Set My Picot Free Award Winner!

So, I was doing a search for belly dancing costumes...and what do I find?
http://www.crochetkitten.com/ she has tons of patterns she's made, and they are so totally awesome.
I contacted her on Ravelry.com and asked if I could use her images here because they are just too nifty. She wasn't a CLF member at the time, though she might be now, and I'm not gonna check because well..it just doesn't matter...I'm awarding her the Set My Picot Free for some awesome crochet representin'!

Josephine Scarf Front
Originally uploaded by Selena K

Lookie, Lookie I got hookie :)

So....Today I open my mail and lo and behold what do I find?

A hook with a handle shaped like brass knuckles....hmmmmmmmmmmm....You think someone's sending me a message? Am I a brawler? Who sent the hook?


Who else but CLF Hook Meister Jimbo!http://www.jimbosfrontporch.blogspot.com
He won the 2009 Crochet Award for Best Handcrafted Hooks
(for sale or by auction)
and this little beauty is now our
OFFICAL HOOK MASCOT!


IT's sooooo awesome and it works too ;) So, this will travel with me...and after events you'll have to start looking for who got to hold our Brawling Hook...
Or who has been dubbed "Knight Errant of the Wholly Hooker"...

And I ask you..."You wanna piece of me? Huh? Do ya?"

This was the best April's Fools Day I've ever had!

Fearless Leader Dork Alert...

I must apologize to Takhi Stacy Charles Yarn, actually more to Stacy Charles. I spelled his name wrong, and gave Darlisa the information incorrectly. So it's totally my fault.

I feel kinda like a dork...but that's nothing unusual right?

I do thank Mr. Charles for attending the Flamies. That was pretty darn cool!

In fact I think it was pretty good the corporate types all showed up to recieve their accolades. Because we spend oodles on yarn and products...and knowing they appreciate our business is encouraging.

More March Madness! By Gosh and Begora!

Ok, the jury doesn't need me this week! YAY! Thanks to Bec Thomas I was reminded to call the courthouse after hours number to see if I had to drive the two hours, Bec is my bestest buddy, and brilliant art photographer (and I'm not just saying that cause she used to provide me with raw mohair) check out her Blog to see some GORGEOUS photos of the Pacific NW. THANK YOU BEC! For saving me from the evils of waking up at 6am.

So now I get to start work on more March Crochet Madness...

Happy St. Patrick's Day! In honor of the day I've been teaching my daughter how to make Irish Crocheted leaves :)

I'm just waiting for a few more patterns to arrive in my in box and then I will start working on the book in earnest...but me thinks we got a few lovely patterns that show the fun, and foxy side of life!

I've just run across an e-zine called Croqzine, I had to look at it, cause someone involved is out of Oregon, my old stomping grounds...which is why I don't think I'm all that radical. I mean really, isn't standing up for what is right, and just, and good just what people do? Honestly, I don't think speaking your mind, refusing to live in fear is all that radical, it's just how I live my life. But then again, I'm a granola born and raised in Oregon, so at least I have an excuse (must be the water)...

Anyway, I've enjoyed the little blurbs I've read so far :)

OOOH Other big news, Marly aka The Yarn Thing starts her new podcast on Blog Talk Radio TONIGHT! 9pm Central, which is 11 Eastern and 8 Pacific, catch her TONIGHT!!!!! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing


And other news...Um Fearless Leader is a DORK again! I apologize to David Burchall and the crochet community at large for MISSING THE FREAKIN' IDES OF MARCH! BAH! What was I thinking? Well I obviously wasn't! I meant to announce his award here on Sunday, but um...Ms. Mom, Ms. Busypants, Ms. Honey-where-is-my, Ms. Fearless Leader, forgot :(

Next year I promise to be more organized!

TODAY IS THE DAY!

Hi guys and dolls!

Today is THE day for the first annual Crochet Awards!!! The Flamies will be announced on Getting Loopy with Mary Beth Temple at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific!

Everyone needs to tune in! This is going to be so much fun! Thank you again to everyone who helped me get organzied, and special thanks to Darlissa Riggs for her fabulous artwork on the awards! I'll be emailing the winners starting Tuesday with the webaddress where they can pick up the fine goodies!

Another special thank you goes out to Mary Beth Temple of Getting Loopy and Hooked4Life Designs for allowing us to cause chaos and mayhem on her show!

Don't forget to tune in TONIGHT, and if you do forget don't worry you can download the show starting Tuesday :) You may want to anyway, since we may go over time and that's all recorded!

