Crochet Queen: Royal Ramblings

On a couple of ocassions lately, I have mentioned to a good friend that I am traveling to some places near and some far to seek solitude. My next adventure will be spending a month in a Florida Airbandb this winter by myself. Apparently, this struck my friend as odd; she felt compelled to ask me why I would want to go for that long and be alone. A little shocked that she was questioning my sanity, I am not sure that I gave her a good answer. First of all, I don't envision being entirely alone there. I have crochet friends in Florida who I am sure I will catch up with. I also have a cousin there and another dear firend who I am sure will at least spend a weekend with me. I've already thought about pacing these visitors with some time in-between because I do think I might get a little lonely, but the opportunity to explore, crochet, read and do what I want when I want is very appealing to me! I am never at a loss for things to do and often feel like I am running on a treadmil...

6KCBWDAY2-Our challenge today:   "Cast your hooks and needles aside! This year you are challenged with one of those tasks that some bloggers can find quite daunting: but there’s never a better time then when we’re all in it together, so let’s shift the focus and turn the attention from the things we make to the things that make us." The Twins With a birthday coming up next week, please note that I am a Gemini (the twins) not a liar! "A liar?" you ask. "What is the Queen talking about?"

These beautiful hands with hooks ‘aflying  tell a story. They tell of cancer survivors who have risen above the trauma of their experiences to give love and support through their talented hands to others. Preemie babies receive hats crocheted at the hospital where we meet twice a month as the Cancer & Crochet Support Group.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014 Kathryn Vercillo well known as the #crochetblogger at Crochet Concupiscens e is fast becoming the expert when it comes to the health benefits of crochet as she studies to become a psychologist. Her book Crochet Saved My Life has been reviewed positively across many media site. If you happened to miss it, I hope you will look back and read my review . Kathryn has now launched a new crochet health survey  to study how crochet heals people. This is a 27-question survery (mostly multiple choice) designed to gather detailed information about the physical and mental health issues that are helped through crochet work and to what degree the craft is helpful. In her book Kathryn shares her own story of crocheting to heal from chronic depression. She also interviews two dozen other women who share their stories of hooking to heal. In addition, she aggregates the available research into crafting to heal. Several formal studies have been conducted tha...

Tuesday, October 15, 2013 I met Liza when I was a volunteer at a community clinic where she worked as the social worker. I admired her spunk and her professional knowledge which always guided her to remain calm in the face of tragic situations. Even though the work we did was serious, we still managed to have fun, share a laugh and our interest in crochet. The clinic closed in 2008, but we’ve kept in touch.  Liza has a passionate story to share with you. Reading it had me in tears. How will you react? Liza An admirer and pupil of the Crochet Kween, I count Gwen as one of three women, including my mother and mother-in-law, that I thank for my obsession with crochet. At the age of ten, my mother taught me how to crochet an afghan, and single crochet was the only stitch I understood well for several years! My father made me my first metal hook because I was forever losing my mother’s priceless hooks. The hook’s groove was not smooth and it would catch on the yarn fibers;...

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 Because I am passionate about crochet and because it plays such an important role in my life. I am constantly “thinking crochet.” I want to bring awareness about crochet to everyone in the world. They don’t necessarily need to achieve the level of passion that I have for the craft, but my dream is that our society in general would come to recognize crochet as a valuable art and craft.  I also want to see the entire genre of crochet planted firmly on a continuum with all the other needle arts as a valuable pastime and art, and for the day to come when society stops confusing it with knitting! I have often joked that I am “covering my world in crochet” and that’s because I think crochet can beautify nature as well as contribute to many aspects of my community. I have been covering rocks for years and I turn them into sculptures or decorative o bjects. Claire Zeisler:  Fragments & Dashes , Threads magazine, Oct/Nov 1985 My fi...

Tuesday, November 27, 2012 Do you spend time in online crochet communities? Is spending too much time lurking or surfing the Net your weakness? I disagree with those who insinuate that spending time on Facebook means one has “no life.” Sometimes a stand-out person comes along in an online version of a cocktail party and the sharing of our interests/passions and knowledge creates a sort of click that resonates with the heart. Kathryn Vercillo is that "click" for me. I can’t remember where or how we “met", but I do remember that in December 2011 she honored me with her “Awesome Crochet Blog Award” for Free-form Crochet on her blog, Crochet Concupiscence . What’s not to like about Kathryn for doing that for me? Seriously though, I feel as though by virtue of our interests and our spirit of needing to shout crochet from the rooftops, we are friends even though we have never met face to face. When I did the following interview with Kathryn by phone, she was working on he...