Yarns

Living in a small community, it is hard for me to find "specialty" and "high quality" yarns to crochet. I am left with using the synthetic yarns we have at our local Walmart. Being that Hurricane Katrina literally wiped out everything for 100 miles in all directions of me (I live on the coast in Mississippi, where Katrina made landfall) there are no yarn or craft shops anywhere near here.

So, I have been searching the web and have found several wonderful shops to purchase natural yarns from. I would like to share them with you.

Lisa Knit (Lisa Souza) features fine yarns, knitwear and wonderful patterns at fairly reasonable prices.

Touch Yarns features fine yarns, patterns and pricing is very reasonable.

Kaeidescope Yarns features fine yarns, needles, supplies, patterns, kits and wearables and are very reasonably priced. They even have a blog!

The Knittery features fine yarns, supplies, needles, patterns, books and magazines and are reasonably priced. They even have groups at flickr and raverly and offer sales!

Yarn Market features over 600 yarns. Offers $6.99 shipping on all orders up to $100.00/ FREE shipping on all orders over $100.00!

June Book Review

I am pleased to share with you my book review for the month of June.

Uncommon Crochet: Twenty-Five Projects Made From Natural Yarns and Alternative Fibers (Paperback)by Julie Armstrong Holetz (Author)

Julie has done a wonderful job of sharing with us, many "uncommon" things we can use to create outstanding projects. The projects in this book are very "modern and hip", and will get you thinking "outside the box"! Use things such as leather, hemp, wire, jute and many others to create some really cool items that would be great for gift giving or just to keep all to yourself.

Julie says she wrote these patterns in hopes of getting fellow crocheters into more modern crochet techniques and supplies.

*Book Description*

When granny squares and crocheted doilies are made from black leather twine and organic hemp, they have an unexpectedly modern cachet. In UNCOMMON CROCHET, new techniques and fibers are applied to 20 patterns for boxes, bowls, purses, baskets, totes, and bags. Using recycled materials along with wire, hemp, leather, jute, twine, and sisal, crochet designer Julie Armstrong Holetz offers a fresh twist on old-school techniques, turning simple projects into gift- and display-worthy creations.

"Uncommon Crochet" retails for $19.95 in most bookstores, but you can get it at Amazon for $13.57

Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Ten Speed Press (April 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580088589
ISBN-13: 978-1580088589
Product Dimensions: 9 x 8 x 0.9 inches

You can also find Julie on Blogspot SkaMama's Bone Hook

And the contest winner is...........

Letitia Eppes! of Assisting Angel! Letitia has won one of my Crocheted Strawberry Purses!The contest was help from June 20th- June 27th. To enter all you had to do was post a comment on my blog or my Squidoo Lens. I used Random.org to choose the winning comment number.

The Strawberry Purses are for sale in my SHOP http://www.thecolorfulbee.etsy.com and are priced at $10.00

Thanks to everyone for entering. I really appreciate the support everyone has given me!

Look for another contest to come in July!CONGRATULATIONS LETITIA!!!!

Interesting Facts About Crochet

I have been reading up on the history of Crochet and here are some interesting facts that I thought you might enjoy.



Crochet (IPA: krəʊ'ʃeɪ) is a process of creating fabric from yarn or thread. The word is derived from the Middle French word croc or croche, meaning hook. Crocheting, similar to knitting, consists of pulling loops of yarn through other loops.

Did You Know? that it is believed that the first form of crocheting was actually done with your fingers instead of a hook?

WWII nearly brought this art to a hault due to shortages in materials needed to produce crocheted items.

Victorian hooks were usually handmade out of brass, ivory and various rare woods; not mass-produced such as the ones today.

Crocheting is believed to be such a popular art and hobbie due to it's inexpensive supplies and it's ease of being able to take it with you.

Crochet is used as a sort of "time out" for overactive children and mentally challenged persons in many schools, hospitals and nursing facilities around the world.

Crochet is proven to improve your logic skills, math skills and overall hand-eye co-ordination.

