My Thetys shawl.
Pattern by Bernadine Graham "Colette Shawl" coming soon...
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The good news is I am progressing with my online course work. It is too soon to tell if I am making improvements in my writing style however, my instructor seems pleased. I am now so far out of my comfort zone that it is time to consider creating a new comfort zone. I think many of you understand that feeling.
This has been another busy week. Taking course work, testing a crochet pattern for Lisa Fox of https://greenfoxfarmsdesigns.com/, doing some creative writing, conducting my business, collecting pins for this week’s blog, the usual family stuff, and last but not least working with my various charity outreach programs. Speaking of giving. Very quickly, I want to put in a word about a very exciting preemie challenge organized by Sunflower Cottage Crochet. Those of you who read this blog know that I love welcoming in our littlest and most vulnerable citizens with cozy clothes and blankets. If you’d like to join in I encourage you to follow the link. Now we come to this week’s On Point Pins. Some of my readers may find my eclectic tastes somewhat bewildering. I don’t blame you. Things get a bit busy in the “brain housing group”, to borrow a phrase from the United States Marines, thus shown in the pins I post from week to week. For this I apologize ahead of time. I am very careful about the patterns I choose for children. I like a bit of a vintage look with a modern twist. Monpetiteviolon on Etsy designed the adorable little Sarafan sundress for little girls. It is sized from 9 months to 5 years. Depending on the yarn chosen this sweet little piece could be worn at a wedding or to a family picnic. If you like the Sarafan dress you’ll love many if not all of the designs available through her shop. Knitter Knotter is a multi-talented designer whose abilities are frankly way beyond my own. She too creates patterns that use familiar themes yet with a gorgeous modern feel. For instance the crocheted Mehr Shawl, a free pattern on the blog, creates a lacy yet textured pattern. A unique combination of yarn, stitches and shape. Lion Brand nails my feelings about this Summer with the Orient Beach Tunic. Relaxed, colorful, Boho, calm yet not boring, and with our crazy weather, long sleeved. Download the free pattern! Don’t make the mistake of thinking all ruanas are for beach days! Two Brothers Blankets’ Beach Day Ruana is an adorable pattern with endless possibilities. It’s stylish and classy. I can see it with any number of outfits. Dressed up or down. This is a premium pattern. You’ll find 3 more patterns on the Weekly On Point Pins Board each one sparking a little bit of the creative juices in my brain. I do enjoy gathering these pins to share with you all. I hope you’ll take the time to check out the board this week. Until next time my friends!
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Since my last post, I've stepped out of my comfort zone by taking online classes. When I'm done, I hope to be a better writer. I have studied the habits of other writers and bloggers who write about fiber arts. Especially bloggers who adhere to proper etiquette and copyright laws. However, there are still people who do not care to follow the law or give credit where credit is due. As a result, when I decided to blog about my favorite finds on the web, I wanted to make sure I did so legally.
