Complements Collection!

Ya'll, Kristin Omdahl has released yet more beautiful patterns. (I know, not at all surprising!) I have had the pleasure to hang out with Kristin on several occasions and I am glad to call her a friend. She is as wonderful a person as you could imagine. It is such fun to be a part of the introduction of new patterns for my designer friends. I truly love my job! Okay, on with it, then

Complements Collection is a fabulous booklet of 12 patterns in both knit and crochet. Yes! BOTH!! How exciting is that for the bi-crafty (like me!!)?! Shawls, cowls, sweet little scarves, hats and mitts.
Truly, a great collection of the fun accessories we all love to make so much.
All of the pieces are practical and wearable, which I love!

My favorite pieces are the Protea Textured Crochet Hat & Keyhole Scarf

See! Totally cute, right!?

and the Lily of the Incas Knit Ribbed Shawlette
So very pretty and elegant, yet would look fabulous over a tank with jeans!

Of course, when you're working Bijou Basin Yarns, you're guaranteed gorgeous!

And yes!, of course I get to give away a digital copy :)

Simply leave a comment and a winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday the 30th.

If you simply can't wait until then (& I totally don't blame you), pop on over HERE and pick up a copy of Complements, really, you'll be glad you did!

Wordless Wednesday

Seamless Crochet! Yes, really!

Friends,
You're going to be all super jealous and stuff, but I have to tell you anyway; Kristin Omdahl sent me a copy of her latest book for me to look through! In total honesty, if you are a crocheter, or even thinking about it, this book is a must for your shelf.
It's genius! No, really. It is. While I know she isn't the "inventor" of this technique, she definitely made it her own and we all owe her HUGE thanks for bringing it into the light.
AND, did you see!?! It comes with an instructional DVD!! Ya'll that's so cool it's sparkly. (ok, I added in the shiny, but it totally deserves it)
It's truly the coolest techniqe  - I'm trying to think of words to describe...

Seamless Crochet



Let's be honest, I am NOT a motif person. They are lovely and beautiful and ohhh then ends to weave in makes me shudder just thinking of it all. Now that I've tested and understand this seamless motif business, OHHH, I'm a believer!

Yes, I got right to work, because this is something I had to learn.  I chose a small project as my first piece and also wanted it to be something useful, so I chose the Jamie hat.  Speaking of small and useful, there are a few potholder projects in here that are awesome and great beginning pieces - but I also wanted to challenge myself - so went with the hat :)

The diagrams given are great.  I'm a very visual learner, so having these made all the difference to me!

If jumping straight into a hat is a bit scary, Kristin thought of that! Each motif/project has a "trial" diagram that you can study/make to get your feet wet and really grasp the concept before diving in to the full committment. Cool, right!?

Also, because my daughter was to be the recipient of the hat, she requested it be not a tight beanie, but rather a slouchier beret style.  So, I upped my yarn and hook size and yarn. Hindsight, I should have used a G rather than an H, it's a little too slouchy. But E likes it :) I am very happy with my choice of Noro Silk garden. the color changes in the continuous motif was really fun to watch! Also, because I was running out of yarn, I changed up the band to something that I would be able to just stop when I ran out.

If you love the look of motif crochet, but are hesitant to commit because of the ends... This book is your answer!!!

Shawls, hats, scarves, baby blankets... You want it, it's in here!! 

