Hello!
I’ve taken the unusual step of making this newsletter into a post on my blog. I know, it’s been a while since you last had a newsletter from me and you might have been wondering where I’ve been. Well, it was the summer holidays, so we had the three boys home from school (which was interesting).
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- Returning Home from a Play Date With Nail Varnish On!
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- That’s NOT How You Cut Yarn for Crafting!
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- “Making Perfume for Mum”
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- Making Orange Juice
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- Expanding Our Sewing Skills
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- Learning to Sew Buttons
Then there was back to school and all the chaos that entails (who’s grown out of their shoes, where have all the school jumpers gone, who needs a new lunchbox…)!
First Day of the New School Year – This is what I get when I ask for “Best Smiles”.
And now that half-term has arrived, I have some time and, more importantly, some headspace again (if only for this week).
In the meantime, I hope you’ll have seen the new posts on my blog:
- The very beautiful Sophie in Cotton Candy Man Scheepjes Whirl by Jenny.
- The #notaCAL I hosted on Instagram – I’d love to see what you made if you followed this.
- My look back at Last Year’s Yarndale.
- The new Sophie Stool Kits that will be available in stores from the first week of November – Squee!!!
- A look at Catona Cutie Pies and the Secret Lives of Colour.
And, of course, I’ve also been busy crocheting, planning, dreaming – so over the next few months, I have some exciting things to share with you all. The photos below are all projects I am working on and/or patterns I will be releasing on the blog. I should mention that I have had 6 fairies helping me ‘make’ over the last six months. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for their help. Thank you to Lynnette, Kay, Minno, Jenny, Pat, and Melanie.
Don’t Ask! I Can’t Tell Yet!!
But first, I would like to ask for your help. I’d like to know what you like about my newsletters, what you would like to see more of/less of, and anything new I could consider adding. Also, how often would you like it to drop into your inbox and do you know where to find back issues online?
It’s easiest for me if you let me know your thoughts by commenting below. I look forward to hearing from you!
Ps. I feel a bit sheepish about mentioning this, but I feel like I should. I was runner-up (best crochet blog) and third place (best crochet book – Sophie) in the recent British Knitting and Stitching Awards 2017. When I attended the awards ceremony, I got to chat to Attic24 Lucy and her friend Yarndale Emma, as well as Verity from Truly Hooked, Janie Crow, and Stuart Hillard (author of Sew Fabulous). Lucy won A LOT of awards. You can read more about that HERE on her blog. I would like to thank everyone who voted for me (and for Sophie). You made me feel like a Princess-for-a-day.
Pps. I have just found out that I have been nominated for Designer of the Year and Blog of the Year in the British Craft Awards 2018. Yay! Scheepjes, Wool Warehouse, Janie Crow and Kirsten Ballering have also been nominated (among many others).
This blog post contains affiliate links. I only link to products I personally use or would use. All opinions are my own.
Karyn Marks says
Hello! I love your newsletters, whenever they come! I am a single mom and I understand how precious little time and energy are left at the end of the day! Given that, I would be satisfied if your blog only contained bits about yourself, your designs, your thoughts…….with some random family information sprinkled in as you can…..Dedri, after crocheting for over 40 years, making Sophie literally changed my life. I look forward to hearing from and about you whenever you have time and energy :D <3
Dedri Uys says
Karyn, thank you. I am so pleased that you found Sophie useful (I’m reading between the lines there). Have a lovely evening x
Sherry Mueller says
Hi Dedri..
Gosh I just love your newsletters..especially when you intersperse them with the boys. Love your children..handsome lads..But I do appreciate new designs with the “show me how” tutorials..Don’t kill yourself with all your great inspirations and trying to raise a family..but keep us in the loop as often as you can..You are the best Crochet blogger ever…would hate to lose out on a good pattern..and updates of your family, cats and rats…
Sherry
Dedri Uys says
Hi Sherry. I hope you have been well :) Thank you for taking the time to comment. I am too scared to post a photo of our rats as I fear people will faint. But they are so very cute!! And that is not something I thought I would EVER say about rats.
