Pepperberry Crochet

When I'm Stressed, the Amigurumi Get Weird

Of course, that would imply that the animals I make aren't weird to begin with, which I suppose is up for debate.

In the interest of speeding up the homebuying process, I've added an Evening Job to the Day Job. It's only a couple of evenings a week. It's not a bad job, but it has messed up my schedule a little bit. See, I have this really strict schedule I follow (I know, this is about to sound insane) where I do different chores on different evenings when I get out of work. Since the new job takes out two of my evenings, it has thrown me into chaos.

That doesn't mean I haven't been making stuff, it just means that I haven't been posting it while I try to get the rest of my life back under control. I think I'm good now.

These guys were made with my new favorite yarn, Aslan Trends Glaciar del Cielo, which is a sport weight cotton. Love it, it's like crocheting with an old t-shirt. The colors are great, too.

 

I like the facial expressions, especially on the bunny here. I'm not terribly happy with the bodies-- I slacked on the limbs, and even a bit on the bodies. I'd rather put a little bit of extra work into it and wind up with something a little more special. This guy will probably end up with my small number of "keeper" amigurumi while I plot a new body design...

New Bunny

This is it. I cannot become involved in any more Day Job Drama. I fully intend to spend as much time crocheting and making cool stuff as I can, because if I think too much more about the Day Job, I'll start running screaming in circles around the room.

It must be a good thing that I'm so pleased with this bunny I just made! I actually do enjoy making doll-like pieces, but I rarely end up spending time putting clothing or other accessories on figures. Scratch that, I do, but they rarely work out.

With that in mind, this is the bunny from yesterday.

I also fully intend to go to the Salem farmers' market tonight, buy far too many raspberries and some new flowers for the apartment, and enjoy my evening. Hope you enjoy yours.

Finished Green Bunny

The bunny is finished!

To explain what I was doing with this: I used a technique that's used for edging napkins, fabric, etc. First, I threaded a large needle with the crochet cotton (in this case, size 3) and whipstitched along the hem to form something to attach the crochet to. When I had finished whipstitching the hem, with the stitches relatively close together, I joined my crochet thread to a stitch. I then worked along the edge, picking up the whipstitches as I went, as though they were a row of crochet. The top of the dress and the shoes are made the same way.

I really had a good time making this one, something fun and different for the first time in a while.

Back on Track

After spending the weekend making an ass out of myself in a variety of ways (screwing up a deadline & pattern, getting something stuck in the APC at the Post Office, etc, really, it just keeps going) I managed to buckle down and get a few things done. You might recognize the bag above, there were some macro shots of it a while bag. The bag itself is complete and assisting me in hauling around all kinds of fun things, from crocheting projects to lunch. It is wonderfully tacky, and I love it. I'm also working on a pattern for it.

Here's another project back from the dead! Or at least back from the bin where UFOs go. Remember that green bunny? I had changed my mind about using it to make a pattern. However, I had some extra fabric left over after I (unsuccessfully) attempted to make a lining for the bag, so I started a dress for the green bunny.

Field Trip

 

Some of the gang from work and I visited Extras for Creative Learning in Dorchester yesterday. It's a recycling center where companies donate all kinds of crazy stuff and artists and people from non profits can visit and pick up cool stuff. They sell memberships for $40 for 4 visits and $80 for 10 visits. I would think it would be totally worth it, since per visit you're only limited by what you can carry out. I picked up some truly excellent items for the sensory room, but sadly I am sick today & lying on the couch, miserable and bored. I'd rather be working.

Of course, the bunnies continue.

Clement the Bunny: Continued

Progress is, well, progressing on the bunny. The initial 8" tall C Hook bunny has been completed, and I'm satisfied with the look. I do still want to try out a sweater and maybe some other accessories on him. I'm also debating how to demonstrate the embroidery for the pattern. Normally I'm kind of a jerk and just say "refer to photo". I'll take some step-by-steps of it, but I'm wondering if I really need to include the actual pattern, maybe I can just write a description of the number of holes neccessary for counting. Hm.

In progress now is a larger G hook version. I was actually surprised that the scale up to a G hook really doesn't make that much of a difference in size, at least as far as the head is concerned. It's adding about an inch to the diameter of the head. The G hook bunny does appear that it's going to be quite a bit taller.

