Cactus Monsters!

Thought I'd try making something different yesterday, so I looked down my list of things to make from my Len Giveaway and found Cayden's idea about Cactus Monsters. So I came up with this guy...


This is Specimen 101! He was totally freeformed - I just made him up as I went along and didn't write the pattern down either. Means he is a one-of-a-kind mutant cactus!


I made him with the usual DK acrylic yarn and 3.5mm hook. I also added eyebrows as I thought it would be fun to make him look angry!


He also has a purple flower button on his head. He's not happy with it - he said it makes him look girly :D

I originally made him to put in my Etsy shop or to take to the craft fair in December, but I like him so much I'm thinking of keeping him. Thanks to Cayden for the inspiration!

I hope you all like!

Self Portrait Finished!

I finally finished my 'Me' doll! Here she is...

She is 11'' tall, and made with a 3mm hook. I wanted to use a small hook so I could make the stitches really tiny and the doll smaller. She has her left eye missing, but I've already explained that here. :D

She was fun to make! I don't think I'm gonna win the contest because there are loads of very talented plushie makers taking part, but at least now I have a little me sitting on my desk!

I tried my best with the tattoos - it's difficult embroidering onto an amigurumi :(

To see all the other fab entries to this contest visit the gallery here! :D

Tagged!

I've been tagged! Jill tagged me on her brilliant blog the other day, so here goes...

1. What is your dream job?
I've always wanted to be an astronomer. I love anything to do with space. But alas, I'm not brainy enough :( Other than that I would really like to be a dental nurse, which I think is abit more realistic :)

2. What emotion do you feel is irrational?
Being obsessive. I'm VERY obsessive. It's totally unnecessary, but I still do it :(


3. Who's your favorite celebrity?


4. You're stuck on a deserted island. Name three people you'd take with you.
Apart from my family, I would take Johnny Depp, dressed as Captain Jack; Jill, so we could talk about crochet and stuff; and Synyster Gates from A7X, with his guitar so he could entertain us and teach me how to play the guitar better :) Are they actually aloud to bring stuff with them?!

5. How did you get into knitting/crocheting/crafting?
I've crafted my whole life - I remember as a kid I would make things out of yogurt pots and cereal boxes. I got into crocheting properly when I saw all the cute ami's on Craftster.org. I sooooo wanted to make one, so I taught myself using YouTube.

6. What's your favorite mythological creature?


7. What's the story behind your username?
Aaahhh, it's a clever one ;) My initials are 'S' 'H', so the 'Ess' stands for 'S' and the 'Haych' stands for the 'H'. I say H-Haych, just to be annoying! ;P

8. Do you like your handwriting?
It's ok. I never used to like it when I was at school - I was paranoid that it was all uneven and messy. Now I don't really care. Plus I hold a pen/pencil in a funny way; I wrap my index and middle fingers right round the pen/pencil and hold it like that :) They didn't like me doing that at school, but as long as you're writing, does it really matter?!

I think I have to tag other people now (can you tell I've never done this before?!) and change the questions. I tag Crystal, Richiesoft and Sarah. I don't think I can tag Jill 'cos she tagged me :)

Questions:

1. Where did you grow up? Did you like it there?
2. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
3. What was the first thing you crocheted?
4. What are your top 3 favourite TV programmes of all time?
5. Were you a good student at school?
6. What are you most proud of?
7. What skill would you like that you haven't got already?
8. Would you ever give blood?

Stitch N Bitch Chat

Just wanted to let you know I will be taking part as a guest in a Stitch N Bitch chat next Sunday, 1st August at 8am to 10am PST over on the Community Relations Chatroom on DeviantArt!
I'll be answering crochet and amigurumi related questions in the 3 hours the chatroom will be open, along with some fab crochet artists. So if you have any questions about getting started with crocheting, making your own amigurumi patterns on any general crochet questions come along and we'll do our best to answer them!
To check what time the chat starts in you area, check out PST Website. I know that for me in the UK it will be 3pm-5pm Sunday afternoon :)

Hope you can join us!

BlogLovin' and Thanks

I was looking round the interwebs today and found a Blog site called BlogLovin. And look what I found on it!

Haha! I had no idea my blog was listed on this site! Thank you to the person that listed it, and Thanks to the people that are following! It was a lovely suprise!

Thank you too to everyone that follows my blog actually - not just the people on BlogLovin' :) I've been getting alot of love from people lately - I don't know why, but it's really appreciated! I started this blog to give me something to do, I didn't think that anyone would actually read it. So when I hear people say they like my blog and check it regularly it makes me really happy! So Thank You all so much! *Mwah!*

New Listings! Pocket Monsties!

Wow, 2 posts in one day! Busy!

I've just listed the Pocket Monsties in my Etsy Shop!

All are made from bright acrylic DK yarn, have fun hair-do's, 2 small plastic safety eyes, a red heart on their bums and are stuffed with polyfil. They are approx. 3'' tall each, except Blue Pocket Monstie, who is 2.5''. Bless!

You can find them in my Etsy Shop!

