Crochet Queen: Royal Ramblings

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

Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Pate Conaway: Mixed Media Artist Pate Conaway Not only is Pate one of the talented artists featured in my book, The Fine Art of Crochet ~ Innovative Works by 20 Contemporary Artists , but he is a friend. Pate's gentle and endearing personality ensures that he makes friends wherever he goes. Chapter 4: Pate Conaway His method, installation and performance, draws Pate's viewers in as they try to comprehend what he is doing and how he is doing it. Using commonly found materials, he plays upon those looks of recognition as he cleverly transforms his mateials into their final state of artistic wonder! Not much time is left, but I invite you to attend his interactive exhibit September  27, 1PM-5PM or September 28 (closing reception) from 12 PM-4PM at the Roman Susan Art Space , 1224 W. Loyola, Chicago, Illinois. You'll be glad you went! Untitled Recently my chapter of the Crochet Guild of America invited Pate as a guest artis...

September 10, 2014 As I watch the arc of the late afternoon sun gradually shift, my thoughts can't help but think about the next season that will be upon us: Autumn. I  enjoy Autumn, almost as much as I do Spring. The colors are gorgeous and delight us as new shades appear almost daily tease us with waning sparkle as the sun hits the leaves. the smells, the foods and the holidays during this season are nothing but good. The waning sunlight is only a tease only if we let our thoughts migrate to what is coming next: Winter! I live in the Midwest so I have learned to adapt to four distinct seasons, each with their pros and cons. Those of you in other, more stable climates, might not be able to relate in quite the same way. There is a certain satisfaction to re-arranging the closet and preparing to wear clothes that almost seem like new again since they've been under wraps for months. Our crochet habits are seasonal, as well. Many people do not work on afghans in ...

March 2014 Do you love to crochet? Can’t get enough? Do you say, “Just one more row” even though your eyes are bleary and it’s way past your bedtime? Shout about your love of crochet from the rooftops all this month during the annual National Crochet Month celebration of crochet! I have much to celebrate and I'm proud to let you know about my new book, The Fine Art of Crochet .  "The artists have clearly been selected for innovation. The variety of techniques and materials used forces the reader to question any pre-conceived ideas about this particular craft; the results are a real eye-opener. From elegant jewellery and wearable art to bold and striking sculptures and installations; the range covered is breathtaking ." Textileartist.org You can win a copy of my book! Just sign up with your email to "follow" my blog (at the right of this blog), and let me know in the comments section that you have done so. You will then be entered into a drawing to wi...

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 As Founder of the Crochet Guild of America, I have been privileged over the last twenty years to meet talented and inspiring crocheters and designers like Tammy Hildebrand. I am honored to be a part of her blog tour and I heartily recommend her new book! Please enjoy exploring around my blog and at the many books I've reviewed. While you're at it take a look at my new book, The Fine Art of Crochet. . Crochet Wraps Every Which Way by Tammy Hildebrand Tammy’s new addition to her long list of design accomplishments is so much more that the eighteen shawl patterns within this book. She encourages every crocheter to be the best they can be in a supportive way that gives us all courage to try anything, even the scariest of techniques we thought we could never master! When reading the introduction, one feels that Tammy is sitting nearby, cheering us on to success! Her down-to-earth approach in the Tips and Hints section is like having a crochet fri...

Wednesday, December 31, 2013 Image shared from Photobucket (wondercliparts.com) My sincere wishes for a healthy, happy and fiber-filled 2014 go out today to my blog readers. Your presence here with me, along with your complimentary posts, is very much appreciated. I hope you had a wonderful holiday no matter how you choose to celebrate. It is my wish that you felt great joy from gifting lovely crochet items that you created yourself and that, at the same time, you received some wonderful crochet gifts from dear friends! If not, you surely found some comfort and relaxation from a few stolen minutes of crocheting in a cozy spot. In order to show my gratitude, I am gifting a copy of my newest book, The Fine Art of Crochet . Here's how you can enter to win: 1) Click "follow" here on the blog between now and January 2 at midnight. 2) If you are already a follower, "like" my fan page on Ravelry, Cro-Kween Designs . Remember, Valentine's Day is righ...

Monday, December 16, 2010 It's not too late to gift my book, The Fine Art of Crochet , to a crochet friend. The Kindle edition  only costs $3.03! Merry Christmas to ALL my crochet friends near and far!

Thursday, October 24, 2013 Dee and I have been crochet friends for quite some time. I've enjoyed teaching for her chapter of CGOA in Connecticut; I've taken classes from her and I've written about her in an article about "Collecting Crochet" for Piecework Magazine where again, she shared her love of hook collecting.  Dee is known as the "crochet cheerleader" and she blogs as CrochetWithDee . Dee Stanziano Magic Wands by Dee Stanziano: Magic wands; all crocheters have them.  Cleverly disguised as magic wands, crochet hooks vary in many aspects including color, shape and material.  Some are mass produced, others are hand crafted. Some are heirlooms; others are brand new, waiting to cast their first stitches.  With refined practice, we are able to wave our crochet hooks seemingly effortlessly, turning simple string into an array of loops that becomes a series of stitches, and those stitches magically turn into fabric.  Yes, crochet hooks are ju...

Saturday, October 12, 2013 I've been a fan of Bonnie Meltzer's mixed media art that features crochet for years; and I chose her work, "Global Warming" for the cover of my new book, The Fine Art of Crochet . Its strength and vibrancy foretells what the viewer will see inside.  I so admire Bonnie's talent, and I can count on her whenever I need support or feedback on articles I am writing about artists. I am very delighted to have her as my guest blogger today! Read her interesting analysis of BIG crochet! BIG, BIGGER, AND BIGGEST CROCHET by Bonnie Meltzer Crocheting is seductive. One easily falls under its spell.  Once into the rhythm it is easy to go on and on, and hard to stop.  So it is no wonder that some crocheted works are big, big, big! But crocheting big is anything but mindless.  The increased scale adds issues and problems that have to be solved. •         What changes in your process or thinking whe...

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...