We're Moving!

I've decided it's time to take my blog to the next level. In conjunction with a complete Website renovation, I'm moving the blog to my domain at http://www.brendastratton.com. Since I'm also switching to a different blogging platform, I'll be unable to import this one into the new site.

Please join me there to check out the new site. You can access the new blog at http://www.brendastratton.com/blog/ or click on the blog link at the top of the page on the main site.

At the time of this post, construction on the new site and blog are still underway so please excuse the mess. To get the blog started, I will be migrating some of the more important business articles and tips to the new forum as time permits.

In the meantime, I've enjoyed your company here and hope to see you at the new site!

Happy crocheting!

Brenda

A Relaxing Winter Afternoon

Outdoor steps leading to our backyard.

We’re feeling very lucky this winter. The weather has been unusually mild, although we are experiencing a slight cold snap at the moment. Yesterday was cold, gray and overcast with a slight dusting of snow on the ground. Not a really bad day, just one of those that makes me happy to be snug and warm indoors. I put a vegetable medley (see below) in the Crock Pot to accompany the hamburgers Carl requested for supper, then we settled down in our recliners and relaxed in front of the TV the rest of the afternoon.

Above is a view of the snow on our steps leading out to the backyard. Our house is a split level on 4 different levels. Outside my kitchen door on the 3rd level main living area is a screened porch, and this view shows the steps leading from the screened porch to the backyard.

Gracie, age 8 months

While we were watching TV, I crocheted several more stripes on Blaise’s baby blanket while our 2 Shih Tzus, Rosie and Gracie, cuddled up on Carl’s lap. 

 

Aren’t they cute? They had both just come back from the groomer and hadn’t yet been able to dislodge the bows she put in their hair. They will, though. It seems to be their mission to get them out as fast as they can.

Rosie, age 6 years

Trying to get either of them to sit still for a photo is usually like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree, but Rosie decided to be still for once. Not so with Gracie. I had to chase her down and then wouldn’t have been able to get a decent picture if my camera didn’t have stop-action on it. She sure is a busy one!

Vegetable Medley

 The vegetable medley I mentioned is really nothing special, but we both like it a lot and consider it one of our comfort foods. Our son, Scott, introduced it to us and, when I first heard about it, I wasn’t too enthused about trying it. But, we agreed to and were pleasantly surprised at the flavor. It’s really easy, and looks something like this. 

If you’re interested in giving it a try, it takes 2 cans of whole kernel corn, 2 cans of green beans, ¼ pound of bacon,  a small onion, chopped, and salt and pepper to taste. (Do NOT drain the vegetables.) Place all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer until the bacon and onion are done. Sometimes, like today when I don’t feel like fussing in the kitchen, I put it in the Crock Pot and walk away and forget it until meal time. 

(Hint: This dish is even better the 2^nd day when the flavors have had a chance to blend.)

A Blankie for Baby Blaise

Blaise's New Blankie

On January 10, 2012, Baby Blaise, our newest grandchild, entered the world. He is the son of our fourth and youngest child, Scott, and his fiancée, Denise. Both Mommy and Baby Blaise are doing well. It’s hard to believe that our little man is one month old already! And, even harder to believe that we haven’t met him yet! They live quite a distance away, but we’re planning a trip to see him as soon as possible.

I’ve made Blaise several things so far, but this is the latest work in progress. If you like the pattern and would like to know where to find it, it is from the Leisure Arts Leaflet #4813, Colorful Cuddlers: 4 Crochet Afghans for Baby by Becky Stevens. The only change I made to the pattern is just the color sequence. I used 2 colors plus white instead of the 5 colors plus white called for in the pattern. Although I really like the color sequence the designer used, I wasn’t able to find those colors locally. So, I made this a stashbuster project since I wanted to get started right away. Sometimes it’s just so satisfying to sit down in front of the TV and cuddle up with a crochet project that I didn’t have to actually write the pattern for. :-)

The Day After (Thanksgiving)

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, downsizing the considerable number of possessions we have amassed over the last 40 years and getting things on an even keel so we can get back to daily living and work. Whew! It’s been a trip, so to speak, but the last storage unit has been emptied and we just have some things in the garage and basement to sort through. The big donation to Goodwill hasn't happened yet, but it is imminent. Can't wait to be able to get my car in the garage again! :-)

Because of all the busy-ness of the recent past, it’s been difficult…almost impossible, really…for me to get back to what I know and love…designing. I’m happy to say that as of Monday, I’m back on track and my designer hat is firmly in place. My husband, Carl, begins a new contracting job on Monday, so it’s full steam ahead for both of us.

