photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

But- I am also working on new designs for major projects

that I’ll be going into overdrive

on in the new year.

I have been working away

on a series of designs,

assuming that I was working

on a new book….

BUT…. after having conversations

with other designers about the transitional state

of the publishing industry, I am

going through a major re-think

about how I get this new work

out into the world.

I’ve been publishing designs in magazines and books for more than 35 years, (I’ve lost track of how many books and magazines

my work has been in) and have had 4 books published in the ‘usual’ way (My newest book, The Woven Bag, published by F&W/Krause will be released in February.)

As well, I have been self-publishing my designs and books for just about 10 years now, and have gone through major changes with that process.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Back when I started self publishing,

I used to build the books and

bind them with a coil binder.

When the coil binder died last year,

I bought some new equipment, and

published ‘Rosie Recycle’

as a paperback book, with a centerfold

staple binding.

Whew… what a monster load of work!

And then, I started asking my readers,

~you~

What do you want?

and the answer came back over and over and over: Not paper! PDF!

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

So, I have been self publishing my books

and patterns as PDF’s-

(like the Shadow Scarves pattern at the left)

and it seems to be a very popular choice.

This new collection of work…

I am not  ready to announce

what I am working on ~quite~ yet…

feels like it needs an extra dimension.

And so I am wondering….

would you be interested

in having DVD’s

that are video demonstration

how to tutorials as well as PDF’s?

(These would be purchased, not uploaded to YouTube).

I am still wrestling over whether to release it as a full book, or to sell it in modules so that you can just purchase the designs and patterns and how to’s for the projects that you are interested in?

I’d love to have your feedback… it will help me decide how to move forward with publishing a collection of new work that I am VERY excited about….. please let me know what appeals to you as a crafter and reader! Thanks soooooooooo much!

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

When I was in Portland at the Knit and Crochet Conference , I met a kindred spirit who is doing fabulous work with silk, wool and other natural fibers: Lisa Horner of Purple Lotus Fiber Design. (doesn’t click through yet, sorry)

Lisa dyes ‘Gourmet Art Yarn’.

Rats…. a picture does NOT do it justice….. ah well… imagine great lusciousness!

Lisa doesn’t have her website up yet, but her yarns are available at the most wonderful store:

Abundant Yarns in Portland OR. Wonderful wonderful wonderful!

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

Over the years, lots of great friendships have been formed because of a neat list on yahoo-

the International Freeform group….

Usually on the Friday evening of a conference, the freeformers will get together and it’s always fun….

There’s Bubbly Bonnie and me and darlin’ Pirk!

And gorgeous Myra and wonderful Jorel in her galaxy vest and marvelous Mel wearing colors that she doesn’t usually work with (but it turned out great)

And then we grabbed Margaret and said, “Get into this picture!”

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

One of the people on the freeform list is Beth Boshears. Beth’s bundle of joy and a real sweetie.  It was great fun to finally get to meet her…. and oh no! I didn’t get a pic of her!

Beth blew me right out of the water when she handed me ‘an apple for the teacher’ when she was taking one of my workshops.

It’s wonderful! Look at this…..

It began it’s life as a glasses case, but Beth has re-purposed it by embellishing it with gorgeous crochet, beadwork and embroidery.

And, she’s done the smartest thing inside it:

Isn’t that clever? she’s attached the scissors and needles and bobbins with magnets.

I love it. Thank you Beth!

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

I arrived in Portland on Wed night (Sept 10th) and took the light rail transit into the city from the airport.

I managed to get myself turned totally around, so got completely and frazzlingly lost.

Everyone I asked for directions sent me in a different direction.

arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……… dragging 2 suitcases around Portland at night is not fun!

Eventually, 3 very wonderful young Goth teenagers got me going in the right direction, and then a lovely young woman who was attempting to sign up voters helped

(come on people! You gotta VOTE!)

(I’m Canadian, and we’re in the middle of our own election, and you bet I’ll be voting…. people ~died~ so we can vote!)

um, please excuse that rant…. (but DO vote, ok?)

