Tottie Talks Crafts Blog » crochet

One of a kind woven art doll-Green Empress and a mini studio tour

tottietalkscrafts — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:39:25 +0000

Over the last couple of years, I have been weaving a series of tapestries and one of a kind art dolls.

Green-Empress-art-doll-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-copyright

I am calling this series, ‘Woven Women’. I made a little video mini tour of one corner of my studio, showing ‘The Green Empress’.

The Green Empress brings together many of my favorite fiber techniques: Tapestry weaving, inkle weaving, small loom weaving, crochet, wire work, tatting and punch needle embroidery.

My plan is to eventually have enough ‘Woven Women’ for a one woman show. I don’t have enough of them finished yet, but I am working on it!

Here are some more photos and the video tour that shows The Green Empress:

Green-Empress-art-doll-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-copyright

Her face is punch needle embroidery and her crown is tapestry weave.

Green-Empress-art-doll-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-copyright

Her hands are heavy gauge wire, wrapped with cotton thread. They are cupped so they can hold small objects.

Her arms are inkle bands and 2 inch Weave it Squares, stitched and shaped and layered.

Green-Empress-art-doll-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-copyright

Her feet are a combination of 2 inch squares that I wove on my vintage Weave it loom, with Inkle weaving.

I just kept stitching and shaping until I was happy with her feet.

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I crocheted wire in an open work mesh to shape her body and skirt.

They, I wove miles of inkle bands (woven on my Schacht inkle loom) through them.

I also wove in tatted lace, too. The skirt is about 24 inches wide, but is folded and stitched.

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This closeup shows a small panel of punch needle embroidery , tatting, inkle weaving and the copper wire armature.

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Close up of one eye and part of the crown. You can see that I love Byzantine art, as there is a definite influence here.

And, here is the link to a mini studio tour, with my wonderful husband playing one of his compositions (with our small dog in his lap, as small dog insists on sitting in Jim’s lap when he plays and practices!)

I have started a group on Ravelry

tottietalkscrafts — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:08:39 +0000

I’ve started a group on Ravelry where I will be gathering up and posting all kinds of links to tutorials, designs, patterns, free patterns, and more.

I’ll be working on it, bit by bit to get information into it….

and you are so welcome to join!

Noreen’s Ravelry group

Travelling Bear settles in- part 3

tottietalkscrafts — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 19:57:35 +0000

Well, September has been challenging so far… I am playing unwilling host to a nasty flu thingie that has me feeling like a squashed bug, so I have been spending a lot of time curled up in fetal position wishing that the virus or whatever it is would just go away and let me return to my normal happy, healthy self!!!

Needless to say, I haven’t felt like blogging – who wants to hear moaning and groaning?

Anyhow, I thought I would FINALLY tie up the adventures of the tiny traveling bears (see part one and part two)

Earlier in the summer, my son and his wife and one of their closest friends moved one of their other near and dear friends to Vancouver, BC.

I gave them wee teddies to keep them safe on their journey, and my son took photos of the bears on the trip.

He also took pictures of Paul and his teddy as they settled into their new home:

Teddy decided that he quite liked hanging out with the prayer flags. He sent lots of good wishes out with them, too….

He’s mostly hanging out around Paul’s computer, helping with editing school work and stuff like that.

He needs to give Paul a little nudge to send us a note… ahem….

Because we are all sending Paul and Teddy tons of love and hopes for great happiness in their new home and school and city!!!

Adventures of 2 travelling bears part 2

tottietalkscrafts — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:08:35 +0000

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! sometimes, technology is BEYOND frustrating!

I have spent the last 2 hours, trying to get this post to ‘take’…. but even though I have edited it a dozen or more times, and even deleted, and started over …. the photos just WON’T show up….. I’ll try again tomorrow….

In part one of the adventures of the traveling bears ‘ Link ,

the bears and their humans set out for Vancouver to get Paul moved and settled in for his new school year.

photo copyright Angus Findlay

The bears loved sunbathing on the dashboard of the van, and agreed that they had the very best view of the scenery.

photo copyright Angus Findlay

They quite enjoyed exploring the sand dunes in the Rocky Mountains.

…

Secretly, they were relieved that they didn’t meet any of their large Grizzly cousins.