How I Keep Track, my To Do Journal

Over the past couple of weeks I've been recreating my "To Do" book of last year.  It has not only helped me accomplish what needs to get done, it has helped me to embrace the messy of my everyday activities.  How?  Well, when you have to hurry and jot things down and rush to get this/that on a page, you know, before it escapes your brain, sometimes, words get squished in, mis-spelled and scribbled out.  I also tend to circle/star/highlight bits that I think might get lost in the chaos of the page.  At the end of the day, it's not as pretty and organized as I would have liked for it to have been.  It took some time, but I realized that... In order to get stuff done, sometimes, you gotta make a mess.
Once I accepted this, I started to enjoy it's random chaos.  I would catch myself doodling swirly hearts & paisley designs while on the phone or between thoughts.  And this bit of pretty here & there made me happy.
Then, about mid-way through the year, I was introduced to the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling and we started implementing 20 minutes of quiet, nature study into our day.  In the beginning, I would have to sit outside with the kids to keep them quiet and observant during their 20 minutes and one day, had my book with me and did my own drawing of a plant sprouting between slabs of sidewalk in the backyard.... What an enjoyable time.  I began doing it on a regular basis.   Another day, the backyard was absolutly covered in feathers.  Don't know why.  But they were everywhere.  We all made notes of this in our journals (see that word change, there?) and each of us glued a feather onto that day's page...
Another thing that was added along the way was the recording of the days temperature and just little bits of information here and there... I did this, because my mom gave me a daily planner from 60 years ago that belonged to my great grandmother.  She wrote in the days temperature and what she did for the day.  Trips to the grocery store and how much she spent, down to the penny.  What a neat little piece of her history.

So, now you know how I got started on my book and why I do a bit of what I do.
Here are a few pictures and a bit more information about my book.  Before I jump into them, I am sharing this (very important to me) process, because I want you to be as successful as you can be and I know this book is a crucial bit of my day. Maybe it's what you've been missing?

To show "how far I've come", (haha) this is the cover of last year's book.  Both are made from the lowly composition notebook you can get at your local super mart for .49 cents.   --- I don't know why the picture is sideways, because blogger is stupid.

I went to Michaels and bought a few scrapbook pages and sticker sheets I liked.  I also added some ribbons and charms hanging out of the spine because I saw this in a "smash journal" tutorial.  I may end up cutting this off. 

Title Page!  There used to be a sticker next to the hummingbird that read "Enjoy", but it fell off and the cat chewed it up :(

The next few pages are for writing down the big goals you'd like to accomplish. I skipped a total of 12 pages between the 'dream BIG Goals' page and the double page spread of 'Blog Log' and 'Daily'.  

This kinda sounds complicated, but it's really easy.  The Blog Log is where I write down ideas of things I'd like to blog about.  This portion of the book goes in reverse, so I turn the pages from right to left.  Make sense?  It's not meant for lengthy paragraphs, just main idea type titles/thoughts, so you can come back to it later. Next, you can see a few pages from last years' book and what my "Daily" pages look like.

 

There is yet another portion to my book, and it is also worked in reverse.  On the very last double page spread, I labeled it for January, turn the page left and its Feb...and keep going until december.  I use these pages to write down the active submission calls for all the different magazine/books/eMags.  On the left, I write the date and company, with a tiny detail of what the call is for (ie. Winter 2013) and on the right, I tape in a printed copy of the actual call w/ mood board & whatnot.  There is a handy option on my printer of "print __ pages per sheet" if you select 2 pages per sheet, the document will print out on half a page and is the perfect size for the composition books :)

Another thing I've done, that isn't shown in a picture, is added a list of all the mags/emags/yarn companies on the inside of the back cover - so I don't forget to check all the websites periodically for calls I might have missed.  Last, I covered the back page with this fun, hot pink, glittery card stock and ran a length of super-shiny duct tape down the spine.

I hope you have enjoyed the somewhat lengthy tour of my To Do/Journal/Work book.  As always, if this has inspired you to create your own or post about how you keep track of it all, I'd love love love to see what you do!  Leave a comment telling me where to look :)

Read. Every day

What better time to start something than a brand-spanking new year?! While talking to my friend, Ellen, yesterday, she mentioned that she tries to get in a bit of reading time every day. I should do that, I thought.
I used to be quite a reader. And then, well, homeschooling my 4 kids, being wife & mom, and dedicating myself to working my crochet designs.... Somewhere along the way, I stopped. So last night, I went to my bookshelf and pulled off:
Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot, by Mary Beth Temple.
I'm really enjoying this book and have already picked it up to sneak in a page or 2 a few times this morning. One thing I have noticed as I'm reading is that I can "hear" Mary Beth. I have had the honor of meeting & getting to know her. She writes this book in her true language and I find the genuineness of that adds to the humor & readability.
If you, too, are a crochet zealot, I encourage you to pick up this book the next time you are out. Join me in a bit of reading every day. I'd love to hear what book is on your nightstand.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all wonderfully successful and productive year that includes loads of friends & family and plentiful days of relaxation. (and fur babies to guard your bed & keep it warm for you)

Blog Tour: Simply Crochet

^ LOOK! ^  I made that! - on the COVER!

