Ohhhhhhh, I am probably going to regret posting this photo…. but I’ll go ahead anyhow…. and blush….

This ……….

is a shot of my studio, taken from my computer desk,

looking across at  my design desks.

They are totally out of control right now.

I have just finished launching 2 self published books,

Rosie Recycle Dolls and Spooligarumi,

and am going like blazes on the next one……

as well as getting up to speed with Hankering for Yarn.

Because I have so many balls up in the air, things have just heaped up to the point of- ‘aaaaaaggggghhhhhhhh’

here in the studio….

So, when I read about Diane Dobson-Barton’s new book: Creative Clutter Control, I thought… oh yes!

Diane Dobson-Barton is an artist, so she knows the creative personality from the inside out!

Creative Clutter Control is written with humor and insight and is really well thought out.

I highly recommend it! And am going to work with many of her suggestions.

Now, you already know that Diane has kindly offered a copy of Creative Clutter Control as a prize - you saw the title to this entry!

How to win?

Leave an entry, and post a comment about your Creative Clutter !

The contest starts now and runs until March 22.

Who can enter? Anyone, anywhere.

Good luck!

Now… to deal with some of this clutter….

(photograph by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright)

I just posted about the  crocheted compassion cap Knots of Love kit  that Laurel Hill is kindly donating to one of the  readers of Hankering for Yarn.

And, now I am pleased to offer a second contest, courtesy of

Knots of Love and Laurel Hill.

This contest is for a compassionate knitter.

The prize is one of Laurel Hill’s

knitted compassion cap kits

How do you win?

Simple, post a comment, telling me to  whom you would donate  the compassion cap that you will knit from this kit.

The contest begins now and closes on March 17th.

It is open to citizens of Canada and the United States.

(image source: drawing by Noreen Crone-Findlay. Copyright, not to be used without permission)

Some kinds of synchronicity are really neat. Others are more poignant.

I received a note the other day from Christine Shively at Knots of Love,  telling me about the chemo cap kits that they are now working with Laurel Hill to create.

‘Great!’, I thought, knowing how many people’s lives are being radically altered by cancer in their family or among their friends.

Then, a few days later, I received a note from a dear friend, saying that she is now facing the challenges of cancer. 

I immediately went into prayer, visualization, breath work and healing imagery mode for her.

Her family and friends have set up a support network for her through a website that might be of  use to other people.

I know that when we were being caregivers, it would have been very helpful.

It’s the Lotsa Helping Hands website.  I hope you never need it, but if you do, it’s wonderful.

People ~WANT~ to help other people who are going through the difficulties of the treatment process.

When my cousin was having radiation and chemo, she found wearing a wig to be too uncomfortable to bear. Soft caps are such a good alternative!

Christine Shively has set up her foundation, Knots of Love, to help get lots of caps into the hands of people who will be benefited by them.

She, and the lovely folks at Laurel Hill have graciously offered

a   Crochet Kit as a prize

to celebrate the launch of Bliss Tree.

And… they are also offering a Knitted compassion cap kit as a prize as well.

How to win?

  Leave me a comment, and let me know where you would donate the crocheted cap you create with this kit.

The contest will run from now until March 17th.

(image source: drawing by Noreen Crone-Findlay. Copyright, not to be used without permission)

Last week, to celebrate returning to Hankering for Yarn, and to also celebrate the launch of Bliss Tree, I announced a contest… Celebration Contest

I asked people to list off everything- and I REALLY DID MEAN  E V E R Y T H I N G - in this photo.

21 people left comments (thanks everyone - big hugs & waves)

But….

Guess what?

Nobody guessed E V E R Y T H I N G!

Alright….now don’t hate me for this….

this was a game in creativity, after all…..

Here’s the list of    E V E R Y T H I N G in the photo:

1. The table!  There is a table holding E V E R Y T H I N G up!

2: The blue shawl on top of the table, under the

3: Knitted lace shawl (from wool I handspun)

4: Ball of handspun yarn (yep, I spun it)

5:  The Blessing Hand (I loved the way different people described it! I bought it at a garage sale, and it was plain brown. So, I painted it to make it look more the way I thought it deserved to)

6: Rigid Heddle - Boy was that ever a bearcat to make.  That’s the Minoan Goddess of the Bees burned on. I’ve only ever made a couple of rigid heddles, and there’s a reason why.  erg.

7: Top whorl spindle. Yes, that IS a chopstick glued into a toy wheel and  burned. And, it works great!

8: Nostepinne: Jim turned her for me and I burned her.

9: Bobbin that Jim turned, and I burned. Jim made me a spectacularly beautiful boat shuttle for my birthday a few years ago. I had taken a weaving workshop and came home all wistful because one of the other women had a wooden bobbin for her shuttle. He not only turned me a bunch of bobbins, but made me the boat shuttle, too…. he is amazing and wonderful.

10: Spool knitter- I adapted a purchased wooden spool to make this spool knitter, and it’s very nice to spool knit with.

