Winter organizing, interior design, and the July CGOA Chain Link Conference

Have you been caught up in the purging/organizing mania that’s sweeping (so to speak) the country? I’m all for it! Many of us have too much stuff, which makes it hard to know exactly what we do have and where to find it when we need it. I’m pretty tidy, and I like my environment uncluttered, but there is always room for improvement. Usually I’m motivated to reorganize a category or area when something frustrates me. For example, I have a few similar tablecloths and couldn’t tell what the dimensions were, which cloth would fit which table, and how many table leaves they would cover without unfolding them and trying them in place. Not very efficient. Recently I measured them all and pinned tags on with that information. Now I can find the right one easily. I don’t know why it took me so long to figure out such a simple solution, but better late than never. I did the semi-annual yarn purge recently (my stash goes to the Kennett Area Senior Center) and am very happy to have a few empty bins!

Yesterday I was at Longwood Gardens. It’s their orchid festival, and the Conservatory is filled with orchids of every shape, size, and color. I particularly liked the display that looks like pansies at first but turned out to be mass quantities of orchids. The hanging baskets are also stunning.

The photo doesn’t do justice to these hanging baskets of orchids

It was a chilly day but nice to walk around outside as well as in the warm Conservatory. When the weekend crowds are oohing and aahing indoors, the rest of Longwood is delightfully empty.

I’m not currently working on a crochet pattern book, which gives me the opportunity to branch out a bit with my crafting. I hope to partner with some interior designers to create custom pieces for their clients. I’m starting by getting in touch with top local decorators, but I would certainly consider commissions from designers at other locations. I made a short (1:30) video to acquaint them with my work. All inquiries welcome!

Big news: three of my classes were accepted by the Crochet Guild of America for the July Chain Link Conference in Manchester, NH. I’m thrilled! I’ll be teaching “Designing Crochet Patterns for Fun and Publication,” “Mosaic Crochet Magic, Including Cowl Pattern,” and “Lilytopia Shawl: Lightweight, Round, and Fabulous!” If things work out, I’ll also have the opportunity for a Delicate Crochet book-signing sometime during the conference. I’ll share the details with you as soon as I know them.

Conference registration starts soon. You can find the details on the CGOA website. It’s the 25th anniversary celebration, which should be very special. I’m most excited about connecting with other designers and crocheters. I would love to meet you—let me know if you plan to attend.

We are getting ready for some colder weather here in Pennsylvania, but nothing like the polar vortex descending up north. The forecast isn’t just for character-building cold but for dangerous, seriously frigid temperatures, the kind of cold that makes you feel like your eyelids are going to freeze shut and your teeth might crack. I hope all of who are affected by that stay safe and warm. If there were ever a time to have plenty of yarn on hand, this is it.

Travel, inspiration, classes, and book-signings

I hope all of you had a good Thanksgiving! The holiday season begins for us when Longwood Gardens’ Christmas display opens. This year the theme in the Music Room is “books.” There are some incredible books with the ends of the pages folded in such a way to make words and pictures. What artistry! Truly inspiring. The wreaths and some of the poinsettias are also made of paper.

Backing up a bit, our family was fortunate to spend two weeks in Italy in October. We stayed one week in Rome, with excursions to Pompeii and Monte Cassino, and one week in the Tuscan countryside from where we also explored Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, and Lago Trasimeno. (I did pop into a yarn shop in Siena and of course forgot to take a picture!) It was the perfect balance of city and countryside, and museums and more active pursuits. We ate very well—it’s impossible not to in Italy!—and walked miles and miles every day.

St. Peter’s at sunset

A couple of weeks after getting home, I was on the road again, this time to the Crochet Guild of Prince William County, VA. I taught four classes over the weekend (beaded crochet, tapestry crochet, more techniques in Tunisian crochet, and crochet patterns demystified). Guild chair Rhonda Reese deserves a huge thank-you for arranging everything. We had the perfect size room and table space, plenty of snacks and lunch foods, etc. I really enjoyed meeting the group and seeing their progress. A couple of people who took classes the first day worked on their projects in the evening and brought them in the next day! Since then, I’ve received several photos of completed items. It was a great experience! (If your guild or group is interested in having me come teach, please send me a message and we’ll see what we can work out.)

Speaking of teaching, I submitted some class proposals to be considered for the Crochet Guild of America conference next summer. They are supposed to report back the first week in January. I hope they say yes!

Meanwhile, the exciting news is that DELICATE CROCHET HAS BEEN PUBLISHED! I wish this blog had smell-o-vision so you could inhale that sweet “new book” smell that greeted me when I opened the box of my author copies. The photos, the way the symbol diagrams and schematics look, the projects from the other contributors…I’m thrilled to see how the book came out!

