Sugar Skull Pumpkin

And now for something completely different...

With the beautiful fall weather we're having I decided to change things up a little with this week's post.  While the crocheting is still going on in the background, the focus here will be on drawing/decorating. This has always been a challenge for me. I could never get the design in my head to channel it's way to my hand and onto the paper, etc.  I am in awe of those to whom it comes easy. (You know who you are.)

So, armed with a pumpkin that I had carefully selected during our annual apple picking outing, I began to devise a plan. Said pumpkin was chosen specifically for its skullish shape - narrower at the bottom and wider at the top.

I went with sharpies to draw my design versus actual carving. The pumpkins seem to last longer uncarved and I wanted to use color.

 

I think it looks good!  Not scary.  Kind of Grateful Dead-ish.








To learn more about the history of sugar skulls, click here http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/history/a/dayofthedead.htm

I'd love to see the pumpkins you've decorated this year!  Add a photo in the comments section if you have one.

CAL lessons learned

Well, here's the whole family.  I can just tell that the little one is going to be a handful - look at the mischief in that expression!

Since this was my first Crochet Along (CAL) I'd like to share what I've learned from the experience.

1.  I liked the sense of team membership, working with other crocheters to create a common product.

2.  I looked forward to the regularly scheduled posting of the current week's pattern steps.

3.  I enjoyed the creative freedom of choosing colors for my creations based on the instructions given and seeing the interesting combinations that other crafters had chosen.

4.  I learned that I do not like embroidery.  At all.

5.  I realized that if I'm not enjoying a project I should just move on to something more satisfying as opposed to trudging through it just to get it done.  There are too many other options available to spend time on a project that doesn't make me happy.

Having said that, I think the pattern was expertly written and easy to follow.  I loved the whole CAL concept and plan to continue joining these creative bandwagons.  I just will not embroider to add embellishment, but perhaps use variegated yarn or cute buttons, etc.  Time to move on....

Nesting doll CAL week 2 complete

This week's crochet along pattern segment was for the medium nesting doll of the set. She's shorter and slimmer than the first one so that she'll be able to fit inside the bigger one. Next week's doll will be even tinier still to fit in this one!

I like that the pattern mimics the indented narrower area of the doll bottom where it meets with the top section.  Realistic touches like that really make a project stand out.

I'm looking forward to next week's pattern segment to see what colors the littlest doll will be!

Did you have a set of nesting dolls like this when you were a child?