Rain clouds and wishful thinking

Always hopeful

  There are clouds on our horizon, but we aren't likely to get any rain.

But I can always hope.

I would do a rain dance, but my luck some one would video it and I would find myself being silly all over U tube.

Think I will pass on that.

I will just keep hoping that the we get a bit of rain.

 

I am taking advantage of a nice cool day around here and finishing up a few things. Actually worked outside for a bit. Won't be much longer and that will be almost impossible to do comfortably. The heat will be here soon. Then curling up with my hook will be the best option for a hot day.

 

My desk was cleared for action last night.

Which is my signal that I have finished a project.

 All the components, notes and charts are carefully put away until I am sure the pattern is written to my satisfaction. Have learned it's so much easier when I remember to keep things together and don't have to chase down a elusive note. Putting each project on it's own clip board has been a big help for me. Now when I am done I slide all the notes, ball wrappers, and anything else pertinent to the project into a page protector and file it away.

I now have over 15 clip boards though, each with a project waiting to be done.

Not to mention those on the bulletin board  and my letter nail.

Someday I will catch up with myself.

We can only hope.

Monday I will take the time to sort through and prioritize them.

Shift things around, and move some forward, also add some to clip boards that what been on the letter nail or the bulletin board.

Think it's time to add a few quick projects. I have been working on larger ones here for a while.

Feeling the need of the thrill of accomplishment.

Got that rush last night and it's addictive.

Red Heart released another one of my design last week.  

Which is also one of those WOW moments.

I don't think I will ever get over the thrill of seeing one of my designs published

The Rosalinda Necklace

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/rosalinda-necklace

It's a free pattern so go enjoy

My pictures of the finished necklace

One more shot

 

Now  a few flower shots.

You know I can't resist a pretty flower.

Love my globe mallows  

My Alstroemeria is blooming

Came across some pink globe mallow.

Mr spider snuck into my shot.

I did get up and saw the Blood moon this week.

Unfortunately I couldn't get a good shot of it.

But did get a nice shot of the moon before.

Going through the change and it's not what you think.

Ch-ch-changes.

There is never a guarantee when starting a new design that it will turn out as envisioned. I just got done reworking the chart for a design as it didn't live up to expectations. Now for the major frog that goes with this rework.

Am I crying in my chocolate!

No!

For me it is part of the process!

Most designers understand this phenomenon. It happens all the time. I am not sure the average crocheter reading a pattern realizes how many times things get frogged and reworked when we are designing to make sure it turns out just right. Well at least for this designer it does. I am a firm believer that I should never, ever send out a pattern I am not pleased with. I would prefer not to hide my head with shame when I see a design of mine come up in a magazine or on the internet. So when you are enjoying a pattern remember that it may not have even started out looking like the finished product. It may have gone through several changes before it ended up as the design you are working.

Sometimes I have been known to start all over just because it was easier than frogging the whole darn thing. Then I can see where I want to make changes easier that way too. There are times also when I look at something I have been working on and just think to myself, well if I had just done this, the whole piece would look better and/or be easier to do. Of course it gets a rework then.  More changes.

There are days when I almost wish I could turn off my

What If Button.

Designing would be simpler if I would stick with the plan. But then there are several of my designs you would have never seen.

So I will frog whenever I think an idea can be improved upon.

I will rework until I am happy with it.

and I won't cry in my chocolate when it happens.

I only cry when I have to frog a large number of rows because I can't count, or I make a mistake.

Then it's just because I hate being so stupid as to not double check myself.

Since I have done this long enough and often enough to know better.

If I like what I have just done you will eventually get to see what I am working on. If it never improves to the point I like it. You will only know it as the rumor it is at this point.

I love when the flowers start blooming and we celebrate the changes nature shows us every day.

 

I do get to share a design that was just released. My Wild Rose Shawl

It is a Free pattern from Red Heart Yarns

You can find it here

Wildroseshawl

Inspired by natures beauty

here is a detail shot of the shawl

and a flat shot of it.

Just don't hold your breath

After doing my post for the Blog tour I decided I really need to write on my blog more often. This from the woman who can't remember to take her vitamins everyday. I am just lucky I don't have any medication I must take on a regular basis. Though I would like to think that if I really needed to take something I would remember it.

 

That being said, I am going to try and do the once a week post. Maybe I will have Marv set up a reminder on my Kirby alarm. The more bells and whistles reminding me the better.

 

I think it has something to do with the creative mind, that routine things are difficult for us to remember and do. I have yet to meet a truly creative  person who was neat and truly organized. There might be one or two out there like that. Just like I am sure there is a Lochness  monster and Big foot is hiding in the woods. Wonderful to imagine, but I am not likely to ever see or meet one.

 

So I have been working on a few designs for the CGOA Design contest. I enter this contest to challenge myself. To see if I can come up with new and unique ideas each year. It is that creative challenge that keeps me going.

I don't think I would do well just cranking out the same sort of things all the time.  I really do love trying to imagine different ways to combine stitches, threads, beads, techniques to create something that makes someone say WOW!.

 

I blame Marv for creating that addiction. I remember laying out my first filet shawl on the back of the couch to see how it was coming along. When he walked into the room and went WOW! I was hooked on trying to recreate that moment. I have let Marv off the hook, he doesn't have to say that about everything I do. I just try and make others give me that response.

By the way that shawl was the first piece I ever sold as a design. It's in the CGOA pattern line.

 

Hopefully I have made a few people go WOW! since then, and it is my intention and desire to make a few more WOWs!! in my designing career.

I love when ideas take wing

come together

Buds out and

inspire more ideas

and more ideas

that keeps my hook flowing then

Culminate in beauty