I had my usual bit of confusion about packing enough projects but managed to get in the car with 4 before John started threatening.  I am making a lace patterned shawl with lace weight yarn….my first attempt at serious lace.  My Grandmother’s Flower Garden yo yo quilt top is snuggled safely in my bag to work on along with the table cloth I am crocheting for my Granddaughter’s wedding gift AND a pair of socks knit from the toe up.  I am looking forward to learning this technique as many…

This was the picture outside my front door this morning. Oh My Gosh! Here it is the first of June and I just built a fire in my office … well … in the fireplace in my office. I’m in sweats and a sweater and still not so warm. It amazes me that someone out there is holding summer hostage from the Northwest – I am willing to trade yarn and fabric for its release. The garden plants are asking for rain coats and water wings, and the slugs are…

As we move into spring I see the new leaves budding out on the trees and remember a phrase my Mom uses this time of year — “The sap is rising,” which means the trees are waking up and their creative juices are working to produce the beautiful leaves we will enjoy until the winter temps send them away to rest through the cold months. I wonder if they go to Florida or Arizona like people do.   It seems the trees aren’t the only ones with their creative juices…

One of the things I most enjoy about my job is helping people with problems they are having.  I have a deep love for the needle arts and want everyone to enjoy them as much as I do.  I will share some of the questions I receive in hopes that they might be of help to some of you all.  If something isn’t working the way you think it should or the way you want it to send me a note and I will gladly help you solve the problem.…

Recently I showed the jojoland scarf I knit. A sweet friend is making this pattern and is having a devil of a time keeping in pattern. I believe at last count she was on her 6th try and she yet to make one complete block.  Does anyone have tips for following a lace pattern and not losing their way? We would love to hear from you. Meanwhile, let’s take a break and talk about one of my other hobbies … gardening. I’m sure you all take time away from knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, and…

Good Morning!  Spring is in full bloom here in the Northwest.  we are having sunny days and everywhere one looks flowers, trees and shrubs are blooming.  I have mentioned before that the Skagit Valley about 40 miles north of my home about is second only to Holland for spring bulb production.  In April the valley looks like a patchwork quilt due to the acres and acres of different colored tulips in bloom.  We have had such a mild winter our bulbs are blooming early.  It looks like the tulips are going…

January was a busy month for those of us at Clover Needlecraft.  Sunny Long Beach, California, welcomed us for The National Needlework Association (TNNA) trade show where we all got our yarn fix.  Two weeks later we were heading to Anaheim, California, ( not so sunny) for the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) Craft Super Show, a consumer event, and trade show where all the other crafts were featured.  If you are a scrapbooker you would have been in pure heaven with all the vendors with amazing papers and all the terrific…

The National Needlework Association Show @ Long Beach, CA Please note the palm trees and sunshine and lack of snow on the ground in the above picture. Here it is January and most of the nation is freezing and dealing with unusually cold weather and the Clover crew is blessed to be working a trade show in Long Beach, California. It is always such fun to greet the new year and the first of the wholesale trade shows Clover exhibits at because I get to see what’s new in the market…

Oh My!  Time gets away from me so easily on a normal day but these holidays I can’t afford to blink!  It is down to the wire and I can’t put off wrapping gifts much longer.  That is the part I really don’t care for so it seems to be pushed aside until the last minute.  My table is set and the grocery list made but I just can’t seem to make myself wrap…oh well. The Jojoland scarf is finished and UPS says it was delivered so I can now…