The CGOA 2008 Fashion Show

OK...this is really a "you had to be there" moment. Brian got to model the freeform vest at the CGOA fashion show. He's not as pretty as the other models and there were lovely designs being shown. I don't know what happened behing that curtain but he lost his Tshirt somewhere (I think Vashti and Myra had something to do with it...) I took these pics after his strut down the catwalk as I couldn't get near it. I suppose that's a good thing as I would have been stuffing $$ bills in his chaps and I was laughing so hard. Where did he learn to strut that way ??!!

At least CrochetWithDee got a video of the bedlam...ROFLMAO!!!!

NOTE: The vest has since been taken by Mel to the CGOA Conference in Portland where it was shown to the West coast contributors. The vest was not completely finished in Manchester but it is now. It will eventually arrive at BrainsBarn in the near future... What a gift! Thanks to all!!

A Special Dinner at the Conference...

The International FreeFormers Friday night dinner at Piccolo's in NH. A fun night was had by all (not all attending are in the above picture).

It was special because Brian was presented with a wonderful gift...a freeform vest made by a total of 31 fiber artists from all over the globe.

Brian in his "surprise" freeform vest...the brainchild of Mel who brought this all together. We had a very fun night... :)

The International FreeForm Guild always has lots of proects going on. Brian presented to Mel, for the group, the below hook as one donation for a future auction the group will be having; all proceeds will go to Women for Women International The auction date will be announced.

Ebony Gabon w/Captive Ring and Kazuri Bead enclosed by 2 SSilver spheres.

CGOA Classes... and Autographs

I had a great time at the conference this year, especially meeting up with friends.
I also had four classes: Crochet Illlusions with Darla Fanton; Eclectic Bead Necklace with Jenny King; Paisleys that Pop with Joan Davis; and Crochet Intermeshing with Margaret Hubert.

That's me in between Saundra and Pam in Margaret's class. If not for Pam I may never have gotten through the class...it was confusing for left-handed me! And I met up with fellow New Jerseyan, Shari White, a fiber artist, freeformer and designer! She had designs in the contest and the fashion show and was one of 31 contributors of scrumbles for Brian's freeform vest. Shari graciously signed my newly acquired book, Afghans for All Reasons & All Seasons (by Jean and Rita, of course!) I was a real groupie with that book and hunted down many more autographs...Am I late on these CGOA posts or what??...........

Beware of Texans bearing gifts...

Wow...our Texas friends, Saundra and Carole, brought gifts...Sweet! And those Texas size jellybeans were! You'll be glad to know Brian wears his Texas cap out in the barn; the armadillo is on my puter and the other items are in use. Can't forget anyone now!!
Bobbie from the CGOA Crochet Texas! group in Dallas and Saundra and Carole from the CGOA Houston Crochet group at the Fashion Show and dinner.
Sharon and Bobbie from the Crochet Texas! group with items I am glad I brought along to pass out to all...gift bags, lip balm in crocheted holders...

Straight from Ohio...

On Saturday, July 19th, I headed to Newark International Airport to pick up the first BrainsBarn student...:)...our friend and crochet designer, Christy!
She's in to learn the lathe and to ride up with us to the Crochet Conference in Manchester, NH.

Christy- all cleaned up and relaxing with the Princess Layla after a day in "the barn". :)
Earlier in the day and during all the days spent in the barn...learning, turning, sanding, sanding, sanding...
Christy did very well in being the first "student" at BrainsBarn. She just HAD TO KNOW how those hooks are created. After finding out...she decided to leave the decorated hooks up to Brian...but she gained much knowledge on the lathe and will surely have her own turning style in the near future. Right now, Christy makes handcarved hooks and is the creator of the "Hookzilla". See this link for her hooks for sale: http://hooksbybumbles.tripod.com/id1.html

The above is the only know photo of Christy in the barn and creating on the lathe. LOLOL...cameras were checked at the door and a confidentiality statement was signed as to "what happens in the barn, stays in the barn". (LOL...only kidding! but we all really had lots of fun and laughs!)

Christy's crochet designs can be seen in various publications this year and she is one of the SFTD- "Straight From Today's Designers" with items in their first 2 publications that can be bought and downloaded directly from the site.

