Amigurumi

[Jade]

Told myself that one of my goals for the early half of this week is to finally finish my darn manatee plush. He's been a little armless torpedo for weeks now.
And my projects-to-do list is just growing. But I've told myself I need to start actually finishing things before starting new ones. I'm bad for not finishing art projects.

It's so easy to get distracted isn't it? I'm currently working on some racoons in a dumpster lol. We can compare your manatee with my racoons when done?

 

[TK H-H]

It's so easy to get distracted isn't it? I'm currently working on some racoons in a dumpster lol. We can compare your manatee with my racoons when done?

Sure thing!
Going to try my best to finally finish it hopefully today or tomorrow. I'll post when finished.

I already have materials ready for a penguin and a dragon (except eyes. Still looking for particular eyes for the dragon). Also have a list of things I want to make after. I have a cuttlefish roughly planned, and started brainstorming for an elephant as a potential gift for someone. I think I'm going to incorporate some beadwork into the elephant. Thinking of trying to make a little headdress for it, and a decorative blanket for over it's back. That one's a really rough idea at the moment.
Then I have plans for some other crochet projects. Plus my other non-crochet art projects. I need to get working.

 

[Jade]

I look forward to seeing it. You have lots of plans. The decorative elephant particularly sounds interesting! My racoons will take a few weeks to a month probably but I'll pop them up too when done. Enjoy!

 

[TK H-H]

Looking forward to seeing them!

I considered maybe making a tarantula or two as well. I did one before, and it was quite time consuming because I made it out of motifs. So had to make all of those and then do a lot of sewing. It turned out well though. Debating whether to do the same method for another or two, or try a different method. Wanted to make them look like two of my pet tarantulas. I feel like the colors/markings on my two friendliest girls would translate to crochet easily.

 

[Jade]

Looking forward to seeing them!

I considered maybe making a tarantula or two as well. I did one before, and it was quite time consuming because I made it out of motifs. So had to make all of those and then do a lot of sewing. It turned out well though. Debating whether to do the same method for another or two, or try a different method. Wanted to make them look like two of my pet tarantulas. I feel like the colors/markings on my two friendliest girls would translate to crochet easily.

Ooh that sounds good! You have pet tarantulas? I'm a bit scared of spiders but do they look very fluffy...

 

[TK H-H]

I do! A Mexican fire-leg, Greenbottle Blue (those are the two I want to use as inspiration for the plushes), and Antilles Pinktoe.

I also had a Socotra Island Blue Baboon, and a Togo Starburst. Both are with a friend of mine now though. They went with her a few weeks ago. The Togo is highly venomous and getting grouchy because she's reaching maturity. I have a lot of experience with spiders, but she has far more, so I started feeling like she'd be a better home for her. The Socotra was fine, but I decided to send it with her as well. It isn't aggressive or anything. But they're shy and kind of speedy, and I know she's just better at handling them. Plus she's an amazing terrarium designer so I know she'll build some really cool homes for them.

So I have my three easier-to-handle girls for now. I've had five others in the past. Three Avicularia, a King Baboon, and a Chaco Golden Knee.

I got the fire-leg and greenbottle from the shop I used to manage (was a reptile/arachnid specialty store). The Antilles was gifted to me by the same friend who now has the other two. She knew I'd been searching for one for ages. Togo, Socotra and King were given to me by a couple who were regulars in the shop. They approached me one day and asked if I'd be willing to be a home for them. The three Avics were sort of rescued. Someone was going to flush them down a toilet... so I took them. And the Chaco was a retired University teaching spider. I'd always wanted a Chaco and a coworker had a lot of connections because he used to breed tarantulas and reptiles. I forget which Uni it was... but they talked to him about a home for the Chaco to retire her from one of their invertebrate biology courses. So he had her sent out our way and she came with me. She's since passed away, but I still miss her. She was quite friendly and easy to handle.

 

[Jade]

I do! A Mexican fire-leg, Greenbottle Blue (those are the two I want to use as inspiration for the plushes), and Antilles Pinktoe.

I also had a Socotra Island Blue Baboon, and a Togo Starburst. Both are with a friend of mine now though. They went with her a few weeks ago. The Togo is highly venomous and getting grouchy because she's reaching maturity. I have a lot of experience with spiders, but she has far more, so I started feeling like she'd be a better home for her. The Socotra was fine, but I decided to send it with her as well. It isn't aggressive or anything. But they're shy and kind of speedy, and I know she's just better at handling them. Plus she's an amazing terrarium designer so I know she'll build some really cool homes for them.

So I have my three easier-to-handle girls for now. I've had five others in the past. Three Avicularia, a King Baboon, and a Chaco Golden Knee.

