Is it that long since I last posted??????

Inside Crochet issue 17 is out, with more lovely pictures of my alphabet. I didn't make these ones, they did. Can't wait to see what they come up with for next month.

And, I have won an award! Do you remember my A-Z of Chatteris in Photos"? The Cambridgeshire Association for Local History" has given me an award for it. I have to tart up all posh and go and collect it on June 4th at Denby Abbey.

I am still crocheting hard, working on patterns for both the site and Inside Crochet. I officially went self employed on April 1st. I have never bothered before as I have always spent loads more than I earned on hooks, yarn and thread. But, with the work I am doing for IC, I am going to be in the black this year.

So, as part of all this, I have set up a Facebook page.

I only joined Facebook originally because the family nagged me. I haven't been on there much but last weekend a lady emailed me to tell me that somebody has been using my pictures to advertise that they are selling items made from my patterns.

I contacted them about it, they apologised and took them down. The silly thing is, if they had asked first, I would have given them permission. When I told them this, the excuse was that they were new to it all.

New to what? Didn't their mother teach them manners???????

Anyway, all this brought me to the realisation that Facebook is a great (and free) tool for reaching potential customers and interacting with them.

Very steep Facebook learning curve coming up!

Any help appreciated.

And, to help me get lots of "Likes" for my page I am having a prize draw of a £5 Paypal voucher when I get to 500 and a £10 Paypal voucher when I get to 1000. You will be able to spend these on my site, my Etsy shop or my Folksy shop.

All you have to do is put a link to my Facebook page and this post on your blog, then leave a comment to let me know where the links are.

When I get to 500 I will draw for the £5 and when I get to 1000 I will draw for the £10.

The vouchers can be used for patterns or finished items and if you are entered into the first draw, you will also be entered into the second draw.

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.

Art Exhibition

This weekend there is an Art Exhibition in March Town Hall, Cambridgeshire. It is free to go and see it and well worth a visit.

I entered my Clematis and Mushrooms into it. I have put a rather high price on the Clematis because I don't really want to sell it. But, if somebody is willing to pay £1495 for it, I can always make another.

I have never put a picture of the finished mushrooms on here, so here they are. I went to the opening reception on Friday. There were lots of people there and lots of comments about my Clematis. But nobody bought it!

For me, however, the highlight of the evening was seeing all the childrens work on the boards. These are the ones from All Saints School.

On Friday morning there had been a workshop for some of the local schools. The chilren had re-created some of the artwork in the exhibition. I was delighted to see that so many of them had chosen my mushrooms to re-create! One child did a wonderful re-creation of my clematis and another did the mushrooms.

Apparently, there were lots more mushrooms but the children chose to take them home.

And these are the ones from Burrowmoor School. As you can see, lots of mushrooms!

And some of my favourites which were on display. Dancing by Margaret Williams.

Go Bananas by Heather Kinnear.

The name of the Apple by Jenny Furlong

Happy New Year!

Is it just me or are the years getting shorter?

It seems that one has only just started and it is the summer, then the winter and another one about to start. And is it really 7 years since I "emigrated" to Cambridgeshire? Here is my New Year gift to you all. Unfortunately it isn't as good as previous years as I just haven't been out taking photos like I used to. I got out of the habit when I broke my wrist and the camera was just too heavy to hold, then didn't get back into it.

So that is my New Year Resolution, to get out at least once each month looking for photos so that I have a nice collection all ready for next years calendar.

And my other, which I was going to make last year, is to get some of those patterns which are part written up on the site for sale.

I only managed two last year, partly due to the broken wrist and partly due to the Clematis.

However, as much as I think the Clematis was well worth it, I won't be attempting anything that big this summer.

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!

How about a hat?

Do you remember that very expensive Noro Taiyo yarn? Well I treated myself to another ball.

I REALLY need a hat in this very cold weather, going back and fore to work on the bike. I was going to buy one but Benjamin said "Why don't you buy another ball of that wool and make one to match your gloves?" Of course, it didn't take much persuasion.

And yes, I am writing the pattern as I go and will post it in the free patterns when it is done.

And now Benjamin has seen the hat half made and has requested one of his own. I am certainly not spending that much on him, especially as he is prone to losing his stuff. So I will have to redesign and re-write the pattern for DK.

So watch this space!

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.

New Pattern Finished

This is the Alphabet Upper case set, which is finally finished and on my site. All 26 letters in glowing colour!!!

Here are some Christmas themed words I made with them.

This Heart and the Star are free patterns on my site, at least, they should be by the end of today!

I have also finished the Lower Case set but you will have to wait a few months for these as "Inside Crochet" are going to publish them.

But I am going to do a Number set which will be available on my site as soon as it is done.

Word Up.

I have been working as fast as I can on these letters. Some are relatively easy, especially when certain parts are the same.

Some are not!

The "J" looks fine in this one but when I used it in "Jack" it was far too small.

After some alterations, I finally got it to the right size.

I also had to change the "A" for Alice.

I still have no idea when this lot are going to be ready. I was planning for the end of October but "things" happen.

Good things for me, bad things for you.

"Inside Crochet" are interested in some of my patterns. This is good for me because of the exposure and the extra cash.

But it is bad for you because you either have to get the magazine to get the patterns, or wait a further 6 months after it has been published for me to be able to sell the patterns on my site.

There is other stuff going on which I can't tell you about. Hopefully, if it works out, I will be able to tell you about it soon.

As promised......

Dry this morning do here is a quick photo of the new version of the "Merry Christmas"

I had to use the fence to pin it on as I don't have any where else big enough!!!!

I have left it in two separate words so that it can be displayed in which ever way you prefer.

Chatteris Craft & Lace Group Exhibition

As promised, pictures from the Exhibition. This is at Chatteris Library and is open during regular Library hours from October 4th to the 16th.

If you are able, you should really go and have a look. As you can see from the photos, there is a wide variation of crafts and lots of talent. You can also pick up a program for next year to see what we are up to. If not, I hope you enjoy the photos.

Better still, if you are able to go along between 10.00am and 1.00pm on either of the Friday mornings, there are demonstrations to enjoy.

Boo!

I worked hard yesterday! It was dry but dull, perfect for taking photos as you don't get shadows or areas of high contrast. I managed to take photos of all the individual letters I have made so far then sat watching recordings of Strictly (mmmm Matt Baker!) while I sewed them together into words.

I decorated the "Merry Christmas" with crocheted holly leaves and french knot berries, sewed a crocheted star and french knot baubles on the tree and am quite pleased with the whole effect. I have left the "Merry" and "Christmas" separate as I thought it would be easier to display.

I have also sewn "Peace" together and finished crocheting "Joy".

Of course, I now have to wait until it is dry again before I can take more pics but you can see my "Boo!"

I am going to put this on eBay at a starting price of 99p, so if you want it, go and see if you can get yourself a bargain. But be warned! This is the prototype, it isn't perfect and is made with different balls of bright orange which means that it is all different colours.But I don't suppose that will notice in the dark. Anyway, that is the reason I am selling it so cheap.

I have also had a couple of orders for names. Well, not exactly orders. I asked my neighbour if she would like some for the grandchildren.

I want some to display on the site and when I do the couple of craft fairs I have booked. Seems a waste just to make some names that are going to languish in the wardrobe forever after. By making them for her, at least they will get used.

Now I need to get showered and ready to go out. Our Craft and Lace groups two weeks exhibition at the Library starts today and I have offered to help put the display up. And I need to take my Clematis along.

I will take some photos for those who are not close enough to go and see it in person.