How to Get Mail Delivered Faster

I have been relying on the regular Kuwait postal system to deliver my design submissions.  Of course, when you really need something to get to its destination promptly, it doesn't!  The rates for express shipping are sky high, especially when you don't even know if your submission will be accepted.  This morning, I was thinking about how I could speed up the mail at no extra cost.  I came across a few interesting tips I think I will use next time, and hope they really do work!

Step 1:  Whenever possible, use printed address labels instead of writing by hand. If you must write by hand, make sure your recipient’s address is written clearly and neatly in large letters. In either case, use all capital letters. It may not look nice, but it will help the post office scanning machines.

Step 2:  On the last line of the recipient’s address, include only the city, state and zip code. Put all of this information on one line, and do not add any more lines below it.

Step 3:  Always use a 10-digit zip code in your recipient’s address, adding a hyphen in between the first six numbers and the last four. You can find a complete directory of ten digit zip codes on the U.S. Postal Service website.

I also found another interesting method involving the LPC code on eHow.  Here are the instructions for that.

Aslan Trends Design Contest 2009

I am so thrilled and am celebrating tonight!  I just received an email from Aslan Trends yarn company, regarding my contest entry.  I won second prize in the accessories category!  I am considering it quite a victory as it was billed as a "Knitting Challenge" and I won with a crocheted item.  Yeah for crochet!  I will receive a cash prize as well as some of their beautiful yarn.  They will be posting photos soon, but for now, here is a photo that I took before I sent it off.  I am planning to self-publish the pattern and offer it for sale, as soon as I get the shawl back.  I created this "Silhouette Shawl" using their 100% merino wool Del Cerro yarn.  It was really lovely to work with!

Here is a complete list of the winners, if you would like to see them.

Studio Sneek Peek

The Studio is coming together and it is so exciting!  I want to spend all my time there.  I was originally going to carpet the floor, but I fell in love with this parquet flooring.  I chose it because it looks modern and with all the different colors, it goes with any furniture I put on it.  I have furniture pieces that I want to use from my life before marriage.  Some of it is cherry, some pine and some walnut.  It all works when placed on this flooring!  Now, I just need to research how to clean it, to give it a bit of polish.   I am deciding where to hang my pictures and posters now. The "yarn man" will have a home very soon!

Celebration Cake!

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I don't usually need an excuse to make a cake, but it was thrilling to see loads of lovely strawberries at the supermarket.  It is spring weather here in Kuwait,  and that means that we don't have to buy expensive strawberries from the USA.  I have been saving this recipe from Cooking Light Magazine and today was the perfect day to try it out.  It was a beautiful cake,  but not terribly exciting in the taste and texture department.  I was going to post the recipe, but I think there are better recipes out there....

I am celebrating today, because I just sent off the pattern and sample for a design that was accepted to be published in the new online magazine, Tension.  It will appear, along with one of my favorite recipes, in their "Lemon" themed Spring 2010 issue.  Their first mini issue is up now, and the winter "Cinnamon" issue is coming out soon.  This is the first design that I created after making the decision to pursue a career in crochet design.  I hope that it will be the first of many!

I love a good podcast!

It is rare that I have quiet time, but this morning I was lucky enough to listen to two podcasts while finishing up some design submissions.  The first, was the latest "Getting Loopy" with Mary Beth Temple.  She had Lily Chin on as her guest.  What an amazing woman!  She has written a new book:   "Lily Chin's Crochet Tips & Tricks: Shortcuts and Techniques Every Crocheter Should Know".   I think I must have this book for my library.  Then, I listened to "Yarn Thing" with Marly Bird.  It was the first of the season.  She didn't have a guest on, but she always has something interesting to talk about.  During the podcast, she mentioned her lineup of upcoming shows. There are some great guests on the list; Debbie Bliss, Nicky Epstein, Kristen Omdahl, Debbie Stoller, and Kathy Merrick, to name a few.  I always learn so much when I listen to a podcast and I find it less distracting than watching television.  The shows are archived so you can listen anytime you want.  I am looking forward to my next quiet morning to catch up on a few that are in the archives!

Working on my logo....

I have been working on my logo so I can make professional letterhead and a pattern layout template.  I am doing a line drawing first, and then I will work on a graphics tablet to add color.  I am hoping that it will come together this week as I have some samples to crochet.  Deciding on colors has been the most difficult aspect!  I think I am narrowing it down now after several mock ups.

I took a little break from drawing today to make chocolate chip cookies.  I think it was one of my best batches ever.  I altered the traditional Nestle Tollhouse recipe a little based on some tips I read about.  I added a little more flour, a little less sugar, and melted the butter.  I especially like melting the butter so I don't have to wait for the butter to soften, this means I can make cookies at the drop of a hat!  I also mix it very well with the sugar, which makes a smoother batter.  Finally, I let the dough chill while I wash the mixing bowl and prepare to bake.  The following is the altered recipe:

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

2 1/4 cups + 1 TBS all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks, 1/2 pound) butter, melted
5/8 cup granulated [white] sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups (12-ounce package) NESTLE TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts

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COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large mixer bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
BAKE in preheated 375-degree [Fahrenheit] oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Romanian Point Lace

Until I saw a class offered through the Kuwait Textile Arts Association, I had never heard of the beautiful craft of Romanian point lace.  To begin, you must first crochet a cord,  then you baste it to a piece of fabric that has the design outline drawn on it.
("Sunshine's Creations" has generously put up a tutorial on her blog, if you are interested in learning how to make the cord) .  Finally, you fill in the spaces with various embroidery stitches.  The white sample is the piece that I made in the class.  The red variegated sample is one I  did later as a color experiment.  I am planning to use this technique with yarn instead of thread to include in my freeform crochet work.  I haven't found many resources about learning to make this type of lace.  There is an instructional video for sale on Etsy which could be a good way to learn. The best book I have seen is "Romanian Point Lace" by Angela Thompson and Kathleen Waller.  Unfortunately, it is out of print.  I was lucky to get a copy before it went out of print.  It must be rare, as the price of the book now, if you can find it, ranges from $199-$250.  It is a beautiful book.  If you see a copy at a reasonable price, snap it up!