Ralphie in Pink Bunny Suit

Ralphie pattern for sale on Ravelry.com

Hello hello hello...trying to get back into the swing of blogging again! I was able to get my latest design onto Ravelry tonight and wanted to share it here.  If you are looking to create your very own amigurumi Ralphie doll from A Christmas Story, here you go! :D Enjoy, happy crocheting :D

It's about time I start keeping up on here better.  Having a working computer and all, there's hardly any excuse not to! :) 

Have been making things almost daily, so I will have lots to post of projects from the recent-past.  This particular one above is a custom rug I'd made for a nice lady who wanted it for her teen daughter.  She is a Walking Dead fan (can't blame her!) and wanted a rug that had to do with that theme.  This was prior to adding a target symbol above and "blood" splatters all over the whole thing (done with a mix of acrylic paint colors in red/brown).  

I've got 99% of my finished projects on my Instagram (BelleAndrew if you'd like to come see or follow along) and you'll probably see them pop up on here soon, too, so I can catch up on posting. 

Plushie Owl (with pattern!) Crocheted

Wow- long time, no update... we've had lots (and lots) going on in this household and to be honest, just haven't had time or ability to update on here.  The only way I have to update my blog at the moment is using a dinosaur of a laptop and it's on its last leg.  So I will do the best I can and in the meantime, attempt to figure out how to blog using the tablet!

I've been regularly posting to my Instagram account (I'd love for you to follow me there: BelleAndrew) and you will see the owl for this pattern there from roughly 2 weeks ago. :)


PLUSHIE OWL PATTERN:
You will need worsted weight yarn in 2 colors (which you will hold and crochet with simultaneously) for the body and wings, and any colors of your choice for the eyes, beak and tummy (only 1 strand at a time).
Crochet hook size "I"

You will work in rounds after the initial chain. Use stitch markers to help mark the end of each round.

With 2 strands held tog, chain 8.
1. sc in 2nd ch from hk and ea ch after to last.  3 sc in last. Working around to other side of ch, sc next 5.  2 sc in final ch.  do not sl st. (16)
2. *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next* around (24)
3. *2 sc in next st,  1 sc in next 2* around (32)
4-17. sc around (32)
18. 2 sc in next, 2 sc, 2 sc in next, 10 sc, 2 sc in next, 2 sc, 2 sc in next, 10 sc
19. 3 sc, sl st into next. turn. 2 sc, sl into 3rd.  F.O.

with finished ear on the right, count over 10 spaces and join in 11th to begin other ear.
Repeat 19 but don't F.O.

For eyebrow/peak:
*Continue into next space from the skipped 10 on top of head. sl st into 1st.  sc into next 8 (front loop only) sl st into last, turn.
*skip very 1st st, 6 sc, sl st 1, turn.
*skip very 1st, 4 sc, sl st 1, turn.
*skip very 1st, 2 sc, sl st 1, turn.
*ch 1, sc2tog., ch 1.
*carefully sl st around entire top edge of head/ears.  when you reach the point again, F.O. weave in all ends and stuff.  Squeeze top of head together and stitch closed- be sure to use the back loops only of the portion you crocheted FLO.  Leave the eyebrow/peak UNsewn until after adding the eyes.

For eyes (make 2):
using center yarn color, ch 2.
*6 sc into 2nd ch from hk.
*2 sc into each sc (12). switch to outer color
*(2sc ,  1 sc) around (18)
*(2sc, 2 sc) around (24)
sl st into 1st st. F.O. leaving long tail for sewing. Attach to head

For beak:
with beak color, ch 5
*sc into 2nd ch from hk. sc 2, sc2tog turn.
*ch 1, sc , sc2tog, turn
*sc2gtog, ch 1. f.o. leaving tail for sewing. attach below eyes

Sew down the eyebrow/peak.

For wings (make 2):\
Holding 2 strands tog: (leave long tail at beginning for attaching later)
1. ch 2, 4 sc into 2nd ch.
2. ch 1, turn. 2 sc into 1st, sc 2, (2 sc into last).
3-5. ch 1, turn. sc across (6)\
6. ch 3, turn. sl st into 1st st. sl st into next, ch 3, sl st into next, sl st into next, ch 3, sl st into next, ch 5, sl st into next. F.O. weave ends.   Attach to body.

Sew or glue on buttons for eye pupils (optional).


***Please do not copy/claim this pattern or distribute it.  I would be happy to see your final results and if there are any questions regarding the pattern, please don't hesitate to ask or email.  You may sell the finished results but all I ask is credit for the pattern. Thank you!

