The French Alphabet

Pattern: Grand Abecedaire freebie by Gazette94
Fabric: 32ct cream Belfast linen by Wichelt
Threads: DMC 498 and B5200
Start/Finish: 11/27-28/2013

I've been on the hunt through my stash of cross stitch magazines for a pattern that I made last year, but I seem to have given the magazine away. Don't you hate that? You think you'll never need a pattern again and that's when you need it.

Browsing online for a beautiful alphabet pattern, I ran across Gazette94's Grand Abecedaire pattern. The letters are accompanied by white leaves!

Check out her blog for more free patterns. Sadly, she no longer posts on her blog, but she has left the site up for others to enjoy all the patterns!

Until next time ^____^

Sherlock Geeky Treasure Find!

Last weekend I went by Meg's Books on Moffett Road. I hadn't been by there in a while and thought I'd go by to browse and see what I could find amongst the stacks. And hark! what did I find but a copy of Eve Titus' Basil of Baker Street. I've been hoping to find a copy of this book in one of the used bookstores in town, but hadn't any luck until now.

Eve Titus was a children's author in the mid-20th century. The first book in her Basil series was published in 1958. It continued with four more books that ended with Basil in the Wild West in 1982.

As you can tell from the picture, Basil of Baker Street was the basis for Disney's Great Mouse Detective (one of my faves!). I remember watching it as a kid, but never realized until I was older that is was based on Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series.

The books feature the black and white illustrations of Paul Galdone in a beautiful soft style.

The style of illustration reminds of one of my favorite children's series growing up, the Redwall series of books written by Brian Jacques.

Perhaps one day I'll be able to find all the Basil series of books! It would be lovely to own an original!

Until next time ^___^

Starting them out early on PBS/BBC

I saw this at Target and had to take a pic of it. Who would have thought that someone would write a kids book inspired by Downton Abbey using mice? I guess kids are never to young to get started on a life long love affair with history in general or period dramas on PBS/BBC.

Until next time ^___^

A Fearsome Beastie!

Or at least he is supposed to be a fearsome beastie, but this cthulhu is too adorable for his own good. I fear he will be laughed at by his fellow cthulhus.....

Pattern: Cthulhu by Rural Rebellion
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Limelight
Hook: Size H
Notions: 10mm safety eyes
Start/Finish: 11/24-25/2013

I think Rural Rebellion is right....this cthulhu is certainly cuddly and snuggly! I loved expanding my crochet skills with this pattern....especially those wings!

And...............I used a new hook for this pattern. I've been eyeballing (gross!) these hooks for a while now and I finally broke down and bought this one.....

A size H soft touch crochet hook from Clover. I wanted to get one of the colored handle ones, but in that line of hooks they don't have a size H so I went with their standard hooks instead.

LOVE THIS HOOK TO PIECES! It makes stitching so much easier in a weird way and it doesn't put stress on your hands and wrists like the normal aluminum hooks do. I love it so much that I went out and bought the size G hook while I was at HB over the weekend.......I might just have to start a collection of them. They are fantastic!

Until next time ^____^

Sir Octavius Telescopium

Pattern: Mister Adorable Fox by Amigurumi To Go and Mini Stars by MohuMohu
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft pumpkin, white, lemon, and strawberry and I Love This Yarn black
Notions: metal gears, black and pink felt, and 12mm safety eyes
Hook: size H for fox and size G for yellow star/size H for larger star
Start/Finish:11/16-17/2013

Growing up with the name Telescopium, no other career path seemed to fit more than that of an astronomer. Sir Octavius is a friend of Sir Maxwell and they frequent several scientific circles in pursuit of their research.

Until next time ^____^

Puffy Moon Spirit....

Say what? More small amigurumis that I have made this month. A puffy pink Kirby, a SM Luna P ball, and Totoro, an adorable tree spirit :)

The Kirby and Luna P were made using a sphere pattern and a combo of other patterns to make the arms/legs/ears. The little tiny Totoro is from Amigurumi To Go! My mother has been bugging me to make her a Totoro since she finally saw the movie so I just might have to make another mini Totoro for her as a stocking stuffer!

Until next time ^____^

In the Name of the Moon!

