Christmas in July

I feel like a begin every blog post by explaining how busy I've been. I think its mainly cause I feel bad I don't get time to write a post as often as I'd like.

This is actually, my busiest time of the year. I'm working on Christmas projects for the crochet magazines and there are lots of people on Holiday at Duttons so I'm having to work overtime to help cover in the shop.

The above photo is of my mailing pile from last Monday. I can't share any pictures of whats in those mailing bags for a few months but lets do the maths. 3 parcels = 12 crochet commissions = 144 individual components. So thats a crochet rate of 7.2 components an hour to get all these projects done on deadline. You really don't want to see the state of my hands :(

There is some great stuff in these but they are top secret till the magazine comes out. I'll keep you posted as and when I can.

I can share some of the magazine stuff thats come out this month.

This first one is from the latest issue of lets knit magazine.

This was pretty straight forward commission they asked for a sailors cap and a boat toy. It was a interesting design and make. These were shapes that were a bit different from things I've worked on before. I started with the hat. I'd made a beret before so started that way. The rest fell into place pretty easily and I'm so pleased with the finished look.

I'm sure you can guess I went a bit idea crazy after making this one. I could make police caps, solider caps and all sorts of hats. I have nephews who love Paw patrol and they all have uniforms on, I could make hats for all of them...
Needless to say I haven't made any more yet. I still might. I really love the idea but its firmly in the "when I have time" part of my ideas bin, so it might not happen.

The boat was an idea I'd had before so it was lovely to have the excuse of a commission to work on something from my ideas bin for a change. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

I'd also like to say a huge thank you for lets knit for the amazing photos of these project. I don't want to get all political but I was so pleased to see a little girl was used. A lot of what I am ask to do for magazines seem to reinforce stereotypes and seeing a picture like this just makes my day.

 Love crochet magazine have been keeping me very busy with three new projects in the latest issue and a few old favorites of mine in there aswell.

 For my cheeky monkey I wanted to play around with the way I'd done monkeys in the past. Instead of adding on a face patch I used two layers to make the face shape simpler.
I also gave this monkey a bum. Sorry if you are easily offended, but most monkeys I have met do have a very obvious bottom. I decided it was time for us to have an adorable little bum on this amigurumi monkey. If you make it and it makes you giggle then I've done my job.

 This project is a bit bitter-sweet for me. I love Fab lollys but I can't eat them any more. They changed the recipe and now use artificial sweeteners. I taste artificial sweeteners as bitter on my palette so they taste awful to me now. Its a hard life.
 This sunglasses case is so cute. It wasn't hard to design. The imagery of a fab lolly is so iconic I couldn't really go wrong.
This is for kiddy glasses but you can make it bigger if you want an adult one. Just do a few more round of each colour.
 I should defiantly make more styles in these. Woops more for the ideas bin, I'll never get it empty.

 Last for Love crochet is my cactus. This is such an easy design so I went to town with the decoration. He's so cute. I weighted the pot with rice in a knot of tights fabric so it stands up lovely. Its a great, fun project. I'm hoping to see lots of variations being made by you lovely lot. Send me picture. I like getting pictures.

 I'm still working on my little character dolls when I get a few spare minutes. I'm working on a Game of thrones inspired set next (if you didn't guess)
 I'm not sure how big this set will be. I'd love to make them all but that might be a little bit crazy. Its just there are so many big characters that I want to make so its gonna be a lot either way. Maybe I should just commit to make them all. Maybe not.

Who saw ep 1 of season 7? I stayed up till 2am to watch it live as it went out in the US. I was so good :)

First finished doll is the wonderful moody and brooding Jon Snow. Pattern should be live in my Etsy pattern shop later today.

There will also be some collectable dolls pre-made available to buy.

Before I finish I just want to thank everyone who has visited my etsy pattern shop 
Its not just people who buy my patterns that help me out, you all do. Every-time you share or favorite one of my designs it gives my little shop a real boost.
I am just me on my own here, trying to create patterns everyone will love and I couldn't carry on doing it, if it wasn't for your continued support. Thank you all so much.

Happy crocheting
Love Liz xxx

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