July 5th, 2008
I posted about these little tatted butterflies . I have been making them for the red shawl that I am working on for workshops I am teaching in the fall.
I noticed as I was photoshopping the pics that the butterfly wasn’t one of the new and revised ones. Ah well, the pics are so cute I had to post them anyhow.
One thing I forgot to mention about the yarn for the shawl is that it is Coats Royale Gemini Double Strand Crochet Thread, 100% mercerized cotton. (similar to size 3) The color is 0446 Burgundy/Victory Red.
I’ll be posting more pics as the shawl progresses.
Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay
Tags: butterfly motifs, butterfly shawl, crochet, crocheted lace, freeform lace, lace shawl, shawls, tatted lace, tatting, workshopsShare This
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July 4th, 2008
I was so happy today to be able to say to my dentist:
“I really like you, but….
we’ve been seeing too much of each other.
It’s time for a break.”
She and her assistant both cracked up and we all merrily agreed that we are on a break. (we really have been spending waaaaaaaaaay too much time together lately! erk)
Anyhow, while I am having to spend time in waiting rooms and dentist chairs and other tedious places, I bless my tatting shuttles.
Oh, how I love my tatting! It’s so portable, and it’s also so gentle, soothing and contemplative.
Today, while tatting on the way to the dentist’s office, I had a big breakthrough with the little tatted butterflies that I have been making for years.
These tatted butterflies are my version of a standard tatted butterfly, but, I have always been somewhat unhappy about the body of the butterfly.
Well, today, I twigged to a little flip and chain that suddenly ‘fixes’ the body. So, I was happy dancing about it.
I decided that I had to take pics of my happy discovery.
Immediately, my beloved kitty needed to see what I was doing. She is my ‘glued-to-me’ cat and is very curious about everything that happens in the studio.
So, when I started taking pics of the new butterflies, she jumped into my lap and started helping. I took about 20 pictures of her with the butterflies, but these are my 3 faves:
Life is full of small pleasures!
Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay
Tags: animal companions, butterflies, butterfly motifs, inspiration, lace making, tatted lace, tattingShare This
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July 4th, 2008
I’m working to deadline on a new book…. well, 2 new books.
I’m working on one book that is all my designs (+30 of them). I am also working on a group effort. It’s the 2nd book that a group of designers that I are self-publishing.
We’ve just released our first one- The Belt Book
and now we’re going full throttle on our second one.
Will let you know when we release it.
This week, I’ve been working really hard on drawings and illustrations for the books. I do all my illustrations by hand. Some people cleverly know how to do their illustrations on the computer. I don’t.
And, I love the process of putting hand to paper and making the drawings and working on polishing them. It’s a very gratifying experience. It’s slow, and meticulous work and a real pleasure!
There’s sooooooooo much that goes into creating a book.
When I walk into a library or book store, I am filled with awe. I think about how hard I work on my books, and then I multiply that by the millions of books out there. It’s phenomenal to think of all that effort! Astonishing!
Give your favorite book a hug! Someone worked sooooooooo hard to make it happen for you!
:o)
image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay
Tags: books, drawings, illustration, writing a bookShare This
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July 3rd, 2008
Looking for quick and easy summertime fun for kids?
Crochet them some Friendship Finger Puppets!
Here’s the link to my pattern: Friendship Finger Puppets
Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)
Tags: crochet, crocheted finger puppet, crocheted friendship finger puppets, finger puppetShare This
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July 3rd, 2008
We have a wonderful rescued greyhound that we absolutely adore.
So, imagine my delight when I discovered this incredibly neat website: Crochet greyhounds!
Quirky, fun and oh so sleek!
Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay(copyright)
Tags: animal companions, crochet, dogs, greyhoundsShare This
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July 1st, 2008
Yesterday was Canada Day…. which was a holiday for lots of people, but not for me.
It was one of ~those~ days. The weather was glorious. It wasn’t the weather that made the day challenging.
It was that my computer and I were locked in mortal combat.
Oi vey!
I needed to update my website: My website
I wanted to add the new crocheted belts book, and to add this crochet hook to the Crochet page
But….the computer kept hanging. erg.
AND THEN! I thought… okay, I obviously need a cuppa tea.
Wrong choice. The cat leapt up at me just as I was about to put the cup down and I dumped the whole cup of tea into my brand new keyboard. WAILIE WAILIE….
So… I flapped out as much as possible and put the keyboard out in the sun to dry out.
Things kind of went from bad to worse, BUT eventually, after many hours of struggling and wrestling with it, a sort of cyber-truce has ensued. And my fingers are crossed.
I can get pretty freaked out when my computer acts up - so much of my life is stored in there! eegads, what a thing to say!Anyhow, the day did turn out well after all the computer fuss. I DID get some tatting in, and my keyboard seems to have survived it’s dousing.
AND Jim did find a way to get things working again, so even though, a job that I thought would take a couple of hours took 12….. I still feel like I am living a very blessed life.
To live in a time and place where peace prevails is no small blessing! And, to have family and friends and work that I adore - well, what can I say? I am so grateful!
Even so, some days just don’t go the way you think they should.
And, oh yes, belated Happy Canada Day to the rest of my fellow Canadians, and an early Happy 4th of July to all my friends south of the border!
Keep your teacups away from your computers and enjoy the parts of your lives that bring you delight!
Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
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June 30th, 2008
Salt Spring Island is one of my most favorite places on the whole planet.
My dear friend, Terri Bibby, lives there and has been participating in ARTCRAFT
She did an installation of her Saori Peace Banners that is magical. Here’s the link to her blog entry about it:
weaving installation
Be sure to click on
Shannon Wardroper’s link
as her mixed media pieces are stunningly beautiful.
