crochet menagerie

after crocheting a Santa and then Rudolph, I was hooked on amigurumi (crocheted cute figures) and decided to create one in lieu of a gift tag for all the family gifts, creating a figure related to each person’s interests.  There are so many amigurumi patterns on line and I easily found something applicable for each person

[links to the pattern]

the nurse was for my nephew’s girlfriend

the panda was for my sister

the puppy for my mum

the Christmas lights for my sister’s partner

the dodo for my dad

the cactus for one nephew

and the devil for the other nephew

I really enjoyed finding appropriate patterns and creating them all. Each come together in a evening and I enjoyed the variety after several months of diligently crocheting squares for charity blankets.

I’m now crocheting lots of flowers and leaves to create something pretty to hang when I take down the decorations.

Look Up Look down on Christmas Day

Hard to believe this is the last of my weekly look up and look down pair

with the angel on the top of my parents’ tree and the stockings waiting to be opened

A year ago when I was thinking about a weekly photo pair I thought that looking up and down would be interesting and a useful exercise in being more aware of all angles.  I do notice myself looking up and down more often and thinking about different angles for photos.

I was delighted when my initial post was met with enthusiasm and comments that others would join in and I’ve had great pleasure from the up and down posts I’ve seen from the other regulars and the occasional players.  Thank you one and all.

For next year I’ve decided to go for zoom in and zoom out and welcome others who want to play along too, either weekly or when the mood takes them.

I think with will be fun when the difference is a matter on moving the camera nearer / further away; or using zoom to full extent; or creating a zoom on the computer.  I’ve also been thinking about situations when I’d start with the zoom and then show context for contrast and other situations when I’d start with the big picture and then choose something to focus on.

I’ll be posting my first Zoom in Zoom out on Wednesday the 1st, and hope that some of you join in too

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas blog friends

I’ll be posting my final Up and Down of the year on Friday along with details for 2014.

one was not enough

My introduction to amigurumi (cute crocheted figures) was the  santa that I shared earlier this month

he was fun to make and looks cute and festive.

Then I began to notice other figures in magazines and online and I thought ‘one more won’t hurt’.  Staying in the festive theme I created a reindeer head and added a red nose for a Rudolph effect

and before I’d even stuffed the antlers I was back online looking at other patterns and wondering about what else I would make.  They are satisfyingly fast to make and so quirky.

I now have over 30 patterns bookmarked, am familiar with the basic instructions and processes, and have bought two kinds of eyes.  I can’t show you the other photos yet as I’m making them on contract for Santa – I will share next week.

When those are finished, I’m tempted to make a cute crochet hook (!) that I’ve seen – it really is a whacky creative space.