My friend and I had a home business party last night featuring Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, and yes... our own crocheted items. It was open house style, and we were a little nervous about how it would work out with so many things represented... but it turned out fabulous! It was a great way to support friends with home businesses, and also promote what we were trying out with our own products.
The idea came about when we were brainstorming about how to promote our products without having to go to a million and one fairs and bizarres. As many of you know, these events can be expensive, and hard to handle for the growing business. I grew up visiting my grandmother and her fellow grange ladies at many of these events... the time, money, and all around effort that goes into even one event was more than my friend and I could put into our own promotion at the moment, so we decided to try another approach first.
Given the fact that both of us had home business experience, we decided to try out the concept with crochet... and it worked! If you have ever thought about promoting your own products, get creative. Think outside the box and find a way that works for you, in your own unique situation.
Good luck and have fun!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Collaborate and Create!
I know it has been a long time since my last blog... but here we go!
So, my friend and I tried out a needle craft group last week and had a blast! There were ladies there representing a variety of generations and crafting styles. It was a great way to network and spread the crochet love!
Collaboration is a great way to share ideas for future products and learn some tricks from others... even from other crafting styles! One lady in the group was knitting a beautiful scarf that could easily be converted into a crochet pattern, another was knitting a sweater and talking about the opportunities she has to knit for retailers. I happened to be making up some washcloths and other items from my spa line (and will be forever known as the first one to start and finish a complete project at the group! haha).
We all talked patterns, and yarn, and projects... techniques and opportunities... work and life... and in the midst of it all, we met new friends and learned a little more in the process!
If you have ever thought about getting involved with a group of fellow needle crafters, or even fellow crocheters, I highly recommend it! You might be surprised at how fun AND productive it could be :)
If you're interested, but haven't been able to find one, create you're own! Get off the couch and go down to your neighborhood coffee shop (or other hotspot), or get together with friends, or inquire at local community places (churches, granges, community centers, etc), or... (insert your fabulous idea here). Collaborate and Create!
So, my friend and I tried out a needle craft group last week and had a blast! There were ladies there representing a variety of generations and crafting styles. It was a great way to network and spread the crochet love!
Collaboration is a great way to share ideas for future products and learn some tricks from others... even from other crafting styles! One lady in the group was knitting a beautiful scarf that could easily be converted into a crochet pattern, another was knitting a sweater and talking about the opportunities she has to knit for retailers. I happened to be making up some washcloths and other items from my spa line (and will be forever known as the first one to start and finish a complete project at the group! haha).
We all talked patterns, and yarn, and projects... techniques and opportunities... work and life... and in the midst of it all, we met new friends and learned a little more in the process!
If you have ever thought about getting involved with a group of fellow needle crafters, or even fellow crocheters, I highly recommend it! You might be surprised at how fun AND productive it could be :)
If you're interested, but haven't been able to find one, create you're own! Get off the couch and go down to your neighborhood coffee shop (or other hotspot), or get together with friends, or inquire at local community places (churches, granges, community centers, etc), or... (insert your fabulous idea here). Collaborate and Create!
* Purely Crochet is a group dedicated to the art of crochet. This blog is dedicated to promoting and educating it's readers regarding crochet and crochet artists. I appreciate your feedback and suggestions, so please feel free to contribute! Let me know who you want to know more about, what you want to learn, and any other questions you may have...
You can also check us out on facebook: www.facebook.com/PurelyCrochet
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Teaching
I have been busy lately! My friend and I have been creating and crocheting, and crocheting and creating for what seems like forever without a break! We are having fun though! and are having some amazing creative sessions. I have also had the wonderful opportunity to teach someone the craft of crochet. I love teaching and highly suggest it to everyone out there! It is such a sharpening tool... After all, those who CAN... Teach!
As a teacher, you return to the basics. This is a great review of all the techniques out there (I tend to tweak things a bit for design's sake), and it helps me to grow when she asks me questions.
Currently, we are in the beginning stages, but I think she will be taking off soon! She has a great personality and I can't wait to see that reflected in her creations!!!
The important thing to remember when teaching is to always encourage to DO. If it doesn't come out just right, then do a few more to get the technique, and then pull it out and start again. Frustration builds when stitches are expected to be perfect form the start. NO ONE is perfect from the start! Haha :) Just do, and work on the technique. When you get it, that's when you start to make something fabulous!
Until next time... chain, chain, chain.... wrap and pull, wrap and pull!
Sunday, April 03, 2011
From Grandma Nan to Me...
My grandmother Nan was the crochet master who taught me this fabulous art form of crochet, so it seems only fitting that I would dedicate my first blog to her. Thank you Grandma!
Grandma Nan taught me to crochet when I was about 6 or 7 years old, to keep me busy while being babysat. I believe that I was asking her a million and one questions, like children often do, so she showed me the chain stitch. It was not long before I was progressing to the single crochet stitch, and then to the double crochet stitch.
I would sit next to her and watch her make dolls, baby sets, hats, blankets, and pretty much anything under the sun... and ask more questions. She kept saying that she would teach me some patterns... but we never got to it. In the end, this actually worked to my favor, as it forced me to be more creative with my crochet.
I would go home and create my own designs for Barbie clothes, baby hats, and purses. Later on (in college), I picked up my hooks again and started making presents for friends and family. I have been taking requests since then. Although I have branched out, my favorites continue to be creating hats, scarves, bags, and spa items.
The craft that was taught to me by my grandmother, and passed down through the generations, is permanently in my soul. I have since taught myself to read patterns, but still prefer to make my own. I like being creative and trying new things. You could say that crocheting is in my blood, and I want to honor those who have come before me. I don't only want to be a person who can do this thing they call Crochet, but I want to be someone who honors this art form and crochets well.
Thank you for stopping by... this blog is in the process of finding its way, and will be talking about the various aspects of crochet, sharing photos and patterns, and hopefully inspiring others to investigate the potential in crochet. I look forward to hearing from you, and welcome your feedback!
Have a fantabulous day!
Michele
Grandma Nan taught me to crochet when I was about 6 or 7 years old, to keep me busy while being babysat. I believe that I was asking her a million and one questions, like children often do, so she showed me the chain stitch. It was not long before I was progressing to the single crochet stitch, and then to the double crochet stitch.
I would sit next to her and watch her make dolls, baby sets, hats, blankets, and pretty much anything under the sun... and ask more questions. She kept saying that she would teach me some patterns... but we never got to it. In the end, this actually worked to my favor, as it forced me to be more creative with my crochet.
I would go home and create my own designs for Barbie clothes, baby hats, and purses. Later on (in college), I picked up my hooks again and started making presents for friends and family. I have been taking requests since then. Although I have branched out, my favorites continue to be creating hats, scarves, bags, and spa items.
The craft that was taught to me by my grandmother, and passed down through the generations, is permanently in my soul. I have since taught myself to read patterns, but still prefer to make my own. I like being creative and trying new things. You could say that crocheting is in my blood, and I want to honor those who have come before me. I don't only want to be a person who can do this thing they call Crochet, but I want to be someone who honors this art form and crochets well.
Thank you for stopping by... this blog is in the process of finding its way, and will be talking about the various aspects of crochet, sharing photos and patterns, and hopefully inspiring others to investigate the potential in crochet. I look forward to hearing from you, and welcome your feedback!
Have a fantabulous day!
Michele
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