Blushin' Hippie

OKAY.

I FINALLY DID IT.
I MADE MY FIRST BUTTON JOINED DOLL.

This doll is product of many trials...  I want to almost call it my test baby.
I tried crocheting eyes as small as I can (which wasn't that small, her eyes are about 1.5" in diameter)tried different stuffing, and tried to join the limbs...all turned into a great success , I love the way she turned out.
She has a pretty blush, GORGEOUS eyes and a doily heart on her butt (I had made this as part of another project- then lost it and it suddenly reappeared to belong to her behind).

Initially this project started with a box of yarn a friend sent (that she's been hoarding hoping one day she will magically become a great knitter/ crocheter and cover her space with hippo things and purple) along with a Happopotus pattern by Heidi bears. I made a giant hippo (footrest size really) and still had enough yarn to make a Max the dog by Heidi among other things and this little bashful gal...and there are still much yarn left, I need to make another Heidi hippo or something, this is hindering my shopping tendencies lol.

I am HORRID at coming up with names so she will just be Blushin' Hippie for now....this pattern is a simple mod from Heart & Sew's Happy Hippo which looks like the little standing one to the left. IT is adorable just as it is and the pattern is SO EASY  to follow ! the only tip I would say is to print out the darn thing, it will make life so much easier.

This is a BIG doll; she stands about 18" tall using a 3.5mm hook - she's absolutely cuddlable and reminds me of holding a baby she's just that size and build.

Super fun to make and super easy to follow instructions  with lots of details and notes on how to make your baby perfect.... I recommend making 2 if this is a gift, because you may NOT want to part with it once you're done ( I could not LOL).

that's all today! happy hookin'!

freebie Friday : Baymaxed

I feel pretty unqualified to profess any kinda love towards this character as I have not seen the movie. NO, I HAVEN'T. Which is particularly bad in my case because I absolutely ADORE animation films... but its been a while since I made my way into the theatre or back to the tele. Having said that I love the design of this character (round and fluffy is awesome) , and the trailers and bits I've seen I absolutely loved.

The first one I made - I have NO idea where I got the pattern from - and I guess I didn't think to bookmark it - but I almost think I tried to modify pattern by Krawa - I didn't like the gray details or the way he was sitting - although now, I think it so cute and  I do want to try the original pattern LOL.
I wanted it to have a little heart and point at the person as if to say , " I heart you" (yes super cheese I I know). I feel like the arms are ridiculously too long but I am super happy about the thumb turning out the way it did. It is going to make a great bag chain <3



 I had saved the larger Baymax by Nerdy Knots to make AFTER I watched the movie but, ended up making him for an order. I wasn't really sure I would like it at all but there really is something so nice and comforting about a doll with a plushy, squeezable tummy <3

I had to THINK a little bit as I made this one because I wanted one with joined legs vs. pieced legs as in the pattern.  I THINK it turned out OK but I am convinced that once I WATCH the movie, I will like it much much more. I totally made the fingers then decided to not attach them...and I am not sure if I like it better this way, but the fingers seemed so necessary to me( then again, I haven't seen one close up that had fingers so I'm not qualified to judge)?

I wasn't really sure what sort of pose to give this fella - I'm not a big fan of making dolls that have its arms at the side because well, that's really not natural at all~!
I was trying to figure out what pose to put him in and it finally hit me like a good cup of coffee or Advil - it was a Monday when I made him and well, maybe he'll be a Monday Baymax that is always ready to give you a giant hug whenever you need it? lol I like this thought and posed him as such.

Anyway that is all for today folks, 'till next time.

Love always,
Shines.

Freebie Friday: keeping it warm

So last weekend I made my first fingerless gloves...which I think was just about the most perfect timing because this past week is definitely calling for some fingerless gloves as Old Man Winter is starting to wake up very slowly T_T. It really isn't fair. We were at a decent weather - 16c -so that I can continue my denial of oncoming winter season and sport a nice windbreaker and hoodie with a light scarf.  Then, Santa Claus parade happened and suddenly the temperature sank into minus without warning; and not slowly edge into it, but really sank its teeth into it and started the week off from -10c. URGH so rude and inconsiderate. Thankfully, my fingerless gloves were keeping my little hands toasty.

This pattern is super simple - I got brave and tried to modify it because certain parts didn't make sense but take it from me, the pattern is well written and worth following exactly.  The original is made with multi-colored yarn and I had thought it was just a regular crocheted look -but its got the "vertical knitted" look (as I call it) that you get from BLO stitches (which I love) and you can see it when you use a single colored yarn.

This ruffled edged glove  pattern by Diva Stitches is super easy to follow and only requires one skein (actually I think 1/2 makes a pair).  She's got some really cute earring designs that I definitely will be trying out when sunshine season approaches. Most of her projects are one skein or less which is right up my alley so I will definitely be coming back to her site for more!

