The Crochet Dude

Vlog - it's not just for breakfast.

-drew emborsky- — 2010-08-24T12:56:00Z

i've been wanting to do more video blogging - or 'vlogging' as some call it, but since the last vlog I uploaded was a YEAR and a HALF ago I suppose it hasn't been near the top of my to-do list. So when my iPhone app launched last week (and it features my YouTube videos on it) I felt a renewed sense of excitement in getting my video on. I'm hoping to be making a bunch of "how to" videos along the way as well.

For my friends who are hearing impaired I apologize for not having figured out how to close caption my videos yet. I promise that I will continue to try to find that technology, and until then rest assured that the vlog won't be replacing the blog. I didn't wake up this morning thinking I would say the word "vlog" so much today. Anywho....

Mentioned in the vlog:

Crochet It. Love It. Wear It! by Drew Emborsky

Crochet So Fine: Exquisite Designs with Fine Yarns by Kristin Omdahl

Vogue Knitting International

August Updates

-drew emborsky- — 2010-08-18T16:22:00Z

Summer is moving along quickly but I've been a bizzy little dude and have a few new things to share. I always find myself not blogging as much in the summertime and I think that's okay. Once you read further down you'll discover why that's about to change.

The Products

Many people have emailed me over the last week or so asking when when WHEN will The Crochet Dude products be available nationwide? "Soon" is the most accurate answer although I know it's not a very satisfying one. So I will say that Jo-ann Fabric will have a selection of them in their stores in August and online, Hobby Lobby has a selection in their stores already, and the entire line will be available starting at the beginning of September at Simplicity.com - I will most likely have some giddy announcement frenzy via this little blog, theTwitter machine, and the Facebook machine.

The August Purse

I'm so happy with how the August 2010 purse turned out for the Purse Pattern of the Month Club. It's a messenger style bag that uses cables, texture, and beads to give it a great organic look. Perfect for back to school. I'm just saying.

There are a few more spots left in the club so if you still want to join check out this page for more info . When you join you will get all 12 of the purse patterns starting right from July 2010.

There's An App For Me

I launched my free app for iPhone/iPad/iPod this morning. It's an easy way to keep up with my blog, videos, twitter, etc. Which actually means that I'll be shooting more videos, how-to's etc, and blogging more. It's kinda fun to know that it's going out to all my Apple peeps!

This is version 1.0 and I'm already working with my developer to add new features over the next year. More info here *click* .

The Book

Crochet it Love it Wear it! is so close to shipping!! Click here for a slideshow of all the projects included . The official launch is September 10 but I don't know if I can wait that long! Eeee! You can pre-order it now and be one of the first to receive it. Click here for more info *click* .

Corpse Flower Attacks Houston

-drew emborsky- — 2010-07-19T14:05:00Z

"Attack" may be a strong word, more like attracts Houston. The Houston Museum of Natural Science currently has on display a Amorphophallus titanum better known as a "corpse flower" because when it blooms it smells like rotting flesh. They are rare although in recent years the horticulture community at large has had success in getting them to bloom, er, in captivitiy.

I took time to visit the museum over the weekend to see what the fuss was all about. Sure enough, this flower is huge and it hasn't even opened up yet! At over 65 inches tall, I couldn't help but start humming songs from Little Shop of Horrors...

I'll have to go back once it opens to see what all the stink is about.....so to speak.

Anywho...

I also got to see normal flowers, and indoor waterfall, and some really cool butterflies while at the museum. Also, don't underestimate the power of the museum air conditioning. It's refreshing. I'm just saying is all.

Links links get your links

If you are looking for some crafty inspiration, check out these super cool links from around the web machine:

About Family Crafts
Sherri has fond memories of making and playing with paper dolls when she was young. Perhaps that is why she was so excited to create these printable paper dolls.

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen is offering a crafty blog giveaway. She offers 4 different ways you can enter to win her Tic-Tac-Toe 3 in a Row Blog Giveaway! Hurry over and enter today!

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi creates some glamorous shaker cards with her sewing supplies.

Cathie Filian
Surf’s up and Cathie has a step-by-step tutorial on how to make a beach towel roll up. It even has a secret pocket!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside announces the new Qbookshop.com along with a chance to win a copy of 1,000 Poses in Fashion; there is also a tutorial on how to make a rubber stamp out of a garden kneeling cushion and a couple of quilt border ideas.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Here are some more ideas from Eileen for decorating canvas tote bags.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has a copy of The Fine Art of the Tin Can to give away! Pop on over and sign up to win!

