plush will have more of a fill factor than your regular acrylic yarn.

With my designs, at least, the fill factor, drape, colors available, etc. play important roles that will affect what the finished project will be. Then from there I swatch different stitches, suitable to what I think the project will end up being. Sometimes, I dive straight into swatching, as sometimes a surprise may come up, which ends with something unique I would not have thought of before hand. I guess in a way sometimes I have a backwards way of designing??

I am still so excited, waiting for the Interweave issue this winter to come out! I am sure Interweave will do a fantastic job with the photography. I had never thought about it before, as this will be my first publication, but I now think, wow I can’t wait to see what it looks like on the model!! This publication time in my career has opened a whole new world of thinking, and writing, amongst other things.

Each publication company has their own style of writing, own way of condensing. I now think, before designing, will this be something for the website, or something for submission. Of course, something for the website can always be “translated” into something for submission. But I now take that into account, as to save me time later when editing my patterns. I can always add information, and I can always cut information, it is the time factor that I think about. So I have to sort of “balance” in my initial writing, in case I may change my mind and add something to the website or decide I would like to submit it somewhere.

Well, time for me to get back to swatching! So much to do, and alas, so little time!

I recently held a drawing event on the Crochet Garden website. First place, is a $20 gift card, and second place is a $5.00 gift card. The winners were drawn at 12:01 AM on Monday and they are as follows:

WINNERS:
First Place: Holly S. of Spokane, WA
Second Place: Steffin W. of Annabella, UT
Your gift cards will arrive within 72 hours to your email.

Congratulations! I hope to have more drawings and promotions on the website regularly. In fact, there is something that will be fun coming up that I will be devising.. so stay tune for that.. Individuals can work together, or in teams and share the prize… More on that though later as I develop the idea more

This weekend only, there will be a drawing on the Crochet Garden website. For each pattern ordered, your name will be entered into a drawing. First prize will be a $20 gift card to the website, and the second prize will be a $5 gift card. Winners will be selected at 12:01 AM central time Monday August 13th and will be posted on the website during the day.

My son had his “back to school” orientation yesterday. When he got back, being the typical teenager, he shrugged his shoulders when I asked how it went. So I said, “Come, sit! Bond with your mama!” So, my 6’4 son came and crouched down beside me.. He told me it was the same ol same ol.. and I said how are you classes, and he told me he got into every class he wanted to, like Honors English etc. I then asked does he have a lot of friends in his classes.. and he said yeah, so and so in this class and so and so in this class.. and so and so grr in World History. “Grr?” I said.. “Yes, Grrr, so and so in World History.” I asked him why Grrr.. I was completely baffled… and he said “Cause he is the smartest one in the entire county.” And I said what is wrong with that.. and he said, “I wanted to be the smartest one in the class.” (Incidentally, History is one of his favorite subjects).

I told him.. you may be book smart, but you are still extremely smart.. All As and Bs… (Bs from not turning in work, silly kid)… And I reminded him of his ISAC scores.. Those by the way, are the Illinois and Iowa standarized tests and they give % of how he did against kids in the school and kids his same level across the county. The ones across the country he always scores in the 90 plus, and English he scored like 98%! So, I also told him in addition to that, he is also smart in other ways.. very people smart, socially smart, etc..

I do not know if my talk did any good.. it wasn’t like he was depressed or anything, but I know how much he loves history and could imagine how he would feel, that little “grrr” kind of feeling.. but he was happy his girlfriend was in a lot of his classes..

I am so blessed and so lucky, that “these” are his types of problems.. He is such a well rounded, laid back, easy going kid… He is smart, is in choir, has good friends.. is the kind of kids that all the kids like. I do not know what I would ever do if I had the problems that many other parents have… drugs, truancy, back talking etc… I am so very very lucky and am so happy and relieved my son is turning out so well.. I always worried that I would have to endure the nightmare that so many other parents have to go through and my heart goes out to them.

Now if only my son would ask me to learn to crochet???

So I spent the last couple days swatching.. and oh my.. just yesterday when I figured out a pattern stitch for a baby afghan, I realized after about 20 rows, it was doing that slanting thing! You know, where your work begins to slant into a slight trapezoid? Oh how annoying.. so I spent the evening trying to figure out why it was doing it.. something with the stitches.. on one side I always doing a certain sequence of sts, and then on the other size I was doing a different type of sequencing..

Sometimes crochet is like detective work… must look at the “clues” at what is going on that could be contributing to the problem.

Another interesting thing I thought about, which I think is really neat by the way.. to make a pattern shorter.. I noticed often times when working certain patterns, I would come to certain points where the instructions for one row or rnd would need to broken down for each size, or a row will need to be adjusted, which I refer to as a “prep row” for a new pattern sequence (which can sometimes lengthen a pattern). After thinking about that… I figured out that if I worked backwards, I could somewhat alleviate some of this..

