Tottie Talks Crafts Blog » self published books & self publishing

A quick easy and comfie capelet (caplet ?) to weave

tottietalkscrafts — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:35:25 +0000

I have just released the pattern for my new woven capelet (caplet?) – it’s quick and super easy to make, and wonderfully comfortable to wear.

Potholder loom woven capelet (c) by Noreen Crone-Findlay

The Capelet is made by weaving simple squares with yarn on the potholder loom, and stitching them together.

The drawstring is a spool knitted cord.

Potholder loom woven capelet (c) by Noreen Crone-Findlay

When the drawstring is tied, it gathers the points of the squares into petals.

Potholder loom woven capelet (c) by Noreen Crone-Findlay

The capelet is flattering to all figures.

The pattern for the capelet fits sizes Small to Extra Large.

It is easy to adjust it to fit more voluptuous figures.
The pattern is $4.95 Cdn and is available at:
http://www.crone-findlay.com/Crone-FindlayCreationsPotholderLoomWeaving.html

Happy weaving, and joy in all that you celebrate!
) Noreen

Nifty ‘V’ and ‘U’ shape scarves to weave on the potholder loom

tottietalkscrafts — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:49:41 +0000

For this last year and a half, I have been designing up a storm, but not getting the designs out into the world.

I made a promise to myself that I am going to get as many of the new designs up and released as possible before this year ends.

On that note, I am happy to announce that I have finished another pattern- Whee, whew and yay!!!!

The Viva ‘V’ and “U’ shaped scarves are so comfortable to wear!

The clever shaping means that the scarf stays in place without a lot of extra yardage.

It can be made in several different ways. It can be a ‘V’ shaped scarf or cowl, or a ‘U’ shaped scarf or cowl.

It’s a wonderful way to showcase art yarn, and other special hand spun yarns.

Instructions are given for how to weave all the different shapes using regular weaving with yarn techniques on the potholder loom,

AS WELL AS: How to weave with bulky yarns on the potholder loom.

Instructions are also given for how to make big arty buttons from dead branches.

The lightweight version works well as a ‘keyhole’ scarf – one end pulls through an opening in the other end of the scarf.

Adding a spool knitted edging is optional.

There are soooooooooooo many ways to express your creativity with this nifty scarf!

The best part is that it is so quick and easy to make, and a real delight to wear!

The pattern can be ordered from: http://www.crone-findlay.com/Crone-FindlayCreationsPotholderLoomWeaving.html

Happy Weaving!

Woven Whimsical Cats

tottietalkscrafts — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:06:44 +0000

One of the joys of self publishing patterns is that I get to talk about them as soon as I finish them. (Not allowed to do that with commissioned projects! It’s up to the editors to decide when the word goes out on those).

Whimsical-woven-cats-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(c)

My most recent self published pattern is for the Woven Whimsical Cats.

You can order the pdf pattern from my website: Link

They have been so much fun to design.

I started the designing process for them last February.

I went through several variations of them before I settled on the two versions that are in the pattern.

There’s the sitting Whimsical Cats, who are infinitely poseable (and can be convinced to wear shoes and play musical instruments, too!)

Whimsical-woven-cats-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(c)

They have distinctly, ‘Who me?!’ expressions of feline innocence, which probably means that they are up to all manner of mischief!

Their ‘Laying Down’ cousins:

Whimsical-woven-cats-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(c)

are lovely to rest your wrist on when playing with the computer mouse.

Of course, they might take a swipe at the mouse, but that’s to be expected, isn’t it?

Whimsical-woven-cats-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(c)

They were woven on the lovely potholder loom from Dewberry Ridge looms:http://www.dewberryridge.com/products/potholder-loom

Whimsical-woven-cats-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(c)

The yarn is art yarn, handspun by the delightful Nancy Nagle of Nangellini: www.nangellini.com

Whimsical-woven-cats-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(c)

The spool knitter that is used in the project is the Lollipop from Harrisville designs: Link

When I was designing and weaving the Whimsical Woven cats, I was remembering all the wonderful cats who have graced my life with their marvelous ways.

So, here’s to our Feline Friends! with love and thanks for all the blessings!

Fanciful freeform stole with Lily Speed-O-Weave motifs, crochet, spool knitting & inkle bands

tottietalkscrafts — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:40:30 +0000

I am just so happy, as I have been working really hard for the last 9 months on a book that has taken years to create. AND, today, I released it!

