Sunday, September 07, 2008

Skirt and Shrug by Charisse Van Horn


Here is a picture of my daughter in a pink and black crochet skirt and shrug that I designed. I really enjoy making crochet skirts. They are easy to whip up, and with a few simple embellishments you can also convert ponchos into skirts. Some of the crochet skirts I design could very easily be used as ponchos. However, I don't tend to use crochet skirts as ponchos because I love to add fringe and beads to ponchos.

I don't write down patterns, I really should but I am simply too much of a multi tasker (at this stage in my life) and tend to try to crochet as fast and as quickly as I can. I work from home and have two toddlers. Yet, I seem to be able to keep my patterns all in my mind, so that's cool.

When I was younger, I read a book called the Woodstock Craftsman's Manual by Jean Young. The book was a true inspiration to me in regards of breaking away from patterns and letting your own creativity come forth when crafting- no matter what the style. I had once met a woman who made those neat little friendship bracelets, but hers where much more detailed than the four or six strands of woven embroidery floss. When I asked her for some tips, she told me that whatever she feels like doing, she does. She just always makes sure she does it on both sides. After making a series of my own really wild, and intricately designed friendship bracelets, I was hooked on her theory.

So, today, I pretty much use the same philosophy in my skirts. I always start my skirts the same way- with a waistband that I will add buttons to. Here is a picture of one of my skirt waistband's in progress. I like this technique as it is easy to adjust the waist band should the wearer gain or lose weight. :-)

Ok, more to come,

Charisse

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Halloween Crochet Patterns

Halloween is right around the corner and many are getting ready to start on their Halloween crochet patterns. Whether making stuffed candy corns, ghosts, or crocheted pumpkins, there are a number of projects that are perfect for the occasion. Here are some great projects that you can make to decorate your home with.

Halloween Free Patterns Pumpkin Black Cat Witch Ghost Bat Skulls ...

Looking for Halloween theme free patterns? Where to find free crochet patterns on the Web, as well as links to some other types of free craft patterns

There are some great patterns here: both knit and crochet:

thimble » Halloween knit and crochet patterns

Crochet Treat Bag. 7. Small knit pumpkin. 8. Knitted pumpkin bag at MagKnits. 9. Amigurumi Halloween Patterns at Etsy. Posted: October 24th, 2006

Suite 101 has several niche patterns, perfect for Halloween:

Halloween Crochet Patterns—Free & Easy: Crocheted Black Cat ...

These easy Halloween patterns are fun, festive, and whimsical. Make them for the special Trick-or-Treaters in your life. Crochet a ghost, black cat

Here are some great patterns from a variety of sources.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

People who Knit and Crochet May be Healthier and Happier

People Who Knit and Crochet May Be Happier and Healthier

Knitting and crochet enthusiasts are smiling because their hobb ies may have the added benefit of helping their minds and bodies

PRLog (Press Release)Aug 17, 2007 – Manhattan, New York - August 17, 2007 – Have you ever wondered why people who craft yarn into garments always seem to be smiling and happy? It turns out that the repetitive actions needed for knitting and crochet can bring the mind and body to a state called a "relaxation response" that is quite similar to what people experience with techniques such as repetitive prayer, yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, and other relaxation disciplines. Research at the Harvard Medical School Mind/Body Institute has found that when an individual is knitting his/her heart rate can drop 11 beats a minute and his/her blood pressure drops as well. These results can have significant health benefits for people who knit and crochet.

In the U.S. many institutions are taking advantage of these health benefits by incorporating knitting and crochet into the activities that they provide. Gilda's Clubs which offers family cancer support in locations across the U.S., now provide knitting to help with the emotional upheaval of dealing with cancer. At the Duke Diet and Fitness Center, knitting is used to lower stress for its clients. Children and their parents are seeing the benefits of knitting and crochet as well. Grade schools from Oregon to New Jersey have incorporated knitting into their curriculum, not only for the health benefits, but to help build creativity and improve math skills.

