Saturday, August 25, 2012

Birthday Bellybutton Kitty

I crocheted this kitty for my bellybutton-loving daughter for her 2nd birthday.  Unable to find the perfect cat pattern, I used one I found online for a stuffed puppy, then searched for other patterns for cat ears and a long tail.  If you can crochet rounds, making little stuffed lovies like this one isn't hard, and you probably don't even need a pattern if you can figure out the size of the shapes you want.  After that, it's just a matter of stuffing each form, then sewing them all together with your yarn and a large blunt needle.  For the eyes, I have a jar full of mismatched vintage buttons that my mom sent with me when I left home, and these black flower buttons in different sizes were perfect.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Crochet Striped Sweater Puppy

I was happy to find these photos of the crocheted amigurumi puppy for my nephew, wearing the striped sweater he requested.  Here it is with my camera-loving daughter.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

OakdaleFarm etsy store

I have always had an empty etsy store, and a couple of months ago, I finally managed to list some items for sale.  I sold the two needle felted mushrooms I had available, and have left a needle felted tree stump and some crocheted gourds, pumpkins, and squash. The tree stump has two little red-capped mushrooms and has wool yarn hand felted to the surface for tree bark.  I have completed a needle felted cupcake I still need to list, and I really want to make some more mushrooms; they're fun to create and people like them.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/OakdaleFarm


Tree Stump with Mushrooms Needle Felted Wool Woodland Decor Fairy HouseSet of 4 Squash, Gourd, & Pumpkin Crochet Thanksgiving Holiday Play Food Toys
    

 My sold mushrooms:


 

Crocheted puppies

I took a crochet class around Thanksgiving and learned how to make a hat and went a little insane with it since then, buying books and teaching myself how to make other things and use other stitches.  Here's an amigurumi puppy I made for my son.  My nephew wanted one, too, and he asked for a striped sweater on his. I took a photo of it, but I think it might be on my phone...

Sunday, January 22, 2012

All A Blur....

My son's fifth birthday party was today, and as usual, I can't remember much of what I said to anyone. I probably sounded silly and distracted, and I have a habit of stopping mid-sentence and just sort of trailing off. I used to stay awake at night going over everything I said and cringing, but now I realize that I'm not so important that people are obsessing over what I say...I hope.

I've stayed up too late. Again. I go upstairs to bed, and my husband and son are lying next to each other, in mirror image poses with arms above their heads, which makes me laugh. My husband, still wearing his clothes from the party, and obviously exhausted, doesn't move. My son whispers in his sleep, the only time he's quiet, and moves toward me, laying his head on my hip. As much as it exasperates me during the times I'm busy, I love how my children don't seem to see me as separate from their own bodies, and climb over me, press into me, and rub their lips and faces on my clothing. My son's most precious possession is a black stuffed bear toy made from my favorite sweater that he took from a laundry basket and nuzzled and burrowed into until he put a hole in it. Sometimes, he'll surreptitiously take a shirt I've worn into his room, and I'll find it later in his bed.

Now, at the start of his sixth year, he is balancing his adoration with separation. He sometimes covers his body with his hands, and no longer wants or needs my help in the bathroom. When he cried last week, he told me he wanted to be alone. I look at him, his sweet face asleep, and I sit up, leaning forward to more easily type, and he makes a soft kitten noise, moves with me and presses his cheek against my back, eyes closed and still dreaming. I know it won't last, and it shouldn't, I want him to push away from me and grow and be strong and have adventures and everything else a mother wants for her son, but just for right now, instead of carrying him to his bed, I'm going to hold my son tightly and sleep.