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.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Bits & Pieces of Yarn
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 gift blankets or other items.
....Tie the ends together to make into magic balls.
....Donate to schools, senior citizen centers, etc.
....Make hats and scarves for charity.
(Note: I do not advocate placing the bits and pieces outdoors for the birds to use in building their nests. While the idea is well-meaning, I feel that the potential harm it poses for the birds is not worth the risk.)
What is a magic ball, you ask? It’s a ball of yarn made up of short lengths of leftover yarns. Simply tie the ends securely together, leaving a tail several inches long. (The tails are not woven into whatever project you choose to make with it.)
Some suggestions for magic ball projects are:
....Pet mats or coats
....Fun and funky afghans, lap robes or coverlets
....Mud rugs
....Coasters
....Mug and soda can cozies
If the pieces of yarn are very short, consider saving them for use in stuffing pillows, toys or other items that require stuffing.
I’m sure you can think of a wide variety of projects I haven’t named here!
....Crochet motifs for gift blankets or other items.
....Tie the ends together to make into magic balls.
....Donate to schools, senior citizen centers, etc.
....Make hats and scarves for charity.
(Note: I do not advocate placing the bits and pieces outdoors for the birds to use in building their nests. While the idea is well-meaning, I feel that the potential harm it poses for the birds is not worth the risk.)
What is a magic ball, you ask? It’s a ball of yarn made up of short lengths of leftover yarns. Simply tie the ends securely together, leaving a tail several inches long. (The tails are not woven into whatever project you choose to make with it.)
Some suggestions for magic ball projects are:
....Pet mats or coats
....Fun and funky afghans, lap robes or coverlets
....Mud rugs
....Coasters
....Mug and soda can cozies
If the pieces of yarn are very short, consider saving them for use in stuffing pillows, toys or other items that require stuffing.
I’m sure you can think of a wide variety of projects I haven’t named here!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
In With The New...
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. Instead, I set goals, which I allow to change as time and life dictates. It puts a little less pressure on me, yet gives me something to work towards. Last year, I met two of the three goals I set. Considering that I had a change of heart and circumstances dictated that it wasn’t time for the third one to be fulfilled yet, I’m fine with that.
For 2009, my goals are:
1. Spend more time relaxing with family.
2. Put my Web site to better use.
3. Produce even more and better designs.
We’ll check back in another year to see how well I did.
Happy New Year 2009!
I’ve learned that making New Years’ resolutions doesn’t work for me. Instead, I set goals, which I allow to change as time and life dictates. It puts a little less pressure on me, yet gives me something to work towards. Last year, I met two of the three goals I set. Considering that I had a change of heart and circumstances dictated that it wasn’t time for the third one to be fulfilled yet, I’m fine with that.
For 2009, my goals are:
1. Spend more time relaxing with family.
2. Put my Web site to better use.
3. Produce even more and better designs.
We’ll check back in another year to see how well I did.
Happy New Year 2009!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Out With The Old...
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, the memories we made together will remain for a long time to come.
With 2008 quickly coming to a close, I have high hopes for a bright and beautiful 2009!
With 2008 quickly coming to a close, I have high hopes for a bright and beautiful 2009!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Experimenting With Tunisian Crochet
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 short-row dishcloth I found recently on Crafty Boy’s (Khebin Gibbons) Web site. At first glance, it appears a bit complicated, but it’s really easy and fun to crochet. The photo above shows my finished version of the dishcloth, which I made using Peaches & Cream worsted weight cotton yarn.
I followed the pattern exactly through the sc border around the ou
ter edge. Then, because I wanted the dishcloth to be just a little larger, I added a mock shell border. You can find the pattern for the Tunisian Short-Row Dishcloth on Khebin's site at:
http://1craftyboy.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/tunisian-short-row-dishcloth/.
My simple instructions for the border are below. (Note: I used a crochet hook two sizes smaller than the afghan hook and a relaxed tension to work Rnd 2 of the edging to keep it from ruffling.)
EDGING
Rnd 1: Follow the instructions given in Khebin's pattern.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, dc) in same sc, sk 1 sc, *(sc, ch 2, dc) in next sc, sk 1 sc, rep from * around, join with a sl st in beg sc, fasten off.
I enjoyed making the first dishcloth so much that I made a second one, and will be adding it to my list of favorite dishcloths to make again in the future.
ter edge. Then, because I wanted the dishcloth to be just a little larger, I added a mock shell border. You can find the pattern for the Tunisian Short-Row Dishcloth on Khebin's site at:http://1craftyboy.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/tunisian-short-row-dishcloth/.
My simple instructions for the border are below. (Note: I used a crochet hook two sizes smaller than the afghan hook and a relaxed tension to work Rnd 2 of the edging to keep it from ruffling.)
EDGING
Rnd 1: Follow the instructions given in Khebin's pattern.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, dc) in same sc, sk 1 sc, *(sc, ch 2, dc) in next sc, sk 1 sc, rep from * around, join with a sl st in beg sc, fasten off.
I enjoyed making the first dishcloth so much that I made a second one, and will be adding it to my list of favorite dishcloths to make again in the future.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Favorite Fibers
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 doily and swatches for a baby afghan and an adult afghan. I also have a layette underway, but will finish that when I get home. In the meantime, I’m starting another doily, a floral this time.
Most of my designing career has been spent working with yarn. While I’ve always admired thread work, I found it difficult to work with for many years. About 10 years ago, I finally decided I was going to master it one way or another, and so I did. Since then, thread has become my favorite fiber to work with. When I am between projects or just looking for something fun to work on, I usually pick up a steel hook and a ball of thread to see what I can create with it…but I still love yarn, too!
So, if you have ever suffered the frustration of working with thread, I urge you to give it another try…and another…and another…until you feel comfortable with it. It’s really no more difficult to work with than yarn, just different. Once you get used to it, it’s easy to switch between the two.
Although most of the past few weeks have been spent in family-related activities, I did manage to finish a few designs including a doily and swatches for a baby afghan and an adult afghan. I also have a layette underway, but will finish that when I get home. In the meantime, I’m starting another doily, a floral this time.
Most of my designing career has been spent working with yarn. While I’ve always admired thread work, I found it difficult to work with for many years. About 10 years ago, I finally decided I was going to master it one way or another, and so I did. Since then, thread has become my favorite fiber to work with. When I am between projects or just looking for something fun to work on, I usually pick up a steel hook and a ball of thread to see what I can create with it…but I still love yarn, too!
So, if you have ever suffered the frustration of working with thread, I urge you to give it another try…and another…and another…until you feel comfortable with it. It’s really no more difficult to work with than yarn, just different. Once you get used to it, it’s easy to switch between the two.
Sangria Shawl
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!
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