Although, they assured everyone that they would be very brave and speak politely to any enormous bears who ambled past….

Paul and Little Bear took a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry deep breath when they arrived on his new doorstep.

photo copyright Angus Findlay

It was a fine road trip…. next ….. settling in……

The adventures of 2 travelling bears-1

tottietalkscrafts — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:22:05 +0000

One of our son’s closest friends, Paul, decided to move to another city to go to school.

So, our son and his wife and another of their dear friends, (Mike), decided to drive Paul to his new city.

They loaded up their van with Paul’s possesions and came out to the farm to spend the night before ‘take off’.

As I watched them preparing for the journey, I had the sudden impulse to ask Paul if he would like a travelling comfort bear to keep him company on his great adventure.

He said- Yes, please!

Luckily, I have a stash of them, crocheted from the designs in my book: Crocheted Teddy Bears (link)

Mike was also open to adopting a teddy, so he chose one, too….

Soon, the Intrepid Travellers were all packed and ready to head out down the road, over the mountains to the Coast…..

The van was loaded right to the gills, so the bears decided to check the air pressure on the tires….

They declared it to be acceptable.

All hatches battened… and the team prepared for a good night’s sleep and an early morning departure….

Further adventures of Team Paul and The Amazing Travelling Bears to be continued….

A Mermaid living in my mother’s threads

tottietalkscrafts — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:31:56 +0000

A few weeks ago, a whole lot of my mother’s embroidery threads came to live at my house…. my mother, in her glory days, was a master embroiderer. Sadly, she is no longer able to do needlework and there is no room for her embroidery threads in her new home.

At first, I was incredibly saddened by the presence of her threads in my studio… I knew that she had had a hard time making the choice to leave her condo…. and the threads were symbolic to me of her decline. I also felt, oddly, that I was ‘snooping’ through her things as I sorted the threads and needlework tools. It was quite depressing.

I felt like she had treasured her threads so much that I couldn’t possibly do anything with them that would match her dreams for them, and it brought up all kinds of ‘not good enough’ stuff. Very painful!

Luckily, I have close loved ones who helped me shift my focus away from the painful focus, and to embrace the threads as my own, and to work with them in a way that is a celebration of all the delight that my mother felt in her needlework…..

And, so I started weaving with them, and then got the inspiration to use her threads to continue my shadow scarf series….. this time, to crochet mermaids! My mother always loved mermaids as much as I do, so it seemed right to me…..

And, so, I have been discovering the mermaids that were living in my mother’s threads- it has been a joyous discovery for me, and I am delighted with them!

I have just finished the pattern, and have put it up on my website at: Crochet. (click on link).

You never know where you will find joy and healing…. isn’t it amazing how often that it lives in the middle of threads, yarns and the tools of our needlecraft?

So, here’s to imagination, and to creativity, and to the healing that they can bring- and of course, here’s to love, and to friendship, too…. and to all the tender mercies that they bestow on us!

And, also…. here’s to mermaids…..

wherever they live…..

Freeform Crochet artist Jorel Thomson

tottietalkscrafts — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:51:49 +0000

It has been a pleasure to learn more about some of the fiber artists (members of the International Freeform Fiber Artists Group) who contributed to the book: Somewhere in my World,

Note: All the proceeds of the book go to the following 2 charities:

Kiva.org and to Mercy Corp for Haitian relief

This is going to be the last profile in the series, and I am ending the series with a profile of my dear friend, Jorel Thomson.

Link to her page in the book.

As always, my questions are in GREEN and Jorel’s answers are in black.

1. Can you tell us a little about your piece for ‘Somewhere in my world’?

I’ve been playing with Tunisian crochet and enjoying the different textures it creates. I’ve also been taking a ceramics class and having fun making things. So I included buttons I’ve made (the house and the leaves) on the Tunisian stitched background. I used yarn that was given away at a crochet show, where I met in person several of the FFers that I’ve known online for years. And I just happened to have the little sheep beads, which were perfect for what I wanted to do.

2. What was your inspiration, and has it lead to further explorations for you?

I’ve always wanted to see the world but somehow, never quite got around to it. My daughter has been studying in Spain this past year and I took the opportunity to visit her. We rode a bus from Bilbao to San Sebastian through Pais Vasco, the Basque country, and it was a symphony of green fields, houses set in the fields, small flocks of sheep. I knew that would be my challenge piece for this year.

