Another New Book etc

Good Morning Everyone,

I just finished proofing (for the last time, I hope) the manuscript for my latest book - PLUS SIZE CROCHET - FASHIONS THAT FIT AND FLATTER - and it is looking really super.  The photos look terrific, and I have gone over the instructions at least 5 times, so hopefully there will be very few errors in them.  If you want a sneak peek, you can see it on www.amazon.com

While visiting my friend and fellow fiber fanatic, Prudence Mapstone, www.knotjustknitting.com   in Australia a few years ago, Prudence had a book on plus size knitted sweaters.  I was intrigued by the book, because it was co-authored by Dawn French, an English actress. I loved her as The Vicar of Dibly on the BBC Comedies, and she also had a cameo role in one of the Harry Potter movies.   At the time I wondered if there were many books out there for plus sizes, and if there was one featuring crochet.  Seeing that book planted a little seed in my brain to do further research, but I never did anything with it.  Last year, while attending the Crochet Guild of America conference, several women came up to me and asked "why designers did not design more crochet things specifically for plus sizes?"  

After hearing this from so many women, the little seed, planted in Australia,  began to flower.  One week after returning home, I sent in a proposal for a new book, it was accepted almost immediately, and now it is finished.  It will be on the stands in the Fall.

On an entirely different note, I cannot believe what happened to me on Saturday night.  While attending a social gathering at a church in my village, I was having a grand time.  There were refreshments and entertainment etc.

During the entertainment portion, I was totally surprised to find out that my son, daughter-in-law and grandson, were all part of the show.  When they invited me to join them, they never told me that they were participating.  In my enthusiasm and surprise, I was vigorously applauding them.  In a very short time my hands began to tingle and itch and hurt all at once.  I could not believe it, did not know what to think, and wondered what in the world was happening to me.  The next morning both my palms were terribly black and blue, and sore. 

Moral of the story: When you need your hands to  knit and crochet and type, use restraint when clapping them together, even if the applause is for beloved family members :-)

Have a great day,

Margaret