My favorite thing about the bloggers I read is their passion for crochet and knitting. They have not only created wonderful blogs and top-notch designs but also created a beautiful community where credit is given to each designer. Together, they are responsible for hosting blog hops and selling bundles. There are a lot of challenges to overcome, which makes the community even more impressive. Why is creating a blog hop or pattern round-up so difficult? Allow me to share a blog post from Pamela Grice https://crochetpreneur.com/create-quick-easy-roundup/ To keep things all legal and above board one has to conform to the copyright laws. Crochetpreneur covers that in the blog post above. Although I frequently focus on legal issues, I have broken the law out of ignorance. Upon learning I might be fined a large amount for my actions, I decided to become better educated. Pamela Grice discusses the ways in which crocheters/knitters UNINTENTIONALLY break the law, in this blog post: https://crochetpreneur.com/ways-crocheters-break-the-law/ To bring my blog readers some of my favorite finds from the week, I've decided to use pinterest. Due to legal concerns, I made sure to track down the original designer so that I could offer the link to the original patterns. Not only is this the right thing to do by law, but it’s the right thing to do by my fellow knitter/crocheter. For many, their art is their only profession and to steal from them would be taking food off their table. (To be blunt) I have heard it said that a successful crocheter does not highlight the work of others. Frankly I find that ridiculous. If a designer creates something unique, beautiful or useful then I believe it’s good for the whole of the crochet/knitting world to highlight the original design. Every week, I intend to compile a collection of my favorite pins from Pinterest and blog about them. Visit my Weekly On Point Pin board on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/outoftheparc/weekly-on-point-pins/ This week you'll find pins for the home, for kids, and for women. The fact that I'm taking classes to improve my writing has filled up my schedule, but I don't think I'll ever be able to let go of my love for all things yarn related. It's in my genes. :) I have to tell you that I have recently become absolutely fascinated with hexagon blocks. It started with a photo I saw on google. (I was searching for an organic cotton yarn... what else) It was a picture of this gorgeous vintage-look blanket made of pastel colors against an antique white base. "Oh, no, no way, no new ideas or projects"; I said to myself. "However", I thought, "this would be a really good charity idea, especially in the Summer when we need a to-go project".
So that's what I told myself... which brings me to the rest of the story. I filed the hexagon block idea away for a future blog post. After being dutiful and putting the idea on the back burner, I began writing the blog about the very, very talented Des Maunz of Nana's Crochet Creations. Des Maunz has designed some gorgeous hexagon blocks. Naturally I had to stay focused on the blog so I disciplined myself not to do too much exploration into the lovely blocks. Fast forward to last week when my dear friend sent me a box full of vintage patterns. Contained in this box was, you guessed it, a pattern pamphlet by Marshall Cavendish Ltd. entitled "Pretty Pastel Afghan". Okay, you know I gave up haha! This blog is of course my way of passing along my growing obsession with hexagon blocks. This is really a great way to use up yarn and create a stunning piece for charity. (Scarves, laprobes, baby blankets, cowls ect) Let's begin with the hexagon block patterns available at Nana's Crochet Creations on Ravelry. You'll find her Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/crochetedbynana.
Zelna Oliver, is the fantastic designer at Zooty Owl Cards. She has created a collection of beautiful hexagon blocks. These types of blocks can be used for so many projects, not just blankets. Let your imagination do the walking :)
Like I said to my husband "So many hexagon blocks, so little time". Speaking of time, I'm about out of time now. I hope you enjoyed today's blog. I want to thank Des Maunz, Zelna Oliver, and Johanna Lindahl for their beautiful designs. I realize it's been over a month since I've written anything for this blog. I will say that my crocheting has kept me very busy! I finished a cardigan for a friend (it still needs some adjustments). However the biggest part of the month of May went to testing a beautiful pattern by designer Bernadine Graham of MenMyHook.com.
