August 1, 2014

School

So far I am making decent headway.
I am in Lesson 1: Lesson Plans. " Our goal is to prepare you to teach professionally with solid crocheting techniques and teaching skills"

1. Read all of the handbook
2. writing a brief background paragraph about your crochet history, including when and who taught you, how long have you been crocheting, and experiences in teaching crocheting
3. after completing lesson 2-5, write lesson plans for a series of 3 beginner classes, 2 hours each.
4. I will get to create a basic, but challenging project, I want them to make a hook 'n tool holder for their future sets. I have to set up my classroom/space, teaching techniques.

Here are future lessons I will be tackling:

Lesson 2: The Basics. "When beginners come to class, they want to learn NOW! Beginning immediately with chaining and how to crochet. After they are proficient enough to make a swatch, you can discuss gauge, hooks, and other basics.

1. Crochet 5" squares: Single, Half Double, Double, Treble
2. Correctly labeling each square

Lesson 3: Increases and Decreases: learning how to read instructions (patterns)

1. Single crochet square
2. Half Double Crochet Square
3. Double Crochet square

Lesson 4: Pattern Stitches: Review pattern reading skills

1. 5" square in each of the following stitches: Single crochet rib, shell, cluster, popcorn, ripple

Lesson 5: Crocheting in the round: Identifying right side and wrong side, changing colors, etc.

1. Make a 5" Square motif
2. Make a 5" Hexagon motif
3. Make a beginner level project that uses a spiral method. I plan to make a hat.

And that's Crochet 1, folks. It's very involving, but effective. My plan is to break it down into 5 lessons, each will have a project.

TNS The Stitch Quarterly

 

A Quick Note:

Ah, Summer has arrived. You’d think I will be relaxing on the beach somewhere, oh but no, I have so much going on!  I have spent the past few months filling orders as well as working my day job as a school bus driver. May and June have been especially hectic, but now schools are closed, and now I can really focus on what I want to do this summer.

I gave a lot of thought to the following question:  “Your work is so nice, do you teach?” For the past 15 years of crocheting, and 30 years of stitchery practice, I have decided to take the plunge and signed up for a correspondence courses through the Craft Yarn Council Association and FIT for Crochet I, and Crochet II. I have 6 months each to complete a binder of work filled with samples and swatches. Again, I will be using my blog to share my experiences. Along with this, I have been matched so far to Michael’s Arts and Crafts of Huntington. This is located on RTE 110, just south of Walt Whitman Mall. For class schedules, free demos, and open houses, check my Facebook page often.

Over the summer, as well as studies, I will be making new things for the next craft fair. I made new blankets for the home, and reviewing patterns, and collecting yarn. There are new things out there that will be ideal for everyone, and practical solutions as well.

~Regina

Classes

            I hooked up with Michael’s in Huntington! Yes, it is pretty far from where I live. But it is a start, right? I have a set schedule, and I can make 2 custom classes. All lessons are $25 each. If you wish to have private lessons, or a fun group session, you can reserve for one, we can hold it in your home, or a place of your choice. Lessons will still be only $25 each!

            Help me earn my required 15 hours for Crochet 1, and another 15 for Crochet 2. To make it easy for us to keep track, my project lessons listed below will make it easy to pick out what you want to learn. If you never crocheted before, you have to take the Absolute Beginner class before taking on a class that might overwhelm you. Each month, I will introduce 2-3 Level 1 classes, and 1-2 Level 2 classes. Sometimes I will make a Level 2 project a 2-parter, maybe a series!

Class Calendar:

Location:

Michael’s Arts & Crafts

Huntington Shopping Center

350 Walt Whitman Rd (Rte 110)

Huntington Station, NY 11746

631-423-0381 (call to reserve your spot!)

All classes are $25 each!

 

7/31 Discover Crochet: Time for Crochet

1-3:30

Confident Beginner and up.

Corner-to-Corner Crochet

• 2 balls Lily Sugar n Cream, you pick color
• Size H Hook, Size I hook
• Tool kit

 

8/3 Discover Crochet: Time for Crochet (Level Crochet 1)

1-3:30pm

Absolute Beginner Crochet: The basics

 

• Pick out your tool kit
• Pick out hook set
• Learn about yarn, patterns, etc.

 

8/7 Crochet Beginner 1: Skinny Scarf or phone cover (Level Crochet 1)

1-3:30pm

 

• 1 skein Caron Simply Soft your color pick
• H-Hook
• Tool kit

 

8/14 Crochet Beginner 2: Pillow or Scarf  (Level Crochet 1)

1-3:30pm

 

• 1 skein Red Heart Super Saver, your color pick
• J-hook
• Tool kit

 

8/21 Discover Crochet: Basket (Level Crochet 1)

1-3:30pm

• 2 balls Lily Sugar n Cream (color A) your color pick
• 2 balls Lily Sugar n Cream (color B) White
• H-hook
• Tool Kit
   
  8/28 Discover Crochet: Tunisian Tablet Cover (Level Crochet 2)
  1-3:30pm

• 2 balls Lily Sugar N Cream, you pick color
• L-Afghan Hook (call to reserve your spot, so we can order the hooks)
• Tool Kit
  We will go over this style crochet together before making the tablet cover.
   
