Crochet Queen: Royal Ramblings

#6KCBWDAY3   Our challenge today: Every Year Knitting & Crochet Blog Week tries to feature at least one day where photography takes a key role, because it has been proven many times that what captures reader’s attention for the first few seconds to hopefully hold them long enough to invest the time to read your words is your pictures, and so this topic crops up each year, but every year it yields such different results!  Refresh your skills at creating attention-grabbing pictures. My passion for crochet is inextricably linked to my everyday life. No day is complete without some crochet on the hook! I am no expert photographer, but I do like to experiment and to try and take some unique headshots that express my love of crochet or the season in which I am writing.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 Today it is my honor to feature my wonderful Ravelry Moderator, Loren. March is the anniversary month for my Ravelry Group Croc-Kween Designs and later today we'll be celebrating by going into the chat room to continue to enjoy each other's company. Please join us at 4:00 PM EST. Since Loren has been such a constant supporter in my group since the beginning and is an experienced moderator, I thought it would be interesting to get her perspective on volunteer job: "I am one of the moderators for Cro-Kween Designs group on Ravelry .  I get to play “Jester” to our beloved Kween, Gwen Blakly Kinsler, and keep the “Courtesans” (group members) entertained! I love Ravelry, where I am known as twisted1 . I get to meet people from all over the world who share my interests; and I am so inspired by the limitless creativity running throughout this crochet & knit community. I like being able to catalog my projects, and I am happy to have a place...

Tuesday, January 14, 2013 Not that I am wanting to recall the bitter chill of last week here in Chicago (17 below, 45 below windchill) and around the nation, but it did get me looking back. Have you ever noticed that when you are feeling just a bit chilly inside, the addition of a scarf or cowl warms your entire body? It might be the colorful yarn, the fuzzy feel or the thought of the talented hands that made the scarf, but they seem to warm the soul as well as the body! Here's a look back at my ten favorite scarves/cowls this year. I've included links so you can make them too! Winter 1) Gwyneth Cable Cow l Unique cables add a fashionable touch to office wear.   2) Chunky Tweed Cowl  Encircled in warmth, you'll also make a fashion statement! 3) Ringo Neckwarmer The colors of fall "encircle" you with warmth! Spring 1) As You Like It Cowl Lightweight and playful as you come out of the cocoon of winter! 3) Elise Shawl...

Tuesday, December 3, 2013 My guest blogger this week, Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter, has graciously offered to share her expertise on the growing use of social media whether for fun or as a professional endeavor. I know you'll take away something useful from this great tutorial! Crafters are using social media to share ideas and find new inspiration more than ever before. With the number of options available - Facebook, Ravelry, Pinterest, and Instagram, just to name a very few, it’s easy to feel intimidated by the never-ending reach of the social media universe, but it’s a crucial component to expanding your audience. Whether you are blogging to make a living by promoting your designs or hand-made wares, or simply want to share your inspiration and connect with fellow fiber fanatics, it’s important to carve out some time to maintain a consistent online presence. If you don’t already have a blog, that’s a great place to start since it allows you to generate unique content w...

Tuesday, August 3, 2013 I first “met” Jude Butterworth on the Internet via Ravelry when I admired and bought one of her gorgeous shawl patterns. Since that time she has been an active and very creative participant in my Ravelry Fan group, Cro-Kween Designs .  I admire Jude's beautiful free-form and other crochet work. From Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, she is one busy and talented lady. I asked her to share some of her insights on alternative materials for use in crochet. Alternative Materials: A Practical Guide by Jude Butterworth When I was a university student, I had very little money and used what little I did have for food and shelter.  During that time I had such a strong urge to crochet that I had to get inventive.  Whether by necessity, curiosity, or the desire to recycle detritus that would otherwise end up in a landfill, many crocheters are experimenting with materials that diverge from traditional yarns often found in the crocheter’s basket. As...