Yeah!!!! I went to Japantown this weekend and I got an amigurumi book!! I got one of the Amigurumi Collection books!! I'm so excited!! (I thought I'd have to get one from Amazon.com, Japan, and I wasn't very excited about that prospect, having to pay $27 for the book, plus $15 for shipping, then I'd have to wait like 2 months!! No thanks! I think driving an hour and walking around Japantown is way more fun. Oh and did I mention that the book was only $16.50? I'm so stoked!!) I got vol. 3. The bookstore didn't have vol. 1. That's the one I really wanted. Vol. 2 didn't look as exciting at vol.3. But! I now know where to go for when I want another. And yes, it is all in Japanese. But luckily, I understand charts, so it's working out well. Except, I don't really know what exactly I'm making, piece wise that is. Like the head and body of the bunny I'm making for example; they are both about 22 to 27 rows high, but the head was 60 stitches at it's widest point, and the body is 32, or so. So I figure, once I get this first project made, I think I can figure out what the symbols are for head, body, arms and legs. Then lets hope I can figure out what the other little symbols are. Like "nose" and "tail." Please keep your fingers crossed for me. Maybe I'll get a Japajnese/English dictionary. I've wanted to learn Japanese for about 5 years now, mabye I should learn it now. Then, maybe I can help others!!! Happy thoughts, lusious marriment, and much obsessive yarning!!

Oh Oh!! I finished my bear that I was making for my friend for her baby shower, I'm not sure if I'm totally stoked on it, I think he looks a little funny, but everyone else says it's cute, so.... but here it is, let me know what you think.

Here's Bubby-bear....

And here's the progress on his arm! YAY for me!

Good day! Hope all is well! I'm very excited! I think I may start a Happy Hookers' Stitch 'n' Bitch! There's this chica at my local coffee shop who is always got yarn in her hands, well at least all winter anyways. Our summers get pretty warm. But I've never had the nerve to introduce myself. Well, finally, the other day she was having coffee with a friend of mine and knitting a sweater (from the Stitch 'n' Bitch Nation) and I finally got the nerve. With that, I also asked if she would be interested in maybe yarning together. She said yes! I've actually always been a bit intimidated by her. She just seems like some one I wouldn't want to piss off. :^D:^I

At any rate, I thought she had been knitting for years (she's been crocheting since she was 6)! But as it turns out, only a few months. And when I asked her if she would be interested in starting a group or stitch 'n' bitch, [I was feeling a little stupid, trendy or something, and being as that this coffee shop is very trendy for not being trendy, it's home to local punk crowd (hmm, funny now that I think about it) I just felt silly.] But she taught herself how to knit with the book, "Stitch 'n' Bitch." So I didn't feel so silly! :D yay!

I was also telling her that I was feeling the need to craft with other women, well other people. (Hey if a dude wants to yarn and subject himself to a bunch of women in one room, he is more than welcome! I'd like to see how long he'd last. haha!!) And she said she was feeling the same need! Plus she has a friend that's just starting to knit and getting frustrated, and another friend that knows how to make socks! And I think socks are the coolest things! They're part of the reason I learned to knit! So!! All in all, I'm very excited! I used to yarn with a bunch of ladies when I first learned to crochet, but that was years ago, and I sorely miss it. And not all of us were yarning either. Some were drawing, some were playing hand drums (it's always nice to have some music going). We even had a couple kids with us (mom was yarning) and they were working on whatever project they had going, whether it was school related or not....it was really fun. I think it was just that sense of community, maybe a sense of belonging that I enjoyed so much.

I don't know about any of you folks, but I feel silly yaring in public. Sometimes (don't ask me why I care so much about what others think of me, it's something I'm working on getting over) I wonder what people are thinking about me. If people just think I'm poor, or I need attention, or if they think 'Right on! Keep the tradition alive. I didn't know anyone did that anymore.'

So I think having a group will make me feel better. I don't really know of many people near me that yarn. So I'm thinking of making a little flyer to put up at the coffee house for any and all to come join us in making handmades! :^D Hopefully, it will be beneficial for more than just me!!

Yeah for Crafts!!!!

