Tuesday, July 2, 2012
I've just returned and am recovering from attending my 18th Chain Link Crochet Conference sponsored by the Crochet Guild of America. This year it was in Manchester, NH and I think this is the 4th time we have held the conference in this same location. My time there was brief and my main task this time was to present the "Founder's Award" at the Design Competition awards presentation.
Like in most organizations, I suppose, in CGOA when you offer constructive criticism, you are given a job! I have a concern that the history of CGOA is sometimes forgotten and new members often think that this wonderful convergence of extreme crochet talent just happened magically. Or, they don't think at all and just take for granted all the hard work, sweat and tears that went into it since 1994.
When I approached Doris Chan, Chair of the Design Competition, about being a sponsor of the Design Contest, SHE suggested that we call it the "Founder's Award." It was also her idea that the award be given to the design that "best exemplifies the tradition, spirit and creativity of CGOA." Along with choosing a winner, I prepared retrospective slide show of past juried crochet art exhibits held by the CGOA since the very first conference in August 1994. These were running behind me as I gave my brief presentation of the award.
I chose "Princess and the Pea" by Michele Wilcox as the winner.
Before I got started, I was worried that it would be very difficult to choose a winner because the parameters are broad, but I was wrong! As I made my first round to look at all the entries, my eyes immediately lit on this delightful afghan. I said to myself, though, keep going; you must look at everything at least once. So, I took a look at everything and came back to the afghan twice just to be really sure of my decision. (I am not known for my fondness of afghans!)
The reason I chose this as the winner is because I saw many stitches, sc, spike,long sttich, cables, granny squares, and edgings. At first, the afghan was draped over the chair and when I looked at it the last time, I lifted it to finally realized there was a princess with a crown. That cinched it since I believe that all CGOA members are "princesses" if not "queens." But seriously, all those diverse stitches coming together to make something beautiful: the whole is better than each individual part. That says it all about what a guild should be and what CGOA is!
There were approximately 100 entries and all the winners can be seen here:
I was privileged to be able to have lunch with my dear friend, Vashti BrahaDesigningVashti.com)
and many other notables in the world of crochet:
Marty Miller, Past President, CGOA
Carla Scott, Ed. of Vogue Crochet and Cari Clement, Ed. of Crochet 1-2-3 (a new magazine that will be in Walmart)
Karen Klemp, Past President, CGOA
My dear friend, Sue, also drove up from Boston to have lunch with me. We love to see each other each time I am in Manchester. We had lunch at the famous Red Arrow Diner and I have the best Reuben sandwich I've ever had in my life!
While there I took time to yarn-bomb one of the dog statues in front of the hotel.
I bought the annual commemorative hook this year and here's a photo of it:
It is made of Pyrex by Chris Murphey and the color design is an old Italian technique called Latticino: $38.00
The last exciting thing that happened this week is that the day finally arrived when our book for the International Freeform Crochet Guild (INTFFCG) was made public on line and we were allowed to post the photos of our entries. One-hundred percent of the profits go to Doctors Without Borders and Soul of Somanya from the sale of the book: Inspired: Music and Art in Fiber
Go here to purchase the book: http://www.freeformcrochet.com/challenge.html
Here's my piece: a necklace inspired by Van Gogh's Vase With Red Poppies
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