hooked hands

Lumpy Space Princess crochet doll

2012-01-09T09:49:00.001-08:00

The lumpy space princess from adventure time

Batman gets a makeover

2012-01-05T15:39:00.001-08:00

I redid my Batman. Super happy with the result.

Old in black in gray vs. new in blue ans gray

11th Dr. Who doll

2011-12-27T15:10:00.001-08:00

My latest creation. The 11th Dr. Who!

Christmas Present Round-up

2011-12-26T17:30:00.000-08:00

So, I was hard at work this Christmas season working on gifts for like a hundred people...literally. Most were things I've made lots of times i.e. Totoros, Ponyos, Robin, etc. The Big Lebowski doll was a surprise hit. A couple of things I couldn't show until post-Christmas is what I'm here to talk about.

First off, my friend @silaslesnick (see previous post), commissioned a doll for his older brother. Apparently his older brother runs a wing commander fan site, so he wanted a Mr. Kat. This is what I came up with:

Not bad eh?

And for my pacman loving husband, I made this. I've never really made him anything before, so I thought it would be nice gesture. I thought it was kind of sweet. I got the cross stitch pattern from it over here. I probably could have done it myself, but why reinvent the wheel if you don't have to, right? right.

So, that's that. I'm working on a Dr. Who doll, which should be ready soon, and then Annie Hall, and finally some Adventure Time (?) dolls. It's shaping up to be a busy busy 2012, and it hasn't even started yet.

Happy birthday Silas!

2011-12-11T08:06:00.001-08:00

So there's this incredibly kind generous guy who finnegan calls uncle Silas because he showers him with gifts, and it's his birthday today. Silas has a wall of tron related things at his place so I thought I'd make a contribution. So happy birthday Silas. Thanks for being so awesome to me and my spoiled kid.

I do things besides birthday presents, but my Etsy shop is totally sucking up all my time. It will probably close a little earlier than expected for the holidays. I'm currently 6 dolls behind, and I need everything done by Wednesday. sigh. Also, I've begun writing every Tuesday for Geek Crafts. I mostly just find geek-inspired crafts that I like, and blog about it.

happy birthday tony!

2011-11-13T17:39:00.001-08:00

So, I've been pretty busy getting ready for the holidays, but never too busy to make one of my dearest friends a birthday present. Tony D'Amato, one of the best friends any person could ask for, is celebrating his birthday today, and he always does these amazing comic strips for me on my birthday because he's super nice and ridiculously talented. I always feel like I can't compete, but I also feel compelled to put as much blood, sweat, and tears into his gift as he does mine, so here it is. He drew a Victorian self-portrait of himself a while ago (see below). which I kind of love...and then I thought...here's a man who is constantly drawing other people and giving these great gifts they'll keep forever...and no one ever draws him...except for himself. So here's tony in a crochet/cross stitch portrait. to the best of my ability.

Happy Birthday Tony! You're definitely one of my top 10 favorite things in this world.

Free Crochet Nibbler Pattern!

2011-10-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

I promised before that since I can't sell this little guy anymore, I'd give the pattern away! Here it is, Nibbler from Futurama:

nibbler!

Materials:

f or g hook
yarn needle
sewing needle
1-9mm safety eye
2-12mm safety eyes
skein of black yarn (I use caron or red heart)
small amount of yellow yarn
small amount of a tan/beige yarn
small amount of white yarn
Beige fabric for tummy
sheet of white felt
sheet of red felt
white thread
red thread

Head:
(with black yarn)

r1: ch 2 6 sc in second ch rom hook
r2: Sc 2 in each sc around (12sts)
r3: *Sc 1, 2sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18sts)
r4: *Sc 2, 2sc in each sc*, repeat 6 times (24sts)
r5: *Sc 3, 2sc in each sc*, repeat 6 times (30sts)
r6: *sc 4, 2sc in each sc*, repeat 6 times (36sts)
r7: *sc 5, 2sc in each sc*, repeat 6 times (42sts)
r8: *Sc 6, 2sc in each sc*, repeat 6 times (48sts)
r9-20: Sc 48
r21: *Sc 6, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (42sts)
r22: *Sc 5, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (36sts)
r23: *Sc 4, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (30sts)
r24: *Sc 3, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (24sts)
r25: sc 24
As you finish stuff the head with polyfil
r26: *Sc 2, dec 1, rep 6 times (18sts)
r27: *Sc 1, dec 1, rep 6 times (12sts)
r28: *Skip 1 sc, sc 1, rep t times (6sts)
Fasten off and weave in end.

Body:
(with black)
r1: ch2, 6 sc in second chain
r2: Sc 2 in each sc around (12sts)
r3: *Sc 1, 2sc in next sc*, repeat 6 time(18sts)
r4: *Sc 2, 2sc in next sc*, (24sts)
r5: *Sc 3, 2sc in next sc*, (30sts)
r6: *sc 4, 2sc in next sc*, (36sts)
r7-14: Sc 36
r15: *Sc 4, dec 1*, rep 6 times (30sts)
r16-21: Sc 30

Arms:
(with black: make 2)
r1: ch 2, 6 sc in second ch from hook
r2: sc 2 in each sc around (12sts)
r3: *Sc 1, 2sc in next sc*, rep 6 times
r4-6: Sc 18
r7: *Sc 1, dec 1*, rep 6 times, (12sts)
r8: Sc 12
Change to white
r9: BPsc 12
r10-21: Sc 12
leave long tail for sewing

legs:
(with yellow: make 2)
r1: ch 2, 6 sc in second ch from hook
r2: Sc 2 in each sc around (12sts)
r3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (18sts)
r4: *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (24sts)
r5: Sc 24
r6: Dc 6, sc 18
r7: Hdc 6, sc 18
r8: *Sc 2, dec 1*, rep 6 times (18sts)
r9: *Sc 1, dec 1*, rep 6 times (12sts)
Switch to yellow yarn
r10-18: Sc 12
Fasten off, leaving long enough tail for sewing.

sew body parts together. use picture as a guide.

nibbler 3rd eye:
(with white)
r1: ch2, 5sc in second ch from hook
r2: 2sc in each sc around (10sc)
r3-4: sc in each sc around
put 9mm eye in the center, and fasten.
switch to black
5-11: sc around
fasten off, leave long enough tail for sewing

Eyes:
(with white: make 2)
r1: ch2, 5sc in second ch from hook
r2: 2sc in each sc around (10sc)
r3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times (15sts)
r4: *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times (20sts)
r5: sc around
place 1 12mm eye in the center of white of each
fasten off, leave long tail for sewing

Mouth:
(with tan/beige)

r1: ch 2 6 sc in second ch rom hook
r2: Sc 2 in each sc around (12sts)
r3: *Sc 1, 2sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18sts)
r4: *Sc 2, 2sc in each sc*, repeat 6 times (24sts)
r5: *Sc 3, 2sc in each sc*, repeat 6 times (30sts)
r6-7: sc around
fasten off leave long enough tail for sewing

teeth:
(make 2)
r1: ch 2, flip piece so working over the same line
r2: sc 1 in second sc, ch 2, sc 1 in same sc
r3: 2sc in first sc, sc in next sc, ch 2, sc in same sc, 2 sc in last sc
fasten off, leaving long enough tail for sewing

Sew eyes, mouth, and teeth to face.

Using beige felt:

Cut oval to fit over stomach. Sew/glue felt to stomach.