3. The International Freeform Fiber Artists Guild is primarily focused on crochet, but includes so many other fiber techniques. Do you do other things other than crochet, and if so, what are they?

I used to say I’ve never met a craft I didn’t like. When my girls were younger, I did a lot of crafting with them, with the Girl Scouts, with various groups of kids. I used to sew, hand embroider, once upon a time had a quilt business, have done various papercrafts, paper molding, handmade paper, origami (still looking for a book that makes it easy) . Some small loom handweaving, some experiments with basketry. Loved making wax models for casting silver but hated cleaning them up. Easy jewelry making when the girls were teenagers and wanted lots of earrings (I got them started and then they took off making their own). I’m currently taking an ongoing ceramics class. I have a favorite painting teacher and for a long time, took a class a year from her but have not done much with that lately. Have crocheted for years, finally managed to learn to knit when someone told me you could hold the yarn in your left hand.

4. What part of creating your piece for ‘Somewhere in my world’ was the most challenging for you?

Coming up with the basic idea. The theme did not immediately speak to me so I had to do some real searching for an idea I wanted to pursue. When I knew I was going to be visiting my daughter, I wanted to come up with an idea based on the trip.

5. What part of creating your piece for ‘Somewhere in my world’ was the most inspiring and fun for you?

Taking the trip to Spain with my daughters. Actually creating the piece was easy. It’s more representational than most of my Freeform and very different from my other work.

6. What triggers your creativity?

Very hard to say. Pretty much anything can set up a creative train of thought. One year, I saw the Xmas trees people had discarded after the holidays and thought I’d like to do something based on green trees, tinsel, brown trees. Haven’t done it yet but the idea is still there. I also am very inspired by seeing other peoples’ work, in all media. But my inspiration is almost entirely visual–music doesn’t do it for me.

7. Which of the fiber arts speak most deeply to you?

Crochet, especially freeform. Funnily, most of the projects I have going are knit but that’s because I knit from patterns. I’m following directions, not creating something brand new, so it’s restful. Sometimes I find Freeform exhausting because some pieces take a lot of thought.

8. Does where you live influence your work in any way?

Yes and no. There are days I wish I lived in a less suburban area, had more nature within walking distance. I love California. I can drive to the ocean, the bay, the city, a little further and see mountains but they are not within walking distance. Then I realize I’m only 5 minutes from my job, my doctor, the vet, the grocery store and enjoy the convenience of it.

9. Is teaching the fiber arts a significant part of expressing your creativity?

I LOVE teaching! The yarn store I used to teach at closed and I’d forgotten how much I liked teaching until I recently started to teach at another local shop. I’m happy when I help someone discover the ability to create something with their own hands.

10. Do you have a crafting or arts community that influences you and is important to you? (online or ‘real life’). Is it important to you to be in touch with your peers?

I’m one of the original members of the International Freeform group, back before it was on Yahoo. That group has been a big presence in my life for years and I treasure the friends I’ve made online through the group. It’s a joy when I have the opportunity to meet any of them in person, which isn’t as often as I’d like. And Ravelry has become a community I value, too. I have a few local friends I see regularly–we call it Monday Knitting but we don’t do much knitting, more chatting. Helping at Stitches West is a high point in my year, something I look forward to and take time off from work for. So yes, it is important for me to be in contact with others who share my fiber enthusiasm.

11. Is there anything that I have missed that you would like to share with the readers of Tottie Talks Crafts?

I don’t consider myself an artist. I am very good at figuring out how to make something I’ve seen somewhere but a lot of what I do, I don’t consider original. So I call myself a craftswoman and am in awe of some of the truly creative people in the FF group (including you, Noreen!)

Fiber artist profile Pirkko Vega

tottietalkscrafts — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:51:13 +0000

For the last week, I have been profiling some of the fiber artists (members of the International Freeform Fiber Artists Group) who contributed to the book: Somewhere in my World,

I have said it before and I’m saying it again: all the proceeds of the book go to the following 2 charities:

Kiva.org and to Mercy Corp for Haitian relief

Today, I am profiling Pirkko Vega, who is a multi-talented, but very modest, as well as incredibly delightful person. Pirk did the artwork for the cover of the book, as well as contributing to the book. Link to her page in the book.