Kateleen says
Hi Dedri… please don’t feel obliged the have a separate newsletter… we can follow you via social media… I think we prefer a new design (what is going on with Charlotte ) to a newsletter… and most of all enjoy your boys… soon they won’t need your help our attention any longer
Dedri Uys says
Charlotte is still growing slowly, but when you see my excuse for this tardiness, I am sure you will forgive me. Can’t say more than that!
Nicci Moffat says
Hallo Dedri! Ek geniet dit om so nou en dan nuus te kry oor jou lewe en waarmee jy tans besig is. Maak nie saak as dit nie weekliks is nie! Dit sal werk as jy dit op jou blog sit en dalk net ń epis stuur om te sê dat daar vars nuus is. Ek kan nie wag om die nuwe projekte te sien nie, jou patrone lees so maklik. Baie geluk met jou nominasie, ons hou duim vas!
Dedri Uys says
Hi Nicci. Baie dankie. Nou sit en krap ek my kop. Moffat is ‘n ongewone van en ek weet iewers in my kinder dae het ons Moffats geken. Ek kan nie onthou hoe nie en my ma slaap al, so ek kan haar nie nou vra nie. Ek wil sê dit was in die Kraaifontein area seker 30 jaar terug?
Sarah Davis says
I am happy with whatever you choose to publish. I share your love of color, so I find your patterns beautiful and your thoughts on color very interesting. A newsletter with short snippets, and that redirects to your blog works for me. Thanks for sharing!
Dedri Uys says
Thank you Sarah :)
shoshana vogel says
i can’t tell you what, if anything to do differently, but i can tell you that i look forward to your emails, and open each one with joy!!! thank ou for all your effort, i’m sure it isn’t easy.
shoshana
Dedri Uys says
Thank you, Shoshana. How have you been?
Denise Phostole says
Concentrate on the things that make you the happiest. Your family, and your wonderful creative designs are where you should concentrate. Love the news letter, but would rather see your time spent with family and creating beautiful patterns.
PS although I do enjoy the photos of your children – and their ‘best smiles’ make me smile.
Dedri Uys says
Thank you, Denise x
Geertje Van der Nagel says
Please go on as you are doing. I like your newsletters but as a mother of 3 adults I know you have to enjoy the childhood of your children because they grow up so fast you hardly notice. Take care of them and of yourself and your husband and family. We’ll wait till you have time to spare.
Congratulations on your prices and nominations! Take care so you don’t get a burnout !
Lots of love and a big thank you for all the beautiful things you give us ,❤
Dedri Uys says
Hi Geertje. Thank you :) I def don’t want to get burnout!!
Erin Hoernig says
Dedri,
I love your emails and I love your blog, equally. In my opinion, you could post a just a bit of an email (maybe with a pic or two!) to give a head’s up that there’s a new blog post. That’s all it would take to get me over to your blog.
Keep on makin’ girl! You (and your “helpers”) are the awesome!
Dedri Uys says
Thank you, Erin. I will try to write shorter and sweeter :)
Tina Hornum says
You shall just continue muddling along as you have been. It is who you are and it is good :D
Dedri Uys says
Haha. Thanx Tina. A-muddling I go :)
jenny evans says
Hallo Dedri, lekker omweer van jou te hoor! ek lees graag jou nuusbriewe enjou seuns se fotos is altyd kostelik en laat my lag en verlang na my eie tweetjies toe hulle nog jonk en woelig was.
Ek gee nie om waaroor jy skryf nie en dis lekker as jy jou eie stertjie n bietjie prys want jy mag maar!!
Sophie nog steeds bobaas XXX
Liefde van SA
JennyEvans
Dedri Uys says
Hi liewe Jenny. Dankie. Ek voel so ongemaklik as ek my ‘eie stert prys’. Dis moeilik om my nuus te deel sonder om te voel asof ek brag! Ek hoop dit gaan goed met jou x
Marcia Koenig says
Once a month is fine. I can only crochet so fast!
