Vacation

We will be on Vacation until Sept 9th!!! Enjoy the last days of Summer!!

Secret Project Done

I have been working on a secret project for a little over two weeks now and I am thrilled to say that she is done! Well, not really done because I still have to block her and write the pattern. I wish I could give you a little glimpse of what she is but I can't do that.... Wait! Here she is!

Sorry, I wish I could show you more! I have two sketches to send off this afternoon, so I have to get going, it's finally a swimming beach day (hurricane Bill did not let us swim the whole weekend!)

How Many More Days

                                                          this picture was taken about 20 min. ago

Mom, How many more days do we have at Bobbie & Papa's?

We have a little under 3 weeks.

Man, summer goes by way too fast!

The Dress

I am still posting about the Conference in Buffalo because so much happened to me during that week! One of the first things I found out when I arrived at the hotel was that I was going to be modeling in the fashion show. Now, I am not a model..... but I have to say, it was a lot of fun to be one for the day! I was asked to try on a dress, THE DRESS which turns out was the grand prize winning dress of the design contest. I tried on the dress because, well..... I could fill out the cup size. The dress was made by fellow designer Renee' Barnes and was really beautiful. The bottom of the dress was a lace alpaca and literally floated when I walked. It was so soft, so comfortable. The top was free form crochet over a strapless bra. I was a bit smaller than the bra, so I had to be tapped and stuffed in there and I was nervous the whole thing was going to slide down! Here is the picture taken of me after I came off the runway by Drew Emborsky.... I needed some spray for my tan lines!! (that's model speak.... way cool, or that's what I was told)

Renee' blogged about the dress and her winning, and she even asked me to answer some questions and put it up on the newly featured designer profile. Thanks Renee' for the opportunity to wear that beautiful dress and the designer profile! 

I'm Famous...... in Buffalo

My girlfriend and roommate (and extremely talented crochet designer) Tammy Hildebrand sent over this link from Buffalo.com. It was taken on Saturday at the conference. Pictured from left to right are: Marty Miller, Me, Tammy, Drew Emborsky, and Carol Ventura.

A new friend of mine emailed me via Ravelry (hey Sheldon!) and wanted to know what I had been up to since the conference. I give you my response:

I came back from Chain link to lots of hugs and smiles from my wee ones, they really missed me and were on their best behavior for about......... 10 hours. Since the conference I have

Washed, folded and dried 4 loads of laundry

Cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Made 4 beds

Went to the grocery store twice 

Spent the night in the ER (Son #2 has a ruptured ear drum)

Made a liqueur store run (and I'm fixin' to go again!)

Begun to design a knit tunic for a book that is coming out in spring '11 (Oh, that was weird to write '11, that is.... not the book thing. It's not MY book it is a compilation book I am going to be in - but I didn't say that out loud!)

We just finished lunch here, and I am getting ready for the beach.... Son #2 is upset because there will be no swimming for him this weekend.... but he can play all the video games he wants. It seems that I am still very, very..... not famous, just had my picture taken with a bunch of famous designers.

She Works Hard for the Money

Chain Link was an incredible experience (again!). This year I was a little bit more involved in the behind the scenes, something that I found I LOVED! Last year I signed up to be on the Professional Development Day of the conference and I really enjoyed the behind the scenes. Tammy Hildebrand, Marty Miller, Drew Emborsky, Amy Shelton, Doris Chan, all pulled together by the incredible Robyn Chachula  (are you impressed yet? If not, google a few of those names..... I was in Designer Hog heaven I tell you!) put on a great day for aspiring Designers, contract crocheters, future yarn shop owners, and many more! The day was long and my feet were killing me (my shoes Rocked, though) but I had a great time. 

I got to hob nob with the biggies of the industry, and I loved every second of it. Pictured above are Me, Vashti Braha, and Marty Miller:  we are in the "office" after hours...... we are switching crochet garments and Drew is taking pictures of us (note to self: never leave camera alone with Drew - I have some crazy photos!)

I came home from this conference with a lot of design work ahead of me..... I am thrilled! I have a knit deadline coming up August 31st...I have made all of my swatches and started the numbers part. Today I get to cast on...... the yarn is Decadent Fibers Marshmallow, and knit up it really feels closer to cashmere than wool. The colorway is going to be called Honey Butter, Mmmmm I need some tea and toast for breakfast! I love this work!!!

I don't love this work though!

Chain Link

Manicure/Pedicure and Foil Touch up...................$150.00

Full Tank of Gas to drive to Buffalo.........................$70.00

New Clothes and shoes to match the crochet garments I made.............. Honey, you don't want to know

Spending 5 days with your crochet peers........... PRICELESS!

I will be spending the next week either driving to and from Buffalo for Chain Link (the national crochet conference) or taking classes, helping with the professional development day (I am on the committee) or spending more money on yarn. I am so thankful for this opportunity to go by myself to recharge my mommy batteries and hang with other Fiber - lovers. I can't wait to see my friends from last year.... Pictured are the garments I made in the past week for the conference.