H.........ow to publish your own book!

In the "information age", it's easier than ever to see yourself in print. Recently I compiled a small book with the help of Blurb, a free download of templates, and opportunities to have your work published. Mine is a 40 page, full color, 7"x 7" paper bound book that came off this "Vanity Press" for about $10.00 a copy. The many types of templates allow you to print your own photos, edit your own copy, a choose a variety of styles. Pages can be all pictures, all print, or a combination. It even has an ISBN number! Mine was just recently reviewed by a professor of creative writing on her blog. You can see her review at
http://thefearlessblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/confessions-from-crazed-crafter-by.html

To make your own, just log onto http://www.blurb.com/create/book/photobook and download the templates. Pictures can be slurped in from your own computer, flickr, or several other sources. You can write as little or as much as you want and super computer skills are not needed. My only advice to you is take your time, and have fun!! You can also make small books through Kodak or other photography sites.

Although this is more of an encouragement than a "how-to", I hope it will inspire many of you to take the plunge. Who knows? One of us may be famous some day!

A.........cronyms Part II

Please meet the CEO of Peacox Creations! My dear, CTH (crochet tolerant husband), was so dubbed because when I sell at craft shows he carries everything out! A dear friend overheard this acronym at a quilt show, but all the rest of the acronyms in this post come from fellow
CPers (the Crochet Partners group on Yahoo). Actually, he's practicing for the next show September 6 and 7, at Trimborn Farms in Milwaukee. He may be carrying PIGS (see post below), PILLs (projects I've lost lately), or perhaps NTBFUFOs (never to be finished unfinished projects). Your guess is as good as mine!
We knitters and crocheters also have two fun words for an un-fun task: ripping out our work. TINK (knit spelled backwards) is used when we take out a few stitches and FROG is when we really have to "Rip-it, rip-it, rip-it". I've been known to FROG an entire afghan!

Here are a few more acronyms you may enjoy:

WIP.........work in progress
WIM........work in mind
PNB.........pine needle basket (I use that one alot!)
SEX.........stash enhancement experience (enjoyed by all the quilters I know!)
YMMV...yarn mileage may vary
OOAK.....one of a kind

Please join us for our next episode when we discuss syndromes!

F.........rom the flower comes the fruit!

For those of you who enjoyed the flower scrubbies, here are the fruits that follow! As my kitchen is decorated with apples and pears, these are a logical choice. They are strong enough to help with pots and pans and yet don't scratch the dishes. I'll be working on a peach soon. Then maybe we can have a "peach of a pear"!

C.........amille has a contest!

So this is why Camille didn't turn around yesterday! She was hiding the prize for her contest! Camille is giving away two scrubbies! All you have to do is post another fun idea for Camille on the blog, and I'll have a friend pick the best idea. It could be a suggestion for an adventure, a good way to market her, some fun colors for her next "chameleon" change, or anything else that pops into your head! After the choice is made, she'll draw another suggestion at random from the list. Both of you will receive a free scrubbie soon in the mail. The contest ends tomorrow afternoon! She's "hopping" to get many suggestions!

S.........crubbie/dishcloth Part 1:

For many years, I have loved using handmade dishcloths and nylon net scrubbies. Finally, it hit me that I could combine them and make the most useful dishcloth ever! For those of you who crochet, this mini-tutorial may give you all the directions you need. The complete pattern and finished dishcloths are also available on my etsy site in the right hand column.You need about 7 yards of nylon netting cut into two inch strips. One purchase of the netting which is 72" wide will give you many scrubbies. With an "I" crochet hook make a loop. I crochet loosely, so you may want a "J" or "K" hook. Single crochet three rows, increasing as needed to lie flat. It should be about 3" in diameter. Finish off. You now have a very useful scrubbie as is. If you wish to continue with the dishcloth, see the post below!

S.........crubbie/dishcloth part 2:

Once you've decided to continue with the dishcloth, using the same size hook, crochet a row of single crochet around, using cotton yarn in a variegated color, increasing as needed to stay flat. Then add three rows of double crochet, again, increasing as needed. Then with a solid color, add a row of single crochet, also increasing, and finish with a final row of loops of chain stitches and single crochet. You have produced a scrubbie/dishcloth that can be machine washed and dried that will serve you for a long time, getting dishes ready for the dishwasher, cleaning tables and counters, and doing dishes by hand, getting off stuck on food while not scratching dishes!