Day 270 - Crochetastic!

I got this "tweet" today

Happy Mamma @Happy_Mumsy

*screams with joy* I've cracked it :-)  #crochet thanks @CrochetAli

She's just bought my book 

Crochet For Beginners who want to Improve

I love TWITTER

Day 270 is this "Full Bodied Wine" coloured square

However more exciting than my square for the day is

The fact that the latest Inside Crochet Magazine has arrived.

Issue 46 is jam packed full of wonderful patterns including a Crochetastic Cardigan by Kat Goldin & some absolutely fab BOO Bunting by Lynne Rowe PLUS there's a masterclass on Crochet Socks & you know how much I love making Crochet Socks!

I don't have a pattern in this months issue, however if you look on page 81, which previews next months issue, my Triangle Scarf is in the middle photograph!!

If you don't subscribe to Inside Crochet Magazine

Then you should!!

http://www.insidecrochet.co.uk/subscribe/

OR pop down to your newsagents & ask for a copy!!

Did I mention the Duck Bathmat & Flannel or the Ellie Project Basket or the.........

You'll have to get a copy and see all these wonderful patterns for yourself.

Oh and I also took 2 Crochet Class bookings today too.  Phew!

One last thing - someone from Twitter found this on Pinterest today & sent it to me as she thought I might like it

I love it!!

Day 196 - Teaching & Mandala's!!

KPK came for a lesson today & we decided to turn the tables

She read the pattern & told me what to do!!

This was excellent practice for her

We chose Winky's pattern in Simply Crochet magazine

It was a good pattern to follow - well written and with photo tutorials too - just like I do in my eLearning Courses & my book (see side panels for more on both of these)

So we both made lovely Mandala's

If you want to know more about Mandala's then CLICK HERE

KPK's homework is to finish following the pattern & bring it back finished in her next lesson!!

If you want to read more on Wink here's her blog 

http://www.acreativebeing.com/

I continue to add to my Jumper WIP.  In this heat it's very demanding to work in Pure New Wool!!

And finally - Day 196

Day 183 - Men do Crochet!!

In European Crochet News:

http://www.thelocal.de/

lifestyle/20130701-50619.html

This is a great link to a post on

The Crochet Hat Kings

In Dorset Crochet News:

 So if you are in Sherborne, Dorset on July 13th do pop along

Thank you Ali Nurts of Butterfly Bright, Sherborne for sending me this photo.

Today I have been busy again, looking and re looking at the amazon web page

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crochet-Beginners-who-want-Improve/dp/1484875117/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372782402&sr=1-1&keywords=crochet+for+beginners+who+want+to+improve

 only to find that another "seller"  a book seller is now stocking my book 

HOORAY

Here's the description to save  you leaving this page:

Using a Traffic Light Crochet Teaching System, Ali will take Crochet Beginners through a series of projects that are written in easy to understand patterns, which will help to build confidence in pattern reading & Crochet techniques. Beginners are often left to fend for themselves when it comes to pattern reading, once they've learnt a few basic stitches & this could break a newly self taught or newly taught crocheters confidence. By purchasing this book, you will not only learn to read patterns more confidently, but you'll learn lots of simple tips & tricks along the way, which you will take with you and your crochet forever & hopefully pass your newly learnt knowledge on to others too! You will also learn to Crochet confidently in Rows & Rounds, Crochet socks, Hats, Granny Squares & lots more, including colour changes, joining methods & finishing touches. There are 10 easy to follow pattern projects incorporating her Crochet Traffic Light system, that have all been designed by Ali, who has successfully taught these patterns to many pupils in the last few years with GREAT results. You will need to know the basic stitches - Double Crochet & Treble Crochet and have a chunky weight wool /yarn & a 6mm or 6.5mm hook to get started in your next crochet journey - from Beginner to Improver! All patterns are written in UK Crochet Terminology.

 Square for Day 183

WOW What a weekend! 180 & 181

I woke up to the sound of "KERCHING" from my mobile on Saturday morning

That was my ETSY app telling me that I had made a sale!!

I sold a custom made beaded glasses chain

In Royal Blue with multi colour beads

Then it happened again - yes KERCHING!

I sold a pattern for an All in One No Sew Toy!

http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AliCampbellDesigns

And then again, but this time through my Ravelry Pattern Shop!

WOW

The other news that I have is that my book is nearly ready for publication & distribution!!!

I have been working hard on the finishing touches since Friday & despite a few technical hicups, I think I am almost there, having proof read it for a final (hopefully) time today & uploading it once again to Createspace.  I have spent HOURS not only creating this book & putting it together but more so with the technical side of things!!  Thankfully my friend Nicky came for a coffee on Friday & she got roped in to formatting some of the pages for me - phew!

Thanks Nicky x

It is going to be called

CROCHET FOR BEGINNERS THAT WANT TO IMPROVE

 &

I have devised a unique .......hahaha can't tell you yet!

