NEW The Secrets of Yarn (c) Project Guide available as download!

The project guide has been selling like hot cakes! I will continue making small print batches at my local printshop to fill orders, however I have just discovered Lulu.com! A way to self publish, and to bring to you dear readers my guides and books at a more affordable rate than in paper and lamenation!

Again I will continue to sell my guides (and books) in print, but I do understand that there are those who could use the project who may have trouble affording this really helpful information!

So please follow the link! It’s only $2.50 as a download

http://www.lulu.com/content/1369863

I’m sure you’ll find this information helpful and a real boon to your project notebook, no matter the fiber art you employ!

Great for Crochet, Knitting, Weaving and Handspinners!

www.thesecretsofyarn.com face lift

Plastic surgery seems to be all the rage, and so I gave my website a little facelift, added some botox, and juiced things up by giving it a day at the spa!

I fixed the broken links! I so did not realise my wholesale order link was broken…I hate broken links! Grrr…anyway check it out and see what you think!

Don’t forget if you want to win that grand prize of a Free Subscription to the Free Form Crochet Club…enter before Sunday! Check out the competition page on this blog!!

Fun Hat and Scarf Set

HPIM2208

Originally uploaded by CMHS yarn & designs (laurie wheeler).

My son got a little

jealous with me making so much for his sis, so I had to make him a hat and scarf set to match his favorite jacket…here’s him hamming up the modeling job!

The scarf I will be putting into a pattern collection of quick and easy scarves!

Tunisian Crochet Free Form Pouch

Tunisian Crochet Free Form Pouch

Originally uploaded by CMHS yarn & designs (laurie wheeler).

This pouch is being featured in this months Free Form Crochet Club’s Newsletter!

I just love how the yarn played as I moved directions. I really love how ribbon works up with the Tunisian Stitch.

The Maroon or Burgundy color in the flap of the pouch is a polyester ribbon that is usually a pain the you know what to crochet! But it just looks grand worked up like this and didn’t slip around half as much!

 The sage/lavendar beaded is my handspun, and the green/tealish is handspun as well! Mixed together with commercial yarn and ribbon, this really was an interesting experiment.

Quickie In a Pinch Headband

Quickie In a Pinch Headband

Originally uploaded by CMHS yarn & designs (laurie wheeler).

Remember that Tapestry headband I was talking about? Well about two weeks ago when I went to my 20th HS reunion I needed something to keep the hair out of my face and didn’t want to buy a headband. I had yarn, and a hook, and so in the car as hubby drove I hooked up this.

Granted I didn’t finish it off nicely, and I can be a great deal neater than this. But I like the design, and I’ll be writing up this one as another fun pattern.

Wildly Tunisian

Wildlytunsian2

Originally uploaded by CMHS yarn & designs (laurie wheeler).

As you know my latest obsession (crochet-wise) is with the Tunisian Simple Stitch. Darla Fanton opened a whole new world up for me in her Tunisian Entreloc class, though I don’t think she would have thought this is where it would take her students!

But the idea of being able to make gorgeous blocks of seemingly woven ribbons, in a wild array of textures and colors just has me going gaga over this stitch!

a) I so do NOT have to warp my loom. (Which I hate with a capital “H”, that’s warping not the loom)

b) I don’t have to use my cool Tunisian hooks if I don’t want to! I can use any ol’ hook!

This piece is part of a larger project I am making for my Mother in Law’s Christmas gift.

Best in Show!

Demeter4

Originally uploaded by Bec Thomas Photography.

WOW! This photo was awarded Best in Show at the Stanwood, WA  AAUW show. Pretty impressive really, since according to a reliable source, the judge honestly does not prefer photography as an art form!

That, and the fact that although it is a juried exhibition, we did not realise that the art work is judged! LOL…imagine Bec’s surprise upon walking into the patron party to find out her Photo had won the whole show!

It is an awesome photograph, and the print that was submitted has sold, however, Bec will be taking a replacement to hang up there tomorrow.

She has an exceptional portfolio covering a variety of themes. She really isn’t into humans and animals…this shot happened while doing other studio work, when the cat (Demeter) decided she wanted to investigate the lens of Bec’s camera!

If you have a chance to drop by the show, it’s located in Stanwood, WA at the Floydd Norgaard Center, next to the Historical Societies museum…ask anywhere in town they will give you directions.

There are other phenominal artists represented there as well covering media that includes: Glass, Oil and Water Color Paintings, Jewelry, and traditional arts.

To contact Bec to purchase prints or greeting cards you can reach her at duvina@verizon.net

Bec Thomas Photography at the AAUW show in Stanwood,WA

To Weave a Web

Originally uploaded by Bec Thomas Photography.

