Art Made in March

March was National Crochet Month and these are the works I created: Catfish (catghan made for charity), Joy in the Making, Way and Bird. The couch picture gives you a gauge as to their sizes.

Happy National Crochet Month 2016

Happy National Crochet Month 

& Welcome to Day 12 of Crochetville’s 

2016 National Crochet Month Designer Blog Tour

This year’s blog tour includes daily visits with crochet designers and daily giveaways:

http://crochetville.com/the-crochet-express-2016-natcromo-blog-tour-daily-giveaway-schedule/

Daily Designer Schedule

http://crochetville.com/2016-national-crochet-month-blog-tour-designer-schedule/

Crochet Friendly Local Yarn Stores

http://crochetville.com/the-crochet-express-2016-natcromo-blog-tour-local-yarn-store-schedule/

Yarn Company Schedule

http://crochetville.com/the-crochet-express-2016-natcromo-blog-tour-yarn-company-schedule/

Party on Ravelry 

For the past several ears, I’ve participated in the Party for National Crochet Month on Ravelry, mainly by joining the FreeForm Crochet-Along, as both participant and designer for a day.  I’ve learned so much over the years from this.  The sharing and camaraderie are amazing.  It’s a joy to have an international brain trust of knowing hands whose efforts, exchanges, and endeavors inspire.

http://www.ravelry.com/groups/party-for-ravelrys-international-crochet-month

Free Patterns for National Crochet Month

It’s been a busy new year for me! I’ve created a number new patterns to use as fabric, appliqués and motifs.

From now until March 31, 2016, my Tiny Circles in Squares and Tiny Circles in Triangles patterns are available for free on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiny-circles-in-triangles

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiny-circles-in-squares.

 They were created to fill in those small spaces in crochet fabric in an interesting way.

Wishing you all joy in the making!

Native Flora and Fauna: International Freeform Challenge

This year’s theme for the International Freeform Challenge is native flora and fauna.

So far I’ve designed the NYS official bird, a blue jay, a red cardinal, trees, squirrel, black bear, bison, and  moose. 

I've written patterns for all of these and have tested the red cardinals, black bear and squirrel.

I'm considering adding a beaver, coyote and owl.

Heart Package, Heart Pouch

Valentine's Day, my play niece, and an ad for a class on creating felt pouches led to a new creative series. (Really? does one need a class on that?) I though I would go one better and made heart envelopes/ pouches out of felt, stamped them, layered them, sewed on glass beads and stitched them with delicious Rowan wool cotton yarn.

Then I thought -- why not crochet them. I began by designing intarsia hearts -- one in a rectangle and the other in a graduated flap and then created a textured body. They're about 5" x 3.5" and feel lovely.

Black Bear: Flora and Fauna

The International Freeform Guild holds an annual challenge that results in a book  whose sales are donated to charity. This year's theme is Flora and Fauna.
So thinking about the indigenous and area specific wildlife I might include, I thought about the second largest animal around: black bears. They wander the hills above my home at the edge of this town called a city. They crossed a friend's yard.
I looked at pictures of bears, but one particular drawing gave me the way in to creating this appliqué.

I'm testing the pattern and hope to offer it for sale by the end of the month.
My first finished design of the new year. Happy New Year!

Little Gnomes Healing Hurt

My deep holiday blues were lessened by creating a lovely gnome. I was inspired by these rather large elementals to design and make my own versions. The pattern has been tested and just now released. My brother requested the Crone Gnome, so she's departed, and my bff asked for a little bearded guy. They have brought me some measure of equanimity in a time of pain.

Gift-A-Long 2015

The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is a 6 week long KAL/CAL of holiday gifts made from patterns designed by 335 independent designers.

SALE

From November 19th at 8pm (US-EST) through November 27th at 11:59 pm (US-EST) these 335 indie designers will be discounting between 5 - 20 of their patterns 25% for this event.

KAL/CALs

There are eight KAL/CALs to participate in, prizes of all sorts given out, games, and generally a lot of fun! The Gift-A-Long KAL/CALs will run from November 19 at 8pm US EST through - December 31, 2015 at 11:59pm US EST. All patterns by the participating designers are eligible for the KAL/CALs and all not-free patterns by the participating designers are eligible to win prizes.

Location:

http://www.ravelry.com/groups/indie-design-gift-a-long

Once you’ve got your Gift-A-Long patterns, you’re invited to join a relevant KAL/CAL! (For instance, if it is a cowl, please join the cowl KAL/CAL.) To join, simply write a post in the KAL/CAL thread you want to join, including the pattern name you will make and a link to your project page. KAL/CAL participants are eligible for lots of lovely prizes but you gotta post to win!

There will be games, tons of prizes, great conversation, and a lot of fun.

Here is a handy shortened URL to search the sale bundle:

http://ravel.me/giftalong2015

Gift-A-Long 2015 Designer Map:

https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=1723338

My Patterns on Sale:

http://www.ravelry.com/bundles/gift-a-long-2015-556