We'll, I'm 2 weeks into this new year, and I've already spent more time editing and working on my website than I spent in the previous 6 months.  This is one of the 'Wishful' things I have for myself this year.  I won't make a resolutions list because it seems that past ones rarely make it past the 1/4 mark of the year.  Instead I am hopeful that I will use my spare time (as little as it may be) to be creative.  To do things that I have been 'wishing' I had the time to do.  I will plan my time better.  Make a task list and stick to it.  If I am successful - this theory should make it all work - creative time, work time, and those things that just have to be done every day in your life.

​So here's to a WISHFUL LIST for 2017.  Another thing - to make a post here with updates to see if this idea of being more organized works.  Guess we'll all find out together.

​Thanks for stopping by for a visit. 

CGOA conference last month was a wonderful experience.  I was able
to be there almost the entire week.  I attended Professional Development
  Day, took 2 classes, went to many functions and met more new friends who love
  fiber arts both crochet & knitting.

One of the highlights of the conference is the dinner and fashion show.  Rita Weiss was the key speaker after the show and was so entertaining and fun.  I had a photo opportunity with her after the show.

Rita Weiss and Jean Leinhauser are two women who have invested their entire adult lives in the needleworks industries and have been instrumental in promoting the world of crochet.  Jean a schooled journalist, started her journey as Design Director for Boye Needles Co.  and from there went on to found Leisure Arts.  (I think we all have books in our library published by Leisure Arts!)  She went on to found another publishing company and was the editor & publisher of Crochet! magazine.  Not to mention she is the author of MANY crochet books.   Rita, an author, designer and teacher also has a list of credits to her name:  Founder & head of Dover Publications needleworks division, Executive Vice President of the American School of Needleworks, served as President of the International Quilting Association, Chairman of the Craft Council, and also served as President of the CGOA for a spell too!  WHEW!  Then to top it off these two amazing women formed 'Creative Partners, LLC'.  They are truly an inspiration.  Sadly Jean is no longer with us; she passed away in June of 2011.  But she leaves a true legacy and heritage behind her.  Rita is still going like a
spit fire.  I had the privilege of meeting her at the CGOA conference in Concord, NC in October.  The CGOA - Crochet Guild of America is a wonderful organization started almost 20 years ago by Gwen Blakley Kinsler and has bounty of information and is a
treasure to those of us who have discovered this organization.  I encourage any of you out there who crochet - no matter what your skill or age - to check it out.  Click HERE to jump to CGOA.

It's hard to believe that summer is officially over.  It went by way to quickly.  I literally "worked the summer away".  

With cooler temps subtly nipping in the air - thoughts of scrumptious yarns & warm soft cuddly fashions are beginning to occupy parts of my brain.  I have been experimenting with a stitch repeat that works up easily and creates a lovely design.  The fingering yarn I have been working with is pretty but the piece just isn't coming together the way I had anticipated.  Perhaps it's time to try it with something more substantial.  

I will see what fiber treasures I have tucked away and what might be a good fit for the new budding pattern.
More on this later.

Other projects are on the table - snowflakes!!  I have been whipping up some gorgeous ornaments designed by 'Snowcatcher'.  If you love thread work; if you love snowflakes;if you love lacy beautiful objects - you should check out her web page.  Her work is awesome (I am a fan!)

 http://www.snowcatcherphotos.com/blahg/patterns/SnowcatcherSnowflakeDirectory.html. 

First - I want to thank Mary at Yarns Etc. in Chapel Hill for inviting my into her shop to share this wonderful craft with everyone and for mentoring me as I move forward in my 'crochet career'.

Beginning crochet has been the 'hot class' over the past 6 months.  I am delighted at the response we have had with the crochet classes at Yarns Etc.  We hope that all of the students that have started this new journey grow and that we are able to help them increase their knowledge and expertise in crochet.

It is exciting to be a part of this new social wave.  As 2013 moves forward I prepare myself for more stitching, more yarn and meeting more new friends.


Check out a FREE CROCHET CALENDAR OF EVENTS - HERE

Waking up today to cold temperatures and flurries quickly brought to mind how perfect a day it would be for hot tea and working on a crochet project.  The hard part is WHAT project to work on?
There are 3 projects on the table already: one of which was started almost 8 months ago and really needs attention; there are pages of pattern writing that need working on; and the webpages need updating.  SO what do I do today?

As you can see - the website is getting some of that attention.  A few updated pages and an entry here and I have accomplished 1 thing :)

Now - where's the yarn!

Last Sunday (Nov. 18th) was a nice day to be around yarn and those who love it.  Maggie Weldon of Maggie's Crochet was at Yarns Etc. in Chapel Hill, NC for a meet and greet.  She brought several pieces of her lace pottery (which I was all too willing to purchase some of) and several of her original designs.  The Jenna jacket , the Shell Edge jacket, hooded granny jacket,
and more.
We had a wonderful time looking at all of her wonderful creations and dreaming of all the yarn we wanted to get for many projects we dream of doing next.
Thank you Maggie for coming up to see us!

Check out Yarns Etc. and Great Yarns of Raleigh for some fantastic yarns and books for those stocking stuffers.

Maggie Weldon - of Maggie's Crochet will be coming to Yarn's Etc. in Chapel Hill on Sunday November 18th.  If you LOVE yarn, LOVE crochet or knitting or needle works - you might just want to stop by for a visit

Well - I did share my enthusiasm for crochet on this particular day.  Along with posting a sign in my front windshield and back window - I also displayed a few crocheted items in my car!  With all the various window stickers we see out there these days - mine fit in just fine!

Instead of my standard work shirt I opted for a nice neutral shirt as a backdrop for the Phoebe Jane vest (shown in an entry below) and wore my CGOA pin along with the crocheted bracelet on the patterns page and one of the crocheted rings featured on the home page.

What did you do for National Crochet Day?

Now that this tiny area is done --- the ripples at the beginning - seem to have hit like giant waves. 
Moving the 'stuff' from one place certainly invades the other. 

I fear it's time to do a little purging.  Then the question of the hour becomes - purge what?  What can I do without?
OH MY.... here we go!

More to come later.

Have a great Labor Day weekend folks.
Think I'll just try to crochet something and use up a little yarn - that will clear something out! :)