For diaper:

I don't have a pattern for this. I just use the sheet of felt and cut the shape of a diaper, and sew it on

For cape:

This is also easy to free hand. Using about half a sheet of red felt cut, and sew to fit on Nibbler allowing for some felt to tie at the front.

Owly!

2011-10-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

So Finnegan (my ridiculously charming 3 1/2 year old) and I recently discovered Andy Runton's book Owly & Wormy Friends All Aflutter.

I have always been hesitant to get Finnegan books without words. It requires a lot of storytelling ability on my part, and Finnegan's willingness to go along with what I say is going on in a picture, but we absolutely loved this book, and I really hope more full color Owly book are in the works. The black and white volumes are great too, but 3 year olds love color, and Owly is so adorable in color. That said, I love crocheting a good cuddly critter. So, I give you Owly:

My birthday...and more giant robot gushing

2011-10-05T17:21:00.000-07:00

So, it was my birthday...and I got loads of awesome gifts from awesome friends, but my awesome dear friend Tony d'Amato drew this crochet related comic for me. It is officially a family treasure.

In other news, Giant Robot emailed me to let me know one of my little blue totoros had a wonky eye, so I drove by today to replace it, and found out they'd already sold out of the couple of grey totoros I'd given them, so that's terribly cool. A picture of the dolls they had left in their new retail home:

I got the blue one back, and I might just keep him wonky in the eye because he's got that cool giant robot tag. He's my little reject, and I shall love him forever.

Current Project: A terribly elaborate birthday present, but it's hush hush you understand, and here's hoping it turns out.

Breast Cancer Awareness day yarnbomb

2011-09-30T21:48:00.000-07:00

So I follow this VERY active/awesome yarnbomber on twitter @nightknitpixie and she recently posted a link to an international yarnbombing event that involved crocheting boobs. With victorian sensibilities by nature, I would never think of doing such a thing...but for breast cancer awareness why not? You can find out more info here:

http://thebigbreast.posterous.com/

But if I had the choice between wearing a pink ribbon and crocheting some boobs...boobs all the way. I'm not one of those super active for charities or diseases kind of people (although we all should be), but breast cancer is entirely too close to home to ignore.

When I was 15, my mom was diagnosed with a particularly gnarly kind of breast cancer. Within weeks she had a breast removed, and began chemotherapy. It was perhaps the scariest time of my life. When you're 15, you hate/love your mom simultaneously, and the thought of being left alone in this world with my dad and my brother was terrifying. My mom is my rock. I'm a terrible daughter...but she has always been an incredibly devoted mother.

So, for my mom...and all the other moms, sisters, and daughters...a pair of lovely boobs with the stay classy saying "i <3 boobs" to be found on the Venice boardwalk near north Venice.

And remember to get those lovely lady lumps checked ladies!

Dolls back at Giant Robot, and some custom orders

2011-09-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

Okay okay, so I have officially dropped off some more dolls at Giant Robot. Hopefully there as successful in store as they were at Comic Con!

The rest of this blog is more of a photo dump of things I've been working on for other people. Most recently a regular Etsy customer who has ordered my entire Totoro collection as well as custom orders including a killer tomato...for his dad who starred in attack of the killer tomatos....He's a faithful customer for sure, and he loves to challenge me. Most recently he asked me if I could work up a Gamera...so Gamera looks a little something like this:

He's a crazy Japanese turtle monster thing. I'm not super familiar, but you get the idea. This is what I came up with:

It's hard to not make crocheted dolls much cuter than their inspirations. It just is.

Also, my friend Karis needed a Chica Chicken doll....for a co-worker's daughter, and I'm pretty proud of this one:

It's just so cute! I don't know much about the character. I watched a brief you tube clip...it's a chicken that sounds like a kazoo? I don't see the appeal personally, but I liked the aesthetics of the character, so I worked it up.

For another friend, who has nephews who like ax-wielding vikings:

I loved doing the hair and mustache for this guy. I have a thing for vikings myself...like Eric Northman on True Blood...and I guess also because I studied viking history and literature in college. It was a phase.

Finally, for the little boy who has securely wormed his way into my heart and insists I don't make him dolls, for Finnegan, a Superman doll:

He sleeps with it. It's pretty cute.

Okay that's my project dump. You are officially up to date on what I've been working on so feverishly.

Musical Journey Part 3: Iron & Wine/Sam Cooke

2011-09-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

These albums are a little less well known as iconic works of art, but they're significance as parts of what I consider to be a rich musical journey cannot be underestimated. Iron & Wine is just poetry really. Truthfully, I don't know a lot about music when it comes to the technical aspects of it. I can't play any instruments, but I know a thing or two about words...and a little bit about vocals, and Sam Beam never ceases to amaze me with his words. Never. so that's why I had to do this album cover for the creek drank the cradle, which was really simple in design, but I kind of love the simplicity of it.

Next is Sam Cooke. I can't remember a time when I didn't love Sam Cooke. I feel like he's ingrained in my earliest memories. Finnegan's favorite song is Bring it on home to me. I like Havin' a Party, but we'll shake our bottoms to both of them together, and sing them in the car together. I have to admit...it's pretty damn cute when we do it.

This was more challenging. The album "twistin' the night away" is just a red background with a grayscale image of Sam Cooke smiling. It's really hard to capture the minutiae of his face in this medium, so it's a little abstract or if you're a nerd..pixelated, but you get the point.

I have one more album to do. I don't know when I'll get to it. I think Giant Robot is going to take on some more of my dolls, which is always exciting, and they're support is always appreciated. I'm currently taking suggestions for new dolls. I'd like to get some new content in the shop before the holidays.

In other news...this is making me happy this week.

Crochet Shield Trick or Treat Bag

2011-09-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

So, your kid says he wants to be a knight. So you employ your mom to hand make a rather elaborate knight costume, and he gets it and says he needs a shield. And you think about halloween, and you think about the costume and the sword, and now a shield, and how he's going to carry it all...and you know he's not. He's going to make you carry it because he's going to be too busy keeping his eye on the prize. the prize being...the candy. So, in order to resolve this, I decided I would make the shield a multipurpose tool....half shield/half trick or treat bag, and i'm over the moon with how it turned out.

It has the Forsyth Coat of arms on it...because we're Forsyths...it also has a handle on the back so he can hold it like a shield (it's fortified with cardboard so it's actually firm like a shield.....as well as handles on the top so he can do his trick or treating with ease. It's not a big bag, but he's only 3 and realistically one loop around the block is all we're really going to do.

So here it is. For the record handcutting out felt griffons is a total pain.

Also, the musical journey project is still going, but we've been busy traveling....I have 2 more albums done, and 1 to go. Will post when all the albums are complete.

Musical Journey: Part 2: The Descendents

2011-08-18T11:17:00.000-07:00

Were you listening to punk in 1996. I was. I give you the album Everything Sucks by the Descendents. This is probably the most fun I've ever had with project...so bear with me. I think I have three..mayyyyyyybe 4 more to go. I should really be crocheting ponyos and totoros and birthday and christmas presents...because I do actually want to enjoy christmas this year and not worry about getting orders out...but i'm really having too much fun.

