I was interviewed last night by Global News, here in Edmonton.

I was talking about how the theft of copper has impacted us personally during a town hall meeting last night. I was the only member of the public. The rest were EPS/RCMP, scrap metal dealers and anti-theft prevention people.

Look for the Noon News Hour, July 28th.

http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/index.html?releasePID=kpC5YORzBolQ5JNpc1GeUOhH_7BVSlZs

Cora

Lion Brand has a new KAL/CAL starting up...

This one is around charities. So read on and check it out.

Cora

Give Back with Our Charity Knit and Crochet-Along Summer is the perfect time to make something for those in need

Charity is part of our lives so we would like to include a virtual charity event instead of our regular knit and crochet-along. Join us in giving back to others by working on a charity project together and following along on our blog, the Lion Brand Notebook. In the next few weeks, join us as you: Pick a charity and gather materials Set your goals Share your progress with yarncrafters around the world Send off your finished contributions Click here to read the rest of this intro post, and share your comments at the bottom of the screen. Then click here to read this week's post on tips on gathering your materials. To find a charity you would like to work with, click here to visit our Charity Connection. You can also check out the organizations we have featured here in the newsletter as part of our Charity of the Month series, by clicking here.

Flower of the Week

Flower of the Week Crochet Narcissus

Click for the Crochet Narcissus

Did you know that Lion Brand has Video Clips on You Tube?

Neither did I, so check these out. Cora Learn New Skills with Video Clips from Lion Brand

Visit the Lion Brand YouTube channel for how-to videos, introductions to new techniques, fun knitting and crochet-inspired art, fashion shows, and so much more. Share the joys of knitting with someone or expand your skill set with our latest series of basic knitting skills.

Knitting Moments A favorite story by Michelle Edwards

It all began when we were living in St Paul Minnesota and my oldest daughter was taking a summer art course at the Minneapolis Art Institute across the river and through numerous long red lights and road detours and delays. Knitting Time, I thought. My knitting is always on the floor of the passenger seat, at the ready. I carried the most portable of my stop and go projects...socks on four needles in the car, on my lap. I could knit 8, 9, 10 stitches and when the light turned green or the road worker waved us on, I dropped the knitting back on my lap, ready for the next knitting moment. Check out here for more of the story.

I really enjoyed reading this story and I hope you do too.

Cora

6 Sock Patterns for the Whole Family

6 Sock Patterns for the Whole Family Fast projects, perfect for on-the-go knitting and crocheting

Knit Basic Socks Knit Child's Striped Socks Knit Boot Socks Knit Luscious Lounge Socks Crochet Child's Spike Stitch Socks Knit Men's Business Casual Socks

Harmony Guides are a great investment for those who design.

Harmony Guides Help You Crochet a Finished Object Maybe you're not like me. Maybe your gauge is always spot on and the vision you have for your garment works perfectly. Maybe you don't have a box of false starts and “Good golly, what was I thinking?” portions of garments. Maybe you don't have things that are too big / too small / just plain unwearable. Well, I've got them. And when I finally admit that the thing just isn't working, sometimes I rip it back to a ball right away. And sometimes I stuff it in the Denial Drawer. Deep inside. And the balance is again tipped between unfinished objects (UFOs) and finished objects (FOs). A recent Feng Shui unearthed a vast expanse of knitted purple fabric that I recalled, after a moment, wanted to be a guernsey back in the day. It was HUGE—I don't know what I was thinking. But the texture is very intriguing and I can see why I didn't rip it back to its essence. It wasn't going to be a sweater, at least not for me. But, it would make a good kid-size blanket, if it were jazzed up a bit. It was time to remedy the balance: this UFO could become an FO, with a little help. Enter Harmony: specifically The Harmony Guides: Crochet Edgings and Trims, hot off the press. I flipped through, entranced by the feathery fronds of the Clematis, the bobbly Bullion Stitch Balls, the elegant Picots with Chain Texture. After perusing every one of the 150 possible edgings—twice—I settled upon the Simple Shell Edging. This is a two-row edging, with the first being a base row of single crochet. Because the edges of my knitted swath are pretty even and stable, I was able to make it even simpler: I eliminated the base row. So I just commenced crocheting green shells around the purple swath until my UFO became an FO—just a different FO. And now all is harmonious: I have one less item in my stash of “good gollies” and Project Linus has one more item in its stash of blankets. Go ahead—let a little Harmony into your life, too! Best, Marcy Over on CrochetMe: On the blog: Xenobia Baily's Crocheted art. On the Forums: Share how you turned a UFO into an FO.

Marcy Smith is the Editor of Interweave Crochet Magazine More at crochetme.com • Forums • Blogs • Free Stuff Was this email forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe

The Newest Addition to the Harmony Guides Family: Crochet Edgings and Trims Crochet Edgings & Trims is the go-to resource for finishing stitches, with 150 stitches to choose from. This book provides you with a resource to help you add a personal touch to your designs, regardless of your skill level. Pick a lace edging for a feminine cardigan. Or, design your own scarf with a unique sittch edging for original style. Crochet Edgings and Trims is the perfect portable one-stop source for stitch inspiration. Now Available!

