Ana Paula's Amigurumi Patterns & Random Cuteness

Getting ready for the Holidays! / Preparandome para las fiestas!

2011-12-05T22:14:00.001-05:00

I posted lots of new toys to my Etsy shop :)
Subi un monton de juguetes nuevos a mi Etsy shop!

& two new patterns!

A big, chunky narwhal

A very happy whale :)

And then, again, my computer died! It seems like it happens every other month, and I'm beginning to think it's me :(
** Y para variar, otra vez, se me rompio la computadora! Parece que me pasa cada dos meses, y estoy empezando a asumir que el problema soy yo :(

I'm working on a new pattern right now, it should be cute when it's done :)
Estoy haciendo un patron nuevo, me parece que va a quedar re lindo!

I hope you have the nicest week, chau!
**Que tengan una muy muy linda semana, beso!

I finally took pictures!

2011-11-18T21:41:00.002-05:00

... of all the toys waiting for a new home ;) I'm planning to post them in my Etsy shop little by little, while I finish off the manuscript for the new book :)
*** Por fin saque fotos de todos los juguetes en busca de un hogar ;) Los voy a subir de a poquito en la tiendita de Etsy, mientras que termino el manuscrito del libro nuevo :)

Here are some of the ones I posted today/Aca estan algunos de los que subi hoy!

Little Kitten & Bed

Sweet Amigurumi Panda :)

Happy Hot Cocoa

Little Baby Owl Plushie

I hope you like them :)
Espero que les gusten :)

Fridays are tought, the girls are super tired from the week (so they argue, yell and drive us crazier than usual), and I'm exhausted! All I can think about is my bed, which has been calling me since 8! If we're lucky, tomorrow they won't wake us up until 9! -it's always nice to dream ;)
*** Los viernes son bravos, las nenas estan re cansadas de la semana (o sea que se pasan peleando, gritando, y enloqueciendonos mas que de costumbre), y yo estoy muerta! Solo puedo pensar en mi camita, que me esta llamando desde las 8! Si tenemos suerte, manhana las nenas no nos despiertan hasta las 9! -sonhar no cuesta nada ;)

Tomorrow we're taking Oli & Marti to see Snow White at WPU and they are really excited. Two years ago (Marti was 3) we saved all this money to take them to see Mary Poppins in Broadway (it's so expensive, isn't it?), and at certain point Martina told me: "You can turn it off now". Can you believe it?!!! :)
I'm sure tomorrow will be different, now that she's such a big girl who goes to kindergarten :*(
I'll let you know how it goes :)
I hope you have a really nice weekend. Have fun!
*** Manhana vamos a llevar a las nenas a ver Blanca Nieves en WPU y estan re contentas. Hace 2 anhos (Marti tenia 3) juntamos un monton de plata para llevarlas a ver Mary Poppins en Broadway, y despues de un rato Martina me dijo: "Ta, apagalo". Pueden creer?!!! :)
Manhana seguro no pasa, ahora que esta tan grande y va a preescolar :*(
Despues les cuento :)
Espero que tengan un fin de semana MUY lindo y divertido. Besos!

11/11/11!

2011-11-11T22:19:00.000-05:00

Hola!!!

I hope you guys had a great summer/are happy summer's almost there :)
**Espero que hayan tenido un verano re lindo/que esten contentos de que el verano casi casi llega :)

Our Summer was all right, but I was feeling kind of sick, and finally had to change medicine for my MS. The good thing is I don't have to do shots anymore, I now have pills!!!
**Nuestro verano estuvo bien, pero yo me senti medio horrible todo el tiempo, y al final me cambiaron de remedio para la EM. Lo bueno es que ahora no me tengo que pinchar mas, ahora son pastillas!!!

The girls are growing up fast and are back in school. Oli's in 3rd grade, and Martina started kinder, which I really wasn't ready for. These kids grow up way too fast, I can't believe Marti's already starting to read and write, & that Oli wants her nails painted purple!... I'm getting really old people! ;)
**Las nenas estan creciendo rapidisimo y estan de vuelta en la escuela. Oli esta en 3ro y Martina empezo preescolar, y la verdad que yo no estaba pronta. Crecen demasiado rapido, me parece mentira que Marti ya este aprendiendo a leer y escribir, y que Oli quiera las unhas violetas!... Estoy mas vieja que nunca gente! ;)

The last time I got really sick Franco finally gave me the "yes" for a dog, and that's how Santiago came into our lives, so this time I took advantage of it and convinced him to get him a friend. I couldn't, however, get him into getting another Boston :(, because he said this time he was going to pick it, so we adopted this really funny little mutt that keeps us and Santi entertained. He's 4 already and very loving :)
**La ultima vez que me enferme mal Franquito me dio el "si" para un perrito, y traje a Santiago, asi que sabiendo como viene la mano,empece a hacer campanha para un amiguito para Santi. No pude convencerlo para traer otro Boston :( porque dijo que esta vez lo iba a elegir el, asi que adoptamos uno chiquito muy gracioso marca perro ;) que tiene 4 anhitos y la verdad que es muy adorado :)

I'm working on a new book :) This one won't be toys, but toy-inspired. It's been a lot of fun to make. My deadline is on the 22nd, so after that I'll start making new patterns, toys and things for my abandoned Etsy shop.
**Estoy trabajando en un libro nuevo :) Este no va a ser de juguetes, pero inspirado por los amigurumi. Esta re divertido la verdad. Tengo que mandar todo el 22, asi que despues de ahi empiezo a hacer patrones, juguetes y cositas nuevas para mi tiendita de Etsy, que tengo super abandonada.

& that's it for now, I will not forget this blog for so long again! (I have such a normal, everyday-is-pretty-much-the-same life, that most times I don't know what to write about). I'm missing Montevideo big time, so if anyone has approx. $1,000 lying around and wants to get me a plane ticket I'll be more than happy ;)
Big hug and talk to you soon!
**& eso es todo por ahora, a ver si no me olvido del blog por tanto tiempo de vuelta! (tengo una vida tan normal, y tan "todos los dias lo mismo", que la mayoria de las veces no tengo nada para contar). Estoy extranhando Montevideo horriblemente, asi que si alguien tiene mas o menos 1000 dolares por ahi y me quiere comprar un pasaje de avion yo mas que feliz ;)
Abrazo fuerte y hablamos prontito!

Ana Paula

Some pics from Renegade :)

2011-06-14T14:14:00.000-04:00

It was so much fun! We LOVED it!
Estuvo re divertido y NOS ENCANTO!

My first Craft Fair!

2011-06-11T08:17:00.000-04:00

Please come visit!
I'm in #56 :)

Help Colleen & get lots of patterns! ♥

2011-05-04T19:00:00.002-04:00

Colleen is the mom of 3 little kids, that were 6 mo, 1 and 3 years old when their mom was diagnosed with cancer.
They are now 7, 6 & 5 (thank you Kimi!), and they moved with their dad & mom to Seattle so Colleen can undergo treatment.
Being a mom, I can't even begin to imagine Collen's pain, and the pain her whole family is going through. Cancer sucks and I still can't understand why we haven't found a cure.
You can read her whole story here, and you can help by either donating money or participating/placing a bid in one of the auctions that her family has every week (here)

One of the things being auctioned this week is a signed copy of "Amigurumi Toy Box", and ALL the patterns availabe in my Etsy shop, so I really think you should go over and place a bid HERE!

You have time until Friday. Please please go over and help out, and keep their family in your thoughts!
Hug,
Ana

& the winner is...

2011-04-29T21:50:00.000-04:00

Me! for having the loveliest, smartest, kindest girl in the planet, who's turning 8 tomorrow!

8 years ago, on April 30th, I became a mom :)

So, in honor of Oli, the birthday girl, the winning number is 8!

& also 4, for the month, and 30 for the day :)

** & la ganadora...

soy yo! por tener la nena mas adorada, inteligente y buena del mundo, que mañana cumple 8!

Hace 8 años, el 30 de abril, me converti en mama :)
Asi que en honor a Oli, la cumpleañera, el numero ganador es 8!

& tambien 4, por el mes, y 30 por el dia :)

Thank you so much everybody for sharing your favorite toys :) It seems like the unicorn is by far the winner -it's so fluffy I could die!!! have you seen "Despicable Me" :D

Congratulations/Felicitaciones

♥ Luli

♥ Satyr

♥ Helene

Check your e-mails, and answer back with your addresses :)

Happy weekend!

Feliz fin de semana!

Amigurumi Toy Box Giveaway! ♥

2011-04-26T19:49:00.003-04:00

Yay! Amigurumi Toy Box is finally out. I've gotten a lot of e-mails about Amazon's "usually ships within 3 to 6 weeks". Don't worry, it shouldn't take that long at all! I contacted the super nice people at Martingale and they've already shipped their books, so that should change fast. -In fact I got an e-mail today from someone that got an e-mail from Amazon today saying that their book is on their way :)
If you want to make sure, you can always get it from Martingale :)

But for now, you can get your copy from me! If you'd like to get a copy of Amigurumi Toy Box please let me know which one's your favorite project from the book (you can see all of them here, in Amazon or Martingale), and this Friday I'll select a winner (with the random number generator thingie).
Good luck!

**Si queres una copia de Amigurumi Toy Box contame cual juguete del libro te gusta mas (podes ver todos aca, en amazon o Martingale), y el viernes que viene les cuento quien gano, ta?
Suerte!

& now it's raining! :p

2011-04-12T17:29:00.004-04:00

& ahora esta lloviendo! :p

Last Sunday we did the 4-mile MS Walk with the girls and some friends and it was a lot of fun! The only bad thing is that it took me the whole day yesterday to feel like myself again! I went to bed at 9:30, which is really really early for me (I usually go to sleep between 11:30 & 12). I don't know if I should blame my MS or the fact that I'm going to be 35 this year and I'm just getting old. Plus this crocheting thing isn't the most athletic thing, you know? ;)

**El domingo pasado hicimos una caminata para MS (4 millas, que ni idea cuantos km son, pero parecio un monton) con las nenas y unos amigos y estuvo muy divertido. Lo unico malo es que me llevo todo el dia ayer recuperarme. Me acoste a las 9:30, que para mi es recontra temprano (gralmente me voy a la camita entre las 11:30 y las 12). No se si tengo que culpar a mi MS o los 35 que se me vienen... toy vieja che! Ademas esto del crochet no es de lo mas activo, vio? ;)

I'm working on a new toy that I think is really cute (the idea, at least, is really cute). I've already started it (and taken it apart) twice and I think this is it. I just have a couple more parts and I'll show you to see what you think :)
** Estoy trabajando en un juguete nuevo que es adorado (bueno, la idea es adorada). Ya lo empece (y desarme) dos veces, pero me parece que ahora estamos. Solo me faltan unas partecitas mas y les muestro para ver que piensan :)

Because I got so frustrated with that project I took a little time off and made this little bunny and carrot :)
**Como me frustre tanto con ese proyecto me tome un tiempito e hice este conejo :)

The pattern is in my Etsy shop and in Ravelry (if you buy it by clicking the button you can dowload it right away!)