It’s: The Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom Book: Fab New How To’s, Designs & Projects For a Vintage Classic Loom (click on the title for the link to my website)

It’s full of how to techniques, including nifty things that I figured out, like how to weave half hexagons and triangles on the hexagon loom, so you can make awesome stuff. (like baskets and coats and vests and bags and and and)

Lily Speed-o-weave freeform stole by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

One of my fave inspiration pieces in the book is a Freeform stole that I made using hexagons from the Lily Speed-O-Weave loom, as well as crocheted motifs (lots of fairies, flowers, hearts and butterflies), spool knitting, inkle band weaving, potholder loom motifs, and tatting, all connected by crocheted chain stitches.

I wanted to inspire people to think outside the box when they are playing with small loom weaving, and to feel brave about combining it with crochet, tatting, spool knitting and, of course, their Lily Speed-O-Weave loom motifs.

Lily Speed-o-weave freeform stole by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I couldn’t resist putting in the pic of our greyhound. As soon as I laid the stole down to take pics, he was on it.

He was sure it was for him!

LOL

This stole drapes beautifully and is wonderfully comfortable to wear. Hope it inspires you to play with your yarn in new ways!

UPDATE: Eegads and little fish! Paypal was doubling the price of the book! That has now been fixed, after much techie frenzy and all round weirdness! oh my!!!!

Writing, still writing

tottietalkscrafts — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:38:53 +0000

I wrote my first book when I was in Grade 2.

I started by writing my version of a fairy tale, and my teacher liked it.

She said that she would give me more paper if I wanted to tell more of the story.

Oh oh…. I was already addicted to a passion for paper, and my greedy little heart went: ooooooooooooooh! paper…. more paper……….. yummmmmmmmmmmmm……

So, I would write and write my story, and she would dole out more delicious sheets of luscious white paper with those enticing blue lines…….. ah………. paradise…….

I have no idea what happened to that big fat pile of story pages. But, the passion for writing books has never left me.

I still write everything out by hand before I type it into my computer.

Over the last few months, since I left ‘hankering for yarn’, it may look like I have stopped writing.

Au contraire! I have been designing and working and writing ‘full immersion’ on new books.

I’ve just released ‘Rosie Recycle’, and am now working hard on more books….

and loving every minute of it.

I think my Grade 2 teacher would be pleased….

So, if it looks like I have abandoned writing, please be patient with me. I haven’t- it’s just pouring out into books instead of into blogs.

Pass the paper, please, I need to write some more……

Rosie Recycle is done and ready to go!

tottietalkscrafts — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:31:02 +0000

I am so excited!
I have finally finished The Rosie Recycle Doll Book!

http://www.crone-findlay.com/Crone-FindlayCreationsWhatsNew.html

Rosie Recyle dolls are charming little one of a kind dolls that are
an inspiration to ‘go green’, and become a thrifty ‘eco crafter’.

Combine your stash of scraps of yarn & embroidery floss
with colorful bits of junk mail, old magazines
and packaging to create enchanting & unique little
Rosie Recycle Dolls.

The book includes instructions and patterns for
* Knitted Rosie Recycle Dolls
*Crocheted Rosie Recycle Dolls
* Spool knitted Rosie Recycle Dolls
*Rosie Recycle Dolls with ribbon or lace scrap skirts.

The completed Rosie Recycle dolls
are approximately 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall.

They have pins on the back of their heads, so they can dance from
your hat, bag, lapel, curtain, inspiration or bulletin board.
They’re also great for scrapbooking, too…..

The Rosie Recycle booklet is 48 pages, and is full color.
It’s 5 1/2 inches by 8 1/2 inches- so easy to slip into your tote bag!

I am doing the big time happy happy happy dance….

and Tottie Tomato thinks that Rosie Recyle is pretty darned wonderful, too!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Mapping the layout for new book

tottietalkscrafts — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:43:47 +0000

I have been working sooooooooooo hard on a new little book.

The process has been really intense, because, as well as designing and making the dolls for the book, I have been learning a whole lotta new software and systems. Oh MY!

The book is called: Rosie Recycle Pin Dolls : Thrifty Little Dolls to Crochet or Knit And Spool Knit.

The dolls are adorable and I am very excited….

I’m getting close to being able to release it…. just working on finishing up the layout of the book….

The process of figuring out where each page goes and how it gets there is a complicated one….

I ended up making little mockups that I could zing back and forth in and then map out the whole works.

Each page ended up with 7 codes, telling me something that I needed to know for the pages.

Lotsa lotsa work….. and so worth it!

I have been working so hard on the book that I haven’t been keeping up with blogging.

I will blog a bit more about the process…..

until then…. it’s back to work on it, for me.

PS: The book is done! Hurrah!

You can see some of the dolls in the book at:
http://www.crone-findlay.com/Crone-FindlayCreationsGallery.html