Look At What I Made

Passionate About Crochet

You are here: Home / Life / Look At What I Made Newsletter

Life

Look At What I Made Newsletter

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).

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:

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.

Look At What I Made Upcoming Projects WIP

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).

You can find me on Facebook, Bloglovin, Pinterest, Twitter, or Instagram.

Happy Hooking!

Dedri

This blog post contains affiliate links. I only link to products I personally use or would use.  All opinions are my own.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Comments

  2. I enjoy reading whatever you send and whenever you send it. Family life can be hectic at times and your blog or newsletter should be done at your leisure and about what’s on your mind. My opinion is do what’s right for you and thank you for letting me be part of it.

    Reply

  3. Your questions, my replies:

    I love writing newsletters, but do you like receiving them?
    –Absolutely! Yours is one of only two about crafts that I get in my email!

    Would you rather I spent my time designing without much interaction?
    — haha, I know you love us makers working on your designs, so yes, interaction — as in, tell us about whatever you’re creating!

    Or would you prefer that I write the newsletters weekly again? Do you want me to talk about things other than look-at-what-I-made? Do you want me to feature other designers more often, or feature makers, or talk about my kids (and cat and rats), or recommend books/yarn/tools?
    — You are busy. Send newsletters when you can. Linking to a blog post as you did this time is just as good & saves you time I’m sure.
    I like the occasional mention of your everyday life; it personalizes what we read. But I’d be just as happy with only look-what-I-made features. And recommendations/reviews. I’ve learned a lot from your yarn reviews.

    Also, how often would you like it to drop into your inbox and do you know where to find back issues online?
    — As often as you can manage. Most of us understand the busy life of a mom-of-three! I’m grateful for whatever you can manage. (LOL, you could give your kids newsletter-writing training and then…. dictate? sit back and create? ;) )
    — I’ve never looked for back issues but I’m sure I could find them if I wanted to.

    Reply

    • Hi Kate. Thank you for taking the time to respond in such detail :) Teaching the kids is a definite and very probable solution! They just have to learn to touch type…(note to self…teach 9-year old to touch type).

  5. I, too, enjoy receiving your emails when you send them out and I truly believe you should always write from what is yours, yes, we may have specific interests, but what makes this blog/newsletter/sharing is that you infuse your passion and interest so keep it fresh for you and when you want to share! Your life is what grows your interests, designs, ideas, and sharing what you feel/what you experience gives us a glimpse of the “ingredients” and “magic”involved! Thank you for caring enough to ask our opinions. Such thoughtfulness is appreciated!! Hoping your decision of what you should do becomes clear and brings you peace! =)

    Reply

    • Darlene, thank you for your understanding and encouraging comment. I am so fearful of disappointing people (I MUST NOT PEOPLE PLEASE, I must not people please!!) that I sometimes forget that it’s ok to not please everyone.

  6. I love your newsletters. No worries if you can’t do them often. Family definitely comes first. But please don’t fade into the background. I visit your blog often.

    Reply

  7. I believe a mom should live in the moment, and treasure up all the memories she is making, so Family First! I love getting newsletters, but I would say I prefer you making lovely things to share with family and friends most of all. Don’t let anything take away from your family or creative time.

    Reply

  9. Hi Dedri,
    Since I discovered your blog it has been a real pleasure to read it and to receive your newsletters. I love your crochet creations!, but everything else on your newsletters was also a delight to read. You are a beautiful person and mom, and surely I understand there are no 40-hour-days, only 24-ones. Take your time, live your life, enjoy your wonderful children (they will grow soon enough) and take your own pace to tell us about everything you fancy when YOU can. It will always be enjoyed and very welcomed.
    Congratulations on the awards, you really deserve them!!! Brilliant!
    Take care. Heartfelt hugs & xxxxx

    Reply

  10. As an empty-nester, my advice is to focus on the boys and only blog/email as much as the family’s and your own needs allow! Love hearing from you, but not at the expense of your stress levels rising through over committing to writing to us =)

    Reply

    • Hi Caroline. Thank you for commenting. You are right! Family must come first x I can’t believe how many wonderful and encouraging comments I have received on this post.

