Delores Chamblin

Delores Chamblin (born 1955) is a self-taught crochet designer of unique and functional items, some with positive African symbols or other positive symbols. Her original handmade creations have been in museum gift shops or at museum events, including the African American Museum in Hempstead, New York (1992-1993), Brooklyn Museum (1997), Polk Museum of Art (November 2010) and Polk Museum of Art Gift Shop (2011). Some of her crocheted wall hangings with afrocentric, nature, or other themes and other creations have appeared in publications (1986, 1992, 1993), at events, stores or expos (1970's to present on and off), and on a public access television show in New York (1993).
To showcase African history and culture, Ms. Chamblin created unique crocheted wall hangings, including a rendition of King Tut in a mixture of brown yarns and gold metallic yarn, a door size hanging of Queen Nefertiti's bust, the Egyptian Pyramids at Giza, African adinkra symbols and other African centered items including beaded wooden jewelry and crocheted pendants. These afrocentric creations were featured in a monthlong exhibit in the main showcase windows at the Wyandanch Public Library, Long Island, New York in 1992. Ms. Chamblin's first published works (swan and robin crocheted wall hangings) appeared in Family Circle Fashions and Crafts magazine in 1986.
Delores Chamblin, a mother of three, is a graduate of the famous Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and a graduate of Tufts University. She is an award winning designer and poet, a crochet business owner (AfriCreations), a member of The Crochet Guild of America and a former member of 100 Black Women of Long Island (1993-1994). She briefly taught a continuing education class in crochet (1992) and has worked in a variety of other jobs while designing and crafting.
Her volunteer endeavors included hosting her own internet radio show "AfriCreations Positive and Informative Radio Show" (2006-2007 on NBBTA Radio). To highlight positive black role models, on the show Ms. Chamblin interviewed famous people, including Booker T Washington's great grand daughter Sara Washington O'Neal Rush and also everyday people (primarily black youths and adults) who had accomplished great things, but were unsung heroes.