I hope you all enjoyed your holiday as much as I did. I am glad it’s behind us, though, because I’m really looking forward to dragging out the Christmas ornaments and kicking off Christmas 2011.

Also on the agenda is spending more time writing and blogging. I've taken quite a few photos lately, so I'll meet you back here soon for more updates and photos! In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at our newest family member, Gracie, a little black Shih Tzu puppy who recently came to live with us. She's just as sweet as she is cute! :-)

When Life Hands You Lemons...

...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 and handling fee. :/ Sigh. Ok, I can live with that. A little pricey but what the heck. It IS my favorite sauce and it's still cheaper than driving halfway across the state in search of the elusive red stuff.

But WAIT! There on the same page was another food seller offering 12 bottles for only $3.00 more each for the retail price of the sauce and shipping and handling. So, for $6.00 more, I can double my order. What's to think about? Without further ado, I pressed the "purchase with 1-click" button and the sauce was mine!

On Tuesday, I checked in on my order to see if it had shipped yet. It hadn't. But then, I saw it. I had ordered a different flavor than the one I intended to. Same company. Same brand. Different flavor. Ugh. Ok, so I like this one, too, but it's my 2nd favorite, and the local store shelves are brimming over with it. What to do? Aha...there it is. The "email vendor" button (or whatever it is actually called, but you get the idea). When I clicked on the button, it gave me a list of suggested subject lines. Among them was "cancel this order." Yippee! I could see my way out of this. I hurriedly scribbled (typed) a short email outlining my dilemma and sent it off. Within minutes, I had a canned reply stating that they were currently reviewing my email. Uhm, hmmm...sure they were...

On Wednesday morning, I checked both my email and the Web site to see if there was a response. There wasn't. What I found instead was a notice that my order had shipped and will arrive within 3-5 days by FedEx. (You saw this coming, right?) So did I, but the eternal optimist in me kept hoping I was wrong.

So, what to do now? If I return it, I will have lost nearly $20.00 in postage. Better to keep the sauce, methinks, and either learn to love it or, better yet, add my own touches to it so it better suits our tastes.

In retrospect, 12 bottles of ANYTHING seems like a lot. It will probably take us until the day after forever to eat all of it, so I'm thinking I may have to find a creative way to get rid of some of it. Maybe I could include some in gift baskets for Christmas along with some of my crocheted dishcloths, hot pads and other yummy foodie things?

I'm really glad my kids don't read my blog, or they would see the handwriting on the wall and "know" what they are getting for Christmas. Shhhh...don't tell them. :-)

The Hurrieder I Go...

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 words spring to mind whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed with work, short deadlines, etc. And, it  pretty much sums up my spring and summer so far. While our move is months behind us, there are still things to unpack and sort out in the basement and remaining storage units. I know we’ll get it all done and sorted out eventually, but it makes me tired just thinking about it. I think we're getting closer and closer to a major donation to GoodWill so we can be done with it. Sounds good to me!

Catching Up

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 couple of weeks to rest up and take care of some other things that needed doing, but considering what we've been up against in making this move happen, I can't say that I feel guilty at all. Today marked the first snow of the season (although it didn't really amount to much), so we're grateful to have finished before bad weather set in.

Speaking of Christmas decorations, we bought a new tree this year. I've been trying to get it put up for a few days now, but haven't been able to find the timet. It should be a breeze since it doesn't require assembly and came pre-lit. That's on the agenda for later today, so I'll put up some pictures next time. 

In the meantime, Happy December! 

Loss and a New Beginning

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 wondering some mornings which state I was waking up in. And to tell you the truth, this is one of the hardest blog entries I've ever written, and it's taken me some time to gather the courage to write it.

To make a long story much shorter, we put our house on the market in March and were in the process of moving back home to Illinois to be with my mother and other family members when the unthinkable happened--Mom passed away unexpectedly just as the move was getting underway in late April. So, for obvious reasons, we placed the move on hold for a few weeks while we regrouped and got our bearings.

