And the Winner Is:

Lauren LaFleur

Lauren, if you will send me an email  and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it  right out to you. 

My daughter Amanda and I had several long discussions trying to decide if these ears belonged to an elf or a fairy.
In the end,  she  became the Woodland Fairy. 

 

I forgot to mention "fairy ears" when I was listing unusual things that I have crocheted yesterday. I am almost embarrassed to tell you how much time I spent trying to get the ears on this fairy just the way I wanted them, and then I covered most of them up with her hair. But, I like how they turned out. 

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Friday Contest and Bizarre Crochet

Many years ago, when I was just starting out as a free-lance crochet designer, I got a letter from a publishing company. They were asking for submissions of quick and easy crochet designs, items folks could make to sell at craft shows or bazaars.  My daughter Robyn watched me reading the letter, then asked me what it said. "They want me to come up with some  bazaar designs," I told her. 
"Hmmm. How about one of those things people make to cover up their toilet paper," she said. "They are pretty bizarre!"
I don't remember now exactly what I ended up submitting for that book, but as the years went by, I have designed my share of 'bizarre' items, including several toilet paper covers.
One reason I love doing my Lovely Ladies Doilies, is that they give me an excuse to create tiny little creatures and accessories, something I love to do, but wouldn't have much reason to design otherwise.

Snail from Woodland Fairy

Dragonfly and mushroom from Woodland Fairy

Bat from Stella Luna

Cat and pumpkin from Harvest Moon

Scottie dog from Lucy and Jack

Turkey from Angel of Thanksgiving

A cro-tat pattern set I did for Annie's Attic.
The little doll's skirt covers up a roll of toilet paper. 

But,  it is Friday, so how about a contest? I will give one person their choice of any PDF pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com. 

I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won. 

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:

What is the most unusual thing you have ever crocheted?

This contest is now closed. 

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

And the Winner Is:

 Koni

Koni, if you will send me an email and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it  right out to you. 

This is a cover my daughter Bethany made for her Kindle. She not only crocheted it, she designed it, too. Can you tell what a proud mama I am?

Thanks to everyone who entered, and thank you to those of you who shared your memories.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day, and a Friday Contest

Even though we crocheters are a diverse lot with different personalities and preferences, when it comes to our crocheting  I think there is one thing that we all agree on. We love  crochet, and want to pass that love on to future generations. So many folks have told me that they learned to crochet from their mother, grandmother, aunt or other family member. So many put in the time and effort it takes to teach their children or grandchildren to crochet. It is a link that ties the generations together. 

I learned to crochet from my mother, who did not have a lot of patience when it came to teaching (I like to think that she just had a high opinion of my ability to learn!) I wrote about this experience a few years ago:

http://bellacrochet.blogspot.com/2011/05/learning-to-crochet.html

I have 6 children and 15 grandchildren, and so far, the only ones that have learned to crochet anything more than a chain are my youngest daughter, Bethany, and my granddaughter, Ana.
But, I have hope that more of them will learn someday. 

My daughter Bethany, learning to crochet by making granny squares.

But,  it is Friday, so how about a contest? I will give one person their choice of any PDF pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com. 

I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won. 

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:

Did you learn to crochet from a family member, or have you taught any younger generations of your family to crochet?

This contest is now closed. 

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

And the Winner Is:

Jena

Jena, if you will send me an email and let me know which pattern you would like, I will get it  right out to you. 

When I was posting pictures of birds I have crocheted, I forgot to add a picture of my little turkey. He is part of the 'Angel of Thanksgiving' doily, and one of the more unusual things I have ever designed. Maybe next week, I will do a post on the strangest things I have ever crocheted!

Crocheting Birds and a Friday Contest

My granddaughter Ana sent me a letter a few weeks ago. She is in the choir at her school, and they are selling subscriptions to magazines in order to raise money for a trip. While I was trying to make up my mind what to order, one title caught my eye; "Birds and Blooms." I seem to remember my mother used to subscribe to this magazine years ago, so I ordered it (along with another year of 'Southern Living') hoping it will give me some inspiration for a new set of doilies.
I have been really wanting to design more doilies featuring birds and flowers (with some butterflies thrown in  for good measure.) I will call the set 'Birds, Blossoms, and Butterflies' or "Flora and Fauna' or something like that.
It kind of surprised me when I went back through my patterns and realized how many doilies featuring birds I have already made:

But,  it is Friday, so how about a contest? I will give one person their choice of any PDF pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com. 

I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won. 

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:

Do you have a favorite bird? If so, what is it?

This contest is now closed. 

Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.