Brenda Stratton

The Day After (Thanksgiving)

2011-11-25T19:42:00.001-05:00

November 25, 2011 We had a really nice day yesterday. We were blessed to have nearby family members join us, although we greatly missed those of you who were not able to. We love you all! As those of you who follow my blog already know, these past two years have been filled with selling our home in Indiana, making a 400-mile move back home to Illinois where we have spent most of our lives,

When Life Hands You Lemons...

2011-07-07T04:59:00.008-04:00

...make lemonade! Or, in this case...barbecue sauce?!? I hate it when I do stupid things. Unable to find my favorite barbecue sauce locally, I resorted to ordering it from a food seller on Amazon on Monday, July 4th. When I logged in, I found specifically what I wanted and was thrilled to find it so easily. Six bottles of my favorite sauce for $23.99. Not bad, but then came the $9.99 shipping

The Hurrieder I Go...

2011-06-26T01:49:00.002-04:00

When I moved into my first apartment, I purchased a small sign for my wall that said simply, "The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get..." I thought this nonsensical little sentiment was funny at the time, and seeing those words on the wall in my kitchen always made me smile. But, there is an element of truth in it that has stayed with me all these years. The little sign is long gone now, but those

Catching Up

2010-12-01T06:25:00.001-05:00

Our epic move was 8 months in the planning and executing--mostly executing--but it's over at last. We are finally housed under one roof. It feels so good not to be making marathon trips between the two houses anymore. There is still a lot of unpacking and sorting to do, but I'll be happy for the moment if I can just find my Christmas decorations and get the car in the garage!We've taken the last

Loss and a New Beginning

2010-08-31T01:24:00.008-04:00

Long time, no blog! Did I forget I had a blog? Well, not exactly. It’s just that 2010 has been a challenging year for my family (as I know it has been for many others) and has kept us so busy there has barely been time to breathe. With it, came a major loss as we said goodbye to a beloved family member along with a lot of repetitive travel that kept us on the road for weeks and literally left me

NaNoWriMo 2009

2009-11-16T20:30:00.000-05:00

Something you may not know about me: I’ve always wanted to write children’s books. But, my writing career took me in other directions, and it is only now that I have time to give it the attention I would like to. Two weeks ago I embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. I’m taking part in NaNoWriMo 2009, and I intend to win. In case you don’t already know, NaNoWriMo is an abbreviation for

Autumn is in the Air!

2009-10-19T17:52:00.002-04:00

I really love this time of year. The stifling summer heat and humidity are finally gone, replaced by much cooler and drier fall temperatures. It’s a lot more pleasant to be outdoors now, so I’ve been taking advantage of it whenever I can between work and errands and some rain. My husband and I have been working hard on getting our yard ready for winter, raking leaves, cutting back plants that

Recycling Unsold Design Swatches

2009-10-15T11:40:00.001-04:00

When I swatch a design, whether on request from an editor or for an independent submission, I like to let my imagination and the design process lead me where they will—that is, of course, unless the editor has specific instructions about what she expects from me. Can I work to an editor’s specific instructions or visualize exactly what I want to create and then reproduce it in yarn or thread?

The Best Laid Plans…

2009-10-13T20:13:00.001-04:00

I had high hopes for spending some of my time this summer updating and promoting my blog but, with all the travel, the time passed in such a whirlwind that some days I almost wondered which state I was in. Things are finally settling down, though. My travel plans are at an end for the year so I have time once again to concentrate on getting creative. While there were “only” 4 trips, it amounted

Follow Me on Twitter!

2009-07-05T11:50:00.004-04:00

If you haven’t already discovered it, Twitter is a great way to keep up with what is going on in the lives of friends, family, business associates, celebrities and other people you want to keep track of. You can access it from your computer or your mobile phone (if you have the capability). I find myself updating my Tweets much oftener than I do my crochet list, simply because it’s easier, and I

Catching Up

2009-07-05T11:05:00.001-04:00

As I sit here writing, I can’t help asking myself how I could let so much time pass between blog postings. Has it really been almost four months? The calendar tells me it has but, in my mind, it seems little more than a blur of flurried activity.I’ve been doing a lot of traveling again lately with sporadic access to the Internet from my laptop. Thank goodness for Internet service on my mobile

Three New Designs!