With so many details to handle and decisions to make with the move and Mom’s passing, two houses to take care of (Mom’s and mine, which are 400 miles apart) and making the move itself...which we’ve had to do in stages and is still ongoing...suffice it to say that life has been crazy-busy. Worked in there somewhere was the building of a new garage at our new house and a brief trip to Virginia in June to see Chelsea and Jessica, two of our beautiful granddaughters, graduate from high school. But, given the circumstances, I’m glad to have been busy to help keep my mind off my mother’s passing.

It was largely because of Mom that I became a crochet designer. When I was a little girl, I loved watching her crochet pretty things for our home. When I finally decided to give it a try myself at the ripe old age of 8, she gave me a hook (which I still have), a ball of bright pink yarn and taught me some basic crochet stitches. And so my fascination for all things fiber was born.

Mom lived for her family. She was always there to lend an ear, offer advice and support, to share the good times and the bad and to help us in whatever way she could. She is sorely missed, but we are doing our best to get on with things, choosing to celebrate her life rather than mourn her death, which is how she would want it. And so, life goes on. 


Following is a poem which Mom and I have always liked. I offer it here in tribute to her. In many ways, it sums up my conviction (and hers) that life is eternal. I’ve seen several versions of this poem, and this may or may not be the original, which was written by A. L. Frink.

The Rose Beyond the Wall

A rose once grew where all could see,
Sheltered beside a garden wall,
And, as the days passed swiftly by,
It spread its branches, straight and tall.

One day, a beam of light shone through
A crevice that had opened wide ~
The rose bent gently toward its warmth,
Then passed beyond to the other side.

Now, you who deeply feel its loss,
Be comforted ~ the rose blooms there still ~
Its beauty even greater now,
Nurtured by God's own loving care.


Elaine Stegall
1928 - 2010

My Rose, My Mother



Love and hugs,

Brenda

NaNoWriMo 2009

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 National Novel Writing Month. Winning it means completing the first draft of a fifty thousand word novel in only 30 days, which breaks down to about 1667 words a day. Madness, you say? Absolutely! I can’t argue with you there. But, the short deadline is also part of the fun of it, that is, of course, if you don’t mind a month’s worth of little sleep and lots of frozen dinners.

NaNoWriMo is held every November 1-30. Brainchild of author Chris Baty, it started out with him and a few of his close friends. From there, it has skyrocketed in just a few years into a worldwide event that boasts nearly 170,000 participants around the world in 2009.

So, what happens if I don’t complete the novel in the specified amount of time? Well, nothing, really, except that now that I’ve put it “out there” on public notice, I’d have to wipe a lot of egg off my face while trying to explain to friends and family members why I didn’t finish. I think I’d rather be attacked by flesh-eating bacteria. So, barring any cataclysmic events I can’t control, in spite of the short deadline, I intend to finish.

Now, getting said novel published is another matter altogether. It’s a very tough market to breach, and I hold no illusions about it. But at the end of my life, whether it has been published or not, I can at least say that I wrote a novel. I won’t have to say that I didn’t try.

One good thing has come of this. I’ve learned the value of a power nap at my desk. Who needs the lying-down-in-a-real-bed type of sleep, anyway? I can do that after the revisions and editing, say next October sometime.

For more information about NaNoWriMo, check out the Web site at http://www.nanowrimo.org/.

And now, back to work…

Love, children’s novels and NaNoWriMo,

Brenda

Autumn is in the Air!

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 need cutting back and just generally making things look nice.

Yesterday, I decided the outdoor landscape looked fall-ish enough to dress my front porch for the season. Usually, I do this about the third week in September, but it has been a warm fall and the leaves are just now turning color. Maybe it’s silly, but I don’t like to put my fall decorations out while it still feels like summer because I don’t like rushing the seasons. It reminds me of the retail stores putting the Christmas decorations out at the same time as the Halloween decorations, but that’s a rant for another day.

I snapped these photos while I was arranging the front porch. I have a few more things I’d like to add (including a life-size scarecrow that will sit on the love seat in the photo), so it remains a work in progress for the moment since it’s windy here today. I’ve already had to rescue a few things to keep them from blowing across the yard into the street, but I’ll put out them out again when the wind settles down.

A couple of blog entries ago, I mentioned that I had ordered the yarn to swatch a fall afghan. The yarn has arrived, and I’m busy stitching it up now. What fun!

Love and fall colors,
Brenda

Recycling Unsold Design Swatches

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? Absolutely. But, unleashing my imagination to create whatever it desires when the opportunity permits keeps designing fresh and new for me, even after nearly 27 years in the business.

