Crochet on The EDGE! The Hooknuck makes the rounds...

Bonnie Pierce wielding the Hooknuck made by Jimbo of http://www.jimbosfrontporch.blogspot.com/ of course free forming maven that she is, she had to do her infamous bullion stitch! Only Bonnie could get that hook to go there!

Jorel looking mighty tough. I wouldn't dis the crochet to her, would you?

Susan, who has our postcards, the t-shirt and the book, wielding the hooknuck high! WHOO HOO! She's into it!

There are pics of me floating around, and I took one of Jennifer Hansen of Stitch Diva fame, but I took it with her phone and not my camera, because I was in class. Well let me tell you about that...I have broomstick lace down, and I want you all to know, not only did I learn it! I made it my biotch! I'll do project pics later.

It is very late, my brain is tired, I'm physically wiped, and I have my 9 am class with Myra Wood tomorrow. Can't wait to see what happens in that class. This has been the most crochet friendly conference I've been to yet, knitters I've seen before but don't know well have been very open and curious about the hook, versus hostile or aloof as in years past. Who knows, may be they haven't changed, maybe I have...but I doubt it, I think we hookers are getting some respect at long last!

Speaking of hookers, WHERE WERE YOU for the CGOA meeting? There were tons of goodies and give aways, and I gave away two CLF t-shirts and a copy of the book...Snooze you lose! But the Laurell Hill guys were there, and they are very cool. Not only do I like the hooks, the fellas are down to earth, charming and a lot of fun!

Captn's Log: Crochet Date; Thurs May 14

The morning came far too early for this night owl. Husband, transported daughter and I to the Mt. Vernon Train Station (Mt. Vernon, WA State), where daughter & I boarded the Amtrak to Portland.

It is about a 5 hour journey, so we brought our hooks and yarn to keep us company!

Please note the very cool skull cap I crocheted, most of it in Bernat Glow in the Dark yarn. It's a cool cap, which doubles as a night lite :) (Just kidding it doesn't glow that long, but it does glow brightly!)

We met some lovely ladies from Bellingham, WA along the way, most of them older than I, and most mystified by crocheting, or knitting, a few were quilters. We decided we could all live in the sisterhood/brotherhood of textile love.

We had a few stops along the way, first was Everett, then Seattle, then Tacoma and a few more. I missed a couple cause I was taking a well earned nap! Sara got a neat shot of the Seattle stop.

We arrived in Portland in good time, the rain having turned to beautiful blue skies. We met up for dinner with some very good friends. I won't say how long I've known by dear sister/friend and her hubby, but let's put it this way, it makes us feel old to say it! Then, I got back in time for the Market Show Preview! WOW some really great stuff folks! More on that later...but here's what I've gotten so far:

Several skeins of Newton's Country Yarn, one of them a lovely bamboo/brushed cotton, 950 yds! WHOOT. I also picked up a Laurel Hill Ebony hook, looks like an M to me, love it! The gentlemen from Laurel Hill are really neat folks, good to meet them and hear the story behind this really cool company!

After that we free formers started to "hook up", and I got to see dear Mel from Connetticut, Bonnie & Bill Pierce from Washington State, as well as Jacqui from Australia who I got to meet in 2007 in Oakland, she looks great! and a new addition to our little cadre of crochet madness, Sarah who works for Crown Mtn. Farms!

Tommorrow I have my first class in the afternoon with Jennifer Hansen looking forward to that, and this should just be fun! Ooooh and tomorrow night is the Free Formers official party. Hoping to hook up with more folks. I'm hear hanging around the hotel...I'll leave a note in the hospitality room so folks can find me ;)

Anyway, goodnight and sweet fiber dreams! Capt'n out! (Sorry, I'm exhausted and I was feeling all trek-ish :) )

This is my view from the hotel...wish you came now doncha!?

Celebrating Spring, Getting Ready for Portland!

I host a monthly

"Spinning Group",

but really we're

an all fiber arts group!

If you forgot what I look like,

I'm the chick standing up,

holding Jimbo's HookKnuck,

wearing the funky

free form sweater.