2009-03-17T02:30:00.005-04:00

Have you had a chance to check out the May 2009 issue of Crochet! magazine yet? I contributed three designs to this issue including the two Flower Pocket Handkerchiefs on page 18 and a Jewelry Pillow on page 62, all commissioned by the editor, Carol Alexander.Since I have been busy with other things over the past few months, these are the last designs that will appear in print for a little while,

Voice Recognition Software in Windows Vista

2009-03-15T14:37:00.006-04:00

As someone who spends a lot of time writing, I’m always looking for new ways to do it more efficiently to speed up my work. To my surprise and delight, I recently discovered that Vista comes packaged with speech recognition capabilities, and I’ve begun working with it to see what it can do for me.In fact, this entire blog entry was dictated to the computer (as opposed to typing it). I can see

Discovering the World of Netbooks

2009-02-28T02:13:00.005-05:00

What’s a netbook, you ask? It’s the new mini notebook that is taking the computer industry by storm. What does this have to do with crochet? A lot, actually.Like many of you, I spend a great deal of my day working at my computer. I also travel quite a bit, which makes computing on-the-go an absolute necessity. I already have a laptop, but I wanted something that was even smaller and easier to

Lattice Rose Set & Midnight Roses Tea Cozy

2009-02-26T00:22:00.004-05:00

Several of my designs were recently published in Crochet! magazine. Midnight Roses Tea Cozy appeared in the January 2009 issue, followed by the Lattice Rose doily and rug in the March 2009 issue. All of these projects feature rose embellishments.If you’re at all familiar with my work, you may already know that I design a lot of floral projects. My fascination with flowers dates back to when I was

Weaving In Ends, Color Changes, Etc.

2009-02-03T01:42:00.014-05:00

One of my least favorite jobs in completing a crochet project is weaving in the yarn ends. When I first learned to crochet, I saved them all to do at the end of the project, but I soon learned what a chore it was to face them all at one time. So, practically from the beginning, I’ve worked them in as I go. There are different methods for accomplishing this, but I was intrigued by some of the tips

Lead-testing Legislation Postponed 1 Year

2009-01-31T15:40:00.003-05:00

The lead-testing legislation by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has been postponed for one year, until February 10, 2010, in order to work out the details. You can read about it here.http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09115.htmlIf you have not been following this legislation, I urge you to familiarize yourself with it since it will impact crafters and small, home-based

Bits & Pieces of Yarn

2009-01-28T15:38:00.005-05:00

If you’re like most of us, you probably have odd skeins and bits and pieces of leftover yarns to deal with after completing a crochet project. It’s not too hard to find a project to use up the leftover whole or even half skeins, but what do you do with the smaller bits and pieces? Personally, I can’t bear to throw them away, so here are some of the projects I use them for.....Crochet motifs for

In With The New...

2009-01-02T00:00:00.003-05:00

With the holiday season over for yet another year, it’s time for me to get back to work! As I mentioned previously, I’ve taken quite a bit of time off this fall and early winter, but that doesn’t mean I’ve been idle. I’ve lots of plans for new designs and directions to take my work in 2009. But, more about that at a later date!I’ve learned that making New Years’ resolutions doesn’t work for me.

Out With The Old...

2008-12-31T23:44:00.001-05:00

It never fails to amaze me how quickly time passes. Without actually meaning to, I’ve taken the past couple of months off to enjoy time with my mother, who is spending the winter with me and my husband in Indiana, and getting ready for Christmas. My daughters, Tammy and Liz, and their families joined us this past week for a wonderful Christmas celebration. Although they have all returned home now

Experimenting With Tunisian Crochet

2008-11-01T16:25:00.013-04:00

I’m home again (at least for now)! I have several more trips coming up, so I'll be traveling off and on for the next couple of months.The last few weeks have been hectic so I took a day off this week and made it an official play day. I spent the day experimenting with my Tunisian hooks and an assortment of stitch patterns, which I've been wanting to do for awhile.I started with a Tunisian

Favorite Fibers

2008-10-22T21:12:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned in my last blog entry, I’ve been in Illinois for the past several weeks while my mother recuperated from an injury. She’s made great progress so I’ll be on my way home again in just a few days. I’ve enjoyed my stay, but it will be good to be home again.Although most of the past few weeks have been spent in family-related activities, I did manage to finish a few designs including a

Sangria Shawl

2008-10-22T20:46:00.002-04:00

My Sangria Shawl is now being offered as a free download at the Coats & Clark Web site. If interested, you can get it here. Enjoy!