11: Knitting needles: About 20 years ago, I bought a couple of pens that had little Matroushka dolls on the top of them. I cut the dolls off, and drilled, oh so carefully, into them. I cut the knobs off a pair of bamboo needles and inserted them into the Matroushka dolls. They have really faded, but I still love them.

12: A tatting shuttle that I carved at least 20 years ago…. I don’t make this style of tatting shuttle anymore, as I have far too much fun making the sculptural tatting shuttles that I am focused on now.

13: Handcarved crochet hook. I carved this one a couple of years ago.

So, you see, nobody got everything…. but several people got ALMOST everything.

I decided that we would draw for 2 winners…. one to celebrate my homecoming to Hankering for Yarn                               (I LOVE being home on H4Y!) and one to celebrate the launch of Bliss Tree.

I didn’t tell what the prizes were.

The winners will get their pick of either of these patterns:

pdf pattern for 7 different hats  woven on the potholder loom

OR

pdf pattern for the Knitted Lily Doll.

Lily is one of my most favorite dolls that I have ever designed.

And, now…. drumrolls please, the winners are (according to the numbers: #6 and #15)

That would be Pirk and Debbie!

Congratulations Pirk and Debbie and I hope you will enjoy your goodies.

(You get to choose which one you want)

Thanks again to everyone who entered.

I’ll be emailing Pirk and Debbie asap.

I will be having more contests to celebrate the launch, so stay tuned!

(image source: photos by Noreen Crone-Findlay. Copyright, not to be used without permission)

Last October, because of a number of factors, I decided that I would leave Hankering for Yarn. I grieved it and missed Hankering for Yarn, and the community of readers, terribly! So, when recently, I was invited to return to b5 media and begin writing Hankering for Yarn again, I was delighted.

There have been a heap of changes and I am soooooooooooo excited to be part of the new direction !

One of the biggest changes is that Hankering for Yarn will soon be part of Bliss Tree, which is an oh so nifty website/community.  I am looking forward to seeing how this all unfolds!

I have all sorts of ideas and plans for Hankering for Yarn, so stay tuned!

I will be playing with all things yarn:

Which is why I combined all those things in the picture.

If you can tell me what everything in the picture is, leave a comment in the comments section below, and you’ll win a prize!

Alrighty… you have until Tues March 10 to list off everything in the pic, and tell me what it’s for….

and yes…. there is a  mystery object in the picture…. let’s see if anyone gets it!  LOL!

I feel like I have come home again…..  I am happy dancing! Won’t you join me?

Thank you so much everyone who has posted so far…. I had planned on masking the answers, but woke up this morning to discover that answers were showing up….. oops!
That really ticked one reader off, ~sorrrrrrrrrrry~
SO - being a very creative hoppitty bunny, I am going to award MORE than one prize!
Alrighty?

(image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright)

Attention, aspiring designers! AslanTrends has announced their first knitting challenge 2009.

I’m giving you this much notice (you have until August 10 to get your entry forms and items submitted) because you’ll need to plan; plans may change; you might need to start over, etc.

You can enter in one of two categories:

• Full-size garments or afghans
• Accessories-sized hats, scarves, bags, baby blankets

What can you win? Prizes include cash, yarn and a year’s subscription to Vogue Knitting magazine.

Visit the AslanTrends site for entry forms and official rules to the contest. Good luck!

Image: stock.xchng

Over at Junk Creation, enter the final Christmas for Crafters giveaway to win a cool prize package valued at $75.

Crafty people often have varied interests, so this may be just the prize you’re looking to win. All you have to do is leave a comment, so hop on over to Peggy’s blog (it’s called Junk Creation, but the crafts she does there are far from being junk!) and enter today.

 Bloggy giveaway carnival time is over…..

The other day, I posted about the Hedgehog Tatting Shuttles that I have just designed and am now making.

Well……

I  offered one of my  Hedgehog Tatting Shuttles (one of a kind, handmade by me) as a prize in the bloggy giveaway carnival!

ANd the winner is #60, Nicole - congratulations! Hope you will enjoy it!

and make sure you leave a valid email address. 

The Contest  is now closed.

Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
Please note: I am no longer writing hankering for yarn. You can catch up with me at www.tottietalkscrafts.com

 Bloggy giveaway carnival is over….

This red color cord is  Kreinik’s 3/8″ Trim with wire embellishment cord.

You can make all kinds of wonderful jewelry and other crafts with it. I love it and am so pleased that the lovely folks at Kreinik gave this to me for the contest!

Michelle, who was #23 in the comments  won this prize

Congratulations!

The contest is now over……

Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I am no longer writing hankering for yarn. You can catch up with me at www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Bloggy giveaway carnival is over….

This gold color cord is  Kreinik’s 3/8″ Trim with wire embellishment cord.

You can make all kinds of wonderful jewelry and other crafts with it. I love it and am so pleased that the lovely folks at Kreinik have given this to me to  give to you!

Jenna, who was #31 in the comments  won this prize

Congratulations!

The contest is now over……

Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I am no longer writing hankering for yarn. You can catch up with me at www.tottietalkscrafts.com