Jul 07

Smiley’s yarn is coming to NJ

NEW JERSEY
Hilton Garden Inn
800 U.S. Highway 130
Hamilton, NJ 08690
Phone: 609-585-6789

 } 1 DAY ONLY !
September 25, 2011
12 NOON to 3 P.M.
(CASH ONLY)

Do I need to say more?

Remember the damage we did last year?  Yeap, they are coming again!!!  So if you need to increase your yarn stash (I certainly don’t, but will go anyway), that’s the place to be!!!

Ohh, you don’t know what Smiley’s yarns are?!  I have two facts for you: great yarn and  awesome prices!  They obviously won’t bring the whole selection with them, but there will be plenty to choose from. Here is the website, so you can see for yourself.

Jul 06

Classes Updates

Thank you everyone for taking the poll!!  It’s greatly appreciated.  I will keep it open for next 2 weeks, so if you have few minutes please leave your feedback.

So far the most popular class is on learning to make crochet socks.  I am thinking of offering it at the end of August.  How does it sound? It most likely, it will be a 3 hour class.  We will do a mini version of a toe up socks in a basic stitch.  We will talk about different yarns and what’s best for socks, hook size and stitches that work best.  I would like to cover the construction of the sock including gusset and 2 types of heels: after through and short row, stitches that works best for cuffs.  By the end of the class you should be able to design your own sock or be confident when selecting a pattern.

Another popular class is on reading crochet pattern. So far it’s added to the calendar on July 16th. If this time works for you, please register (you don’t have to pay right away).  It helps me organize and schedule everything.  All the days and time on the calendar is not set in stone.  I am flexible.  If you like the class, but the day (or time) does not work for you, let me know.  We will work to make it happen when it’s good for everyone (or at least for those who contacted me ;)).

This is what I do, about 5-7 days before the class, I check RSPVs.  If no one is registered, but I know that someone wants to take it, I will email and ask (no pressure, don’t worry) sometimes things just happen and plans change, or more likely we forgot to register (I guilty of it too).  If that particular days does not work we will push it.  This happened with crochet Cables sock.  I had it scheduled for Saturday, we started talking and well Saturday did not work for anyone, so we moved it to Sunday!  I am really enjoying teaching it (second part is this Sunday, and girls will design their own finger less mitts, exciting!).

Also some classes without registered attendees might be moved a week or two, or canceled.

Another popular class was on learning to work in the round, ultimately crocheting hats and toys. I am thinking of introducing the way of working in the round: adjustable ring, working increases depending on the stitch. Probably have some discussion on when joining every round with slip stitch is important, and when it could be skipped, and how it will affect the pattern.  Closer to the end of the class I will help you to select a pattern to implement your newly learned skill. And we can either have a continuation class on following that pattern, or you can work it on your own.  What do you think?

 

Another thing I wanted to mention is that there will be no weekend classes in September and October.

Jun 22

You opinion matters

You might have noticed that I added new classes to the vent calendar.  Those dates and times are not set in stone.  I finally discovered how to add polls and survey to the blog, so I can “hear” you opinion better.   Yes, a lot of people already told me (by leaving a comment, email, or in person) what classes they would like to take, but I still want more :).  I would greatly appreciate if you take a moment to take this poll.  Once I know which classes are more popular I will a survey for the day and time, or you can vote on what class will be offered first.

[polldaddy poll=5165780]

Jun 12

The News

And now back to our earlier scheduled programming: THE NEWS!

Teaching:

I am going to teach in Maine!!!!!  I am very excited to announce  that one of my classes: Irish Crochet was selected to be taught at Fiber College.  Fiber College is an amazing fiber retreat that always occur the 1st weekend after the labor day.   There are classes tailored to any fiber enthusiast!  There is crocheting, knitting, spinning, weaving, dyeing, carving, quilting, tatting, embroidery and many more! What also makes it special is that the event is happening outside on the beach, and classes are taught in tents!! I am very excited to be a part of this.  Here is a description of my class.  As far as I know my class is very close to being full.  Awesome!  Here is a video from last year

Few days ago I also got a great news from West Windsor Art Center.  I will be teaching classes there in the fall!  There will be classes for kids, adults and teens!  We are working out the details, and hopefully I will be able to share them soon.

 

Publishing:

Can’t share much in this category, but keep an eye on the next several issues of my favorite crochet magazine ;).

Then there is something really huge, but until inc dries up a bit more, can’t share it either.

And there is online magazine Tangled, one of my designs will appear in there in a month or so.

 

Personal:

My parents are coming and we are having a wedding in 3 month.  There, I said, off to plan it.  In case you were wondering, yes, I am that crazy, and yes, we are planning a wedding in 3 month.

Jun 12

No excuses

Yeap, no excuses for my absence.  None what so ever.