The weather's crazy! *** El tiempo esta totalmente loco!

2011-04-01T10:37:00.005-04:00

At the beginning of the week I was in the playground with the girls and they were wearing long sleeved shirts, no coat, and it was warm and sunny. Today it's freezing again, and it's kind of snowing! What's going on?!!!
**Al ppio de la semana estaba en la placita con las nenas, que tenian unos bucitos manga larga sin abrigo, estaba lindo, soleado... Hoy hace un frio terrible, y medio que quiere nevar! Cual es?!!!

And I know it's wrong to be complaining, considering what Japan is going through. I can't even begin to imagine the pain... I wish I could do something to make it all go away. In the midtime, and I know it's been posted everywhere, but we can all help at least a little. I always like to help Unicef...
**Y ya se que esta mal quejarme de tanta pavada mientras que la gente en Japon esta pasando por lo que esta pasando. No me da la cabeza para empezar a imaginarme el dolor y la desesperacion de tanta familia... Ojala puedieramos hacer algo para que pasara todo, no? Mientras tanto, se puede hacer un poquito. A mi siempre me gusta ayudar a Unicef...

That's it for today, thank you for liking the cats :) Here's my new Easter pattern: a little chick and its bunny box/house :) Happy weekend!

**Y eso es todo por hoy! Aca va el patron nuevo para Pascuas: un pollito y su casita de conejo (!)
Feliz fin de semana!

New Pattern! / Patron nuevo!

2011-03-24T16:30:00.005-04:00

it was about time! ;)
ya era hora! ;)

Kitten & Mom, all ready to be crocheted in my Etsy shop.
& here:

I hope you like them :)
Happy Thursday!

Lots of News...

2011-03-22T23:21:00.001-04:00

Hola, I hope you're all doing well, and that Japan recovers really fast from this craziness (hugs). It seems like our little planet can't take our abuse anymore...

**Espero que anden todos bien, y que Japon se recupere rapido de toda esta locura. Parece que el planeta ya no se banca tanto abuso, no?

Some weeks ago I was nominated for the Annual Crochet Awards for the Best Designer for Children -thank you so so much-, so you can go over here to vote for your favorites :)

** Me nominaron para los Premios de Crochet del 2010 como Best Designer para nenes -muchas muchas gracias- , asi que si tienen ganas pueden ir aca para votar por sus favoritos :)

Then Jennifer, from Crafsanity interviewed me for the magazine, and I did a pattern for some cute Easter themed egg cozies. The magazine is really good, and you can get your copy here.

**Jennifer, de Craftsanity, me hizo una entrevista para la revista, y yo hice un patron de gorritos para huevos (yo nunca habia visto estos cositos hasta que vine a este pais, por ahi es porque en Uruguay nunca jamas en mi vida me comi un huevo para el desayuno... cafecito con leche y tostadas y nada mas), pero nada, estan re lindos, y pueden comprar la revista aca.

And, finally, a new pattern for Crochet Today :)

**y un patron nuevo para Crochet Today!

Oh! and I'm working on a new pattern for my little Etsy shop that I'll post as soon as it stops snowing (the lighting is horrible and my photo skills are even worse)

**A, y tambien estoy trabajando en un patroncito nuevo para la tiendita, que voy a subir apenas mejore el tiempo ('ta todo gris y horrible, y yo sacando fotos soy un queso)

That's it for today! Don't forget to vote ;)

Eso es todo por hoy! No se olviden de votar ;)

xoxo

Sigo con la crocheterapia ;)

2011-03-09T09:12:00.000-05:00

I'm still doing crochet-therapy ;)
New toys in the shop!/Juguetes nuevos en mi Etsy!

Some baby koalas (the pattern is in Amigurumi Two)

Una tacita de chocolate -yo siempre le digo Vascolet, que es la marca mas conocida de chocolate en polvo de Uruguay, y el que tomaba cuando era chica :)

**A cup of hot chocolate with a marshmallow! -I always call chocolate milk "Vascolet", the most popular brand of powder chocolate thingie in Uruguay, and what I used to drink when I was a little kid :)

Set of 2 Happy Eggs -one with pink cheeks, one without. Wouldn't they make a cute Easter surprise? (the pattern is in Amigurumi World)
**Dos huevitos -uno con cachetitos rosados y otro no. No que estan lindos para regalarselos a alguien para las pascuas? (el patron esta en Amigurumi World)

& that's it! Back to my new project for Crochet Today! xoxo
Pronto! Ahora voy a seguir con un proyecto nuevo para Crochet Today. Besos!

Toys for Crochet Today! March/April 2011

2011-03-08T11:04:00.001-05:00

I forgot to show you / Me olvide de mostrarles:

I made a rabbit & a tea set :) Hice un conejito & un juego de te.
Both patterns are in the latest issue of Crochet Today/ Los dos patrones estan en la ultima Crochet Today

I've been also meaning to tell you for the longest time that my patterns are also available in Ravelry -my user name is anapaulaoli. The best part about it is that you don't have to wait for me to send you the patterns, you can download them right away!

Today I woke up at 3:30 and couldn't fall asleep again, so I got up at 4:30. Right now I'm so sleepy I can't keep my eyes open!
**Hoy me desperte a las 3:30 y no me pude volver a dormir, asi que me levante a las 4:30. Tengo tanto suenho que se me cierran los ojos!

xo!

Really really late, but here it is...

2011-03-07T17:44:00.001-05:00

The winner of the Dutch Amigurumi World is: Creapuitje! Congratulations :)
I can not find your e-mail address, and I can't understand your blog! (Creapuitje is from Belgium), so please please contact me as soon as possible so I can send you your book.

The Toy Fair was a lot of fun, and I got to meet two really nice ladies, also Etsy sellers, that make some amazing toys: Jen, from Zooguu, who makes really adorable stuffies, and Aileen from Felt Forest, who makes magical Waldorf inspired mushrooms and sweet creatures.
Visit their stores and take a look!
** La Feria de Juguetes de New York City estuvo buenisima, y conoci a dos sras que tb venden en Etsy y que hacen unos juguetes adorados, peguense una vueltita y miren que lindo: Zooguu & Felt Forest.

I've been in the weirdest mood lately. I don't feel like doing anything, and been feeling sorry for myself (I know, pretty pathetic). I can't wait to get over it! I'm in serious need of some crochet-therapy... or a ticket to Montevideo :(
** Ultimamente ando medio chumi chumi. No tengo ganas de hacer nada, y me estoy teniendo una lastima barbara (ya se, ya se, bastante patetico!). No veo la hora de que se me pase... tengo una necesidad urgente de crocheterapia ;) -aunque en realidad todo se solucionaria si me pudiera ir a mi Montevideo... y bue.

xoxo
Ana Paula

TIA Toy Fair

2011-02-09T19:32:00.002-05:00

Hola, I'm going to be demoing in the TIA Toy Fair in NY city this Sunday (thank you Etsy!), so I'm going nuts trying to finish as many toys as possible to take with me.
SO, I promise promise I'll do the giveaway thingie on Monday instead.
PROMISE.
Hug, and sorry :)
Ana

Happy/Feliz 2011!

2011-01-28T19:17:00.002-05:00

Never too late to wish some happiness, right? This year started with a whole lot of snow, and it's cold!
*Nunca es demasiado tarde para desear felicidad, no? Empezamos con un montonazo de nieve, y hace un frio cruel!

I forgot to tell you (because we all know I'm horrible at blogging), that Amigurumi World was translated to Dutch! They gave me two copies, so I'm sharing one :)
If you understand what's going on in the cover -and I really wish it's what I'm thinking it is ;) Please write your name in the comments so on Feb 5th I can pick a winner with the RNG thingie.
Good luck!

How's your Holiday crafting going?

2010-12-07T13:37:00.001-05:00

Como van todas las cosas lindas que estan haciendo para las fiestas? Yo haciendo crochet sin parar!
-I've been crocheting non-stop!

I hope you're all doing great/enjoying the new weather/planning some greatness for the new year :)
**Espero que uds esten todas/os bien/disfrutando del tiempo nuevo/planeando cosas alucinantes para el ~~2012~~ :) 2011!

Hablamos pronto!

I made them for the Crochet Today! Jan/Feb 2011 issue- Los hice para la revista Crochet Today! Enero/Febrero 2011.

The baby hats are gone!

2010-11-27T10:22:00.000-05:00

Vendi los gorritos! Asi que hice uno nuevo (0-3 meses), y unos ositos :)
**So I made a new bunny one (0-3 months), and some teddies :)

Hey, am I the only one annoyed at the new Flickr sign-in little pop-up screen that you have to close, and then reload the page to finally get to your pictures? :p
**Che, yo soy la unica a la que le molesta la nueva forma de sign in a Flickr? La ventanita no se cierra sola, y ademas tengo que refresh para finalmente llegar a mis fotos!!! :p

I hope you have the nicest weekend!
Espero que tengan un lindo finde!
xoxo

I made some little hats...

2010-11-25T10:44:00.000-05:00

Hola!
I hope you have a fun time with your family & that you have lots of good things to be thankful about :)
**Espero que se diviertan mucho con sus familias & que tengan muchas cosas buenas por las que estar agradecidos a la vida (hoy aca en usa es Thanksgiving day).

Look! baby hats in my Etsy shop :)

Little Mouse crochet pattern

2010-11-23T19:44:00.002-05:00

The pattern for the bigger mouse is in Amigurumi Toy Box.
**This is the pattern for the little mouse :)

You'll need:
F/5 (3.75 mm) & E/4 (3.5 mm) crochet hooks.
Worsted weight yarn in grey and pink.
6mm plastic eyes with safety backings.
Pink & black embroidery floss and embroidery needle.
Tapestry needle.
Fiberfill or stuffing of your choice.
-When I made him he was approx. 2 inches/5 cm tall.
I hope you like him!

Body
We start crocheting the little mouse at the nose.
Using grey and the F hook:
R1: Ch 2, 5 sc in second ch from hook.
R2: 2 sc in each sc around. (10 sts)
R3: Sc 10.
R4: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times. (15 sts)
R5: Sc 15.
R6-10: Sc 15.
R11: *Sc 1, dec 1*, rep 5 times. (10 sts)
Stuff
R12: Dec 5 times. (5 sts)
Bind off and weave in end.

Ears -make 2 :)
Using grey and the F hook:
R1: Ch 2, 6 sc in second ch from hook.
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing, sew to body, weave in loose ends.

Arms & Legs -make 4 :)
Using pink and the E hook:
R1: Ch 2, 4 sc in second ch from hook.
R2-3: Sc 4.
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing, sew to body.

Tail
Using pink and the E hook loosely ch 16, sl st 15 starting at second ch from hook. Bind off leaving long tail for sewing, sew to body and weave in loose ends. Pronto! :)

Rain rain go away...

2010-11-16T19:11:00.000-05:00

New toys in the shop!