"Knitting benefits an individuals emotional and physical health. Knitting can reduce stress in an individual who is trying to manage the severity of their chronic illness. It can also help reduce stress in individuals who lead very hectic lifestlyes."said Gary Scholar, Health & Wellness Consultant to the employees of the American Hospital Association. "I have incorporated knitting classes in my Health & Wellness programs for employees because of the health benefits. I would like to see implemented at Children's hospitals a program to teach sick children how to knit so they have something to keep their minds occupied and be proud of what they have made if they are in the hospital for an extended time,"

A new children's book ANGORA, I'm Knot Just Fluff I'm Always Enough was recently published by Scholar about a bunny who is taught by her mother and grandmother how to knit using magic carrot knitting needles to give her self esteem to dance in her dance recital. The two sequels to the book will be out this fall. www.angorathebunny.com
"For many years we've heard stories and witnessed how knitting and crochet have positively affected people’s lives. We once asked our customers to share their stories of how knitting and crochet have changed their lives on our website, and to date, we’ve received over 500 touching and personal submissions " said Ilana Rabinowitz of Lion Brand Yarn. "It has only been in recent years that studies have brought to light the mental and physical benefits that crochet and knitting enthusiast can look forward to while participating in this wonderful hobby."

For more information on learning to knit and crochet, visit the Lion Brand Web site at http://www.lionbrand.com

Media contact:
Ilana Rabinowitz
(201) 804-3999
Ilana@lionbrand.com

# # #

About Lion Brand Yarn Company
Lion Brand Yarn Company is a 129-year-old entity and is America's oldest hand knitting yarn brand. Founded in 1878, the company began operation in New York and has been a leading supplier of quality hand knitting and crochet yarns ever since. Throughout its history, Lion Brand Yarn has been at the forefront of yarn trends while consistently providing its customers with the highest quality product, service and inspiration.

Vanna White

Vanna White

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Jump to: navigation, search
Vanna White
Born Vanna Marie Rosich
February 18, 1957 (1957-02-18) (age 51)
North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States
Occupation Game show co-host[1]
Spouse(s) George Santo Pietro 1991-2002

Vanna White (born February 18, 1957) is an American television personality, best known as puzzle-board presenter and co-host on the long-running game show Wheel of Fortune.

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[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

White was born Vanna Marie Rosich in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the daughter of Joan Marie and Miguel Angel Rosich.[2] Her family is of Croatian and Polish background.[citation needed] White took the name of her stepfather, Herbert Stackley White Jr., a former real estate agent in North Myrtle Beach. One of White's ancestors, whose last name was Barnes, was one of the first mayors of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico.[citation needed] She is the niece of actor Christopher George.[citation needed]

White's first car, a gift from her father, was a metallic blue 1972 "Marathon Edition" Volkswagen Beetle. Vanna's father reportedly encouraged her to consider other makes and models of cars, but Vanna held firm. She desired the car due to the corporate initials of Volkswagen AG being the same as her own: VW. A picture of Vanna's Bug was featured in a summer 2007 episode of "Wheel Of Fortune," in which she revisited her childhood hometown.

[edit] Television career

The handprints of White in front of Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.
The handprints of White in front of Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.

White's first national television appearance came on the June 20, 1980 episode of the seminal game show The Price Is Right, in which she was among the first four contestants to "come on down." She did not make it onstage, but the clip of her running to Contestants' Row would be rebroadcast as part of The Price Is Right 25th Anniversary Special in August 1996 and also would be featured on the special broadcast Game Show Moments Gone Bananas. Two years later, White auditioned to become the letter-turning assistant on Wheel of Fortune, a job that Susan Stafford recently had vacated. Producer Merv Griffin selected her over two other finalists, and her first episode as Pat Sajak's assistant presenter aired December 13, 1982. White remained with the daytime version of Wheel until its cancellation in 1991.

White's popularity soared after the primetime version of Wheel made its debut in September 1983. Within a year, Wheel was the highest-rated syndicated program on broadcast television, in large part because of "Vannamania". Her 1987 autobiography, Vanna Speaks!, was a best-seller.[3] Also in 1987, she was featured in a Playboy pictorial, showing photos taken of her (prior to her career on Wheel of Fortune) wearing see-through lingerie.

