I Crochet / He Makes Hooks

Back to Normal at BrainsBarn

2008-07-08T10:06:00.004-04:00

Ivory and Violets

The Jade Lotus

Well...he's on a creative path again...and really needed to do something different. Someone was waiting for his specialty hooks. Both hooks will be hand delivered to a collector of the unique at the conference coming up...

Complete descriptions can be seen on the BrainsBarn website; hooks 4 page. :)

2008 Knit & Crochet Show

2008-07-08T09:55:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since the last posting...but Spring has sprung and now summer is here. We've had such nice weather that a lot of time was spent outside and away from the puter.
The CGOA hooks were sent out in mid-June and have safely arrived for the conference. Brian considers it quite an honor that he was chosen as this year's hookmaker but is he glad that it's over. He's never made so many of one hook ever! So it's back to his OOAK creations...

CGOA 2008 Commemorative Hook by BrainsBarn

2008-03-24T16:27:00.010-04:00

Chakte Kok/ 12mm Cloisonne Bead/ 2 SSilver accents/ size I-5.5mm

To be stamped CGOA 08.

It has been announced that the above hook is only available to CGOA members who are attending the July Conference. One hook per member; any hooks left after the conference will be by mail order on a first come, first served basis.

If anyone has any questions about this, please contact Amy Campbell, Customer Service Representative at acampbell@offinger.com

On another note, I have passed the CGOA Master Course in Basic Stitches!

BrainsBarn news...published again :)

2008-02-18T10:38:00.004-05:00

This is our 6th time in a magazine but the 1st one for a Knitting issue. It seems custom eye candy is alive and well...as seen in Knit N Style- April, 2008 issue- out now.
We had a sellout on the website...but there is more on the way...

A sample of very fancy custom Knitting Needles... eye candy!

CGOA Masters in Basic Stitches...it's ready

2008-02-17T10:28:00.000-05:00

OK...the above 2 notebooks represent a lot of work. I just finished printing off the questions/answers and it's all ready to be put in the mail on Tuesday. Wow! I really feel that I've accomplished something. Who knew I'd be interested in the proficiency of my crochet work? Well, it seems I am AND someone else wants to know about it. Wish me luck! I'm keeping fingers crossed XXXXXXX.
For more about what is expected for the Master in Basic Stitches and for more correspondence courses offered to CGOA members, go here: http://www.crochet.org/

BrainsBarn news...

2008-02-16T09:48:00.000-05:00

No matter how many times it happens, it's always a thrill to see one's work showcased in a magazine. :) We know how pattern designers feel!

This is the 5th time we've been asked for pictures, but the first time we're in a non-crochet issue... At Home Tennessee, February 2008. Picture can be seen on page 46 in the Style section.

Display Stand is in use already...

2008-02-15T09:30:00.001-05:00

This is what I really wanted this second stand for...a hat display. Now that I see it I'll have to seek out another "head". This one has been "pugged" at the neck. The camouflage skullys sell out at the fairs. The above is one of many I've finished since January!

The stand also doubles as a thread holder. Can't beat that!

Happy Valentine Day!!

2008-02-14T09:09:00.003-05:00

What a nice surprise!

A beautiful heart box of red suede with swirled ribbon flowers- filled with Godiva chocolates...well, there's still SOME of it in there. Don't you think chocolate should be a food group?? I do!...and I treat it as such.

Then there is a fish head coffee cup with chocolates for Brian. Why? when he doesn't even have time to fish?? Because it says on the side "I'm Hooked on You". I had to laugh when I saw that because it doesn't mean fishing to me. No...hooked on you means crochet hooks of course. So there's a new display item for some BB crochet hooks!

And last is the real surprise. I had "ordered" a thread holder/display stand (for my hats) from BB and received more than I thought...engraved from him and our grandaughter. Yes, she helped in making this (she loves to work with him out in the barn).

Stitch of the Week at the CGOA Message Board...part 3

2008-02-13T08:56:00.001-05:00

I'm not doing so good in keeping up the blog...but of course I have excuses! :)

Life happens; holidays came up; but most of all it was showtime. Hubby, (aka BrainsBarn) and I did a show a month from September through December. That may not seem like much but, as you know, for handcrafted items it is...

I was also busy with my local KnitWit group and the last quarter of the year we are the busiest in getting items made and ready for donation.