Musical Journey: Part 1

2011-08-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

So, when I worked with Dez on the yarnbombing 18th exhibit, I was totally inspired by all the great work around me. I decided I was going to start working on my own ambitious project inspired by my own musical journey, which I'm rediscovering with my kid. Growing up my dad listened to oldies...old sock hop doo wop R & B type oldies. I loved them. I still love them. Ask finnegan to sing you Earth Angel...he can do it. Then as a young teenager, a boy who sat behind me in health class loaned me his NOFX punk in drublic cassette tape (did i just age myself?) and I was from then on a punk rock fan. Now, I listen to stuff like Iron and Wine and Bon Iver because they appeal to my literarture lovin' poetic nature, but all of it....all the punk rock anthems about growing up to the sweet folky sam beam songs are part of who i am, and who finnegan is becoming. It's so fun digging up the songs I'd grown tired of listening to, and seeing finnegan experience them for the first time.

these days listening to a song mostly means firing up the itunes...but i long for the nostalgia of sitting on a living room floor pulling out vinyl records. this was never really my reality, but i have a romanticized notion of it in my head...so i'm going to create it as I see it, as I would want it to be if I was spending an afternoon with Finnegan listening to my version of "the greats". So I give you a sample of what I'm aiming for. The first vinyl album recreation is for The Clash's London Calling. It's an iconic image...guitar being smashed...I really love how this turned out. So, let me know what you think.

I think I know it all: a less than jake yarn bomb

2011-08-07T22:01:00.001-07:00

I've seen Less than Jake in excess of 30-40 times. You just lose count after a while. I could tell you that I've seen them open for Bon Jovi...twice. Or that they once paid me a 100 bucks to sell merch for them in Canada. I would have done it for free....suckers. I could tell you that they're decent guys, and that I met them for the first time when I was 17....and they didn't take advantage of my extreme naivete, and that's something you can only really appreciate 10+ years later. I could tell you that I met my first roommate through them...and my third...I could tell you that the bass player once called my parents sketchy..and I don't blame him...

The last time I saw them, I was 21..until today. Its been 8 years, and I'm almost 30 now (on sept 24th..where has the time gone? no.... seriously. where did it go?) I'm taking my 3 year old to see them at the Warped Tour in Carson, CA.... because he's awesome, and he likes less than jake, and I totally get it. They're full of energy. and they're fun. and they're loud. not unlike my 3 year old. I hope I get a chance to say hi.

The yarnbomb, a boy shooting a pezgun, holds bit of a double significance. Not only is the image from their vinyl picture disc for their album pezcore, but it's also a tattoo on my back. The tattoo was an image I got out of a Pez collector's book before I knew the picture disc existed. It's a tattoo I forget I have, but it makes me smile when I see it...and remember the awkward pierced little freak that I once was (and still am on the inside) .

So, this is my last stop on this artistic experience. I'm going out of town 2 more times this summer, but this yarn bomb will be the last in this series I'm calling in my head "yarn the road" I have an idea for a new potential exhibit piece. Hopefully I can make it happen. Also, I have to start preparing for my etsy shop Christmas rush! It's never too soon.</
Cheers!

Free Crochet Leela Futurama Pattern

2011-08-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

So, I don't know if I mentioned this earlier, but along with my Brobee doll, all of my Futurama dolls were also pulled from Etsy for copyright infringement. So, since I have these great patterns already made up, I decided I would go ahead and post the patterns for free. I really love these dolls. I already had the Leela pattern all done up for someone who wanted to buy the pattern, so it's coming up first. I'll post Nibbler and Zoidberg as soon as I find the time to write up the patterns. Please let me know if you use these, and post pictures of the finished results! I love seeing these dolls come to life!

Crochet Leela

Materials Needed:

c hook

g hook
yarn needle
polyfil
1 - 12mm safety eye
At least 3 ounces of Skin Colored/Beige/Cream colored yarn
At least 1 ounce of purple yarn
Small amount of Gray yarn
Small amount of black yarn
Small amount of teal/light blue yarn
Small amount of white yarn
Small amount of pink yarn
Scrap of navy blue yarn

Head:
With skin colored yarn and g hook, ch 2
r1: 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook.
r2: 2 sc in each sc around (16 sc)
r3: *2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in next sc. Rep from * around (24sc)
r4: *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc. Rep from * around (32sc)
r5: *2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 3 sc. Rep from * around (40sc)
r6-16: 1 sc in each sc around.
r17: *1 sc in each of next 3 sc. sc2tog. Rep from * around (32sts)
r18: *1 sc in each of next 2 sc. sc2tog. Rep from * around (24sts)
r19: *1 sc. sc 2 tog. Rep from * around (16sts)
r20: *sc2tog. Rep from * (8sts)

Body:
with g hook and black , ch 30. Join with sl st to first chain taking care not to twist ch
r1: 1 sc in each ch around until piece measures 1 inch. Switch to white yarn
Continue to crochet around until piece measures 2 inches.
Next round: *1 sc in each of next 3 sc, Sc2tog. Rep from * around. (24sts)
Next round: Sc in each sc around until piece measures 3 inches.
Switch to skin colored yarn, sc 4, switch back to white, for 19 sts (this is to give leela the tank
top look. The picture might help as a reference to what it will ultimately look like)
Switch to skin colored yarn, sc 6, switch back to white, for 17 sts
Switch to skin colored yarn, sc 8, switch back to white, Sc 2, *sc2tog 5 times. Fasten off leaving
long enough tail to sew head on

Arms:
Make 2
With g hook an skin-colored yarn
ch 2
r1: 5 sc in 2nd ch from hook.
r2: 2 sc in each sc around. (10sc)
r3: 1 sc in each sc around.
r4: 1 sc in next 4 sc, 1 tr in next sc (thumb). 1 sc in each of last 5sc
r5: 1 sc in each st around
r6: 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, sc2tog twice.
r7: 1 sc in each st around.
Rep last round until arm measures 4 inches. Fasten off. Leave long enough tail to sew to body

Legs:
make 2
with g hook and black yarn
foot: ch 5
r1: 1 sc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 sc in each of next 2ch. 3 sc in last ch. Do not turn. working
in remaining loops of foundation chain, 1 sc in each of next 2 ch. 2 sc in last ch (10 sc)
r2: 2 sc in first sc. 1 sc in each of next 2 sc. 2 sc in each of next 3 sc. 1 sc in each of next 2 sc.
2 sc in each of last 2sc. (16 sc)
r3: 2 sc in first sc. 1 sc in each of next 4 sc. 2 sc in each of next 4 sc. 1 sc in each of next 4 sc.
2 sc in each of next 3 sc. (24 sc)
r4: Working in back loops only, 1 sc in each sc around. switch to gray
r5: 1 sc in each of next 7 sc. sc2tog 3 times. 1 sc in each sc to end rnd. 21sts
r6: 1 sc in each of next 6 sc. sc2tog 3 times. 1 sc in each sc to last 2 sc sc2tog. (17sts)
r7: 1 sc in each of next 5 sc. sc2tog 3 times. 1 sc in each sc to end of rnd (14sts)
r8: 1 sc in each st around. Rep last round until piece measures 2 inches. Switch to black.
Continue to sc in each st around until legs measure 4 inches. Leave long enough tail to sew to
boy
Stuff parts and sew together.

Face:
with g hook, and white, ch2
r1: 6 sc in 2 ch
r2: 2 sc in each sc (12sts)
r3: *1 sc in next sc. 2 sc in next sc. Rep around (18sts)
r4-6: Sc in each sc around. Fasten off
Attach 12mm safety eye to center of white. Stuff and sew to face.
Mouth:
With pink and yarn needle. Stitch upside pink triangle. Use picture as example. Satin stitch
triangle to fill in.