As always, my questions are in GREEN and Pirkko’s answers are in black.

1. Can you tell us a little about your piece for ‘Somewhere in my world’? What was your inspiration, and has it lead to further explorations for you?

I have been in Europe, South America and of course North America. The world around me has many exciting features. When I was in Bermuda, I could not stop looking at the beautiful water, the caves, winding roads. When I was in Argentina, my heart stopped when

I went to the mountains: The Andes, the surrounding areas, the streams, wilderness, everything imaginative are for everyone to admire.

There is water everywhere, and Atlantic Ocean is the one in the middle of my different worlds. I made my piece focusing on different areas that I have seen and where I have been.

Right now my inspiration is on another project, so no further

explorations at the moment, but for sure, later.

2. How did you come to be a fiber artist/artisan?

Started in my early teen years, when I discovered that I could create things with yarn.

Later when I was focusing on my creativity in drawings and paintings, I combined those projects with yarn and thread. My projects became paintings. Freeform Crochet and Knitting technique is a perfect process for the paintings I would like to do.

I would say that my junior high school art teacher had some effect on my leaning towards creativity. She was very encouraging.

3. What aspect of your work is most challenging to you?

I would like to be more organized. I tend to just go on and on, and quite often with no specific direction. The ideas are there to bring to life, but my organizing skills need some further development. That is very frustrating sometimes.

4. What part of it is the most rewarding to you? Do you have a favorite process or aspect of all that you do?

When I have created a freeform scrumble that looks interesting and inviting to more scrumbles, I feel very satisfied. One favorite process is to let my hook travel and take its path and bring me “flowers”.

5. How long have you been immersed in your fiber arts?

A very long time. However, the most serious development started around ten years ago, when I tried to make a jacket and got extremely bored with the repetition, so I decided to let my imagination take charge.

6. What triggers your creativity? What is most inspiring to you?

It could be anything, really, a picture, nature, ocean, image in my dreams, and the materials.

Most of my ideas come to me, just before I fall asleep. I can see the images under my eyelids. It’s true.

7. Which of the fiber arts speak most deeply to you?

Freeform crochet.

8. What is your favorite way of getting your work out into the world?

I post pictures in Flickr, Ravelry (picarapirk) and my blog.

9. Does where you live influence your work in any way?

Not really. It’s the world outside my living areas. I live in the city of streets and huge buildings. I much rather get outside the city, at least. Of course, there are many places in our town that could influence my work, but so far I have turned that switch off.

(Noreen interrupting here: Um…. look at this Urban Image bag that Pirkko designed… I think that the towers of the city are definitely an influence on this one! )

10.Can people buy your work? No. I make gifts.

11. Do you maintain a blog or website? If so, what are their urls?

http://www.pirkcrochets.blogspot.com

12. Do you have a crafting or arts community that influences you and is important to you? (online or ‘real life’). Is it important to you to be in touch with your peers?

I belong to a local knitting group. We meet once a month.

My most important arts community is the International FreeForm group, and the group is indeed very important to me.

13. Do you have an all time favorite piece that you designed?

My Irish Crochet tunic, in semi freeform style.

14. Is there a project or product that has ever flummoxed you and just refused to work out?

I call those UFOs and I have lots of them. The most frustrating is the butterfly in freeform style, that I have trouble

inserting anywhere. It’s still waiting for a the final design, which has not come to life.

15. Is there anything that I have missed that you would like to share with the readers of Tottie Talks Crafts?

I would like to add here that although my main interest is Freeform technique, I also like to crochet Irish Crochet motifs, knit lace shawls, make dolls, and toys, knitted and crocheted. My project ideas come in cycles, right now it’s time for sweaters and tops, tomorrow might be something else. I never know.

Profile of fiber artist Aileen Lochhead

tottietalkscrafts — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:46:29 +0000

It has been so much fun to profile the fiber artists (members of the International Freeform Fiber Artists Group) who contributed to the book: Somewhere in my World,

I am so pleased that all the proceeds of the book go to the following 2 charities:

Kiva.org and to Mercy Corp for Haitian relief

Today, I am profiling Aileen Lochhead.

My questions are in GREEN and Aileen’s answers are in black.