Ya'll!  You've no idea how excited I am to finally get to tell ya about this book! 

First of all, I have to say, being asked to contribute to this book was such an honor.  Robyn Chachula (yes! of Crochet by Faye fame) is an amazing designer and getting to be a part of any project she is in charge of is straight awesome.

The idea for this book is great.  Robyn has organized the projects according to how much yardage they need.  Many of the pieces in this book are created with some truly indulgent yarn.  Which is often "not in budget".  But, have I got some really great news for you!  There are 8 fabulous projects in this book that take only 1 ball!  The Iced Ascot, my contribution, is one of them.

Indulgent yarn, indeed.  This ascot/scarf is made using only 1 hank of Royal by Blue Sky Alpacas. It's so soft and dreamy.

I love this scarf!! Not only because the yarn used is out-of-control amazing, but the look of it.  It's so simple, and yet, not.  Doesn't the model look just so.... together?  Casually yet, elegantly "done".

Love, Love, Love it!

Be excited.  This book is full of awesome.

You can download the eBook now from Interweave Press, HERE or Pre-order the paperback version (to be released in just a few days 12/07/2011) HERE.

Continue to hear more from the designers of Simply Crochet!  Tomorrow, Margaret Hubert will be chatting about her Flapper Hat in the book!

Classic Red

Yay!  A new pattern!  Finally being able to release a new pattern is so exciting.  Makes me giggly like a 12 year old girl :)

Model: Braelyn C. (my niece)

Having a 2 year old niece has added so much to my life. As I hold her in my lap and read her favorite stories over and over again, all of the classic styles of the illustrations beckon to me; begging to be made a part of her wardrobe.
Naturally, I’m listening… 

Classic Red is more than just a new pattern.  It's the first of the Storybook Classic Crochet collection. As of right now, I know this collection will contain 3 patterns, perhaps 5.  The second pattern has already been written and I've made a sample.  Next step is to get it to a tester to ensure there are no errors.  Then, I'll get it released!  I will be selling them individually or as a collection for a discounted price. 

Classic Red is modern take on the typical beret style hat.  It has a slight slouch to it’s shaping, but not overly large so as to be bothersome to tots.  The fabric created is dense enough for warmth without being bulky or stiff.

Size to fit (shown):  2-5 yrs

Materials

Yarn:  2.5 oz / 114 yds, light worsted or sport weight yarn

Shown:  1.5 balls, Angora Banboo, by Patons

Hook:  G/6-4mm or size needed for gauge

I hope you all love this hat as much as I do.
You can purchase a digital copy of this pattern HERE.

Oh!  Before you go, if you have something that is "Storybook Classic" style in your mind, and you'd like to see me add it to this collection, do let me know :)

Yep, I'm doing it, too...

No poo.
For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about (although I'm quite certain you have not all been hiding under rocks the past few years and have heard/read of this buzz many times over), no poo means quitting shampoo.
I know, ew, right?  You just shivered at the thought of it, didn't you?  Before you start gagging, I should tell you, I still wash. I'm clean. I just no longer spend $14 on a bottle of chemicals that give the false sense of "cleanliness".
There are many many many sites out there that give the down & dirty (dirty! ha!.. get it? dirty!) of the different chemicals in shampoo.  Not only are they fairly hard on your hair... they most certainly can't be good for our beautiful earth. 
Here are a few links for you to clicky if you're interested in the science-y details:


So, couple of things might happen after you go no poo for the first time:
1.  Holy hair-falling-out, Batman!
2.  Oh.great.Thanks. Now I have the world's worst case of dandruff.
3.  I think I must be allergic to baking soda or something, my head kinda stings.

But, fear not, they don't have to.