Arm piece:
With teal yarn, and g hook. Crochet a piece that will fit around arm. Crochet 5 rows around.
Fasten off. Sew piece together on arm.
With navy yarn, crochet a small line on arm piece. (this can also be done using embroidery or
cross stitching)
Lines on boot:
Crochet on top of boot with black yarn two black stripes on each boot. (this can also be done
using embroidery or cross stitching)

Hair:
With purple and C hook:
For this find a 9 inch piece of cardboard or a book with a 9 inch side (or anything with 9 inch
side).
1. Wrap the yarn around the cardboard and sc, ch 1.
2. Continue to * wrap the yarn around sc, ch 1. Repeat until you have the desired length of
hair. You can do this in segments if it's easier to manage.
Sew the hair on with the seams parallel to the face and zig zag sewing the hair to the back of
the head. You'll know you have enough when you can make a full looking pony tail. Pull some
strands forward to cut bangs. Tie the rest back with a piece of purple yarn.
Please let me know if you have any problems.

Leela Pattern by Giovanna Forsyth is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Please do not sell this pattern or objects made
from it. Do not share it elsewhere.

Tango makes three...a nyc yarnbomb

2011-08-02T07:59:00.001-07:00

So, I put a call out to my friends when Finnegan was born for book suggestions. For the books that stuck out in their mind as the best children's books they'd ever read, and I got some truly great suggestions, but by far my favorite came from my friend Alex.He suggested Tango Makes Three. It's about a pairing of male penguins who hatch and raise a baby penguin from a mother who was unable to care for the egg. It's on the frequently banned books list everywhere. Because you know...kids will become gay if they know some boy penguins in New York City Central Park Zoo liked to cuddle. It happens all the time. I wish I could convey deadpan on the interwebs.

I love this book. If you are a halfway decent person who wants to have a kid with an open mind and an appreciation for the idea that successful relationships can come in all shapes and sizes, this is a great introduction to that idea. Finnegan is no stranger to the idea that someone can have 2 mommies or 2 daddies. I genuinely think this book helped him understand that.

One of the biggest selling points to this "Big East Coast Trip" was that he could go see Roy, Silo, and Tango at the Central Park Zoo, which we are definitely doing, and this yarnbomb will be found in the vicinity as an homage to a great book with a great message.

When in boston..a fenway park yarnbomb

2011-08-01T15:17:00.001-07:00

Our main event on our "Big East Coast Trip" as it has been named around this house is a Boston Red Sox game at the legendary Fenway Park. I love baseball. It's pretty much the only sport I can remotely follow with any interest. I like it for many reasons. I like it's broad appeal. I like that dodger tickets can still be obtained for less than 10 dollars. I love the nostalgic American aspect of the sport. I like that it has its skeletons, and it's triumphs. Kirk Gibson's fist pumping homerun during the 88 World Series. or that time the Dodgers scored 4 back to back home runs, or any game Sandy Koufax ever pitched.

Oh, you've caught on, I'm a Dodger Fan through and through. I will never not be a Dodger Fan. So why so much excitement about Fenway? Because it's Fenway...duh. No baseball fan would turn up a chance to see a game at Fenway. I debated making the trademark LA Dodgers symbol for this yarnbomb, but it occurred to me that in the spirit of the game, I had to respect where I was, and why I was there. I'm at Fenway because the Red Sox are one of the oldest teams in baseball with a great history and a great ballpark.

Also, recent events at a Dodger game made me think about what it is to be a baseball fan, especially a fan dealing with a fan of an opposing team. In a game at the start of the season at Dodger stadium against the Giants, a Giants fan was beaten to a pulp. Do I hate hearing someone at a Dodger game rooting for the rival team? Sure, but when I go root for the Dodgers elsewhere I cheer, and people have to put up with me. It's just an unfortunate courtesy we pay to each other. That said, if we start beating people up at games....we just ruin the game. It means more security measures, higher tickets costs, and lost revenue if your stadium gets a reputation for having unruly fans (which Dodger stadium already has). Baseball is competitive, but it's fun. It's fun rallying around a representation of the city you love, but without those other teams that we love to hate....It'd just be a bunch of guys playing catch at a really big park.

So as a visitor to this fair city, I made the Red Sox logo. I'm here for the history of baseball, and I've got nothing against the Sox (they're in a different league after all). So go on Red Sox, beat those Indians today. I'll be rooting for you.

Down by the water: a decemberists newport folk festival yarnbomb

2011-07-30T11:09:00.001-07:00

So, when Paul and I were trying to decide what to do this summer as a family vacation. We ran through the usual suspects. England to visit his family. Panama to visit mine. We also went through a slew of popular vacation destination options, and we just weren't going to be satisfied with sitting on a beach, which is what we've done the last few summers. (I know...such a rough life right?)

We wanted to see something new. Broaden our horizons....open our eyes to new possibilities..blah blah blah...

Paul couldn't be talked into touring the castles of Europe with our 3 year old, but he did like the idea of doing an east coast trip, and seeing some sites we've both always wanted to see and do some things we've always wanted to do. We planned it around the Newport Folk Festival, in Newport, Rhode Island. It's a festival that has increasingly been on both our radars the past couple of years as our musical tastes have headed in that new folk arena.

What cinched it was when we found out the Decemberists were playing. I've been a fan for years, and my son, Finnegan, just goes crazy for them. The first time he heard the Crane Wife, he just wanted to hear it over...and over and over again. Then when The King is Dead came out, he went even more crazy for that one. Finnegan has a great ear for instruments and the first time he heard Down by the Water, he was like "mama...do you hear the harmonica?" I just knew I had to get this kid to a Decemberists' concert. Newport seemed like a great opportunity.

This yarnbomb is inspired by the Decemberists' album cover for Castaways and Cutouts. It's a great image...souls drifting off a ship out into sea. A fan myself of nautical imagery with my own romanticized notions about voyages at sea., and given the Newport Folk Festival's proximity to the water, it just seemed all too fitting.

So if you found it, I hope you had fun at the festival, I'm sure we did!

Next yarnbomb stop: Boston and a much anticipated Boston Red Sox game at Fenway.

Free Crochet Brobee Pattern!

2011-07-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

Quick Comic Con update: My dolls that Giant Robot took with them to Comic Con sold out in the first 24 hours, which was just super great. I was hoping that a couple of things would sell. I really truly didn't think they'd all sell though. So, that was a nice boost to my ego. My neck is starting to hurt...because my head is just getting so big.

So, some of you might remember that my Brobee doll was pulled from Etsy for copyright infringement. It was a sad day indeed, and I really love this doll. It was one of the first things I created on my own taking techniques and ideas I had learned from other dolls. I was really proud of the outcome, and my son loves his Brobee doll. Since I can't sell the doll, that shouldn't mean that other crafty ladies out there shouldn't be allowed to make one for their little one!

So below is the pattern. Enjoy. Let me know if you have any problems/questions.

Also, I'll be out of town for 8 days as me and the family head on our "big trip" to the east coast. Next yarnbomb stop: Newport Folk Festival.

Brobee Crochet Doll

Materials Needed:

f or g hook

2 oz of a bright/neon green yarn

2 oz of a forest green yarn

a small amount of red yarn

a small amount of red, white, and black felt

a piece of black yarn

2 – 12mm safety eyes

polyester fiberfill

Body:

With bright green colored yarn, worked in continuous round (use stitch marker if needed)

ch 2

r1: 6 sc in second sc (6)

r2: 2 sc in each (12)

r3: *1 sc in next, 2 sc in next, rep from * around (18)

r4: *1 sc in ext, 2 sc in next, rep from * around (24)

r5-10: sc around (24), switch to forest green yarn

At this point you might want to do the face. Use picture as example. I like to glue and sew felt pieces on for added security.

r11-13: sc around (24), switch to bright green yarn

r14-17: sc around (24), switch to forest green yarn

r18-20: sc around (24), switch to bright green yarn

r21-24: sc around (24), switch to forest green yarn

Crotch and leg:

This is a little tricky, and if it seems confusing just make sure each leg is 14sts around, so they look even.

