The social life of monsters

First there was one little monster...

She met Jim..

They were a pretty pair... but then Bob came along.

(But he never saw IT coming...)

Ted, the gymnast of the group, preparing for his triple somersault dismount...

Flowers... and a monster

Ria's gorgeous flower bunting inspired me to haul out my camera and capture some flowery goodness.




Calendula
                                                                   
It seems more and more difficult to concentrate on crochet when my garden is blooming and it is increasingly more difficult to remain indoors...

This little beauty is Calendula Officinalis and can be dried and used to add colour to food instead of saffron.



St. John's Wort


Hypericum - Nature's Anti-depressant.

I seem to be stuck in a yellow rut...


Gazania





And now finally an actual crocheted flower..






And here is my oh so cute (if I do say so myself) little Patch-Eyed Monster Alien. I just love everything about him... His odd little head, his knobbly little ears, the random colouring and his non-grin.






He is the reason I find making handmade toys (Amigurumi is the posh Japanese word) so fulfilling - creating a little character with your own hands. This is also why I crochet at a superspeed as I'm just itching to see how their personalities will turn out.

Bunting explained - Flags, sleeping bag or bird?

We've had some interesting comments about Ria's bunting post. Some of you were confused about the flowers being strung up and called bunting. I was confused because you were confused - bunting is bunting is bunting, isn't it? Turns out, we're all right with our terminology.

So here are the definitions of bunting:

bunt·ing  (bntng)

n.

1. A light cotton or woolen cloth used for making flags.

2. Flags considered as a group.

3. Strips of cloth or material usually in the colors of the national flag, used especially as drapery or streamers for festive decoration

4. Any of various birds of the family Fringillidae, having short, cone-shaped bills and brownish or grayish plumage

5. A snug-fitting, hooded sleeping bag of heavy material for infants

(Thank you Freedictionary)

I think number 5 is the reason for the confusion - the knitted or crocheted pod shaped sleeping bags that are now so popular and used in newborn photo shoots are also called bunting.

So... our little flowers are little "flags" strung up to use as decoration in a little girls' bedroom, to brighten up your kitchen, as decoration for a party... etc. etc.

Here's my version of bunting - teeny tiny flags - the only crocheted item I have actually made for myself and kept!

Thank you for all the comments and support (and questions!) - keep 'em coming...

Bunting

Very bright crochet flowers strung on red and white ribbon.


I think I have enough for 6 strings of bunting :)

Gift bags

I've been working on a range of drawstring bags. They are a greener alternative to a gift bag: not made of paper and can be re-gifted or re-used by the receiver. You could use it as a toiletry bag, for shoes, for... whatever you like to store. I use mine to keep all my electronic gadget chargers in one place.


They are made from various bits and pieces of leftover material (cotton, linen and synthetic mixes). The drawstrings are ribbon. The crochet work on the one above are samples made by Cornelle.

The crocheted doilies on this one are vintage ones from my mother's closet. They were used in the seventies between your coffee cup and saucer. Rescued from the dark corner they were banished to, they have started a second life in a new century!

More of the same doilies, but with wooden embellishments.

Embroidery with leftover red DMC cotton.

Another sample crocheted by Cornelle, red embroidery cotton and a vintage button.

Vintage crocheted doilies in white and a new sample by Cornelle in the middle.

Some of the vintage doilies jazzed up with random buttons.

Cute novelty buttons in the shape of gingerbread girls on vintage crochet doilies.

This little one is for smaller prezzies... this one made by my mom, Alta. I love the appliqued flowers.