White is the subject of "Weird Al" Yankovic's 1988 song, "Stuck in a Closet With Vanna White". In 1989, she appeared in the NBC television movie Goddess of Love, in which she played Venus. The film was panned universally by critics, with TV Guide joking that White's acting was "wheely" bad.

White also has made cameo appearances on television shows such as Married... with Children, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, 227 and Full House, movies such as Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult, and served as guest timekeeper for WrestleMania IV. In 1992, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized White as "television's most frequent clapper." On April 20, 2006, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

White's name, well known due to the success of "Wheel," is mentioned in the rapper Nelly's hit song "Ride Wit Me" which reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. -- 'I'm gettin' pages out of New Jersey, from Courtney B. / Tellin' me about a party up in NYC / Can I make it? Damn right, I be on the next flight / Payin' cash; first class - sittin' next to Vanna White.

[edit] Personal life

White dated Playgirl centerfold/Chippendales-dancer-turned-actor John Gibson in the 1980s, and they eventually became engaged. The relationship came to a tragic end in 1986 when Gibson was killed in a plane crash. White divorced her husband of 11 years, George Santo Pietro, in November 2002, maintaining custody of their two young children, Nicholas and Giovanna. From 2004 to 2006, she was engaged to businessman Michael Kaye, senior partner in a large leveraged buyout (LBO) fund based in southern California.

[edit] Litigation

In 1993, White won a lawsuit against the Samsung Electronics corporation over its use of a humorous ad featuring a robot turning letters on a game show. The decision later was affirmed by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The issue was over the property right to publicity. The court ruled in favor of White's claim of a right to her property of publicity. The case has been criticized widely by property lawyers who cite the dissenting opinion of Judge Alex Kozinski after the denial of a rehearing en banc, which stated, among other things, that, "Overprotecting intellectual property is as harmful as underprotecting it. Creativity is impossible without a rich public domain. Nothing today, likely nothing since we tamed fire, is genuinely new: Culture, like science and technology, grows by accretion, each new creator building on the works of those who came before. Overprotection stifles the very creative forces it's supposed to nurture".[4]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Preceded by
Susan Stafford
Hostess of Wheel of Fortune (daytime)
December 13, 1982September 20, 1991
Succeeded by
Cancelled
Preceded by
none
Hostess of Wheel of Fortune (syndicated)
September 19, 1983–present
Succeeded by
incumbent

Karen Allen Fiber Arts


I just posted an article regarding Karen Allen. She is a famous American Actress, but has started her own Fiber Arts company. She is a highly accomplished artisan, focusing on knitting. Here is a link to her site: Karen Allen Fiber Arts I am sure you will be impressed with the beauty of her craft.











Photo Credit: Lisa Levart

Karen Allen

Karen Allen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Karen Allen

Allen at the 2006 Dallas Comic Con
Born Karen Jane Allen
October 5, 1951 (1951-10-05) (age 56)
Carrollton, Illinois, United States
Years active 1978–present
Spouse(s) Kale Browne (1988–1998)

Karen Jane Allen (born October 5, 1951) is an American actress, best known for her role as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).[1] Allen has also had roles in the films National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), Split Image (1982), Starman (1984), Scrooged (1988), The Sandlot (1993) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), where she reprised her role as Marion Ravenwood.

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[hide]

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Allen was born in Carrollton, rural western Illinois, the daughter of Patricia A. (née Howell), a teacher, and Carroll Thompson Allen, an FBI agent.[2] Allen spent her first 10 years traveling around the country with her parents and two sisters. After graduating from DuVal Senior High School, in Lanham, Maryland at 17, she moved to New York City to study art and design at Fashion Institute of Technology. She later attended the University of Maryland, College Park and spent time traveling through South and Central America. In 1974, Allen joined a theater group and three years later moved back to New York City and studied at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute.

[edit] Career

In 1978, Allen made her major film debut in National Lampoon's Animal House. Her next two film appearances were in The Wanderers in 1979 and A Small Circle of Friends in 1980, where she played one of three radical college students during the 1960s. She also appeared (as a guest star) in the 1979 pilot episode of the long-running CBS series Knots Landing.