Happy Universal Crochet Month! (Yes, I'm quite sure the folks on Alpha Centuri prefer crochet)...

Hooks Raised CLF Salute!

Hookalicious Yarn!

Curious Creek Yarn owner, Kristine was on Getting Loopy, Monday night with Mary Beth Temple...

I so enjoyed listening (via telephone, because of my damned dial up situation!) that I had to call in and award her a HOOKALICIOUS award!

1) Because she learned crochet and loves it for awesome reasons!
2) Because she gave honest and great information about "handpainting" yarn.

As you may or may not know, I'm a handspinner and dyer, and I have often gotten annoyed when people try to claim that handspainting isn't dyeing. Yes, it is. It's just a matter of definition and techique, and when Christine said the MAGIC words of "It also makes it sound prettier"...I wanted to hug her ;)

So check out her site here! http://www.curiouscreek.com/


AND DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN TO GETTING LOOPY! MONDAY NIGHT, MARCH 16th at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific! FOR THE FLAMIES! 2009 Crochet Awards!

Grammar Police Where Are You?

Dear Grammar Police,

I would like to entreat you to accost those who list handwork out of alphabetical order. You have no problem letting me know when spell check has missed my homonyms, or typos, or my over use of commas, and semi-colons. You, the Grammar Police, love to point out incomplete phrases, and run on sentences, you have skills, and I wish you to put them to good use. You can correct me any time you want, and often do, but why oh why don't you get a hold of yarn companies, and catalogues for writing "Knit and Crochet" instead of "Crochet and Knit" ?

A list should be in alphabetical order: point blank.

Now, here are my reasons: I recently contacted a yarn company regarding their use of "Knit and Crochet" and politely asked them to revise their website to reflect the alphabetical listing. I wrote stating that it was obviously an oversight, because they have not ignored crochet as a market, but that we (the consumers) often feel like we're getting second billing.

Their response was less than desired; I felt talked down to, I felt like was I was patted on the head, and frankly I was really annoyed.

To paraphrase what they wrote me; they use knit and crochet because of how the phrase flows.

Hmmm... I had years of voice lessons, classical voice lessons; if you've ever studied classical voice then you will understand that learning to enunciate while singing is a skill that requires years of practice. In fact, "electrocution" (elocution) lessons were a great part of my classical training. Did you know it's easier to sing in a Latin root language than in English? Did you know why?

Vowels and consonants. Sound is carried on vowel sounds, and soft consonants (m, n, s,z), hard consonants end sound, (t, p,k,d)...So I want you to pronounce with me...let's say this together phonetically, and if you think I'm wrong, that's okay. I just think if they are going to say it's a word flow issue, we should test it out :)

NihT anD croshay

Croshay and nihT

Which has the smoother flow?

See I find when I pronounce the "t" in knit that the t is a hard sound which breaks up the flow of the sounds in the phrase. When I say crochet (ay) this flows with more liquidity with two consecutive open vowel sounds and you'll find you may pronounce the d of "and" softer too, with the t at the end of knit softer but still final. T is always a final sound when you pronounce words in English; It's a hard, staccato, versus and open legato... :)

So next time someone says, it's for the flow of the sounds and not about billing, I'll just have to point out how very wrong that is....

You can fool part of the people, part of the time; but you can't fool all the people, all of the time.

I think saying crochet and knit sounds more equal and less of a billing issue than vice versa...not because of the alphabet even, because of how the word sounds flow.

But pronounce it yourself and see what you think for yourself.

The FLAMIES! March 16th!

Ok folks, as you know the votes are in, the winners have been decided, and they will be announced LIVE on Getting Loopy with Mary Beth Temple!

This airs March 16th at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific LIVE! Yes, we're hitting the glitz folks!

Don't forget to sign into Getting Loopy, ask for a reminder, you don't want to miss this folks, we're making hookin' history!

Day 1 of National Crochet Month

Hey there boys and girls, gents and ladies, damen und herren!

It's National Crochet Month (International Crochet Month to the CLF), and I would like to do my part as a very proud CGOA member to say that if you aren't a member of the Crochet Guild of America then what better month to join!

The Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) takes members from around the world, so you don't have to be from the USA to join! Why join? Well, if you love crochet, and want to connect with others who love crochet then this is the group for you! If you have professional aspirations this is a grand group to join, and if you aren't wanting to go pro it's still a grand group to join!

