Happy National Crochet Month 2016!

Welcome to my stop on The Crochet Express! I am so happy you are here! Big thank you to Crochetville for once again putting together this incredible blog tour in celebration of National Crochet Month. I'm sure you are just like me and celebrate crochet EVERY month but March is exceptionally special and it's so much fun to celebrate in a much bigger way!

I developed a new appreciation for things we often take for granted after I reclaimed my health almost 3 years ago and there are many things I never thought I would experience that I now celebrate. I had been sick for over 7 years and I am so thankful that I had my crochet with me but once I found healing, I just wanted to get up and MOVE all the time. The problem that presented would be less crochet time! Or would it?  I love to get creative and blend the various aspects of my life together for the best efficiency. So I didn't see any reason why I couldn't get up and get moving and take my crocheting with me! 

Just because I'm working on my legs doesn't mean there is any reason I can't still be using my hands to crochet, right? 

And so I challenge you to incorporate your crochet into all areas of your life! Especially something that gets your body moving and improves your health! We already know that crocheting is good for your health, now let's step it up to the next level! I know sometimes it can be hard to get and stay motivated so find a friend to keep you accountable and you do the same for them! And if you can't find a friend, make your own! (remember...no excuses!) and so I give you "Workout Wendy" to motivate and inspire you. Plus, she is just really cute and I love making doll clothes. Please click on the link below to get the pattern which will be free for a limited time as a thank you for celebrating crochet with me! If you are ready to take charge of your life and you are ready to improve your health, lose some weight, gain a whole bunch of energy or if you are just ready to look and feel amazing, please send me a message THilde5939@aol.com! I would love to help you! You can also visit me at https://www.facebook.com/Healthybeginswithyou/

Work Out Wendy Set

  

Fair Isle Crochet by Brenda Bourg

What a thrill and an honor it is to be reviewing this wonderful book which is Brenda's very first! It is a spectacular book that has set the bar pretty high and will be a hard act to follow with any future books but if anyone can do it, Brenda can!

Before I tell you about all the fantastic things this book has to offer, let me give you a little background on how Brenda and I came to know each other. Brenda and I met online about 8 years ago when she contacted me on Ravelry about a design of mine that she had made. We got to chatting and a friendship was born. Brenda was just getting started in the industry as a professional and as a CGOA member she wanted to take advantage of our mentoring program. She asked me if I would be willing to be her mentor. Initially, I said "no". Not because I didn't want to but I had a lot going on and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to devote the necessary time. However, as I thought more about it, being a firm believer that people don't come into our lives by accident and God places them in our path for a reason, I told her on second thought I would love to be her mentor. The official mentoring program lasts 2 years and here we are 8 years later! We have both learned an awful lot more than we knew way back then and I have learned every bit as much from her as she has from me. It has gone far beyond mentoring to a truly wonderful friendship that I treasure.

So on to the book. It is incredible and I know you are going to love it! Brenda is extremely thorough and covers everything you could think of so even a beginner could create these projects. There are step-by-step photos for all the stitches which I found enormously helpful. I'm a very visual person so this was great!

Brenda includes sections with tips and hints, seaming, blocking, tension, changing colors and all that entails as well as helpful tools and choosing your own colors! She has provided everything you need to know to sit down and get started right away. The only thing that you are going to find extremely difficult is which project you would like to start with first!

My personal favorite is the Cora Sweater. This design just speaks to me! I love the colors and the complexity. I love the shape and the ribbing. I just really love everything about it!

I also adore the Annabel Bag! Is this not absolutely gorgeous?! 

There are lots of little projects if you're someone that likes instant gratification. Fingerless mitts, cowls, headbands and boot cuffs to name a few. 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Fair Isle Tunisian Crochet, please enter our giveaway! And if you don't win, no problem...you can order a copy right here! Enjoy! I NEED THIS BOOK NOW!

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We are so incredibly blessed!

When your heart is so touched by the kindness, generosity and insurmountable outpouring of love from others, how do you possibly put that into words? "Thank you" just doesn't even begin to cover what I would like to say to each of you. I have been at my computer for hours staring at a blank screen as this is by far the most difficult post I have ever written. There are so many things I want to say to all of you and yet, I just have no words. Part of me wants to get in my car and drive around the county, knocking on the front door of each and every one of you to hug you in person while another part of me just wants to wrap myself in my afghan and curl up on the couch never to leave.

For those of you that found your way to my blog that may not know my story, let me just briefly share. I have been involved in the crochet community and active with the Crochet Guild of America for many, many years. During that time I have had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful, beautiful people. It goes far beyond friendship and I have always referred to them as my crochet FAMILY. October 2015, we tragically lost our precious 22 year old daughter, Chelsea. Many in my crochet family knew Chelsea and had watched her grow up. She is the mother of our very special granddaughter, Willow, who is quite frequently seen on my Facebook page. My crochet family immediately banded together to do what they do best - create. And in doing so, they sent us a 27 pound box which if we had a scale that measured how much care and love was in it would have weighed thousands upon thousands of pounds.

And they didn't stop there! Also enclosed in our box of love was an album with a picture of Chelsea with her gorgeous smile that we miss so much, cards, letters, a perpetual membership in the Association of the Miraculous Medal, poems and a certificate stating that 200 trees are being planted in Chelsea's memory. Chelsea would have thought that was SO cool! And lastly, you just have to see these one-of-a-kind afghans by themselves. They are absolutely breathtaking. I am so grateful that even a master list was included for each blanket so we could know who lovingly created each block. We will treasure these always just as we will always treasure having each and every one of you in our lives. I love all of you so very much! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

George Tammy Shelby Little Willow And even one for Willow to grow into!