September Recap

Recap:

Read:
1. Fallen by Karen Kate
2. Iron King by Julie Kagawa
3. The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher
4. Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
5. Kawaii Japan by Marceline Smith
6. Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
7. A Home for Her Heart by Janet Lee Barton
8. Itazura Na Kiss manga volume 1 by Kaoru Tada

Crafts:
1. Pumpkin drawstring bag
2. Kero amigurumi
3. Moogle amigurumi
4. Balthier amigurumi
5. Spider amigurumi
6. Cactuar amigurumi
7. Pumpkin bunny amigurumi

What's next for October? Hmm....not sure. Possibly more fall crafts or an early start on Christmas crafts!

Until next time >____<

Pumpkin Bunny Amigurumi

Pattern: Spring bunny by All About Ami
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft bone, green and orange
Hook: size H
Notions: 6mm safety eyes and black felt
Start/Finish: 9/27-28/2014

With pumpkins and fall weather on the brain yet again, I decided to stitch up a bunny dressed up for Halloween as a pumpkin. Isn't she cute?

I learned a new technique while making this amigurumi, the buttonhole stitch. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be!

I hope you are enjoying some lovely fall weather and crafting up all sorts of fun things for the season.

Until next time >___<

September Skoshbox

I received my September skoshbox earlier this month, but decided to save it for the end of the month to sample in order to give my coworkers a much needed pick-me-up.

They have changed up the information card this month with photos of each item. This is a great idea especially if you have several items of the same flavor in a package.

I thought for sure that I would have a non-melted box since it came in the mail on Saturday and I was able to grab it before the heat set in. So much for that idea, the Pocky in this package was still melted together. I'm convinced it is because it ships from Hawaii which means it is in transit for several days and in crazy conditions at various mailing centers. Sadness for future skoshboxes!!

Favorites: (in order)
1. Mint chocolate Pocky: how can you go wrong with Pocky? Well, maybe if you don't like mint flavored chocolate. Fortunately, I love mint and chocolate so I'm a big fan of this flavored Pocky. I wish the Asian markets in town sold other flavors besides the basic chocolate, strawberry, or almond crush. Maybe I can conceive Amanda to keep a lookout for this flavor while she's out and about in CA!

2. Mario Chocolate Crisp: (chocolate baked wheat puffs) Have you guys ever eaten wheat puff cereal? I remember it as a kid. It was one of the few cereals our grandfather would eat and my sister and I came to love it too. These chocolate crisps are amazing. Wheat puffs covered in chocolate...yummy tastebuds all around!

3. Pizza Umaibo: (pizza puffed corn snack) Yet again, I haven't had a flavor of this snack that I've disliked so far. This pizza flavor is no exception. If you see it at your local Asian market, go ahead and pick it up because you won't be disappointed.

4. Macadamia Nut Oreo Bar: Finally an oreo treat that hadn't melted yet! This oreo barely made it on my favorites list.....it was saved by the sheer fact that it was an oreo. Otherwise, I couldn't taste the macadamia nut. I think perhaps if it was a bigger bar I might have been able to taste the difference with the macadamia nuts.

5. Dragon Ball Gum: (fruity bubble gum) Just your basic gum, but with Dragon Ball Z wrappers. They would definitely make good party favors for those who love Dragon Ball.

Questionable: (in order)

1. Matcha Look Adult Series: (crispy green tea chocolate) This little bar wasn't terrible, but its consistency reminded me of the green tea Kit Kats. I guess I'm not a fan of textured green tea in sweets.

2. Haihain Baby Veggie: (vegetable crackers) Yet again, not bad, but there was hardly any taste to these crackers. It would be something I would eat if someone gave it to me, but I've had better senbei. 

Dislikes:

1. Utility Truck Ramune Candy: I'm sure if it's just me, but so far none of the 'ramune' candies have tasted like ramune. To make this one even worst, it was grape flavored ramune. Ugh....gross! And the whole 'blow through the hole to whistle' gimmick didn't deliver with this candy. You could make a noise with this candy, but it wasn't a whistle.

I can't wait until next month's package. I wonder if they will include any Halloween packaged items or fall flavored goodies!!! Until next time ^____^

Autumn Butterfly

Look what was in my aunt's doorway this morning....

Isn't it gorgeous?! I hope it is okay. I picked it up gently and moved it over to a flowerpot. Definitely not normal butterfly behavior.

Thank you for sharing your beauty with me,  little butterfly.

Until next time >___<

Cactuar Amigurumi - 1000 Needle Attack!

Pattern: Cactuar by Byakko's Corner

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft green

Hook: size H
Notions: black felt
Start/Finish: 9/22-23/2014

Cactuar attack!!! My sister laughed when she saw this fun amigurumi.

Until next time >___<

First Day of Autumn

The first day of autumn hasn't disappointed us with warm temperatures this year. I woke up to 60 degree weather! Absolutely fantastic!

Enjoy the first day of autumn everyone!!

Until next time >____<

Balthier Bunny #2

I had an urge earlier this week to stitch up another Balthier bunny since the last one I made sold last year at Artwalk. I had to wait to finish him up yesterday as I had to get some notions at HB along with wire for the moogle.

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft silver sparkle and navy sparkle

Hook: size H

Notions: 9mm safety eyes, brass colored gears, and felt heart

Start/Finish: 9/14-15 & 20/2014

I love this little bunny. He's so charming with his gears and scarf.

Until next time >____<

FF Moogle Amigurumi

I've wanted to make this pattern for a while and finally got around to it this week. I was able to finish it up yesterday after a trip to HB for wire to secure the red bobble on the moogle's head.

Pattern: Moogle by Amy
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft black, iris, red, and white
Hook: size H
Notions: memory wire in medium gauge
Start/Finish: 9/18-20/2014

At first I thought the pattern would make a smaller moogle, but I used a different size hook so it came out to a decent sized plushie.

I think next time I will look for a different pattern for the wings as they aren't very detailed in this pattern.

I ended up using some e6000 to keep the wire from swirling around the head, which worked well.

Until next time >____<

Birthday Package

Hi, everyone! I received a birthday package from Amanda last month, but never got around to posting about it. Even though my birthday was in June, Amanda waited to send it later because she wanted to include goodies from SDCC 2014.

She got me two books from Brian Kesinger's artist table at SDCC as my main gift. He is a fabulous steampunk artist who is known for his tea girl illustrations.  Amanda got me his Walking Your Octopus and the companion coloring book. She even got them signed!!!

She got me lots of posters, buttons, and excerpt booklets for upcoming novels as freebies from SDCC.

Also included in the package was some lovely Sentimental Circus stationery in a watercolor pattern, an adorable bunny magnetic page marker, and some crochet goodies, a button and a yarn ball brooch by All About Ami. She even made me a mini multicolored star amigurumi brooch. I have added it to the little bunny amigurumi brooch she made last year.

The card and notes in the package were handmade and featured kawaii pandas. I love the colors of the cards!

Thank you darling for all the goodies!

Until next time >____<

Farewell Party and Chill Pills

One of my coworkers is transferring to another department.  We held a surprise pancake party for him in honor of his transfer. I will miss his crazy humor and all around good cheer, but I know that the next department will benefit from his expertise.

I took a picture of the banner that was made for his party.

As a parting gift, he gave us some wisdom for the grueling months ahead and something quite funny, a bottle of chill pills in cases of emergency. 

Front of Bottle

Back of Bottle

These bottles were a great parting gift though he needn't give us anything. I have mine sitting on my desk at work. Hopefully I won't need it anytime soon!

Wishing my coworker lots of good luck at his new job!

Until next time >____<