Meet Trina & the Hippy Diva Dolls

Trina is a Mother of 4 trying to make her way in the dollmaking business and boy is she doing just that! Her dolls are show off the curves of plus size women, and just how beautiful they can be! Her business is beginning to BOOM and she's ready to make one just for you. She has pre-made divas, or she will custom make one to your liking. Look her up

http://www.hippydivadolls.com

Enter To Win this way cute Strawberry Purse!

The Colorful Bee is giving away this cute Strawberry Purse on Saturday, June 28th. To enter all you have to do is visit my Squidoo Lens and post feedback there from now until Friday, June 27th. The winner will be chosen by Random.com and will be posted here and on my lens. Please add your email addy to your post so I can contact you for the mailing address.

Thanks to you and Good Luck everyone!!!

Learning to knit

I am currently looking for an online class for knitting. I have the basic Knit and Purl stitches down but I can only go in straight rows and don't know how to do anything else!
We have no craft supply store or yarn store anywhere close to me so I'll have to do the class online.
If anyone knows a site that offers classes, please post it here.

Sneak Peek! of whats coming in July!

My 12 year old niece an I started a new project that will be arriving in July here at The Colorful Bee! Barefoot Babies Primitive Folk Art styled dolls. This was her idea after finding an old ragdoll in a box of stuff her grandmother had stored away for years. She is very "crafty" and has always been interested in learning all the crafts styles I do. She's even learning to crochet!
My hubby graciously drew out the doll pattern for us, then we started tracing, pinning and cutting. We have 10 body forms soaking in a mixure of tea, coke and vanilla as I'm typing this.
She will be the "fashion designer" of the project, as she's already matched up materials for each dolls clothes and has come up with some super ideas on what each will look like. They will be named after the family children and so they shall represent them in character as well.
Making their online debut in July are:
Will the Billygoat
Buddy the mechanic
Jane as Plain Jane
Lillie the little farm girl
Bug the mean girl
Miriah the blonde
Brooke the crook
Beka the hotel wrecka

I will post here when they are added to The Colorful Bee on Etsy! I am so excited! With names like these, I can't wait to see how they turn out!


***Barefoot Babies © 2008 Kim Luxich & Jane Lanclos***

Crochet for the "Hip Girly Teens"

As we all know, teen-aged girls can be so picky, and why not, they are defining their style and character in this stage of their life. So, how do you get them to become interested in an "Old Persons Hobby" as my children call it? You give them projects that are quick, simple and oh so cute! Here are a few suggestions on items they may enjoy making for themselves, their friends or even for profit:
Amigurumi Toys
Hats in the round
Scarfs and Belts
Crochet and beaded jewelry
Small purses

You can find patterns for these types of items in your local craft or yarn stores or even on Etsy! Give them something cute and girly to start learning with and you'll be giving them a hobby to enjoy for a lifetime!

*Note: statistics say that young women and girls ages 25 and under make up about 1/2 the current crochet population! It's the hobby from that past that coming back with a vengence (and tons of hip new patterns too)!

*Crochet is great exercise for people who suffer from arthiritus and carpal tunnel syndrome. My doctor recommened that I start crocheting again after my broken wrist healed to regain range of motion again!!! Who Knew?

So sorry for the delay in posting to my blog. My internet modem got zapped by lightening and it took forever to get the surge protector company to replace it.

I am hoping to post here at least once a day now that I am back online again! I will also be posting my brand new "beginner's crochet patterns" here in the next few days for everyone to share!

This blog will be changing it's look, feel and overall style, so keep on coming back to watch us progress into one hot blogspot!

Thanks to my new friend Chie for the great custom design for my Esty shop, business cards, and blogspot banner and background! Chie, YOU ROCK!!!

Questions, comments and infor sharing is ALWAYS welcomed here at The Colorful Bee! So comment away! Recommend me to all your friends, family and crafting pals; it's the best compliment you can give me!

Thanks! Happy Crocheting to you!
Kimmi, The Colorful Bee owner!