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Abbey Swanson Crochet Designer

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Mr. Tumnus

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Do you know how many swatch photos I have? Or how many terrible sketches I have of design ideas? (I can't draw) More often than not, these photos and sketches represent a rejection. (Like this one pictured here.) I sent my idea to a magazine or yarn company and they kindly said, No." I learned the art of rejection resilience as a writer. Before I began my season as a crochet maker, I went through a season of writing and submitting poetry to various publications. I loved all my poems. I worked hard on them. Not all editors loved them or even appreciated that I worked hard on them. But a few did! And oh how sweet those acceptance letters are after all those rejections. I think I had about 4 poems published and 1 devotional. I probably earned a whopping $50 - but I learned A LOT. This season also helped me as a freelance crochet designer. Rejections are commonplace in the freelance world, and if you can't deal with it, then it's not the right world for you. A friend who is a theater actress recently posted, "Auditioning is you job, performing is your joy." In the crochet world, we audition in the form of proposals, cold calling/emailing & queries. But designing the actual piece is a JOY. What kinds of auditions do you need to endure to get to the thing that brings you JOY? Don't throw out the work connected to your joy - unless it's a joy you can live without. It's fun to have a little pile of rejections when they stand as a reminder of all the yesses 💕 (And yes - I had to look up the proper way to pluralize "yes".) Xoxo, Abbey

I am a planner. I love to think things through... then act. To some, I appear as though I fly by the seat of my pants. But what no one sees are the pages and pages with scribbles, notes and lists that came long before the action. Sometimes I didn't know I should act on those lists until something happens or someone says the perfect word and that's just the push I need to go for it! For example - I've been mulling over the best way to teach crochet classes online. This was not my own original idea - someone awesome pitched it to me. It's also something I hear often in my online community - "I wish I lived closer so I could take a class". Then someone suggested a site where I could teach online... And it's just the push I needed! More soon - but felt compelled to tell you that I'm currently fixing wings on a dream...

This baby girl of mine is about to be 8. E i g h t you guys. I'm not okay! 😭 It's easy to mark the passage of time when so many of my major business decisions coincided with the birth of a child. I began doing craft fairs and opened my Etsy shop when my eldest was about to be born. 4 years later, after the birth of my third child, I gave up making for designing. I also began to teach crochet classes on a regular basis. I don't know if it's the New Year, a new decade, or the real need for me to help make ends meet, but I'm having a real crisis as a designer. I don't love being so honest and personal on social media, but I'm assuming if you've read this far - you truly care ❤ If I told you how much I've made as an indie designer, you'd laugh. If I told you how many hours I've put into designing with such small results, you might fall out of your chair. It's ridiculous. I've realized being a good designer has nothing to do with it. Having a kick-ass photographer has nothing to do with it. It's all about knowing how to market & play the social media game. Know what? I hate that. I've decided if I can't be successful by being authentic and building a community, then I don't want to play the game. I know this sounds ranty, but everytime I'm connecting with people, the algorithm changes or I'm getting poached by someone or copied or getting a nasty email. It's exhausting. Especially when all I really want to do is help pay for rent and groceries, make something beautiful and teach others to do the same. I love designing. EVERY SINGLE PART OF IT. Working with a yarn company. Thinking up a design. Making it work with the yarn. Finding a model. Styling the shoot. Working with my photographer. Writing the pattern. Working with my editor. Getting it tested. Releasing the pattern. Seeing others work it up. It's magic! But I think 2020 is going to be a year where I focus on teaching. In person classes, YouTube videos, maybe some Google hangouts? The phrase "design to teach" has been on repeat in my mind. Create designs that help my students learn. I think I might listen. 💕 Thanks for reading. Xoxo, Abbey

I'm SO EXCITED to announce that I'm hosting my FIRST EVER Crochet Club for adults! Come and learn something new, or try something you haven't wanted to tackle on your own. You can tailor your 5 classes EXACTLY how you want or I can help you learn the basics if you are new to crochet. More details in my bio - click GET TICKETS or comment below with questions. Xoxo, Abbey

Teaching. When I shifted away from being a maker towards being a designer, I didn't expect to move into a teaching role. Maybe everyone else in my life saw it, but I didn't. Every role I enjoyed since age 11 involved teaching: babysitting, tutoring, teaching Sunday School, coaching gymnastics, being a summer camp counselor, etc. And now I teach crochet classes a few times a week. There's something extremely magical about watching someone use a tool they've never used before (a hook) and employ it to command string to transform into something useful or wearable. Seeing heads donned with beautiful hats as they leave class is such a joy! In life, I learn the most when I teach. I want to find the right answer, the most efficient way forward, and the truth viewed from many sides. (Which sounds like such a typical enneagram 5, doesnt it?) I want my crochet students to not only learn a new skill, but learn a little more about themselves, show them their inner strength and to stick with something to the end (even if it's hard!). I believe this transfers into all areas of life - even if they never pick up a hook again! I hope to have many of you in class someday. There are lots coming up next month - you can view my eventbrite classes by clicking "get tickets" in my profile. Xoxo, Abbey

Juniper & Sage Cowl This elegant cowl gives a nod to the landscape of Wyoming with design elements from its two most common plants: juniper and sage. Pattern on Ravelry: Juniper & Sage Cowl by The Firefly Hook. Photo by @openairjournal Yarn: Worsted in Garden Gate by @malabrigoyarn Link in bio 💕 Xoxo, Abbey

Sometimes learning a new skill on a small, useful thing (like a coaster, washcloth, or... can't think of another small thing at the moment... drop me some ideas in the comments 😆) is less intimidating and requires less of a commitment than a larger thing. Examine my first tries at weaving here. Notice the crooked edges and imperfect finishing. Will I care if coffee spills on these? No. Will I use these? Yes. Will I make more? Absolutely. What new things are you hoping to learn or master this year? 📷 by @openairjournal 💕

💕Meet the maker💕 Hey everyone, I thought I would take a minute to introduce myself (or reintroduce myself to those of you who have been faithful followers for years). I'm Abbey, also known as Ab to my close friends who like to shorten my name or Abigail for those who like to lengthen it (my given name is just Abbey). I'm an enneagram 5 & Meyers Briggs INFJ. I've been crocheting since 1988. I created The Firefly Hook in 2013. I wanted to create a community where people could come and learn to crochet. Why did I post a picture of me spinning on a drip spindle? "Jack of all trades, master of none." I think about this saying a lot. As an enneagram 5, I'm only comfortable going public with knowledge I've mastered. I feel very confident and knowledgeable with crochet. But spinning, weaving, embroidery, etc? Not so much. I teach spinning & weaving classes, but only for beginners. I feel knowledgeable up to that point. I feel like "Jack of few trades, master of one" is more applicable for me. Haha! I'd like to inspire you to be brave and go out on a limb and learn something new. Tell people about it. Share your work. Even if it's imperfect. Even if you think no one else will appreciate it. Like I did here - posting a picture of me doing something I love but haven't mastered. I've shared a bit about myself - now tell me a little about YOU in the comments💕 Xoxo, Abbey

Want to learn to crochet? Or do you know a few stitches, but want to grow your skills? ➡I have lots of Minnesota classes coming up in January & February! ➡Classes coming soon to Casper Wyoming! ➡Online classes are currently in the works! Instagram: head to my bio and click "Get Tickets" for more info. Facebook: head to my page events or my recent post listing ALL my upcoming classes. Comment below with any questions!

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