I finally finished posting all the toys included in the Amigurumi Toy Box Set in Flickr :) My pictures are not good at all, but you can see the nice ones that are in the book (some of them), in Amazon :)
The littlest mouse didn't make it in the book, so I'll post the pattern here tomorrow or Thursday.

**Termine de subir todas las fotos de los juguetes de Amigurumi Toy Box en Flickr :) Mis fotos la verdad que estan horribles, pero pueden ver las del libro mismo en Amazon :)
El raton mas chiquito no esta en el libro, asi que mañana o pasado pongo el patron aca, ta?

Have a great night!
Que tengan una linda noche!
:)

Little Pumpkin

2010-11-12T20:34:00.001-05:00

I forgot to tell you that Santiago was a little pumpkin (more like a fat little pumpkin, his outfit didn't even close all the way!), isn't he the cutest?
** Me olvide de contarles que Santiago se disfrazo de calabacita (una calabaza gordita, el disfraz no le cerro del todo -ven en el cuello que esta abierto?). Como veran, cada dia mas lindo mi varoncito ;)

In other totally unrelated news, my left eye WILL NOT stop twitiching, and it's been a month! It's driving me crazy :p
Cambiando de tema, mi ojo izquierdo no para de moverse, ya va un mes, y me esta volviendo loca! :p

Happy weekend!
Feliz fin de semana!

Almost all the toys included in Amigurumi Toy Box...

2010-11-02T13:47:00.003-04:00

missing the unicorn & mom & baby fox :)

Thank you again and again for the nice comments! I'll post all the pics in the Amigurumi Toy Box Set soon.

It's coming in April 2011! :)

2010-10-31T21:02:00.005-04:00

[Available for pre-order here!]

& I'm finally done with it!, I hope you'll like it, it was a lot of fun to make, I just love these little toys!. I'll share more pics soon :)

I hope you had a fun Halloween, Oli was Daphne from Scooby Doo, and Marti a pirate (she made me buy her a Tinkerbell outfit and at the last minute chose last year's pirate dress!)

Big hug, I am so so tired today, I think I'm going to bed early.

** Se viene Amigurumi 3 en abril del 2011, y por fin termine con todo, espero que les guste :)

Espero que hayan tenido un Halloween divertido. Oli se disfrazo de Daphne de Scooby Doo, y Marti de pirata (me hizo comprarle un disfraz de Tinkerbell y a ultimo momento se quiso poner el de pirata del año pasado -tipico Marti)

Abrazo fuerte a todas, hoy estoy muerta! Me voy a la cama tempranito...

Hola :)

2010-09-26T21:22:00.001-04:00

My computer died 2 weeks ago, so I used my husband's & suffered like a weirdo! ;)
It's finally all better and back, and I feel like myself again... how sad is it that I'm so dependent on this little piece of machinery?!!!!
**Mi computadora se murio hace 2 semanas, asi que estuve usando la de mi marido y sufriendo como una infeliz! Por suerte ahora esta bien y de vuelta, y me siento yo de vuelta... no que es re triste que dependa tanto de esta maquinita?!!!

I hope you had a nice weekend, I'll be back soon! :)
Espero que hayan tenido un lindo fin de semana, vuelvo pronto! :)

Hey, before I leave I wanted to share this really funny spam message I got. I get lots and lots of these, but this one gets a prize for originality! They were trying to post it under the "How to add hair to your amigurumi" post:
"I think the hair care is very important for every woman, because the hair represent one of the most attractive point. A woman can even conquer a man just with a beautiful hair, and when that happend is better the man buy viagra for a great sexual performance."

I couldn't stop laughing when I read it, and I'm doing it again!!! Too funny!!! :p

Thank you Tylenol PM!

2010-09-06T23:09:00.000-04:00

I did have such a good night sleep! I ended up taking Tylenol PM, though, because nothing was working, not even my Tilo tea! I had some way-too-realistic dreams, and I felt kind off weird the day after. I think it's because I never take anything. Next time I'll just take half the recommended dose!
**Al final dormi barbaro, pero me tuve que tomar una pastillita porque nada estaba funcionando, ni siquiera mi tecito de tilo! Tuve unos sue~os rarisimos y demasiado realistas, y al otro dia me senti medio raro. Creo que es porque nunca tomo nada. La proxima voy a tomar solo la mitad de lo que dice en el frasquito y a ver que pasa.

Other than that, things have been going kind of slow. I just finished a pattern for Crochet Today, and I'm planning to work on some new toy tomorrow, we'll see. Oli starts school on Wednesday so we'll put all her things together to start second grade (!!!). I have a daughter who's in SECOND GRADE!
**Ademas de eso esta todo tranquilo y lento. Recien termine un patron nuevo para Crochet Today, y ma~ana tengo planeado hace un juguete nuevo, vamo'a ver. Oli empieza las clases este miercoles, asi que vamos a tener que arreglar todas las cosas en la mochila para empezar segundo (!!!) Tengo una hija que esta en SEGUNDO!!!

& now it's late and I should go to bed :) Thank you for all the nice comments and for being there. Big hug!
**Bue, y ahora es re tarde y me tengo que ir a la camita :) Muchas gracias en serio por todos los comentarios tan lindos y por estar ahi. Abrazo grande!

ps: New stamp in Hola!/Sellito nuevo en Hola! :)

Good Morning! Buen dia!

2010-08-31T11:05:00.002-04:00

I'm sleepy, I've been having the worst time falling asleep lately, and haven't slept for more than 4 hours for a while! :( I hope you're feeling better than that!

**Estoy muerta de sueño, ultimamente me esta costando dormirme y hace rato que no duermo mas de 4 horas! :( Espero que uds. esten mejor que yo!

I just finished a new teddy, and the overalls are removable -in case he has to pee ;) I hope you like him! pattern here :)
**Recien termine un osito nuevo. El enterito se le puede sacar -por si tiene que hacer pis ;) Espero que les guste! el patron esta aca :)

Por fin paro la lluvia!!!

2010-08-27T12:02:00.000-04:00

It finally stopped raining!
I've been making a lot of stuff, but couldn't take any pictures until yesterday, when the sun finally appeared :)
***He estado haciendo un monton de cosas pero con el tiempo horrible este (todo gris y oscuro) no pude sacar ni una triste foto hasta ayer!

Can you believe school starts in a week?! Summer flew by and Oli's happy to start school again (she LOVES school). Marti's excited too, she's starting in a new school that I lovelovelove (Montclair Community Pre-K), where Oli went when she was little (they grow up way too fast). So the year's starting again, and I'm not sure how I'm feeling about it. I do like the routine, but I like it a lot better to have them around all the time. We'll see...
***Pueden creer que la escuela empieza en una semana?! El verano se fue volando volando, y Oli esta re contenta de empezar (le encanta la escuela). Marti tambien, empieza en una escuelita nueva que a mi me encanta (Montclair Community Pre-K), donde fue Oli cuando era chiquita (que rapido que crecen!). Asi que bueno, ya arranca el año de vuelta, y no estoy muy segura de si me gusta o no. Me cae bien la rutina, pero me gusta mucho mas tenerlas en la vuelta todo el tiempo. Vamo'a ver...

I opened Hola! again & posted some new stuff :)
*** Abri Hola! de vuelta & subi unas cositas nuevas :)

One little girl, two outfits stamp set - Oli loves these!
Una nena, dos vestidos (bue, un vestido y un pantaloncito) -sellitos- a Oli le encantan estos!

A matryoshka embroidery thingie (so much fun to make!)
Un bordado de una matrioshka (re divertido de hacer)

I just finished a big wholesale order of toys, and posted some new stuff to anapaulaoli too :)
Recien termine una orden grande de juguetes y subi cosas nuevas a anapaulaoli tb :)

Little Unicorn crochet pattern/ Patron de un "unicornito" -como se dice "unicornio chiquito"? ;)
& a little jellyfish that would *love* to move in with you ;)
& un aguaviva que *le encantaria* mudarse contigo ;)

& that's it for today, I hope you're having a really nice week. Thank you for writing and being so nice. Big hug!
** & eso es todo por hoy, espero que esten teniendo una linda semana. Gracias por escribir, abrazo grande para todas!

Cortito / Shortie ;)

2010-07-22T09:05:00.001-04:00

Little Fox & Mom / Zorrito & Mama ♥
-New pattern in the shop /Patron nuevo
Lindo Jueves!
Happy Thursday!

Hola!

2010-07-18T18:39:00.002-04:00

We're officially done with school! I love having the girls around, but just because we're not all that entertaining, we enrolled them in some activities: Oli started gymnastics and is having some trouble with her cartwheels -definitely takes after me :p
Marti started ballet and we're hoping she'll talk a little there (she went to school for 2 whole semesters and didn't say a word, but at home she talks non-stop)
Santiago's sick and was throwing up yesterday until 12 pm :(
Franco's teaching some Summer classes, and I'm doing some wholesale work, and trying to stay cool (it is way too hot here in NJ).

**Bue, estamos oficialmente en vacaciones! Me encanta estar con las chiquis todo el tiempo, pero como no somos muy entretenidos las anotamos en unas clases:
La Oli empezo a hacer gimnasia y esta teniendo problemas con las ruedas de carro -igual a mi, que soy un queso :p
Marti empezo ballet y estamos deseando que por lo menos hable un poco (este año en la escuela no dijo ni una palabra, pero en casa habla sin parar)
Santiago esta medio enfermo y ayer se paso vomitando hasta las 12 :(
Franco esta dando unas clases, y yo estoy haciendo unos trabajos al por mayor, y tratando de no morirme de calor (esta horrible horrible aca en New Jersey).

I posted two little new patterns in the shop:
**Subi dos "patroncitos" nuevos a la tiendita:
**************************************************************************

**************************************************************************

& I did a bag and apple cozy for the Sept/Oct issue of Crochet Today! (I borrowed the pic from their site)
**Tb hice un bolsito y un buzo para manzanas :) para Crochet Today! (la foto es del sitio de la revista)

& now I'm sitting in front of the fan, drinking mate and hoping for better weather ;) I hope you had the nicest weekend, hug!
** Y ahora estoy sentada en frente del ventilador, tomando mate y esperando que refresque un poco! Espero que hayan tenido un lindo fin de semana.

I almost forgot!!! how amazingly good did Uruguay do in the World Cup? :) :) :) :)
***Casi me olvido!!! Que lindo que jugo La Celeste! :) :) :)

♥ SOY CELESTE, SOY CELESTE, CELESTE SOY YOOOOO ♥

**************************************************************************
**************************************************************************

La Flor mas grande del mundo ( José Saramago)

2010-06-19T12:35:00.000-04:00

in pain!

2010-06-11T10:10:00.003-04:00

Last week I started to work out again after 3 million years. A new gym opened just next to AC Moore (how convenient) :) and I signed up. I love it because it's nice and cheap and only for women! That means I'll finally do some butt exercises that I was always too self conscious to do :D
Plus I won't have to listen to guys making annoying noises when they're lifting weights (what's up with that?!)
They also have classes, but I can't do those, I am way too uncoordinated. Everybody is smiling and clapping and going right while I'm confused and dizzy, not clapping, and going left!
I've only been there 3 times (I signed up this week), and while I really don't like working out, I'm happy to finally be doing something, I'm going to be 34 at the end of the month and I'm feeling it!