In other news, I'm currently baking chocolate chip cookies (Tollhouse, sub'd half the flour with whole wheat flour, this way I can feel sort of virtuous about eating them, kinda) working on totally awesome felt soaps with the guys at work (photos soon, I promise) and enjoying my weird burst of organization and structured work.

Clement the Bunny: Progress

I do not have a great talent for developing little lives for my creations as so many other crocheters and plush makers do. I think it's a little weird, to be honest. I can, however, acknowledge the usefulness of naming creations so that I can keep track of which bunny is which.

With that in mind, this is Clement. Well, Clement in progress. He's still lacking any legs, ears, or other accessories, but they'll be coming. I'm doing something a little bit different with this pattern. This particular photo is of the C hook version, as I have an incredible and abiding love of tiny hooks with worsted or sport yarn. I have had to finally admit that other crocheters do not feel the same way that I do about the wonder of tiny hooks, so the step-by-steps for the pattern will be done with a larger hook size and create a larger bunny. The main pattern instructions will also be written to create the larger rabbit.

Following a paranoia-inducing conversation with a crafter whose name escapes me at the moment, I also worry constantly about other crafters' use of materials such as safety eyes and small sewn embellishments when it comes to toys for children under the age of two. I'm going to create a third bunny, with a rattler inside, that has only embroidered embellishments.

Normally, I'm rushing through the patterns and everything else I create, but I'm really looking forward to spending some time working on this one. At last, I've rediscovered that I'm not happy churning out patterns and plushes, but would rather take the time to indulge my current obsessions. I also really want to improve the graphic design on my patterns to make them a more pleasurable experience.

Don't worry, I'm also at work on a tutorial for creating doll and bear accessories that will be posted up here. Any accessories I should focus on? I know we can all make scarves, but maybe sweaters, etc?

Daffodil Bunny

I'm definitely in a Yellow Period. ;)

I really, really like yellow yarn, and I just realized I have quite a bit of it, in various shades of yellow, kicking around, so I've decided to cheer up the weekend a bit and try to run through some of it.

We've also been watching movies. I saw Click, which I didn't like, American Gangster, which I did, and Chaos, which I feel conflicted about. On the one hand, I enjoy just about anything Jason Statham is in, on the other hand, I don't enjoy most movies with Ryan Phillipe in them.

We've also been plowing through Supernatural (own it) on DVD for the second time. I love that show. Maybe I need to make some Supernatural creatures...

The Bunnies Are Just Because.

Mwa ha ha ha ha. I shall be experimenting on an innocent cotton bag I've been working on. Tomorrow I shall acquire a bleach pen and have some fun with it, mwa ha ha ha ha.

I've been working on a large tote bag, since I have a billion skeins of Aunt Lydia's Crochet Cotton in size 3, all of it red. After much trial and error, I'm working it in the "Crazy" stitch, aka the brick stitch. I'm having fun with it. It's only going to be suitable as a reuseable grocery bag or a beach tote, because of the size, and I thought I'd mess around with the bleach pen on it a little bit.

These are two of the bunnies that keep an eye on my bookcase. The one in back doesn't have any legs, but has a stylish apron. The one in front has a less-than-stylish tutu.

Bunnies, bunnies, bunnies

Hey, finally, a new project! Are you shocked? You should be. It is, of course, a bunny. Why? Well, aside from the fact that Easter is coming up at the end of the month, bunnies are one of my obsessions. Anyway. Thoughts on the new eyes? I really enjoy embroidery (as seen on the zombies) and thought that some embroidered eyes would be fun.

In other news, you should really look forward to the June/July issue of Crochet Today, because the pieces I made for it kick butt, I personally feel they're some of my best work (minus, of course, the zombies). I also scored the mushroom teapot, although, funny story, Mr. Pepperberry (sweetheart that he is) was spying on here because my birthday is coming up, and apparently went to the store looking for the teapot for me. Whoops, I had already bought it. Oh well. It's a fabulous teapot, and will look great in some upcoming photos with new products.

I promised that I would create an Egg project in time for easter, so shortly I'll be heading back to the drawing board. The Ninja Afghan is on temporary hiatus while I try to catch a few things up, but it will certainly be available before the end of April, along with some other fun stuff I have planned.