Anyhow, I FINALLY arrived at the hotel, thank heavens!

On Thursday, I took a workshop-

usually I am teaching in all the slots, so never get to take workshops, so this was a huge treat for me.

The workshop was Myra Wood’s self publishing class, and it was brilliant.

Myra is a genius and a delight and totally fabulous.  Here’s her website: Myra Wood

I taught a workshop in the afternoon, and had camnesia the whole day, so didn’t get pics. Sigh.

On Friday, I met up with my friend, Karen Whooley  (Karen’s blog).

I showed Karen how easy it is to spin with tiny support spindles:

It was such a treat to see Karen really Get It……

Wheeeeeeeeeee! and she took home yarn she had spun.

It’s a pity that the gentleman who took the pics for us didn’t stick around to capture the look of joy on Karen’s face as everthing clicked into place for her.

YAY  Karen!

The thing about spindle spinning, especially spinning with tiny support spindles is that you can get so much spinning done when you have a couple of wee little spindles in your bag.

Bring them out any old time, and away you spin!

Bliss.

This is one of the joyous and serrendipity moments of going to conferences.

Trading knowledge with your friends, and keeping  traditions and heritage crafts alive.

Bliss.

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

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My old binding machine has met the end of it’s days….

A few years ago, I broke off one of the handles when the machine got all hung up…. and now….

sob…. the blasted thing has totally, irrevocably siezed up, while eating one of ‘Our Lady of the Hours’.

How rude.

We both have had serious ‘go’s at it, and we have finally declaared it to be kaput. Defunct. Schmucked.

Ah, the perils of self publishing…..  sigh.

Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay (copyright)

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

and orders 

as well as a note of advice about self publishing: Myra’s class 

Here’s the belt that I designed for the book:

Autumn Leaves:

I made the leaf buckle, too. I  actually made it several times.

First time, I made it in brass.

That didn’t feel right.

Then I realized – this belt is about ~leaves~  Duh!

So I made the buckle in wood, and was really happy with it.

Unfortunately, so was our little dog.  The cats obviously knocked the belt down, because the dog shot past me in his

“I am doing something wicked and I know it and I know that I have to run fast, because as soon as you catch me, you’ll take it away from me’  mode.

I didn’t even bother to try and figure out what just shot past.

I know when he does his wicked run that I have to grab a handful of cat food and run like blazes after him.  He has me well trained.

Anyhow, the little booger managed to get some really solid chomps into the belt buckle.   GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Yes, that was me growling, not him.

So, I re-worked the buckle, and got most of the chomp marks out.  A few of the teeth marks are too deep to sand out, so they are conversation pieces.  grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

When I was designing the leaves for the belt, I went out into the garden and used actual leaves from our trees as the models for the leaf motifs.  Always great to work directly from nature!

The book is just terrific!

You can order it from BELT BOOK

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright 

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

Last summer, at the Knit and Crochet show in Manchester, NH, a group of designers that have become friends over the years got together for lunch.

We decided that we should put together a book and self publish it. It’s taken a lot longer than we expected, but it’s really wonderful.

Crocheted belt book

Here’s the press release:

For the story behind my Autumn Leaves belt and more pics of it: Here’s the link :

Image source: Straight From The Designers’ Hip

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

Over tea, coffee, deserts and great conversation a bunch of designers got together and decided to self publish a book of belt designs.

I posted about that in Press Release.

We’ve learned a lot in the process, so we’re going to keep at it. We’ll be announcing another new book quite soon. Stay tuned!

A note to other designers: We are still in Beta mode, so we’re not accepting design submissions from other designers.

BUT ! We really encourage other designers to try their hand at this, too.

If you want to learn how to self publish, and are going to be near Portland, OR in September, I HIGHLY recommend that you take:

Myra’s class

She’s one of the most delightful people you will EVER have the good fortune to meet, and this class will change your life.

Sign up quickly, because I am willing to bet that it will sell out!

Image source: Straight From The Designers’ Hip

Post from: Hankering for Yarn