  8/31 Discover Crochet: Time for Crochet
  1-3:30pm
  Autumn Throw
• Please pick out three colors that represent "Autumn" to you Here's my sample
• 5 balls Vanna’s Choice Yarn (A) Toffee
• 5 balls Vanna’s Choice Yarn (B) Olive
• 5 balls Vanna’s Choice Yarn (C) Cranberry
• Lion Brand’s size Q-19 hook
• Tool kit

What is CGOA?

The Crochet Guild of America (CGOA)

Is a big club, with 3,300+ members, and more are joining every day. I became a member in 2009, and I love it! I found new friends who share my passion for the art of fiber. CGOA also encourages you to challenge yourself with fascinating new patterns, and for those more advanced, has a Master’s Class program, the ultimate challenge that rewards you with a certificate and an invitation to the pinning ceremony at the next Conference. Speaking of, yes, there is a conference for the membership to come together from all over the country! You get to rub elbows with famous designers, take a variety of classes geared for all levels, a marketplace for you to shop, a lounge to chill and chat with peers as you stitch, and a fashion show with a dinner banquet!  Giving back to the community is huge with this organization, you’ll find out just how many charities need us to make things for people in need. The benefits of the membership has been very good for me, I get Crochet! Magazine with a newsletter included, something you don’t get from the newsstand! I get discounts from retailers, and free access to the website. Go check it out! www.crochet.org

Charity Corner

Welcome to the FASNY Firemen’s Home!

At the FASNY Firemen’s Home we believe the sense of community born upon entering the fire service is a part of someone for life.  That’s why we built this "Home Away from Home," a sanctuary of sorts for former volunteer firefighters. Our Home, set against the naturally beautiful backdrop of the Catskill Mountains in Hudson, NY, provides quality healthcare, rehabilitative therapy, daily social activities and special events.  Our members relish each day spent among those who share their passion for firefighting. The Home fosters the volunteer firefighter lifestyle, encouraging members’ memories of the service to live on in their stories told to one another.

Why is this so important to me?

Several years ago, my best friend’s cousin, Doug, had major surgery on his hip and knees, he was also very heavy.  He couldn’t afford to recover on Long Island, and was transferred to the Home. His stay there was so great, did a complete 180, met Melissa, and married her! He now lives nearby, just in case if he needed to go there again. He told me when I gifted him and Melissa with a custom bedspread that the Home needs warm touches like what I make, So I decided to follow through and made a few throws. When I arrived there, and dropped these throws, the receptionist’s eyes widened, and told me that what I made is so needed! So I promised more the following year, 20 to be exact, and the following year got to meet the activities director, and she said “Oh my! You did these by yourself? Amazing! You don’t realize how much a resident appreciates a handmade gift, can you make more?”

So that’s what I intend to do, I launched Lapghan-a-thon & Shawl-a-thon for The Home. Friends have donated TONS of yarn, that I am making into cozy colorful throws and Bingo Shawls to keep frail shoulders warm as they play a wicked game of BINGO and other outdoor activities. I plan to incorporate making squares to sew together through my classes. Eventually, when I form my own chapter, we will be looking after these residents.

May 4, 2014

'May the 4th be with you' Haha, I am such a Star Wars geek.

Anyway, I just had my first show of the season yesterday. It was a smashing success, this was the best one I did in the five years attending this. I interacted more with people stopping by. Some people stopped and signed my guest book to sign up to my fan page on Facebook. Those who don't go on FB, I'll still send little newsletters. Perhaps invite them to my blog. When they asked "Do you teach?" I was happy to say "Yes!"

Teaching. This is a new thing for me. Even though I have taught before, to special needs children in camp, this is different. It's going to be more focused on one or two hobbies, crochet and stitchery.
I was accepted to Crochet 1 and Crochet 2 by the Craft Yarn Council. Everything has been e-mailed to me with attached files and lessons. So first order of business is to buy a new printer that's compatible to this laptop. Wireless for convenience.
I have to draw up lesson plans, and conduct a mail, email, phone correspondence. As time goes on, I mail my binder to my teacher who lives in South Carolina, once I pass Crochet 1, I will be "Instructor" level. "Teacher" is Level 2. So right now, I need to plug Michael's in Levittown, and Westbury. These would be ideal places for the beginner courses. As they move on to bigger things, perhaps Levittown Library would be a potential spot for advanced beginners where they are fully aquainted with crocheting, and can now move on to a more social atmosphere. The lower level in the library have great meeting rooms.