Interested??

Then watch this space for more news very soon!

 I know I have used this sock yarn before on some other squares, but to be honest I haven't the time to source a new yarn &

I like the way that each time I use it, it comes up with a different look!

Days 178 & 179 - Crochet Classes, Crochet Book & Inside Crochet Magazine

Day 178

To be honest I spent most of yesterday & today fighting with technology as I have finished writing my book, but now I need to upload it to the internet & there have been problems.

Thanks to my friend Nicky, I did manage to overcome a few hurdles, so Thank You Nicky xx

I think I have got all the major problems solved now, so it's just tweaking bits & bobs & getting a photo edited - phew - fingers crossed & watch this space.

I did of course make time for a Crochet Class today & KPK brought in her little hat that she's made for a friends baby who is due in 7 days time.

I suggested the Pom Pom to finish it off, so we made Pom Poms in the first bit of today's lesson

 Isn't it lovely?

And here is KPK making a swatch of the snood scarf that she wants to make.

 

 Can you believe that we even watched a little of Wimbledon Tennis as we crocheted from the App on my iPhone!

Day 179

I am also thrilled to share that I have had another pattern published in Inside Crochet Magazine

My SeaLife Garland looks so great in this photo

And this is what to look out for in the Newsagents - Issue 43 - out today

These fantastic photo's / cover have all been published with the kind permission or Tailor Made Publishing - I thank you.

I love it!

Day 176 & 177 Busy, Busy & more BUSY!!

Firstly I will apologise for not blogging yesterday.  I was a combination of things like being busy with other crochet items, crochet lessons, continuing to write my crochet book & the internet being dead slow for no real reason, so I gave up on trying to blog.

However here are my 2 squares....

I also took a booking for a Crochet Lesson in September (yes booking well in advance!) today - maybe the lady knows how busy I get!!

So my book continues to evolve.  I am not having many problems writing it, my worry is when I come to upload it!!

I am not that technologically capable, and I can only hope that all the photo's that I have added are ok, as it will be a total nightmare if I have to retake all of them in a different way!

Fingers Crossed!

You'll be pleased to know that I am very nearly at the end - a couple more projects to go and that will be it - YAY

Day 134 - Not a lot to report - Sorry!

I put my socks in the wash today, and they came out like this!!

They look like socks for a Pixie!

However I am pleased to report that they still fit ok! Phew!!

Day 134 is this lovely Pure New Wool Green Flower

And my Jumper is progressing!

SLOWLY

I have spent most of today's rainy day working on my book & writing a submissions letter to publishers.

I managed to get 6 done plus one email, but I didn't get to the post box due to the rain as it was SO bad!

There's always tomorrow.

Day 128, Flower Power & Book Update

My Flower Power thanks today goes to @smooogle from Twitter who sent me these perfectly crochet flowers by post today.

I can't wait to get started on yarn bombing my Scooter - I might even do that tomorrow!

 Day 128 is this multi colour flower that was made with 2 strands of Regia sock yarn.

I am fast running out of new colour options!

And now for my Book Update....

I spent a good portion of my day adding more patterns & pictures to my book, which will be aimed at Beginners that want to IMPROVE their Crochet, so I am writing & designing patterns to do exactly that, as I feel that at this point of ones Crochet Journey the Beginners to Improvers, often get overlooked.

I have never written a book before and this is a very exciting experience as I will be self publishing my work, unless of course there is a Crochet Publisher out there that would like to take me on??

Who Knows!!

Day 1-2-3 -Easy as Doh-Rae-Me! Sunshine Crochet & NEWS!!

I took today's Crochet Lesson outside to the sunshine as it seemed a shame to sit indoors when it was so lovely out there.

As you can see Scrumpy tried to join in too!!

KPK & I went back to crocheting socks 

We had both completely made one sock but had to add the heel

And that's exactly what we did!

This picture captures our right feet, up on the garden table with our abandoned shoes safely away from the attack of the "Dark Destroyer" aka Scrumpy Puppy

We chose Crab Stitch to finish off the top edge, which we both agreed, looked perfect on these chunky socks

What do you think?

And now for more Flower Power!

+beth butcher sent me these lovely crochet & knitted flowers with button trim today

They are so lovely, as are these from my student KPK

My mobility scooter is going to look so fantastically floral!

I won't say "And Finally" just yet  as I have to show you Square 123 which is beautifully sunny and a tribute to the sun that we had today

And now for the NEWS!

The news is that I have decided to write a book, a Crochet one (of course!!) which will be a small compilation of some of my patterns.

I won't tell you any more at this stage, but as soon as it's ready, which won't be long now, hopefully, I will let you know!

Ta-Dah

I hope you all have a FANTASTIC Bank Holiday weekend

Crochet love to you all 

xxx