Let's talk about my first no poo shower. The internal convo went something like this:
"What the heck am I doing? No shampoo!?! Gross. This is going to be so bad. Okay, fine. I'll do it once. Maybe twice. I'll give it a fair shot. Then, when it really sucks, I can honestly say I tried and go back to my beloved rosemary & mint smelling -yes, ridiculously priced, but I totally love the smell & I buy cheap toilet paper shampoo. Vinegar rinse. Gross. Sooo not rosemary & mint. Fine."
Then I pour the baking soda slurry over my scalp and scrub. And scrub. And scrub.
Scrub like I'm not going to get another shower for forever.  It's okay. I can admit it, it's only you and I here, right? Totally worried & freaked out that my hair is going to be all greasy and gross.  So I do the vinegar rinse (pffttt vinegar. not rosemary & mint!) and step out, dry off, pj's on (I usually prefer to shower at night. See, then I can be uniterrupted. Noone has to come in to tinkle-yes, family of 6, 1 bathroom, or ask if they can let the neighbor kid in, or tell me so&so farted on them, or come ask if it's ok to have a candy, or come to tell because so&so had a candy without asking and that's not fair and can they have a candy now, too) & then... the first test.
I get out my wide-toothed comb (because I'm good and know using a small comb or brush will stretch & damage your hair) and whoa, Nellie! Hair everywhere! Falling out like I've been in a bar fight (not that I have any idea of what it's like to be in a bar fight. But I'm guessing a girl in a bar fight might lose a bit of hair, right?)
Uh, remember all that scrubbing I did?
Hurry, quick! Check the mirror! Exactly how much is falling out, here!?! And then, are you kidding me!? Dandruff!? What?! I've never had a problem with dandruff before!
Pssst, the scrubbing...remember?
After the balding panic and dandruff anger subside, I realize... the tingly sensation. Wait, that's  little more than tingly. That's kinda sting-y. Ow.Why is my head kinda hurty?
Um, scrubbing. All the blasted scrubbing!
So, yeah, I did some online research, because the internets knows everything, and turns out, if you scrub too much, you might have a few side-effects.
Let's face it, the truth is, when you're using shampoo, the wonderful foamy lather (ahem, that's the part that's the worst for your hair) makes you feel likes it's washing away the dirt as we rub our hair.  The bubbles. That's the cleaning part, right?-No. 
We've have gotten out of the habit of cleansing our scalp.  You know how when you go to the beauty shop (that's what we Texans call it, not sure what it is in other parts of the world - hair salon?) and when the person "massages" your head & it feels so good & then your hair looks so full & bouncy after? Um. Yeah. That's because she cleaned your scalp, not just ran detergent through your hair. And then she coated it with silicone to make it all shiny. Uh. What? Yeah. Clicky the "why to make the switch" links above.
Anyhow, the point is, the human body is an amazing creation. If given the opportunity, your natural body oils will keep you hair perfectly conditioned, as long as you keep your scalp clean and hair folicles unclogged, just don't go overboard with the scrubbing.

I've been told/read that there is an adjustment or transition period for your hair to become accustomed to this change of routine. Makes sense. I mean, I've only been using shampoo for 30 someodd years...
Today is day 6 for me. My hair feels a little dry. Also to be noted, my lips are cracking and my hands are flaking and itchy... so weather could be a factor, too.
I'll keep you posted on this experiment, and if I forget, just ask.

Easy & Delicious

So, I told you I'd start adding more of my life details. I think one of those things should definitely include recipes, if they're mine, of course.

Okay, first, you must know that this tomato soup is a total cheat. Delicious. But cheat. 

Super Tomato Soup

ingredients:

1 Family size can of Campbell's tomato soup

1/2 soup can of water

1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes

1 can diced Italian tomatoes

Combine all ingredients in pot, heat thoroughly.

Really, that's it.  It has great flavor and we like the added bits of tomato. If you prefer your soup to be smooth, this can eaily be pureed using a hand (wand) blender- boat motor as Emeril calls it, food processor, whatever you've got. I know, I know... it's all canned & not fresh.... Reality is: sometimes, we have canned dinners around here. And if I can feed my family of 6 happily with this soup and it costs less than $5 (total) and takes 5 minutes (total) to make... well, you do the math. 

It's a fabulously easy "go-to" when you have sudden lunch guests or just want something warm & delicous that is hassel-free.