Even so I did manage to do 6 more Stitch of the Week items. Will I finish all 21? Don't know...but they are fun to do and I have 12 dishcloths/washcloths so far :)

Crochet Cases by Crippen Works

2007-09-02T16:19:00.000-04:00

Just found time to take a picture of an item ordered at the 2007 CGOA convention from Crippen Works
Handmade by Katharyn Crippen Shapiro in NY.
Buy already made or made to order as Brian did above:
Each will hold at least 20 crochet hooks for safely transporting back and forth for the upcoming shows; the case has a flap to cover those decorated hooks and the case rolls up "stiffly" for protection.
We couldn't be happier with the crochet needle cases! Thanks Katharyn and it was a pleasure to meet you!

Stitch of the Week at the CGOA Message Board- part 2

2007-08-31T14:49:00.000-04:00

Stitch of the Week from the CGOA Message Board.

Left: Week #4 - Spider stitch

Middle: Week #5 - Tulip stictch

Right: Week #6 - Waffle stitch

My grandaughter has already claimed the center one for her bath :)

Crafty Hair Sticks and/or Shawl Pins

2007-08-22T15:59:00.000-04:00

Well...here's something new and different. I like different! These items can double as a hair stick or shawl pin. You will be noticed! Just like grandma's hat pin...this also acts as a weapon (!!??) African Porcupine Quills...who'd have thought! They sure grow them big there (and these aren't even the longest!); I hope I never run into one still wearing his quills...
The hairsticks/shawl pins will be for sale on BrainsBarn.com as they are made.
** Note: Porcupines are grown/raised for food in Africa; by- products are either used there or exported; nothing is wasted.

2007 New Jersey State Fair

2007-08-07T22:19:00.001-04:00

2007 New Jersey State Fair....Wow...1st Place Blue Ribbon PLUS a Special Award Ribbon. Who'd have thought? Crochet class for Scarf or Shawl; special award for best in class...basketweave stitch done in a beautiful soft Colibri yarn from Austria. It has a slight shimmer to it with very muted coloring.

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An unexpected 1st Place Blue Ribbon...and first time I ever entered the Lacemaking class. Above is an Irish Crochet Heart Rose in size #30 thread and done with a steel hook #11 (also first attempt at using a thread smaller than #10). The item is also from the course I took at the 2007 CGOA convention with Kathie Earle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A 2nd Place Red Ribbon for the "once-a-year-let's-do-it-for-the-State-Fair-doily".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A 2nd Place Ribbon for the Crocheted Lisette Sweater Shawl; pattern by Carolyn Christmas of GourmetCrochet.com. I had this at the 2007 CGOA conference and wore it to the Fashion Show Dinner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now this really was a surprise...3rd Place Yellow Ribbon for Jewelry: Other (meaning that it is not Strung or Woven). I started making the above Hairstick/Shawl Pins just recently and thought I'd add it to the other items for the Fair. I'll be making more and they will be selling on the BrainsBarn website and our upcoming shows.

Judge's comments will be known this Sunday when I pick up all the items... :)

CGOA 2007 Convention...Fashion Show & Silent Auction

2007-08-02T19:01:00.001-04:00

The highlight of the convention has arrived...the Chic Street Fashion Show and Silent Auction. This year's donations on monies collected for the "bag auction: will go to the Helping Hands Foundation . Brian bid on and won 3:
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Bag #6...donated by Nancy Nehring, author/designer/teacher/hook collector

This bag is absolutely breathtaking!! My jaw dropped when I saw it...as I had just taken an Irish Crochet course that morning with Kathie Earle. I can appreciate the work and time that went into this piece. It also has tiny, real pearls worked into the stitches. It's a pleasure and a joy to look at...it deserves a display case so it can be seen and it will have one...

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Bag #13...donated by Diane Moyer of pawprint creations

Absolutely FUNKY! I love FUNKY OOAK creativeness and this IS it! Lining is a gorgeous royal purple with embroidered butterflies...actually this bag is perfect for a Red Hatter!
Diane was so gracious and thanked Brian for bidding and winning her creation.

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Bag #17...donated by Dee Stanziano, designer/teacher. Dee's Blog A clutch size bag done in freeform by Dee. Bag has a chain for shoulder use or it can be tucked inside and held as a clutch. It's lovely! Dee also won second place in the People's Choice Award. Here's a great picture of Brian and Dee; Brian gave Dee the ribbon; he kept the purse...LOL! Dee also has a pic of Brian on the runway just after he was announced high bidder. What a hoot!...he did get lots of whistles! That's MHubert on the other side of Dee holding up the Helping Hands placard for pics...and on the side of Margaret you can see a little of Prudence's freeform bag. Dee has many more pics of the auction on her site rather than duplicate them here...see link above for that entry.

