Shining, Gleaming, Streaming, Flaxen, Waxen!

This mermaid is ready for some fun in the sun with her wonderful blue hair!
Find her at Craftelina

I've never been much for crocheting humanoids. Recently, however, I was working on a project and I wanted to add some hair. So I find myself with the question: Straight? Curly? Long? Short? Blonde/brunette/pink/purple/etc? I had to get on Etsy for some research! I found some great examples of crocheted hair. 

Fire up your flat iron and hit the jump for some more fabulous 'dos!

Newest Experiment: Dragon!

My newest crocheted friend

I was wandering my local craft store when I found this wonderful skein of Caron Simply Soft yarn in the clearance aisle. It had beautiful shades of brown and flecks of light blue. I immediately thought of a calico cat, but after I got home with it and started on a head and body, it was clear something else was emerging. Was it a dinosaur? An alligator? No, I as the rows went on it was clear--I had a dragon on my hands.

Googly "frog eyes" blend in nicely with the addition of eyelids and I had a great time arranging and re-arranging different sizes of head and tail spikes until I got what I wanted. Getting mirrored wings was also a difficulty, but I think it worked out nicely.

He is by far the largest amigurumi project I have ever attempted, and I had a blast with the details. The mouth, teeth, wings, spikes, even the edging on the belly was a treat to create! He has a big, white belly and I keep imagining ways to embellish it. I'm thinking maybe I'll embroider some beads on it in the shape of a flame. I want to find new ways to integrate crochet with other crafts!

Hit the jump for some more photos. Don't expect him in my shop any time soon... I think I have to hold onto him for a while.

Rat-a-Tat-Tat (Part Two)

This beautiful ceramic shuttle comes from Sumiko 2

There's nothing that will draw me to a craft faster than the equipment. I can't get into things that involve big, computerized, expensive pieces of furniture. However, if it involves a small, analog piece of metal, wood, plastic, porcelain, etc. I can certainly get my interest up. The easier it can fit in my pocket, the better!

So since I've been on the trail of tatting recently, I thought I would share some of the beautiful tatting shuttles I found in my searches.

Tatting originated in England over 200 years ago and can be accomplished with various types of shuttles and needles (more info). I think this warrants a trip to my local public library!

Rat-a-Tat-Tat (Part One)

This is not your grandmother's doily! Find it at Shop Gift

I learned to tat when I was in middle school. I managed a few flowers, but never something as large as a doily. I think my pre-teen hands lacked the requisite coordination for the miraculously delicate feats I wanted to accomplish. Luckily, ten years or so later, I discovered crochet. Now I think I might try to get back on to tatting. We can't let this art die out! 

Hit the jump for some tiny, delicate, intricate, tatted wonders!

May is Lupus Awareness Month

Find these appliques at Jumping Birds

May is Lupus Awareness Month! Wear purple this Friday (May 18) in support of lupus awareness. The symbol of lupus awareness in the purple butterfly so I thought how better to increase awareness than crochet? Check out the Lupus Awareness Foundation website for more details about wearing purple this Friday: http://www.lupus.org/newsite/pages/lupus-awareness-month.html

What is SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)?
SLE is an autoimmune disease that affects  more than 150,000 people in the US, 90% of whom are women. It can present in a multitude of ways affecting multiple organ systems. New treatments are available, but people with SLE still have a shortened life expectancy and the side effects of treatment can affect their quality of life (more info here).

Check out some beautiful purple butterflies for inspiration. Make something today and wear it on Friday!

Wear one in your hair! This hair pin comes from Sophine Glam

Simplicity in a hair clip from Twisted Ribbons

Make an applique and add it to your outfit! This one is from  Amri Grove

Apology Pig: Mother's Day Edition

Om nom...mom? This chomping piglet comes from Fat Animals

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day! Whether you're a mother or not, you can certainly appreciate this pig's adorable lips! I guess if I were a guinea pig I would think fresh flowers were a great Mother's Day brunch.

More posts on the way!