*** A pedido de Nahir (y perdona que me pelotudee), beso!
La semana pasada empece a hacer gimnasia de vuelta despues de 3 millones de años. Abrieron un gimnasio nuevo al ladito de AC Moore (una tienda de lana, que conveniente!) :) Me gusta porque es lindo y barato y solo para mujeres! Finalmente voy a poder hacer ejercicios para la cola que no hacia porque soy una boba y me daba verguenza :)
Ademas no me tengo que bancar los ruidos insoportables que hace los pibes cuando estan haciendo pesas (cual es con eso?!)
Tambien tienen clases pero yo no puedo porque tengo cero coordinacion. Todo el mundo sonrie y aplaude y va para la derecha mientras que yo estoy cofundida y mareada, sin aplaudir, y yendo para la izquierda!
Ya fui 3 veces (me anote esta semana), y aunque no me gusta ni ahi hacer ejercicio estoy contenta de finalmente estar haciendo algo, a fin de mes cumplo 34 y ya lo estoy sintiendo!

However, I'm going to stop going for a couple of days (hopefully only a couple of days). Yesterday morning I slipped and fell off the stairs on my butt and now I can't sit right :( I spent all afternoon yesterday sitting on my side with a heat pad in my butt. It's really painful! Kind of funny if you think about it -Franco smiles every time he reheats the pad, and I can tell he's trying to hold a big laugh :D
So Uruguay is playing its first World Cup game today at 2pm, I'll be watching it in this awkward position, with my heat pad and all. I hope we do good!

*** Igual ahora voy a tener que parar por unos dias (espero que solo unos pocos dias). Ayer de mañana me resbale y me cai de la escalera de cola y ahora no me puedo sentar bien :( Ayer me pase toda la tarde sentada de costado y con coso caliente (se puede poner en el microondas) en la cola. Duele horrible! Imaginense que imagen mas simpatica (...), Franco se sonrie cada vez que me trae el pad y se le nota a la legua que se esta aguantando la risa :D
Asi que hoy el primer partido de Uruguay en el mundial lo vere asi, de costado, o con la cola para arriba. Espero que juguemos bien!

Thank you, as always, for the nice comments and for liking the bear. THANK YOU :)
Don't fall! ;)

*** Muchas muchas gracias, como siempre, por los comentarios tan adorados y por gustarles el osito. GRACIAS :)
No se caigan! ;)

Almost Done!

2010-06-05T13:03:00.002-04:00

Thank you so so much for all the Amigurumi 3 love, I think this is going to be the cutest one :)

On Wednesday I'll be officially almost done with my deadlines and will be able to breath easily again ;)

Can't wait to start working on new stuff...

I did this bear for the June/July issue of Crochet Today!

I borrowed the first pic from their Ravelry account. Not long ago I started to use my account there, and I'm totally addicted! It's so much fun to look around and see what other people are making, isn't it?

Back to crocheting, almost done! Yay! ;)
ps: I'm still planning to do the Skype thing, hopefully we can agree on a day next week. Happy weekend!

super fast

2010-05-20T13:02:00.002-04:00

I'm feeling a lot better :)
Done with one project, working on the next one.
Amigurumi 3 is coming next year! :)
Big hug and thank you for so many nice, nice comments. I wish I could go out and enjoy the day, it is SO BEAUTIFUL here in NJ today!
I hope it's as beautiful where you are and that you can go outside and take a nice walk :)
Back to crocheting for me!
xoxo

hola...

2010-04-14T10:28:00.013-04:00

I hope you are all doing great :)

I had to change my MS medicine & I've been feeling pretty bad :(
Still, I've been doing work for Crochet Today, and I'm still working on the "secret project".
So this is going to be short. I'm crocheting in slow motion and generally living in slow motion while I wait for my body to get used to the meds :(
Big hug!

**Hola, espero que anden todos bien.
Tuve que cambiar de remedio para la MS y me he estado sintiendo horrible :(
Igual hice unos juguetes para Crochet Today, y todavia sigo trabajando en el "proyecto secreto".
Asi que este va a ser cortito. Estoy haciendo crochet y viviendo en camara lenta mientras que espero que mi cuerpo se acostumbre a las inyecciones nuevas :(
Un abrazo fuerte!

:(

2010-02-27T21:43:00.004-05:00

Un abrazo fuerte a la gente de Chile

Y otro al pueblo de Haiti

Para colaborar con Unicef Haiti

Para ayudar a Chile

Skype?

2010-02-20T13:09:00.000-05:00

Hola!
As I was talking with a friend from home, I thought I could set an hour a wek for you guys to call me through Skype to answer any crochet questions you might have/problems with a pattern. It'd be easy for me to show you a stitch,or talk you through whatever you're having a problem with.
Do you think that'd be helpful?

Hola!
Estaba hablando con una amiga de Uruguay, y se me ocurrio que por ahi estaria bueno poder fijar una hora por semana para que uds. me puedan llamar x Skype para preguntarme cualquier duda que esten teniendo con los patrones. Esta bueno porque les puedo mostrar los puntos, o explicar lo que les esta costando.
Les parece que seria util?

Amigurumi Workshop :)

2010-02-18T19:28:00.001-05:00

It's been SO LONG! I hope 2010's being nice to you :)
It came with lots of work for me, so I'm happy. The more work I get, the more I can stay home with the girls!

I'm also going to be having an Amigurumi Workshop through the Adult School of Montclair. I'm really excited, it's my first time! I've "planned" it so a beginner can start with a simple project and work her/his way up to a doll, and a more advanced amigurumi maker can start designing her/his own amis :)

We'll be meeting every Tuesday from 7-9 starting March 2, 2010, ending May 11, 2010. It should be lots of fun!
So if you're in New Jersey, or close (there's a bus, and also a train that comes here from NY city) please come keep me company :)
You can register right here!

*I promise I'll be back with more news. Some exciting projects going on... I'm so so grateful.
Big hug!

Holiday Cheers... BOGO & a little present :)

2009-12-20T10:17:00.005-05:00

Can you believe how close we are to Xmas?

Starting today & through Xmas (Dec 24):

♥ get any pattern from the shop (including specials), and get another one of the same or lesser value for free :) *Don't buy the free one, just let me know your choice in the Message to Seller at checkout*

No parece mentira lo cerquita que estamos de Navidad?
Desde hoy & hasta el 24 de diciembre:

♥ compra cualquier patron de la tienda (incluidos los specials), y elegi otro de igual o menor valor gratis :) *No compres el segundo, decime cual queres en el "Message to Seller" @ checkout*

Happy Holidays! I really hope you have the nicest time with the people you love, thank you *very much* for visiting my blog, and being so nice. Big hug!

Felices Fiestas! De corazon espero que tengan unas fiestas muy lindas con la gente que quieren mucho, *muchas muchas gracias* por visitar mi blog y ser tan adoradas. Abrazo fuerte!

♥ ♥ ♥

MR. & MRS. SANTA CROCHET PATTERN ♥

To crochet Mr. & Mrs. Santa and their tree you will need:

Worsted weight yarn in skin color, red, white, green, blue and yellow
6 mm plastic eyes with safety backings
Size F/5 crochet hook
Fiberfill or stuffing of your choice
Red embroidery yarn & embroidery needle
When I made them Mr. Claus turned out to be approx. 12 cm/almost 5 inches tall and Mrs. Claus approx. 3.5 inches/9 cm tall. The tree approx. 4 inches/10 cm tall. Depending on how tightly you crochet and the yarn you use they might end up being a little bit smaller or a little bit bigger.

HEAD

Using skin color:
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R5-11: Sc 24
R12- *Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
Work on face – position and attach plastic eyes, embroider mouth
R13- *Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (12 sts)
Stuff firmly
R14- *Sk 1 sc, sc 1*, repeat 6 times (6 sts)
Bind off, weave in loose end.
Embroider Mrs. Claus hair.
Santa’s beard:
Using white:
Loosely chain 17, and starting at third chain from hook:
*3 hdc in next st, sk 1 st, sl st 1*, repeat to the end, bind off leaving long tail for sewing and sew to head.

BODY
Using red if making Santa and white if making his wife:
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4-5: Sc 18
If making Mrs. Claus:
R6- Sc 18 through back loops only (you’ll use the front loops later when crocheting the skirt)
If making Mr. Claus:
R6- Sc 18
For both:
R7-8: Sc 18
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing, stuff and sew to head.
Mrs. Claus’ skirt:
Using red:
Join yarn to one of the front loops you left in R6, sc 2 in each sc around (36 sts)
R2- Sc 36
Repeat R36 until you’re happy with the skirt’s length, bind off and weave in loose end.

LEGS & ARMS
Make 2 of each!
Using red if making Santa and white if making his wife:
R1– Ch 2, 4 sc in second chain from hook
R2- Sc 4
R3-4: Sc 4
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing, sew to body.

SANTA’S HAT
Using red:
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3- Sc 12
R4- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R5-6: Sc 18
R7- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R8-9: Sc 24
R10- *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (30 sts)
R11-12: Sc 30
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing, stuff and sew to head.

White roundie thing on top:
Guess what color yarn!
R1- Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3-5: Sc 12
Stuff
R6- *Sk 1 sc, sc 1*, repeat 6 times (6 sts)
Bind off leaving long tail to use for sewing and sew to top of hat.

MRS. SANTA’S HAT
Using skin red:
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R5- *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (30 sts)
R6-9: Sc 30
R10- Sc 30 through front loops only
R11- Sc 2 in every sc around (60 sts)
R12- Sc 60, chain 15, sk 29 sts and sl st 1
Bind off and weave in loose end.

CHRISTMAS TREE
Using green:

R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3-4: Sc 12
R5- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R6-7: Sc 18
R8- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R9-10: Sc 24
R11- *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (30 sts)
R12-13: Sc 30
R14- *Sc 4, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (36 sts)
R15-17: Sc 36
R18- *Sc 5, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (42 sts)
R19-21: Sc 42
R22- *Sc 6, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (48 sts)
R23-27: Sc 48
R28- Through back loops only:
*Sc 6, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (42 sts)
R29- *Sc 5, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (36 sts)
R30- *Sc 4, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (30 sts)
R31- *Sc 3, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
Stuff tree
R32- *Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R33- *Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (12 sts)
R34- *Sk 1 sc, sc 1*, repeat 6 times (6 sts)
Bind off and weave in loose end.

ORNAMENTS
Using blue:
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing and sew to tree.

GARLAND
Using yellow:
Loosely chain 100, wrap around the tree and sew in place.

Pronto :)
Don't forge to post pics of your finished toys to our Flickr group :)

Little Miss Worm's beret & scarf

2009-12-19T10:55:00.004-05:00

Here we are, waiting for the blizzard, it's so cold outside! and I remembered the beret & scarf for Little Miss Worm (Amigurumi Two!, page 58-61), that didn't go in the book.