Her career-changing role came with the blockbuster hit Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), directed by Steven Spielberg, in which she played the feisty heroine Marion Ravenwood, love interest of Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford). Allen won a Saturn Award for Best Actress for her performance.

Allen debuted on Broadway in the 1982 production The Monday After The Miracle. After a few small films, including the leading role in the Paris-set romantic drama Until September (1984), directed by Richard Marquand, and other stage appearances, she co-starred with Jeff Bridges in the science-fiction film Starman (1984).

She often took breaks from movie roles to concentrate on stage acting, though in 1987, Allen appeared as Laura in the Paul Newman directed film version of the Tennessee Williams play "The Glass Menagerie" with John Malkovich and Joanne Woodward.

A year later, Allen returned to the big screen as Bill Murray's long-lost love Claire in the Christmas comedy Scrooged. In 1990, she portrayed the doomed crew member Christa McAuliffe in the controversial television movie Challenger, based on the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

Allen subsequently appeared in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992), in a small supporting role in The Perfect Storm (2000) and In the Bedroom (2001). She made guest appearances on television's Law & Order (1996) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2001). She had also starred in the short-lived series The Road Home (1994) and portrayed Dr. Clare Burton in the video game Ripper (1996).

Allen reprised her best-known role as Marion Ravenwood for the 2008 sequel Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, in which she renews her relationship with Indiana Jones and reveals to him that they have a son named Mutt Williams, played by Shia LaBeouf.

An unsolicited script by Irish screenwriter Brad Hansen for a sequel to the film Starman was written in 1998, but remains unproduced. Jeff Bridges expressed an interest in reprising the title role, and is heard stating this on the Starman DVD commentary.

[edit] Personal life

In 1988, Allen married actor Kale Browne, who portrayed Christa McAuliffe's husband, Steven, in Challenger, and gave birth to a son, Nicholas, in 1990. The couple divorced in 1998.

After giving birth, Allen accepted smaller roles in TV and films in order to concentrate on raising Nicholas. Given her affinity for knitting, in 2003 she started her own textile company, "Karen Allen Fiber Arts," in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. She also teaches acting at Bard College at Simon's Rock, which is located in Great Barrington.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Persondata
NAME Allen, Karen
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION actor
DATE OF BIRTH October 5, 1951
PLACE OF BIRTH Carrollton, Illinois, United States
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH

Thursday, August 28, 2008

New Crochet Pattern

I've been working on a beautiful crochet skirt for my daughter. She is a size 4t and the pattern is so simple. I chain 90 stitches then single crochet in rounds. I never join the beginning waistband because I like to add buttons when the skirt is finished. After I work the waistband to the thickness I like, I increase every five stitches. 90/5 =18, so my increases is just two sc, in each fifth stitch. This makes the skirt have a very nice puff to it, or fullness.
Then, I just let my imagination go to work, and if I need to increase, I just increase on every fifth stitch. My patterns never have more of a format than what I've listed.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Easy Crochet Patterns

When it comes to finding easy crochet patterns, you'll quickly realize that the Internet has plenty of options available. I have posted numerous (I mean numerous) links to easy crochet patterns on Crochet Hookers that are perfect for beginners. One of the things that I love most about crochet is the fact that once you master the chain and single crochet stitch, you can begin making projects. You might need to spend some time developing your technique and tension, but when it comes right down to it, crochet is one of the easier crafts, with the advantage of learning a few simple stitches and then being able to make beautiful garments.

Another aspect of crochet and finding easy crochet patterns is that you don't need a lot of equipment for crochet. It's portable, easy to travel, and all you need is a hook and a ball of yarn and within a relatively short period of time you can create wonderful items. Some of the simplest and easiest crochet projects that I've done took hours. However, if you devote one weekend to creating a crochet project, you'll be amazed at what you can complete.

Here are some fun and easy crochet projects that you can finish in a weekend's worth of time.

  • Crochet Headbands
  • Crochet Balls
  • Baby Blankets
  • Scarves
  • Scrunchies
  • Pot Holders
  • Slippers
  • Crochet Hats
  • Doilies
  • Baby Booties

Here are some links to easy patterns that you can use to create these items.

Headband Free Crochet Patterns
Headband Free Crochet Patterns. ... A list of links to free patterns for a variety of crocheted headbands. ... Free Patterns For Headbands ...

