Ugly Amigurumi… Cute Amigurumi…

It was my birthday last month and I was rather excited to get these three new Amigurumi crochet books as part of my gifts…

The one I wanted to try first was from Crochet Bakemono (by Lan-Anh Bui & Josephine Wan) because it had a pattern for a creature with two heads called ‘Mono-Mono’, not as separate pieces to be sewn together at the end, but an all-in-one pattern. Now I’ve learnt how to do that I’ll certainly be putting the technique into practice with some of my own creations. The instructions are really easy to follow and there are plenty of good creature shots and fun stories to go with the characters.

My next creature from this book was based on the pattern for the monster called ‘Takomon’  but with a bit of adaptation – mine’s taller and thinner with a few hair curls and not such a frilly skirt… then I went off on one with the face – I’m thinking he looks like a cross between a flamenco dancer and a character from a spaghetti western – either way he’s pretty ugly! If anyone has any suggestions for names I’d love to hear them

Book number two is called Ami Ami Dogs(by Mitsuki Hoshi) – the title on the front of the book is so true ‘Seriously Cute Crochet!’ There are 12 different dogs to make, sitting up and lying down and different sizes too. The intro is a little confusing to start with as there seems to be some translation issues such as using the word knitting instead of crochet and also a couple of basic (but obvious) mistakes related to how to read the patterns. But… once you’ve got over that, the diagramatic patterns are quite useful and the photography is just lovely.

My first attempt was a small Japanese Shiba, he turned out quite cute but I made a few mistakes with introducing the second colour (I blame it on watching tellie whilst trying to read the pattern diagram without my glasses on!)

I haven’t tried any of the Crobots yet but I’ve had a good look through the book and I’m quite impressed with the instructions. The written patterns seem very clear and each one also has a ‘Blueprint’ to go with it – a drawing of the finished Crobot in pieces with pictures showing how to assemble the parts. Each Crobot has a full page pic of the finished article too. (Crobots – 2o amigurumi robots to make by Nelly Pailloux)

I’ve put Amazon links to all of the books as it’s often quite useful to be able to read the reviews before buying. I’d recommend them all but I think my favourite of the three is the Bakemono book for the clear instructions and the imaginative monsters.

Thanks for popping in. Shaz x

Baaaa… Amigurumi Crochet Sheep

A craft fair customer recently asked if I could make a cute sheep or lamb as her Mum collects them and she likes to get her a different one each time she goes abroad to visit.  I remembered I had some bobbly cream yarn I bought a couple of years ago and thought it would be perfect to try and capture that curly lamb skin look. I hope she likes them. I’ve got the same yarn in pink, yellow and blue as well so I think I’ll make a few more to put in my shop soon.

I’m so glad we took the pics yesterday when the sun was shining briefly – who knows when we’ll see that again!

Amigurumi Animal Cuteness

Here’s my latest batch of Amigurumi creatures. If anyone is planning on giving a home to something cute I’ve just listed them over at my Folksy OddSox shop! My favourite is the little grey one with skinny legs.

The brown one is definitely a dog, the orange one is certainly a fox – the other two I’m really not sure – mouse? bear? lemur? …

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Apple & Custard Tea Cakes

Last week had a bit of an apple theme…

Delicious home made apple and custard tea cakes – the custard was hidden away as a surprise layer in the middle. The apples were from our garden – they were sliced and arranged on top of each cake. When they came out of the oven I brushed them with melted butter and sprinkled them with cinnamon & sugar. I think the recipe was from my giant Australian Womens Weekly cookbook. I’ll definitely be making more of these!

I also made a couple of crochet apples. The recipe was from a book I borrowed out of our local library. It’s called Gourmet Crochet – a yummy yarn cookbook and has all kinds of fruit, veg, sushi and cakes.

Knock Knock – who’s there?

What’s your craft background & how did you choose your shop name?

I have always been creating something, starting with the Barbie clothes, dressing up my dog…. I have been also drawing and painting a lot since I was a little girl. I have then studied fashion design (equivalent to british A levels). After that I realise that this is my passion – making things, sewing, crocheting, drawing, painting……..

My shop name comes from my first name, my surname’s initial and the word designs, which describes exactly what it is I think – my designs

Are you a full time craftsperson or do you have other jobs too?

I am a full time mum and trying to get this craft business going and hopefully it will become my full time job.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be? Positively crazy

What was your favourite TV programme as a kid? Friends and I loved all of the Disney cartoons

If you were to be invited to a celebrity’s house for dinner who would it be and what gift would you take them from your shop?

What an exciting question! Hmm – The Queen and I would probably take this green crochet bejewelled brooch

How do you promote yourself?

Facebook – Twitter – Blog – Flickr – FOLKSY – ETSY – UK HANDMADE

If you were stuck on a desert island and were allowed to take one new crafting project with you based on something you admire in another shop, what would it be?

I would take everything from the polka shop – absolutely adore the shop

What couldn’t you do without?

Scissors and crochet hook – I could not do any of my stuff without them

What’s your favourite or most inspirational place? My mind, my dreams

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Patience young lady, patience

What question would you like to ask to yourself? And then answer it if you can! Q: Why are you so impatient? A: I blame the genes

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Eva, thank you for taking part in The Sock Garden Knock Knock blog. You have a lovely bright outlook which obviously spills over into your gorgeous creations

I hear you’re going to be getting married soon so many congratulations – I hope you have a super day. x

…To take a closer look at Eva’s work just nip over to her Folsky shop ‘EvaBDesigns’ or click on any of the pics. Thanks for reading and we’d love to have your comments.