Playing In The Yarn

2008-09-26T16:34:00.005-04:00

I finally completed all my deadlines, then found myself on the road again unexpectedly. I’m in Illinois once again spending some time with my mother who is recovering from an accident. Much to our delight, my eldest daughter, Tammy, was able to fly in from her home in Virginia to spend some time with us. We wish she didn’t have to fly home again tomorrow, but we’ve had a great week touching base

My Newest Designs in the Fall 2008 Herrschners Yarn Catalog

2008-09-03T00:08:00.007-04:00

On 8/1/08, I announced that my First Baby Blanket was published on pages 30-31 of the new Coats & Clark booklet, Crochet Made Easy. I was pleased to discover this afternoon that this afghan has also been made into a kit and is available through the Herrschner’s fall 2008 yarn catalog. You can view the catalog online at http://yarncollection.com/shop_by_Catalog.aspx?catalogpage=1. First Baby

Our Beloved Dog, Raven (1998-2008)

2008-08-25T21:49:00.007-04:00

This month has been a busy one, full of looming deadlines and caring for our beloved dog, Raven, who has been ill for the past two weeks. Here is a photo of her laying beside me in my office a few years ago.I’m halfway through the deadlines, for which I’m grateful. But I’m also happy to have work to keep me busy just now, to help keep my mind off Raven who, sadly, crossed the Rainbow Bridge

Web Site is Back Up!

2008-08-06T04:53:00.003-04:00

To my complete wonder and utter amazement, I successfully migrated my Web site a few minutes ago. It is now safely housed at its new host site. Yes, it really is slightly after 5:00 am and no, I haven't been to bed yet...but I'm on my way!Yippee! I can now upload the site easily and can update it when needed. The "Happy Spring" greeting that was on the old site was starting to grate on my nerves,

My Web Site is Down

2008-08-04T22:06:00.001-04:00

My former Web host is working more quickly than I had anticipated. My Web site is now offline temporarily. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s back up!

Web Site Changes

2008-08-03T15:49:00.002-04:00

All good things must come to an end (or so I’m told). I’ve had a lot of trouble uploading new content to my Web site at www.BrendaStratton.com over the last year since I changed Internet Service Providers. Now, things have deteriorated to the point that I’m going to move the site to a new host. I hope to accomplish this over the next week or so.Since I’ve never moved an existing site before, I’m

A New Design Has Just Been Published

2008-08-01T15:24:00.004-04:00

I’m happy to announce that my first project since returning to crochet design earlier this year has just been published. You’ll find it in the Coats & Clark booklet, Crochet Made Easy. The design I produced for this booklet is First Baby Blanket on pages 30-31. It is also shown on the back cover. It is a very simple design but that was the whole point since the book is focused on teaching people

Rejection Slips: We All Get Them!

2008-07-30T02:43:00.004-04:00

Rejection slips are a fact of any writer's life and, whether you've realized it yet or not, writing crochet instructions is a form of technical writing.Don't let rejection slips get you down. Also, don't let them discourage you from submitting again or define how you feel about yourself as a designer. Instead, use them as a tool to help you improve your work. When a project is returned to you

Want to Help Launch a New Craft Forum?

2008-07-19T17:47:00.002-04:00

Some friends have launched a new craft forum at Funcraftics. They asked me to moderate some of the forums, including crochet and knit, and of course I said yes! So come on over and check it out, and help us get some discussions going. We look forward to seeing you there!

Home Again

2008-07-12T22:04:00.003-04:00

I’m finally home again. What started out to be a one-week visit turned into two. I had a great time re-connecting with family and friends, and was able to squeeze in a fair amount of work, as well. That’s one thing I really appreciate about being a designer—the ability to do my job from anywhere. I was working on a project for a publisher when I left home, so I took it with me to finish it up. A

On The Road Again...

2008-06-26T03:21:00.002-04:00

My husband, Carl, and I are leaving in a couple of hours on a trip back home to Illinois to spend time with our family for the 4th of July holiday. I generally tend to over pack, so I made a conscious effort this time to travel light. I was doing ok, too, until it came time to pack my yarn and thread…I tried, I really did. I intended to limit the yarn and fiber to just one bag, but it ended up

Red Heart Zoomy

2008-06-22T01:36:00.015-04:00

If you haven’t yet tried Red Heart® Zoomy™, you’re in for a treat. I received a few skeins recently and immediately fell in love with it. It has the look of heather, has a nice sheen and is very soft. I haven’t decided what I’m going to make with it yet, but it would be great for hats, scarves, bags and more. The label states that this yarn should not be dry-cleaned. The manufacturer recommends