Crochet Pattern Central - Free Hair Accessories Crochet Pattern Links
Free, online hair accessories crochet patterns. ... Patterns preceded by an asterisk (*) are in PDF format. ... Pink Ice Beaded Headband and Wristcuffs

Crochet Pattern Central - Free Toy Crochet Pattern Links
Free, online toy crochet patterns. ... Patterns preceded by an plus sign (+) require registration before viewing. ... +Hackysack-Style Juggling Balls

Crocheted Ball - Free Crochet Pattern (This is really pretty and would even make a great gift- create a set of them!)
Free crochet pattern to make a soft, crocheted ball for children

Crochet Pattern Central - Free Baby Afghan Crochet Pattern Links
Free, online baby afghan crochet patterns. ... Easy Double Crochet Baby Blanket ? Edgings for Flannel Baby Blankets ? Emma's Baby Afghan ? Fast Baby Blanket

Free Baby Afghan Patterns
Free Baby Afghan Patterns. Links to free crochet baby blanket patterns. ... At About Crochet (this site): The stitch pattern in this baby blanket moves

Free Patterns For Crocheted Scarves
A list of web pages that contain free patterns for crochet scarves.

Crochet Pattern Central - Free Scarves Crochet Pattern Links
Free, online scarf crochet patterns. ... Patterns preceded by an plus sign (+) require registration before viewing. +"On the Fringe" Fringed Mobius Scarf

Scrunchie Patterns
Scrunchie Patterns. Links to free hair scrunchie crochet patterns. Curlique Scrunchie - Crochet Pattern You can learn how a crocheted curlique is made while

Crochet Pattern Central - Free Scrunchie Crochet Pattern Links
Free, online scrunchie crochet patterns. ... Patterns preceded by an plus sign (+) require registration before viewing.

Crochet Pattern Central - Free Potholders and Hotpad Crochet ...
Free, online potholder and hotpad crochet patterns.

Crochet Pattern Central - Free, Online Crochet Pattern Directory
... of Categorized Links to Free, Online Crochet Patterns ... Potholders and Hot Pads Preemie Crochet Religious Crochet ... See what's new at Crochet Pattern Central.

Crochet Pattern Central - Free Slipper Crochet Pattern Links
Free, online slipper crochet patterns. ... Patterns preceded by an plus sign (+) require registration before viewing

Crocheted Slippers Pattern (This is a really nice pair, definitely worth gift giving!)
Crocheted Slippers Pattern in a moccasin style. ... If you find these slippers a little too big for a size 6, see below for tips from Steve

Crochet Pattern Central - Free Hat Crochet Pattern Links
Free, online hat crochet patterns. ... Patterns preceded by an plus sign (+) require registration before viewing. +"Mushroom" Cap

Head Huggers: Patterns List (This site has awesome, easy patterns, but you won't poke around the site long before you're moved to crochet for charity!)
Crochet Patterns. 1, Easy Single Crochet Hat ? photo. 2, Homespun Hat Pattern ? photo. 3, Double Crochet Hat Pattern ? photo. 4, Joan Peters' Crochet Hat

Doily Free Patterns
Links to free patterns for crocheted doilies; many types, even vintage and the crochet ... Learn How Crochet Basics Resources and Very Easy Beginner

Easy Crochet Doily - Craftbits.com Craft Project
Easy Crochet Doily craft project, Free Craft Projects, Ideas, Crafts, Kids, Kids lesson plans, Wedding Crafts, Candle and Soap Making, Scrapbook, Crochet, Knitting Patterns, Craft ...

Baby Bibs and Booties Patterns
Links to free patterns for baby bibs and for baby booties. ... Learn How Crochet Basics Resources and Very Easy Beginner

Bev's Very Easy Booties (If you crochet then you must visit Bev's site. She has so many wonderful patterns listed on her site, I can get lost there for hours!)
Free crocheted booties, Newborn booties, Free crochet patterns, ... CLICK to make a Matching Hat for a baby you love. Bev's VERY Easy Preemie Booties

St Patrick's Day Women's Sweater. Save $50.