New Friends

Today was an amigurumi-pattern-designing day. :)
This is my Crochetbury Baby Caterpillar. As I wrote in the listing, "baby" caterpillar is a bit of a misnomer as all caterpillars are babies, technically. Or would that be called "stating the obvious"? :)
Anyhow, he is currently looking for a new home. You can find him and other new little friends for sale here.

As Seen on TV

One of my hats - my knit-look crocheted cloche - may soon be making its debut on New Zealand national television. The kid show's 20-something female host is always wearing cute hats or ribbons in her hair, so I emailed them to ask if she might like to wear one of my hats. I recently got a nice reply saying they'd been looking for an orange hat to go with her outfits, but couldn't find one, so would be happy to take up my offer. If she wears it on the show, I'll post a photo and link to the show's website. I modeled it, but it doesn't suit me very well! My friend Janis has already told me, with much sarcasm, just how lovely it looks on me...though, to be fair, she absolutely detests the color orange.

Crochet Dreams

I dreamed this design up the other morning...literally. I had a dream that I was looking at some crocheted baby shoes and woke up thinking, 'What cute shoes! Too bad their not my design!'...and then realized..."Wait, they are!" :) The design is so simple and basic, I've called them my "crochet basics" mary janes.
I'm busy this week getting a few patterns ready to be sold on the Annie's Attic website. I also have a couple more designs in my head...as usual. :)

Happy Customer

There is so much joy and satisfaction in custom-crafting for someone and then really knowing how much they loved their item. The adorable little girl in this photo recently attended a wedding wearing this gorgeous little outfit. Her mom ordered the little "Sydnee Rose hat" from me and sent me this appreciation photo. It meant so much ...worth more than 1,000 thank yous. What a cutie! :)

Show & Tell

I made this shrug for Holland using some gorgeous cream-colored bamboo which I had left over from a bridal shrug. It drapes beautifully and is so lightweight and...well, gorgeous! :) This is my Victorian baby shrug pattern, only in a size 2. I plan to rewrite the pattern to include sizes baby to adult.
I also tried to felt a project for the 1st time. But no success, probably because the yarn I used wasn't 100% wool. I will try again with a different yarn. This little piggy is a pattern by Vicky Lewis which I bought from her Etsy shop. I love the shape of it. I did this little guy in fingering yarn using a d hook and made a few other little edits. Great pattern overall. :)

Dress Up

When I was a little girl, I always wanted to wear my winter clothes in the summer time and my summer clothes in the winter time. My mom thought it strange, but it does stand to reason now that I'm living on the other side of the world where the seasons are reversed. :) Pretty Pleated Yoke Dress - Baby to Youth

I recently made this new dress for Holland. It is a yoke-style dress...you could call it a sun dress, but it'd be great any time of the year with a little top under it or a sweater over it. It will be spring here soon in New Zealand and Holland will definitely get lots of use out of this new dress. I love the sunny yellow color on her too.

Finish What You Start

I suppose I'm like many crafters in that I often have several projects going at the same time. I'm very happy to say that I finally finished Holland's new sweater today!

This is the Sydnee Rose Cardigan.
buy now
I made it for Holland in a size 2 so she should be able to wear it next winter too.
I'm actually excited to try this pattern out in one of the smaller sizes...maybe to fit one of Holland's dolls. :)

Rose Garden Cloche

I used up another ball of yarn today designing this rose garden cloche. buy now It coordinates very well with my rose garden mary janes (baby and adult). The whole process of designing a new pattern, including the photo shoot, is a lot of fun. I've never been into photography and honestly don't know very much about it, but really enjoy trying to get (what I consider to be) good pics. :) Now if only Holland would enjoy it as much as I do!

Small World!

A lady from the UK left the neatest comment today when buying a pattern! She said, "Out shopping today met a lovely lady her baby had this hat on absolutely gorgeous" She was referring to my Lil' Cupcake Baby Hat. It's so neat to think that here I am in New Zealand and a baby in the UK is wearing a handmade hat of my design and doing some advertising for me by being adorably cute in it. :)
I made a new cable hat pattern this weekend. My friend had a little boy recently and this hat is part of his welcoming gift. My husband was excited that I used up a ball of yarn making it...though truth be told, I bought 10 more balls of yarn this weekend! :) I got some lovely ruby red wool to start making those secret "slipper swap" ballet flats I'm supposed to make for a lady who shall remain nameless... :)