**Aca estamos, esperando la tormenta de nieve horrible que se viene supuestamente en media hora, hace un frio!, & me acorde de la bufandita y el gorro que le hice a Little Miss Worm, y que no fue en el libro (Amigurumi Two!, pag. 58-61).

Here it goes:/Aca va:

With worsted weight yarn & F hook:

Beret
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R5- *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (30 sts)
R6- Through back loops only:
*Sc 3, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R7- Sc 24
Bind off, weave in loose end.

Scarf
Loosely chain 31, sc 30 starting in second chain from hook, bind off and weave
in loose ends.

Happy crocheting!

Last-minute Xmas present idea

2009-12-18T16:09:00.002-05:00

I was thinking that it'd be cute to make a crochet toy kit.
You have enough patterns that you can print out (or you can use one the ones in the blog).
So print one, and add everything needed to make it:

Yarn and a little bit of stuffing (you probably have plenty of that!)
Plastic eyes or buttons
A little piece of felt, embroidery yarn and needle
Matching thread & sewing needle
Tapestry needle
A crochet hook.

It'd be cute to add a gift certificate for "all the help you need to crochet your..."

Then find a box around the house, make it pretty, and throw all the supplies, the pattern and the gift certificate in there :)
Pronto!

Cyber Monday Cheers :)

2009-11-30T11:43:00.005-05:00

It's Cyber Monday! Just for today:
**get any pattern from the shop (except specials), and get another one of the same or lesser value for free :) *Don't buy the free one, just let me know your choice in the Message to Seller at checkout*
**Free Shipping in all the toys (wait for a revised invoice, or I'll refund the shipping $ through PayPal)
Hug!

*Es Cyber Monday! Solo por hoy:
**compra cualquier patron de la tienda (menos los specials), y elegi otro de igual o menor valor gratis :) *No compres el segundo, decime cual queres en el "Message to Seller" @ checkout*
**Free Shipping en todos los juguetes
Abrazo!

ps: if you want to make the little snowmen, the pattern is in the shop!
& also in Ravelry:

Yay! I'm answering comments now! :)

2009-11-25T23:01:00.006-05:00

Thank you to all of you nice people that helped me figure it out, I will now be answering away!
*Muchas gracias a todos los que me ayudaron, ahora voy a contestar todo todo!

We've been settling into our new place, and we're happy :)
Oli loves her new school, and Marti's starting the week after Thanksgiving (but only 3 days a week). Santiago loves to run around in the little back yard, and I'm in walkable distance from A.C. Moore, what else can I ask for? ;)

*Nos estamos acostumbrando a la casa nueva, y estamos contentos :)
A Oli le encanta la escuela nueva, y Marti empieza la semana despues the Thanksgiving (pero solo 3 dias por semana). A Santiago le encanta correr en el fondito, y yo puedo caminar a A.C. Moore, que es una tienda donde venden lana!!!, que mas puedo pedir? ;)

The kitchen is really cute... it's very 70s, and it even has an ironing board that folds down from the wall! how cute is that? (for show, since I don't ever iron!)
The attic is really nice, and big, and has high ceilings. Franco wants to claim it as an office. My "work room" is full of all the boxes that we haven't opened yet, so the couch is still my office ;)
The only thing that I really really don't like is the Barbie bathroom upstairs. It's really pink.
Pink tub, pink tiles, & it used to have pink toilet & sink. We changed those, but it's still pretty pink... I hope some day we'll have $ to change it, but for now, pink it is!

*La cocina es re linda, re 70s, y tiene una tabla de planchar que sale de la pared, de una puertita de madera, a-do-ra-da (para pinta nomas, porque yo no plancho ni de casualidad).
El atico es grande, y tiene techos altos. Franco lo quiere agarrar de oficina. Mi "cuartito de tejer" esta lleno de todas las cajas que todavia no hemos abierto, asi que mi oficina oficial sigue siendo el sillon del living :)
Lo unico que no me gusta ni ahi es el baño de arriba, que parece el bañito de Barbie, todo es rosado, los azulejos, la bañera, y antes hasta el inodoro y la pileta, pero antes de mudarnos los cambiamos. Igual sigue bastante rosadito el asunto... espero en algun momento de nuestra vida tener $ para cambiarlo, pero por ahora, seguira rosado y horrible.

That's it for today!
Tomorrow we're spending Thanksgiving with some friends. Oli brought the cutest turkey thingie from school today :)
Thank you again for helping me figure out the message thing.
Happy Thanksgiving!
:)
Ana

ps: What do you think of the new layout?
pd: Que les parecen los colores nuevos?

ps2: the little flying bear is flying to your home! ;)

pd2: el osito esta volando a tu casa! ;)

Answering comments

2009-10-31T09:20:00.002-04:00

Hola! We're in our new house, surrounded by boxes! Now I'm procrastinating the UNpacking -I've been doing a lot of it, though, but this morning I feel like "resting"
I'm trying to configure the blog so I can answer your comments from the comments form and it's driving me nuts! I tried doing this: http://thisischen.com/2009/04/how-do-i-reply-to-comment-on-blogger.html but it's not working... does anybody know some html? Help! :)

**Hola, ya estamos en la casita nueva, rodeados de cajas! Desde que nos mudamos (el martes) estoy arregla que te arregla, barre que barre, y hoy estoy muerta, me voy a tomar la manhana!
Estoy tratando de configurar el blog para contestar los comentarios, y no me sale! Estoy tratando esto: http://thisischen.com/2009/04/how-do-i-reply-to-comment-on-blogger.html pero nada... alguien sabe html y me puede ayudar? :)

What to do when you're moving and have three million things to pack and organize?

2009-10-14T13:00:00.004-04:00

Well, crochet, of course! (I'm the worst procrastinator in the planet)
I made a little puppy, and then one with a dragon outfit :)
(The patterns are in the shop if you want to make your own)

*Que se hace cuando uno se esta por mudar y tiene tres millones de cosas para hacer?...
Un poquito de crochet, OBVIO! (Soy la peor)
Hice un perrito, y despues otro disfrazadito de dragon :)
(Si quieren hacer unos, los patrones estan en la tienda)

My excuse (to myself) was that it's difficult to try and pack with the girls around, so I just had to help Oli with her embroidery (she can't thread the needle yet)... isn't this the cutest?

**Mi super excusa (a mi misma) fue que nada, es re dificil tratar de poner cosas en cajas y tal con las nenas en la vuelta, asi que le tuve que ayudar a la Oli con su bordado (todavia no puede enhebrar)... no que le quedo re lindo?

& then the girls went to bed, and Franco had to prepare classes, and I was tired (...), so I made this Super Hero cutie stamp for hola

**& despues de que las nenas se fueron a dormir, Franco tuvo que preparar unas clases y que se yo, y yo estaba re cansada (...), asi que hice el sellito este de una nena super heroe :)

& then the guilt started eating me up and today I boxed almost all my clothes, and all the girls' clothes, & I have a midterm, so I'm going to go study.
I really HATE the moving process, I can't wait for it to be over and be in the little house. I'm really excited, though. Did I tell you that my yarn is taking a little room over? :) :) :)
That's it for today, wish me good luck!

**La verdad que me acoste sintiendome medio culpable, asi que hoy casi casi termino con toda la ropa de las nenas y la mia, y como tengo un parcial hoy de noche ahora me voy a estudiar.
La verdad que ODIO el proceso de la mudanza, quiero estar en la casita nueva ya mismo. Che, les dije que mi lana va a tener su propio cuartito? :) :) :)
Bue, las dejo por aca, beso!

This is what i need right now...

2009-10-11T10:48:00.002-04:00

8 arms! I HATE packing, I hope you're having a nice Sunday :)

*Necesito 8 brazos para ayudarme con la mudanza! Espero que esten teniendo un domingo re lindo :)

Halloween

2009-09-30T12:03:00.004-04:00

Can you believe we're a month away from Halloween? You can tell you're getting old when years just fly! Oli's already thinking about her costume. The girl that always liked pink and princesses now likes blue and wants to be a pirate... I have to admit I like it a lot better :)
Marti couldn't care less about what she wears, but she wants to go trick-or treating, so she'll probaly end up wearing one of Oli's old costumes.

Are you guys getting ready for Halloween? & for the cold?!!!

No parece mentira lo rapido que se esta yendo este año? (cuanto mas vieja mas rapido se me pasa el tiempo!) En un poquito mas de un mes se viene Halloween... Oli ya esta planeando lo que se va a poner. La nena que queria todo rosadito, todo de princesas y que se yo ahora le gusta el azul, y quiere disfrazarse de pirata... yo feliz :)

A Marti no le interesa ni le preocupa lo que se va a poner, solo piensa en los caramelitos que le van a dar, asi que probablemente termine usando uno de los disfraces de antes de Oli.

Por donde uds estan los nenes salen a pedir caramelos y tal? Cuando yo estaba en Uruguay nunca, pero me parece que ahora estan agarrando la costumbre...

Hablamos pronto/Talk to you soon :)
The pumpkin monster is my new Halloween pattern/El monstruo es mi patron nuevo para Halloween :)

Holidays Savings...

2009-09-28T20:49:00.004-04:00

This is going to be super fast. I just wanted to let you know that I lowered the price of almost every single pattern in the shop... times are hard, and the holidays are getting here super fast. It's time to start crocheting some gifts! ;)
Hug!

Este va a ser re cortito. Solo les queria contar que baje el precio de casi todos los patrones en la tienda... 'ta dificil la cosa, y encima se vienen las fiestas!
Es hora de empezar a tejerer regalitos ;)
Abrazo!

Finally a new pattern!

2009-09-17T11:10:00.007-04:00

Ever since my dad passed away I've been having the worst time coming up with new toys :(

But then last week I was thinking about the toys I really really liked when I was little, and they were always the ones with clothes and accessories and little extra things that got lost all the time :)

So I made these two "AmiFriends" with removable clothes and lots of ideas for new clothes and friends and little stuff. Oh, the possibilities!

**Desde que se murio mi padre que me esta costando horrible pensar en juguetes nuevos :(

Pero bueno, la semana pasada me puse a pensar en los juguetes que me gustaban a mi cuando era chica, y eran siempre los que tenian ropita y accesorios y cositas chiquitas extras que siempre se perdian :)

Asi que hice estos dos gatitos, con ropita que se les puede sacar, y un monton de ideas para amigos y mas ropa y cositas...

Look! I've already made the little girl some Halloween customes :)

**Miren! Ya le hice unos disfraces para Halloween a la nena :)

AmiFriends 1 is already posted in the shop, & it includes the two cats, her dress & his pants and shirt :)
**Ya puse el patron 1 en la tiendita, e incluye los gatos, el vestidito blanco, los pantalones y el bucito :)

It's so nice and cozy and rainy here, I love it!
**Hoy esta lindo y lluvioso, y tengo ropa abrigada, me encanta!

the cutest dog, lots of hugs & the winner!