I did have some trepidation about pattern testing. In the past I took on two cardigan patterns to test, neither went very smoothly because my crochet stitches tend to be very loose. I had to work very hard to meet the gauge and the deadline of those two projects. However, when Bernadine Graham put out the call for crocheters to test her shawl pattern, Denise and Deborah, I couldn't say no! I have a mad love for shawls. Especially because I rarely wear heavy coats or pull-over sweaters any more. My current medical conditions simply cause too much variation in my body temperature so shawls and cardigans are a wonderful alternative! Denise and Deborah is such a lovely pattern I couldn't resist making this pattern for my own use, and I had the perfect yarn in my stash! Lion Brand Cupcake in colorway Sunny Day. Lion Brand no longer produces the Cupcake yarn however, an excellent alternative would be Lion Brand Mandala. It's the right weight for this project and the yarn comes in so many colors. The options are almost endless for this project because the instructions are written for DK or any #3 weight yarn. This project does have a pattern repeat that is fairly easy to memorize. If you have familiarity with crocheting it should be no problem. You can purchase your copy of this gorgeous shawl here: www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/denise--deborah You can see all the pictures of my project here: www.ravelry.com/projects/Velynda65/denise--deborah I've moved on to testing another pattern for Bernadine Graham. Keep your eye on my facebook or Ravelry Pages for updates. Meanwhile enjoy Denise and Deborah!  Spring has come to the Northern Adirondacks sort of at least the April (snow) showers came today. It is still cool outside, in the 40 to 50 degree (F.) range. (except for today... it's currently 32 degrees F. outdoors) Chilly enough to need something to keep my shoulders warm. Perfect weather for those pretty shawls I love to make. (the shawl I'm wearing in the photo is one of my favorite lace shawls) These aren't the shawls some of you may have seen in old movies, these shawls are fresh new creations by indie designers from every corner of the planet!  I used to spend hours searching websites like Etsy looking for the perfect pattern but after having purchased a few crochet bundles, signed up for newsletters, and learned about the design process from indie designers, I now look to my email inbox for inspiration. Every day I eagerly open my gmail knowing there's going to be one new design that I can't wait to check out for myself. Whether its the latest from Shehnaaz designer at Crochet Dreamz or Hortense, designer at Knitting with Chopsticks there are a lot of projects to choose from as well as teasers about new designs on the horizon. Because it is shawl season the newsletters that come to my inbox are filled with shawl patterns.
Not every shawl pattern looks like the Dowager Duchess would wear this across the ballroom floor on some television saga. Many of the modern shawls are both attractive AND practical. The patterns are designed so that one can easily wrap up for an evening walk or to watch the dying embers of a firepit. These shawls would be equally attractive with a Spring dress or fashion jacket at work. Here are just a few of the more casual shawl patterns from my hoard: Shehnaaz created this “Brighter Days Shawl” A colorful triangle shawl The Simone Wrap by Bernadine Graham A lacy look rectangle wrap The Winter Saffron Shawl by Cirsium Crochet An open look triangle shape crochet. For knitters: Marly Bird's Super Simple Two Ball Shawl I love the yellow and gray colors Marly chose for her shawl. The Pantone Colors of the year! Asymmetrical Knit Scarf by Stitches n Scraps This design may look challenging, but if you know how to do the knit stitch you will be able to knit this scarf/shawl. It is the perfect size for Spring. Simple Lace Triangle Shawl by Red Heart I made one of my first shawls in this style. Shawl patterns vary greatly in length and width. A shawl may be designed wide enough to double as a blanket or narrow enough to be a scarf. It really does run the gambit! “Blanket Shawls” are “kind of perfect”, as the cool kids say. Imagine having a fabulous accessory to wear to a late evening beach party or to carry along when the weather is uncertain! Here are a few great blanket wrap patterns: Sigoni Macaroni's Cozy Hygge Blanket Wrap Beautiful! It’s made with chunky weight The Country Willows "Milan Wrap" I know not everyone finds it easy to make their shawls lengthwise. Chaining/stitching a hundred or so chains can be difficult if you are new to crocheting or you are trying to make a shawl while on the go. Here is a good crochet pattern: Mama in a Stitch: Easy Granny Triangle I like this shawl! The stitch may have a vintage feel however, the choice of yarn can bring this shawl right into the 21st century. For instance check out Red Heart Heat Wave Yarn This yarn uses sunlight to