Tonight I’m working on my column while Jeff edits the Maker Faire Detroit highlight video we shot yesterday. In the meantime check out the view of the West Michigan sky in the evening looking up through a bloom of Queen Anne’s Lace. Huh? I admit I’m procrastinating. This is what I often do when I’m supposed [...]

This Sunday my newspaper column will feature West Michigan crochet enthusiast, Kendra Wineman. After meeting Kendra and seeing her colorful stash of reclaimed yarn and cute, crochet nesting bowls, I decided to unravel a sweater and make some bowls for my daughters to organize trinkets in their room.

Happy Spring, everyone! It’s snowing here in West Michigan. And waking up to a blanket of white was a crushing blow after we were spoiled by nearly a week of sunny, spring weather. Ah, well, those of us who live in Michigan are used to this kind of teasing by Mother Nature. We often complain [...]

I haven’t had much time to craft just for me lately, but I did take a break last night to stitch this jumbo hexagon. The plan is the gradually chip away at a whole blanket. I love crocheting these. Check out this link to the very inspiring Attic24 blog if you’re interested in making some [...]

If you haven’t noticed, I’m on a major beading binge. And after treating myself to some new colors at a 40 percent off sale at my local craft store, my need to bead seems to have kicked into overdrive. I just can’t seem to get enough of those pretty little beads. This week I whipped [...]

The latest issue of Petite Purls went live today and includes a couple of my paper-pieced ornament projects. There’s still time to make the flower ornament pictured above, and a related festive wreath ornament, too. So head over to Petite Purls for the directions. This issue is packed with great patterns including fun crochet “Foamies” [...]

Here’s an update on the granny square hat that I’m making for my youngest daughter. It’s coming along, but I can’t decide how to finish the top. Right now it looks like a headband with ear flaps. I’m not using a pattern, so I have to make some design choices as I go. Any suggestions?

The kids need new winter gear, so I will be transforming this yarn into granny square hats (Similar to this one.) and scarves. Do you have any favorite granny square patterns? I’m looking for new inspiration.

I’m really enjoying being able to write more about the crafts I love in this freelance phase of life. And it was a particular kick to team up with my 5-year-old daughter Abby to write a piece for the January/February 2010 issue of Crochet Today! I taught her how to crochet and then documented our [...]

My apologies for the blog silence lately. I caught a nasty bug the first week of the school and it’s taken me two weeks to shake it. At last my voice is back to normal and podcast ready, so I can  post a new episode this week. A lot has happened in the last three [...]

Crochet played a key role in my development as a young crafter. I got “hooked” around age 5 at Great Grandma Case’s Sunday night craft table where I learned to stitch granny squares with the crafty women in my family. I still LOVE to whip up projects with my old set of aluminum needles. (My [...]

I should have known that I would work harder for myself than anyone else. But, my word, this is ridiculous. I’m working so much that I still haven’t had time to excavate the dining room and rediscover that flat wooden surface, formally known as our dining room table. My, oh, my. While I haven’t slowed [...]

I’ve admired crocheted rag rugs for years, but never got around to making any until last week, and I’m having a blast. There’s something truly lovely about stitching strips of recycled cotton fabric softened by dozens of trips through the laundry. Today TV segment was inspired by the wonderful people behind the Rags to Rugs [...]

I have several projects in the works, including this rag rug. It’s a sample for Friday’s TV craft segment. This segment was inspired by a wonderful handmade effort at St. Andrew’s School in Grand Rapids where parents and volunteers are crocheting rag rugs out of donated bed sheets to raise money for a school emergency [...]

Check out my Grand Rapids Press craft column today for the full story of Betty White and her plarn (plastic yarn) creations. Betty gives a second wind to plastic shopping bags, expertly transforming them into dresses, hats, handbags and totes. Her most recent design is a one-piece swimsuit and matching hat. I probably wouldn’t ever [...]