I have been really naughty!

I haven't blogged in what seems like forever!

So, I am going to try to be good, and blog a bit more.

For those of you who don't know, I went to Ally Pally in London to demonstrate those gorgeous Tulip Etimo hooks. I hade a wonderful time. Four whole days at the Knit & Stitch show. Four whole days without cooking, cleaning and washing the dishes. And I got paid for it!

And, as you can see, it wasn't only me who had a good time. Thank you to everybody who came and made weekend very enjoyable! There are more photos on Facebook.

I have been working very hard!

In the summer I had a Crotat article and pattern published in Inside Crochet. I have re-written the article, taking into account feedback from readers and teaching workshops, so that it now includes more detailed instructions and more advanced techniques. But the best news - for all of you - is that all of this hard work on Rainbow Valley.

If you have a go, I would love to see the results. Pop along to my Facebook page and post there.

What a bad, bad blogger!

I knew I hadn't blogged in a while but it wasn't until I signed in that I realised quite how long it was since my last post.

What can I say apart from the fact I have been really busy.

First of all the bad news. The home I working in has closed down. This means that I and all the other staff have been made redundant. And all the residents have been moved to new homes.

The good news is that I have been doing really well with the crochet. I had a "How to Crotat" article and Crotat Coaster pattern in Issue 19 (July 2011). The six months of the contract is almost up so this pattern, along with a matching oval one, will be available soon. I am working on a whole new free "How to Crotat" download. After getting some feedback and giving some lessons, I am including more pictures and instructions to make it easier to follow.

My "Barefoot Sandals" were in Issue 20 (August 2011) I will be designing some more of these to publish when the 6 months of the contract is up.

And I had some "Crotat Jewels" published in Issue 22 (October 2011). All of this has been very good for business and the knock on effect has doubled the sales on my site. There are also some new Crotat patterns on Rainbow Valley.

And, when you are a famous designer - DMC send you freebies!

All in all, its been quite an exciting time. The problem is that I still need a job as this really doesn't earn me enough money. It would be wonderful to be a full time designer but needs must.

And some things never change. Its tea time so I need to go and cook it.

Inside Crochet 18 is out

Yes, Issue 18 should be in the shops and I am in it again with the final part of my Alphabet Mobiles.

For anybody who wants the matching Uppercase and Numbers, you can get those on my site.

I have finally finished designing the Crotat Mini Bags I have been working on. The last one gave me a bit of a headache as the butterflies just wouldn't go right. This one is "Urban Camouflage". I was going to call it something really boring like mono stripes.

This one is "Rainbow Waves" and made in pretty much the same way as the Urban Camouflage. Just with a lot more colour.

I went a bit patriotic with the "Fleur De Lys" one. After all, I was designing it when all the hype about the wedding was on the TV.

I love this colour, its so fresh. So I made the "Daisy Chain" bag from it.

And here is the "Butterfly Parade". The smaller one was made with my new hook. Scarlet Dash very kindly sent me one to play with. Its a 2mm Prym Bamboo Hook.

When it arrived, I though it was far too fragile, it just looks too thin. And I needed to sand the head to make it suitable for crotatting. However, it is surprisingly strong and supple. The head had to be sanded a few times as I was scared to take too much off but, eventually, I got it right. And, unlike the metal crotat hook, I was able to use it for both "normal" crocheting and crotatting. It saved switching back and fore between two different hooks.

I have to admit though, it did take some getting used to.

Ooooh! I am all excited.

I feel like a kid at Christmas but I really can't help it. I have been officially published in Inside Crochet. And I get paid for it! Yes, I know I have been in mags before but not like this. I have never been paid before for a start. Anyway, if you want to see a free online preview, you can click on the picture.

And there are more to come. The full Lowercase Alphabet is going to be published this and the next two issues.

And I have to say, the photos they have taken are lovely and make my letters look stunning.

Now, as to why I haven't blogged in ages.

Well, there has been all this overtime in work. And there have been the driving lessons and studying for the Theory Test. And there has been all the time spent working on more patterns for IC.

And there has been all the time spent working on a new pattern for Rainbow Valley. This one is "Scrapbooking with Crotat". As you might have guessed from the name, its a motif pattern for scrabooking - or anything else you would like to use them for - and is all crotated.

Crochet Tatting is a form of tatting done with a special type of crochet hook and combined with crochet to produce a unique effect. Here are just a few of the motifs from it, I think there will be 15 different designs in all, along with some basic instructions.

It is almost finished and will be published in April, along with a slightly revamped site.

I have started working on a crotat jewellery one as well.

Your Numbers Up!

Well, ok, mine are! I have finally finished the Number Mobiles to go with the Alphabet ones and they are all on Rainbow Valley for sale.

Next job is to get on with the Crotatting patterns.

I have three "in progress". One is for scrapbooking, one is jewellery and the third is a simple pattern for beginners with step-by-step instructions.

However, first I have to work out how to take photos when I am using both hands!!!!!

Wish me luck!

New Patterns.

I have been very remiss in updating my blog .......... but I have been busy.

First of all, I had some orders to fill. Those are all done now so I can get on with the fun stuff.

Which is more patterns. First of all, another two free patterns. Both of these are design to compliment the Alphabet Mobiles on Rainbow Valley. The Christmas Tree is decorated with french knots for baubles and comes complete with a mini Star.

The Exclamation Mark is for you to make your very own "BOO!" Both of these (and lots more) are available on my Free Patterns page on Rainbow Valley. I am now working on the Numbers pattern to match. I was hoping to have this finished by now but, partly due to overtime in work, it is going a lot slower than I had hoped. It will be here soon though. Just not in time for Christmas.

Then I have decided to go back to thread. I have all of those Cro-tat scrapping motifs to finish next.

I have also been scanning. These two delightful Flora Klickmann books have been passed on to the lady who does the editing and will soon be available at The Antique Pattern Library.