I tried out my theory. After sketching out an idea the other day and figuring out my gauge.. I worked on the schematics. Say, for example (in a top to bottom pattern), an edging needs a certain multiple of sts. Instead of working the body based off the chest, and thus then the body not turning out to be the correct multiple of sts, when beginning the body, why not make it the correct multiple so that when the edging comes, the pattern will flow? One may say, well what is the difference between making the adjustment at the beginning of the body rather than at the edging. Well, for me, it makes a huge difference. Since the body usually consists of some sort of design, and usually the top is much more simple. Of course, this idea will not work in all situations, but in some, it would save a lot of written word. I am sure working “backwards” per se would also have other positive effects and this idea could be used for other things..

When I begin to design, sometimes I already have a picture in my mind. Sometimes I do not and it comes to me when swatching. But I really think ALL of my patterns, the written word will only prosper by being more cohesive and smooth if, before I begin writing, work little snippets of all parts of the garment in word form… then I can sort of mold certain instructions so that they will positively impact the next portion.

Anyway.. that was just another one of my thoughts- of when I think too much :P)

Ok.. so now off to swatching on that baby afghan and other things! I will write back later after I figure it out

So I was looming around Crochetville the other day.. and someone posted a photo of their Garden Trellis Shawl of mine. It is awesome.. she got First Place! You have to take a look, the thread is here: http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=57621

Her shawl turned out awesome.. It is interesting to see the results people have with my patterns. And like this, when I see them, I am always like “Wow! I designed that!” When I begin to design something I am always excited… Perfecting it to oblivion, ripping and redoing, to get it perfect. After a while the “giddy” part leaves, and I am like hmmm, somehow I need to make it better. Then after I release it, I am so familiar with it and so used to it. I look at it and I say, hmm wonder if there was something I could have done to make it even better. Then time passes and I start seeing people making the patterns, and that initial surge of excitement returns all over again. It is wonderful… it is like I am brought back to those first days when it was in design.

I do not know why it happens this way… I think when I first started, this is why I put up a gallery of my testers’ and customers’ results. When roaming around, I always looked for other designers if they has photos up.. but could never find any. And that is when the idea transpired, put up the tester and customer results! Then people can see different ways of working my patterns, different colors and embellishments, how different sizes look.. I really think it has been one of my best ideas yet.

I spent the last few days swatching for another editor, and sent those out yesterday. Hopefully they arrive by Monday. As soon as the contract is signed I can give you a bit more info (but again not too much <>). But I must say, one of these publications I am ecstatic about.. it is something NEW, BRAND NEW… something VERY unique and absolutely gorgeous… Currently, they are deciding which colors of yarns to for me to use, and then the order will be put in and I will begin crocheting away. I will keep you all updated on my progress… but this ingenious idea was the catalyst for the other idea- the swatches I worked up and sent out the other day.

I think this is a hard part of publication, not being able to say too much, and saying just enough to let your excitement out… So the agenda for today is more swatching, and working on a few patterns that I need to get into testing. I would like to add more to the website, but it seems like all this publication is coming at once (that is a GREAT thing)! And I hope it continues… I am sure rejections will be in hand. But I am not a pessimist, I am definitely glass full gal!

And I tell you.. when the Winter 2007 Interweave issue comes out- the glass will be overflowing!!! Keep your eye out for it… I think I will end up buying out the newsstand LOL.

I am unsure if it is my downfall.. but even as a child, I would have been classified as that “overachiever.” My motivations though were not for good grades.. they it was an intrinsic insatiable need to stand out. Ok, to give you an idea.. in Immunology class, we were to label all the parts of certain body systems.. What do I do? I take out my paper and hand draw 10 systems, color them all with color pencils, very carefully label everything (even using a ruler to underline these labels). Insane?! Yes. I think I spent 30 hours literally on something that should have took 2.

While working on my young adult novel (sci-fi/fantasy), sometimes I will mull over one sentence if the flow is not to my liking. What is it? Perfectionism? Need to achieve? Control? A strong belief that anything is possible? I do not know.. but some things I think we are all born with.. and this is something that is innate to me.. I was given this sense of “taste,” an almost intuitive feeling that I cannot put my finger on- comprised of harmony and flow.

Whatever it is, it is good, and bad. My struggle is achieving efficiency with my patterns… It is getting better and I must keep plugging along. I cannot spend too much time over one dissatisfaction. So now what I do, when something just is not right, or it is taking too long to “make it right” I move to something else and put it aside. Time and time again, this has proved to be the solution- when I come back, the answer usually comes to me.

Some struggle with writing patterns, some struggle with the design.. I struggle with something that looks perfect in all other eyes except my own. I am just a backwards person. lol.

Anyway… let me know what you think of the new blog.

Welcome to my new blog.. walk with me by my side through my travels in the world of Crochet… Sorry for those who were registered on the old one, you will need to re-register on this one- that is, if you want to!