Remember that ridiculously teeny weeny baby- size teapot?
Well. it posed more challenges than I thought it would. First it didn't have a little topper on its lid which made some designs a little more challenging to make for it as it used the little topper as a stopper. My "client" was adamant about simplicity - and we had such a different definition of simplicity (I was thinking rose topped cozy and she was thinking drawstring bag with next to no embellishments and single color at most).

We finally narrowed it down to a scalloped cozy or a raspberry cozy - I really liked the raspberry (two colors and who doesn't love puffy stitches) and she was really keen on the scallop finish.  I think the universe feel that she should get the design that she wants because the raspberry design was nowhere to be found but I had a wonderful design in my stash of scallop/scale stitch tea cozy by Corchetroo .

THIS stitch is really FUN but confusing in the beginning and I did have to reference a few Youtube videos. This tutorial by Moogly (photo and video) was what I found to be most helpful.

 here is what mine looks like - it took about 1/2 a skein. It is by far the cutest thing I made, I totally see myself doing this stitch for everything now lol!!

But the pot measures about 4.5" and the cosy is only 5.5"x 5.5" .....its like my teapot gave birth to it. Loook at how small it iscompared to my giant tea mug!!! ridiculous. But absolutely adorable to just look at! my customer was also super happy with the result so, that was a plus as well.




Hope you like - 'till next time,

Love always,
Shines

Freebie Friday: Totoros

One of my favourite animation studios would be Ghilbi studio - and though many will favor Totoro from that studio as one of the best, I personally love Ponyo...this isn't saying that I don't like Totoro, I just think Ponyo is super cute and it being a different version of the Little Mermaid rates it higher in favor for me. Maybe its because Ponyo was the first movie I saw and first love is hard to replace.  HAVING SAID THAT , I could never pick a favourite from that studio...it definitely makes some adorable movies that grabs your heart strings like a new born baby.

ANYWAYS.
I only watched Totoro for the first time sometime late 2013(yeah I know its pretty bad) and of course fell immediately in love with these imaginary creatures. That CAT bus?! OMG. and the kid?! urgh! so cute....so of course I was on a mission to expose everyone who didn't know anything about the studio to its awesomeness. Last November sometime, a dear friend of mine was "force exposed" to Totoro and fell madly in love and demanded that I crochet her a little Totoro for "forcing" Totoro on her and to improve my crochet skills. I had some gray and pink and red yarn left over from a failed cat cave endeavor (my cats didn't grasp the concept) and thought why not?
As you can see, Totoro doesn't look great in pink and googly eyes are just not becoming...but it is recognizibly Totoro and the recipient was thrilled so that worked out. :D

Since then , I have collected many Totoro patterns, made freely available by generosity of very talented people. There are tons more but here are some of my favorite patterns.  I've tried most and the large set of 3 I am currently in the process of THINKING about attempt again as the first turned into a dud :S and you know that thing about first impressions? its true, I love this pattern to pieces but I have yet gotten over the initial fail (he has tiny lazy eyes and his fluffy belly is not even and, oh the list goes on...!  maybe 2016 will be better time for this, now that I have a few more projects under my belt...I tried to make this after only making a couple of projects and I had no idea that not all yarns were created equal).
 This is the only picture of the previously mentioned failure. Even so, look how FLIPPING ADORABLE it is!!!I still can't get over how PERFECT this looks with the teeny white one sitting on the leaf on the giant one...<3
I think its such a GREAT design  that captures the "details" of each creatures so well - and I really will try it again. The lady who came up with this (Lucy Ravenscar) also has a free patterns section filled with cute little designs, generously shared on her blog here.
2016, LESSSSSS DOOOOO DIIIIISSS!!!!!

This EASY BREEZY & super adorable Totoro is what I should have started with...but I didn't. This is shared by Mei at Amigurumei. She has a growing list of Free patterns on her blog as well, and they are really easy breezy. I made a Molang and Purin not long after and it turned out just ADORABLE...apparently, they're bunnies... ?






Laast but not least.... this fabulous pattern set from Sharon Ojala. I love this Cat bus... its the nicest one (in my humble opinion) out there so far and it LOOKS simple to do. LOVE it more because Totoro and the gang doesn't fit in it :D
I DID attempt the Blue Totoro shown here, but I don't seem to have a picture to share - and it really shouldn't be shared.... I was JUST trying to see if I can make this - so I used what I had which was gray and PINK with googly eyes. Which turned out rather hideous but, the pattern is super easy to follow. There is also a Grey Totoro I haven't tried, but its supposed to be smaller than the blue one(because after my attempt at the blue one, my ego exploded and I went charging headlong in to making the giant set by Lucy - so the failure with that set was a good wake up call in some ways ,lol deflated my ego quite a bit).

Well that's all folks! I hope you do give it a go and let me know how it goes! till next time,

Happy hookin'!!!!

Getting ready for the holidays.