I never knew how much I craved the company of other crocheters until I went to my first event. There I was thinking I was perfectly fine with my private and public crochet solo efforts. Then I sat with a group of people who loved their hooks, and yarn, and understood when I ripped out my project 16 rows, and we all said, "Rip it, Rip it, Rip it!" Suddenly I met brothers and sisters that I hadn't even known were lost to me!

I didn't join for the magazine, or the newsletter, I do love the internet community, and it's worth going to just one CGOA event, or finding a chapter...I stay a member because I not only love my craft and long for it's promotion, but I value you the dear friendships that I have made as a result of finding the CGOA in 2005. I am so glad I joined! I hope you do too!

If you are a member, you could gift your friends and relatives that crochet with a membership! I'm buying my daughter's membership, and we're going to the CGOA regional in Portland, Oregon this May. We're going to take a few classes, and can't wait to meet up with new friends and old alike...and we're going to party with CLFers in Portland too :) WHOOT!

Happy National Crochet Month!

Whoot! March is here at last! Yay! That means one thing it's (Inter) National Crochet Month!
National Crochet Month was started by the Crochet Guild of America, and the CLF has made it our business to whoop it up!!

That's why we are sponsoring the Flamies! If you haven't cast your vote, get busy will ya? We end the voting on Tuesday, March 3 2009.

Remember we are announcing the winners on Getting Loopy with Mary Beth Temple on Monday, March 16th! Be there or be square.

Other activities: Check out the many crochet blogs our in blog land, with over 3140 members (we're just growing by leaps and bounds folks!) there are bound to be fun crochet posts all over the net! In fact, why don't you blog your crochet?

If you are on Ravelry, check out the Crochet Party Group! We have ever so much fun, we're all really busy this year, but you can pop your head in say hi, and join in with the crochet sillies! I know you can!

Hook the Vote! 2009 Crochet Awards!

2009 Crochet Awards!
(The Flamies)
Sponsored by The Crochet Liberation Front

Welcome crochet enthusiasts to the first annual crochet awards, also known as the Flamies. Why Flamies? The Crochet Liberation Front has had an “award” on our message board on Ravelry that we call the “Flaming Crochet Hook of Justice” and so if we’re sponsoring an award; Flamie seemed most appropriate moniker.

We ask that you search your heart and mind (and the internet) to choose how you vote for each person/organization/item in each category. The nominations were held for one week via the Crochet Liberation Front HQ on Ravelry.com, but that’s only 3091 voices! We invite all of our brother and sister crochet enthusiasts to vote for the BEST of what was crochet in 2008.
To cast your vote go to this link if you don’t know who or what you want to vote for skip that category! It only takes a few minutes, and allows us as a community to show the BEST of what crochet can give to the world.
Winners will receive a fantastic “trophy” for their website, and will be announced on Getting Loopy with Mary Beth Temple on March 16th so stay tuned!

To my lovely CLF Minions, thank you for all of your nominations of me personally in various categories but I respectfully decline due to my sponsoring the awards. I did allow the CLF Book to be counted in nominations though, because that reflects a collaborative work beyond my individual effort.

Doris Chan is very honored with her nomination for Life Time Achievement Award but has respectfully declined in order to have another veteran of our community come forward in that process. (Don't worry she's in the other categories)

Please go to the LINK provided to vote, feel free to do some web surfing to check out the nominees, I’ve provided links where possible to assist in your decision making process! Blog this up folks, we want as many folks voting as possible!


All nominees are listed in Alphabetical Order.




Categories and nominees are:

Best Crochet Magazine:
Crochet
Crochet Today
Crochet World
Interweave Crochet


Best Instructional/Technical Crochet Book 2008 Only books published in 2008 qualified for nominations.

Beyond the Square, Edie Eckman
Blue Print Crochet, Robin Chachula
Creative Crochet Lace, Myra Wood
Harmony’s Guide: 101 Basic Stitches to Crochet, Erika Knight

Best Crochet Pattern Book 2008 Only books published in 2008 qualified for nominations.

Crochet Liberation Front First Ever Book, edited Laurie Wheeler
Sensual Crochet: Luxurious Yarns, Alluring Designs, Amy Swenson
Blueprint Crochet: Modern Designs for the Visual Crocheter, Robin Chachula
Crochet that Fits: Shaped Fashion without increases or decreases, Mary Jane Hall

Best Crochet Instructor 2008

Darla Fantan
Dee Stanziano
Myra Wood
Robin Chachula

Best Crochet Blog 2008 (Five nominees due to a tie in the process)

Crochet by Faye http://www.crochetwithfaye.blogspot.com/
Crocheting With Dee http://www.crochetingwithdee.com/
Everyday Crochet http://www.doriseverydaycrochet.blogspot.com/
Go Crochet http://www.gocrochet.blogspot.com/
The Crochet Dude http://www.blog.thecrochetdude.com/

Best Crochet Designer for Women’s Fashions 2008 (With six nominees due to ties) Ravelry ID’s are included where known to allow you to search their designs to make an informed decision.