2009-09-14T09:19:00.005-04:00

Santiago... just because he looks particularly adorable in this picture & I want to show him off ;)

Lots of hugs
I know you're going to think that I'm just saying it, & I have no way to prove it, but all that hugging & niceness really made me feel better. Isn't it odd how you start writing a little nothing blog, posting pictures and toys here and there, and all of a sudden the people that write, that at the beginning were just comments, start feeling like real people and real friends, and you kind of miss reading them?
THANK YOU. & lots of hugs and kisses.

**Ya se que van a pensar que lo digo por decir, y bueno, no hay forma de probarlo, pero en serio que tanto abrazo y cosa linda me hizo sentir mucho mejor. No es raro como uno empieza a escribir un blogcito de nada, a subir fotos y juguetes aca y alla, y de golpe la gente que escribe, que al ppio era solo comentarios, se empiezan a sentir como gente de verdad y amigos, y empezas a extrañar leerlos?
MUCHAS MUCHAS GRACIAS, y muchos besos y abrazos.

& the mushroom winner...

Emily-taffyyarn! I was nosy & checked out her etsy shop, and take a look at this little Blythe Bear Backpack, isn't it cute?

I know I said Friday, but Marti turned 3! -like I can handle any more change :p
We went to see Ponyo a couple of weeks ago and it has to be one of the sweetest movies ever. Even the credits are pretty!
So I got her a little Ponyo snow ball type thing and made her a Ponyo cake, with blue frosting and little fishes and Ponyo! The cake itself was not very amazing, I'm no baker... but you should have seen her face! :) :) :)

**Ya se que dije que les contaba el viernes, pero Marti cumplio 3! -como que puedo con mas cambios :p
Hace unas semanas fuimos a ver Ponyo y tiene que ser por lejos una de las peliculas mas adoradas. Hasta los creditos al final son lindos!
Asi que le compre una pelotita de esas que tiene brillantina, aguita y a Ponyo!!!, y le hice una tortita azul con pececitos y la pelotita en el medio. La torta la verdad la verdad no quedo muy maravillosa -de repostera no tengo ni el bordecito del delantal... pero si le hubieran visto la cara! :) :) :)

ps: I'm doing Linguistics, I'll tell you more later, I'm figuring out if what I'm thinking is really really what I want to do. I'm almost positive :)
**pd: Estoy haciendo Linguistica, despues les cuento mas, toy viendo a ver si estoy segura segura de lo que quiero hacer, creo que si :)

Hola!

2009-09-03T14:06:00.004-04:00

It's been a while! I hope you are all having the nicest season. Summer's been pretty good here in NJ, and I know that Winter's getting a little better down in Uruguay :)

**Hace rato que no hablamos! Espero que esten teniendo una estacion muy linda. Aca el verano ha sido bastante soportable, y en Uruguay el invierno, que estuvo terrible, esta mejorando :)

Lots of new things have been happening over here...

Oli's starting first grade, & Marti's finally potty trained! -all of a sudden I feel really old! ;)

We're moving to another town, which we like a lot better, and we'll be living really close to Oli's school.

I started working on my Masters, & it feels SOOO nice to be back at school!

**Aca en casa un monton de cosas nuevas:

Oli empieza primero, Marti ya no usa mas pañales! -y de golpe me siento re viejita! ;)

Nos mudamos a otro pueblo, que nos gusta mucho mucho mas que este, y vamos a vivir muy cerca de la escuela de Oli.

Empece la facultad de vuelta :) :) :)

And for some reason all these changes have me feeling a little odd... does that ever happen to you? Change has always been a little difficult for me, even if it's good change! I need hugs! ;)

**Pero bueno, tanto cambio me tiene medio ahi, me siento como rara... a uds les pasa?

Los cambios siempre me joden un poco, aunque sean cambios buenos! Necesito abrazos! ;)

So, go ahead and send me some hugs, in exchange for a little mushroom ;) Please write your name at the end of this post if you'd like a little mushroom friend. I'll do the number generator thingie next Friday.

**Asi que mandenme muchos abrazos, que se los cambio por un honguito ;) Escribi tu nombre al final de este post si queres un amigo honguito. El viernes que viene les cuento quien gano.

Ana

Amigurumi Two! Corrections

2009-08-17T17:27:00.004-04:00

It's always sad to find corrections, but here they go...
I'm really really sorry if they made you stop making your project and feel like you couldn't understand the directions or just hated me! ;)
& thank you very very much to those of you that pointed them out.
You would not believe how many times we reviewed and reviewed again and again the manuscript! I'm sorry -again and again-

*Corrections are highlighted*

P9 (Airplane)
Tail
Using red yarn,
R1: Ch 2, 7 sc in second ch from hook.
R2: Ch 2 in each sc around.(14 sts)
R3-8: Sc 14.
Fasten off, leaving long tail...

P47 (Squirrels)
Baby Squirrel's Body
Using tan yarn,
R1: Ch 2, 6 sc in second ch from hook.
R2: Sc 2 in each sc around. (12 sts)
R3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times. (18 sts)
R4-8: Sc 18.
Fasten off leaving long tail...

*** All the corrections can be found right here ***
-I'm sorry again :(

The sweetest necklace & the nicest bags :)

2009-07-06T15:21:00.006-04:00

Isn't this so cute? You can get your own (with your kids' names, your pets, your friends...) right here! http://www.munchkinmama.etsy.com/ has the cutest personalized stuff, even for your pet!
She's super nice, ships really fast, and the necklace is very delicate, and a lot a lot more beautiful than in the picture (if that's possible, how nice are her pictures?)
** No que esta re lindo? Lo compre en este shop de Etsy que tiene unas cosas alucinantes, hasta para las mascotas! Ademas la sra es adorada, me lo mando rapidisimo, y el collarcito es re delicado y lindo :) http://www.munchkinmama.etsy.com/ :)

I'd also like to share my friend Valeria's shop! She's from Montevideo too, and we went to high school and university together. She's really really talented, amazingly gifted, for real!
She now teaches in Bellas Artes' school in Mdeo, and makes the most beautiful leather bags!
Her shop is http://www.leatherstuff.etsy.com/ :) This one's my favorite, but I want them all!
Look at this one:
**che, tb se tienen que dar una vuelta por la tiendita de mi amiga Valeria :) Fuimos al liceo y a la facultad juntas, y hace unas cosas im-pre-sio-nan-tes. Es tan tan pero tan buena que esta dando clases en Bellas Artes!!!
Hace unas carteras de cuero muy pero muy lindas, las quiero todas! Vayan y visiten! http://www.leatherstuff.etsy.com/ :)

Oh, and Martingale has some desktop wallpapers available (for free!) of some of the books they publish, ours are right here :) **Martingale subio unos wallpapers de los libros que publican (gratis!) que estan muy lindos, los de Amigurumi 2 estan aca :)

That's it for today, it's nice & sunny in NJ, hope you have a nice week, hug!

ps: Thank you very much for the b-day wishes, we had a really nice day :)
pd: Muchas gracias por los saludos cumpleañeros, pasamos muy lindo :)

It's my B-day!

2009-06-27T10:27:00.004-04:00

Buy two patterns & get one free (let me know in the "message to seller") *only on JUne 27 :)*
*Compra dos patrones y llevate uno gratis (decime en el "message to seller" cual queres)
:)

And the winners are...

2009-06-23T19:15:00.003-04:00

I'm really sorry I couldn't do the drawing yesterday.
Santiago woke up all mopy and sad and I had to take him to the doctor :(
He had a fever and is now taking two little pills that he manages to leave in his dish, all by themselves, after eating his whole meal (he's pretty skillfull, isn't he?). He's been eating them with dulce de leche and doesn't even notice!
** Perdonen que no pude hacer los numeritos ayer. Santiago estaba todo triste y decaido y lo tuve que llevar al veterinario. Tenia fiebre pobrecito y ahora esta tomando dos pastillitas minusculas que le pongo entre la comida, y que magicamente aparecen solitas despues de que se come todo! (lo voy a tener que llevar a la tele, este perrito es un crack!). Ahora se las estoy dando con dulce de leche y ni se da cuenta :)

Then Oli wanted to make cupcakes -I can crochet the cutest ones ;) but I'm the WORST baker in the planet, so we used Betty Crocker's cake box & frosting, and covered them with lots of sprinkles. Nothing worth of a picture, but pretty tasty :)
And then Mondays are my shot day (I do them M, W & F), and then "I had to" watch Jon & Kate's announcement (isn't it so so sad?)
**Despues a la Oli se le antojo hacer magdalenas! A mi las de crochet me salen lindas, pero de "repostera" soy un de-sas-tre. Hicimos unas de cajita, y entre el merenguito de arriba y las grajeitas de colores quedaron muy ricas -ni ahi dignas de foto, pero ricas :)
Y bueno, los lunes me doy la vacuna (lunes, mier y viernes), despues "tuve" que mirar un programa de la tele que se llama "Jon & Kate + 8" que es la historia de una pareja con 8 nenes (mellizos y sestillizos!) que se van a separar, no es re triste?

So I'm feeling kind of guilty, but mostly very grateful and happy for so many nice comments, thank you!. So instead of giving away one, we'll do 3!
The two first ones were picked with the random number generator, and the third one was Oli's pick - number 2 (because Martina's 2, and they're 2 sisters, and she ate 2 cupcakes, and... it goes on and on, 2 it is!)
** Asi que nada, me siento medio culpable, pero mas que nada muy agradecida y feliz por tanto comentario lindo, gracias! Asi que en vez de 1, rifamos 3!
Los dos primeros numeros los saque con un random numer generator, y el tercero lo eligio Oli: 2, "porque Marti tiene 2, y porque somos 2 hermanas, y porque comi 2 cupcakes, y..." 2!

Drum roll... :)

Congratulations Christine (45), Tammy (59) & Kimberly (2)!

& big hug to everybody for being so nice.

There should be an e-mail in your inbox :)

*Felicitaciones Christine (#45), Tammy (#59) y Kimberly (#2)!

& un abrazo fuerte a todas por ser tan adoradas

Besote :)

Amigurumi Two giveaway :)

2009-06-19T12:08:00.003-04:00

I really hope you'll like this one! Remember you can see all the patterns included right here :)
If you want a copy (or an extra one to give away!), please write your name & e-mail adress in the comments. I'll do a random number generator thingie on Monday morning and send it to the winner :)
Happy weekend!

Espero que este les guste mucho! Pueden ver todos los patrones que tiene aca :)
Si queres uno (o uno extra para regalar!), escribi tu nombre & e-mail en los comentarios. El lunes tempranito hago un random number generator thingie y se lo mando al que lo gane :)
Que tengan un lindo fin de semana!

Santiago

2009-06-11T12:55:00.003-04:00

I don't think I ever posted a picture of Santi to the blog, isn't he the cutest thing? I never ever thought I could love a dog so much!
**Me parece que nunca subi una foto del Santi al blog, no que es adorado? Nunca pense que le podia tener tanto cariño a un perrito :)

Aca esta Santiago de verdad/Here is "the real" Santiago:

& here's the crocheted version/& aca esta la version en crochet ;)
I just posted the pattern in the shop :)
Recien subi el patron al sitio :)

Today we went to Oli's Kindergarten's play, and they were all so amazingly cute!