Well, once again my friend is out in all weather taking photos. Most photographers choose sunny weather, not Bec. She is the intrepid storm beast…in fact I may blame all of our bad weather upon her insane urge to get hip deep in the freezing Puget Sound, and brave wind, falling trees, and power lines.

Her work is well represented at this weekend’s AAUW show in Stanwood, WA.

Large and small prints are available for sale.

I have to say…I love her work, even if she’s too brave for her own good

Stitch Stirrer Prompt…Oct 14th A Crocheter lives here…

Ok…now this has made me laugh…

Should you (poor dears) walk into my home the first thing you would see is a book shelf…then as you made no more than five paces into my home, you would see a box of yarn, a drum carder positioned on a plastic tub (full of wool), a spinning wheel in the middle of the living room, bags of wool, and crochet hooks on almost ever flat surface.

A corner of the couch being bare for hubby’s benefit. Yes, a television, and a dining room table (when not covered in assorted fiber and/or yarn)…a lap top, and yes, more yarn…

As you moved down the hall you would see boxes lining the hallway (as I am reorganizing space) most holding yarn, tools, or fiber…occaisionally a book or two peeking out of a box…(did I mentional almost all of my wall space is covered in fiber art or bookshelves?)…the bathroom is clean, but there is a mound of laundry to be washed, and/or folded and put away…and of course the last batch of fleece that was dyed is drying over the shower.

Yeah, you’d know I crochet…

Prompt: A Crocheter Lives Here!
Posted on October 14, 2007 by Tracie
If someone who never knew you crocheted were to walk into your home, what tell-tell signs would there be to indicate that someone who loves to crochet resided there? Would it be immediately noticeable? Or would it take a little more “digging”? What evidence would they find as proof that “a crocheter lives here!”?

Be sure to link back to this thread with a link to your response so others can find you easily!

Darla Fanton ~ A fabulous teacher!

Well, more of my human error…note to self…do not write blog posts after a convention when you are bleary eyed and exhausted.

I spelled Darla Fanton’s name incorrectly, and I really did not do her class justice in my posts!

I took two of her courses as The Knit and Crochet Show in Oakland. The first class was Tunisian Crochet Entreloc Baskets (to felt or not) and the second was Tunsian Crochet Entreloc worked flat.

Both classes were phenominal. Granted I once again bit off more than a beginner should chew, but why break old habits? I had only practiced the tunisian crochet simple stitch. I have never been much attracted to tunisian crochet (also known as the afghan stitch) mainly for the fact that I had only really seen it used in afghans and home decor. Nothing wrong with those kinds of patterns, however those are the projects that I make the least.

I was a little slow in the class, because I could not switch my brain over from regular crochet to tunisian. I am very unaccostumed to crocheting slowly, I usually just crank out projects. I have been known to do five hat and scarf sets (in tapestry like fashion) in one evening. I am also not accustomed to taking crochet classes! In fact, this was the very first class I have ever taken on the subject.

That led to a little problem, you see normally when I am learning a new technique (in any kind of fiber art) I do it late at night when I can (without young ears present) work, mutter, and swear loudly and proficiently (in several languages I may add) as I try to perfect whatever it is that I am trying to learn. So, being in a class with other people, also trying to learn something, not being able to swear loudly and proficiently almost impeded my learning process! Who knew it was so much a part of my learning curve!

Anyway, Darla was so very patient. She did not mind repete questions, she treated each of us with equal consideration, patience, and skill. She is a zenful master of our craft, and I think I learned more about teaching from her than almost anything else.

I did not complete my basket, but then again, completing the project in the class was not my particular goal. Learning the technique was, and that I certainly did do!

The second class happened after lunch, and I had most certainly had taken a nap before hand. Lack of sleep the night previous had interrupted my brain function. So, the two hour power nap I believe played a huge roll in my being able to understand the process, and another three hours at Tunisian and Entreloc certainly made the difference!

Once again I was thrilled to work with her calm, masterfull presence. She is encouranging, kind, and generous in her skills and talents!

My only problem was working with the yarns suggested for the class. I do not in general, work a great deal with worsted weight yarns. I tend to work with dk weight, and of my own design and making. Luckily, I had brought a ball of my own homespun yarn, and once I started working with that everything proceeded beautifully!

Also, my yarn was beaded, and man we learned something FANTASTIC! In tunisian crochet, beads work to the front of the fabric EVERY SINGLE TIME! Except of course on the base chain, but hey, imagine that! No having to wrangle beads!

So here is Darla’s site and she teaches at The Knitting Bee in Portland, Or.

I highly suggest taking a class from her at any conference, or if you get the chance to see her in Portland!