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
See how I used the stitch doodle technique from The Big-Ass book of Home Decor to embellish a skirt with a jackalope.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy is crocheting squares and totally missing her old yarn connection!

July Purse Unveiled

-drew emborsky- — 2010-07-16T13:30:00Z

Here it is, I'm so excited to unveil the first purse pattern to be included in the 2010 Purse Pattern of the Month club that is starting this month!!

The bag measures 21" at the base and 15" tall (without the handles). I am so happy with how it turned out and i'm hoping the club subscribers are too. There is still room for you if you want to join in on the fun!!

Here's how the club works:

Sign ups will be limited, patterns will begin to arrive in July 2010. You will receive a printed never before seen crochet purse pattern each month for a year for a one time payment of $120 (I don't have the technology to process monthly payments, sorry). The patterns will be signed and numbered and they will be retired at the end of each month. You will never see them published anywhere else. And hey, you never know when some bonus pattern(s) will be thrown in sometime during the year just for fun!

There is still room to sign up, click here:

Miss Chandler Has A Big Day Ahead

-drew emborsky- — 2010-07-12T14:01:00Z

According to the UPS website there are two giant boxes of yarn headed my way, arriving some time today. That means I have now until then to get everything else in my life in order. Everything. I'll need more coffee - that's a tall order.

Prayer Shawl Winners!

Congratulations to Jana & Janice for winning the two extra copies of Crochet Prayer Shawls from Leisure Arts that I was giving away over the weekend. Hope you enjoy them! =)

Miss Chandler...

...has a big day ahead of her:

And if you need something to keep you busy, here are some crafty links from around the Innernet Machine:

The Artful Crafter
Yikes! Eileen learns she can’t doodle.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Read a book recommendation (and not just because she's included!) Craft Corps by Vickie Howell.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi shares the results of her needle felting experiment.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Turn your 'worst' traits into positives, Madge shares how in this post about The Tao of Success.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy has her fourth earrings kit and tutorial up, and it has a lovely vintage feel to it.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Over at Craftside there are a bunch of hats from the new book 1,000 Fabulous Knit Hats with a tutorial on how to make recycled sweater giant curly pom poms, a tutorial on how to make a calligraphy award certificate, and a charming twig doll.

Cathie Filian
Cathie shares a template and design ideas for creating snapuit themed baby shower invitations.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi uses a stencil to silk screen this faux necklace t-shirt.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen is excited to announce 4 new videos uploaded. Stop by and check them out, and share them with your friends!

About Family Crafts
Have even more fun doing painting projects with kids by whipping up one or more batches of paint using free recipes.

Prayer Shawl Giveaway!

-drew emborsky- — 2010-07-07T17:23:00Z

I just realized that when I received my complimentary designer's copy of the new Leisure Arts book Crochet Prayer Shawls that they shipped me two extras! Hooray! So you know what that means. It's giveaway time!!

The book is a collection of shawls that you can crochet and give to someone that needs a little encouragement, comfort, hope, etc. I designed one of the shawls and you can see a photo of it by clicking here.

To enter please leave a comment below. It would be great if you could tell me about how you have seen crochet, knit, or any other craft give comfort to someone in need. I started crocheting professionally because of crocheting for charity so this subject is very dear to my heart and I would love to hear your stories! If you haven't seen the power of crafting for comfort that is okay too, just leave a comment below and you will be entered. Winners will be chosen through a random drawing this coming weekend.

PS: please please please be sure that your email is provided. Makes it tricky to get in touch with the winner otherwise!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED - THANK-YOU FOR ENTERING!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTINUE TO SHARE YOUR STORIES IN THE COMMENT SECTION; I'M ENJOYING THEM VERY MUCH!

CHA Supershow - Be there!!

-drew emborsky- — 2010-07-05T14:17:00Z

I've confirmed that I will appearing at the Craft & Hobby Association summer Supershow at the end of July! This will be my only Illinois appearance in 2010 so please come on up to Chicago and see me!

For more information about the Supershow, the market, the classes, the celebrity appearances, click here:

CHA Craft Supershow in Chicago

Los Links!

Here are some great crafty sights from around the Innernet Machine to get you in the mood! See you in Chi-town!!

About Family Crafts
Are you planning a trip that will keep the family confined to the car or airplane for a long amount of time? If so, these travel games and crafts might be just what you need!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi coats some paper with resin to make these pretty wired pendants.