I hope you like! :D

So Many Ami's, So Little Time

Since my giveaway earlier this month I've been so busy making stuff! All of your suggestions for things to make have been brilliant - I'm going to be busy 'till Christmas!

Here's a round up of all the things requested:

Food
- Monster Cupcakes
- Monster Toast
- Cookies
- Ice cream
- Sushi
- Strawberry
- Apple - An Apple A Day Week?!
- Pirate food
- Cherries
- Fruit In General
- Buns/Cakes

Monsties
- Super Monsties
- Pocket Monsties
- Career Monsties (Nurse, Fireman, Cop)
- Pirate Monsties

Monsters
- Fuzzy Yarn
- Baby Toys
- Multiple Arms/Legs
- Cactus Monsters

Aliens

Ghosts (Creepy, Cute)

Mighty Boosh Characters

In-animate objects
- Shoes & Boots
- Cars and Buses
- ipod Ami

Animals
- Whales
- Red Panda
- Racoon
- Platypus
- Seal
- Rhino
- Pink Baby Hippo
- Jellyfish
- Mice In A Shoe - Themed
- Centipede family (80's toys)
- Spider Couple
- Insects

Keyring/Keychain Ami's

Dolls
- Customisable Dolls
- Customisable Wekeshies
- Armed Forces

Armed Forces Tanks/Helicopters

Fairy Tale
- 3 Little Pigs and Wolf
- Little Red Riding Hood

Angels

Egg Cosy Hats
- Sombrero
- Pirate
- Elf
- Firefly
- Dunces Hat
- Top Hat
- Bonnet
- Witch
- Mad Hatter
- Dr Seuss
- Bear Ears Hat
- Sun Hat
- Beret
- Bobble hat
- Mohawk Earflap hat
- Earflap hat
- Bunny Ears

Pheww! :S

As you can see there's alot of things! I'm slowly but surely getting through the list. So far I have made:

Apples In Suits
I plan to have more of these in my shop next week :)

Super Monsties
I've sold this one already, and am in the middle of making another one - a themed one ;)

Pocket Monsties
I'm re-branding the Monsties 'Pocket Monsties' because they fit in your pocket lol I made these 5 last week and will be listing them very soon.

I've also been working on a shoe ami. This is proving to be very tricky! I'm having a problem with how to do the soles - do you crochet them or use actual shoe soles? But like I said, I like a challenge, so I'll continue to work on it!

Thank you again for everyones input - I do intend on going through the whole list, but it might take me a while :)

Package Arrival!

I got a fab package from my crochet pal Jill the other day! :D Here's what I got!

A MERBEAR! YAY! I remember seeing a picture of these before and wishing I could kint! The pink yarn is from a ball I sent Jill afew months ago, so it's gone full circle!

I also got a great book; Sphere by Michael Crichton! It looks really interesting; from what I understand it's about a 300 year old spaceship that's found under the sea! I will read this when I have finished 'Lestat' :)

Thank you Jill!! I love getting packages from you!! Expect one back soon! :D

Self Portrait WIP 2

I've been working alot on my 'Me' doll recently, here's what I've done so far...

Nearly finished the 2 legs, and I've added a cross necklace and a lip piercing.

Legs and arms complete, plus...

I added some tattoos - this one is my cross and dates ones on my left wrist, and...

... this is my bat on my right ankle :) They're the best I could do lol!

I'm having a rest from doing this doll for now - it's kind of gettng on my nerves! But I will complete it by the 31st! :D

Self Portrait WIP 1

I got a message from the lovely Crystal the other day telling me about a contest over on DeviantArt, where you make a self portrait plushie. I had a look into it and it looks like alot of fun, so I'm going to enter!

Here's what I've made so far...

You're probably wondering why she's only got one eye lol! I'm blind in my left eye - have been since I was a baby, so I wanted a doll that had only one eye. Kind of symbolic, you know? I don't really look like that lol!


She's wearing a red and white stripy t-shirt - one of my fav shirts. She's also going to be wearing a black skirt, removable black mary-jane shoes and have a lip piercing. If I can embroider the tattoos then I'll do that too - but I think that will be abit tricky!

I plan on adding to this doll over the rest of the month - the contest finishes on the 31st - so check back to see how she's turning out!

Giveaway Results!

I made the draw for the Len giveaway this afternoon :)

All 17 names were put into a hat (or a bag, as I didn't have a hat...) and drawn at random.

I drew the Winner, who is...

Richisoft!

Congratulations - you have won Len!!

My Mum drew the runners up prizes of a free pattern from my Etsy shop - the winners are...

Cayden!

Greenpixey!

Congrats to you both!

Thank you very much to everyone that entered my giveaway - I wish there were enough prizes so you could all be winners :) All your input was greatly appreciated and has given me plenty of ideas for stuff to put in my shop :) I have started making things already, and all your suggestions will keep me busy 'till Christmas!

THANK YOU!

What I Did This Evening

I decided to go on a Monstie binge this evening after dinner, to see how many I could make! This is what I came up with in the past 4 hours!