Uh oh, dtr needs computer for science.  I'll come back with what is in in this glorious sandwich in a bit.



More to life

Hello, dear readers.  I have made a decision about the postings, or lack of, on my wee location of the internets.  I've discovered that one reason I seldomly update is, well, I can't.  Designing is a business of secrets.  I contractually bound to not show my work until it's "reveal time".  So, while I am known to most of you because of my yarny adventures, I've decided to do more posting about the other parts of my world.   So expect to start seeing a little more real-life RV on RV Designs :)

I'm pretty sure you all know I'm a stay-at-home, home-schooling mom of 4.  Having 4 kids means doing as much on the cheap as possible.  For me, I have found one way to save money is on laundry.  Because, wow- do we go through mounds of laundry!

So today, I offer: DIY Dryer Sheets

You will need:

1 no longer worn 100% cotton tee, rubber glove, liquid softener, scissors, shallow dish

Cut tee into squares, soak in liquid softener, squeeze out excess (pour back into jug), hang squares to dry.

Each square can last up to 20 loads! *If you start to notice static, or when it no longer smells as strong as you'd like, switch to a new square.  When all squares are used, soak, squeeze, dry. Repeat from *

Ingredients.

Chop.

Soak.

Squeeze.

Dry.

Brooke

My little sister had a baby :)

What an amazing miracle she is.

New Color

I've taken to repainting my nails about once a week. I know this is critical information for you to know ;-P

Currently I have loads of work going on here at RV Studio, just nothing I can share at this moment. So, I offer: Wet Cement

Next!

Finally home for the night from all the this & that's my kidlets get themselves into. Going to rest my weary legs (this mornings episode of C25K was a little rough on me), and knit this sample to go out. Wait... Yes, I will have a knit piece published soon :)

The Mystery Project

Still on my quest for a clean & organized office. No paper, box or basket is being left unturned. Projects in different states of completion are being moved from here to there.

This also means there has been ripping. Plenty of it! No longer like this, never truly liked that, anyway... And then there's the 'what is this?' pile. Such a shame. No memory of the yarn choosing process: the pondering, touching, envisioning- the excited anticipation that come with each and every beginning slipknot.

A shawl, it seems. Returning the stitch markers to my nesting doll, the needles to their hanger and winding the lace yarn to be placed on the shelf...

Desk! I has one

Most of my Friday was spent cleaning & organizing my studio. I didn't take a before pic, but trust me, it was b.a.d. Though its come a long way, there is still much to do, so for now, I offer a peek at my clean desk (look carefully, you just might spot a sneaky peeky or two).

Stash Bash, joining in

My friend and fellow designer, Kristin Omdahl, posted her "stash" today. Following her lead, thought I'd show you mine, too.  But first, here's why:  Interweave is having a StashBuster Sale, a new, annual post-Labor Day event. Now through Sept 16th. Not just a sale, but a contest, too! There is also Stash Bash Flickr Group. Check out everyone else's stash and upload your own photos (this is how to enter for prizes!!). One lucky winner will be selected at random from all the Flickr group entries winning their choice of 5 NEW BOOKS from Interweave Books' 2011 collections to add to their book stash. Five additional winners selected at random will win copies of the new book INSIDE THE CREATIVE STUDIO: Inspiration and Ideas for Your Art and Craft Space by Cate Coulacos Prato (available October 1, 2011). Winners will be chosen on September 17. So here it is, my stash of stuff:

One of my 2 bookshelves, the top shelf is loaded up with all of my laceweight yarn.  The bottom shelf is full of knitting & crochet books that I don't look at often, but am not quite ready to be rid of.

The second bookshelf.  This sits right behind my desk, all books within reach for easy referencing.  You can also see my long needles on the floor to the left with shorter needles and dpn's on the top, along with my treasure of crochet hooks.

My cube storage boxes.  They hold my magazines, yarn that is next up for contracted projects and yarn that I have set aside to swatch with.

This little section of real estate in my studio is dedicated to my spinning habit.  It holds my wheel, a Louet S15, drum carder & wool in various colors and stages of fluff to yarn.

So, join in, won't you!? Leave a link to your stash bash in comments so I can see yours :)

Go Crochet!