I am more than interested to know what next year's silent auction will be?? Brian now has the Bra made by Dee from the 2006 convention; this year a bag...all in freeform. Could it be that he is going for a whole outfit by Dee?? As we expect to be at next year's convention...only time will tell! Stay tuned! Personally, I can't wait!

Here's a photo after the silent auction: our table won a total of 7 bags. Dee's blog has it all! She was really busy with her camera:
For Fashion Show pics see here .
For links to other convention pics see here . I'm still going through them!
Vashti Braha was a showstopper in her unforgettable creation. See the story here

CGOA 2007 Convention...Day 3...07/14/07

2007-08-02T17:47:00.000-04:00

OK...last big day ending with this evening's Chic Street Fashion Show.

Should I admit that one (meaning me!) should not take an Irish Crochet thread class at 9am in the morning??!!

Kathie Earle's Irish Crochet Heart Rose. The woman is amazing...her samples prove it to me...no question about it. Also see this page for 2 samples of her work featured on the Guild of Irish Lacemakers site.

Good thing that I finished the homework- and Kathie was gracious enough to compliment my work...especially for a leftie. But she couldn't figure out why the roses were excellent and then the classwork was so-so. LOL...and more LOL!

I mentioned that I needed my tensor light and magnifier and that I never even tried to thread crochet this small--especially at this time of the day!! I was hyperventilating to get an even chain with a picot for the heart shape...with a steel size #11 hook and size #30 thread.

This threadie thought she was pretty good with #10 thread and a steel size #6 or #7 hook but this is another ballgame! I loved it though and am happy to report that I frogged the classwork and redid it. Will have to let Kathie know I didn't give up! The woman has the patience of a saint...

Kathie also gave each one in the class a rememberance...a pin so fine that I studied it at home under a magnifier! What beautiful work and something for this threadie to strive for...if my eyes and fingers hold out! Thank you Kathie!~~~~~~~~~~
I met up with Brian and we took off for the Market...

Natalie and Ann of DreamWeaver Yarns are 2 young, hip women and a pleasure to talk to...

Brian finally got to meet Tom Diak of Grafton Fibers . Knowing that the subject would be woodworking/turning, I chatted with his lovely wife, Linda. Did you see that creative Mermaid??

One couldn't go through the market without stopping to chat with Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss. What a hoot those 2 are together!! Made our day...Brian is still talking about how much he enjoyed them! You couldn't say enough about these 2 ladies and the contributions they've made to the art of crochet!

Onto the FreeForm booth to really study the art that was displayed. Myra Wood put the wallhanging together and has a stunning site showing off her creative works. It includes links to other sites and an invitation to join the FreeFormers group.

Katharyn Crippen Shapiro of CrippenWorks has the most luscious rollups for your crochet and knit supplies. We ordered 3 rollups from her great choice of fabrics and sent plenty of our friends her way...

I won a door prize! A tote bag and 2 skeins of Aran yarn from Irish sheep! It was donated by The Irish Ewe , a vendor from Maine. Brian wound one hank on a nostepinde and presented it to her as a "thank you for your donation". She loved it and yes, replaced my skein. LOL!

I then had it in my head that perhaps I should try knitting. Free classes were offered by Coats & Clark in the marketplace. But!- if I was going to do this then the lease Brian could do was to try the Learn to Crochet class. You had to have been there...good thing I or he didn't grab the camera.

I kept "hooking". This was worse than the first 2 times I ever tried to knit. I'm too far gone on crocheting to even get used to holding 2 sticks...let alone ever hoping to finish an item in this lifetime with any kind of speed.

Brian at least got to crochet a chain and the start of his first row. Don't know what happened then but he gave up too...LOL! Didn't look bad to me even though he needed to work on tension...

We have learned that I can't knit or make hooks; Brian can't crochet.
End of story...and an appreciation of what each other does...

Short rest and getting ready for the Chic Street Fashion Show...deserving of it's own post...

CGOA 2007 Convention...Day 2...07/13/07

2007-08-02T13:35:00.000-04:00

After a late night again...at JD's bar/restaurant...and Brian and I playing with our sleep number bed...let's not go there...was I glad I didn't have a morning class scheduled.

As it was I was scheduled to take "Beginner's Guide to Tunisian Crochet" with designer/teacher Darla Fanton in the afternoon. What a lovely woman!...and a great teacher. She has to be to teach this left-hander! I like it!...and have since bought a Tunisian Stitches Crochet book plus a pattern book. If I get comfortable with it there's always Darla's Illusion Crochet to look forward to if offered next year.

