I Think I'm Back on Track.

We had a great time with all our guests this summer! Our cousins were really in shock with the fact that we don't have a TV. They couldn't understand how we can live without it. I thought that was really funny. I know people think we are crazy, but Gaby doesn't like to watch TV and we are always busy doing other things that we just don't have the time to watch TV. We are a member of NetFlix and, most of the times, we get a movie and we don't get to see it until a month or two later. Anyway, enough of that.

My mom spent a month with us. She left on Friday. It was great having her, but I ate so much and did not hit the gym once. She cooked every day and, of course, it's really hard to say "no" to my mom's food. She makes the best beans. I was able to freeze some for the rest of the month. There was only one little problem with my mom. She said she's not coming back unless we sign a contract saying that we'll have a TV for her, LOL. She did a lot of embroidering and cross stitch to keep her sanity for a month. Just thinking about it makes me laugh. She is funny!

We had a great time at the school's open house yesterday. I used to work at the school so I know a lot of people there. I kept running into staffs, parents and students that I've known from previous years. I kept talking and talking. I barely made it to Gaby's class. That was a great feeling! Gaby is so excited to start the new school year. He really likes his teacher. Apparently, every third grader wanted to be in that class. Not only he got the teacher he wanted, but also a great number of kids that he has known from previous classes. He is very happy and he already knows that this is going to be a great school year. He is really looking forward to learn about science and do some cool experiments.

Now, with the beginning of the school year I get back to my routine again. It's been a great week already. I went back to zumba after a month. WOW, do I feel great or what? I almost forgot how zumba makes me feel. I love the energy!

Today, I started taking sewing lessons too. I'm so excited! I learned a lot and I'm so looking forward to start my tote bag. I'll keep you posted of my progress.

Last, but not least, I want to share this little doll with you. I made it for one of the teachers I worked with last year. She just had a baby girl. I'm not too happy with it so I'm still undecided about giving it to her or not. What do you think?

Meet Ella...

The pictures were taken in the little macro studio that Gaby and I made a week or two ago. BTW, this was one of my sixty something unfinished objects. One down...I'm making progress, lol.

I Have Major OCD!

Seriously, I must have major OCD because this could not be normal :). I counted about 60 unfinished projects. I promised I was going to look for them and I did. Here are some pictures.

A couple of heads and bodies. A red eye tree frog that is looking more like an alien, lol. Parts for three different giraffes. I was designing the one on the lower left, but I ran out of yarn. I'm actually working on the one in the middle right now. You can see a hat, slippers, baby shoes and a butterfly.


Here is a swan or goose (I don't even know) that I made like ten years ago. I think is just missing the hat and a ribbon. The blue baby sweater is just missing buttons or velcro. That little green guy is supposed to be Master Yoda, lol. Next to the sweater, you can see all the pieces for a hamburger, except for the bun. Next to eat is a baby bib. I need to make the straps a little longer. On top of the bib, there is an amigurumi bear. It's just missing the face. My husband says it looks like a mouse :) On the lower left corner, you can see a halter top and a top that I was making for one of my nieces when my sister was pregnant. I never finished it. Next to the tops, is a blue ball. The orange pieces you see there if for a fawn (Gourmet Amigurumi's pattern.) I love the head, but I don't like the body. I need to work on that again. Right next to it, you can see a bunch of flowers and leaves. But, that's not all. There's still more.



Here you can find a bunch of heads for pencil toppers. Eventually, I will turn them into animals just like the frog on my banner.

You are probably tired by now, but there is still more. Two scarves, two pair of shoes, a small pet sweater, a baby sweater, a shawl and a chinchilla. Here is a closer look at the baby shoes.


And more projects.



A big baby, an elephant, a bear, a body for a doll, a pig, a tiny white baby shoe, a pink face, a blue body and a doll.
Here you can see the big baby a little closer. That thing is ugly, lol. I'm sure once I add the facial features and some clothes it will look better.

