Excellence in Needle Arts Awards

I subscribe to "Piecework". Yes, it's not strictly about crochet, but I still love reading it. So many interesting fabrics, so many stories and I believe that Mary Polityka Bush should at least have a book deal by now.
The current issue, March/April 2007 with the beautiful embroidered silk purse on it, has the current winners of the "Excellence in Needle Arts Awards" sponsored by The National Needlearts Association (TNNA). The grand prize winner is a stunning tapestry embroidered by Suzanne K. Vinmans.
Now what does this have to do with crocheting you ask?
The first place prize winner, in the knitting and crochet catagory, is Elena Stefania Ferrari, a 15 year old who crocheted an amazing lap blanket.
http://www.interweave.com/needle/NWOY/pastwinners/2006/knit.asp

I couldn't even crochet a ripple afghan at 15, let alone something as complex as this lap blanket. The magazine did not have too much information on M's Ferrari, but I believe she has a great future in design. I just hope she publishes the pattern so mere mortals like me can figure out how she did it.

crocheting vs knitting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZcUjYpjKZs


I _love_ this video. Maybe it's because I love crochet or maybe because it's just funny, but it's good. I hope you enjoy it, too.

ever have one of those weeks?

Where you look around and think "good grief, how can it be ______(fill in the blank) already?" Sure, everybody has - bad days at work or at home, new software to use, illness, crankiness, sleepless nights - you get the point. Sometimes crocheting something can be soothing, just the tactile stimulation of making something work correctly can be good. Sometimes it's just therapeutic to crochet away, as a sort of mantra or praying the rosary.
Sometimes you just feel like getting away from it all and in this video, that's what this person uses crochet to do:
Click here: Present!

Although really she's probably not trying to get away from it all. After all, it's bright red, a cheery color to say the least, so it's not depressing. It definitely would be warm. Pretty interesting idea, after all.




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