Doris Chan (RavelryID DorisJChan)
Julia Vacosin (Ravelry ID Jujustrickt)
Kristin Omdahl (RavleryID kristinomdahl)
Lily Chin (No Ravelry ID Available, but see her designs under patterns in the Ravelry Search)
Margaret Hubert ( RavelryID MHDesigner1)
Robin Chachula (RavelryID CrochetbyFaye)

Best Crochet Designer (Accessories: Hats, Scarves, Jewelry, Socks etc) 2008 (Ravelry ID’s are included where known to allow you to search their designs to make an informed decision)

Danielle Krasner (Ravelry ID Laracroft)
Ellen Gormley (RavelryID GoCrochet)
Kim Guzman (RavelryID CrochetKim)
Lisa Naskrent (RavelryID Crochetgarden)

Best Crochet Designer (men's wear) 2008 (Ravelry ID’s are included where known to allow you to search their designs to make an informed decision)

Drew Emborsky (RavelryID thecrochetdude)
Kim Guzman (RavelryID Crochet Kim)
Peter Franzi (RavelryID Hookerbear)
Robin Chachula (RavelryID CrochetbyFaye)

Best Crochet Designer (for children, children's wear, accessories, toys) (Ravelry ID’s are included where known to allow you to search their designs to make an informed decision)

Annastasia Cruz (Ravelry ID annastasia76)
Candi Jensen (Ravelry ID Candijensen)
Lisa Naskrent RavelryID Crochetgarden)
Mia Zamora Johnson (Ravelry ID Mia)

Best Designer for Thread Projects(Ravelry ID’s are included where known to allow you to search their designs to make an informed decision)

Ferosa Harold (Ravelry ID Ferosah)
Kathryn White (Ravelry ID Katchcan)
Patricia Kristofferse n (No Ravelry ID available but her designs can be found in the pattern search on Ravelry)
Tatyana Miller (No Ravelry ID available but her designs can be found in the pattern search on Ravelry)

Best Free Form Designer

Jenny Dowde (Ravelry ID JenOz)
Margaret Hubert (Ravelry ID MHDesigner1)
Prudence Mapstone ( Ravelry ID prudencem)
Myrawood (Ravelry ID myrawood)

Best New Designer (in any crochet related media)

Julia Vaconsin (Ravelry ID Jujustrickt)
Marlaina Bird (Ravelry ID Yarnthing)
Tracie Barrett ( Ravelry ID traciecrochets)
Yavanna Coulter (RavelryID Datenshi)




Individual Life Time Achievement Award

Candi Jensen (RavelryID Candijensen)
Carol Ventura (Ravelry ID Tapestrycrochet)
Gwen Blakely Kinser (RavelryID Crochetkween)
Margaret Hubert (Ravelry ID MHDesigner1)

Best Crochet Designer (Home Decor: afghans, pillows, rugs, etc.) ) (Ravelry ID’s are included where known to allow you to search their designs to make an informed decision)

Bendy Carter (Ravelry ID bendy)
Ellen Gormley (Ravelry ID Gocrochet)
Karen Ratto Whooley (RavelryID krwknitwear)
Regina Rioux Gonzalez (RavelryID ladylinoleum)

Best Crochet Design for Adults (men's and women's fashion, plus accessories) (Ravelry ID’s are included where known to allow you to search their designs to make an informed decision)

Crocus Bud Crochet Shawl, by Sharlene Boyce
Dragon fly Shawl by Lisa Naskrent (Ravelry ID crochetgarden)
Northern Dreams Pull Over by Julia Vaconsin (Ravelry ID jujustrickt)
Veritas, Equitas by Danielle Krasner (Ravelry ID Laracroft)

Best Design Home Décor
Jelly Fish by Gina Rioux Gonzalez (Ravelry ID Ladylinoleum)
Pieces of My Heart Pillow by Mellisa Mall (RavelryID Melissa)
Shades of Denim Afghan by Ken Jones (RavelryID crochetguy)
Sunburst Bowl by Carol Ventura (ravelry ID Tapestrycrochet)

Best Online Crochet Magazine 2008

Crochet Insider http://www.crochetinsider.com/
Crochet Uncut http://www.crochetuncut.com/


