Improving My Skillset - 3KCBWDAY6

3KCBWDAY6 - Improving my crochet skills is a big goal of mine. Last year I wanted to learn a couple of new stitches but this year I want to interact! Here are some of the things I would LOVE to do:

Craft Cruise  

There is a craft cruise at the end of May leaving out of Baltimore!  This sounds like a great way to meet people, learn some new techniques and relax all at the same time. I've never been on a cruise but have friends who have been and go back quite often.  Next month's cruise is to Bermuda with The Crochet Dude, Drew Emborsky.  Fun, right?  Unfortunately the timing of this cruise isn't good for me now since we are putting our house up for sale. If anyone else goes, let me know how it was, I would love to hear.

CGOA Conference 
The Crochet Guild of America has two conferences every year, Summer and Fall.
I'm a member of CGOA and just got the schedule in the mail on Saturday.  The summer conference is in Manchester, NH this year at the end of June, beginning of July.  There are a bunch of classes that interest me and the presenters/teachers are a list of who's who!  I planned out my whole schedule and looked up airfare but the summer's conference is going to be out of reach for me. At the end of July, my wonderful daughter and I will be driving across the country from Oregon to Syracuse University in New York. The Fall conference is in Reno, NV, the middle of September.  I'm shooting for  those dates for sure!! We should be moved by then and I will start setting aside time and money to make sure I am there.  Anyone going to either of the conferences?

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival  
Yay!! The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is always the first Saturday and Sunday of May, this year it's the 5th & 6th. And it's just around the corner from my house! I've lived here for almost 10 years and didn't really know too much about the festival until about 5 years ago.  At that time my coworker went and had a great time but I didn't go with her.  The festival is held at the Howard County fairgrounds and is chalk-full of great vendors, good food and sheep!  I am definitely going again this year.  Matter of fact, I had inadvertently made a hair appointment for that Saturday and when I realized what I had done I immediately called the salon and rescheduled.  My plan this year is to go on Saturday by myself to take a bunch of photos and then come home and blog about what's happening.  Then on Sunday, I plan on going back and bringing home lots, and lots, and lots of good stuff.  I hope you all come out and hang out at the festival.  If you want any recommendations for a great place to eat around the area I'd be happy to give you a couple of places.

With love,
Auntie Becky

A Crocheter For All Seasons? - 3KCBWDAY4

Wow, we've made it to day 4 of the Knitting and Crochet Blog Week (3KCBWDAY4).  I really hope you like what you've read so far.  Today's challenge is to look through our completed projects and explain how the seasons affect what we create and when.

I really didn't have to look through my projects, I know the seasonal weather makes me want to crochet full size afghans and lap blankets.  I love to watch football and be covered with a great blanket that I'm creating.

 

 

When the weather starts to warm up again I don't want to be working with lots of yarn and heavy blankets and it seems that the babies are usually on the way.  :)  So I move to smaller blankets, toys and purses.

My Craft Hero - 3KCBWDAY3

Today's post for the 3rd day of Knitting and Crochet Blog week is about our craft heros.  My craft hero is my grandma. I thought about other people who inspire me today with their color and techniques (Lucy-Attic24 or Kristin Omdahl) but then always came back to my loving grandma we came to call GG Bonnie.

GG Bonnie

I've talked before about how it was my grandma who first taught me to chain crochet. We loved it. We would make 'snakes' all the time with her. She knit, crocheted and quilted along with other various crafts. Each one of her grandchildren and great grandchildren were given either a crocheted blanket or quilt as babies. She always had crochet edged dish cloths in her house and lovely crochet doilies on each of her chairs and sofa arms.

GG Bonnie's Crochet

When she passed away at age 93, I remember her oldest great grandchild, Renee, speaking at her viewing about how sad she was because GG Bonnie would have been so proud of how far she had gotten with her crocheted scarf. Grandma had taught a third generation to crochet only several months before.
I love my grandma, she is always with me and is not only my inspiration for my crochet but the person I most inspire to live my life like.

With love,
Auntie Becky

Spring Love - 3KCBWDAY2

Today is the 2nd day of the Knitting and Crochet Blog Week (3KCBWDAY2) and today's challenge was to create or set up a story with photography of our craft (crochet for me, thank you).  So without further ado, I give you "The Start" by Becky
This bud of love by summer’s ripening breath, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. - Romeo & Juliet - Shakespeare

The Boy

The Girl

The Start of Something Wonderful

Don't forget to vote at Ekimimimakes for my pics. :)

With love,
Auntie Becky