I got the fire-leg and greenbottle from the shop I used to manage (was a reptile/arachnid specialty store). The Antilles was gifted to me by the same friend who now has the other two. She knew I'd been searching for one for ages. Togo, Socotra and King were given to me by a couple who were regulars in the shop. They approached me one day and asked if I'd be willing to be a home for them. The three Avics were sort of rescued. Someone was going to flush them down a toilet... so I took them. And the Chaco was a retired University teaching spider. I'd always wanted a Chaco and a coworker had a lot of connections because he used to breed tarantulas and reptiles. I forget which Uni it was... but they talked to him about a home for the Chaco to retire her from one of their invertebrate biology courses. So he had her sent out our way and she came with me. She's since passed away, but I still miss her. She was quite friendly and easy to handle.

Ohh wow. This is an education! I will look these up. Thanks so much for sharing and I'm glad you saved some from being flushed down a loo! but love that you also have a retired university teaching spider! 'm a bit scared of spiders generally but always thought tarantulas are vool looking. When I lived in Australia I saw a few huntsman spiders including a white one that has shed it's skin.

 

[TK H-H]

There's a lot of really pretty species out there. I'd probably have a few more, but I'm opting to keep the collection small due to hubby being afraid of spiders. It took him some time to get somewhat used to the current ones. I don't want to overwhelm him too much.
Plus we just don't have a lot of space. Though I might make an exception if I ever stumble upon a lava tarantula. They're pretty. And they're a small species so wouldn't need too large of an enclosure.

Anyways... I finally finished the manatee!

I used a color changing/self-striping yarn. So the colors just did their own thing. He ended up mostly striped, with light blue eyebrows, flippers and tail tip.

Next project is the penguin (specifically Feathers McGraw). Going to make him with his glove hat and a little bag. I got some craft jewels yesterday to fill the bag. Just a fun little extra I wanted to add.

 

[Jade]

Ooh yeh, that's a good compromise with hubby! The lava ones..!

Oh the manatee is so lovely! I hadn't heard of colour changing yarn before.. that's a great idea! The colour in the photo suits him.

I can't wait to see Feathers! Love that you got some craft jewels!!! Exactly the kind of thing I love to do too. Maybe I'll need to do one as well once my raccoons are "born/made"

 

[C-her]

Told myself that one of my goals for the early half of this week is to finally finish my darn manatee plush. He's been a little armless torpedo for weeks now.
And my projects-to-do list is just growing. But I've told myself I need to start actually finishing things before starting new ones. I'm bad for not finishing art projects.

I understand WIP. I try to keep them at a minimum (whatever that is) I have yarns that I know I will never have enough life to make them all.
My added conundrum is I have both non felting yarns that I don’t use in my felting for the most part and 100% felting wool for my felting life so different projects for each type of yarns. Adds up to WIPs in each medium.
Daisy Hill Studio It All Started with Crochet

 

[C-her]

There's a lot of really pretty species out there. I'd probably have a few more, but I'm opting to keep the collection small due to hubby being afraid of spiders. It took him some time to get somewhat used to the current ones. I don't want to overwhelm him too much.
Plus we just don't have a lot of space. Though I might make an exception if I ever stumble upon a lava tarantula. They're pretty. And they're a small species so wouldn't need too large of an enclosure.

Anyways... I finally finished the manatee!
View attachment 51646
View attachment 51647

I used a color changing/self-striping yarn. So the colors just did their own thing. He ended up mostly striped, with light blue eyebrows, flippers and tail tip.

Next project is the penguin (specifically Feathers McGraw). Going to make him with his glove hat and a little bag. I got some craft jewels yesterday to fill the bag. Just a fun little extra I wanted to add.

Yippee!! Congrats.

 

[TK H-H]

Not sure if color changing was the right term? Basically just self-striping. I didn't know where the colors were going to end up exactly so it was kind of a surprise.
I have a similar yarn I want to use for a cuttlefish some time. It's mostly different purples. But I have a few other projects before I do that one. I have the yarn already though. It was a random single ball I found at a store and liked the colors, so I grabbed it to have on hand for something.

Might start Feathers today depending on time. Given he's a fairly simple design, I don't think he'll take too long to make.

Project list is growing. I now have Feathers, the dragon, the cuttlefish, I forgot I had a pair of socks I was working on (just need to figure out the cuffs and they're done). The two possible tarantulas. Also found my patterns for a whelk and horseshoe crab (kind of forgot about those ones...) Then I have a blanket in-progress, which is to be a gift for my mum. And I promised my kitties a new blanket for the window they like to hang out in.

Elephant idea is now on hold because the person it was going to be for, is being a... [insert choice words here]. So... forget it.

Then I have a 3-piece canvas project to finish (two of them in progress) and two custom sketchbooks to put together.

So many projects...

 

[Jade]

I thought I'd replied to this TK H-H .. looking forward to seeing your crochet.

Today's Christmas mouse