I adore the STS swaps! What's even better than the STS swaps? Well, a Secret Santa swap with the STSers...of course. This year, I was given the task of doing some non-creepy stalking to find out what I should make for my partner, AS. Here are the crafty bits I came up with:
1. Mine for Life Shrug made with this pattern (27/50)
2. Carryall Bag (28/50)
3. Sewing-themed Noisy Bangle (29/50)
4. Knitting Pendant with Chain (30/50)
5. Dyed Yarns - "You're Making Me Blush!" and "The New Frontier" (31/50)
6. Log Cabin Style Pincushion - based off ones made by AM (32/50)
7. Wee Critter That Crochets (33/50)
8. Fabric Hoop Art (34/50)
Another attempt at crochet. This was the class project for the crochet workshop held at last weekend's fiber festival. I'm not quite sure why I've always been intimidated by crochet...but I think I'm finally beginning to get over the fear of the hook!
My first crochet project that's not an amigurumi! I loved how it turned out! The patten may be found here. This was a fun project, but I think I should stick with knitting!
Let's say hi to Aoi (Blue) and Niiro (Red), shall we? Aoi was based on the Octopode Pandemonium pattern (with a few tiny modifications) and Niiro is a miniature version (using crochet thread) of my first attempt at amigurumi critters!
Mr. Octopus' Bio
Japanese Name: Aoi
English Name: Blue
Height: 6 inches (well, he's actually 5.5 inches, but he claims he's 6 inches tall)
Weight: More than an ounce
Birthplace: Japan
Favourite Food: Veggies and Protein Shakes (he's a bit of a health nut)
Likes: Traveling (to exotic destinations). Water Polo. Collecting Manga.
Dislikes: Shopping. Fast Food Joints. Rude People.
Personality: Very Shy. Always The Gentleman. Very Intelligent. Creature Of Habit.
Aoi has excellent multi-tasking skills and loves to solve puzzles. If you're ever in a bind, he's the one you should turn to for help!
Warning: He has neurotic tendencies!
Little Miss Shroom's Bio
Japanese Name: Niiro
English Name: Red
Height: 2 inches (yep, she's a shorty)
Weight: That's none of your business *glare*
Birthplace: Japan
Favourite Food: Sushi (not tako though!) and Lollipops
Likes: Dancing. Shopping. Posing For Pictures. Anything Uber-Girly.
Dislikes: Getting Dirty. Doing Household Chores. Confrontations.
Personality: Extrovert. Child-like Innocence. Peace-maker. Good Listener.
Niiro's usually the life of a party. When it comes to friendships, she's extremely loyal and giving!
Warning: She is emotionally fragile!
Princess Batt - For future adventures in spinning!!
Bitty Bear - So that Lumi (the neon bunny) won't be all by his lonesome self!
Oh dear. It looks like Mr. Superior has found his way into my home, courtesy of my friend, RY. He's cute, ain't he?
The unthinkable has happened. I finally figured out how to crochet and read crochet patterns!!! Being ambitious (per usual), I decided that my first real crocheted project would be an amigurumi of sorts. May I present, the happy little shroom! This little dude took me less than 2 hours to work up. Soon, it will be traveling to a new home. Bye-bye little mushroom! 
Check out the contents of the swap package that I found on my doorstep this evening!!!
First up, an adorable crocheted dolly for my niece, S! It comes with three outfits!
And for me, there was the cutest little monster wristlet!
Wow. My swap partner rocks!
We're off to a great start for the first personal fabric swap in 2007!! CC sent me a bunch of cool black and white fabrics for my quilt-in-the-making stash:
She also included a bunch of swap goodies. Tsk! Tsk! This was supposed to be a fabric swap with 'a little extra' on the side. It sure doesn't seem that way anymore! Check out the crocheted items (a wonderful scarf and a little pouch), buttons, and a bunch of beads with jump rings already attached to them:
Funny thing about that scarf. The other day, a friend commented that I'm always knitting scarves for folks but I never seem to have one. Well, CC's scarf couldn't have arrived at a better time! Here's a close-up:
Thank you kindly, m'dear! I hope you receive your swap package...soon!
I rescued these from a quaint thrift shop in Hartville, Ohio for 10 cents a pop! Not too long ago, it crossed my mind that that I should get on with learning how to crochet. A coincidence? Perhaps so. 
Erm, no...I don't. Someday, I will learn how. For now, I am content to make crochet needle rolls for others. This is my very first attempt, and there will be no other like it because I winged it. That's right...it's a OOAK, and just so for CD :)