Upcoming signings:

12/4/18, 7-8 p.m., West Chester Public Library, West Chester, PA

12/6/18, 6-7 p.m., Lion Brand Yarn Studio, NYC

12/9/18, 1:30-3 p.m., Luv2Knit&More, Jenkintown, PA.

More information is on the “Classes and Events” blog page. There is no snow in the forecast—with the blast we got the week before Thanksgiving, that’s a relief. Hope to see some of you at the events! (Mrs. Costco will be providing snacks for the Pennsylvania signings.)

My Etsy shop here has been up for a couple of months. If you’re looking for any holiday gifts, take a look. (And if you want to say you made them yourself, my lips are sealed!)

On a totally unrelated topic, we have a lot of wildlife in this area. However, even for us it was a treat to spot a beaver in a pond in a Wilmington, DE park. We saw one a couple of years ago in the Brandywine at Hagley Museum, but this one was a surprise. It had made a huge lodge at the other end of the pond. A good reminder that winter is coming. Wishing you wonderful days enjoying brisk weather outdoors, and a place to come inside that’s snug and warm.

A beaver at Talley-Day Park!

Classes, Connections, Publications, and Plans!

Last week I ventured north to Middletown Thrall Library in the Hudson Valley to teach two "Introduction to Tunisian Crochet" classes. It's a long drive, but the scenery through the Delaware Water Gap was beautiful. I wish I had had more time to explore. 

The classes came about thanks to a lucky meeting a few months ago during a book-signing and Tunisian demo I did at The Knitter's Edge. The library's Head of Youth Services Director was there, and before I knew it, I had received an invitation.

What a wonderful experience! The staff at the library was terrific. Bridget, Lu, Betsy...I wish I lived closer so I could get to know them better. I arrived the afternoon before and they got me all set up in the meeting room. The next day we had two full classes, 12 people each, including one talented young crocheter in each group. I loved the energy and enthusiasm, and the way the students helped each other. Very congenial! I think some of them will get together regularly and I hope they practice their Tunisian crochet. I've already been asked to return in the spring, when I'll probably teach "More Techniques in Tunisian Crochet."

One thing that came up during class is that I need a better way to hold the yarn ball as I walk around demonstrating stitches and checking on the students' work. A woman in class mentioned something that hooks onto a belt. I found this very interesting link under the category "History of Domestic Paraphernalia." I think I'm going to rig something up for next time. It might be as simple as a Ziploc bag that hooks onto a belt--or I suppose I could see if one of the beltpacks I have would work. Have any of you tried something like that?

In November I'll be heading south to teach four classes for the Crochet Guild of Prince William County (VA). Again, it was another fortuitous meeting that resulted in the invitation. I taught a "Designing for Publication" class at Lion Brand Yarn Studio, and one of the students is from the Prince William Guild. I'm delighted that we were able to work things out, and I am very excited about meeting the rest of her group.

You might remember my bewilderment about having my classes turned down by TNNA (The National NeedleArts Association), despite my having received perfect ratings from all students who took my classes at the national show back in 2008. I finally figured out that they want teachers who can teach many hours, in order to get the most out of the travel expense reimbursement. I get it. For 2019 I submitted five class proposals. Now we wait and see. 

Speaking of conferences, I was not able to attend the Crochet Guild of America show but it sounds like it was fantastic! I was very happy to hear that Karen McKenna, one of the designers who contributed two Tunisian Crochet patterns to Delicate Crochet, showed both of those garments in the fashion show. Karen also won an award for another of her Tunisian designs. Well-deserved! Congratulations to Karen.

On to books! I'm delighted to tell you that my Leisure Arts leaflet, Wall Hangings, has been published in print and digital forms! It's available through the Leisure Arts website here. And here are some pictures of the eight crocheted projects:

I should receive the next version of Delicate Crochet (available here) from Stackpole Books later this month for one final review. It will be the first time I'm seeing everything laid out, not just in copyedited form. Less than three months until publication!

I finally made the time to take pictures and set up my Etsy shop, here. There are way too many finished projects here, all new and in perfect condition. I'd be happy for them to go to a new home and for that space to be liberated for new projects! So far I have about 50 items for sale; next up, another day of photography for hats, baby clothes, baby blankets, and more scarves and cowls. If you know anyone who is looking for hand-crafted items for themselves or to give as gifts, please send them to my shop. 

I'll leave you with this, a female box turtle we have seen in front of and in back of our house. (We know she's a female because of her eye color.) It had been a few years since we saw a turtle, and we are glad to welcome her back! 

