I am interested in crochet projects, especially when the word explore comes up. For more than a decade I have been rethinking crochet. How we teach it and we learn it. As part of my profession as a teacher I am well aware of how we need to adapt our teaching methods to be inline with the student we teach. When we pick up a book on how to crochet, there is a long tradition about how this is done. I discovered that it is possible to use a latch hook to crochet. It enables the learner to create experimental stitches which are easy to work with this hook. In my first book I called it “picking up stitches”. At the time, until I began teaching it, I didn’t realise how significant this is! I was already a freeformer, so I knew how helpful the latch hook was when making a bullion stitch. Over time I began to show beginners how to turn the”foundation chain legnth” into a flower, using a latch hook. Also how to hook in anywhere and create a Beastie brooch or a bracelet that young students could wear. I have created a list of over 50 beginners projects , which can be kept as treasures. Some of which can be used in collage garden pictures. No frogs in these flower beds!

Our pets are a huge part of our families and I know some of you voted for some community posts to be about us and not just about me and my crochet passions! When I met Phil he was known as Phil Two Dogs! Sadly Gemma and Sally are long gone but we have some lovely memories and photos to remind us of our little extended family. If you or your family have a pet or memorable photos, do post them here and tell us something about them that will make us all smile. Unfortunately photos of the dogs are archived somewhere on my laptop. Here on my iPad I have photos of our more recent family on the land. We had cows, and from the start we had Buttercup Our jersey cow…. We later had red a few red polls and Leroy who was Buttercups first calf. But Buttercup was by far our family pet. So many stories there! Never having milked a cow before!!

Crochet Art using a small needle latch hook and just chain and slip stitch I also use a rug hook A Cordmaker and a Tunisian latch hook.

I did well at the Easter car boot, a lady was selling her crafting stash. I got buttons bows gem stickers and more! I have put to use some eyes too! Phil put holes in bottle tops so we can make bugs and beaded bracelets ar our Easter class tommorow.

I had a lovely message from Melissa a few minutes ago and she sent me a video message in the chat. So here I was sitting here in my new craft room before I go to bed. And I thought I would try a LIVE impromptu video here too. On my table beside me is something I was working on today using a plastic drinks bottle. To make this I used my Cordmaker, but I guess you can use a traditional hook too. Do post if you try it. Also I am inviting you to post a short LIVE video back to me as I am wondering if this is possible. I really do hope so!