For backup I have friend Amie of NexStitch with her online video tutorials for the Tunisian/Afghan stitch(es) ; that's reassuring!

Anyway...Darla's class was informative and relaxed...an asset to the learning process. The booklet received is so helpful and I've referred to it many times already. I love the knit and purl stitch done in CROCHET! And I've actually learned something NEW...proving one can teach an old dog new tricks (except for knitting...and I'll get to that later!) LOL!

Darla's website can be seen here ; her blog can be seen here . Both are well worth a looksee...Darla also graciously signed her booklet handout for me after class :)~~~~~~~~~~
Attended the CGOA Chain Link Annual Meeting at 6pm. We had missed it last year and was glad to make it this year to hear Rita Weiss, our CGOA President talk of all the interesting things she has planned for the CGOA Organization. Also read the September issue of Crochet! magazine's Newsletter.

Not a member yet?...Think about it and supporting your art...
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Off to the FreeFormers Dinner. What a great group of talented people! It was great to catch up with friends not seen from this group since the year before.

Plenty of pictures to see...rather than duplicate see Margaret Hubert's blog ; Crochet with Dee blog for more pics and don't miss Dee's pics of the FreeFormer booth at the Market and her story of "the tree".

The highlight of the evening (besides being with this group) was connecting again with Prudence Mapstone .Don't miss this site...her work is astounding!

What a gracious and busy lady! At the close of the convention on Sunday she was off on a knitting cruise...featuring "her" of course and leaving that afternoon from Boston. This was one time I wished I knew how to knit!

And it's also the second year she spotted us before we spotted her (as she is always surrounded)... What an honor that she says hello and how have you been...can you tell we both are "Prudence groupies" ??
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OK...so it was a semi-late night already and we missed the Crochet Coffee get together from 9-11pm. Off to JD's for a nightcap...and then to bed! I have a 9am class...

CGOA 2007 Convention...Day 1...07/12/07

2007-08-02T11:23:00.000-04:00

Our trip to the 2007 CGOA Chain Link Convention this year was great! Lots of friends and good times. Hubby Brian and I were on the go all day every day till checkout on Sunday, 07/15:

We arrived on Wednesday 07/11 after a 6 hour drive from NJ with an easy check-in at the Radisson Manchester in NH.
Within an hour of arrival we had dinner at JD's Cafe with friends from CGOA chapters Houston H-Town and Crochet Texas! -and surprise to us- Melody MacDuffee! What a gracious lady she is and it was a delight for us to meet her. She talked of her upcoming trip to Africa to teach a village her beaded crochet. A designer and teacher of overlay crochet, Melody has created a site that can be seen here .
Perhaps I'll feel confident enough to take her overlay course next year if it's offered again.

5 FUN Friends: (Back L to R):Bobbi, Christy (Front): Tina, Carole, Saundra

Thursday, 07/12/07:

After a late start on Thursday catching up on needed sleep (already) Brian and I had brunch and bumped into more friends after we registered and received goody bags... yarns I had my first class scheduled with Lily Chin at 2pm in her soldout "Crocheted Tips, Tricks and Hints". Lily is a delight to meet...taking the class was well worth it just for hearing and watching her in action. I sat beside my friend Amie of NexStitch...see her blog for her conference reviews here .
Even though I have Lily's new book "Couture Crochet Workshop" ...some tips were helpful to see visually and questions could be asked right then and there to the designer herself. Lily also graciously signed my book at the end of class :)

Thursday night's Keynote speaker was Cari Clement of Caron International. She did a good job of talking about crochet as a fashion statement and showed pictures of outrageous retro designs from a favorite vintage magazine I happen to have in my collection...Ladies Home Journal, 1976.
After Cari's speech it was time for the preview opening of Market Street. Beautiful and luscious yarns to be seen. Being more an impulse shopper at something like this I would have really done some damage if crochet patterns were seen made out of the yarns. For next year, hoping to attend, I will have some patterns of things I want to make with me and will just match yarns needed to/for them...lesson learned...and no further comment.

Stitch of the Week at the CGOA Message Board

2007-07-31T19:41:00.000-04:00

At the CGOA Message Board there are member volunteers giving a "stitch of the week" that other members can try - or not.
Being that I have a box of Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn I thought I'd give up crocheting bibs for awhile and give it a go...