1. Can you tell us a little about your piece for ‘Somewhere in my world’?

This piece of work is titled ‘The Mayhem of Menstruation’ and I think the title says it all. This was really an exploration of my creativity and the sometimes chaotic effects of the menstrual cycle on my creativity. I’m certain I am not the only artist to have explored this relationship. The whole menstrual cycle can severely disrupt the way we experience and perceive the world and so that is how I related it to the overall exhibition concept, ‘Somewhere in My World’.

2. What was your inspiration, and has it lead to further explorations for you?

I guess the inspiration was the need or desire to explore this concept of female cycles and at the same time document it. It is also about allowing and encouraging other people to think about how their cycles affect their creativity. This isn’t related purely to menstruating women but to all women and people. I have already had positive feedback from a lady who has been having a tough time with menopause. She found my work allowed her to laugh and hopefully relate to the concept. She also thanked me for bringing such issues into a public arena be it the conduit is fibre.

Yes I do use many other techniques, but for this piece I wanted it to be purely crochet. Given I was working on the theme of cycles it had to be a continuous cycle of crochet. There was no sewing etc involved.

I love to work with all fibres and do hand weaving, hand prodded rugs, rag rugs I also paint, draw and do zentangles. My primary medium is crochet and I always return to it.

4. What part of creating your piece for ‘Somewhere in my world’ was the most challenging for you?

There were two aspects that were challenging firstly trying to create an overall shape that in some way represented a cycle but wasn’t a perfect circle, I hope I achieved that. Also the work became much larger than I anticipated and so knowing when to stop was a challenge for me.

5. What part of creating your piece for ‘Somewhere in my world’ was the most inspiring and fun for you?

The selfish freedom to explore an issue with no limitations at all. The thinking about what to make and ultimately the whole creative process, from lots of disparate ideas through to the process of busy hands drawing that concept with fibre and crochet hook. I hope this makes sense.

6. What triggers your creativity?

This is a really difficult question to articulate a coherent answer to. I have found over the years that the more you create the more you become creative. Creativity feds creativity. You can be busy working on one project and happily absorbed planning a new project at the same time. I guess that’s why we all have bags and bags of WIP’s – work in progress. Although I’m much more disciplined now and try to complete every project before starting another one but that doesn’t sop me from thinking about it and creating in my mind.

7. Which of the fiber arts speak most deeply to you?

Crochet and weaving and all things fabric. I no longer do any tapestry or freeform embroidery as my eyesight is not the best and I feel constrained by the lack of pace with them.

8. Does where you live influence your work in any way?

Yes absolutely I think you would have to live in a vacuum to not be influenced by your environment on every level. The weather, climate, the people you interact with all influence you. It’s a continual process that is ever changing. All part of life’s rich tapestry, no pun intended.

9. Can people buy your work?

Yes people can buy my work but in general freeform work is by commission only so that I can fully understand what a client wants. Some people like a functional item bag, cushion or shawl etc and others want a piece of art a wall hanging for example.

If people are interested they can email me direct at thesunroomuk@googlemail.com

10. Do you have a blog, etsy shop, ravelry shop or website? If so, what are their urls?

Etsy – http://www.etsy.com/shop/Thesunroomuk

Folksy – http://www.folksy.com/shops/Thesunroom

Blog – http://www.goodtimesithinkso.blogspot.com

Blog – http://www.fibreartuk.blogspot.com

Twitter – http://twitter.com/TheSunroomUK

11. Do you have a crafting or arts community that influences you and is important to you? (online or ‘real life’). Is it important to you to be in touch with your peers?

I think all communities on and offline both influence and have meaning for me. We naturally gravitate toward like minded and supportive communities. The FF Group is great and feels like a community despite people being from all over the world. All the social media networks allow us to find like minded creative folks who we can follow, share and be influenced by.

12. Is there anything that I have missed that you would like to share with the readers of Tottie Talks Crafts?

Yes I wonder if any of your readers might be interested in crocheting ribbons for my Clootie Tree. This is a tree adorned with crochet ribbon from people around the world who share a love of all things crochet and fibre. It’s a truly communal tree now and the first crochet clootie tree that I’ve heard of. It’s a developing piece of fibre art and you can find more details here – http://goodtimesithinkso.blogspot.com/2010/05/clootie-tree-update-new-ribbons.html

Again if anyone would like to send me ribbons please email me direct at thesunroomuk@googlemail.com

Thank you.