create added warmth. A real bonus! Narrow width scarf/shawls in crochet include: Red Heart Glamorous Wrap Red Heart Relax and Unwind Shawl I like both of these shawls very much. The interest lies in the shape or stitch of the pattern. Knitters you’ll find that the wide shawl patterns aren’t so difficult to find for free online. Caron Simply Soft Glitter Girl Shawl This shawl has a lovely texture and the yarn will add a lovely drape. Perfect, in fact. The Simply Stripy Shawl by Knitting Bee Here’s a shawl pattern that will keep you busy while binge watching your favorite TV shows. This pattern is made with Premier Sweet Roll yarn on size 10 knitting needles. Quick, easy and attractive. Narrow shaped shawl knitting pattern: Nobel Knits Asymmetrical Shawl I love this little beauty. Although it is small enough to stash in your coat pocket or purse at work, it’s also oh so graceful. Looking for a pattern that is just a little fancy? There are so many outstanding free patterns for shawls with a little lacey touches to give flair to an outfit. Never hurts to have one of these shawls on hand for a wedding or a christening. Especially when you are unsure of the dress code. Shehnaaz' Head Turner Lacy Crochet Shawl This mixture of stitches is lovely. One could certainly use a gradient yarn or one color to accent an outfit. Two Brothers Blankets Cherry Blossom Shawl This delicate scarf/shawl is a classic design. I love the mix of the basic stitches with hints of lace. When lace is the subject Knitters have a plethora of choices. Melissa Leapman's Crescent Shawl This is a beauty of a shawl to decorate your shoulders. Small frost flower like pattern graces the edges of this pattern. Tracey Withanee's Garden View Shawlette The gentle sloping leaves at the edge of this shawl make a statement without drawing attention away from the wearer. My job today has been to introduce you to some fine designs and fine designers. I hope you see the ubiquitous shawl in a whole new light. You may want to check out these designer websites if you have the time. You’ve seen how ingenious they can be with knitting needles or a hook and yarn in just these few designs. Their websites are a feast for the eyes! (even if you don’t knit or crochet) Designers love it if you leave a complimentary remark about their work! I thank you in advance. In the past I have avoided getting involved with “blog hops” or pattern bundles offered by various crochet or knit webpages. My excuse has always been that I’m not one to join in these type of events, nor did I like the idea of a ton of emails overflowing my inbox. Now I realize how much I missed! I did not realize how much I could learn or how many wonderful indie designers I could interact with through “blog hops” or pattern bundles. What changed my mind you ask? It all started with Pinterest.
I was searching my Pinterest business page for a particular baby blanket pattern that I wanted to purchase when I happened to notice a pin for The Spring Crochet Bundle 2021. It was such a wonderful opportunity to support indie artists, get some fantastic patterns, and best of all… the price was excellent!! (44 patterns for one low price.) Was this too good to be true? Maybe not! I recognized many of the names associated with this particular pattern bundle. Indie artists like The Friendly Red Fox, Maria’s Blue Crayon, Two Brothers Blankets, Meladora’s Creations to name a few. Of course, I considered whether I’d use all these patterns. However, even if I used just 5 or 6 of the patterns the bundle would be worth the price. After purchasing the bundle I began to follow some “new to me” crochet designers either through their email newsletters, on Pinterest, or on Facebook. I learned about a few blog hops that had been organized to feature Spring/Summer fashions. Currently, there are two of interest to myself and my daughter T.k.. High Desert Yarn is curating the “At Home Crochet Blog Hop” and the “Spring Exclusives Blog Hop”, curated by Cosy Rosy UK. I’ve never been involved with blog hops to the extent I have been this Spring. I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know some of my fellow crocheters through Facebook Groups and reading the emails from various designers (I’ve learned to organize my inbox LOL) I’ve discovered some great crochet designers who really do seem to enjoy interacting with their followers. I was curious to know how these hardworking artists choose which bundle project or blog hop they will participate in. Most of the designers with which I interact are women. They have jobs that aren’t crochet related, they have a home life and families, not to mention other interests. What draws them to a particular blog hop or bundle project? I asked a couple of designers this very question: Hortense is the proprietress of a fantastic webpage entitled “Knitting with Chopsticks”. She’s a prolific knit and crochet designer. I’ve had the privilege of exchanging emails with Hortense when I’ve had questions. Therefore, I