It's cherry season!

I'm really glad I live in BC... the Okanagan is famous for its cherry trees.  Actually, it's famous for fruit trees in general.  There are several farms there dedicated to the "pick-your-own (insert fruit here)" business.  One year, we actually went down there to a cherry farm to pick the cherries ourselves.  The thing I remember most was while I was industriously picking cherries (and not eating many of them), my dad was eating more of them than he picked!  I suppose he was smarter than me - after all, they charge you based on how many pounds of cherries you pick, not how many pounds you eat.  Though I suspect eating more than you pick is rather frowned upon.

To celebrate cherry season, I managed to write my own pattern for a small crochet cherry.  He seems rather happy - probably because he knows he won't get eaten!  

(Please excuse the loose ends!  I was in a hurry to get the photo taken before we devoured the cherries in the background)

Materials:
2.5mm hook
Bernat Satin Sport in Rouge
Red Heart Super Saver (Worsted/Medium) in Tea Leaf.

6 mm safety eyes
Small amount of polyfill

Waves inspi' Diane

Well, I finally worked up the energy to make a bracelet.  It's a little big.  Originally, it was more symmetrical, but turned out lopsided at the end because it was getting way too big.  I may make something in warmer colors in the future but I rather like these shades.

The link to the inspiration for this project is here.  I made some alterations and used a 7 mm spring ring & jump ring combination as the fastener because I wanted something a little more secure.

Materials:
Small hook - doesn't have size labelled but it's smaller than 2.00 mm
Assorted yarns in different colors.
7 mm spring ring and jump ring (nickel plated)
Craft rings - assorted sizes (I got mine at Zellers in the area where they sell crochet hooks/knitting needles/sewing supplies - I've also seen them at Walmart).

Dress inspi' 100 layer cake

I first saw this on Craftzine before going out to check the 100 Layer Cake blogsite.

It's an amazing dress... I can't imagine the amount of work it would take to make that. But someday I want one. Time to save up for endless balls of cotton thread! And a dress for underneath it (I can use a sewing machine but I'm not THAT good).

Tonari no Totoro~ Totoro~

You know how people collect stamps, or coins, or spoons? Well... I kind of collect Totoros. I have giant squishy ones the size of my torso, and tiny ones that dangle off keychains. I like the little sootballs too (they appear in both "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Spirited Away"). They squeak and eat kompeito. Kompeito is pretty to look at and play with - imagine colored miniature candy shaped like a bumpy ball - but as it's just plain sugar, the taste bores me after awhile.

Anyway! Back to Totoro. It's copyrighted by Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki. The three Totoros are the big fluffy grey one, the smaller blue one and the tiny white one(s). A while back, my friend SK made me a little white fellow from white yarn. I think him giving me the small Totoro motivated me to start learning crochet - and my mom was kind enough to teach me.  I'm terrible at knitting, or maybe I just didn't practice enough.

The little white guy was a gift, and the blue Totoro is a work in progress. I have batting but not polyfill so I haven't stuffed him, sewed him up and given him eyes.

Pattern Credit:

heavens-hellcat LJ

Materials:

2.5 mm hook

1 skein of Patons Astra in Dark Denim (the color isn't great in the photo because of the light) - 1 skein is enough to make everything from the pattern except the tail.

1 skein = 147 m (161 yds)

A little of Patons Astra in White for the belly & eyes (not shown).

9 mm doll eyes (not shown)

Care Instructions (for Patons Astra):

• Machine wash COOL temperature, delicate cycle.
• Machine dry at LOW heat setting or lay flat to dry
• Do not bleach or press
• Do not dry clean