As most any designer will tell you, the design process is often one of trial and error. Sometimes, I come up with a design element that I like but feel isn’t quite right for my current project. Instead of discarding these swatches, I collect them in a small plastic tote I keep next to my desk. Eventually, I go back through them to see what I can use in another design.

As those of you who follow me on Twitter or Facebook may know, I’ve been on a cleanup, de-clutter campaign in my office over the past week or so. Yesterday just happened to be the day that I decided to go through the aforementioned tote and decide what to do with the contents. While I knew there were quite a few swatches that I would be able to use, even I was surprised to find that I can easily put together at least 12 designs from the cast-offs with the possibility of a half dozen more. Here is an obscure preview (right) of a few of the swatches I am planning to turn into new designs. Sorry I can’t show you more detail. In fact, the parts I’m showing you are actually parts that will change, but that’s how the design business goes. None of my editors would thank me for making public work that I submit to them!

Although I design in most areas of crochet, floral afghans have long been my signature. So, it’s not surprising that most of the cast-off motifs have a floral theme. Because there is this one unifying factor throughout, I have more options regarding what I can do with them. I can easily translate them into a couple of afghan books if I wish. I can also submit them individually to different publications. Or, I can discard the afghan idea completely and make them into something entirely different. I haven’t decided exactly what I’m going to do with them yet, but drawing on this resource of otherwise unused design work pays, both in terms of potential earnings and time that I haven’t actually wasted when I created them in the first place. So remember, hang on to those little doodlings you do with your crochet hook and your fiber of choice. They are almost as good as money in the bank if you happen to be interested in a design career.

Love and recycled designs,

Brenda

The Best Laid Plans…

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 to a whopping 3700 miles by car with lots of things to do in between. While the summer months didn’t leave much time for me to design, you can bet that I was putting together ideas in my design notebook, many of which I’m busy swatching now.

Even though I didn’t have a LOT of time to design, I did manage a couple of projects for one of my editors which I’ll tell you more about as soon as I know they have been released. In addition, Carol Alexander, editor of Crochet! magazine, used one of my dishcloth designs, Dishcloth Duo, in the At Home section of the November 2009 issue. In case you’re wondering, it’s a single design but worked in two different color ways with Coats® Crème de la Crème cotton yarn.  Even though it’s my own design, I have to admit it is my favorite dishcloth pattern. The reason is that I really like the convenience of working with medium weight cotton yarn, but I don’t like the bulk that many dishcloth patterns have. So, the simple (sc, ch-1) pattern is my answer to reducing the bulk without leaving the gaping holes which can occur with double- and treble crochet stitches. You can check out this issue at the Crochet! magazine Web site, but hurry before the next issue is published and replaces it on the Web site. To view the Crème de la Crème selection at the Coats and Clark Web site, click here.

Since summer has faded into fall, it’s getting chilly here in the Midwest now, especially at night. I had to give in and turn the furnace on last week, and it’s cool enough that a trip outdoors any time of day requires a jacket. Now I wish I’d made myself a pair of those cute fingerless mitts that are so popular, but you can be sure they are at the top of the list of things I plan to make just for me. I love the changes of seasons, and fall is an especially great time to bring out the heavier yarns and stitch up something warm and wonderful!

Speaking of the changing seasons, the leaves turning color on the oak tree outside the picture window in my office has inspired me to swatch an afghan in all the rich autumn colors. I’ve just ordered the yarn and can hardly wait to get started on it. Sometimes it’s hard to keep my mind on my work, though, as the view through this same picture window also provides a great deal of entertainment. With oak, walnut, pecan and evergreens in my back yard, it’s a true haven for all the neighborhood squirrels. They are especially active right now and have been putting on daily shows for me as they chase each other up, down and around the tree trunk and across the canopy of the trees in my back yard. 

And now, it’s time to get back to work!

Love and yarn,
Brenda

Follow Me on Twitter!

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 can do it on the fly. For those reasons, I’ve removed the link to my crochet list in the sidebar and inserted a Twidget (Twitter widget) instead. It's the best option for staying in tune with what is going on in my crochet world.

Happy Tweeting!

Catching Up

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 phone or I’d be even further out of touch. I haven’t tried posting blog entries from my mobile phone yet, but I’ll definitely have to look into that since the traveling is going to continue for awhile. Maybe it’s time to invest in a mobile broadband card for my laptop? It’s something to think about, but I don’t think I’m quite there yet.

