Hoop it up!

Yeah, I know it's awesome! A crochet covered hula hoop. I used random bits of yarn that I had around and went to Home Depot where I found a ten foot length of 3/4" tubing and a 1/2 " coupling to make it a hoop. I reinforced the seam with some duct tape. The crocheted tube is open where the ends meet and it will stay in place with use. If you are interested in hula hooping or making your own hoop there are so many great resources out there. Many of which I just found by googling "hula hoop."

Now, I just need to practice hooping now that I finally have a hoop : )

Greetings!

Here are my most recent creations and deviations. I took my shorter amigurumi and lengthened it as well as adding greater personality. Each of these crocheted friends have their own books telling you more about them. They are posted in my etsy shop- www.fuzfrenzy.etsy.com.

Drixa the Relephant is a mix between elephant and rat.

Beau is a battalo with parts bat and buffalo.

Gaius is a cametan, mostly camel with some orangutan.

Mingo is a walruog, part walrus and part prairie dog.

This was something I whipped up today on my day off. I have some round travel tea tins and I thought it would be cute to put a drawing on both sides of the tin. Then I had to make a cozy critter to tote it around in. The eyes are clasps as well and it has a keychain loop.

I haven't written about books in a while, but I still am excited about them. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is wonderful! It has superb illustrations and a top knotch story that any one will enjoy. Lady Friday by Garth Nix caught me off guard when I saw it yesterday. I wasn't supposed to come out until March and the email alerts still treat it like it is still 3 weeks away! It is in the Keys to the Kingdom series by Nix. I am re-reading all of the Harry Potter books in anticipation for the release of the 7th book on July 21st. We are doing discussion groups at my bookstore each month before the release and we're going to have the best Harry Potter Party ever!

Sock Monkey Cup Cozy

This unique cup cozy is for Kelly. It was crocheted out of acrylic yarn making it machine washable. Enjoy!

Fall Catch Up

Though technically it is still summer until the end of this week. It still feels like fall-windy, cool, rainy. Here are some of my recent projects. Enjoy!

amigurumi gremlin named heliodrop

amigurumi gremlin named ishtar

amigurumi monkey named pinky

handmade book

Odds 'n' Ends

I have been up to a lot, but am lacking in photos at this point to express it all. One project I have finished for someone is a rabbity bag seen here. It is crocheted from handspun yarn that has also been dyed by me. The rabbits were cut from felted wool and felted more after they were attached to the bag. There is even sparkley fiber mixed in with the hadspun that makes it feel kinda like Easter grass.

I thought I would break out these blank book pics I had from about a year and a half ago. They were part of a batch of journals that someone had requested. They have sketchbook paper on the inside and the covers are acid free board covered with my handmade paper. The spines are open so that the stitching can be enjoyed. Additionally there is a treat of envelopes present throughout the little books for storing memories and things.

Custom Shelled Pademelon and Kiwi-rabbit Friend

The assignment: a rodent-like creature with a pouch.

The solution: a Pademelon and to make it more interesting I added a shell. I researched marsupials on wikipedia and was surprised by how many there are. I have to confess that I got the shell idea from a book I was reading this week while I was coming up with ideas for the Pandemelon. The series is that of Abadazad by JM DeMatteis and Mike Ploog. This is what happens when a comic book gets grabbed by Disney and published by Hyperion. No that its a bad thing. It's quite unlike anything else as it mixes diary with comic book. Each page is full of color and exquisitely done.

Anyway...I figured that the little guy could use a little companion so I started him as a Kiwi and though he would be interested with rabbit ears and a fluffy tail. And there you have it, my thought process.

Spiderwing Custom Freeform Crochet Shawl

Alas Sarah's shawl is finished!

I freeform crocheted a shawl for Sarah aka haptotrope on Etsy from some of her grandma's yarn. And here is the end result.

Another fun thing is this cute little traveler I crocheted up one afternoon and then spent another evening crocheting the little platyus for him.