sent her a query about how she chose which blog hops and bundles with which to become involved. Here is her answer: “Blog hops are amazing when you're a new designer starting out. It helps your patterns get in front of new people and you meet new designers to collaborate with. But you're also giving a pattern away for free. I always look at the host: are they organized? How big is their audience? If it's not going to run smoothly (which I can usually estimate by the signup process) I don't participate, I can't do everything and I don't have time for endless discussion and no results/decision. I also look to the size of their audience. Aiming for my size range or bigger to make the most out of the event. I can't do all of them, there's way too many so I have to select. For bundles, it's actually similar. Organization is the biggest criteria. Here I'm not too concerned about audience size as I rely on my promotion efforts only. But it's always good to have someone big tag you etc for social media. I also look at the style and type of knit/crochet of the other participants, will it be a good fit for me. It doesn't make sense for me to participate in an amigurumi bundle for example And the craft, there are a lot more crochet events and bundles than knitting ones. But mostly I try to be the host myself. Then I control all of that Cheers, Hortense” Likewise, I asked Bernadine Graham, proprietress of Me ‘n’ My Hook about her involvement with blog hops and pattern bundles. Bernadine is an innovative crochet designer from Pwlheli, Whales, UK. As a designer she is newer to the crochet scene therefore I wanted her perspective on the process of choosing a blog hop or pattern bundle project. Here’s what she had to say on the subject: “For me it has been a mixture of things - a couple of times people have reached out to me, some are public calls so you sign yourself up, others have been an application process. I am also part of a couple of business groups, one of which is crochet related so there are opportunities to take part in things there as well. I try to stick to things where the host’s audience is similar to mine or they make things that I design as a way to introduce myself, it's also a great way to meet other designers and get tips. For the guest posts on my blog this year, I had a theme idea and I asked people to submit an idea around that theme, I have selected about half the designs now and some of those designers are newer like me. I hope this helps... B x” As with many things in the business world, timing and organization are two of the keys to success in the blog hops and bundle projects. Technical glitches, at times, plague the designers who have organized these events. In today’s techie world glitches can’t always be avoided however, in my experience the bloggers seem to adapt and overcome very nicely. I do want to discuss one important topic. As most of you who read this blog with any regularity are already aware of how passionate I am about attribution. My daughter has written about this very thing recently. Therefore, a note of caution please. Copyright laws are in effect worldwide. Using photographs without properly attributing them to the designer is not only unfair but against the law (at least here in the USA). These designers work very hard to design and test patterns for the use of all crocheters. It’s only fair to give credit where credit is due. My daughter and I have found the blog hops and bundles to be an excellent source of inspiration for upcoming projects. We’ve also begun to build a library of indie artist patterns for our own use, so that inspiration will stay with us into the future. My readers may feel I am exaggerating a bit, but I honestly believe that I’m seeing the work of some future top crochet and knit designers. The motto for this year: “beatitudinem obtinebit momenta” or seize the moments of happiness. In that spirit I want to say thank both Hortense and Bernadine for answering my emails and for the beauty they’ve brought to my Spring season crocheting/knitting.
Looking to get in on the blog hop or the pattern bundles? Check out Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook or join your favorite designer’s newsletter. Not a knitter or crocheter who joins in? I didn’t think I was one to join in either. Give it a try, I’m sure you won’t be sorry! I've been crocheting for many years now. I often crochet in public without any hesitation whatsoever. Generally I get very positive responses to my crocheting because I've learned to work on projects that catch the eye. Some find it mildly interesting. Some will comment that they wished they'd learned to do something creative when they were younger. Then there's the soul crushing comment... My grandmother crochets. We are always too embarrassed to wear what she made. Suffer no longer dear reader. I bring glad tidings! Crochet has hit the runways of the fashion world and home decor. This isn't Grandma's crochet anymore!