Rainbow Monsties! Yay! They are about 3''tall and have fluffy fancy yarn hair. They also have mini heart buttons sewn to their bums!

I'm planning on having them up in my Etsy shop soon - I'd do it tonight but there isn't much natural light left to take decent pictures :(

Hope you like!

Oh, and the giveaway to win Len has now closed! Thank you so much to everyone that entered - I will be making the draw tomorrow! :D Len's very excited!

Last Chance To Win Len!

Just one more day remains for you to win Len! He's mega excited to see where he's going to be going!

To enter the giveaway all you have to do is answer the following question:

'What would you like to see in my Etsy shop?!'

I've recently started putting some of my amigurumi up in my Etsy Shop with my patterns, but I don't really know what people want. So here's your chance to tell me exactly what YOU want to see! It can be anything amigurumi - whether you've seen me make it before or not - I'm up for a challenge!

Simply comment below or in the original post here, or email me at esshaych@hotmail.co.uk , and list the top 3 things you'd like to see up for sale in my shop. Please also leave a contact email/website where I can find you and tell you if you win.

***If no contact email/website is left I won't be able to contact you if you win! Please make sure you leave one!***

The giveaway will finish on Friday 16th July at 12am GMT. I will pick one winner at random and that person will win Len, and 2 runners up will win a free crochet pattern from my Etsy shop.

So that's it! If you'd like to give
Len a new home Please get in contact - he's very excited about all this!

New Listing! Candy The Super Monstie!

You asked for more monsters, so you get more monsters! I give you...

Candy, the Super Monstie!
She is Len's sister!

She has been lovingly handmade using soft, bright pink acrylic DK yarn, has 2 safety eyes, 3 light pink acrylic DK horns on her head and back and has a felt mouth. She is stuffed with cuddley polyfill and has 'hollow heels', which means she can stand up on her own! She is roughly 14cms tall.

Super Monsties are cave monsters that originate from Chiselhurst Caves in Kent, England. On a trip there one Sunday I spotted a male and a female wandering round looking for attention from the tourists. They said they wanted to adventure outside the caves, so I took them home to Essex, where they have multiplied ever since. They are very moody creatures - each one has his or her own personality :)

For more details please visit her shop page here.

I hope you like her! <3

London With Gus

On Saturday I went on a day trip to London with my Mum and my Little Visitor,
Gus The Turkey.

Here are some pictures from our day :)

The gateway station from South Essex into London is Fenchurch Street Station, which is opposite The Tower Of London and Tower Bridge. So that's where we went first.

We stopped off at a tacky London gift shop, where we met an interesting character advertising the London Dungeons...

We then took the short walk round to Tower Hill Underground Station.

By this time it was about 12pm, so we stopped off at Embankment Station to visit my favourite sushi place, Wasabi, where I spent £12 on sushi lol! I got Gus a seaweed onigiri. We stopped off at the nearby park for lunch.

We wanted to go to Chinatown, so instead of getting the Underground we decided to walk. On the way we passed Trafalgar Square...

... the National Gallery...

... the Odeon on Leicester Square...

... until we finally got to Chinatown. I've never been to Chinatown before (how long have I lived here?!) so it was nice to look round somewhere new.

After getting lost and finding some FAB shops along the way, we headed to Bethnal Green for the Bust magazine's summer Craftacular.

It's a big craft event set in York Hall. It was great looking round at all the different crafts :)

We headed home after that. It was one of the hottest days of the year that day; must've been in the 30's. The trains were N.A.S.T.Y. but it was a great day anyway!

To read more about Gus' experience of the day you can visit his blog
here!

New Listing! Apples In Suits!

I've just listed the 1st of my new Kawaii Apples In A Cozy!

He is lovingly handmade using green acrylic DK yarn with 2 safety eyes and red blushing cheeks. He sits in his own beige, removable apple cozy, also made of acrylic DK yarn, and includes a vintage plastic toggle button.

Would be the perfect gift for a favourite teacher, to cheer up a friend or family member, or just as a treat for yourself! He is firmly stuffed with polyfil, so also makes a great stress ball!

You can find him in my Etsy Shop here! And remember - shipping is FREE! Yay!

I hope you like! <3>

Re-Listed And Re-Priced!

I've re-listed and re-priced 2 amigurumi in my Etsy Shop!

Lydia the Lilac Flumplebee is now $11.50, and includes FREE SHIPPING! Yay! Anywhere in the world - I'll ship for free :)

Rosie The Pink Jellyfish is now $10, and again includes free shipping :)

I'll be listing the apple ami's soon, and also a Super Monstie I made last week. I'll let you know when they're up!

While I'm here - does anyone think I'm charging too much for these ami's?! I have no idea how to price them, so I'm just charging what I sell them for at craft fairs. Are these prices suitable for Etsy?!

Win Len!

Just a reminder that there is one week left to enter the giveaway to win Len, the Super-Happy Super-Monstie!

If you would like to give Len a new home, please see the original post here for details :)

Thank you to everyone that has entered so far - Len is very happy that so many people are interested in him! He's even happier than before! :D