alaskan amigurumi challenge: subsistence bear stocks up for winter

someone asked me if i knew how to crochet a kuskokwim* style canoe. uh, no. but i tried and i think the end result was a successful, cute ode to the traditional alaskan lifestyle. the recipient shot her first black bear (i know, this must be horrifying to you animal lovers) a couple years ago so we thought it would be ... fitting... for lack of better word, to have a fluffy black bear scrounging for blueberries, cranberries and salmon before the harsh winter. 

*kuskowim (my definition): a giant river in alaska. for a more thorough grasp of the kuskokwim river and it's significance, please visit this wikipedia explanation

 

 

 

disaster in japan: i am heartbroken

source

We've contacted all our family and friends in Japan and everyone is fine. But there are many thousands of others that have lost their lives, their loved ones, their homes, all that they possess, and their day-to-day lifestyles. Some still have no power or running water. Others are stranded in shelters and are running out of food with threat of radiation exposure. Yes, natural disasters occur all the time. Yes, japan is not a third world country. Yes, Japan is resourceful and the northeast will eventually rebuild their infrastructure from the damage caused by this crippling disaster, but these people are emotionally scarred forever. I can only imagine the pain they must be feeling now and for the years to come.

A bright light shines through the muddy rubble the quake and tsunami has left behind. The light of millions of prayers, good thoughts, donations and support by people like you.

Click on this link to see photos of the disaster: The Calamity of Japan's 8.9-Magnitude Quake

meat: a recurring nightmare

the vegan voyeur: a tofu in disguise

he's watching you... not eat meat
 

about meat: a recurring nightmare 
   

lately, the vegan voyeur has been having very vivid and disturbing dreams about meat processing and packaging plants, the meat department in the supermarket and of sizzling steaks on the grill. he tosses and turns all night long, dragging himself into work half an hour late.  
 

he wonders: is this a sign that i should start eating meat?
 

inspiration sterility, Fast Food Nation, meat packing plants, steel, modernization

materials paper, cardboard, recycled household garbage, yarn, creativity

i created this diorama for my very first first friday event. what is first friday? every first friday of the month, many of the art galleries, cafe's and boutiques in town will showcase local artwork, have live local music, wine and hors d'œuvres. it's a town-wide fancy party. i was thrilled when people looked at my crochet, looked at me and said, "i don't get it..." i was equally pleased with all that enjoyed the vegan voyeur this time around. thanks for the support!

see more of the vegan voyeur by clicking here!

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and the oscar goes to... hettie!

hamsters have their own awards shows, too: welcome to a series of photos from the 
2011 hamcademy awards

 

hello? is this thing even on?

ooooh! i can't believe i won!

i really wasn't expecting to win anything, but i still made some notes just in case!

i'd like to thank my owners, molly and scott, for their love and support during the grueling filming process of black hamster. you paid for all my ballerina lessons and for that i am truly grateful. i'd also like to thank the creators of cheese and cardboard toilet paper tubes. now i'm off to the after party!

what? i need an invitation?? but i won best hamtress! i'm natalie portham! ...no, not portman...

you know what? i don't care about this oscar anyway. it's made out of yarn.

harumph.

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news flash: nelson the crobot attempts to hijack hot air balloon!

why nelson decided to hijack this particular hot air balloon: he wanted to find the perfect baby shower gift for a little boy that will be born soon. nelson was picnicking under the shade of an industrial building when he saw the hot air balloon drift by. he quickly shimmied his way up the escape ladder and jumped onto the balloon. now, how to get it down?

crobot: a crocheted or amigurumi robot

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etsy crafter of the week: tiny owl's magic attic

i never thought i'd say this... but i want to learn how to knit (better)!! the most adorable whimsical etsy knits at tiny owl's magic attic.

knitting needles & crochet hooks holder - effing CYOOT!!!

little bo peep bow

hettie doesn't have a boyfriend now, but she's still hopeful for the 14th!

i ♥ amicute and hettie are wishing you a happy heart day! now go do something amazing like stand frozen at the grocery store for 30 minutes staring at nothing, walk into a crowded elevator and stare at everyone while chuckling to oneself, dress up like someone you're not, or say something that you've had pent up for far too long. surprise yourself this commercialized, corporate holiday when you catch yourself amidst the overflowing supply of cheap red and pink goods and corn syrupy candies.   

or... i prefer to just crochet:

give someone a heart using this crochet pattern by MyGurumi. 

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the superbowl is an american holiday, right?

hettie the holiday ham represents the green bay packers* for this american "holiday" that results in an overflowing amount of cheap beer, pizza, screaming, crying, money-losing, and wearing of obnoxious mascot thingamabobs. hettie has made this traditionally rowdy and sometimes gross american pastime into an "awww" worthy event.

*please note that i don't have a favorite team nor do i particularly like football or even know what's happening as i'm watching it. to me, it looks like giants with future knee problems lumbering around on a patch of grass surrounded by costumed, drunk, maniacal fanatics. therefore, please do not shoot me hate mail and/or post obscenities on my blog if you happen to be a fan of a team other than the green bay packers.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

who needs a groundhog when you have hettie the holiday ham?

 Happy Groundhog's Day! This is Hettie's first appearance... with her crocheted shadow! Please root her on! She's planning on modeling for all future American holidays.

looks like six more weeks of winter, folks! better stock up on some more berries! (do you see the big berry in her cheek pouch?)

hettie is tired of her shadow following her around and has decided to sneak off unnoticed... until the next holiday!

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cletus the mini dachshund wishes you a happy valentine's day

despite being an educated and sophisticated sociologist, cletus can't help but fall into the commercialized corporate trap that is valentine's day. something about those red hearts just makes him so giddy!

ami ami dogs: the first installment

meet carlile the corgi. he's a shy but loving little pooch. he wishes he could find the courage to ask the cute dachshund next door for a walk along the neighborhood stream, but alas, all he can do is hide behind his human's leg whenever she trots by. 

so, i had some issues with this little guy. living in a small city = limited yarn variety. consequently, i had to use two different yarn gauges to create the corgi. no matter how many times i stomped through the aisles, i couldn't find the perfect corgi fur-like yarn. another thing: the selection of eyeballs and noses are limited as well. i had to order them from an etsy store called 6060. if you're looking for doll eyes, noses, doll joints, and/or buttons, this is the place for you. no really, there's literally no other store online to buy a good selection of doll thingamabobs for cheap. and they shipped fast.

the pattern is from a japanese book (photo below) that i lugged back with me this past month.

a bale of turtles

here's a request for a family of turtles that i had since before i left for japan... I KNOW! i'm so sorry it was delayed.

here are my excuses:

• i had food poisoning (really, i did!)
• jet lag (now this, i definitely had)
• worldwide snowstorms
• had to leave the state to attend a protest (i didn't really..)
• general apathy and laziness (what?...)

ok, in all seriousness: this is not my own pattern. it comes from amigurumi two! crocheted toys for me and you and baby too. I did make the stitching on the shell and the underside pink instead of orange.