Getting Ready for Christmas

I don't know about anyone else, but I have been busting a gut trying to get ready for Christmas. Every year I say I'm going to start earlier, and every year I end up starting early and putting it aside, then at the last minute rush around trying to get everything done in time. Actually, this year, I'm fairly far ahead on this. I've only got 2 more things to complete as Christmas gifts. Most of my Christmas cards have been sent and I just have to finish my Christmas letter and print it to go with a few of my cards.

The Christmas party season is just beginning. Next week is the company Christmas party and the Heritage Crochet Christmas party. I'm looking forward to the Heritage Crochet party.

To all my friends, crocheting buddies, family and crazy cohorts, I wish you all the best of the Christmas season. Don't stress yourself out. There's always next year.

Tunisian Skirt and Vest

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I finally finished the Tunisian Skirt and Vest and have downloaded the photos from my camera. This is the best view.

Happy Winter!

Happy Winter! The Christmas and Hanukkah season are fast approaching. Last weekend was the kick-off with the Toronto Santa Claus Parade. Hopefully by now you’ve started your Christmas presents for friends and family. The one thing I’ve found is that at this time of year, there never seems to be enough time to get everything done. That’s not a bag thing; it just means that I have to manage my time carefully and prioritize which projects are most important. Not to sound preachy but if you have a few minutes at lunch time, it’s a great time to de-stress from the morning. Once the kids are settled to working on their homework or off to bed and you’ve got a few minutes to watch TV, it’s a great time to continue on the project. Before you know it, you’ll be done and onto the next project.
So happy crocheting!

1st Day of School

Today is the first day of school. Not for me, of course, but does it ever effect the traffic. It's hard to believe how many more cars there are on the road.
I have recently added two new sweater designs to www.whimsicalworkings.etsy.com - both are Halloween sweaters - one is hip length, one is calf length as shown above. I have also just finished a fall skirt and vest set. The vest originally started out as a tunic, but I just didn't like the way it was going, so it's now a vest. But I think it looks pretty good. Once I've finished the belt, I'll post the picture.
Once that's completed, I've already got a few more "dozen or so" projects to work on, plus for those of us who plan to make some gifts for Christmas, now is the time to get started.
Happy Crocheting!

Hot Summer Days, Cold Summer Nights ... or Not

Hot summer days, cold summer nights… not really. The past few weeks, it’s been hot summer days and hot summer nights. So how can you crochet in this kind of weather? Well, start by pulling out the thread work. Set aside your yarn or wool projects, because chances are you’re not going to work on them anyway.
You say you have to get this project completed? It’s really important, and you’re on a deadline? Well, find yourself an air conditioned area that will let you kick back and work on your project.
What thread projects are in the works? Well, you could be starting on the Christmas ornaments. Or what about that doily or table cloth you started but haven’t quite gotten around to finishing? Are you a fan of filet crochet? How about the baby outfits that you started, but never finished. Now is as good a time as any to complete that project.
Perhaps you’d like to start planning ahead for your fall projects. Keep in mind that Mary Maxim has their tent sale starting August 20th and going right through to Labour Day weekend. That’s one sale you wouldn’t want to miss.
If you don’t feel like crocheting or knitting, why not pull out your cross stitch or embroidery project? The summer is a wonderful time to work on “Works in process” and it’s not the best time to work on wool or yarn projects.
I have to finish a yarn project for the Fall CreativFestival. But it’s almost complete now. The good thing is even in hot weather, I am usually cold, so unless it’s very humid, I can still work on my yarn projects. I have finished the first half of the project, but I still have the second half to complete and I may end up ripping part of it out and redoing it if the finished project isn’t what I envisioned. I should know in a few days.
Now is the time to get as much done as you can, because when the fall comes, it’s going to get hectic with all the shows and festivals and school starting and groups getting back together to start a new year.
Enjoy the rest of your summer. It’s gonna get busy.

Happy Spring

This year has started out very busy. Even with the economic situation as it is, the creative urges still come as strong as ever. New on WhimsicalWorkings.etsy.com is a design by Violet Langley of a Tunisian baby blanket for a little boy. Coming shortly will be the pattern for the Tunisian baby blanket for a little girl.

In April, Mom and I attended and taught at the Spring CreativFestival. It was a busy event. There were a number of vendors missing from previous years, but you can’t keep creative people down. There were also less people on Saturday due to the Knitters’ Frolic being scheduled for the same day. It was unfortunate scheduling however, those who attended the festival were in good spirits. Our Tunisian crochet classes had good numbers and the students were enthusiastic. In the “A Needle Pulling Thread” booth, it was quite busy, with a number of people stopping in to see the various designers. June Gilbank of PlanetJune was at the opposite end of the booth. June did a class on crocheting Amigurumi animals and also on crocheting a decorative rose. Mom and my brother took the class on crocheting a decorative rose and both enjoyed the class immensely.

I will be continuing to work on some new patterns throughout the summer and will add them to www.whimsicalworkings.etsy.com as they become available.

Happy Spring and crochet away!

Updates

It's been a while since I've posted. I have started a new job in Burlington. I have met a new group of fabulous people. I have continued on with Heritage Crochet in Mississauga and been working with Heritage Mississauga on the Santa Claus Parade float. The design is complete, it's now the building stage.

I have added a number of new patterns to my www.whimsicalworkings.etsy.com online shop. The following patterns have been added in August:
Double Cross Hooded Scarf
Seahorse Square
And added in July were:
Basic Tunisian Vest
Tunisian Unicorn Square

I am continuing to add more patterns as soon as I make them. I am in the process of completing two Tunisian purses. They are crocheted in pieces then double crocheted together.

I bought a fantastic book recently called Car Advice for Women (and Smart Men)and would like to recommend it to women, men and anyone who owns a car or is considering buying a car. Written by Susan Winlaw and Alex Law, this book is full of tips, tricks and things to watch out for. To review it further and purchase it, please go to www.caradviceforwomen.com. I know you won't regret it.

More to come. Talk to you later.

New online shop and show follow-up

I am finally catching my breath after the CreativFestival. It was a very busy show and I would like to thank all the wonderful people that came to visit me in the "A Needle Pulling Thread" booth. It was a pleasure talking to all of you.

The classes that I taught were full and busy. I hope I was able to help each of you that came into the class, but please don't hesitate to email me with any questions you might have come across since taking the class.

I am happy to say, I have taken the advice of some of the fabulous designers that I met at the show and opened up an online store at www.etsy.com. My new store address is www.whimsicalworkings.etsy.com. I hope you will take a few minutes to pop over and have a look around the store. There are 4 patterns that were also featured at the show and it offers a few payment options.

I will be adding new patterns to my online store as I finish them, but look forward to not only Tunisian patterns, but basic crochet patterns as well.

I hope to be sending out a follow up letter to the various people who asked to be kept up to date very shortly, but again, if you have any questions, I'm an email away.

Thanks again for visiting and for the interest in Tunisian crochet.
Talk to you soon.