One of the many things I love about my job is that my work is so portable. No matter where my travels take me, my laptop, crochet hooks and fiber fit neatly into the plan. I think the hardest part for me is trying to anticipate which fiber I’ll need while traveling, so it helps immensely if I have a particular project on the hook at the time. Otherwise, I tend to over-pack as I try to decide what I want to design while I’m away. While that doesn’t particularly bother me, I do try to keep my poor husband in mind as he tries to find a way to fit yet one more bag of yarn into our minivan!

But, I’m home again for a few weeks, so I’ll work on breathing some life back into the blog. I have a “new to me” yarn I’d like to tell you about, so I’ll try to get that up very soon. Stay tuned!

Three New Designs!

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, but there will be more soon. If you don’t have the magazine and would like a sneak peek at it, browse the Crochet! Web site. You can see photos of my designs here on the table of contents page.

Voice Recognition Software in Windows Vista

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 that I'll need to work with it in order to teach it how I want it to work. And, it may be a bit of a stretch at the moment to make it work with my crochet designs due to the nature of the many abbreviations in the crochet language. But, I have high hopes for it, and it is already helping me in my general writing. At the very least, it will speed up my blog writing!

If you’re interested in trying this out, I suggest starting with a quality headset microphone that has a USB connector for best results. (I bought mine from Best Buy for about $29.95.) To the best of my knowledge, speech to text only works with Windows Vista unless you have installed stand alone voice recognition software.

Here is a page from the Microsoft Web site that explains this far better than I could and will help you through the setup.

The speech recognition software is not limited to writing. You can use it to open and close programs, switch between windows and a multitude of other tasks. If you have a chance, give it a try. At the very least, it’s fun to work with. At most, it has the potential to make your work easier.

Now, I just have to explain to my family why I’m sitting here talking to my computer…

Discovering the World of Netbooks

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 travel with—something that I could tuck into my purse or crochet bag for easy note-taking, pattern writing or editing. I was certain that it would make my life easier, but since I count computers among my hobbies, I thought they also looked like fun. I was right on both counts.

I did some research, discovered what I did (and did not) want in one of these little computers, then persuaded my husband to take me computer shopping. Within just a few minutes of entering the computer store, I found what I was looking for and bought it on the spot.

As with anything else you buy, there are pros and cons to the different brands, and it’s not my intent to recommend one over the other. But, the Asus EEE PC 1000H had everything I wanted and needed at a price that I found affordable at less than $400.00 (that is if you don’t count the extras I bought that I didn’t necessarily need). So while I’m sure that there are plenty of other great buys out there, this one was right for me.

Because the keyboard on a netbook is smaller than on a standard desktop or laptop, I was a little worried that I would find it hard to get used to but that wasn’t the case. After stumbling through a few lines of text, my fingers soon figured out the smaller key spacing, and it has been smooth typing ever since.

With the smaller amount of memory a netbook has, I was also concerned whether it would be powerful enough to handle my Microsoft Office 2007 Professional suite, but I needn’t have worried. I installed it shortly after bringing the computer home and haven’t noticed any system slowdown.

One word of caution, though. Some of the netbooks are distributed with Microsoft Windows XP, while others are distributed with Ubuntu, a Linux operating system. I have no experience with Ubuntu, but I’m told that it can make installing new programs difficult if you aren’t familiar with Linux.

As I’m sure you’ve figured out by now, I am totally thrilled with this little computer. It does everything that I need for it to do and is much lighter and easier to carry around. If purchasing one of these minis is an option for you, I definitely recommend them!

Lattice Rose Set & Midnight Roses Tea Cozy

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 a little girl. My father was an avid gardener, and he particularly liked growing roses. He grew many other flowers as well, but the roses were always my favorite. Admittedly, I don’t have his green thumb, but the beautiful flowers that graced our yard have been my inspiration for designing floral projects for many years.

Lauren at crochetstitches.blogspot.com made the Lattice Rose rug as a birthday present and posted the photo on her site. If you would like to see it, check out her site.

Weaving In Ends, Color Changes, Etc.

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 in the following video I found at YouTube. It addresses several issues, including hiding the yarn tail at the beginning of your work, closing the gap that a beginning chain-3 at the beginning of a row or round can produce, color changes and working in the back ridge of a chain. Enjoy!

Lead-testing Legislation Postponed 1 Year

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.html

If you have not been following this legislation, I urge you to familiarize yourself with it since it will impact crafters and small, home-based businesses nationwide.