Books!
I recently met the authors of Revenge of the Shadow King when they stopped into my bookstore. Derek Benz and Jon Lewis were great and I got a signed copy of their book and a signed poster! Anyway the book is an interesting blend of role playing, templars and fascinating beasts.
Charlie Bone and the Hidden King is the fifth installment in the series by Jenny Nimmo. She keeps you entranced to the very end and leaves some fresh questions in your mind making you ready for more, if there is more...

Order & Chaos

Here's a little cute bag I whipped up this week. It is a bag about the size of a magazine with a really long strap. The intensely bright colors bring a smile to my face when I look at it. And for some reason the cluster that wraps around the bottom reminds me of embryos. Wierd, huh? Enjoy : )

I have been crafty, though I haven't been good at blogging. Here are some items that I have been working on.

A cute little practical messenger bag with sea-type fabric lining with strong corderoy outsides. This is a comfy bag that slings over your shoulder will to go anywhere. The fishes were a last minute decision that I really enjoy.

This haphazard looking thing is still mid project and is an Etsy alchemy item. It is actually a freeform crochet shawl that measures 4x2 feet and will be 6x3 feet soon. There are great textures amid the mosaic of color.

Handmade book. Ahhh, quite enjoyable. This book is completely handmade from the paper to the string that binds it. I formed all of the sheets of paper and spun up the wool for the string. I dyed it all in my kitchen and the petals are cherry tree blossoms from spring 2005.

Another fun carroty thing I made up after I was inspired by the yarn project was this hat. Not having spun much cotton before, I wanted to know how it would handle being crocheted as a single ply yarn from the ginned form. So here's how it looks. I do enjoy the soft, light feel of cotton yarn. The cotton fibers are shorter than most other fibers which can create their own challenges.

BOOKS!!!

Okay, so here's what I've been reading...Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan--Excellent modern look at a kid's involvement with Greek gods. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak--The tale of a girl in Nazi Germany narrated by Death. Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins--Gregor the Overlander is a great character who accidently becomes a hero in the Underland. Flyte by Angie Sage--Book 2 in the Septimus Heap trilogy. It is a fun story with fascinating twists.

Custom Carroty Yarn

I spun up some carroty yarn for an Etsy Alchemy thingie. It was so fun and the person who requested it says it's perfect.



Spun from 6.5 oz of cotton sliver. 3 bobbins full of orange and 1 of green. I dyed the yarn after I spun it. It is a thickish single yarn for amigurumi.

Now for some pics : )

Some handspun yarn for your viewing pleasure:

Mulberry plied with cotton string. Sorry it's a bit fuzzy.

Another shot of the mulberry and still fuzzy.

Violent Fuzz violet yarn 2 ply.

Here is a freeform crochet bag made from handspun and commercial yarns. Freeform crochet is so fun! If you haven't had the pleasure of trying it you really should. Granted if you are a pattern person it might be hard to break away from that mentality of needing some written guidance.

wheel and a bit of time

I have my Kiwi and I have been spinning for a little while now. I named my Kiwi Bert after a character in a book. The book is Magik by Angie Sage, the first book in the Septimus Heap Trilogy. Bert is a cat who has been changed into a duck to better handle the marsh environment she lives in. By the way Magik is a great book and I can't wait for the next book to come out in March!

I am going to paint Bert, but I have not decided on how I am going to do it yet. I feel that a regular oil finish would be too boring.

I just finished reading Sir Thursday by Garth Nix in the Keys to the Kingdom series. I thought it really flowed well with the storyline and maybe went a little too fast.

I am hoping to see Kate Dicamillo this week as she will be in St. Paul for her latest book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.

For now I'll see what I can do about getting some pics up on this blog.

Step #1 Purchase Spinning Wheel

Well in the world of spinning I can cross step one off of the list. And technically I am not sure if my wheel has been officially ordered yet, but I have asked Detta from Detta's Spindle to order an Ashford Kiwi for me.

If you have ever purchased a wheel I am sure you understand the rush of excitement that comes with first finding the wheel that you want and then placing an order.

Wahoo!!

I shall post pictures when I recieve it. I just can't wait to spin again!!