Desperately Needed Upgrade!

10 days to LA!
For any new visitors to my blog, I’m flying out to Los Angeles to tape 3 episodes of Uncommon Threads a craft show on the DIY channel. The folks at Screen Door Entertainment produce Uncommon Threads and Knitty Gritty, with host Vickie Howell as well as a few other super cool shows on DIY. I have been working on this for about 3 months, and will appear with Amie from NexStitch and Drew, AKA The Crochet Dude

I’m thinking about how I'm going to transport all of my crochet "stuff” to LA. So I dug around for some luggage, old carriers, duffel bags, and I found an old treasure from my younger (and wilder) days! Yes, dear readers, years ago, in the late 80's, I tried to play the drums, I was really bad, eventually sold my drum set to pay rent. Coincidence or not, but I was in and around LA back then (actually Santa Ana in "So Cal". I moved back to Minnesota, left my dream of being a drummer in a rock band, BUT I kept one of my beat up old drum cases.

Yep, this is one of my drum cases (corney stickers and all) and it will haul my crochet stuff out to LA in 10 days! Yarn in a drum case? Hauling around my crochet stuff in style? Maybe I can find a desperately needed upgrade when I'm in LA!

12 days to LA!!

The count down has begun; I have 12 days until I fly to LA to film 3 episodes of Uncommon Threads (NOTE to MY MOM; click on this link, this takes you to the DIY show listings, I’m not on there yet, but it is a real show on a real network, trust me, this is for real!)

Just to clarify that Note to MY MOM, she wasn’t’ sure if the show was legit and it may be folks just cruising the net to get free crochet patterns from unwittingly gullible crochet designers. She is just looking out for her baby, she says, “don’t sign your designs away to someone else” …well Mom, I did…just to get on TV….hope that is OK with you….did I tell ya I’m going to be on TV?!!

Eye Candy Above - I bought this burnt orange and brown shirt and hope to wear it on one of the episodes. I’m starting to put together outfits for taping, we have 3 shows, and they recommend we bring 5 outfits, so they can help pick and choose. What I think looks great might make me look like a 60’s hippie in a time warp, but then my other outfit makes me look like an office secretary from 1985, so where is my happy medium? I need to hire a ‘stylist’, ASAP!!!

Mimi From Crochet and Other Stuff

I am thoroughly amazed and thrilled to have created such wonderful friendships via blogging and the love of crochet. Yesterday in my mailbox was an air mail letter from the Philippines (yes the Philippines!!) My on-line friend Mimi from at Crochet and Other Stuff created this beautiful initial P for me. I’m so thrilled and honored; I’m still WOWed by this, such a sweet gesture from such a talented crocheter, and half way across the world! This beautiful work of art is now displayed on top of my craft desk, so I can look at it all the time and be reminded how great friendship is, world wide.

Thank You Mimi – you are so talented and so sweet!

Teal Necklace and a long ramble...

Because the previous post on my Circle Pendant Necklaces was so mucked up (Blogger, IE, and what I think is Text Viewing within IE, set at anything but the smallest view) I realized my problem might be posts with multiple pictures, so I deleted the pic of the teal necklace and moved the pic of the black necklace to a previous post. So guess what? It didn't fix the problem. Now I'm thinking that because I embed my images “right justified” that might be causing the problem. So this image is centered, perhaps this will solve my sidebar problems?

I'm taking a "blogging break" for awhile. I’m going to focus on fine tuning a few patterns in hopes of selling them on-line. (yes Bean, Rae, and Mary - that includes Maude!!) I also need to focus on my upcoming trip to LA for taping of the show Uncommon Threads, which is now on the DIY Network, I fly out to LA on Aug. 9^th and I’m so excited!! My boys keep saying “we are really proud of you Mommy.” I think they get it, that this is a REALLY BIG DEAL for Mommy.

I also have my annual family camping trip next week. This includes my extended family, brothers, sisters, in-laws, cousins, grandkids, pets, some friends, and sometimes a foreign exchange student. last year, we had a blast! One year my husband and I had to leave early, I was 8 months pregnant, the temp was hovering around 90 degrees, the rain collected in the bottom of our tent, and our son Drew (at 21 months old) went for 19 hours with no sleep, so I gave in, and my family couldn’t believe I even came camping at 8 months pregnant. Yep- slept in a tent - on the ground - in a wet sleeping bag - 8 months pregnant. My sister Sue and her family had an air-conditioned camper, with ice cream in the freezer, so I was in there a lot. (Thanks again Sis, I owe you a gallon of Chunky Monkey) This year, we have “camper cabins”, no running water, no electricity, and rows of old metal bunk beds. Somehow, I will make this comfortable!

I will not have my computer with me, but I'm bringing along plenty of small projects!! I love to crochet on camping trips. Last year I was working on that granny coat (made something like 108 little grannies) and I crocheted a few while I stirred stew in the "mess hall". That has to be the weirdest place I've crocheted: while camping, stirring stew.

I know I'll crochet a few of those Hot Pink Bracelet Purses! The quintessential small project and one of my favs! I ran out of the hot pink yarn, but I have tons of scraps, so maybe I'll be making Rainbow Bracelet Purses. I crocheted a few in black cotton yarn, very cool. I also found a blogger who made the bracelet purse and put a cute flower on the side, her name is Casey, check out her blog post!

So my friends, I shall be back posting in about 2 weeks. Several of you are going to King of Prussia, PA for the CGOA conference, Knit And Crochet Show. Have fun and don’t get tangled up in all the yummy yarn!

Cheers!