Remember that ugly doll that I mentioned to you before? Well, here she is. I already got rid off her facial features. I think that's her major problem. Maybe I should make her different clothes.


Here is a close up of the face.


From the side.
Back

Ok, I think that's all for now. I hope I didn't scare you away with this long post :).

Amigurumi Doll is Finished!!!

Here is Sarita! Isn't she cute?

Next time I need to lower the features of the face. I keep placing the eyes too high. My braids came out a little longer than suggested. It's all good, right?

Mia has a great hair tutorial. I have too admit that I did not follow the tutorial step by step. I need a lot more practice. But I did my best!

Here is a close up of the face.
Hmmm, what's next? I should probably catch up with all my FOs. I probably have like 100 of them, seriously. I don't know about you, but I always have a bunch of projects on the needles. I get really anxious. It's like if all my ideas are going to disappear so I have to start them right away. The funny thing is that, most of the time, I just put them aside and don't get back to them until years later, if I ever do.

I've also made some amigurumis that I find so ugly that I won't even give them away to charity :) I only give stuff away if I really like them. There is this particular doll that I made a couple of years ago that I don't know what her problem is but I don't like it. Well, I think is her face. I always had a hard time making those faces. Now that I'm doing better with embroidering, I might try to fix her. My husband thinks the problem is the hair. I was really proud of the hair. I made it short and curly. A new technique I was learning back then. I think it might be the yarn I used. I'm going to find her and take a picture to post here. Perhaps you guys can give me some ideas.

Progress on Amigurumi Doll

Here is the update on Sarita.

The body is finished.

I made three heads. I still can't decide which one to use. I hope you can help me decide.

Here is Sarita with the head #1. If you look at the picture the pattern, you notice that the head is twice the width of the body. In the pattern, it looks great! But when I see my tiny doll with that huge head it just doesn't look right to me.

So, I made head #2. Not as big as the other one, but still big. This one is my husbands favorite.

Finally, I made head #3 which seems to be more proportioned to her body. I know that one of the things that make amigurumis unique and cute is their disproportioned head and body. But I think I like my dolls to be a little bit more realistic.

What's do you think? Should I keep head #1, #2 or #3? Picture the head with the braided hair. It might help you with the decision :)

Anyway, I have to go and pick my mom at the airport. TTYL

Amigurumi Mexican Doll and Emoticon

Since we had our friend over for the week, I did not have too much time for knitting/crochet or the gym. So, yesterday I decided to take the day of from cooking and cleaning. It was my day to relax.

I have a collection of amigurumi patterns that I've been meaning to make. I think I spend more time collecting patterns than actually making the dolls. I just keep finding patterns of all these cute little things and I need to have them. Anyway, yesterday I decided to stay away from the computer and start working on some of the patterns. This was my first choice.

I already made the head. I love her face! I usually don't do too well with the embroidering but I think Sarita is looking lovely! I made the wig for her hair but it turned out too small. Well, the thing is that I'm not using the right yarn. I'm using whatever I have on my stash. I'm almost done with the body as well. The body came out too small for the head (Pictures will come later). I'm planning to make a smaller head for the body and I'm going to use this face for a different doll. I have all these plan with her...curly hair? straight hair? red hair? green hair? pants? skirts? zumba girl? So many options....

Changing the subject, Anna from Mochimochi has been working in a series of tiny knitted things. She makes the cutest tiny little things. I was inspired by her to try making tiny crochet objects. I'm not sure these tiny little things are for me. Here is my first try: Mr. Happy Emoticon. This guy looks ugly and weird, LOL. I realy need to try and do better than this. My idea is to make different emoticons (happy, sad, grumpy...).


Ok. That's it for now. Back to work :)

Ribbit is finished!

I just finished, Ribbit. He is a Susan B. Anderson's design. It turned out so adorable! You can get it for free at Spud and Chloe.

It's such a beautiful day!

Playing hide and seek.

I think he was singing here :)

Climbing the tree. I have to love this picture!