Open for business.

When it comes to actual finished projects this month has been slow, but the good news is I finally finished the Tetris afghan! And I'm quite pleased with the results.

 

Final size came out to 48 inches by 48 inches, or 4 feet by 4 feet, and the colors with the black lining really pop! The grey edge was a last minute decision but I think I made the right one since its a throw back to the original Tetris with the grey brick border.

And now that it's done my etsy store is officially open! For now the only thing available is the Tetris afghan but I hope to have some 1-Up hats up shortly, with some more Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to follow.

Busy May

May has started out busy, but then I think every May is busy. There are lots of things going on this month, from birthdays, baptisms, weddings and conventions.

Need to get moving on the rest of the outfit.

I had hoped to finish up a little outfit for Miss Emily in time for her baptism, but time just wouldn't allow it. Instead all I've finished so far is a knit little cardigan jacket. The knit pants to go with it are about half way done, and then I'll make a matching little hat and some booties. Have to get cranking on it before she's too big to wear them.

Early in the month was a friend's birthday, and this friend just happens to love cupcakes. I had planned to make a cupcake scarf for her, but I wasn't satisfied with any of the patterns I was finding. So plan two was a crochet hat. The design was easy enough, but I really think the fluffy pink yarn works well for frosting. There was supposed to be a scalloped edging to it, but first I forgot to add it, then decided it really didn't need it. It would have been overkill.

Complete with sprinkles.

Love it.

Aaaaaand I finally made something for myself, to wear even. Our office is pretty chilly during the day and I'm tired of hoodies, so I found an extremely easy shrug pattern. It's basically a 42x38 inch rectangle you fold in half and sew up the sides leaving arm holes. The only thing I changed was to crochet 6 rounds where the arm holes are to give it some mini sleeves. It's perfect. And I love the soft fuzzy yarn, which I found in a discount bin for $2 a skein.

Started back up on the last two Hogwarts scarves I have to finish before July, they take forever so need to get going. And still working on the Tetris afghan. Need to get that done so I can get some sales going!

April's Output

Plants vs Zombies Cosplay

The Plants vs Zombies Threepeater costume I mentioned in my previous blog was a huge success at MegaCon. Our PvZ group got stopped a LOT for photos. I've managed to find around 35 individual photos of us posted online. Thanks to Howie Muzika for this one!

The costume itself held up really well all day, minor damage to the heads from putting them on and off repeatedly, but happy with the final product. :)

Animal safari.

In baby mobile news, it's done! Lion, hippo, elephant, and monkey! Took the finished animals over to the parents where Emmy's dad had structure all ready to go. All I had to do was add some little hoops to the back of each of them and he was able pop them right on. It's still a little while before Emily will be sleeping in her crib, but the mobile came out really cute!



Gabe did an awesome job building the actual mobile.



Also finally finished my Plants vs Zombies crocheted Sun Shroom I started ages ago. He's basically been sitting on a shelf for a month waiting for his spots and face. Originally planned to use him with the PvZ cosplay, but in the end didn't really need him.

He's happy to see you.

Projects I'm working on now include a knit baby outfit for Miss Emily, which I need to get done before she's too big to wear it! So far it's going well, almost done with the cardigan. Still have the pants, hat and booties to start on. And the other big project I have going is a Tetris afghan, which I'm hoping will be something for me to sell on etsy (I finally set up an etsy store!). The squares are done, all 100 of them, now its just the seaming that needs to be done. A lot of seaming.

100 squares in various colors.

Pre-MegaCon post.

Well lots to update this time!

Power up!

First of all I decided last minute to make a quick hat to wear on the first day of the con. It's an idea I've had for awhile but after the slouchy hat I made a few weeks ago I finally had a direct plan of attack to get it done.
Eventually going to make a green 1up version as well. It's a quick craft, taking just a few hours to complete, hoping this will be an etsy item eventually.

In the world of baby mobiles, it turns out I'm off the hook for one of them because the mommy to be is going to try and make it on her own. So no solar system mobile in my near future.

Roar!



The work on the jungle animal themed mobile is going well, now that all my Megacon work is finished I can concentrate on it. The cutest lion in the world is done! Saw the pattern book for this on the shelf at Michaels and fell in love with this little guy. Will probably be making more of him.

The second mobile animal, an adorable little hippo is pretty close to being done as well. Just have to make him some legs.

After the first layer dried, and the snouts are attached.

The MegaCon Threepeater costume was quite a bit of work once I got started on it, but I'm pretty pleased with the outcome. It's the first time I've ever attempted paper mache so it was a learning experience.

It started as balloons which I layered the paper mache on, and then had to wait overnight for it to dry. Once that layer was dry, I had to figure out how I was going to do the snouts. Ended up using  a few layers of different width cardboard and masking tape. Once they were attached another layer of paper mache was added.

Finished.

After another 24 hours of dry time, the first layers of paint were applied, starting with a primer, then an olive green, then a layer of neon green, with black in the mouths. I ran out of neon paint and daylight so had to wait another day before I could add a final coat of neon green, and once that was applied, some eyes. During all the wait time I went ahead and sewed the tunic, rope covers, and leaves for the rest of the costume.

Once I was sure things were dry, they were brought inside where I could cut a circle out of the main head piece and apply some thin black fabric instead so I would be able to see out the center of the snout. The last thing I had to craft were the leaves coming out the back of the heads.

Overall I think the costume is a success. Hopeully after the con I can update a good photo of the entire thing.




Turtle power!

The last update I have is on the turtles! The project started on a whim, as a gift idea, and they ended up coming out really nice. There have even been offers of purchase from friends who have seen them and fell in love. Given the response I will probably try and make these an etsy item as well.

The turtles themselves are crocheted, with felt ninja masks, and weapons sculpted from Sculpy. Not that experienced sculpting so I could use some practice but they came out pretty decent. I used a silver paint marker to color the blades, and a bit of necklace chain from the nunchucks. 

Backsides.

Working on lots, finishing nothing.

So I don't have any finished projects to report, but I have been busy.

MegaCon is less than three weeks away. The Puff Shroom is done, and the Sun Shroom is mostly done, he just needs his spots and face. I have materials for my planned Plants vs Zombies Threepeater costume, but actual construction has yet to begin. Hoping to knock that out this coming weekend.

The other project I want to finish for MegaCon is coming along. They will be a gift for a friend who I'll be seeing at the con. Hopefully you can tell by the picture where I'm going with this.

Heroes in a half shell?

Work has also started on the commissioned baby mobile. Found the cutest patterns for little safari animals, which is the nursery theme. Just have to make adjustments to the patterns so the critters come out a little smaller, may need to go out and pick up some new hooks, since the smallest I have is a F.

Cutest lion ever?

In an odd coincidence, another friend's sister emailed her asking if I could make a baby mobile of the solar system for their soon to be baby girl. Considering I've never made baby mobiles before, the two requests in under two weeks amuses me.

Born Again

Well I'm reinventing my blog once again. This time strictly as a crafting journal, since I'm getting more and more buried within crafting projects.

First up, I finished my first Plants vs Zombies related project today. I present to you Mr. Puff Shroom.

Plants vs Zombies crochet - Puff Shroom

He took me roughly two days. I'm pretty pleased with the results, considering I had to make the pattern up as I went. I did make notes, so perhaps I will release the pattern later on, but at the very least I'll be reusing it and refining it in the near future because I want to make a Sun Shroom next.

Both shrooms will hopefully be used at the end of March as part of our MegaCon cosplay for Sunday. But first I have to make my costume. More on that later.

In other news, dear friends of mine have commissioned my help in making a mobile for their soon to be born baby. Again, more on that later. :)