A Book Review (Inspiration)

Anyone with small children understands the love/hate relationship that exists towards your local library.

On the one hand: Look at all those FREE BOOKS! Hours of reading new material, books you and your little ones haven't memorized, books with different pictures, and that, if you can't stand them, can easily be slipped back into the Book Deposit slot. Whoops, there goes the horrible one. Let's re-new Chicken Soup With Rice and forget all about "Beep, Beep, Let's Go!", with it's dis-jointed sentence fragments.

On the other hand: Taking small children into a room full of people who are silently reading to themselves amidst hundreds of bookshelves filled with thousands of books and expecting appropriate library behavior is laughable. In our home my children are book monsters. They love to read and they also love to fling the books off the bookshelves (occasionally scaling the side of one. That is, after all, what empty bookshelves are for), rip out pages, throw the books when they're finished, step on them, color in them, decorate the beautiful pages with stickers and even smear their peanut buttery fingers on the cover page. This activity is a noisy sort, and usually involves shrieks, laughter, giggles, and ultimately reprimands. Obviously not even a smidgeon of this behavior is library acceptable.

But last Saturday I had a game plan. My charming husband was working his occasional weekend shift and I was desperate for a book or two. Or three. Actually, four. And so, despite all the reasons not to: I took the boys to the library.

I consider it a success: No one got lost (though there was a dramatic episode involving a toddler running out the door and a mother racing to catch him and the older son having to be left behind.... oh wait, yes, that was us). No one shushed us (though I shushed them), and we had no over-due fees (because I'd paid them last time). And, on top of all this: we got books!

And look at what I managed to snag before the boisterous games of hide-and-seek amongst the nonfiction section started getting too rowdy and drove us to the children's section...

Time for some Crochet Fashion Eye Candy!

Love the scalloped edging on this. It'd be so perfect on the beach!

Perfect top! I returned the books, but I'm going back for this pattern!

Crocheted hammock!? Yes, please.

Looks so cozy- can't wait 'til Autumn.

I'm honestly not sure about this one. I want to like it...

Love this hat!

Dramatic and I Love. It.

Mmm, so much lovely inspiration! There's something incredibly perfect about sitting down with a book of crochet patterns. The internet, often, comes at you too fast. But, lounging indoors on a hazy summer day, lazily flipping the pages of a book. Well. That's worth the chaotic trip to the library.

:)

Have a Lovely Day!
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This Yarn Post Sponsored by: Knit Picks & Cooperative Press

"Hey, Jess, did you know there's a package on the front step?"

Oh baby! Check *this* out!

A package from Knit Picks address to yours truly. 

Knit Picks is the company that is graciously providing the yarn for that project of mine (read about it here, then do a happy dance for me). Thanks, Knit Picks! It's an honor!

Here... it... is! I've never opened a box of yarn before. It's such an exciting experience: worthy of documentation, some happy-dance breaks and much "Yahoo!"-ing as I kissed my sweet one-year-old's cheeks in celebration. He loved it too.

Yarn Love.

Here they are in their snug little basket.

I love this part of the skein the best. The swirly parts. Surely there's a name for it, but you probably have to work in the yarn manufacturing industry to be privy to something so obscure.

Here are my colors, side to side...

...and now vertical.

Dramatic Closing Photograph

And ending the photo essay with another epic shot. 

I'm not at liberty to discuss The Pattern with you all. Tough cookies: you'll just have to buy the book. ;) But I can tell you all about the yarn and have decided to document my creative process by showing how much yarn I have left. 

Here's some quick info on what exactly I have in my basket (for those who fell in love, as I have)

~10 Skeins of Knit Picks' "Dishie" 

8 in Azure... If you check out their website you'll discover that... "Azure is a heraldic blue color that will remind you of a cloudless sky. Its blue color and light purple undertones shine when combined with other neutrals and other luscious blues."  Cloudless sky, much like the gorgeous sky right now. And if you ask *me*, you'll discover that Azure is one of my favorite colors. 

and 2 in Tranquil... "Tranquil is a calming blue green color. If you find the calming turquoise colors of the ocean soothing and enjoyable, then you will love having a sweater knitted out of Tranquil. It’s a beautiful color on its own or for color work."  Gorgeous, gorgeous color! I am in love with turquoise lately (just take a peek at my kitchen... or living room... or most of my shirts and a few of my dresses. Oh, and my glasses too... and very nearly my front door, but I resisted the urge because, really, I have to draw the line somewhere). 

"Dishie" is made of 100% cotton (= eco-friendly!) and is 190 yards/100 grams per skein. Machine Washable and Tumble Low Dry-able. 

So what did I miss. I'll recap...

It's gorgeous

It's affordable

It's eco-friendly

It's durable 

...and I can't wait to get to work!

A Celebratory Happy Dance!

Remember yesterday's post, where I mentioned Cooperative Press having a new book coming out? I presented it as news but didn't go into further detail.

Well.

Nearly a month ago, Cooperative Press had a call for submissions. They were looking for pattern concepts for their book. On a whim, I submitted a couple things I had in my head that hadn't actually made it down on paper and especially not on Etsy. The deadline (September 1) for submissions came and went and I forgot all about it (well, more shrugged it off). 

So, you can imagine my surprise when I went to check my email last Sunday night and discovered that they were "thrilled to have (my) design included in the Fresh Designs Crochet Home Book"! What?? I mean, WOW! 

There followed such a happy dance that I accidently woke up my one year old (and I was much too fluttery to put him back to sleep, so my charming husband did it for me). Even now, nearly a week later, when I think about it I get all heart fluttery (though that could be the coffee I just drank). 

The contract has been thoroughly read by myself and Charming Husband, signed and is going to be driven to the post office for mailing because it's much too important to put in the box outside. It could, ya know, fall out or something. The wind could catch it. 

So they're waiting on my contract and I'm waiting to hear on... yarn support! Yarn support! Just typing it makes me geek out!

Wow, I rambled in this post more than is entirely necessary. But, really, this blog is all about celebrating crochet and I just wanted to share the joy and let you all join in the celebration. 'Cause really, in my humble opinion, the only thing better than crochet is... books. =D

So, have a scroll and let's celebrate!!

Image courtesy of artycho

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Image courtesy of BobbieandLola

Image courtesy of CrochetingforCash

Image courtesy of HauteCinq

Image courtesy of JacquelynVaccaro

Image courtesy of knotworkshop

Image courtesy of littleteawagon

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Want more celebration? Click this link for some good Happy Dancin' music::::

The Dog Days are Over - Florence + The Machine

Have a great weekend, everybody!!