Of course I could have said that I was busy, but who is not?!  And it’s not like it’s going to get less busier!   There are some very good “things” that “happen” to me that will keep me very entertained for a while now.  There are some things that I can share and some I can’t.

You might have noticed that “New pattern Monday” has stopped.  That’s because I had some patterns in works and drafts that I have more of a long term use for.  And there is a bigger reason for that as well.  I have been thinking for a while now abut what I want for my crochet career.  There is  a lot of knit and crochet designers out there and for the most part they choose one of the two paths: self-publishing and being published by a publisher.  It does not mean that some designers don’t do both, but one will always prevail.

Self publishing is just that publishing your own pattern by yourself.  I said it before and I will say it again.  There is a lot of work that goes into putting together a GOOD pattern together.  There are coming up with  an idea, sketching, finding the right yarn, swatching extensively, drafting the pattern, making a sample, writing a pattern, tech editing the pattern, photographing the sample, putting a pattern together in a pretty layout, testing it, publishing it.  Then the marketing of the pattern begins.  I have a lot of respect for self published designers!  They wear so many hats!  It’s incredibly time consuming.  The benefit of this is that the designer has full control over the pattern: the style, the layout.  They get to pick the yarn and color they thing is best, and in mos cases what they had vision for.  All the rights stay with the designer, and she is free to do anything she wants with it.

3rd party publishing usually means being published by a magazine (physical or online), book, or yarn company.  Designers main responsibility is to design and come up with a pattern.  They usually start with already predetermined concept for the design.  It can be “mood board”, or specific yarn.  In most cases swatching and sketching happens first.  Then, if a publisher likes the idea, they will provide the yarn.  The designer will then have to write up the pattern in a specific style and create a sample in specified size.  Once that is done, the publisher will take care of pictures, editing, layout, and everything else.  The benefit of being published by someone else is that a designer get to do just that – design!  There is no other hats to where.  In most cases the designer is selling all rights to the pattern.

That’s what I’ve been doing for the past few month – trying to figure out what  path to take and what will work for me at this point in my life.  I am still thinking, but having a full time job, teaching in the evenings, and planning a wedding, leaves me very limited time to work on my pattern line.  So I am leaning towards 3rd party publishing.

That post got a bit longer then I expected, so I will share the news in the new one.

 

 

 

May 20

I need your help!!!

My big brother Jeremiah is an angel in heaven

My big brother Jeremiah is an angel in heaven

In two days, this Sunday, I will be walking in March for Babies in memory of my godson, Jeremiah. Jeremiah is my best friend’s baby boy who was born a sleeping angel over two month ahead of his due date. Jeremiah was 1 lb 1 oz and 11 inches at birth.

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. I am walking for babies who never got a chance! I am walking for babies who struggled to survive from the very day they very born! I am walking for parents who grieving the loss of their child! I am walking for parents who can’t answer a simple to many question “how many children do you have?” without sobbing!

I’m walking in March for Babies because I want to do something about this. And I need your help.

Please support my walk. Making a secure donation is easy: just follow this link http://www.marchforbabies.org/anastasiapopova, and click the ‘donate now’ button on the page.

Thank you everyone who already supported my walk last year and this year! Thank you for helping me give all babies a healthy start in life!

The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

Your gift will support March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And it will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.

Apr 25

Crochet Classes Updates

Here is a schedule for Open Project nights for next few weeks:

Tue, April 26 – Bridgewater Commons
Wed, April 27 – Market Fair
Tue, May 10 – Bridgewater Commons
Wed, May 11 – Market Fair
Wed, May 18 – Market Fair
Tue, May 24 – Bridgewater Commons

All classes will run 7-8.30 pm. We meet at the food court area. Bring whatever you want to work on: get help on reading patter, selecting yarn, starting a project, seaming, adding details, etc.

Bridgewater Commons 400 Commons Way | Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807
Market Fair 3535 US Highway 1 · Princeton, NJ 08540

I am working on setting up Saturday and Sunday classes for next few month.  I know some of you expressed interest in crochet cables. I have a plan set up to teach it in 2 sessions of 2 hour each. Those of you who would  like to take it, do you have a preference on date/time?  Please let me know.

There is also been interest about learn to read a pattern.  I am thinking 1 session class, where we work on 2-3 simple/quick patterns to get a hang on major parts, abbreviations and build up skills for any pattern reading.

Another class is on crocheting flowers.  Again, if you want to take it let me know about time and day.

Have you noticed that Spring is time of baby showers ;)? I would like to start a class segment on making baby hats, booties and sweaters.  They can be made as a set or separately.  Baby sweater would be a great introduction into s sweater making!

Weekend classes will be held at 822 Executive Dr., Princeton NJ, 08540, at the office of Maks Financial Services.

I would like to thank everyone for suggesting new class ideas, I promise I am working on incorporating those ideas in class schedule.

Please let me know what you think :).  I want to know how to serve you better!