R25: ch2, sl st to the 13^th sc of the last round, sc in next 11

r26: sc in one side of the first sc, sc in none side of each of the ch 2 sts, sc in the next 11 (14)

r27: sc in each st around (14), switch to bright green yarn

r28-31: sc around (14), switch to dark green yarn

32-34: dec around until closed

At this point, you'll want to stuff the body and leg

Other Leg:

Using forest green yarn, work a sl st in the crotch

r1: sc in next 12, sc in the other side of each of the ch 2 spaces (14)

r2-3: sc around (14), switch to bright green yarn,

r4-7: sc around (14), switch to forest green

stuff leg

r8-10: dec around to close

Arms – make 2 (You want the arms to have the stripes in the same pattern as the body, so they line up, so make adjustments accordingly)

With forest green, ch 2

r1: 6 sc in 2^nd ch

r2-3: sc around (6)

r4: ch3, sc in each (6)

r5: skip ch3, sc in each (6), switch to bright green

r6-10: sc around (6), switch to forest green

11-13: sc around (6), switch to bright green

14-17: sc around (6), switch to forest green

18-20: sc around, leaving tail to sew to body

Sew to body lining up stripes. I do not stuff the arms at all, so that they have that characteristic Brobee floppiness

Spikes (Make 3):

With red yarn,

ch 2

1 sc in 2^nd ch, ch 2, sc in 2^nd ch again

ch 2, flip piece, work 2sc in first sc, sc in next then ch2, then sc in same, 2 sc in next, fasten off leaving long tail.

Sew spikes to head using picture as example.

Totoros go to Comic Con

2011-07-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

My hooked hands are flying furiously through gray yarn in an attempt to make more inventory because Eric over at Giant Robot and crew are taking my Totoros to the best place on earth to find like-minded nerds of all shapes and sizes, San Diego Comic Con, July 21-24. I haven't been in a couple years, and I anxiously anticipate the day that Finnegan will want to sit in on panels with me on whatever awesome sci-fi/fantasty/horror series he's into. So, if you're in San Diego, you should stop by and say hi to the Giant Robot crew, and check out my Totoros. I'm sure they're in quite capable hands. Some of what they'll have with them, Totoros and Totoro trios, Ponyo, and a Catbus. They'll be in stall 1729, which I'm told is right in the middle!

Hookedhands now at Giant Robot!

2011-07-06T21:13:00.000-07:00

So, Eric over at Giant Robot recently emailed me (after seeing and commenting on my Totoro Yarn Bomb), and asked if I would be interested in selling some of my wares at their store here in Los Angeles. Aside from being flattered that someone thinks my dolls are worth taking up precious shelf real estate, I was just really excited to branch out with my dolls into new territory. It's a consignment deal, so if they don't sell, I'll get them back and that'll be that. Hopefully they will, and I'll make both myself and Giant Robot a little money. So, if you're in the neighborhood, check it out! You'll find some Totoros, a Catbus, and a Ponyo!

Awww Yeah Titans! A yarnbomb.

2011-07-03T13:58:00.000-07:00

If you found my Ventura Tiny Titan Robin roasting marshmallows yarn bomb...then Yay! Read along to find out why he's in your fair city.

So, in my quest to make all of my street art both pop culture influenced and something that my 3 year old can relate to, I really had a hard time coming up with something for our big 4th of July camping trip to Mcgrath State Beach in Ventura, CA. That is, until I remembered that in the Tiny Titans trade #1 the Titans go on a field trip, and there's a really great image of them sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows...so I borrowed the part with Robin because he's my son's favorite Tiny Titan.

(For the record the Tiny Titans are this really great comic book drawn and co-written by Art Baltazar with some of your favorite major and minor DC characters as elementary school kids...with elementary school superhero problems. My 3 year old gets about 1/20th of the humor, but he insists that it's his favorite of all time and goes to sleep reading it every night)

Camping is totally one of those things I did every single summer growing up. I even thought it was fun as a teenager when most kids have outgrown enjoying family vacations. My parents were pretty laid back, and it was a good excuse to play in a lake and eat hot dogs (being a vegetarian now..mostly means I'll just have to enjoy the smell of them from other people's bbqs).

Finnegan loves it too. There's an endless amount of sticks, endless sand for endless hours of playing, and sometimes we go with our friends the Reas family, who have a 3 year old daughter themselves. Finnegan and Ava: they fight, they hug, they share, they dance, they fight some more, and they really enjoy going in each other's tents. We (the adults) sneak in a beer here or there and just enjoy being out of the city (the city in our case being Los Angeles) for a couple of days. I also kind of hope that we're instilling in Finnegan a sense that you can have a really amazing time with very few bells and whistles. bells and whistles mostly being defined by ANYTHING that can be purchased at a Disney Store.

Is camping a total pain in the butt? Sure. with all that setting up tents, and remembering to bring things like bottle openers and matches, but it's so fun in this really simple way that you just can't get staying in a hotel room.

Robin can be found near the playground under the Ventura pier on a palm tree. We go to this spot everytime we're in town.Next yarn bomb? Newport Folk Festival. Stay tuned.

Happy 1st Birthday to my Etsy shop!

2011-07-01T21:46:00.000-07:00

July 3rd, just a day away, is one year to the date that I nervously launched my Etsy shop. I filled it with things that my friends said they liked. I put off opening the shop for over a year because I really didn't think anyone would ever buy something I made. Truly. Deeply. Believed that. I have real issues with rejection. I get all mopey and question my self-worth. The textbooks say this is because I was told how great I was as a kid, and never learned to deal with not being great at things. I'm pretty sure this is totally true.

Despite that, I decided that I needed to be a braver sort of person. I needed to show Finnegan that it's okay to fail at things, and not be great at things, and to try hard to be better at things. So, I did it, and it's one of the best things I've ever done, and one of the things I'm proudest of. To date I have 132 sales. That's about a sale every 3 days. Sure, I've made things that didn't sell, and it stings, but I'm just happy I've even sold one thing.

I might have some exciting news about a physical location where you can purchase my wares soon. More on that when/if it actually happens.

Also, I've been hard at work creating some new items. A Fraggle Rock Doozer, a Tiny Titans inspired Robin, and a revamped Ponyo (I made her once before, but thought she could be better)

Yay for the Hooked Hands Etsy shop. I hope this next year proves as promising as the first.

To celebrate, if you stumble upon this blog because you're a fan, here's a coupon code for 10% off an order:
go to Hooked Hands Etsy shop and enter HAPPY1BDAY at checkout. It will be valid until October 1st, 2011

In which I'm an exhausted yarnbomber/blogger

2011-06-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

So, one last thing about yarnbombing 18th. It was a truly fun experience in which lots of people came out and people took our picture and inquired about my crochet cookies which were a big hit....which made me beam like the proud crochet baker that I was. There were some truly incredible pieces of art out there, and it was inspiring and awing...and I can't wait until I have the opportunity to do something like this again. So, without further ado...here's the art we did

We created a cozy little scene don't you think???...The cookies were gone within the first hour. Dez and I made a few more on the spot, but gave up because we knew we couldn't meet demand.

and the art other people did that I really liked:

above: pigeons eating french fries!!!! how brilliant is that??????