On the left is the Week #1 Square: A single crochet with a choice of two edgings. I used Sugar 'n Cream 4-ply worsted weight 100% cotton yarn in color: Newport, using a G+/4.50mm hook and made an 8" square that I'll try out as a dishcloth.
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In the middle is Week #2 Square: A split single crochet using Sugar 'n Cream 4-ply worsted weight 100% cotton yarn in color: Fairy Tales, using an H/5.mm hook and 6" square that will be given as a baby washcloth.
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On the right is Week #3 square: A crossed double crochet that can be done in two variations. Again I used Sugar 'n Cream 4-ply worsted weight 100% cotton yarn in color: Light Blue, using an H/5.mm hook. It finished at 8" square and is already placed in the shower to use as a washcloth.
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*Stitch of the Week patterns are only available at the present time for CGOA Message Board Members. Copyright, 2007.

Happy Fourth of July!!

2007-07-04T18:53:00.000-04:00

Time to celebrate the freedoms we have left...have a happy, safe 4th of July everyone!

Another WIP ... Barbie Wedding Dress

2007-06-25T22:18:00.000-04:00

OK...so I have another WIP. At least the dress/pillow form is stuffed and done; the bra (smallest I've ever done!) is started...
But look at the back of that gorgeous dress... yards and yards of crochet lace to do. Now that this project has seen daylight again I suppose I'll have to think about continuing...it's another INTENSE thread crochet project. LOL!
It won't make the State Fair this year...but there's always the next one!

FOUND! Another Work in Progress...Dr. Who ????

2007-06-25T22:05:00.000-04:00

Hiding on the bottom of a carryall...is a Dr. Who scarf! I must have been really bored or carried away with thoughts of the '60's.

This is only about 1/2 way done...I think there's about another 300 rows to go! ALL in single crochet.

Well...it IS a conversation piece!

Pattern for crochet and/or knit is here: http://www.math.clemson.edu/~simms/neat/drscf.html

Organizing Crochet Books...Hardcover

2007-04-28T12:01:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd mention a site called Library Thing for those of you who haven't heard of it. It was really helpful to me in keeping track of the hardcover crochet books (that are now organized in a bookcase...yay!!).

Even though it takes time initially I found it well worth it. And it's easy now to add one at a time as more (!!) are acquired.
My catalog of needlework books, more crochet than anything but there's a couple on sewing, can be seen here:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/Red883

Some booklets come with an ISBN # so it's easier to list. One can also see who shares their interest...meaning they also have the same book in their library.

But what to do with all the magazines, leaflets, booklets, etc. that I can't list?? I love to look through them; they aren't and haven't been published in years. Old McCalls, Ladies Home Journal, Better Homes & Gardens, Woman's Day, Family Circle...mostly all from the 1970's.
Funny, but one can really see that "what goes around, comes around...". Not too different in style from what's being touted as new today...except that there are much nicer yarns today...from plain to specialty with greater color varieties.

The magazines are being organized slowly but surely. I also like the idea of large binders for patterns printed from the net to be organized by category...afghans, baby items, etc. At least I won't have to go through LARGE PILES of papers everytime I'm looking for something.
Scary! Maybe I'll be able to find what I'm looking for...

PS. I also listed my cookbooks...yes, seems I have quite a collection of those. Listed under a different name they number more than twice the amount of crochet books...
Does that mean I cook more than I crochet?? Not!!

Crochet at Bellaonline Interview !

2007-04-23T15:29:00.000-04:00

Update!
On 4/17/2007 Kate Pullen, crochet editor of BellaOnline, published our first
online interview for BrainsBarn:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art3191.asp

In her own right, Kate creates beautiful jewelry that can be seen here:

Crochet and Knit Jewellery: http://www.katepullen.com/

Hook Display...and Granny Square Sampler Afghan

2007-04-12T20:08:00.000-04:00

I've been asked by many as to how I display my hooks. I have an earthenware item that seems to be perfect at this time. I added enough rice...uncooked of course!...to let the hooks stand on their own and then I just "planted" them. A garden of hooks that really looks nice on the table :) and they are handy.

The item under the hooks is a work in progress...and has been for a while. I came across it while organizing...hah! But the beauty of this afghan is that it can be added to when one feels like doing a granny square. The squares do not match in size so it's fitted together. Here's a better picture. It's the "Granny Square Sampler Afghan" from an old Better Homes & Gardens hardcover book "Crochet&Knitting"; ISBN #0696001551; copyright 1977.

Have a Great Easter!

2007-04-08T16:38:00.000-04:00

From our home and barn to yours...

Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!