Oh to be on Salt Spring…. sigh…..
Tags: Artcraft, Salt Spring Island, Saori weaving, Shannon Wardroper, Terri Bibby, weavingShare This
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June 29th, 2008
I just posted about the fab new book that a group of my designer friends and I have just released: Belt Book
and orders
as well as a note of advice about self publishing: Myra’s class
Here’s the belt that I designed for the book:
Autumn Leaves:
I made the leaf buckle, too. I actually made it several times.
First time, I made it in brass.
That didn’t feel right.
Then I realized - this belt is about ~leaves~ Duh!
So I made the buckle in wood, and was really happy with it.
Unfortunately, so was our little dog. The cats obviously knocked the belt down, because the dog shot past me in his
“I am doing something wicked and I know it and I know that I have to run fast, because as soon as you catch me, you’ll take it away from me’ mode.
I didn’t even bother to try and figure out what just shot past.
I know when he does his wicked run that I have to grab a handful of cat food and run like blazes after him. He has me well trained.
Anyhow, the little booger managed to get some really solid chomps into the belt buckle. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Yes, that was me growling, not him.
So, I re-worked the buckle, and got most of the chomp marks out. A few of the teeth marks are too deep to sand out, so they are conversation pieces. grrrrrrrrrrrrrr
When I was designing the leaves for the belt, I went out into the garden and used actual leaves from our trees as the models for the leaf motifs. Always great to work directly from nature!
The book is just terrific!
You can order it from BELT BOOK
Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
Tags: accessories, Apparel, belts, crochet, Crochet Belts from the Hip, crochet patterns, crocheted belts, self publishing, self-published crochet book, straight from today's designersShare This
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June 29th, 2008
Last summer, at the Knit and Crochet show in Manchester, NH, a group of designers that have become friends over the years got together for lunch.
We decided that we should put together a book and self publish it. It’s taken a lot longer than we expected, but it’s really wonderful.
Crocheted belt book
Here’s the press release:
NEW DESIGNER PUBLISHING GROUP ANNOUNCES
INNOVATIVE FIRST RELEASE:
CROCHET BELTS FROM THE HIP
Raw, Uncensored Designs Straight From Today’s Designer
STRAIGHT FROM TODAY’S DESIGNERS (SFTD), a designer-based self-publishing group, announces a new venture that heralds the future of crochet patterns: Designers going direct to their public.
With its first release entitled:
“Crochet Belts from the Hip: Raw, Uncensored Designs Straight From Today’s Designers”,
SFTD offers no less than eighteen original belts from top designers, a veritable treasure trove of wearable art and innovative stitching.
The thirty-four-page booklet is available for instant download from www.SFTDonline.com for Fifteen Dollars.
The list of participants include some of the best-loved names in contemporary crochet, as well as talented up-and-coming designers. In alphabetical order, along with their projects, they are:
Angela Best Beaded Lacy Sash
Gwen Blakely Kinsler Yummy Licorice Belt
Vashti Braha Barbed Wire Belt
Robyn Chachula Bubble Sash
Doris Chan Hip Hemp Belt
Noreen Crone-Findlay Autumn Leaves Belt
Here’s the link to the story behind my
Autumn Leaves belt
Pam Gillette Waist Cincher Belt
Lisa Gentry Beaded Hip Cable Belt
Kim Guzman a-Maizing Ribbed Belt
Mary Jane Hall Feminine Lace Belt
Tammy Hildebrand Easy Beaded Belt
Margaret Hubert Freeform Belt
Christy McMahon Lilac Waves Belt
Marty Miller Spiderweb Sash
Dianne Moyer Circle on Circle Belt
Dora Ohrenstein Popcorn Medallion Belt
Carrie A. Sullivan Pretty Tunisian Knit Stitch Belt
Mary Beth Temple The Felt Belt
Belts were the project of choice for this launch, as they are a must-have accessory, quick projects with no complex shaping, and ideal for experimenting with new yarns and techniques.
The beautiful designs in Crochet Belts from the Hip use a variety of techniques, including freeform crochet, felting, lace, beading, cables, Tunisian crochet, surface embellishment, motifs, and much more. Yarn choices range from perennial favorites to the adventurous, such as hemp, jelly yarn, ribbon and wire.
Each designer writes “straight from the hip,” creating instructions in her own voice, free of editorial agendas, imposed formats or word count restrictions.
The personality of each designer shines through in these pages, providing a unique opportunity for crocheters to get to know their favorite designers better.
SFTD is a new model representing the wave of the future in crochet publishing: Designers making their own assessment of what crocheters will enjoy making and wearing, eliminating middlemen, and cutting costs by distributing patterns via the web.
This new business model also allows designers to realize sales income directly, a promising alternative to the depressed design fees paid within the industry.
The savvy designers behind SFTD have combined their considerable expertise in technology, graphic design, marketing, and packaging to bring the project to fruition.
Layout and graphic design of the booklet is by crochet designer Amie Hirtes.
Purchasers can buy Crochet Belts from Hip by credit card at StraightFromThe Hip Designersfor the price of $15.
Note to other designers and to people wanting to self publish please see: Self publishing
For the story behind my Autumn Leaves belt and more pics of it: Here’s the link :
Autumn Leaves belt
Image source: Straight From The Designers’ Hip
Tags: accessories, belts, Crochet Belts from the Hip, crochet patterns, crocheted belts, self publishing, self-published crochet book, straight from today's designersShare This
By Noreen -- 5 comments
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