Isn't she beautiful? I wish I could keep my nails that nice!

Enjoy August, whether you are at home or on vacation. Happy crocheting!

A busy spring with new classes, new projects, and a new book coming!

My February trip to Indiana to film two online classes for Annie's went great! The weather even cooperated and it was much warmer than when I was there two years ago. Both classes are live now, so I can reveal that they are "Tunisian Crochet: Beyond the Basics" and "Learn to Crochet Pineapples." Each class has two projects; here are some pictures.

The projects for the Tunisian class are a two-texture scarf and a lacy shawl. The ones for the Pineapples class are a fringed lap blanket and a lacy half-circle shawl. 

As usual, the crew was terrific. It's amazing how many people are in the studio, all working to make sure the class is professional and polished. Three camera operators, the producer, director, editors, stylists...no wonder Annie's classes are such high quality.

I was invited to one of my favorite yarn shops, The Knitter's Edge in Bethlehem, PA, to celebrate Local Yarn Store Day on April 21st. What a fun afternoon! The owners, JoAnne and her daughter Amanda, should be used as role models for any shop owner. Their store is spacious--with dedicated classrooms!--well-stocked with yarn for every budget, and staffed with knowledgeable, caring people. They set me up in their beautiful bay window to do a book-signing and some Tunisian crochet demos. I met all sorts of nice people who had come from nearby, and from as much as several hours away. (That goes to show you how valued The Knitter's Edge is.) One of the women I met that day has since invited me to teach two introductory Tunisian crochet classes at the Middletown Thrall Library in New York state in August. A lovely surprise to have that work out.

I'm looking forward to my trip up there. Not sure if I will have time to visit Manitoga: The Russell Wright Design Center then, but I certainly hope so. I have been on the travel/architecture beat recently for The Hunt Magazine. My article about the National September 11 Memorial & Museum just came out in the summer edition; in the fall, features about Ladew Topiary Gardens and the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise will be published; for winter, I'm covering Hollyhock House (a restored Frank Lloyd Wright site in Los Angeles) and Grounds for Sculpture in New Jersey. Manitoga would fit right in. 

I'm excited to report that Delicate Crochet is listed for sale! Check out the "Books" page and the "Sneak Peek" to see photos of the 23 projects included in the book, and the names of the designers who contributed patterns. Amazon has the publication date as 12/1 but it should actually be ready to ship in late October/early November. If you are going to TNNA or CGOA this summer, look for Stackpole Books and some of the designers showing off some sample garments.

Videos, Books, and Travel Coming Up!

Although it is still drab and grey outside, flowers are in full bloom indoors in Longwood's Conservatory. What an inspiring place! Right now it is their "Orchid Extravaganza." The variety of colors, shapes, and sizes of orchids is astonishing. It has been delightful to experience that (on weekdays--too crowded for my taste on weekends) and to return to work refreshed.

The crochet book in the works for Stackpole Books is moving along. I made two trips to Harrisburg, PA to work with photographer Daniel Shanken on the model and studio shots. Together with Alan Wycheck's technique photos, I think the pictures in the book will be stunning! 

Daniel at work

A Leisure Arts leaflet is ready for production as soon as one of the major craft stores gives the okay. I hope it's soon because I really enjoyed designing the projects for the book's theme, and I am eager to see them in print. I hope to do a fun promotion with Leisure Arts for National Craft Month in March. I'll share the details as soon as I have them.

Next week I return to Berne, IN to film two crochet classes for Annie's. I enjoyed doing "Learn to Crochet Ripples" (and the pull-out class, "Go-To Ripple Tote") for them two years ago. The hardest part for me isn't the patterns or the scripts, it's the wardrobe! There are very specific requirements for what you can and cannot wear on camera. No black, no white. Red isn't so great either. No stripes or bold patterns, no texture that could "vibrate" on screen. Have to choose something seasonless. Nothing that is or looks handmade because then the students could get too interested in that and start asking for the pattern. Can't be too casual or too formal. Long sleeves are okay but they may not be pushed up. Fabric must be thick enough for the microphone to stay clipped on, and it can't make any noise. Have to wear a unique outfit for each class. I ended up with a bright blue long-sleeved crew under a watercolor sweater for one class, and a lilac top under a dark purple sweater for the other. Fortunately, I will be seated at a table so the pants don't matter!

Last time the makeup artist was snowed out so I did my own makeup, but this time the hair and makeup person should be there to work her magic. I usually wear little or no makeup, but if I tried that on camera I'd probably look tired and washed out. I'm happy to put myself in the care of a professional. Look for some Instagram and FB pictures from the makeup chair next week!