Mary (in Red) and Ann (yes, THE ANN I always talk about), helped me out taking an "action" group shot, to use. I'm not used to the whole need for photos, etc to send to periodicals or websites etc. In fact I'm kind of camera shy, so it is a real effort to remember to get photos of me in action, or inaction :)

The garment on the table is my free form vest I'm hoping to have completed for the Knit and Crochet Show in Porltand, Oregon. Egads, It's taken on a life of it's own, how much you wanna bet I'll be finishing it on the train ride to Portland?

Anway, I'm working on the Second Book. Just got some revised files back from participants, looking foward to recieving the rest of them, and I have to put a few more together. I have a lot more energy now that I've done some good physical work with my buddies down south! (Yes, I do weird alternative healing techniques, but hey it works for me.)

Also, I have got some great copies of Knit and Crochet Today that I have been watching! I love this show! Candi Jensen has put together a real winner of a television production and Brett Bara is a fabulous host! It's been so much fun watching beloved CLF members strut their stuff on Camera! Once again I am in awe of how talented and fabulous we needle arts people are! Don't let the name of the show put you off, Crochet gets EQUAL billing on air, and I'm really excited by what I see!

I'll post more in depth about the shows I've watched later, I just want to say that I love it, and you should check it out if you haven't already!

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!

March: In like a Lion out Like a Lamb...

Well the wind did howl as March first came...and so did the wirlwind of voting for the Flamies!
The votes are in, and tabulated, now dear Ms. Fignations (Darlisa) will be a busy bee engraving names onto the plaques for the winners!

Ooooh, this should be just nerve wracking for all of the nominees! Egads, I'm sure glad I'm not them! (*evil chuckle*)...oh, did I make it worse? MUWAHAHAHAHA...

Ok, I'll stop and be nice, I won't torture the nominees (much) in the ensuing weeks :) )

In the mean time please remember that the CLF First Ever Book is available for sale via Amazon.com, our CLF Website, and now in PDF version on lulu.com.

Last year I was so busy putting life together in March, I didn't get a chance to do the Natcromo Free Form Game hosted by Kaet, I'm making myself do it this year! She's working via inspiration, and it's been fun so far! Especially to see how everyone interprets her "prompts".

If you are ravelry, check out our projects! If not, you can see what I'm doing on my personal blog. March 3rd is kinda funny....at least it was at 11:30 pm when I was trying to photograph my stuff and a certain feline got into the act! Egads!

Ever wonder?

Have you ever wondered if someone up there is trying to gun you down, or at least having fun at your expense?

I'm not supersticious mind you nor do my beliefs involve angry and petty diety types, but lately it's like some weirdo off CNN has thrown the "Chinese Curse" at me: "May you live in interesting times..."

Folks, I could really handle boring about now...

I am more than behind on several tasks...If you are due an email, it's coming, please give me some time to catch up... Ok we have had storms, floods, death, and drum roll please...

Last Wednesday my house had the freakin' mother of all power surges, and no breakers went off, of course my husband was gone (cause these things NEVER happen when he's around), and so after a tulmultous moment of screaming for my kids to "GET OUT OF THE HOUSE >>>NOW" (and they did thank you very much without any arguments!)...I ended up heading toward the garage and found it full of acrid nasty smoke and electrical popping sounds...After a few hours with the crew from the park helping me out...we found that indeed it was a corroded ground wire that was the problem (nothing close to the house)...but it fried the T.V (yay), the microwave, my phone (booo), my hubby's pc, drill press, and assorted rechargable battery packs.

Ok...so this should be it, right? Nope...

Friday, hubby goes to the Dr. for the lab results, and oh yeah (and um, not surprised here, but annoyed, and worried...) Hubby has to go on insulin shots because his pancreas has shut down. Grrr. (No it is NOT how I cook at home, I have lots of good healthy food options available at home...GRRRR....shake that man darn it! I like having him around)...

So, I've been walking around kind of dazed, and not asking that silly question...no I will not even type it...and yes, when I leave my house, I kind of duck as I exit the door way...who knows, the sky might be falling...

Oh, yeah, I'm crocheting...you bet your sweet booty I'm crocheting, with every neurotic bone in my body I...am...crocheting...

Life...

I won't be online to do CLF stuff much this week dear friends and minions. My former husband, Rashid Sultan Fakhroo, passed away Friday Jan. 24th 2009.

He was my college sweetheart, the father of my children, and a man who met me match for match in intellect, and outdid me in a sense of fun and adventure. Like many poetic souls his internal life was often a struggle, and sadly he spent the past five years suffering in the hospital in Bahrain. I am relieved that he finally is at rest and isn't suffering any more.