Until next time yarnbombers, yarn lovers, and friends.

It's happening tonight. Yarnbombing 18th....and other news.

2011-06-18T15:20:00.000-07:00

So, tonight is the night. Dez and I spent the morning with furiously flying fingers trying to put some finishing touches on the bench we're bombing for tonight's Yarnbombing 18th Art Exhibit. It has been a lot of fun helping Dez realize her vision, and makes me want to be more ambitious if something like this comes around again because I couldn't help but think of what I would create, and I think I have kind of an awesome idea...that I really hope I have the opportunity to execute one day.

Pictured above: Me with furiously flying fingers.

In other news....I plan on yarnbombing every city and major activity we venture to this summer on vacation beginning with a 4th of July trip to Ventura, CA moving onto Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island, a Red Sox game at Fenway in Boston, a trip to the Central Park Zoo in NYC, Finnegan's first Warped Tour, and finishing it off with a trip to a cabin in Big Bear. So, look out poles, benches, and trees....I'm coming for you!

It's looking to be a very busy summer of yarnbombing and preparing for what I hope will be a busy Christmas season for my Etsy shop. Paul has agreed to go 50/50 if I can come up with half the money for some invisalign braces (an expense he refuses to see the necessity for). I'll never admit it in person, but I've always wanted a straight perfect smile, and even if it takes me years of blood, sweat, tears, and skeins of yarn, I will get braces...and I will have that awesome smile I have so longed for.

Also, another big thanks to Giant Robot for the great shout out that brought so much attention to my Totoro yarnbombing piece from last weekend.

International Yarn Bombing Day!

2011-06-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

It's upon us everyone. Started by the lady over at this blog: It has totally turned into a phenomenon. My contribution is a little Totoro inspired by the Miyazaki film "My Neighbor Totoro" about 2 little girls who move to the countryside to be close to the hospital where their chronically ill mother is staying. While there, they meet a forest spirit who makes their recent circumstances seem more bearable. Totoro is the ultimate neighbor, and I really love the idea of neighbors or of a neighborhood.

I've made great friends in this "neighborhood" that is west los angeles. I see them at the Trader Joe's, farmer's market, at parks. It's so nice to know that in one of the biggest cities in the world, you can still run into a friend at the most unlikely of times. I hope I'm instilling the importance of friends and the concept of neighborliness to finnegan. I love that people look out for him, and I want him to grow up to be the kind of person who looks out for other people.

You can find my Totoro on Sawtelle Blvd between Olympic Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd. He'll be smiling down at all the Japanese food lovers and Giant Robot frequenters, spreading some neighborly love.

So cheers, and may your day be filled with random yarn bombs.

Yarn bombing Art Exhibit!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-05-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

So, this is totally exciting. Dez who is a much more active yarn bomber than myself has asked me to help her out with a yarn bombing art exhibit in Santa Monica. It's part of the 18th Street Art Night. There's going to be a whole street of yarn bombing by different yarn artists from Southern California. Dez got herself a bench to decorate. She's playing off the theme of comfort, so we're going to make the coziest street bench you've ever seen. I came up with a couple of things for the mobile: a cup of cocoa, a teddy bear, and a pair of slippers.

I also thought that there's nothing more comforting than a sleeping dog by your feet, and Dez let me run with it. I just finished him up tonight:

I'm super excited about it, and I'm so glad I get to participate!

Also, stay tuned. International yarn bombing day is coming up. Beware Sawtelle. I'm coming your way.

Crocheting Futurama and stuff my friends are up to

2011-05-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

I know this is like some kind of awesome crochet blog. So you want some awesome crochetness? How about these guys. Leela, Zoidberg, and Nibbler all created as custom orders. Leela and Zoidberg as a gift for a bride and groom to be who mutually love Futurama. My stuff as a wedding present. awesome. Nibbler made as an etsy custom order. They were fun to make, and I'm really proud of how they turned out.

For the record, this nibbler is incomplete. He does have a cape and diaper.... I just haven't gotten around to adding them to this one yet.

In other news, I have amazingly talented friends doing great things.

1. My very beloved friend Devon is belting out some amazing songs with her band Races. I saw them rock out at Silverlake Jubilee yesterday, and my 3 year old got to watch and got his first on stage shout out to his great pleasure. (noted: my kid is cooler than me)

2. Tony d'Amato is spending hours doing oil paintings of shows that don't exist anymore. (he also does storyboards for money or some such thing)

Ewoks live in trees

2011-05-07T14:01:00.001-07:00

Today (mother's day) I took paul and finnegan out for a stealthy little yarnbombing session. We try to expose finnegan to everything life has to offer, even if it is just promoting his mom's weird love of crocheting and ewoks. If you head over to Glen Alla Park in Marina Del Rey, you'll see it.
I cross stitched this little ewok onto a crocheted panel, and sewed him to a tree? Why an ewok? I'm glad you asked. I find that in being a parent you tell yourself you're going to be sooo honest with your kids, way more honest with them than your parents were...which I think Paul and I are, but I failed to account for what turns out to be a healthy imagination on the part of both Paul and I. Sometimes, when I want Finnegan to do something that he seems to not want to do I'll invoke fantastical creatures...For example:

me: lotion after bath, finnegan?
finn: no, mama
me: what about this magic pixie lotion?
finn: YEAH

me: Finnegan, you should go pee before we leave
finn: no
me: Yoda would want you to
finn: okay

me: don't go under that bridge
finn: why?
me: because there are trolls sleeping and you might disturb them
finn: are they nice trolls?
me: who can say, best not to take the chance

I guess I chose the ewok because the fantastical world and the real world are never really separate in my kid's eyes...do ewoks live in trees? to him....they sure do. I wanted my ewok to be a little reminder of that.
So, if you didn't get to see it...Sorry..and if you did.... lucky you...and if you stole it...for shame.
Happy mother's day!

A lesson in copyright infringement

2011-05-06T15:23:00.000-07:00

So, my Etsy shop has sort of been going strong since that whole Daria press I got a while ago. When I first got the email from the MTV.com journalist wanting to talk about my doll....all I saw was the word MTV and I thought for sure they were going to give me some hassle about taking the doll down for copyright infringement. To the contrary they featured my doll on the website. They seemed to get it. It’s like fan art...that you sell to other fans...

I’m not stupid. I know that some of my things are licensed characters. I’m an archivist by training. You spend entire semesters learning about public domain etc etc. If you took every copyright infringer off Etsy...there’d be scant options. The great thing about Etsy is crafty people have a venue to make things, make art about their favorite pop icons and sell it to other people who love those same things. I never make characters I don’t love myself. People buy these things for a couple of reasons:

1. You just can’t find a doll for that character anywhere else or anymore
2. You have all kinds of other licensed collectibles and you’re looking for something a little different.
3. You want to buy something unique for a friend who you know loves that character and has all kinds of other stuff featuring that character and something bought off Etsy lessens your chance of buying something they already have.

Today, I received this from Etsy:

*****************

Above is where I had this paragraph from the email I received telling me the lawyers representing Yo Gabba Gabba told me to stop selling my stuff as well as other people....then I read the fine print which said that the email sent was confidential.....and shouldn't be shared...I'm not sure they can say that and mean it since I have a freedom of speech..but since I'm not really anti-etsy even a little bit...I chose to respect this wish.