How on earth did she grow up so fast? I can't believe she's going to be a first grader!
That's it for today, I have the worst headache :(

Hope you are feeling good, the week's almost over!

Hug!

Hoy Oli tuvo la fiestita de fin de año del Jardin, y estuvieron tan divinos esos gurises!

Todavia no puedo creer que haya crecido tan rapido, el año que viene va a primero! (estoy hecha una vieja)

Esto es todo por hoy, tengo un dolor de cabeza espantoso :(

Espero que uds esten todos bien, ya se viene el fin de semana!

Abrazo fuerte!

Jacinta & my first custom stamps!

2009-06-06T17:09:00.004-04:00

Buenas! I hope everybody's having a really nice saturday. We were thinking about going to see Up!, but maybe tomorrow... I don't feel like doing much today.
So anyway, here's Jacinta (I love that name). The pattern includes instructions for Jacinta, her little poncho & the shorts :)

**Buenas! Espero que esten teniendo un lindo sabado. Nosotros re tranquilos, estabamos pensando en ir a ver la pelicula esta nueva Up!, pero nada, capaz mañana... no tengo muchas ganas de nada.
Aca les presento a Jacinta (me encanta ese nombre). El patron incluye instrucciones para Jacinta, el ponchito y los pantalones :)

& I did my first custom stamps for Hola! You can pick either the cupcake or the octopus, and tell me one name :) Oli's been using hers as a bookplate and it looks really cute.

Someone suggested I did custom ones for shops (thank you), but I'm having the worst time carving the etsy.com part. Maybe in a little bit, when I get better :)

**Hice mis primeros sellitos personalizables (ni idea como se dice, perdonen la burrada... ayuda?!) para Hola! Se puede elegir el pulpo o la magdalena, y un nombre. Oli esta usando la de ella para ponerle el nombre a sus libros y queda re linda.

Alguien me sugirio que ofreciera lo mismo pero para tienditas de Etsy, pero me esta costando horrible tallar la parte de etsy.com. Por ahi en un rato, cuando mejore un poco :)

The name Jacinta also reminds of a song by Mateo - Jacinta. I couldn't find it in YouTube, but I found this one that's really nice, hope you like it :)

**El nombre Jacinta tb me hace acordar a la cancion "Jacinta" de Mateo. No la pude encontrar en YouTube pero encontre esta que esta re linda, espero que les guste :)

Happy Sunday!

2009-05-31T13:53:00.003-04:00

This is a quick little post to show you some of the new stamps @ Hola!
** Post cortito para mostrarles algunos de los sellitos nuevos en Hola! :)

I hope you're having a nice Sunday, the weather's so perfect here in NJ!
**Espero que esten teniendo un domingo re lindo, aca el tiempo esta perfecto!
Beso!

Little Sailor - Un Marinerito

2009-05-29T09:55:00.006-04:00

Hola!

First of all, I'm really REALLY sorry about the mistake in the little octopus pattern! Thank you to the nice people that pointed it out w/out yelling ;) I just revised it and it should be perfect!

I made a little tugboat and posted the pattern in the shop, it came out muy simpatico :), I can't wait to see it in different colors. Franco says that the floaties (I have no clue how you call the yellow thingies, and Oli calls them floaties, so... help!) are too big, and that the hat should be smaller... but I like him. -F & the tugboat ;)

**Hice un botecito y subi el patron a la tiendita, tiene una carita re simpatica :)

Franco dice que los flotadores son demasiado grandes, y que el sombrerito tendria que ser mas chico, pero a mi me gusta asi! (siempre le pregunto a ver que le parece y nunca le hago caso...)

I've been making lots of new stamps for hola!, but haven't taken pictures of all of them yet. This one's my favorite, I guess I'm on a nautical theme!

Tambien hice un montonazo de sellitos nuevos para la otra tiendita, pero solo le saque foto al pulpito este, que es el que me gusta mas :)

Maybe it's because last week we went to the beach! We had been talking about it for the longest time, and never got around to go (& we moved here from upstate NY more than 2 years ago!).

The beach was nice, but it really bothers me that you have to pay to get in. Not because of the money, but it just seems wrong...

There was no way we could get in the water. It was SO COLD it felt like it had ice cubes in it, but the girls had fun in the sand, and we sat around, wanting to munch on something (they don't allow food in the beach! or mate!). We're going to look for a more kid/hungry person-friendly beach next time.

I know I'm complaining a lot, but we did have a nice time, it's nice just to look at the water, and be, w/out having to do much more.

I'm going to watch some Backyardigans now ;)

Beso!

**La semana pasada fuimos a la playa! Hace rato que estamos planeando, y nunca pinto (y eso que nos mudamos aca hace ya casi 2 años). La playa era simpatica, pero hay que pagar para bajar a la arena!!! Soy yo, o esta re mal? Como te van a cobrar para ir a la playa?!!!

Ademas no te dejan bajar comida, ni mate!!! Soy pura queja, pero en realidad igual pasamos barbaro, al agua no pudimos entrar porque estaba con-ge-la-da, como si tuviera cubitos de hielo, pero a las nenas les encanta jugar en la arena, y solo con mirar el agua yo estoy feliz :)

Igual la proxima vamo'a buscar una playa un poco menos fashion ;) y mas para gente como uno vio? (matera y con hambre!)

Bueno, hablamos pronto.

Beso!

Ayer fallecio Mario Benedetti

2009-05-18T09:16:00.006-04:00

Benedetti, el escritor mas grande de Uruguay. A mi viejo le gusta tanto tambien. Yo siento que mi padre esta en la vuelta; cuando estoy mas mas triste y desesperada sabiendo que no esta mas siento un olor a jazmines casi intoxicante. Mi viejo siempre me regalaba jazmines.

Por ahi ahora se pueden juntar a charlar, a mi viejo le encantaria.

Yesterday Mario Benedetti passed away. He's the greatest Uruguayan writer, and one of my favorites. My dad loved him, and I feel like he's around. When I'm the saddest, and feeling so desperate because he's not here anymore I can smell jasmines so strong it's uncanny. My dad used to always give me jasmines, I love the smell.

Maybe now Benedetti and my dad can get together to talk, he would love it.

NO TE SALVES

No te quedes inmóvil

al borde del camino

no congeles el júbilo

no quieras con desgana

no te salves ahora ni nunca.

No te salves

no te llenes de calma

no reserves del mundo

sólo un rincón tranquilo

no dejes caer lo párpados

pesados como juicios

no te quedes sin labios

no te duermas sin sueño

no te pienses sin sangre

no te juzgues sin tiempo.

Pero si pese a todo

no puedes evitarlo

y congelas el jubilo

y quieres con desgana

y te salvas ahora

y te llenas de calma

y reservas del mundo

sólo un rincón tranquilo

y dejas caer los párpados

pesados como juicios

y te secas sin labios

y te duermes sin sueño

y te piensas sin sangre

y te juzgas sin tiempo

y te quedas inmóvil

al borde del camino

y te salvas

entonces

no te quedes conmigo.

Mario Benedetti
1920-2009

DON'T SAVE YOURSELF

Don't Save yourself

Don´t be immobile

On the edge of the road

Don't freeze the joy

Don't love with reluctance

Don't save yourself now or ever

Don't save yourself

Don't fill yourself with calmness

Don't reserve of the world

Just a calm place

Don't let your lids fall

Heavy as trials

Don´t speak without lips

Don't fall asleep without sleepiness

Don't think of you without blood

Don't judge yourself without time.

But if in spite of everything

You cannot avoid it

And you freeze the joy

And you love with reluctance
And you save yourself

And you fill with calm

And you reserve of the world

Just a calm place

And you let your lids fall

Heavy as trials

And you speak without lips

And you fall asleep without sleepiness

And you think yourself without blood

And you judge yourself without time

And you are immobile

On the edge of the road

And you save yourself

Then

Don't stay with me.

Mario Benedetti

New pattern!

2009-05-15T11:04:00.004-04:00

A little teddy that doubles as a pajama bag for a little baby, or a bag to store random stuff for an older kid :)
*Un osito que sirve para guardar el pijama de un bebito, o para guardar cositas de un nene mas grande :)
Beso!

ps: que post cortito!

La casita se va para el Rio de la Plata!

2009-05-14T09:08:00.004-04:00

Felicitaciones Lavinia, la casita se va para tu casita en Argentina -cuando puedas llevala a dar una vuelta por Montevideo, para que conozca los pagos de su madre ;) Espero que te guste!

Aca esta tomandose unos mates antes del viaje ;)

The little casita is going to the River Plate! Lavinia from Argentina left the comment #27 :)

Here's casita having some mate before her trip ;)

I really don't know what to say...

2009-05-05T20:50:00.006-04:00

"thank you" seems kind of lame, and I can't think of anything else.

HUGE THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, I'm so overwhelmed by how extremely nice and kind you all are I really don't know what I could say to let you know how grateful and amazed and no se, MUCHAS MUCHAS GRACIAS por ser tan adoradas.

*muchas muchas gracias (que queda recontra chiquito) por ser tan tan adoradas y buenas y hacerme sentir querida, no se hacen una idea de lo que me ayuda, besote*

You know, the shots are not bad at all. They gave me this injector thingie where I put the injection in and I don't even have to see the needle! I don't think I could do it without it, I just push a button, count to 10, and I'm done!

& the only bad thing about it is that I'm getting really bad headaches, and I've been having some trouble sleeping, but other than that, no ms symptoms at all! :) The side effects are supposed to dissappear once your body gets used to the medicine, so I'm on my way!

*al final las inyecciones no son tan malas. Me dieron un aparatito en el que pongo la inyeccion y ni siquiera tengo que ver la aguja (menos mal, porque les tengo terror). Esta barbaro, lo unico que tengo que hacer es apretar un boton, contar hasta 10, y pronto!