The Pros & Cons of Designing

2008-06-19T03:18:00.003-04:00

Like most other jobs, designing has both positive and negative aspects. Following are some things to consider if you're thinking of entering the world of crochet design.Learning To Run A BusinessIf you don't already know how to run a business, you will need to learn. I won't go into it here because there are already a lot of books on the market that can explain the basics. But be aware that you

The First Steps: Getting Started in Crochet Design

2008-06-12T20:00:00.002-04:00

People often ask me how I got started in the design business. Although it seems simple to me now, I was overwhelmed at the process in the beginning. There was little information available then, so I began studying the publications I wanted to design for hoping it would give me some insight into how I should proceed.Today, this is still where I recommend that you start. Every designer's path to

Flowers From My Yard

2008-06-03T14:02:00.011-04:00

I couldn't resist showing you the photos I took yesterday of some of the flowers in my yard.I have three pink climbing rose bushes in my back yard that are a huge mass of color when in bloom which is generally the first week in June. They cover the back wall of a small building on the north side of my yard which was once used as a summer kitchen. The building is very small, but big enough to use

A Career in Crochet Design: Is It For You?

2008-06-02T12:18:00.003-04:00

If you love to crochet and you’re looking for a job that will allow you to work from home, becoming a crochet designer may be the answer you are looking for—or is it? There are a variety of things that you’ll need to consider. As an experienced crochet designer and editor with more than 20 years of continuous involvement in the craft publishing industry, I’d like to share with you how the process

Planning Your Crochet Projects

2008-05-23T17:26:00.001-04:00

Taking the time to carefully plan your project before you begin to crochet can make a big difference in the quality of the finished product.First, read through your pattern, taking note of any special instructions. Then select quality yarn or thread in the correct weight for the project and time of year in a pleasing color palette. Quality does not necessarily mean expensive but, to be sure of

Go Green With Make-It-Yourself Market Bags!

2008-05-17T16:06:00.006-04:00

Lately, there has been a lot of discussion amongst the members of several Internet crochet lists I belong to regarding the making and use of market bags. It seems that some retailers are considering cutting down on the number of bags they distribute when you make a purchase or possibly discontinuing them altogether. Instead, they are encouraging customers to make or purchase their own reusable

What I'm Doing Now

2008-05-03T14:51:00.003-04:00

Yikes! I can hardly believe it's been so long since I posted last, but here's what happened. I did go on the trip I mentioned in my last blog entry. The trip was great. I enjoyed visiting with my family and cuddling my grandbabies. But, there is always time for crochet! As usual, I packed a duffel bag full of yarn to take with me because I never know what fiber I'll want to play with next. It's a

Have Laptop, Will Travel!

2008-02-02T18:12:00.002-05:00

I love my job. Working freelance gives me the flexibility to work when and where I wish, a luxury I didn’t have while working in the corporate publishing world. This is especially important to me since my husband travels a lot for his employer. I only have to answer to myself job-wise these days so it’s sometimes possible for me to tag along with him on his trips.

Textured Crochet

2008-01-28T18:37:00.000-05:00

Published by St. Martin’s Press, Textured Crochet by Helen Jordan is part of a new series of books called the “Stitch Collection.” The series is based on the success of the popular “Stitch Bible Series.”Featuring 96 pages with more than 70 designs, this small book is jam-packed with stitch patterns and variations, charts, and full-color photos. Instructions are presented in both text format and

A Yarnified Life

2008-01-17T20:42:00.001-05:00

Have you checked out David Benjamin’s post at A Yarnified Life? David, "that yarny guy." features an alternate way of adding drape to your crochet fabric with big hooks, vertical construction and a variety of front and back loop stitches. For those of you interested in making crocheted garments, David’s method might be just what you’re looking for!

Gauge: A Crocheter’s Most Important Tool

2008-01-12T01:06:00.000-05:00

I’m sure people get tired of me bringing up the subject of gauge. But I get a lot of questions about fit, and I think the information bears repeating.I’ve heard a lot of arguments over the years from people who balk at working gauge swatches. Some people don’t like to do it. Some think it isn’t important. But, while it’s true that there are projects where gauge isn’t important, the fact remains

Happy New Year 2008!

2008-01-08T13:13:00.001-05:00

Since I’m not usually one to make New Year’s resolutions, I decided to make some New Year’s wishes for 2008, instead.In 2008, I want to:Leave the corporate world (publishing)Return to freelance workMove back home to IllinoisI couldn’t have imagined when I made this list at the end of 2007 that the first two items on it would come true in