Update: Finished Projects

I've been really lazy updating this blog. Most pictures I have posted on my facebook. For those interested viewers who do not check my facebook page, here are a few items I've recently finished (only Yoda is an original pattern, everything else I'm too lazy to tag patterns right now):

Snail pattern by Elizabeth Doherty.

Past Projects

A few favorite past projects. Image heavy post...I should really finish uploading everything to Flickr, but I'm lazy.

Smaller Stripey Turtle

My sister alerted me that my brother-in-law's sister wanted me to make her a striped turtle. She emailed me this picture:

(Not my handiwork)

No idea where she got the picture from, but it totally looks like someone crafted them KritieMN's Tiny Striped Turtle pattern which she posted for free on the Crochetville forum. Or someone with any crocheting-in-the-round experience figured it out.

I decided Tammie Snow's side-looking Poke turtle was way cuter, so I whipped up a smaller version of the pattern and did stripes on the shell. I didn't use the half double crochet stitch, but did joined rounds. I suck at joining rounds, it never looks right to me. But this guy turned out pretty cute:

My handiwork!

He's about 1/2 the size of the other turtle I made standing around 3 inches high at the top of his cute head. I think the cuteness comes from the soul-less black eyes.

Finished Turtle

Just finished this thing from Tamie Snow's new book, Tiny Yarn Animals. It was the only cool pattern in the whole book. The rest are very simple to figure out on your own. I like the use of half double crochet stitches for the shell. I'm thinking the key to coming up with innovative amigurumi designs is the creative use of the half double crochet stitch. Many simple designs rely only on the single crochet stitch.

Now I never have to buy the Super Poke pattern from Roxycraft.com because it's the same exact thing.

Cute Baby Pony

For Crystal Dawn, it is finally finished:
I'm steadily knocking out my "to finish" pile, and I'm happy that this cute pony turned out so well. It was inspired from djonesgirlz's cotton candy horse, but I figured it out on my own and didn't use her pattern. I love the mini-heart shaped nostrils!

It seems that every single person I know is getting ready to birth themselves a kid. There must be something in the water. Or everyone I know is roughly the same age and in the same position in life where they're ready to start a family. I'm afraid I'm going to be left behind. Oh well. I'll be the eclectic friend who makes their kids stuff out of yarn. For money. Hello! Hire me to make an original baby shower gift! You will be a trendsetter and I will be able to satisfy my urge to buy every single color of Red Hart Soft Yarn, Caron Simply Soft, and Bernat Satin yarn that is in existence. Next up on the to finish pile: Elizabeth Doherty's Benny the Monkey. It's for one of my many pregnent pals.

Prince of All Cosmos Baby Hat

Last year, some friends alerted me that this pattern existed and commanded me to make it for them when and if they ever procreated. Well, they procreated, so I must submit to their demands. How could I not? All babies should wear this hat from the Katamari Damacy video game.Far Left: Original Pattern by Veronica (that's her kid)
Center: The hat I made (on a penguin I made)
Far Right: Actual Prince of All Cosmos from the Japanese Katamari Damacy video game

This was a quick, fun project to work on. The pattern is basically a simple bonnet with two bumps sewn to it. I tried really hard to center it up, but I think I only semi-succeeded. The fun part, of course, is buying yarn. I got three lovely new greens I can incorporate into other projects. The best part about making amigurumis or baby things is they don't take up a lot of yarn, so the overall project isn't very expensive. There are three crafts I've been asked not to partake in: Quilting, Scrap booking, & Jewelery making because they're all SO EXPENSIVE. So I'm happy, the cheapskate husband (whom I love more than ice cream) is happy, and whoever I give these crazy things to is happy. It's a classic example of a "Win-Win-Win Situation". Just in case you couldn't figure it out based on that phrase alone.

Next up: Finishing that dang pink poney Crystal Dawn wanted probably 10 years ago...

Re-start

That was a lousy start to a blog. Let us begin again. I've been working my tail off at two jobs, and finally quit the one so I can start crocheting again. I've decided I'm ok with having a hobby that I'm slightly obsessed with. Here are a few projects I recently finished:

Bub and Bob from the classic Nintendo game Bubble Bobble

Original Design

Elmo (The Terrifying)
Pattern by A Crochet Ninja

I took the time to re-organize my craft space. I feel more inspired
to make progress on my "to-finish" pile. I still have to finish the
pink pony, Elizabeth Doherty's "Benny" monkey, Barack Obama, and a smaller sized "Bub" that will eventually fit inside of a plastic Christmas ornament so he looks like he's floating in a bubble. LIKE THE GAME. What I'm REALLY looking forward to is my giant peacock project. I've sketched it out and have a good idea how to create it. I have all the yarn planned out. It's going to take forever to do it justice. My real goal is to participate in a craft show and just be able to show what I can do. But I think I need to sharpen my skills. There are a lot of talented artists out there whose medium is yarn.
Some of my favorites include Elizabeth Doherty, Gege Crochet, and April Draven.

I have found that making amigurumis is a very calming, creative outlet for me. I feel I've accomplished something important when a project is completed.

Introduction

Everyone will want to read what I write, so I must put it in an accessible place for the masses.

My name is Amber and I make creatures out of yarn. The Japanese have a made-up word for them called "amigurumi" which basically means stuffed doll typically created by unjoined (spiraled) rounds of single crochet. You can also find knit amigurumi's but since I don't know how to knit you will not find them here. If anyone wants to teach me how to knit, I am willing to try. I just refuse to make socks because I hear they're more trouble than they're worth.

I have many works in progress at the moment. I do sell pieces to friends and family and hope to open an Etsy shop soon. However, my crochet time is rather limited due to the fact I work eleventy billion hours a week at my dos jobs. My "real" job is Executive Assistant at the mental health board in my county. My "fake" job is a cashier at Hobby Lobby. You'd think that'd be dangerous because I'd be tempted to spend all of my fake job's income on yarn. But I already have a ton of yarn, and am not interested in most of the crap Hobby Lobby sells. Never buy anything full price at Hobby Lobby, by the way. Half the store goes on sale every other week.

Here is a picture of a piece I just finished for a trade:
He's made of acrylic yarn that's been brushed out to give a slightly fuzzy texture.
He also has happy feet.