Attack of the Incredibly Cute Craft Projects!

Consider yourself fore-warned: I have been working on several VERY cute projects lately.

My first attempt from the awesome book "Amigurumi Knits" was a simple starfish. I didn't use the Cascade Yarn that was suggested (mainly because I didn't have any and cannot buy yarn until I use/trade some of the current stash) so I knit the starfish with some worsted, homespun from Mom's stash. It was a lot easier than I expected, and I learned three new techniques. In my world, that means the book already paid for itself!

While I was visiting with the Dover's I started knitting this little garlic. The first chapter in the book is stuff from the garden, and I did have some off-white Plymouth wool left over from the candy corn slippers, so tah-dah!

As fun as the starfish was, and as cute as the garlic is, I was ready to move onto an Intermediate level project: the Octopus. I am SO excited with how he turned out!! I put pipe cleaners in the legs to make them pose-able and learned a few more new techniques. What I like most is that he looks like a real octopus, not a cartoon version.

I think what got me started on the idea of mini-knits, were these adorable mini sweater patterns that I found last year. I wanted to make them for Christmas ornaments, but never got a chance. Maybe this year...

I also finally tapped into the stash of patterns and designer upholstery fabric that I bought last fall when the Fabric Place was going out of business. Here is a purse I made using a pattern by Hillary Duff (don't laugh, it is a pretty respectable pattern).

I was beginning to think that maybe I had missed the Crepe Myrtle blooming. Maybe they bloomed in February before I moved down here? Nope, they are in full glory now! I was especially excited to see a bunch of honey bees buzzing around the flowers.