Welcome to the next stop on Ellen Gormley's blog tour!!



Not only is Ellen an amazingly talented designer, she is a wonderful person. But you don't need me to tell you that. When you read the descriptions and notes she has written on these pages, you feel her warmth and genuine love of crochet.

Go Crochet! Afghan Design Workbook is so much more than your typical afghan pattern book. It is, well, a workbook. A class.
It begins with the basics, tools you will need and why, how to read a stitch diagram, how to measure gauge and why. It has clearly drawn and written instructions of the various stitches you will need to know. And then (yes-more! I'm telling you, it's a great book!), the discussion on choosing colors. Then.... wait, we'll come back to this part.



Next, 50 original motifs. 5 different shapes, 10 of each: Square, Rectangle, Triangle, Hexagon, and Octagon. Grab a snack and a cup of coffee (I like mine with a little french vanilla creamer!), spend some time flipping through the 60 pages of possibilities. Big, beautiful pictures. Detailed, colorful stitch diagrams of each.

Now that you have made the decision of what motif you love the most, you can flip back to the beginning of that shape, where Ellen provides "puzzles", line drawings of how to arrange the shape you picked.



Now also, is the decision of motif joining. Of course, she schools you on this, too. Pictures and choices at the end of section 1 (I told you we'd get back to it!).

Want a no-brainer? An afghan that is expertly & beautifully chosen? You got it! The last section of the book has 10 amazing blankets. Again, amazing photography & charts! My personal favorite:




So, now that we've walked through the Afghan Design Workshop, let's talk about the "more" I mentioned about this book. Who says you must use the motifs for a blanket? Not me! While I LOVE to wrap in the comfort of the afghans my grandmothers crocheted for me, making an afghan is not high on my list of things to do. On my list, of course, but not anytime soon.
For me, the real fun in this book is the possibilities of motifs! Truly, you can make anything using them. Be picky and purposeful in the yarn you chose.
Cotton worsted: chose a solid octagon motif for a purse, or an open one for a market bag
Sport/DK weight wool: pick a lovely square for an easy cardigan
Lace weight bamboo: chose an open triangle for a dreamy spring shawl
Worsted wool: opt for greys & warm browns, make a manly scarf from a rectangle

Really, the possibilities are endless. I know what I'm going to do.



You can find it a on Amazon, ~OR~ you can get an autographed copy from Ellen's site. It is definitely one book on your shelf that will not gather dust!

The Hooks in My Life.... part 1

I have oodles of crochet hooks. Some work for me, some don't. Thought I'd take some time and share with you my thoughts.

This one was a gift. The information on the hook says "Accento Craft Inc, Handy Hook".

It's a size K, which is a size I don't use often. It does require a bit of getting used to, and I wouldn't necessarily say that it causes less 'tiring' of my hand. My guess is that it is probably very comfortable for a "pencil grip" person. But I'm a knifer. It's fun to look at though!

Several years ago, I went through a phase where I decided I needed to have cute, fun and fancy hooks.
Here are a few I ordered from eBay sellers. I don't remember who I bought them from, sorry. As you can see, 2 were customized with my EweDevil sheepie of the time. 2 of these hooks have a bit of a squish to them & are marked with "JY 305". The other is a harder, polymer clay (I think). Although, this little sheep has lost it's head & horns :( But it's quite comfortable to work with.


For the "Ooo, Fun!" factor, I bought this hook that lights up. Yes. There is a little led light in the handle that shines through the clear hook. It is another size K, so is rarely out. And honestly, I tried working with this once during a movie (we were at home, don't throw popcorn!). It was more annoying than helpful, for me. They are called "Crochet Lite" and are made by Clover, but aren't on the website.


And my purty hooks:

Ooops, looks like a plain one snuck into the picture... It is 10" long and has "Size 15" stamped in it. It is one of the hooks from my grandma's collection.
So the fancy hand-turned hooks are from Jimbo's Front Porch. They are a pleasure to behold and have a great hand. However, for me, not really useful. They have a bit of a Susan Bates hook, and I'm a Boye hook type. Unsure of what I mean by that? Tune in tomorrow for more on hooks!