  11. Hi Dedri, first let me say I made my first Sophie when it was a CAL in 2015. Have just reluctantly sold it to “fund my crochet passion”. From advertising that one I have received an order for another Sophie was my introduction to your beautiful talent.

    I always enjoy following your newsy emails, whether they be about your personal journeys (your trip to Souith Africa, my birthplace being one special one.) or what you are planning to create, other designers (as often it is what you say that encourages me to look at other designers works as well).

    I will always support you in whatever pathway you choose but monthly sounds wonderful. Please continue to broaden our minds with your wonderful talent. I live in Australia.

    PS: Your boys are very handsome young guys and love the cheesy smiles!! :)

    Reply

    • Hi Charmaine :) Thank you for your encouraging comment and for your compliment about the boys :) South Africa is pretty awesome isn’t it? And aren’t we lucky to have been born there? I miss the sights, sounds, and smells. Mostly I miss the body-temperature evenings in the Klein Karoo.

  12. I think a once a month newsletter is probably frequent enough. A few authors I follow do it like that (with occasional extra emails if there’s extra news/an upcoming book release.)

    Once a month would be enough to remind me to come and check out your blog and any new designs, and hopefully wouldn’t be to onerous for you.

    Loving the sneak peeks of new designs, and your projects, hopefully I’ve finished my stashbuster Sophie before they’re released!

    Reply

  13. I absolutely love to hear from you and share the joys of you and yours! Thank you for inspiring me to crochet; and thank you for your sharing yourself, your expertise, and a window into your life across the ocean from me. Love from California!

    Reply

  14. I enjoy your newsletter. I also love your patterns, expecially Sophie’s Universe. I made that one and it was magnificent!
    Thank you for all the time you devote to your craft!
    Claudia

    Reply

  15. I love your newsletters too, great best smiles. The middle one smiles somewhat devilish :)

    I love your designs and other designers will give me perhaps a bigger pool of need to have. ;-) Recommendations sound great too and its always fun to read about your boys. Having 4 cats and a dog myself, you can never talk to much about animals to me. *g*

    But if you have to cut back to take care of those 3 little devils that is more important then satisfy your fellow readers. So I will be happy for whatever you have time for.

    And I so want to know more about the design with the starfish. I’m in love already!

    Reply

    • Hi Veronika. The middle one (eldest) is a little rogue and quite the charmer – actually, they are all quite charming and hideously naughty!! What is your dog called, and what breed?

  16. Hello Dedri,

    I wholeheartedly agree with Karyn. I love the surprise of opening my iPad and seeing “Look at what I made “ there. I think weekly would be too much, especially with your busy life, so any time you can spare to drop us a line and include us in your “doings” is greatly appreciated.
    Congratulations on winning the awards, deservedly so.
    Your boys are growing (where does the time go) and I love the best smiles.
    Keep up your good work and I look forward to many more spasmodic newsletters – that’s half the appeal.

    Jeanette

    Reply

    • Hi Jeanette. Thank you :) I’m glad you like the sporadic nature of my newsletters. I felt like I had set myself a goal by saying ‘weekly’ and couldn’t live up to it. I will continue to be sporadic then :) The boys are getting so big. I keep referring to my 9 year-old as my 7 year-old because I just can’t believe he’s 9 already! He was only 1 yesterday!!

  18. I understand being pulled in too many directions. I don’t have kids, but I have other commitments. I used to have a book review blog and had to retire it about 18 months ago due to no longer having time. So I totally get what you’re going through. I love seeing your updates and your new patterns and the stories behind them. BUT, while I would miss them if they go away, I will not be brokenhearted if you have to downsize to fewer each month. What about doing a once a month or every 2 weeks newsletter?

    Reply

    • Thank you, Kelley. I’m sorry to hear that you had to retire your blog, but I’m hoping it was in order to make space for better things :)

  19. I like the little insights you give us of your family life and your designer self. Write your newsletter when you can, design to your hearts content and enjoy family time whenever possible.

    Reply

    • Thank you, Laurel. I like ‘design to your hearts content’. It makes it sound SO appealing and romantic x

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Show Buttons
Hide Buttons