Category: books

A Huge Honour to be Featured in Artistry in Fiber Vol 2 – Sculpture

In September 2015 I was contacted by E. Ashley Rooney & Anne Lee, who asked if I would be interested in being featured in their newest series of books for Schiffer Publishing, Exploring Fiber Art. The three volumes would cover Wearable Art, Wall Hangings; and In Three Dimensions, & anticipated including about 75 artists in each volume…

…Of course I replied with a positive, Yes….

E. Ashley Rooney has produced a long and successful line of books, which  can be reviewed at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  Anne Lee, her coauthor, has worked with Ashely on several books and coauthored Encaustic Art in the Twenty-first Century (due late 2015).  Schiffer’s beautiful coffee-table books are aimed primarily at galleries, artists, art lovers, and collectors.

About the coauthors: ‘Living in Lexington, Massachusetts, E. Ashley Rooney and Anne Lee had been casually acquainted for many years. They first volunteered together in 2010, curating an art show at Cary Memorial Library. Other shared art events followed, and both their friendship and thier writing partnership evolved. Together, they have edited Encaustic Art in the Twenty-First Century (Schiffer) as well as this exciting series on fiberart. As coauthors, they balance each other and offer different experiences and perspectives: Ashley is the author of over fifty books, specialising in contemporary art and architecture; and Anne researched, curated, and wrote about exhibitions at Vose Galleries in Boston. Exploring fiber art’

…And so, in early June 2017, I was thrilled to received confirmation that  Artistry in Fiber Vol 2 – Sculpture was being released… A beautifully presented book, featuring 78 of today’s most noteworthy fibre Artists & 500 photos of their work… I’m not good at blowing my own trumpet but I can’t let this opportunity pass without saying…. What a great honour it is to be included in such an amazing array interesting & inspirational Fibre Artists & their diverse use of materials & techniques… ‘Artistry in Fiber Vol 2 – Sculpture‘ is a book that will fascinate & enthuse anyone remotely interested in the fibre arts…

CORRECTION: Textured Crochet Lace

Textured Crochet LaceCORRECTION: I have discovered  a major error in my book Textured Crochet Lace… the instructions for Edging Individual Squares  was omitted when published…

My sincere apologies  to everyone who has purchased the book & therefore been confused about the edging & may even have abandoned their project…

I’m mortified! How do these things happen, but they do… even after intense proof-reading & editors checking… goes to show that nothing is perfect….

Hopefully, this post will rectify this major mistake to some degree…

The instructions for edging individual squares are as follows:

Round 1: with right side facing & continuing with working colour, 1 ch, work 3 dc (US: sc) in same st [place marker in middle st, corner made], * work 29 dc (US: sc) evenly spaced to next corner st, 3 dc (US: sc) in corner st, repeat around square, join with ss in first dc (US: sc), do not finish off – 128dc (US: sc)

Round 2: continuing with working colour, 1 ch, dc (US: sc) in same st and in each st across to next corner st, * 3 dc (US: sc) in corner st, dc (US: sc) in each st across to next corner st, repeat from * around, join with ss in first dc (US: sc) , finish off – 136 dc (US: sc)

Please contact me if you have any questions… Renate

My re-purposed Freeform Crochet Coat…

Forest InspiredSo, continuing with my personal commitment to complete UFO’s & work on new projects that have been sitting on the back-burner for far too long, I took a good hard look at this Freeform Crochet Coat that I created in 2006 & is featured in my book ‘Freeform Crochet & Beyond.’

This piece has special meaning for me as the colours, textures & forms came alive for me in a forest reserve where I often visited for solace & inspiration. Having that said, & as much as I love it, I also know that it’s big, bulky & heavy, more over, not to everyone’s taste, & to sell it on the Net would cost a small fortune to ship…

It’s been in my mind to pull it apart & make other items, but… Oh my!…What a job that would be… so,… the idea was put in the ‘too hard basket’ time & time again… Then, this summer, an extremely hot one at that, so much so, that I found it difficult to move too far away from the air fans blowing at high speed, I decided that, seeing as I’m sitting here like a sweltering lump, I might as well be doing something useful… & so I began unravelling the freeform patches…. long story short… here are the items I came up with… I’m very happy.

