Crochet Queen: Royal Ramblings

I've blogged before about how crochet is good for our health; and lately, I've been seeing lots of references about how many have turned to art endeavors during the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain a healthy outlook.   Personally, I used the "free time" I felt I had been given during the pandemic to  dig deeper into my artistic abilities, and to enjoy the challenges of pushing myself to create. I even gave water painting a try! Now seems like a good time to re-visit the topic, both by looking back at our realizations that crafting is a healthy activity; and thinking about how we have found that crafting continues to help us cope in healthy ways, post-pandemic. Christine Boland in Fashion United writes: " Thanks to the pandemic, we've seen a rise in all things handmade, not only in fashion but also in interior design. This has brought about a renewed interest in traditional techniques used for and evolved over centuries by indigenous communities who live close t...

June is Pride Month; and Tania Rich has been busy crocheting hours and hours to  enhance the atmosphere at the NEON District of Norfolk, Virginia.  Her love of crochet got her involved in public art projects that highlight women and the LBGTQ Community. She wanted to add a little more love and color to the NEON District near where she lives. Due to lack of trees-lined streets, she lent her creativity to the light poles. Neon District, Norfolk, Virginia Tania also contributed a 24" x 24" square to a 40 foot mural of Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, D. C. as a part of Love Across the USA . Tania Rich and her square for the Harris Mural Led by well-known street artist, London Kaye , Love Across the USA was founded by Olek in 2017. London explains, "We create large, poweful crochet art installations that amplify the voices and visions of women from the past and present that are changing the world. Women are no longer just participants in conversations, we are le...

Valerie Sherman, Grant Recipient "Granted tne Fiber Art Now Yarn Bombing Grant in early 2021, Valerie Sherman envisions her yarn-bombing installation in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago as an opportunity for residents to engage as a community and show their pride. Bronzeville, in South Chicago, is a hitorically black neighborhood that is undergoing a renasissance and gaining recognition for its regrowth and renewal." (Fiber Art Now magazine) She is embarking on a project that will involve other crocheters and knitters for a yarn bombing collaboration; and the grant will help her purchase yarn for he local crafters to make pieces for the installation. It is important that the community feels that this is truly their project," say Sherman.  When Valerie moved to the South Loop of Chicago in 2018, she began noticing "squiggly" bike racks around her neighborhood. As a crocheter since childhood, she couldn't help but think that crochet could add a touch ...

For many years, B. J. has sent me a lovely and meaningful Christmas gift. After receiving this year's gorgeous installment to the collection, I got to thinking... My usual thank-you note just does not suffice after all these years; I have to do more. Because I love to blog, why not share my love for B.J. here! 2020 Knitted Hat We've known each other for 26 years, and met at the first Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) conference in Chicago. The friendship has endured all these years because of our common passion for thread crochet, bead crochet, crochet in general, and our love of working together for CGOA. Academically, BJ earned degrees in psychology from the U of Illinois, Chicago and photography from Columbia College. When we met, she had just retired as a financial officer and production manager at the ABA Press (the official publishing company of the American Bar Association) in the area of publications.  One year I was the lucky recipient of "Taste of the ABA," a ...

Ruth Bader Ginsburg October 2, 2019: A proud accomplishment for me - I have completed the crochet collar I will be sending soon to the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg for her collection! Filet Crochet Collar Detail: Filet Crochet Collar Filet Crochet Collar Opened This is the letter I am enclosing with her gift: October 2, 2019 The Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg The Supreme Court of the United States One First Street N. E. Washington, D.C. 20543 Dear Justice Ginsburg, It is my pleasure and honor to have created this collar as a gift for your collection. I am deeply grateful for all you have done for women and humans everywhere. On 11/14/2018, I blogged http://bit.ly/2Imk8tb about you and showed the prototype of the collar I had planned to make for you. As Founder of the Crochet Guild of America ( www.crochet.org ), I am a passionate crocheter and so pleased that you chose to include crochet in your collection. My dream is to gather...

Sometimes it takes a while to come down from the near-nirvana from attending a Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) Chain Link conference. This year was no exception! It's been a little over a month since I returned; and I'm now ready to share. Firstoff,  I was officially named Founder and first President of CGOA in 1994. That came after 2 years of planning and developing the concept of a guild exclusively for crocheters. Twenty-five years later, we long-time members had cause for celebration; and that it was! From left: Sue Medinaceli, crochet groupie; Claudette Newhall (her sister; Carolyn Calderon , and Sarah Sullivan One of the highlights of the weekend, especially for newbies, is the opportunity to sit and stitch in the hospitality suite or the lobby of the hotel. While doing so we met new friends and re-united with old ones. Nancy Nehring and Me Margaret Hubert, Designer, Teacher, Author and member of the Hall of Fame Committee with me There was a...