Oh and I've started on another gurumi. It's going to be a little bear for my pregger friend. But I have to make two 'cause her daughter is 4. Plus the siblings will be sharing a room, which I think is going to be Hawaiian Surf theme, so I'm thinking I can do two of the same tyrp of bear, one bigger and one smaller, and then make like some shorts for the little boy bear, and maybe like a little pink sundress for big girl bear. But so far so good with the first bear. And I even started to write down my pattern, but then I left my paper upstairs, and I was too lazy to go up and get it, so I only got the head written down. But! That's a start! I'll at least know where to begin the next one! Well ok! I've talked enough! Until next time, good thoughts, lusious merriment, and obsessive yarning! Ciao

So here I am, totally obsessed with amigurumi and I haven't even talked about the woman that got me to be so obsessed. Elisabeth Doherty from Gourmet Amigurumi. Here's the like to her place. http://www.gourmetamigurumi.com/main.htm

Her work is absolutely breathtaking. It was the first site I had come upon when searching for amigurumi. (I had found and article about amigurimis in Vouge's knit.1 mag.) She truely is the bomb and what she does. I do know that she sells them on flicker (or however it's spelled). But if you have the time, it will be well worth checking out!! Especially the details. The smallest details make the BIGGEST difference! Well anyways, just thought I'd let you all know how I came about to be so Amigurumi Obsessed.

Ok, here she is, Ms. Nice. If you've reached me from Amigurumi-Along, then you already know what's up. I'm really excited that I finished a project with a, mmmm, month. That's good. But as before, I can't say I'm exactly pleased. I think she's alright for my first gurumi. But I obviously have some things I need to work on. Her arms are different lengths, I didn't get them even, and I'm a very symetrical person, so it really bugs me. Her feet look funny and her head is way floppy, too much hair.

Ahh, the hair. I really don't suggest doing this. It looks pretty cool, but the twisting and the twisting and the twisting...... well, I just couldn't take it anymore. I had to stop working on her for awhile. I had finished everything but her hair, so the fact that I wasn't into anymore twisting, kinda put her on hold for a minute. Or a week. Or maybe two weeks. But she's complete now. She's not perfect, but I think I know what to do better next time. I've got just the tiniest beginings of a new friend. His name is Me-mo.

I guess I should explain the pictures a littl better.... I'm almost done with Nice. Yeah!!!! I can't wait! The hair is taking so long. I like the way it looks, I just don't really care for the process. Oh well, such is life. But blogging isn't getting her hair done. So off to obsessive yarning!!! Ciao

And here's her face. I'm very proud of it. I've never done embroidery before! :^D

Here's the back. It may look like a lot, but it's still a bit sparse.

Ahhh, a nice clean kitchen. I even have a clean floor!! I don't like to mop, but I sure love a clean floor. What is that? What is it about cleanliness that makes us feel so good? But I have to admit, I HATE to clean. My house is almost always in shambles, at least to my standards anyways. But oh well. I got the kitchen done and I got one out 3 bathrooms taken care of. Oh and I vacuumed!! So actually I accomplished a lot today (for me that is)!!

So I'm almost done with my first amigurumi, Pinky. For some strange reason I decided to listen to my brother and give her 'hair.' Boy what a mistake that was! I'm going to be sitting here forever trying to give her a full head of hair!! Oh well, the next one I make will be a little easier than this one. But for the most part I'm pretty pleased with Pinky.

I have a girlfriend (no she's not MY girlfriend, I'm in a hetro marriage) who's going to have a baby in about 3 months. Her shower is April 1st, so I have less than a month to make a baby blanket and a bear! And I have no idea what colors to use. I hate that. Hey! Does anybody else feel like a major dork when they want to make a gift for someone? I'm always wondering, is it good enough? Is it going to last, is it going to fall apart? Is the person going to like it, or are they just going to blow smoke up my...., well I'm sure you get the picture.

And I still feel a bit silly posting my thoughts, but I guess if you don't like them, you just won't read on, or you'll tell me I'm silly, but regardless, I still feel dorky. So I think that's it. I really don't have much else to say. But, remember, happy thoughts, lusious merriment, and much happy(obsessive) yarning!

Ciao for now!