Women's Wear Daily, not just for women anymore, demonstrates my point nicely. Jonathan Simkhal uses crocheted pieces in his Ready To Wear line for Fall 2021. The look: Modern Bohemian. The goal: Flexibility! Clothes for in person events or day to day living. See his collection covered on wwd.com. I love the crochet fringe tunic! https://wwd.com/runway/fall-ready-to-wear-2021/new-york/jonathan-simkhai/review/ Missoni continues to chase those crochet (and knitting) misconceptions away with the Fall 2021 collection. One of the Missoni trademarks is the crochet/knit looks. Check out the coming designs: https://wwd.com/fashion-news/shows-reviews/gallery/missoni-rtw-fall-1234747168/missoni-rtw-fall-2021-20/ Yes, the look is a bit more youth focused, however, I think there are accessories that those over the age of 30 could add to the wardrobe. The Romantic look of Rebecca Taylor's pre-fall 2021 designs are heavily influenced by lace and those hints of "not-so-granny" granny squares. This has to be my favorite collection. The classic silhouettes, flowing dresses, lace jackets and eyelet fabrics are lovely. (I like the colors chosen for the collection also!) wwd.com/runway/pre-fall-2021/new-york/rebecca-taylor/review/ The hot home decor styles for 2021 are absolutely influenced by handcrafts especially crochet and knitting. It's fabulous! This year ushered in new decorating styles. Words put together like Japandi (Japanese combined with Scandinavian decorating styles), Danish Hygge, and of course Grandmillenial Style. The Grandmillenial style modern with those homey touches that one might find at grandmother's house. (Well not my kids. Their grandmothers are pretty hip, but you take my meaning. ) Crochet undoubtedly fits squarely within the Grandmillenial style. Little touches like brightly colored doilies, table runners, handmade blankets made with bold colors against muted sage, blues, or blush easily incorporate into living spaces. www.redfin.com/blog/grandmillennial-style-home-decor-trend/, penderandpeony.com/2020/01/8-essentials-for-grandmillennial-decor-splurge-vs-save/. The work of crochet designer Doug Speeckaert fits within the Grandmillenial Style. Included in his patterns are table runners, blankets, various granny squares, and other decorative pieces that not only make a bold statement but also have that familiar warmth we all need. Vintage with a modern vibe. One of my favorite pieces created by Doug is the Kaleidoscope Granny. The look is bold and unique. www.facebook.com/dotscloset/photos/pcb.658373534880937/658373414880949/ You'll find Doug on Instagram @dougspeeckaert, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dotscloset, on his blog at dotscl.com/wp/. Look for more of Doug's designs in the future! I am not a huge fan of decorating shows on TV, however, I must confess to a secret passion for mining those hidden decorating jewels on the net. I'm one of those people who will read Real Simple online because I really do enjoy the idea of redecorating my house. I know most of my ideas are totally unrealistic. I don't have a lot of room in my house for all the kitschy shelving units I'd like, nor are my ceilings quite high enough for those cute ball jar lights I've always wanted to try, but it's not to say my pinterest page isn't full of upcycled decorating ideas. I find little nuggets of gold from some of my favorite crochet bloggers. I'm content to add touches of handmade around my home. That makes me happy.
The final word in this blog is color. What website gives you the final word in color? Pantone! www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2021. This year's colors Ultimate Gray and Illuminating are the marriage of subtlety and warmth. The names of the colors alone make you feel hopeful. These colors pop up all over clothing and home decor blogs. Blankets in warm yellow against pillows of simple gray, or tweed yarns with gray and yellow flecks. It's amazing what a little bit of color can do to lift the spirit isn't it? I have taken up enough of your time today, but I do hope that I've helped to dispel a little of the myth that crochet is a stuffy old granny art with no relevance in the present. We, the crocheters of the present, are able to offer a world of style choices, literally. From the nursery to the kitchen, indoors and out crochet is here to stay. This is a repost... Why? Because I spotted THIS gorgeous pattern on Deborah O'Leary's webpage. www.deboraholearypatterns.com/product-page/copy-of-arielle-s-square-blanket-pattern. It's stunning. Designed as a wedding gift, this blanket is sure be the centerpiece of any room. You'll find a discount code if you order your Deborah O' Leary patterns from her website!