Lori McFarland says
Dear Dedri, I will and have loved to read everything thing you send, when ever you send it. Congratulations on Sophie, I truly fell in love the minute I saw it. You deserve to Princess for many days. Take time for your family and if you get a chance to share, we your loyal readers and followers will be here to read and try anything you send our way. In my opinion yours is the best blog. Loyal follower.
Dedri Uys says
Thank you, Lori. What a lovely comment and compliment x
Carol says
I love your newsletters just as they are, a little bit of this, a little bit of that. I understand your time constraints so just give us newsletters as you find time. If monthly works for you, so be it. Just keep them coming!
Love your newsletters and your blog!
Dedri Uys says
Thank you very much, Carol :)
Bettina says
Hi Dedri,
for me your NLs are perfect. Because I dont know in advance what awaits me. But always there is something about your experiences with color, yarn, patterns, kids and other crocheters.
Please dont change anything, give us your excellent fotos, your experiences and the stories about how some patterns came to life.
Thx for letting us take part and for me every NL is inspirational and sometimes things you mention have to go on a ever longer getting wishlist :-).
Congratulations to you and Sophie, very well deserved!! And good luck for next years nominations!.
rotgold (ravelry) aka Bettina
Dedri Uys says
Hi Bettina. Thank you very much :) I’m guessing your to-do/wish list is just as long as mine. But isn’t it amazing that we have so many wonderful things we would like to make? I would rather have too many ideas for future projects than none at all.
Val Burton says
Well done Dedri! You are soooo deserving of the awards, good luck in the 2018 Craft Awards too. I personally love your Newsletter just as it is, it kinda feels like a a conversation I might have with a friend rather than a formal publication, please don’t change anything, love seeing your Newsletter land in my in box, however in frequently it may be. xx
Dedri Uys says
Thank you, Val. I’m glad you like the fact that they are more chatty. I’m a chatter!
Beth Koritz says
I love to read your newsletters whenever you can find the time to write them.
Lynn says
I love receiving your newsletter. I really like your patterns and love the photo of your son’s! I would prefer that you showcase mostlynyour work with an occasional guest designer, as I’m sure you know many that I do not. I understand how busy life can be with 3 children and if necessary, I wouldn’t object to monthly or biweekly instead of weekly! Thanks for all of your beautiful designs. Sophie is still on my to do list. Hope to het to it soon!
Dedri Uys says
Thank you for your advice, Lynn :) Sophie will be waiting for you when you get the time. There’s no rush :)
Pam G says
Look so forward to your newsletters and emails. Please keep them coming. I get really inspired when I see what you’re up too. I know what you mean by being super busy – I’m also a writer of science fiction novels and children’s books. My dilemma is always should I write or crochet/knit. Just not enough time in the day for everything. I can’t imagine if I had a family to take care of too. I really appreciate the time you take away from your family and “job” to tell us what you’re up too.
Really intrigued with the new photos of upcoming projects. Especially the squares with starfish and the triangle. Can’t wait to see how they’re done.
Thanks again for your time with us. We love you.
Dedri Uys says
Ooh, Pam, I like myself some science fiction! I hopped over to your blog, but when I look at the page with all the books on them (page 2), I just see a black screen and red buttons. Should there be photos? I can’t see where to get the free copy of EUROPA Awakenings. Am I being a ditz?
Maureen Soar says
I like getting the newsletter because I don’t always remember to check the blog. Although the newsletter could just be a recap of recent blog posts so that I know what I have missed rather than unique content. There is SO MUCH stuff on various social media that things tend to get lost (particularly on Facebook, which chooses what to show me by some algorithm I have never understood), and a newsletter is just one way or reminding me what I have missed.
Dedri Uys says
Thank you for your advice, Maureen. Facebook has become like a maze for me. I daren’t even log in. SO many things and I miss all the important ones.