I wrote this pattern out as I was making my test owl, so I have no made a 2nd one based solely on following the pattern.  Please let me know if there are any mistakes or parts which are no understandable and I will do my best to help/fix it.  


#owl #pattern #amigurumi #crochet #toy #animal

Happy Fourth of July!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day today, maybe with some BBQing going on and fireworks tonight!! We will be making up a batch of homemade caramel popcorn (search post history for this recipe on my blog) and bringing it along to the bay for our town's big firework show.  Somehow it always seems to take longer than the year before to get it started up, so popcorn is a good waiting tool! :D 

For everyone without power- may you get it back soon!
For everyone in the scorching heat- may a cool day come your way!
And for everyone having a rough day- CHEER UP and look ahead to brighter days around the corner! :)

---Mr. Seahorse OH SO CUTE and cozy looking! :)

Sourdough Bagels (recipe)

Hello!  Tonight I am going to share a recipe for homemade bagels that I made yesterday (and are gone already!!).  I posted a photo to my instagram account (@belleandrew) and the recipe is below: 

SOURDOUGH BAGELS:
1 cup sourdough starter*** (see below)
2 eggs
3 tbsp oil
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar

In addition you will need a large boiling pan (like you would use for spaghetti noodles, say) filled 3/4 with water and 2 tbsp sugar.  

In a stand mixer bowl (with dough hook attached) combine the starter with eggs and oil.  Mix together flour, salt and sugar.  Add to starter mixture.  Mix on low speed for approx 8 minutes, adding enough additional flour for the dough to leave the sides of the bowl.  Cover with a cloth and place in a warm area until doubled in size.  (1 1/2 to 2 hours).  Turn out onto lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces.  Round into a ball and poke a hole in the center using your fingers and stretch/pull gently to create the bagel shape.  Cover again and let rest 20 minutes.  Meanwhile boil the pan of water with sugar in it.  Drop each bagel into the water one at a time.  Only boil a few at a time.  Cook 7 minutes, turning once. Drain; place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 375* for 25-35 minutes (depending on your oven...mine only took the 25 min), rotating pan halfway through baking.  Bagels should be golden brown.  

Makes 1 dozen bagels.

Once you get the hang of making them, you can add various extra ingredients for a variety of bagel  types!! Store in an air-tight container or large ziplock bag.  Enjoy!

***A quick note about the sourdough starter... I keep one on hand all the time in my kitchen, but many people don't.  You can look up a basic sourdough starter recipe online (try www.allrecipes.com) and use just about any you find to your liking.  Be sure to use it at its bubbly peak for this recipe to get the extra punch and tang of sourdough!  

Any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to drop a line! :)

End of May already! Plus Instagram!

I can hardly believe it is the end of May already.  Some schools in different areas of the country are getting out already for Summer break even!  Here they are making up for the snow days taken off in the Winter, so they still have another couple weeks.  I'm kinda glad (haha). :D

I continue to have difficulties with uploading photos onto my blog, which makes me sad.  I don't know if it's a blog thing, computer thing, user error, or what...?? I never had issues prior to the last couple months.  I'm going to keep working on it.  BUT...in the meantime, I finally made an account over at good ol' Instagram.   I mostly just post photos of my crafting goodies like I do on here, but much more frequently since it doesn't give me any issues like my blog does!  So if you'd like to be able to see pictures on a fairly regular basis of random crochet, clay, crafts, etc.... I am "Belleandrew" on there (as well as Twitter and Facebook).  Feel free to follow me on those! :)

I am in the middle of trying out the "plarn" idea with crochet.  Plarn being yarn made from plastic bags you get at grocery stores & such.  We'll see how that comes out and IF I can get photos to work on here, I'll post it.  :) :)  Hope you're all having a great week!

 

Bug-Eyed Owl and Rainbow Blanket (crochet)

 

Hello everybody :) How is your May starting off?  We are getting rain (as usual) but today was just sunny enough to be able to get a few quick photos taken in the back yard. 

This big bug-eyed owl toy was a pattern from a book by VooDoo Maggie. I don't have it on hand to put the exact title, but I'm fairly certain no one else has that name if you go look it up!  The book is full of unique crocheted toy patterns that don't look like everything else out there. (A plus!)  

 Second up-- a rainbow stripes blanket with fringe/tassels on each end.  This is crib-sized, or lap sized if you like.  One end has red tassels and the other has purple. I couldn't decide which color, so went with both. :D  I will be posting this one in my Etsy shop as soon as possible.  

For everyone enjoying sun right now.. LUCKY!! And for those of us in the rain.. at least we have an excuse to stay inside and crochet. :D