Review: Redoute Flowers Coloring Book

The Redoute Flowers Coloring Book by Charlene Tarbox is an excellent book for learning to draw flowers. The pages are like a coloring book - a drawing without shading that one could color. But drawing the flowers is also fun, and it's easy to add or take away from the original. Then on the inside of the book are little pictures of each flower inside with the corresponding page number, done in color. Using this as a reference after laying down the initial sketch is very useful but still allows alot of creativity. I have done oil pastels, soft pastel, and colored pencil works from this book and all were relaxing and fun. The small flower pictures on the inside covers are sometimes a little different from the drawings inside, but I didn't have any problems - although I wasn't copying it exactly either.
Highly recommended and very inexpensive.

BUSY!!

When does blogging become a luxury? When afflicted with morning sickness, braxton hicks & heartburn all at the same time! Not to mention my little family moved... sure it was only 6.5 miles away, but a move is a move. In any case my yarn is still in boxes & I'm missing it.
The last few months I have focused on drawing (though as my duedate approaches that will take a back seat too). An absolutely wonderful site for every artist & crafter is http://www.wetcanvas.com, with forums & classrooms in every artform imaginable. No really, this site is amazing. Check it out.

the Crochet blog of V is now the Crafty blog of V

Crafts - & Art - so I always have something to blog about - even when my inner crocheter is hybernating.

The Christmas Crafting Rush

Crochet is perfect for last minute Christmas gifts. It is so speedy and requires only simple materials. Am working on a last minute afghan in a chunky yarn for dh, and various little scarves and hats for family and friends. Friends are asking me to teach them to crochet which just makes me laugh because I only know the very basics - but you can still accomplish a lot with just basics!
I have found a site full of pattern sources at http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/345.asp. Good launching place for a search.
And while searching for special yarn for one of my knitting projects I stumbled across this site: http://www.twoswansyarns.com/. Couldn't find any crocheting tools- but they have gorgeous yarn at good prices and a fun special on red and green yarns (check out the specials link). Also, they have *very* reasonable shipping rates - $25 & over in the US ships free. That's pretty awesome. Please note I just discovered this site, so cannot completely vouch for them until my order arrives.

Missing it...

Well I am missing my crochet hook - have been stuck on a sweater I'm trying to knit up for Darling Daughter before the cold weather hits.
She has been feverish the past 4 days - but doctor could find nothing wrong. Just teething? What is this teething hell parents and babes must go through anyway? No one warned me...
Poor baby has slept and slept today - but keeps waking, crying for me, very distraught, then collapses back to sleep.
Have gotten nothing done in 2 weeks. Nothing. No art, only 2 rows on my knitting, no crocheting....and of course, no housecleaning ;)
This too shall pass is my mantra for the day!

Crochet in the Car

The weather here in good old Utah has been typically crazy, with strange nickel sized hail storms one day and pounding, brief rain, followed by sweltering heat. Alternating cranking the AC up and then wanting to turn the heat on - due to changes in the outside temperature - all just while driving to the Italian Street festival downtown.

My sister sang an Italian opera song, shocking me into stillness as I realized we were related, and that maybe I have this same gene? To get up in front of a crowd, a mere 17 years old, and belt out gorgeous music with absolute confidence. No, I don't think we share this particular gene! :) On the way out, rain splattered on the vender's paintings of acrylic and oil, typical landscape scenes, making me want to draw and paint more. So maybe my talents are more, well, quiet, than hers.

Back in the car the sun came out full force, and I returned to my latest crochet project, enjoying the slow, relaxing rythm. I consider myself a very slow crafter - sometimes speeding up at the end - but this time, as I started to feel impatient, I forced myself to stop. Gaze out the window at the passing scenery. Was it really about the end result? No, not really. Then to pick up yarn and hook again, and enjoy the feeling of crafting something pretty with my own hands.

DH and DD and I went to a little town fair, which turned out to be pathetic, except for some excellent children's books for sale, and a little old lady selling crocheted items. I was so excited to be able to recognize what they actually were. The yarns were harsh acrylic or even not yarn at all but plastic bags, recycled into pretty beach totes and ladybug hats. I kept walking though, a satisfied smile on my face, thinking of my own work in the car.

My Yarn Journal

OK - so I found a terrific little index card rolodex at the grocery store - and created my yarn journal. Yes, I love yarn more than making stuff from it - especially buying the yummy stuff. But hey - who can resist the textile appeal? It's like chocolate in touch form. The reverse side features projects made with the yarn. Finally, this ADD Crafter is getting organized!!