Who’s through the stained glass window?

What’s your craft background & how did you choose your shop name?

I guess it’s in my blood, my grandmother was a dressmaker and I could knit by the time I was 4. I studied art and textiles at A Level and had every intention of becoming a fashion designer. For some unknown reason I decided to study art instead and completed a degree at Leeds University. This was a mistake as it really shook my confidence in my creativity and I decided to train as an art therapist. Whilst gaining experience to do my MA in art therapy I found a keen interest in mental health issues and retrained as a mental health worker. Craft and art were just a hobby for the next 10 years. I studied stained glass techniques for 2 years from 2003 as an evening class and this totally relit my fire, I found my true love! Friends started commissioning windows, and it all snowballed from there (a very slow snowball which has stopped for children and pregnancy).

My shop name comes from the nick name my dad gave me when I was a child. It just came to me and I haven’t even considered another name since!

Are you a full time craftsperson or do you have other jobs too?

I have a 1 year old and a 4 year old daughter so I am pretty busy between glass and them!

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Heart of glass! I really don’t know.

What was your favourite TV programme as a kid?

Bagpuss, which now my children love too.

If you were to be invited to a celebrity’s house for dinner who would it be and what gift(s) would you take them from your shop?

Oh Johnny Depp please! I would probably take him my Brooding Moor Panel, as it is atmospheric and a little dark and its my best piece, I think.

How do you promote yourself?

I have a website – A blog – Twitter – Facebook …

…and I write for Indie Smiles, so I get advertising through them in return:

I love writing for Indie Smiles, however, on the whole I must say I find the relentless promotion time consuming and a little bit of a faff, mostly because computers smell my fear and take advantage of my weakness!

If you were stuck on a desert island and were allowed to take one new crafting project with you based on something you admire in another shop, what would it be?

I would love to master crochet, I am awful at it! So I think something from Hooked Yarns folksy shop would be great.

What couldn’t you do without? My babies

What’s your favourite or most inspirational place?

Anywhere on the Devon coast. I am so lucky to live in this amazing part of the world and the seaside is my major inspiration

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Nothing is ever as good or as bad as it at first seems.

What question would you like to ask to yourself? And then answer it if you can!

Q: If you had had a crystal ball 2 years ago and could see what you were doing today would you be surprised?
A: I suffered badly with post natal depression, so yes very! I was so overwhelmed by life the idea of juggling so much work and 2 children I would never have believed it!

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THANKS Amy for chatting with us, it’s alway interesting to find out a bit more about fellow Folksy sellers.

Here’s one of my favourites from Amy’s shop, these are so pretty and remind me of messing about in rockpools with my sis when we were little!

Visit AmyOrangeJuice at Folksy to browse a shopful of other lovely glass pieces.

Handfuls of HooterNinnies

The HooterNinnie collection is growing! There are now 3 different sizes and and also a garden varierty:

Tiny weeny Mini HooterNinnie that fit inside your hand…

Mini HooterNinnies

Middle sized HooterNinnies (the original kind!) that sit on the palm of one hand…

Middle Sized HooterNinnie

Next in line are the Huge HooterNinnies – you’ll need 2 hands for these chaps…

Huge HooterNinnie

…and last, for the time being anyway, the Garden HooterNinnie. He’s made from garden string and is stuffed with strips of old supermarket carrier bags. I think I’ll be making a few more of these to decorate the garden and startle the cats!

Garden HooterNinnie

If you fancy a HooterNinnie for yourself there are quite a few middle sized and Huge ones available in my Folksy shop and I’m always happy to make custom orders.

My HooterNinnie Poem

Brushing my HooterNinnie

This is a poem that my newphew (who will be 8 next week – Happy Birthday!) wrote about his HooterNinnie for a show & tell at school. He’s got actions to go with it too – his performance was well worth a viewing!

My HooterNinnie

This is my HooterNinnie…

but what do you call a HooterNinnie when he’s feeling musical?
A FluterNinnie

and when he gets dressed up we call him a SuiterNinnie

When he’s rich he’s a LooterNinnie

When we’re playing heroes he’s a SuperNinnie

and when we’re playing ghosts he’s a BOOterNinnie

if we’re playing gun slingers he’s a ShooterNinnie

When he thinks he’s an owl he’s a T-wit, T-woo terNinnie

and when he thinks he’s a cow he’s a Moo-terNinnie

When he thinks he’s a car he’s a TooterNinnie

When he’s on wheels he’s a ScooterNinnie

When he blows raspberries he’s a FruiterNinnie

When he needs the toilet he’s a Poo-terNinnie

But when he was a baby he was so CuterNinnie

But I like him best of all when he’s my plain HooterNinnie!

AAHHH! Amigurumi

I’ve had a busy Amigurumi session lately and these little cuties are now looking for homes.

You can meet them in the Oddsox Folksy shop

Milkshake Amigurumi Cat

Billy MouseBear

Tarbaby Amigurumi

Lapin-Vert Amigurumi Bunny

Every Pocket Tells a Story

My sister goes to a knitting group and they’re running this project. I thought I’d share it because is sounds really exciting!

The basic details are:

• Make an A6 pocket – e.g. knit; crochet; fabric; recycled materials
• Add a little story/anecdote/conversation inside the pocket
• Send it off to be exhibited at Charnwood Museum in Summer 2010

It might be something that creative little ones would enjoy doing  as well as us bigguns!

The deadline has been extended to 31st March 2010 and updated entry details can be found on the Leicestershire County Council website

Download the original pdf here