Tammy's range of design talents knows virtually no limits. As her longtime friend (and frequent editor!), I have yet to see any type of crochet design she can't create (and create brilliantly!). Her versatility and innate sense of design make Tammy a true star among today's super-talented cutting-edge designers, and she has developed quite a fan following.

Years ago, when I first met and got to know Tammy, I could readily see her intrinsic design skills. I remember telling her then that I felt absolutely certain that one day she would be a well-known, successful designer, and I would be able to say, "I knew you when ...!" She has more than proven me right.

I recently asked Tammy some "inquiring minds want to know" questions to share with our Talking Crochet readers, and here is what she had to say.

TC: As a youngster, what did you want to be when you grew up?

TH: From as young as I can remember, I wanted to be a truck driver when I grew up. I had pictures of big rigs all over my bedroom walls, wore T-shirts with trucks on them, and made model trucks. I was just fascinated with the whole concept. So when I was 22, I went to truck-driving school and got my commercial license. I never ended up doing it as a job (mostly because no one would hire me), but it was a great experience.

TC: When did you learn to crochet?

TH: I learned to crochet from my second-grade teacher, Gail Crooks. I don't remember the details, but she offered to stay after school with anyone that wanted to learn. I was the only student that stayed! I looked forward to our time each day, sitting at her big wooden desk working together on a floppy purple "hippie" hat, which I still have.

TC: What inspired you to become a professional crochet designer?

TH: About 14 years ago when my daughters were 6 weeks and 2 years old, we packed up everything we owned and moved from Niagara Falls to North Carolina. While reading the classifieds shortly after moving, I found an ad for crocheters. I called immediately and started contract crocheting for a well-known designer. It didn't take long before I began thinking "Hey! I could do that!" and I have been designing ever since.

TC: Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

TH: I am inspired by everything and by nothing at all! I can see afghans in bathroom floor designs, color schemes in nature or a sweater based on a pattern from a man's tie. Everywhere I look, what I see translates into crochet. On the flip side, I can just grab a ball of yarn and a hook, and a design will "appear." This is my favorite way to design. I let my mind wander and watch what my hands create. It is my true gift from God.

TC: The story has been told that you can even crochet with your feet! How did this come about?

TH: Well, that's somewhat of a funny story! My husband and I own a brick-laying company. I was laying brick with the boys one day, and I injured my arm. I had crochet design deadlines to meet so not crocheting was not an option!

I devised a method of holding my hook between the bottoms of my feet while sitting cross-legged on the floor. Then I manipulated the yarn with my uninjured hand. The downside with this method is that it is hard on the back, so my husband and I have experimented with a little invention that sits on a table and holds the hook. I will sometimes still use that if I wear my hands out after a crochet marathon.

TC: Tell us some unusual places where you have crocheted.

TH: I have always taken something to crochet to every one of my girls' school functions or concerts. I recall once dropping my hook on the hard tiled floor in the elementary school during a play. The loud ping of the metal echoed around the room, and everyone turned to look at me!

In an attempt to halt the ever-growing spread which comes from always sitting, I created a desk to put on the rails of my treadmill. I am now able to crochet and exercise at the same time. It also helps to do something enjoyable while walking since that's not one of my favorite things!

Probably the most unusual place I ever crocheted was on our riding lawn mower. I had design deadlines and could not take the time to tend to anything else. The grass was getting higher and higher, so I threw my crochet into a basket and used my knees to steer the mower while I crocheted. It was difficult and not even remotely enjoyable, but both jobs got done!

There was also an occasion a few years ago when I was in the hospital for a week. Working freelance means you don't get sick days, and I had a deadline to meet, so naturally my crochet came with me. The project was a bassinet skirt, which was huge and bulky, and my IV lines kept getting wrapped and twisted in the yarn. However, I finished the project from my hospital bed and made my deadline!

TC: What other talents besides crochet do you have that your fans might not know about?

TH: In high school I took two years of auto mechanics. I got my New York state inspectors license and shadowed at an Oldsmobile dealership during my senior year. The mechanic I worked with was also a pilot instructor and had a few small planes. That summer I worked at the hangar with him, and he taught me how to do small mechanical things to the planes and various maintenance procedures. He also gave me a flying lesson and let me fly one of the little planes. That was neat!

I also like to do brick carving. While searching online a few years ago for ideas to build our fireplace, I came across the Web site of an amazing artist in Scotland. We began to correspond, and with his guidance, I tried my own brick carving.

You get the bricks from the foundry when they are still green and claylike, before they are fired. You stack them up, carve a picture on them, number the bricks like a giant puzzle and put them on a pallet. They go back to the foundry and are fired. Then you lay them in the wall with the regular brick following the numbers, so you know where they go. I did a couple for my own house.

TC: I know that as a member of the Crochet Guild of America you have been a mentor for a number of aspiring crochet designers. Tell us about this experience, and why you feel it's important.

TH: Being a member of CGOA is exciting! Everyone in the organization is as passionate about crochet as I am. The Guild is a wonderful resource for all crocheters. Each year we have two conferences with many classes taught by industry leaders. We also have an online forum, which is wonderful if you have questions or just want to be able to share and chat with like-minded stitchers.

Anyone who is interested in crocheting professionally would definitely benefit from joining CGOA and participating in the mentoring program. Based on your goals and experience, you are placed with an established professional to work with one-on-one. As a mentor, it is so rewarding to work with an aspiring designer and to watch them grow and succeed.