Crochet Queen: Royal Ramblings

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...

Last week, when I was alerted about a new kind of "yarn bombing" taking place in Libertyville, Illinois, I was sure my good friend, Susan Lutz Kenyon and her Crocheters of the Lakes chapter of the Crochet Guild of America were behind it. Susan is a charter CGOA member and has been a loyal member since 1994. Her contributions, both nationally and locally, are too numerous to mention her but very much appreciated. I was right about Susan's involvement. She and several chapter members were involved in installing their crochet squares on the trees and other members contributed many squares. Proud as I am of everything CGOA and its members do; it is always exciting to me when outside entities decide to focus on crochet for for a good cause, recognizing its beauty and versatility! In this case the town of Libertyville wanted something eye-catching to promote their Fine Arts Month in March. Two women, both named Beth, were the coordinators. The two Beths

I have a little fan club in the Junior Kindergarden(JK) room at  my grandchildren's school! Although they are not in teacher, Mrs. B's class this year, I was invited to come back for my 2nd annual presentation on the letter Y; and that stands for "yarn." Conveniently, the JK students reach the letter Y in their studies of the alphabet during March; so it becomes my way to celebrate and open young minds to the mysteries of crochet! This year I spoke to about 30 four-year-olds; two combined classes; mainly because I got caught in horrible traffic by the State Fairgrounds and was late! Needless to say there was much enthusiasm in the room!  Aiming to speak to their interests andattention span, my theme was to show how tools like the hook are used to loop yarn, which starts with the letter Y, to create odd and interesting projects. I compared and showed big yarn  (cable cord) and little yarn (thread);  big hooks and little hooks; big projects and little project...

Learning about the letter Y this week in the Junior Kindergarten class at my granddaughter's school in Indianapolis was perfect timing! "Yarn" starts with Y and it's National Crochet Month. Not exactly a coincidence because both of the wonderfully patient teachers are savvy crafters! My grandaughter, Chloe, loves her class; and I was thrilled to be invited as guest speaker to talk about " Y arn bombing" this week. The 200-mile trip was well worth it when I saw the enthusiastic and adorable children gathered in their circle waiting for my arrival.

1945-60 - “Well-Scrubbed Boys & Girls”- With the return of the soldiers, priorities revolved around making up for lost time and fixing up the nest.  America settled into domesticity.  By the 1950’s, wholesome families were being raised in suburbia and stay-at-home moms formed sewing circles and gathered together to create friendship quilts.  Crochet was found in crafters’ totes everywhere. Projects reflected the range of creativity from sequin snowflake tree skirts to ripple afghans.  “Aprons:  Icons of the American Home” is a retrospective exhibit that toured American museums through 2002.  “While these bow-in-the back aprons aren’t likely to return as a fashion statement, they are coming back, this time as collectibles.  As they disappear, so does an era’s worth of memories.  Aprons that wiped sweat off foreheads in steamy kitchens, dusted furniture, doubled as hot pads, and held peas from the garden when the bottom was pulled up....