Meanwhile, Steve asked me when will my next show be. Well, if I want, I will do nearby shows over the summer, but do want to focus on my schooling. So there might be one or two during the summer, and then in September I will attend the Festival by the Sea.

February 24, 2014

Good morning, a slow point in my day where I remembered to post another blog.

So, I mentioned I do craft fairs. I am in the process of picking out the ones that I did really well last season:

May:
Levittown Engine 7 Fair: $20
East Rockaway: $60

September:
Baldwin LIRR: $0
Lido Beach Festival by the Sea: $185

October:
Seaford LIRR: $325

November:
Huntington Hilton: $0

You could say I got my work cut out for me. :)  This year, I'll be checking out different places, and I feel confident enough to do Eisenhower. I can probably do a few summer shows as well!

February 23, 2014: Business AND pleasure

First, a bit of business:
Craft fair pieces are on schedule. I have been taking the time to sort out my stash. Now I am going to categorize my collections of yarn into what I'll be making from it.
Next, it's my vast pattern collection. I have probably well over a thousand patterns. It's crazy! LOL
But, I'll be able to match a pattern to the yarn.

So, I checked out the CYC site as to how I can go about teaching crochet. Turns out I don't have to jump through hoops to go the Micheal's route. I can do "library tours" if I want to for student teaching. How cool does that sound?
I'm going for it. I'll be doing this over the summer as well as taking my class courses, I have to do 15-20 hours student teaching. It'll be the only time I'll be able to do this due to my regular job. I plan to not work over the summer so I can devote my time to student teaching, studies, and craft fairs. Also, in July, I need to attend the CGOA/TKGA conference since I am a member, who eventually become a teacher, so sitting in on a few classes will give me a feel of how I should conduct mine.
Come September-November, I'll be working again, and on the weekends do some holiday showcases.
In December, I'll be setting up my schedule and work with the Levittown library to set up my classroom.
January to March, I will hold my classes. I'll split them up according to age. Just four age groups, Grade School 7-11, Middle School 12-14, High School-college15-25, and adult 25+. Probably at the end of each month, hold a social where everyone meets and we have a party where we stitch up things like squares for Warm Up America, Linus House, and Halos for Hope. Not to mention baby sets for local hospital maternity wards to send the baby home with a warm layette set.


At the Home Front:
Meanwhile, I am psyched to get going on our property.

Back Yard:
There is so much that needs to be done. We are planning to install a garden railroad. Build a platform and move the hot tub to a new location. Finally, design a HUGE entertaining area where we can have BBQ parties again. The patio area will be bordered with an herb and produce raised bed planters.

Front Yard:
The front lawn are going to get torn up and out. Last year, I found a 15' diam "gray spot", all the zoya died, the ground had tiny holes everywhere. It became very spongy. Disease and a certain bug got to it. So we're digging it up and starting over. The chain-link fence is going to trash this year, a new sidewalk, driveway, and walkpath going in. The driveway will grow a bit wider, with an attractive brick border. The new walkway to the front door will be done in pavers. We also want to create a bump-out and close off the alley and attach the garage to house. The garage gets a carport out the front, and a porch in front of the house.

Side Yard, east side:
Plans are for to rip up the lawn, power wash the PVC fence. Pavers from the front will continue through here to get to the backyard. Probably build a raised bed to plant produce and flowers that need 80% shade/20% sun.

Side Yard, west side:
Plans for this area is another path to the backyard. It will also be where we will stack the wood.

Just for me, and Steve:
We will take more railfanning trips. And weekend get-aways. I want to go get a physical/allergy test.

Changing Global Health One Stitch at a Time

February, 2014: Personal Blog

What happened to me? It truly has been a busy, emotional, and demanding time that I had to stop blogging, and for some time, stop crocheting. At this time, I am on auto-pilot. I am an emotional mess.
As I was at Stitches East!, my father-in-law was very ill and was hospitalized. He was very combative to everyone, including his wife. On Halloween, he was transferred to Hospice, where within 24 hours, slipped into a coma, and died. Since the in-laws are in Florida, and we live in NY, it was not possible for immediate funeral. So he was cremated. I did two more shows in November, but my heart was not really into it. Understandably, I am in mourning. We had a quiet Thanksgiving dinner with Steve's brother, John. My family was a bit upset I chose to stay home. I was just not in the festive mood.
December arrives and during Holiday Break, we drove down to Florida to be with Mom for Christmas. We also picked up Dad's ashes, so we can hold proper services in May. Came back in time to celebrate a very subdued NYE with friends. And since the New Year, all I have been doing is work, eat, and sleep. Very little crochet.
Just last week, my precious Pomeranian, Xena had passed away in her sleep. She was 16, and now I feel so lost without her gazing at me, and watching what I do. Lady and Daisy are also feeling the loss. I feel like I am stuck in auto-pilot almost all the time. And I just feel so sad.
I am crocheting again, just not with the same enthusiasm. I guess I just need time...