Best Crochet Podcast
Getting Loopy http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Mary-Beth-Temple/
Yarn Thing http://www.yarnthing.mypodcast.com/
The Crochet Side by Brianna Mewborn ( http://podcast.thecrochetside.com/)

Best Crochet Hooks (handcrafted made by individuals and available for sale or by auction)
Brains Barn http://www.brainsbarn.com/
Gray Dog (available only on Ebay)
Ernst Glassworks http://www.glasspens.com/crochethooks.html
Jimbo’s Hooks http://www.jimbosfrontporch.blogspot.com/

Most Crochet Friendly Yarn Company
Caron International
Lion Brand
Tahki Stacey Charles
Mission Falls

Again the link to VOTE is http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=UaAa5_2f9lUBv9gtVf5N8Ctw_3d_3d

Ok..I done did it...

Hello Minons!

Ok, I finally decided to go with google Adsense... I've avoided it because even though you can specify your subject matter, many companies that don't really serve crochet tag their ads with the word crochet...and we end up with you know, pointy stick ads.

So, the way we avoid this is thus, if you see an ad in your search with the K word in it, and want to bring it to my attention, leave me a comment or PM me on ravelry with the URL and I'll block said ad :)

Again, I remind you I am not against pointy sticks, but we're cheerleading for the underserved crochet market, and the other market is way bigger than us, so you know it's not like they are going to hurt NOT being here ;)

2009 Nominations Now Open!

Ok CLF Minions...It's time to nominate for the "Flamies" or the 2009 Crochet Awards! The nomination process is up on the discussion board on Ravelry.

We will only allow CLF minions there to make the nominations (or in truth anyone who finds it on Ravelry, because we can't regulate that!) but anyone (CLF or not) can be nominated for awards!

The TOP FOUR people, designs, and organizations will be up for the BIG vote, and the BIG vote will be open to all :)

Looking forward to seeing who is nominated! Join in! The nominating process is open for seven days as of today!

Back to taking over the world...

Ok, I am so not giving into this bizarre moment in time...I have a life and it includes taking over the world with crochet...DO YOU HEAR ME! We're TAKING OVER THE WORLD WITH CROCHET!

I feel significantly better now : )

So, how are we dominating the globe with our hooks?

1) Still accepting submissions up until Februrary 20th for the Adult Crochet Book :) See the writers guidelines for more details. If you are going to submit, PLEASE read those and follow them...especially the PHOTO guidelines which are at the BOTTOM of that web page.

2) An in print magazine requested the Crochet Liberation Front First Ever book for review! I sent it off yesterday!

3) We're working on the first annual Crochet Awards "Flamie", and are partnering with Mary B. Temple of Getting Loopy!

4) We are in the early planning stages for our Retreat in 2010

and I am busy making plans for Porltand in May for the CGOA regional meeting at the Knit and Crochet Show, and saving my pennies to shuffle off to Buffalo in August...I've already decided to take the train, because well it's more sedate than flying! I make a five hour stop in Chicago on the way, so anyone who wants to do an event with fearless leader can contact me :) GRIN

CLF Retreat Survey

OK Minions...it's time to plan our 2010 Retreat on Camano Island, WA...

Here's the deal we've blocked out the third week of October 2010 (the weather could be gorgeous or blustery...but we'll just do what we need to do, it's the NW we are always prepared for the weather...cause it's never the same day to day!) Trying to decide which four days to pick for the retreat :)

What I need from you dear minions is some information. I have created a handy dandy survey that I want YOU to take if you are interested in the retreat. It will help me get an idea for who wants what, and what to plan for! In the survey is a general range of accommodation prices (which are very reasonable!)... So please take the survey here...http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=OzaO9kvH8EYQuq3j922uRQ_3d_3d

Crochet Awards 2009

We were going to call these the 2008 Crochet Awards, but it's 2009, so I'm thinking we'll do like the Oscars!

Currently, dedicated CLF minions are working with me to create criteria, and a format for nominations and voting to get the first ever CLF awards up and running...We hope to have everything nominated, voted on and ready to roll by March 15! Beware the Eides of March I tell you!

Why that date? It amused me, AND March is the (Inter) National Crochet Month!

While we're on that subject, it's less than a month away, what are you doing for National Crochet Month?

Blog about, play with us on Ravelry, we certainly plan to have another rockin' Natcromo Party like last year, make your crochet public, start a group, donate to a worthy charity, better yet teach a friend or two to crochet!

Get schemeing minions! We've got our reps to uphold !!