Pattern: Sailor Moon by Bellis1282
Yarn: Caron Simply soft red, country blue, white, off white, and lemon
Notions: 6mm safety eyes, red and yellow felt and red and yellow DMC thread
Hook: size G or H
Start/Finish: 11/23-24/2013

The SM fans in my audience will love the geekiness of this amigurumi! I had fun making her...she is a cutie......and as you can tell I'm a big SM fan myself with all those DVDs in the background >O<

I would love to make the entire Inner/Outer sensei and Tuxedo Mask.....what a task that would be?!?!?!?

Until next time ^____^

Gifts for Coworkers

Good afternoon everyone! I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. No worries, I've just been crafting up a storm with some resin work, crochet, and cross stitching this month.

Earlier this week, I gave one of my coworkers her Christmas gifts as I wanted her to be able to enjoy them during the month of December.

LOL Don't you love it when Blogger decides to upload your images in odd ways? Anywho, I gave her a resin bracelet and pendant that I made using resin and Christmas colored sprinkles. I also found a cute sticky notepad at Target in their dollar section. Perfect for spreading holiday cheer in the office! Not pictured was a Starbucks mug/chocolate mix set.

For my other coworker, I made two Mario themed amigurumis that I plan to attach to keychains. I had given him a bob-omb amigurumi earlier and thought to add to his collection with two more video game themed ones for Christmas. I hope to get some candy or something else to fill out his gift bag :)

The mushroom amigurumi is from Wolfdreamer's pattern and the fire flower is from Penelope's Let's All Get Knitfaced blog. The fire flower tested my skill at learning a new technique in crochet, the semi-circle. It isn't hard, but I'm so used to stitching in the round that I get nervous doing anything else >___<

I really hope my coworker likes his new amigurumis! Video gamers UNITE!

Until next time ^___^

Artwalk Thank You!

Kristina and I were out last night at Mobile's monthly Artwalk. We would like to thank everyone who came by to chat with us and look over our crafts and goodies!

We lucked out on the weather. It was cold, but not too cold......we'll be in for a shock next month.....brrrrr......

Until next time ^____^

Fall Celebration

Our autumn/Halloween display this year. The amigurumis on the Halloween tree are a combination of my own and a few that my dear Amanda has sent me.

Until next time ^___^

Bring Your Ami To Work Friday - Part 6

While I was working, Sir Maxwell was taking a break from his research on dirigibles for aquatic creatures. He insists on having tea on his breaks! I'll take some tea.....but it must be boba tea!

Until next time ^____^

Squirrel Pinkeep

This is the pinkeep that I made for Constance's Halloween/autumn package. I used burgundy braid, green pearlized pins, and an autumn leaves fabric.

Until next time ^____^

Halloween Packages!!

I sent my annual Halloween packages out to my friends in California and Canada. Here's what I sent this year:

To Amanda I sent candy, Halloween/autumn buttons and ribbon, cupcake liner/picks, a cute door hanger, Make It magazine and a raccoon plushie. The raccoon was actually made from a pattern in the magazine ;)

To Constance, my fellow cross stitcher, I sent cross stitch magazines and little kits including a lovely fleur-de-lis pattern I got while in New Orleans at The Quarter Stitch store. I also sent candy, Halloween/autumn buttons and ribbon, and a scented candle in a ceramic owl. I made the JBW squirrel cross stitch design into a pinkeep.

I'm glad you girls liked all the goodies!

Until next time ^____^

Halloween 2013

Our tribute to the original 1960s Dark Shadows and Barnabas Collins!

October Recap

Recap:

Read:
1. People of the Mist by H.R. Haggard

Crafts:
1. Christmas puppy amigurumi
2. Two candy corn amigurumis
3. Nine-tail fox amigurumi
4. Kirby amigurumi
5. Goomba amigurumi
6. Maxwell, steampunk octopus amigurumi
7. Mistletoe amigurumi
8. Christmas mouse amigurumi
9. Kawaii Christmas light bulb amigurumi
10. Gingerbread amigurumi
11. Christmas cupcake amigurumi
12. Raccoon feltie plush

Finishes:
1. French Squirrel pinkeep