I ♥ Amigurumi! ☺

I think I have a new love! Amigurumi! I love making little dolls and animals. I just wish they didn't take so long to make, because I get excited about my next idea before I finish the one I'm currently working on. :) I love the challenge of making new dolls. 

I finished my Pippi Longstocking doll a few days ago. Pippi Longstocking was one of my favorite movies when I was a little girl. I still watch it with my daughter. 

Pippi is made entirely out of Acrylic yarn. She has cute little freckles, safety eyes, and is stuffed with Polyester Fiberfill. Her hair has pipe cleaners braided into it so you can bend it any way you want! She stands 12" tall. Pippi is available to purchase in my Etsy shop!

 

Dance Like No One's Watching

Is there anything better than the weekend? Most of the time I don't even notice what day it is, since I'm a stay-at-home mom. But I know when it's Saturday because my husband doesn't have to work, and my daughter's face in the morning when she sees him is so wonderful to see. She gets a little squeal in her voice and tells me how excited she is. For some reason, everything seems better on the weekend. The coffee tastes better, the diet isn't as strict...even a little rain doesn't matter because taking a weekend nap is so relaxing. (Not like I remember what a nap is, because my three year old daughter refuses to take them, meaning no nap for mommy!) We just love the weekends!

Today we participated in the walk for Multiple Sclerosis for the fourth year. As I mentioned before, my sister-in-law, cousin, and some friends and acquaintances suffer from this terrible disease. My brother talked to a woman on the walk today that had MS herself, along with her father and her brother. That is just devastating. What are the chances? The only plus side to that situation would be that they wouldn't have to feel alone. I cannot even imagine how my sister-in-law handles each day being a stay-at-home mom to two boys, and being in a wheelchair in a two story home where she can't get around easily. But, she rarely complains, and takes each day as it comes. If anything, it has been an eye opener. When my kids want me to get on the floor and play with them, or chase them around outside and pop bubbles, even if I don't really feel like it- I cannot say no. I try not to take the fact that I am able to play with my children for granted. 

My brother snapped this picture of my daughter at the walk this morning. It is one of my favorite pictures of her of all time. She is always dancing and singing, always putting on a show for anyone who will watch, and always trying to make everyone around her smiling and happy. She is the kind of child who will walk up to an 80 year old woman in the mall and ask her if she wants to come to her house to play. (I can say this is true, because it has happened multiple times!) When I was pregnant with her little brother and waiting to see the doctor, a little girl came in with her parents, and she was a dwarf. My daughter marched up to the little girl, gave her a big hug, and said "I love you." I watched my daughter dancing today and I was hoping that she will always have the ability to dance in the grass. I hope on every higher power there is that she never has to endure the struggles of a disease like Multiple Sclerosis.

"We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance."  ~Japanese Proverb

Friday Fun: Say cheese!

Last night I was looking at some old photos, and I starting thinking about how quickly the years go by. I probably wouldn't even notice this if it weren't for my children. They grow up so fast, and I wish I could pause time for a few years so I can enjoy every little moment even more. I can remember the way I felt when my daughter was born like it was yesterday. Now, I have a son who was a baby one minute, and a one year old toddler the next. I love looking at older photos of my children and seeing the change in them. 

I laughed when looking at some pictures of my daughter. She went through a phase where she made the funniest face in almost every single picture. We couldn't get her to just smile and say "cheese." These photos fit her personality so well. She is a performer; always putting on dresses and sparkly shoes and saying, "Mommy, take a picture of my pretty dress!" She has to show me how every dress twirls. She will sing and dance while watching her reflection in the mirror. She is such a ham!

(These photos were taken by the amazing Terry Johnston!)

 Some day when my little girl is an actress, I will show these pictures to her agent. :)

Harry Potter Amigurumi Doll

I have to admit that I've never seen a Harry Potter movie, and I've never read the books. I am not really into fantasy novels. However, I do know a lot of people who are fans. I decided to try to make a Harry Potter Amigurumi doll, because I wanted a challenge. It took a lot of Google Image searches, e-mails to my brother, and sweat and tears but I think Harry is pretty cute. :) 

 I made his coat removable, and underneath he is wearing his Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry uniform. 

His face and glasses were embroidered by hand. He even has the lightning bolt scar! His tie is made of yarn with felt stripes and collar. He has Blue safety eyes, and is stuffed with Polyester Fiberfill. 

I sold Harry on Etsy about an hour after I posted him. I realized later that I should have priced him higher, since you can't walk into a store and buy a Harry Potter doll. But, he will probably enjoy his new home in Texas and I'm glad all my hard work was not wasted. :)