Crafty Princess Diaries
There's more, more, more to do on the jewelry making book! When will this process end?

Mixed Media Artist
Want to get your feet wet with altered books?

The Artful Crafter
Look how easy it is to personalize a canvas tote bag with Quick Fuse fabric sheets.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See 2 fun mixed-media altered book techniques I tried from the new book Collage Playground by Kimberly Santiago.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge gets some much needed inspiration from the divine Cecil Beaton and Gigi.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's got the cutest retro style fawn softie pattern and how-to, a free pop-up staircase template download, a bunch of beaded bling inspirations and throw in a bit of fashion with a redo spin all for your crafty pleasure.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how to create a faux aged metal look on Anaglypta wallpaper.

Book review - Crochet Prayer Shawls

-drew emborsky- — 2010-06-30T13:27:00Z

Leisure Arts has put out a wonderful companion book for anyone who crochets shawls for charity , for themselves, or for gifts! There are 15 wrap designs in this little hard cover book by some pretty famous crochet rock stars:

Kay Meadors
Mary E. Nolfi
Edie Eckman
Jill Wright
Lisa Gentry
Rochelle Johnson
Jeannine LaRoche
Becky Stevens
Tamara Gonzales
Karen Rattoo-Whooley
Darla Sims
Jean Leinhauser

And for some reason they asked me to participate too. So here is what I contributed, a textured rectangular wrap that is perfect for anyone who needs a little comfort.

All in all I think this a great book. The spiral bound pages make it so easy to lay the patterns flat and work from them. The hard cover and 5 x 8 size make it easy to drop the book in your craft bag and take it with you. The photos are clear and there are close ups of the projects so you can see the stitch combinations even better. The variety also makes the book quite nice. There are rectangle shawls, triangles shawl, long ones and short ones, casual ones and dressier ones.

For more information click here: Crochet Prayer Shawls - 15 Wraps to Share

Hurricane Crafty Madness

-drew emborsky- — 2010-06-25T13:14:00Z

This is the weekend that I don't necessarily dread, but don't like what I have to do at the same time. This is the weekend that i have to update my hurricane survival kit. You see, that goober Ike hit my house/neighborhood/city directly and I know first hand what's it's like to have some of what we take for granted eliminated from daily life. You know, like drinking water, electricity, gas, food - the stuff that makes us stay alive.

So I'm going to get a big gas can for the new generator I bought a few months ago, and a window A/C unit (because nothing makes a dude grumpier than to finish a day of hauling hurricane debris and not be able to sleep because it's HOT and humid inside the house), a case or so of food that doesn't need cooking (tuna, beans, etc), and of course drinking water. There is a ton of good information here at the National Hurricane Center's website.

I do believe, but don't quote me on this, that I have enough yarn to get me through. I'm just saying is all.

Also for this weekend here are some links to craftiness around the Internet machine!

About Family Crafts
Read through Sherri's tie-dye tutorial and you will discover how easy it is to create your own colorful, tie-dyed t-shirts and more.

Aileen's Musings
Watch Aileen's newest video and see how she transforms a boring canvas bag into a snazzy colorful tote!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi uses the sweetest bird embellishments to make a card set.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's got a chance to win a copy of Jennifer Worick's Simple Gifts and how-to's on making a silhouette, a homemade flea collar for your dog, stringing rings onto a ribbon necklace and a fun video interview with Drew Brophy the author of How to Draw with Drew Brophy

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy is hitting the school books again but takes a moment to review her summer crafting and other accomplishments.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Have you ever felt like the 'red headed step child?'

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has gathered up all her favorite collage and quilt techniques to share.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Green Ring and wire earrings inspired by the book 101 Wire Earrings by Denise Peck

The Artful Crafter
How to make a wooden country critter wall plaque.

Warm up your hooks!

-drew emborsky- — 2010-06-23T13:15:00Z

Now that The Book has gone to print and everything is past the point of no return it is such a thrill for me to share with you the images of all the projects that are included in Crochet it Love it Wear it - my new book that will be out this September from Leisure Arts.

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So much of the past year of my life is in this book and I have to admit that I'm pretty darned proud of how it turned out. I hope that you love it too. Here are some details:

Pub date: September 10, 2010 (pre-orders on Amazon tend to get it sooner, I'm just saying)

Sizes range from Small to 2XL on most designs

Skill levels range from easy to advanced, but you'd be surprised which ones are easy!

There you have it - now I have to turn all my attention the Purse Pattern of the Month Club!