I have to take some time out with my children for a few days, and get some paper work in order.

I have to say this experience has been somewhat surreal. I am very grateful to all of the family in Bahrain, the Seychelles, and the USA who have recognized that yes, he and I did love each other when we were married, and that sadly alcoholism consumed him and his life. Our children have inherited the best of who Rashid was, being beautiful, intellegent and soulful people. I have always dedicated myself to allowing them to have the kind of loving home they deserve.

The children are doing as well as can be expected, they had not seen their father since we left the middle east ten years ago. For them this a surreal experience, but not one without emotion.

My daughter and I have spent the past several nights sitting on my bed crocheting together and talking about her father. She has some memories of him, all of them good. And we are grateful for that. Sadly my son only remembers his father from photos.

Rashid would have loved the CLF it would have tickled his sense of humor.

Anyway, I'd best be about this long day of getting paper work caught up to, and contacting other people who need to know, now that the shock is starting to subside.

I would also like to say I am grateful to my husband Jeff, for being a brilliant father to the children, and completely understanding of our emotions during this time of release and sadness. I know for a fact that Rashid was glad that Jeff was a good man to the children.

I'll be back on line soon. Thank you for understanding.

So, who is this Fearless Leader Woman?

You know when I decided to make the CLF become more than a joke, I never really thought about talking about myself. I'm, believe it or not, kinda shy. Fine, go ahead and laugh, but really it's pretty easy to be brazen in a podcast or in writing, I don't have to see you face to face, or worry really about what you think, most of the time, because well, I'm hiding behind my laptop.

So, now that we're a year and a half old...I thought I might tell you a little about me, just like I did in the CLF book, and I only did that because my friends at home bothered me to do it.

GRIN....See I told you I'm not really all that "Fearless".

First off, I'm Laurie Wheeler and I live on Camano Island in Washington State. I have two fabulous kids, a great hubby, a dog, six cats, and sadly no more fish. But, come spring I'll get some more and we hope that there are no more odd accidents that take out my fish population.

I've crocheted since I was a small child, and almost 8 years ago I became a handspinner. I love to make things for myself, my kids, my friends, oh heck, I'd crochet for anyone anywhere!

I'm the superintendant for my local fair's Fleece and Handspinning Division, the Stanwood Camano Fair is a fabulous community fair, and I love our department. The people and projects are motivating from year to year. We transformed the once a year experience into a once a month meeting in Stanwood WA where we were are supposed to be spinning, but lately for some strange reason everyone is CROCHETING!!! LOL...

In fact, Martha, our Queen Bee (she just crowned me baby queen last year) has made 8 items out of the Crochet Liberation Front First Ever book, and she is a novice crocheter. All of the lads and lasses involved in our group are so very talented, and we all do more than spin and crochet, we also weave, card weave, twine, embroider, lucet, felt, needle felt, knit in a million ways, and enjoy demonstrating to the public.

This group of people inspired me in many ways to go forward with the CLF as something MORE.

Besides my family and fiberarts persuits, I've been all over the world. I went to university in England, worked in Africa and Europe, was married, worked and lived in Bahrain (in the Middle East), and done all kinds of bizarre and crazy things.

Right now besides the CLF, I'm currently working to save our local library on Camano Island. It is only a pilot project that ends in 2010. Due to the poor economic situation our country is facing our library board is reluctant to have a levy on the ballot. For which I don't blame them, but we still need the library to be permanent. So a very committed group of Camano Islanders have gotten together as a friends group to raise the necessary money to keep our library premises flourishing.

I am committed to this, because the Camano Island Library is my office. Like over half the population on Camano Island, I can't get anything other than dial up for internet service. The phone and cable companies will not bring those services to our areas claiming there is not a large enough popluation base. Many of us now use the library to meet our internet service needs.

I for one am so grateful that I have become a Patron of the Library, donated a copy of the First Ever Book, and will be donating more money in the future, because boy do I get a bang for my buck!

So, fellow CLFers, if you didn't really know who I was before, now you get a picture of who I am. A little wacky, a little crazy, adventurous, and well a fiber geek, but hey it's all good. I'm not so sure I'm fearless though, I think I just do things even when I'm terrified.