Crochet Queen: Royal Ramblings

Chicago Tribune,  4/9/2003 Making Peace with Yourself (while the country is at war) by Barbara Brotman; Chicago Tribune, April 9, 2003 "Between the war and the economy, there is enough anguishing news to turn a concerned person into a despairing one. How do we navigate a worrisome world without being engulfed by it?"  Although those words were written in 2003, they are eerily familiar to me today; and, I suppose, to many of you! I have pretty much stopped watching the national news; the enormity of our daily problems leads me to despair as I am unable to solve the world's problems! I'm also done talking about the "mask/no mask" controversy. Just because I am pretty much isolating again and have very little to report when I check in with friends near or far, it doesn't mean I have to fill the void with negativity. Today, we have a seemingly never-ending pandemic thrown into the mix of everyday life.  There is plenty we can do to bring happiness to each d...

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 ...

I am grateful : -for my health. I have stayed Covid-free all these months by following the science: mask or double mask, glove, isolation. #IwearbecauseIcare -that the new vaccine that is being administered today. I will wait patiently for those most in need to get theirs. -for my Covid pup, Bobby, who is so cute even when he is naughty! Naughty Nice -that my older daughter & family could spend this month in Florida, even though I miss them a lot! -for Zoom so I can keep in touch. Zoom cookie-baking -that "Darth" (Vader), the fish I am pet-sitting, is  still swimming after 3 weeks! -that my younger daughter lives nearby too. We are a small happy family! -that I found mincemeat, after searching 4 stores, for my annual fruitcake gifts! Walmart came through for me, and again today, with rum extract to use for eggnog fudge! Thanks Google! -that our Indianapolis weather has not been so bad. I am still taking daily walks; and it is even better when the sun is shining!  -for my ...

For those of you who were not able to hear Suzann Thompson’s inspiring presentation at Evening of Excellence at the CGOA conference in Portland last July, I have an exciting update about her exhibit's sucess! Suzann Thompson, Fiber Artis t

Proudly, I review this book which was published in 2017 because it includes 6 of the artists I included in my book,  The Fine Art of Crochet , published in 2013. Featuring her work on the back cover honors Bonnie Meltzer; and her work featured in the Introduction honors Donna Rosenthal. I also wrote about Jerry Bleem, Norma Minowitz, Karen Searle and Yvette Kaiser Smith. Bonnie Meltzer: Connected Donna Rosenthal: Metal of Honor

It is no coincidence that our beloved association was named a Guild and its soon-to-follow affiliate groups were named Chapters.   As the Founder, along with other generous volunteers with knowledge of by-laws, we began to create them for our association. In 1995, when our pursuit of 501c3 status was granted, our bylaws regarding this issue read as follows: “Section 4 Chapters 4.1 Names and Domain Local Chapters, State Organizations and Regional Organizations, termed chapters in these Bylaws, who wish to become members of the CGOA shall adopt a name including “Chapter of Crochet Guild of America” . CGOA shall assume no liability for its chapters. 4.3 Recognition Chapters shall adopt Bylaws consistent with these Bylaws and the purposes of which shall be substantially the same as those of the CGOA. Chapters may be unincorporated or incorporated under the laws of the state in which the chapter is located.” On November 3, 2017, the Membership voted to approve ...