Greetings Friends!

Welcome to the Christmas season! Now that Thanksgiving (in the US) is only a few weeks away we are feeling it in earnest.  In this (sometimes) overly politically correct world I often feel afraid to say the "C" word! Since I work with the public, I'm conditioned to say, "Happy Holidays" and "Enjoy the Season"! So boy am I excited to have the opportunity to shout it out loud in today's post about Edie Eckman's new book Christmas Crochet for Hearth, Home & Tree. Rest assured you'll find projects that cross over and would be appropriate in any holiday home, but for the most part this one is about decking the halls for the big day - December 25!

Edie is one of my favorite designers. I've come to rely on her books for their bounty of information and consistent quality.  This collection does not disappoint. Although there are only 18 patterns, they lend themselves to being made with different yarns in various colors for unlimited versions of the original. This is a pattern book - not a how to book, and while the lesser known stitches are clearly explained, a basic knowledge of crochet is needed.  

The Hearth section features 9 unique stocking patterns. It is my experience that many crocheters underestimate their skill level and shy away from anything not labeled "beginner". The small size of these projects offers a great opportunity to be bold and try something new!  The Peppermint Pinstripes Stocking has the look of complex colorwork and is actually made using just the single crochet and chain stitch!  The Flame Stitch Stocking is intriguing and looks quite complicated, but according to the instructions it is, "easy to learn and works up in a snap!" 

I always like to try at least one pattern from a book I'm reviewing.  This time I made a few!  I started with one of the mini mittens from the Advent Garland.  This is such a fun pattern.  Mini mittens and stockings to count down the days to Christmas! I found it easy to follow and an excellent way to use bits and scraps of leftover yarn.

Next I made snowflakes.  There are several to choose from.  Some are made with thread and others with yarn. This is another example of the flexibility of the patterns.  I love to make snowflakes and then stiffen them with glue. I use them as ornaments for the tree, to decorate gifts, or include them with cards.  Charts are included with all of the snowflakes, as well as with many other patterns.  

Finally I made the Small Angel Ornament. Although the pattern calls for 2 strands of extra fine merino held together I opted for thread. As you can see, she came out just fine.  A wee bit smaller, but lovely just the same.

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!
Until next time friends,
Be Blessed and Stitch with Love!

Greetings!
I started my blog two and a half years ago and oh how things have changed!  If you take a peek at my first post (below) you'll see I didn't have much of a plan. Post by post I found my voice, and to my delight you've been listening! 

When deciding on my name and designing the logo I  chose Crochet Nirvana because it captures the feelings of peace, bliss and contentment that crocheting brings to me. (Not because of an obsession with Kurt Cobain and his 90's grunge band as some have asked.)  I added "laugh, learn, create & share" to make sure that everyone who stops by knows what to expect from me and the blog.  Learning new things, creating beautiful, fun, unique projects, and sharing everything with you - all with a sense of humor.

Along with my fiber obsession, I am a bibliophile. In fact, books are my first love. I wasn't sure how I would combine the two, but thankfully when opportunity knocked I was home to answer the door. A review I wrote for book called How I Came to Sparkle Again led to being contacted by St. Martin's Press. Initially I was reviewing fiction for them.  It was an easy progression to add me as a reviewer for the crafting category and start sending new titles on crocheting and knitting.  Your response to the reviews and giveaways is always fantastic and is one of my favorite parts of blogging. This has led to relationships with various publishers looking to have their books and authors introduced to the crafting community. Of course I am happy to oblige! This is the perfect way to combine my favorite activities, and has helped establish my place in the blogging community.

Do you know about Craftsy? It is an online community devoted to providing the education and tools to "bring your creativity to life"!  They offer interactive video tutorials and downloadable workshops for everything from knitting and photography to cake decorating and woodworking. Instruction is offered by the experts in each field. You can find patterns and recipes as well as supplies.  They offer resources for free as well as paid courses.  With more than 5 million members Craftsy is a leader in craft education.

Imagine my surprise (and delight) when the folks at Craftsy asked me to write for their crochet blog!  How exciting!!  To be honest I was a little scared.  I talked it over with John, and decided that this is an opportunity I don't want to miss!  And so my friends. today I launch my updated look - and my first article appears on the Craftsy web site.  It's called Understanding Crochet Diagrams: The Key to Breaking the Code, and I hope that you'll pop over and take a look.  

Life is full of twists and and turns.  You never know where the path will lead or what adventures you'll have along the way.  If you had asked me three years ago about my future I never would have imagined I'd be where I am.  This is such a thrill,  I'm so thankful for your support and encouragement. If it weren't for you, none of this would be possible. I hope that you'll visit often and continue to join me in my creative escapades - who knows what will happen next!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!
Until next time friends,
Be blessed & stitch with love!