Hood & scarf ComboDSCF1717Large Freeform ToteLarge Freeform ToteSmall Freeform bagSmall Freeform crochet bagFreeform Crochet Tcosy

Tapestry Crochet – 64 Playful Patterns for Children… Book Release….

Tapestry_coverFrontXI’m so happy to announce the release of my latest pattern book ‘Tapestry Crochet, 64 playful patterns for children’, published by Sally Milner Publishing.

This book is another crochet sampler & my aim is to introduce readers to yet another crochet technique & encourage avid experienced crocheters & beginners alike to try something new, expand their repertoire & enjoy themselves with some colourful, fun designs.

Utilising all 64 patterns will result in a rug (afghan) approx 152cm x 152cm (60” x 60”) in size but there is no reason why you can’t choose a selection of favourites (say 30 to 36 squares) for a smaller knee rug (afghan) or, by putting together just 4 squares you’ll have a colourful cushion face.

The patterns are divided into 8 sections:

(1) Figures & letters ~ (2) Signs & symbols ~ (3) Children & toys ~ (4) Transport (5) Fruit & veg ~ (6) Around the house ~ (7) This & that ~ (8) Birds & animals

so you can please yourself which designs suit your project… be it for a boy or girl, baby, young child or teenager… or even work just a few patterned squares alternated with plain coloured squares…

In Tapestry Crochet (as in Intarsia/Jacquard) a chart, graph or grid is used instead of written instructions for coloured patterns. Each square equals a stitch, each line equals a row and each blank square equals the main colour. Follow grids from the bottom and read right-side rows from right to left and wrong-side rows from left to right. All squares are worked in double crochet [dc] (US: single crochet [sc]). And, for reader convenience, I have written the required number of stitches for each colour, with arrows indicating row direction.   tapestry_rug   I’m really pleased to be able to bring you this collection of Tapestry designs & I hope it gives you hours of creative enjoyment – Renate

Textured Crochet Lace…

Textured Crochet Lace: 127 pages

  • ISBN 978-1-86351-430-9
  • ARRP: $39.99 AUD

I know that many of you have been awaiting the release of my new book Textured Crochet Lace, so I’m very happy to be able to say that it’s now available world wide.

I’m particularly proud of this new publication, not only because Sally Milner has, once again, produced a another gorgeous book that showcases my work but many of these patterns are favourites & ones I use all the time…  often incorporating them into my freeform / freestyle / open weave work &, moreover, I’ve made many a scarf, beanie, wrap & shawl to delight family & friends.

Textured Crochet Lace has 64 patterns &, of course, you can complete them all & have a beautiful sampler rug (afghan) that I know you will treasure &, better still, feel the sheer joy of your accomplishment… however, that’s not to say you can’t just choose a couple of favourites & make a smaller rug…. or just choose one & repeat the pattern as many time as you like to make the size that you like.

Skill requirements range from basic beginners to the more experienced & I’m confident that there is something interesting, perhaps even a little challenging, for anyone who enjoys crochet.

Each pattern is in written & diagram (chart) form, with both UK & US terminology & has a clear colour photo – I have given yarn & hook requirements but as with all of my samplers I like to encourage you to work with the yarn, hook & colours that you feel comfortable with – for me, The Sampler is a teaching/learning tool; a practical way the gain confidence & knowledge in a pleasurable way with the added bonus of having a lovely piece to show off to one & all….

I hope you all enjoy this new collection of patterns & it brings many hours of creative pleasure to your crochet journey…. Renate

Textured Crochet Lace is available from Amazon ~ The Book Depository ~ Booktopia (Amazon Australia)

View more Textured Crochet Lace content here

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