Now, on to the blog: So my friend Jennifer, who feeds my yarnie habit at every opportunity, shared a picture of some adorable baby booties. There were no links with the pictures. I had to go on a quest for the link to the baby shoes. Of course, I turned to Ravelry to find the same or similar designs! During my hunt I found the lovely designs of Deborah O'Leary Patterns. Thanks to Jen who always does her best to keep my skills sharp :) (Editorial note: btw, crafty facebook pages that randomly take photos from designers pages and don't post the links? That is not fair to the designer at all! It's very frustrating to both those who might want to work the designs and those who might like to commission the work done.) Deborah O'Leary lives in Denver, Colorado. She's a mom of three children and creator of fabulous knit and crochet patterns for her fellow fiber addicts. She is a self-described knit and crochet addict. her dedication to beautiful and practical designs shows in every stitch. While my work mostly involves home decor and children's clothing/accessories, I want to point out Deborah O'Leary's fabulous purse patterns. These bags have great details that really create standout accessories. There's more than enough to keep felting addicts happy for quite a long time. I've never been particularly adept at felting, so I appreciate those who are able to create classic felted pieces. Speaking for myself, I have to say that designers who both are able to create beautiful patterns in knit and crochet are some of my favorite go to designers. I never have to worry about searching all over to find a pattern. I go directly to these designers for any immediate pattern needs. Deborah O'Leary will likely become a "go to" designer, especially for baby gifts! Such a fantastic variety! Cute clothing pieces, photo props, blankets, and baby cocoons. LOVE! :) 💝 There are so many blanket patterns created by Deborah O'Leary that any knitter or crocheter is virtually guaranteed to find something that suits them. Usually I pick a few of my favorites to share however, Deborah O'Leary Patterns are all beautiful! (how does she do it?)
Baby cocoons are some of my favorite projects. They are good for use when a baby needs a little extra snuggle (with proper supervision of course) and are super fun photo props!
When looking for infant clothes Deborah O'leary has created some patterns that are too adorable to pass up. I love the little pants, hats, and diaper covers. I think diaper covers are not only super cute but also serve a practical purpose. Especially if you use cloth diapers.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not "up" on all the latest copyright laws as it regards the use of pictures on my blog. This is why I am grateful to have my daughter, T.K. Wilson B.A. English (Magna Cum Laude) from American Military University. She's got the credentials to discuss this topic in depth.
Don’t Be a Pirate! Reasons To Cite Your Pictures In this digital age, it can be very easy to take pictures and films for granted. Being bombarded by visual media all day, every day, we get used to it, not thinking that there’s a person or company behind that image. The fact of the matter is that a good deal of people don’t pay attention to how well they cite something. And that can lead to BIG trouble. In 1998, a bill called the Copyright Term Extension Act passed Congress. Now, before we go father, I’ll explain copyright law for the rest of us who don’t speak Lawyer. Copyright is simply the protection granted to a person who creates a product (film, picture, character, invention, etc.) for the public consumption. These protections are in place to ensure that the person who created it can never have it taken from them, and thus are guaranteed the revenue from them. After the original person’s death, that protection is granted to their family or estate, whoever they name in their will. In the US, thanks to the 1998 law, that term is the author’s lifetime, plus 95 years. This means that any images you find on the internet, if they were created AFTER the year 1923 are still in copyright. This includes fan-fiction (stories using characters from published or filmed works) and fan-art (images or films using characters from published works). Just because they are available for public consumption does not mean you can just snag them up willy-nilly and use them for whatever. That’s not what that word means. That means you have to give proper CREDIT and CITATION for whatever you use, and above all, you CANNOT sell it. This may all seem very intimidating. After all, companies who publish even things like crochet and knitting patterns have very deep pockets and would think nothing of soaking the little guy. All very true, but