More videos will be on tap after that, but those will be done in my own studio for my YouTube channel. Subscribers keep signing up and they deserve some new content! If you have any requests for techniques to cover, please let me know.

Plymouth Yarn Company has published several of my designs in the past. I love working with them! I noticed that one of the patterns I wrote for them is no longer available because the yarn has been discontinued. They were generous enough to turn back the rights to me and allow me to publish it with a different yarn. The result is the "Scarf de Triomphe Paris," in luscious SpaceCaded Maia.

I'm expecting a "designer box" of samples to arrive from Plymouth soon, too. Can't wait to see their new products! 

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Eagles' Super Bowl win. What a game! We kept waiting for them to lose in spectacular fashion like they have so many times in the past, and it wasn't until the clock ran out that we could exhale and believe what had happened. That "Philly Special" will put a smile on people's faces for years. It's amazing how the mood in the city and region has been lifted by the win. I made a scarf before the game, a version of the Tunisian Check Scarf in Eagles colors:

E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles!

I hope have been working on some interesting projects and are looking forward to spring! Feel free to share pictures on my Sharon Silverman Crochet Facebook page. 

Designing for Publication: Upcoming Class at Lion Brand Yarn Studio

I'm excited to be returning to the Lion Brand Yarn Studio in NYC to teach "Designing for Publication." The class is Sunday, December 3, from 2-5 p.m. and is suitable for all crafters, not just crocheters. More information is here. 

I really feel like this class is a return to my roots! I've been a freelance writer since 1987, mostly travel and features (my first crochet book came out in 2006), and I have taught freelance writing and travel writing in adult evening school. Many of my students have gotten their work published.

There is a balance between the creative side and the business side. You can be the most brilliant crocheter, or novelist, or food critic, but that's not enough to get your work published. There is protocol to follow, analysis to be done, self-promotion to convey, and more details than you can probably imagine...and that's all before you get the assignment! When you work in the craft field, there are very specific requirements for how your package should be submitted to a publisher. Ignore those rules at your own peril. Same with deadlines. You'll need to keep track of your expenses, fees, and taxes, too, so there's a bit of bookkeeping involved.

I am not the world's most creative designer. Sure, I've come up with some nice things, maybe better than average, but nothing like the awesome garments I see on Ravelry and elsewhere. However, I am exceptionally good at project management, organization, and communication, and editors value working with me as much for that as for the creativity I bring to the table. I attribute some of those skills to my essential nature, some to my experience as a technical writer, some to learning the value of checklists during aviation training, and some to fear--I don't want my reputation to be tarnished by missing a deadline or forgetting something important! That's a powerful motivator. And I've learned from my mistakes.

I've also had the benefit of wonderful advice from other writers and editors. (I owe a lifelong debt to my former DuPont colleague Paula Diaco, now with Write Stories Now, who introduced me to the concept of a query letter and recommended Writer's Market all those years ago.)

One thing that I will be emphasizing in class is the importance of following through on commitments. Your job is to make the editor's job easier. It's as simple as that...and, apparently, as difficult, as several recent exasperating experiences would suggest. Why does someone promise to send a press kit to me and then need me to remind him three times? Why does someone say he has put aside tickets for me to an event, but not actually do it? Why does a national trade association say decisions about teaching proposals will be made by the end of August, then, when asked on August 31st, change that to mid-September, and then let that date slip as well? (The latter is the type of situation I find the most frustrating--they set their own deadline, so why would they pick one they can't meet? It wasn't like the deadline was being imposed externally. I just don't get it.) Ugh, now I understand why my dentist feels compelled to send countless emails and texts to tell me about an upcoming appointment even though I have never missed one.

Deadlines and commitments are not aspirational. They are not something you "hope" you can make. They are promises. Occasionally things do happen that prevent someone from making good on a promise. If you break your arm, it might be impossible for you to knit a sample. Family situations arise. I get that, and so do editors--they're human, too. But you cannot sign a contract or enter into a commitment with the thought that, "Oh, I'll hand that in on this date if I have time and if it works out for me," or contact an editor on a due date and say you are going to be late. If you are not prepared to be rigorous with deadlines, conventional publishing is not for you (although self-publishing might be--we'll discuss that option in class, too). 

If you are considering moving from amateur designer to published professional, this class is the place to learn what it takes. I'm eager to share my experience with crafters. It's a wonderful feeling to see your work in a book or magazine, or on a yarn company website, and this class will give you the tools you need to move toward that exciting day!