Link: http://www.sftdonline.com/

Christy's website with patterns is here: http://bumbles102774.tripod.com/index.html

Be sure to check out this up and coming designer!

Back to Normal at BrainsBarn

Ivory and Violets

The Jade Lotus

Well...he's on a creative path again...and really needed to do something different. Someone was waiting for his specialty hooks. Both hooks will be hand delivered to a collector of the unique at the conference coming up...

Complete descriptions can be seen on the BrainsBarn website; hooks 4 page. :)

Both have been sold...

2008 Knit & Crochet Show

It's been a while since the last posting...but Spring has sprung and now summer is here. We've had such nice weather that a lot of time was spent outside and away from the puter.
The CGOA hooks were sent out in mid-June and have safely arrived for the conference. Brian considers it quite an honor that he was chosen as this year's hookmaker but is he glad that it's over. He's never made so many of one hook ever! So it's back to his OOAK creations...

CGOA 2008 Commemorative Hook by BrainsBarn

Chakte Kok/ 12mm Cloisonne Bead/ 2 SSilver accents/ size I-5.5mm

To be stamped CGOA 08.

It has been announced that the above hook is only available to CGOA members who are attending the July Conference. One hook per member; any hooks left after the conference will be by mail order on a first come, first served basis.

If anyone has any questions about this, please contact Amy Campbell, Customer Service Representative at acampbell@offinger.com

On another note, I have passed the CGOA Master Course in Basic Stitches!

BrainsBarn news...published again :)

This is our 6th time in a magazine but the 1st one for a Knitting issue. It seems custom eye candy is alive and well...as seen in Knit N Style- April, 2008 issue- out now.
We had a sellout on the website...but there is more on the way...

A sample of very fancy custom Knitting Needles... eye candy!

CGOA Masters in Basic Stitches...it's ready

OK...the above 2 notebooks represent a lot of work. I just finished printing off the questions/answers and it's all ready to be put in the mail on Tuesday. Wow! I really feel that I've accomplished something. Who knew I'd be interested in the proficiency of my crochet work? Well, it seems I am AND someone else wants to know about it. Wish me luck! I'm keeping fingers crossed XXXXXXX.
For more about what is expected for the Master in Basic Stitches and for more correspondence courses offered to CGOA members, go here: http://www.crochet.org/

BrainsBarn news...

No matter how many times it happens, it's always a thrill to see one's work showcased in a magazine. :) We know how pattern designers feel!

This is the 5th time we've been asked for pictures, but the first time we're in a non-crochet issue... At Home Tennessee, February 2008. Picture can be seen on page 46 in the Style section.

Display Stand is in use already...

This is what I really wanted this second stand for...a hat display. Now that I see it I'll have to seek out another "head". This one has been "pugged" at the neck. The camouflage skullys sell out at the fairs. The above is one of many I've finished since January!

The stand also doubles as a thread holder. Can't beat that!

Happy Valentine Day!!

What a nice surprise!

A beautiful heart box of red suede with swirled ribbon flowers- filled with Godiva chocolates...well, there's still SOME of it in there. Don't you think chocolate should be a food group?? I do!...and I treat it as such.

Then there is a fish head coffee cup with chocolates for Brian. Why? when he doesn't even have time to fish?? Because it says on the side "I'm Hooked on You". I had to laugh when I saw that because it doesn't mean fishing to me. No...hooked on you means crochet hooks of course. So there's a new display item for some BB crochet hooks!

And last is the real surprise. I had "ordered" a thread holder/display stand (for my hats) from BB and received more than I thought...engraved from him and our grandaughter. Yes, she helped in making this (she loves to work with him out in the barn).

Stitch of the Week at the CGOA Message Board...part 3

I'm not doing so good in keeping up the blog...but of course I have excuses! :)

Life happens; holidays came up; but most of all it was showtime. Hubby, (aka BrainsBarn) and I did a show a month from September through December. That may not seem like much but, as you know, for handcrafted items it is...

I was also busy with my local KnitWit group and the last quarter of the year we are the busiest in getting items made and ready for donation.

Even so I did manage to do 6 more Stitch of the Week items. Will I finish all 21? Don't know...but they are fun to do and I have 12 dishcloths/washcloths so far :)