Are you looking for some inexpensive crafts for the kitchen? Check thes out....

	Good Morning Fellow Crafter, Are you looking to decorate or redecorate your kitchen on a budget? Need a new dishcloth or a set of attractive placemats but don't want to spend a lot of money? This collection of 39 Low-Cost Kitchen Crafts can help! Let these kitchen decor ideas spark your creativity. Quick and easy painting projects will help you update kitchen tems you already own, or you can create something from scratch with low-cost materials. Find free patterns for sewing, cross-stitch, knitting and crochet to create decorative or handy kitchen items. Add finishing touches to your kitchen with fun fridge magnets or a decorative clock. Happy crafting! -Caley, FaveCrafts.com Editor P.S. I love to craft, but you knew that. Avon has a new program to help us crafters earn from home and online. To learn more about becoming an Avon representative and paying for those Christmas crafts, check it out!
	39 Low-Cost Kitchen Crafts
	Kitchen Decorating Ideas:
	Bistro Window Sign Cheery Kitchen Cornic Rooster Mosaic (shown) Rustic Country Chicken Figurines Spices Girls of the Old World Plastic Cup Vase Silk Flower Arrangement
	Kitchen Crochet Patterns:
	Easy Oven Mitts (shown) Crochet Springtime Cloth Easy Checkerboard Placemat Crochet Stash Baskets
	Kitchen Knitting Patterns:
	Felted Knit Coffee Cozies Rugged Camper Cooking Set (shown) Easy Knit Dishcloths Felted Teapot Cozy
	Kitchen Cross Stitch and Sewing Patterns:
	Waste Canvas Place Mats Cherries Cross-Stitch Oven Pad (shown) Cherries Cross-Stitch Tea Bag Embellish a Tea Towel Little Black Dress Apron Pretty Mom Apron
	Easy Kitchen Painting Projects:
	Painted Pots for the Kitchen Spotted Tumblers (shown) Swirls of Spring Plate Fruit Serving Tray Cokctail Serving Tray Funky Pitcher and Glasses
	Kitchen Organization Crafts:
	Garden Ladybug Memo Board Colorful Message Board Magnet Board with Matching Magnets Strawberry Recipe Box (shown)
	Kitchen Clock Crafts:
	Paper Art Clock (shown) Classic Scroll Clock Wood Button Clock
	Fridge Magnet Crafts:
	Cosmic Orange Magnet Flet Watering Can Magnet with Flowers Vintage Refrigerator Magnets (shown) Beeswax Magnet Photo Fabric Button Magnets
	To check out ALL of these craft projects on one page, click here.
	Everyone loves FREE craft projects! Feel free to forward this collection to family and friends.

I want this book! It is available August 1st. There is a knit one available as well.

July 16, 2009

Crocheted Gifts for Friends and Family A wonderful friend of mine found out a few months ago that she is pregnant. Squealing with excitement at the news, I began thinking of what gift I could make for the new little one. In a stroke of perfect timing, I received an advance copy of Crocheted Gifts: Irresistible Projects to Make & Give by Kim Werker. As I leafed through the pages, I oohed and aahed and picked out gifts that would be perfect for my friends and family. Then I saw the perfect baby gift: an adorable little Berry Baby Hat. And I had the perfect blue yarn for a blueberry hat. The finished project is even more adorable than I’d hoped. I can't wait to see what my friend thinks. I quickly created a second hat and added earflaps (to see this hat, check out my The large majority of the projects I create are given as gifts, as I suspect is true of your crochet projects. There is a wonderful joy in carefully choosing a pattern to fit a friend or loved one’s personality, selecting the perfect yarn, then spending the hours to create a truly unique gift. The new Crochet Gifts book includes 25 quick projects for wonderful gifts. Right now I'm debating whether my next project will be the Willow Hat for a teenage friend or the Ravissant Socks for my mother. I know I will have to whip up a few of the Fast Friends Bracelets. As Kim was putting together this book, she asked me to design a quick and simple gift. The idea for these delightful bracelets had been simmering in my mind for several months. This was the perfect excuse to sit down with some crochet thread and a notebook and work out my idea for Fast Friends Bracelets. They are perfect gifts for friends’ birthdays. Best wishes, Toni Over on CrochetMe: On the blog: Toni modifies the Berry Baby Hat. On the Forums: What’s the latest project you’ve made for a friend? Share on our gifting forum.

Toni Rexroat is the Assistant Editor of Interweave Crochet Magazine What's on Toni's hook now? I am finishing up a little amigurumi dragon. I found the pattern on Crochet Me. More at crochetme.com • Forums • Blogs • Free Stuff Was this email forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe

Give the Gift of Crochet Interweave Presents Crocheted Gifts: Irresistible Projects to Make & Give Make stylish crocheted gifts year-round with Crocheted Gifts, a collection of projects from today's most popular crochet designers. From baby gifts to mittens for the whole family, this book is full of perfect projects for every occasion. Featuring 19 designs by various crochet stars such as Doris Chan, Kathy Merrick, Robyn Chachula, Annie Modesitt, and more, Crocheted Gifts includes innovative, unusual, and imaginative designs for all