It’s a little saddening, not because I’m not going to sell anymore Brobees (I’ve sold maybe 6? at 13.50 a pop....oh no what will I do without that 90 or so dollars annually), or I’m out 20 cent listing fee, but because people who bought my Brobees bought them for their 2 year olds who just love love love him, and that made me all gushy inside. I made Brobee because my 2 year old loves him and he has the CD’s and he’s seen the concert, and plenty of money has been thrown at Yo Gabba Gabba in our name. I always had a strange fondness for Yo Gabba Gabba knowing it was created by the singer from the Aquabats, a band prominent during my punk/ska teenage days. I’m a little disenchanted, perhaps unfairly.

There used to be thousands of yo gabba gabba items on Etsy...and know there’s a scant 128 (and dwindling) that have escaped notice, or are not even yo gabba gabba items at all. The dolls, the hats, the funky little barrettes, the clay molded figures, custom party favors, the clothes...they’re all gone.

I guess I’m hoping this is not a trend. I’ll miss you Crochet Brobee Doll. R.I.P.

A video about the process

2011-04-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

Dez and Diana did a great job shooting/editing this video of the process that went down last night.

It was super fun, and the drinks at one of LA's best dive bars weren't bad either.

Yarnbombing

2011-04-15T06:50:00.000-07:00

I didn't even know what yarnbombing was until a month ago when I spotted this little number during an early morning jog. It was on Rose just east of Lincoln in Venice.

It was awesome. It was the kind of graffiti I could get behind. Not permanent, pretty, and unoffensive. There was a card attached that pointed me to this website. Her goal is to inspire people, make them happy, beautify the concrete jungle that is Los Angeles. I was so inspired and in awe of this idea that I volunteered my own crocheting services to any projects she might have in the future, and that's when this was born.

We yarnbombed about 30 cars with side view mirror cozies with friendly sayings. Just a little something to make 30 drivers smile, be curious, or wonder what the heck this is. For my cohort, it's about inspiring people. For me it's about making someone smile with my admittedly kitschy craft. So enjoy Los Angeles. I think we're just getting started.

me? interviewed? for mtv.com? sure. why not.

2011-04-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

So, a few days ago this journalist blogger Adam K. Raymond hits me up on the old Etsy site about my Daria doll. He asks me some questions. I answer them, and now you can find the write up for MTV.com here. I'm not going to go into how awkward it is to see your name in print, or have someone talk about you, just trust me that it is, and flattering. Did I mention flattering? When I set up to start this little crocheting mini enterprise, I literally was happy if I could sell one thing, and now that I'm closing in on the 100 sale mark, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment on the initiative I took with the help and prodding of some devoted friends. So, I'll leave this blog at that with the promise that I'm returning to the blogging world with renewed vigor and time now that that pesky Master's in Library Science has been obtained, and that challenging and awesome archiving internship with Loyola is coming to a close. Stay tuned folks. There's some yarnbombing in my future with the help of this inspirational lady.

The dirty crochet business of this post.
Daria, in all her awkward cynical glory. I hand sew her skirt and jacket. Shape her eyeglasses out of a pipe cleaner. I crochet the body parts and use this crazy technique to make her hair. She's definitely detailed, but whips up pretty quickly.

A totoro trio

2010-07-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

Keeping up with blogs is like one of those things that make me question whether I’m truly the multi-tasking overachiever I claim to be, but since I seem to be concentrating my efforts toward my etsy shop these days, I thought I should update my companion blog.

The etsy shop is going well. I’ve had 5 official orders ranging from Batman to Totoro to rocketships. Totoro being my biggest seller. Officially I’ve sold 3 (unofficially 2 since I refunded Silas his money) with someone who emailed me claiming they’re going to order one on Friday. If demand like this keeps up, I may have to up the price! (i kid...or do i?)

Today I’ll feature Totoro and his little blue and white friends.

The trio were inititally a custom order for someone I met at a Pee-Wee’s playhouse themed party, but I was so happy with how Totoro came out, that I just had to add him to my shop.

I’m currently working on Max from Where the Wild Things Are, which is inspired by my son’s favorite sleeptime companions which include a small 4 inch tall Max and a small ewok doll. When he wakes up in the morning he says “i have so many friends!” and holds up max and wicket for me or Paul to see. which might be the cutest thing ever. If you haven’t guessed...Wicket is probably next on the list unless something comes up.

I should also say that this blog linked to one of my items, so I felt I should give them some props back. It’s cute. She has a theme, and seeks out handmade or vintage items on various sites that fit that theme.

I’m currently searching for more inspiration and ideas of things to create and crochet, so please....don’t hesitate to suggest.

doo wa diddy

2010-02-10T12:02:00.001-08:00

okay so initially i was just going to post this youtube video of amigurumi animals playing the ukulele, which is just pure awesomeness...

but i figured I should also include some kind of crocheted madness. so briefly. here are some amigurumi of my own.

a crocheted airplane, which is lackluster. I thought..hey my boy likes airplanes...lets crochet him one...but it's admittedly kind of whatev's,

the more awesome thing is this robot..which i actually made before the airplane..but i like to end on a high note. paul is mostly responsible for this family's love of robots. but they sure are kind of rad aren't they...my favorite is probably rosey from the jetsons...she made a mean push button breakfast..and she was kind of sassy...who was your favorite robot?

okay..this was just a quicky...i have important library science master's homework to slave away at.

a well-dressed boy

2010-02-04T14:32:00.000-08:00

I have vowed to be more active in blogging, at least this blog anyway. My personal one suffers. I tried to think about how I should tackle this blog. I have made probably a gazillion things. and you can't really write about a gazillion things. so i decided to talk about the clothes i've made for my nearly 2 year old boy. He's a good sport. He wears the clothes and the hats and acts like a real champ about it all. I know I have a limited window in which he'll actually sport this stuff. Soon enough he'll be rebelling against me and demanding batman t-shirts. (i will postpone his discovery of things like yo gabba gabba..and that infectious "there's a party in my tummy...so yummy..so yummy" as long as i possibly can)

The first thing I attempted for him was this dinosaur hat, and since then I've probably made 10 of these hats for the assorted little boys in my friend's life, I can say I've perfected it. People at parks seriously go crazy for this hat. like crazy for it. because regardless of the little boy...people think this is the cutest thing ever. Also, I made one for a friend to give out at a baby shower, and it was the hit of the baby shower. It got passed around, and people just about died for it. I actually sold one of these to a woman at a birthday party I went to. it's all kind of super flattering really.

Next, I tackled a vest. I think @tonydamato commented something to the effect that it wasn't bad enough his name was finnegan. but I thought he looked rather dapper.

Seeing what a success the dinosaur hat was, I decided to branch out into other creatures. I thought..what's another animal people really like. PANDAS. everyone loves pandas. i don't really know why. I hear they're more likely related to that nuisance, the raccoon..than an actual bear. but we think they're cute. because they're chubby and round and lazy. and perhaps we envy them just a little bit. i actually made this for a little girl...but finn is the only baby model i got...and he kind of looks like a little girl

The last addition to the wardrobe is this anchor sweater. i absolutely love this anchor sweater, but I was a little worried it looked "too" handmade. that it might give off a mrs.weasley vibe..and nothing against mrs.weasley and her witch-knitted sweaters, but I'm aiming more for my boy having a fun wardrobe rather than one he secretly loathes. So, I decided he needed an anchor sweater because we like anchors. I actually cross stictched the anchor on, which is a skill i hadn't really used since I was about 10, but it came out okay, and the first day he wore it out, someone asked me if I bought it at Abercrombie and Fitch. I don't even know if A & F sells kids clothes, but I think they were paying me a compliment. They said it had that thick well-made quality about it. I can't attest to the quality of A & F's clothes, but I know it's kind of ridiculously overpriced preppie clothes, so I guess I'm cool with people thinking I paid an arm and a leg for a sweater that really only cost me about 4 dollars in yarn and some time crocheting while watching tv.