Fiber Artist Profile- Renate Kirkpatrick

tottietalkscrafts — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:59:43 +0000

I have really enjoyed getting to know more of the fiber artists (members of the International Freeform Fiber Artists Group) who contributed to the book: Somewhere in my World,

I am so pleased that all the proceeds of the book go to the following 2 charities:

Kiva.org and to Mercy Corp for Haitian relief

Today, I am profiling Australian fiber artist, Renate Kirkpatrick. Link to her page in the book.

As always, my questions are in GREEN and Renate’s answers are in black.

1. Can you tell us a little about your piece for ‘Somewhere in my world’?

It depicts the sunny place where I live, sub-tropical Queensland, Australia

–

2. What was your inspiration, and has it lead to further explorations for you?

when I first discovered Freeform & started playing around with it, long before I saw the wonderful array of Freeform artists that I know of today, I kept coming up with coral-like motifs & in the end decided that I just had to incorporate them into creative pieces that would stand on their own

Oh yes, my first love is handmade paper (made from plant fibres & recylceled) & although I’m no longer in a position to play with this medium anymore I have never given up hope of returning to it again one day.

I enjoy hooking Rag Rugs (made from old clothes & rags) & have spent many happy hours creating a wonderful collection of wall hangings.

Felting & hand dying are techniques I also like to explore from time to time & I enjoy finding ways of incorporating them into the freeform pieces

4. What part of creating your piece for ‘Somewhere in my world’ was the most challenging for you?

Time. It’s always time… so many ideas but never enough time to explore them all

5. What part of creating your piece for ‘Somewhere in my world’ was the most inspiring and fun for you?

just choosing a yarn or colour & letting the hook lead the way

6. What triggers your creativity?

Colour, texture & form – whenever I find a new yarn, I can’t wait to get it home to see where the hook, needles & yarn will take me

7. Which of the fiber arts speak most deeply to you?

At the moment I would have to say, Freeform Crochet/knitting/felting – every new piece I create leads on to another new idea & the proverbial freeform question ‘I wonder what will happen if I try this or that’ – I think it will be a long time before the question is answered, if ever…

8. Does where you live influence your work in any way?

Absolutely… Australia is a kaleidoscope of everything that I love – rich colours, unusual fauna & ancient earth formations. Here in Queensland I have the added influence of the ocean & wonderful beaches

9. Can people buy your work?

Yes they can…

I sell my freeform pieces & patterns on Etsy

http://www.etsy.com/shop/rensfibreart

& my patterns are also available on Zibbet

http://www.zibbet.com/rensfibreart

Artfire

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=37918

& Ravelry

http://www.ravelry.com/people/rensfibreart

10. Do you have a blog, etsy shop, ravelry shop or website? If so, what are their urls?

My website/Blog showcases my Paper work, Rag Rugs, Freeform & traditional crochet

http://rensfibreart.wordpress.com/

I love Ravelry, my stepping stone into the cyber world, where I have meet so many interesting people & been inspired by the tremendous collection of talent – my Ravelry user name is rensfibreart

you can see a collection of my work on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rensfibreart/

I also have a Facebook fan page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/rensfibreart/143714202533

& I’m a member of the TAFA list

http://www.tafalist.com/2010/02/renate-kirkpatrick-rensfibreart.html

11. Do you have a crafting or arts community that influences you and is important to you? (online or ‘real life’). Is it important to you to be in touch with your peers?

Oh yes, being in touch with other ‘yarn nutters’ is wonderful – who else understands the excitement of finding yet another beautiful yarn, discovering a new stitch or just drooling over a textured piece of freeform?

I owe most of my success to the lovely ladies who support my classes, I’ve learnt so much from them & their constant questioning always spurs me on the try new things

& of course, Ravelry groups & Freeforn Yahoo group

12. Is there anything that I have missed that you would like to share with the readers of Tottie Talks Crafts?

I often hear people say ‘ Oh, I’d love to be able to do that but I’m not creative…’ however, I’m a firm believer that everyone harbours creativity within them & it blossoms through ‘the doing’ – talent isn’t always enough, without the doing how will that talent shine – I say, ‘You’ll never know unless you give it a go….’