much misery and heartache can be avoided if one cites things properly. And it’s not hard, and with tools like Google Image Search, it’s easier than ever. In academic circles, the process can be frustratingly time-consuming. I was English Major, I speak citation as a second language. However, for most casual bloggers, a simple page link or caption giving credit to the owners is all that’s required. Some sources already come under the “fair use” rules, such as stock photography from sites like Pexels, Pixabay, and Unsplash. These photos are copyright free, and free to use for everyone. Solopreneurs moment: Morgan Wood is a Consultant with Thirty-One Gifts. She really believes in the Thirty-One product line! She uses the product line therefore her customers can trust her advice. See her consultant page: https://www.mythirtyone.com/us/en/11119355?fbclid=IwAR3dAM9knGXiBXPg9JhLW1iam16_-bXlKLTC3-4-IVg9yU1v8eLkrBpgLuI Logan Allen-Carley is a Scentsy consultant. Scentsy is a well known, innovative company. Logan is committed to great customer service. If you have a question about the very large Scentsy product line, Logan would be happy to help you. https://loganmaryann.scentsy.us/?fbclid=IwAR04dHJw2YIT1ZjonGYtWlA6Gp92Wo03IEpWQRa8lJEIFzlvSNF5c8yXVfM Full Disclosure: The solopreneurs I've introduced you to are personal friends. However, there is absolutely no quid pro quo. They have NOT offered me inducements to sell product for them or mention them in my blog.  Many of us are still on COVID restrictions. Yes I know, many of us will be THRILLED if we NEVER hear that word again. However, it does give those of us who knit, crochet, or loom knit one decided advantage. We can contribute to others who might need our skills. The Knit Your Bit program has a wonderful history of helping our men and women in uniform since the First World War. The Center For Knit and Crochet has the best summary of the Knit Your Bit program I’ve seen on the web. Find it here: The Center for Knit and Crochet The fact is that the program started out as a way to put idle hands to work. Through the Woman’s Bureau of the Red Cross, people of all ages and skill levels learned to contribute clothes to those deployed. (Civilian and military benefitted from the skills of this army of knitters) Here is a photo of the first book developed for the purpose of providing the men with necessities https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_agaZd_xMOpU/SnOGtr1zZPI/AAAAAAAACEk/oM3ObpIUvsk/s1600-h/ARC_400_WWI.jpg Through WWI and on into WWII the army of knitters and crocheters went right on creating warmth from home. American school children learned to knit for the military members. Knit Your Bit became an important part of the American social fabric. The Red Cross had created something important and that legacy carries on today. In 2006 the National WWII Museum in New Orleans decided to follow in the footsteps of the Red Cross by reviving the Knit Your Bit program. Hundreds of knitters and crocheters joined together to create scarves for veterans across the USA. Giving tender loving care to each and every scarf. Speaking as the wife of a veteran I can tell you it is so uplifting to know that they are thought of by people they’ve never even met! Are you ready to participate? The instructions for participation are given here: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/programs/knit-your-bit Break out those crochet hooks, knitting needles, and knitting looms to show your appreciation for our veterans and the sacrifice they willingly made to protect our country. I assure you that your work will be greatly appreciated. Just a note as I finish up the blog for today. Please remember to follow all requirements given by the museum. The staff put in a lot of work to assure the scarves are suitable for distribution. Thank you for reading the blog today! You are appreciated! Today I introduce a new feature: Solopreneur Moment specifically to highlight women dedicated to owning their own businesses and service to their customers. I support their business effort as they have supported Out of the Parc Designs over the years.
Cathie Irwin and Melissa Wood are dedicated to offering their customers natural hair and skin care products through MONAT. They truly believe that the MONAT line will provide women with a healthy glow to hair and skin. They are living proof! Cathie is a wife, mom and grandmother, she lives in Alaska and can be reached through Facebook or Messenger.com at https://www.facebook.com/cathie.l.irwin Melissa is a wife and mom of 4 living in Tennessee. She sells MONAT through her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cartersmommy5172009 |
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