So, that's all I got in the toddler wardrobe department. I'm thinking about starting up an etsy store. I'm working on crocheting some stuff to sell. Whether it actually sells or whether I even get the guts to post it..is an entirely different neurotic blog post. so i'll spare you.

p.s. excuse the poor quality of the photos...i usually take the pictures with my camera phone, so that I can send them straight to my twitpic

A Creepy Cute Crochet Phase

2009-08-05T21:01:00.000-07:00

I know I know..i start out all hot and heavy on the crochet blog...and then what? i just drop it...like a bad habit. my bad. my bad.

So, my next several projects were all directly taken or inspired by this book. Creepy Cute Crochet by Christen Haden. Now she has some amazing ideas. no doubt. Her instructions are a little wonky truth be told, and you kind of find yourself filling in the blanks...

I started with the monkey in a fez. He was totally easy except for that god damn hat. It gave me all kinds of problems. I promised it to @ohmichaelandrew. Or rather he said he loved that it was the first one....and that it would probably look retarded, but he'd take it anyway. btw...thanks for the vote of confidence. I believe it sits on a desk clutter with found objects and graphic design magazines.

My next project was for the husband, @paulforsyth he said the only cool thing in this book was the ninja....so the ninja was made. the ninja was perfect. is perfect. it resides in an office, paul refers to as the cave....

since i had somewhat honed my skills, i decided to branch out, and create my own character. i was inspired by the fact that i wanted to come up with a housewarming gift for @TarrandeV and @tonydamato. As self-professed nerds that i respect deeply, I went for spock. And really Spock was genius. I don't know how I pulled it off. You might as well stop reading because Spock was the best thing I've ever made to date. The last time I saw Spock, he was being handed around a party like a cheap bottle of whiskey. I think he probably resides on a coffee table of some sort in Eagle Rock. He is accompanied by an alien in a bikini that can only be described as "okay". Spock was infinitely easier than that trollop of an alien. I will never attempt making hair again.

Next came a gift for my friend Amanda. She always seemed to be in to dia de los muertos stuff. So I made her a man and a woman. I've always had a thing for the whole skeletons professing happiness in the afterlife..and the whole "love never dies" thing. call me a sucker. They were relatively easy. I don't like the way the man's hat came out, but I love the girl. She has lots of fun details and techniques I'd never used before.

Finally, @tonydamato made a request for something to adorn his office desk at work. He says to me "Can you do Speed Racer?" and I says "YES" and I did...and he came out pretty well I thought. @tonydamato was grateful. I hear he might have lost an eye (speed racer, not tony) to a drink, but the eye was salvaged in some ice, and was reattached quickly. Speed Racer was relatively easy, although again the hat gave me trouble. It's very hard I find to work with getting the dimensions just right. (ironic since I can't seem to get this picture to center properly)

Anyway, this was a fun phase. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's over, I just haven't been inspired. So, if you see anything you think would make a great creepy cutie. Let me know. I like a challenge.

After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.

2009-07-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince came out today, and coincidentally my next project was a Gryffindor scarf for this fellow. A while back he drew a few awesome robots to decorate Finn's room with, and a portrait of Finn and myself in Victorian garb. They can both be seen on this blog filled with amazing things.. He is super talented and pretty friendly. and will surprise you with his generosity. Everyone should have a Tony in their life. That said. I thought I needed to show my appreciation for all the awesome pictures, and for letting me raid his comic book stash, and for constantly challenging me to see movies in a different light. So, I racked my brain trying to think of something I could do, and I decided a Gryffindor scarf would be just the thing. We have a shared love for the boy with the scar, and Tony is a fan of dressing up for an anticipated movie's opening night.

I scoured the internet for a pattern and came up with this one courtesy of this site. Although I did change it slightly.

1. ch 40 for a nice, thick scarf.

2. sc 14 rows of red

3. change color to gold yarn and sc 2 rows

4. sc two rows of red

5. sc two rows of gold again

Repeat 2-5 until you've made your scarf as long as you
like it. End the scarf with a 12 row sc of red so that the ends look
the same.

I chose a single crochet stitch so that the scarf has less gaps in it.

It seemed easy enough, but I think I started this scarf at least 4 times before I got it right. The simplicity of the pattern, begs trial and error regarding hook size, and yarn type. I believe a bigger hook works really well.

It took about 2 weeks. The single chain is time consuming.

It was fun, and it was only my 3rd project, so it wasn't perfect. Tony really seemed to appreciate it though, and he can be seen wearing it here. The scarf can also be seen in a photo entitled "The Death of Harry Potter"

Until next time when I enter my "creepy cutie" phase

passed down for generations

2009-07-12T20:12:00.000-07:00

It occurred to me as I twittered that I spent a great deal of time talking about my crocheting endeavors. and this would seep into my blog. and it occurred to me, also, that I had more to say about crocheting. and that I really wanted to create a blog that was thorough, and not haphazard. and thrown together. like this one. I was jogging past an el pollo loco the other day and it hit me. I WILL BLOG. I WILL BE THE BEST BLOGGER EVER....or I will try. The el pollo loco. was not a catalyst, but more a helpless bystander.

Why I decided to crochet in 500 words more or less:

Well, I wanted to make something. more than the lego monsters I make with my boy. more than silly words. I wanted something tangible. and lasting. and utilitarian! My mom made me things. She can sew, and crochet, and make cards. I can't cut in a straight line, or stitch with any patience, but crocheting seemed like something my careless and lack-of-attention-to-detail-mind could handle. My mom learned to crochet from from the rather severe looking woman in the center. Her grandmother, my great-grandmother. She was a saucey little woman standing 5 feet tall. She was apparently mean. and impatient. but she knew how to crochet. My mom tried to teach me when I was 7. and my left-handedness proved an obstacle her right-handed self could not overcome. I wanted to invert everything. We both gave up. Until last Thanksgiving when I had a 7 month old boy, and I wanted him to have something from me. Something I made for him that he could look on with fondness, when he's 80, and I'm long gone. So, I bought Learn to Crochet in Just One Day, Left Handed. And I told my mom that when she came to visit me. we would tackle our lessons again. She showed me the basics, and with some frustration on both our parts, I started a baby blanket for my oldest friend Becky. She was pregnant with a little boy, and I wanted to give her something more than a swing, or a sling, or the other things babies need these days. I don't have a picture of that blanket. It was okay. mostly shells. A fair first endeavor.

This is what I made for my buggy. I got it from a pattern in Giggles and Grins by Vanna White. Don't laugh, Vanna loves the hook. (The book is okay, some good ideas, this blanket was the best pattern). It was mostly double crochets. It took maybe a week of diligence. Totally worth it. It looks far more impressive than it is, and I would recommend it to anyone who needs to make a baby blanket. people love things with animal hoods. I even though of ways it could be modified. Using different colors. Perhaps incorporating black spots to make it leopard or ladybug like. The sky is the proverbial limit. And everyone will "ooo" and "Ahhh" at the baby shower when you bestow this lovingly handcrafted gift to your nearest and dearest.

So, I am going to retrofit this blog with everything I have crocheted so far. big things. little things. and hopefully someone will connect, or feel inspired, or just enjoy the ramblings of a silly mom. crocheter. ardently aspiring archivist.