Anyone say headless chicken?

That’s how busy I am.  I’m running around like a headless chicken and only seem to bumping into stuff and making a mess everywhere.

Work has had me run ragged; changing jobs has been a wonderful step forward for me although a couple of weeks ago some of my most trusted and beloved colleagues were made redundant as a by-product of the business’ strategy shake up.  It was devastating to have them sitting across from me one minute and gone the next.  I’m still quite shaken about it all, I can only imagine how they feel about it.

Christmas orders have also been keeping me out of trouble – I’ve been working on some lovely amigurumi projects which I’ll link upon finishing and a load of hats and even a doggie hoodie!  Here’s a peek:

In time for Christmas, I found this super adorable Santa bust on the Dendennis Facebook page.  Dendennis is a local Amsterdam amigurumist (with his first book coming out next year) and he posted an entire set of winter themed patterns, all for free!

If you haven’t heard of Movember before, it’s an awesome cause I get behind in one form or another every year.  Last year I convinced my dad to shave off his moustache for the first time in years to raise money, and he managed to raise more than $1000 AUD.  Amazing, hey!  This year my husband jumped on the wagon and part of his campaign was to take photos of himself in any pose requested.  He topped it off with an incredible homage to Freddie Mercury: 

He’s managed to get himself into the top 100 nationally (Netherlands) and donations are still open for a few more days, so go on.  There’s perhaps no better cause than Men’s Health.

Here’s my mo.

Ages ago on the Winkieflash blog I saw a post about an amazing skein of yarn from Knit Collage.  I really wanted to buy it, but at 30 plus euros I couldn’t justify it.  Until I visited KreaDoe in Utrecht and nearly went bananas with all the pushing and shoving and the inability to do or see anything that I really wanted to do.  So I bought myself a skein of Gypsy Garden as a reward, and this hat is the result.  It’s deliciously warm, I’m wearing it every day.  The photo unfortunately doesn’t do it justice, it’s much nicer in person!

Here’s something I’m extraordinarily proud of; Lucie Bunny.  She began as a pattern from Sidrun that I posted earlier, but over time she has become less someone else’s pattern and much more my own design.  It’s such a shame that I’ll never be able to list her as a pattern for someone else, but that just wouldn’t be fair on the original, original designer.

I just love her, especially in the muted colours that I’ve made her in.  Such a contrast to many of the amigurumi animals and dolls I see every day.

And finally, an owl hat.  I love making these.  I’ve made quite a few now (but not photographed them before sending them out the door).  This is one that I managed to make too small and still have at home, hence the photograph!  It’s a free pattern that is probably one of the most widely used owl patterns, from Repeat Crafter Me.  She has loads and loads of seriously cute hat patterns, enough to keep anybody busy for months.  And just about everything is free!

I could go on and on with the projects I’ve been busy with, but honestly, it’s just cutting into precious crochet time!  Must get back to it.