So....I have to confess. I THINK I am addicted to crochet; I've been hesitant to say so because I only started doing this since last...November-ish time which isn't that long ago and I thought I was in the honeymoon stage in this relationship...but I DO THINK I am addicted because any chance my hands are free, my brain thinks " OOOUU!! let's do a round on <whatever I'm working on>" and this thought passes me when I'm waiting for the train, bus, sipping coffee, appointments....after work, before sleep...whenever and wherever. I even have a little travel ziplock baggie that goes everywhere with me.  Now that I travel extensively to work, this addiction has become more evident.

WHICH IS FINE BY ME.

I do my journaling at home and crochet on the go....which to me, feel like I'm in therapy all the time and I seem to be happier so I can't even complain. On top of it all, my once endless project list is getting shorter, which is also a cause for celebration :) as it allows me to add more projects such as this cute nativity set. IS THIS NOT THE CUTEST THING EVER!  I really must STOP  tinkering with it....and making little additions but the MORE I look at it the MORE stuff I want to add ...thankfully, every addition has only enhanced it - but I am so afraid that if I keep adding, it will eventually be ruined...but I can't stop adding embellishments.

This was made for a someone who recently found herself in God; I am so happy for her because she seems so much happier and more at peace - and while I don't know this person all that well nor agree with organized religion, I think the event of finding inner peace (via whatever method) should be celebrated - and I thought this would be a lovely little xmas gift to celebrate this event.

While I have yet embarked in pattern making (mostly because that scares me and there are so many free ones I want to make first I don't know if I ever will), this set can actually be found on Ravelry and on Pebie's blog which is FULL of the cutest things. She really makes these patterns with lots of love - its so organized in multiple languages which, is SUPER TIME CONSUMING (another reason I'm prolly not going to write patterns...I'm a maker ).  She has the entire scene patterned out - with the ox, donkey, the family, the sages....and OMG that baby Jesus is cute beyond words. No I didn't make everyone because I didn't have the colors that could substitute.  The pattern is easy to follow and the project is so quick I really enjoyed these patterns. ANYWAY.

Although I didn't have all the colors used (they aren't even in the same weight yarn really)but I feel like it turned out pretty well. I didn't end up putting in the eyes mostly because I sewed the head to the body THINKING that I had eyes in but, didn't...lmao. The final size - is about 3.5" - Joseph is this height and he is the tallest. My Maria's cloak is also longer (reaches her bodice) and I added some stray yarn in the basket and gave it a base so everyone can stand together. I REALLY want to try to make the whole set one of these days. Definitely for next year, I am going to make the entire set.

What I think I'm going to do is make a bunch of Xmas themed things  - December isn't that far away and neither is winter....and this little quickie totally made me want to make more Christmas things... I'll let you know how I do with that!

Update: I couldn't stop myself in the details....and added more stuff...here you see version 1-3 lol.

Bookbinding is taking over ...no not really.

Alright, I AM ON A ROOOOOOOLLLL here, with bookbinding.
I have watched too many Youtube videos now to NOT continue to make my own little journals to not only use up even MORE piles of stuff I have, but to try out some funky ideas I've seen people do!

I STILL have NO room for new craft supplies....AT ALL. But the 3 little boxes full of paper is now void of all paper sheets and have been filled with tags and other goodies to go IN the books instead which provides slight more room on my shelf.  I don't have a firm goal or anything as to when I can get more supplies but currently my gut says I have too much stuff I don't use and I should really refrain from getting more stuff that I'm prolly not going to use for a long long time.

I have also discovered, that I don't think I'm a stamper...or maybe I'm just doing it wrong? I love to write, cut, glue, draw, stencil but stamping doesn't seem to yet have found a spot in my heart. I'm surprised that I even like stenciling? but apparently this is a fact.

I had made a few "naked" books - books with minimal decor so that the recipient can use it to explore their creative side and with lots of space to write. I ramble a lot and use journals for writing mostly - so I made some journals that is mainly for writing but with some decors so should you be moved to doodle or be creative, you can without feeling the pressure of the BLANK WHITE PAGE.

I've also started making the journal/planner book thing I intend to use for year 2016, using up more of my paper stash - I've been watching how people are frantic about Midoris, faudoris, Hobonichi etc. and I'm not 100% convinced? I LOOOOOVE my $3 planner from the dollar store that has the yearly, monthly and weekly set up the way I wanted....but I am super intrigued by this "grid paper planning" business ....and guess what? I found 3 packs of grid paper in my stash and decided to make  some books....I've not quite worked out how I'm going to use this so as soon as I do, I will do a video of it.

 I also started making my Book of 2015 already; I know that sounds funny but last year, I didn't get around to putting a BOOK OF 2014 until end of the year and THAT WAS A PAIN.  I mean, all it is the cover - a place to house all my "art bits" from the year but it seems to always take the longest.... I actually think I have miscalculated the thickness of the cover but we shall see and I will certainly do a flip of it for sure in the new year. I am actually super happy with how the cover turned out but we will see what happens - there is ALWAYS something with covers -_-

Anyhow, that was all for the day :)

Take care,
Love always,
Shines.