Lo unico malo es que me estan dando unos dolores de cabeza de terror, y me esta costando dormirme, pero supuestamente una vez que el cuerpo se acostumbra al medicamento pasa, asi que bueno, 'toy en camino :) & ademas no tengo ningun sintoma del ms de miercoles, asi que buenisimo :)

AND Olivia learned to crochet! :) We had tried before, but she's left-handed (I'm not), and she couldn't get it, and I couldn't explain it right, so last Friday we finally learned together to crochet with our left hands. It was good, because I could really see and feel how difficult it was to crochet for the first time. On Saturday morning when I woke up there she was, on the couch and with her pajamas on, crocheting the longest chain I've ever seen :)

& because I'm the biggest dork I almost cried! :p

** La Oli aprendio a hacer crochet!!! Como es zurda y yo no, habiamos tratado antes pero nos habia costado a las 2, asi que esta vez aprendi con ella (que dificil tejer con la izquierda!), y el sabado de manana (aprendio el viernes) me levante y estaba ella muy adorada con el pijamita sentadita en el sillon, tejiendo una cadena kilometrica! Casi me pongo a llorar! :p

In between all this I did finish a new pattern/Igual a todo esto hice un patron nuevo:

"Casitas" (little houses)

My favorite casita is the tan one. If you want it (and I really wish I could make una casita for all of you) please write your e-mail address at the end of this post, and next wednesday (may 13) I'll do a random number generator thingie and send it to the winner :)
It comes with a kiss! ;)
*La que mas me gusta es la marroncita. Si la queres (y ojala pudiera hacer una casita para cada una) escribi tu e-mail al final de este post, y el proximo miercoles (13 de mayo) hago uno de estos random number things y se la mando al que gane :) -viene con beso! ;)

Oli took that picture for a little interview I did for yareah magazine. -it's a really nice on-line magazine, take a look!
Oh! & I'm getting my vip ;) copy of Amigurumi Two this week, and I can't wait to see it in person, I'll let you know how it looks! :)
THANK YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN!
Abrazo y beso,
ap

ms & a little owl

2009-03-17T18:24:00.004-04:00

I've been debating whether to tell you or not, but I feel bad when I say I'm posting something tomorrow, or the following week, and then disappear for a while, so... I have multiple sclerosis and it sucks. Sometimes I'm too tired to do anything, and that's why I'm such a "random poster" :)

On to nicer things! Look at this little embroidered owl I posted in the new shop!

I've been thinking about my dad a lot, and I remembered one afternoon when I was around Oli's age (5 almost 6), and he got home from work with a lot of different colors of thread and fabric and showed me how to embroider :) Isn't that the sweetest memory? I miss him so much. These have been such difficult months!
Oh, & I'm finally starting with the ms medicine on Friday (I was on denial for the longest time, I should have started a long time ago), and I'm terrified of needles, so wish me luck!

ps: I opened a new etsy shop

2009-03-14T20:26:00.005-04:00

... for all the stuff I like to make that isn't crochet-related.
Right now there's only some hand-carved stamps (SO much fun to make!)
Come take a look & tell me what you think. The shop's name is Hola! :)

♥ abri tiendita nueva para todo lo que me gusta hacer que no tiene nada que ver con crochet, visiten y cuentenme que les parece, por ahora solo hay unos sellitos de goma que hice yo misma :)
tb les queria contar que puse un Amigurumi World en anapaulaoli, para los que no lo pueden comprar en casa o en internet. Si el envio termina siendo mas barato les devuelvo la plata rapidito por PayPal, ta? beso!

Little cafe con leche cup from Amigurumi World

2009-03-14T17:59:00.006-04:00

hola :)
this one's going to be fast (I'll be back later to talk about my lack of posting).

The little cup from Amigurumi World is posted in the Crochet Today site -they asked me to share, and that's all we're sharing from the book! :p , so I figured I should post it here too. They also have some other cute patterns, take a look!

For the little cup you'll need:

Worsted weight yarn in blue (or whatever color you want the cup to be) and brown

F hook

6 mm plastic eyes

Tiny little piece of pink felt for the cheeks

Black embroidery floss and embroidery needle

A little bit of stuffing (I always use polyfill)

Cup
With blue, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 7 sc in 2nd chain from hook, slip st in first
sc to join.
Round 2: Work 2 sc in each sc around – 14 sts.
Round 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from *
around – 21 sts.
Round 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from *
around – 28 sts.
Round 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from *
around – 35 sts.
Round 6: Working in back loops only, *sc in next 3 sts,
sc2tog; repeat from *around – 28 sts.
Rounds 7-15: Sc in each sc, slip st to first st on last round.
Fasten off.

Handle

*the handle in the picture is different from the instructions that follow*
With A, ch 14.
Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and each ch across.
Fasten off.

Cafe Con Leche
With brown, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 5 sc in 2nd chain from hook.
Round 2: Work 2 sc in each sc around – 10 sts.
Round 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from *
around – 15 sts.
Round 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from *
around – 20 sts.
Round 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from *
around – 25 sts.
Slip st to first st. Fasten off.
Finishing
Position and attach 6mm plastic eyes with safety backings on Cup. Cut 2 circles of pink felt and sew in place for cheeks. Embroider mouth with straight stitches. Sew handle to side of Cup. Stuff Cup tightly with fiberfill. Sew Café Con Leche circle inside the top of Cup.
Weave in ends.

New Patterns

2009-02-05T16:46:00.005-05:00

Little by little, I'm getting back into "working" mode.

I posted two new patterns in the shop:

Little Alien & his Spaceship

Tree LoveHope you like them!
I'm posting a little Valentine pattern here before the end of the week :)

Amigurumi Two!

2009-01-24T11:47:00.005-05:00

Yay! Amigurumi Two is available for preorder right here :)

I hope you'll like it as much as Amigurumi World :)
It came out really nice, the people at Martingale are the best at making the cutest craft books, you should check all the nice variety they have!

It's coming out at the end of June 2009.In the midtime I can share pictures of all the toys that are included (the pictuers aren't that great because I took them before sending them to the publisher). You can see them here :)

Thank you again, and again and again, for being so nice. Hug!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

En junio sale Amigurumi 2, y ya se puede pedir en amazon.com :)

Espero que les guste tanto (o mas!) que Amigurumi World. Hice un set en Flickr con fotos de los juguetes incluidos, y lo pueden ver aca :)

Besote!

Thank you

2009-01-18T11:00:00.010-05:00

Thank you for being so nice. Muchas muchas gracias.

We're all still dealing with it. I will be all my life. Thank you for the nice words and for being there.

Big hug and beso.

I hadn't been able to crochet anything, and then all of a sudden a couple of days ago I had this urge to make little bears. They are or will be in my Etsy shop. Hope you like them.

mi viejo

2008-12-15T09:21:00.005-05:00

last december we went home and spent a week or so in punta del diablo with my dad. we talked a lot sitting by the ocean. franco took lots of pictures. i didn't know they were going to be the last ones together. he passed away last friday, and the pain is so unbearable and so so so bad.
i hope time will make it better. in the meantime, i'll keep remembering lo buena gente que era, un tipo solidario, amigo, querido por tantos.
i know it's a sad post, but maybe it'll be useful somehow. i always thought he was going to live forever. i wish we'd talked even more, i wish we spent more time together, i just wish i could go back in time and tell him so much stuff, and i can't. maybe you still can, and you should.
beso

New pattern & I've been tagged!

2008-10-26T13:58:00.010-04:00

Hola amigos! (I feel like Dora the Explorer & Diego whenever I say that, damn Nick Jr.!)
Here's the new pattern, available in the shop:
Baby Seal & his little fishie friend

And now for the tagging part... I'm warning you, it's going to be BORING, because I'm not exciting at all, and I just don't know what to say (I've been avoiding this forever), but I'll try :)
I've been tagged by my favorite wallet maker in the planet: Lyn from florspace (remember this post?)
Here are the rules (which I just copied & pasted from Lyn's blog)
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog - some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
I'm all done with number 1! :)
7 facts about myself...
1. I ADORE Oli & Marti, and can not even imagine what my life would be without them.
2. I only have mate for breakfast (I can't eat in the morning)
3. All my clothes are brown, blue or black, with the exception of 2 red sweaters and a couple of white shirts.
4. I've never owned makeup and I don't even know how to apply it.
5. I've never died my hair, and I'm planning to have a whole head of white hair, which I will neatly arrange in a bun. I'm going to be the cutest grandma! ;)
6. I LOVE Fernando Cabrera, Alfredo Zitarrosa, Mercedes Sosa & Quilapayun, and I listen to them almost every day.
7. It's complicated, but if I could, I would go back home right now.
Done! now consider yourself tagged, & please leave a comment here so we can go read it :)

Up for adoption!

2008-10-22T12:55:00.004-04:00

I posted new little amigurumi in the shop, hope you like them :)

Gente amiga del otro lado del charco ;)

2008-10-06T08:48:00.002-04:00

Perdonen que no conteste antes, pero bueno, aca estoy, tarde pero prometedor ;)
En realidad no se como se puede conseguir el libro en Argentina, y tampoco en Uruguay :(
Si quieren se los puedo vender yo y mandarlo para alla, porque me dijeron que amazon y barnes & noble y tal no los mandan para el Rio de la Plata -que verguenza, che! ;)
Si les interesa dejen un mensaje en este post con su mail, yo les escribo y arreglamos, ta?
Beso!

A very chickie crochet pattern ;)

2008-10-05T14:29:00.005-04:00

Chickie has been retired from the shop.

A litte late, but here it is :)
Un poquito tarde pero aca esta!

Materials you will need:
Little amounts of worsted weight yarn in yellow, orange, red and white.
9 mm plastic eyes with safety backings.
Size G/6 (4mm) crochet hook.
Fiberfill or stuffing of your choice.
When I made them, dad ended up being approx. 4 inches/10 cm tall, baby approx. 2 inches/5 cm. Depending on your tension and the yarn you use, they might end up being a little bit smaller or a little bit bigger

DAD

Beak
R1: Ch 2, 5 sc in second ch from hook.
R2: 2 sc in each sc around. (10 sts)
R3-4: Sc 10.
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing

Head
R1: Ch 2, 7 sc in second ch from hook.
R2: 2 sc in each sc around. (14 sts)
R3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 7 times. (21 sts)
R4: *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 7 times. (28 sts)
R5: *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 7 times. (35 sts)
R6-16: Sc 35.
R17: *Sc 3, dec 1*, repeat 7 times. (28 sts)
R18: *Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat 7 times. (21 sts)
Work on face – sew beak to head and position and attach plastic eyes.
R19: *Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat 7 times. (14 sts)
Stuff head.
R20: *Sk 1 sc, sc 1*, repeat 7 times. (7 sts)
Bind off, leaving long tail for closing up little hole, weave in loose end.

Crest
Using red:
R1: Loosely chain 11, 3 dc in third chain from hook, sk 1, sl st 1, *3 dc in next st, sk 1, sl st 1*, repeat 2 times.
Bind off, leaving long tail for sewing, sew to top of head.

Body
R1: Ch 2, 7 sc in second ch from hook.
R2: 2 sc in each sc around. (14 sts)
R3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 7 times. (21 sts)
R4: *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 7 times. (28 sts)
R5: *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 7 times. (35 sts)
R6-12: Sc 35.
R13: *Sc 3, dec 1*, repeat 7 times. (28 sts)
R14: Sc 28.
R15: *Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat 7 times. (21 sts)
R16; Sc 21.
Bind off, leaving long tail for sewing, stuff and sew to head.

Wings (make 2)
R1: Ch 2, 7 sc in second chain from hook.
R2: 2 sc in each sc around. (14 sts)
R3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 7 times. (21 sts)
R4-6: Sc 21.
Bind off, leaving long tail for sewing, stuff and sew to body.

BABY

Beak
Repeat dad’s beak instructions :)

Head/Body
R1: Ch 2, 7 sc in second chain from hook.
R2: 2 sc in each sc around. (14 sts)
R3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 7 times. (21 sts)
R4: *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 7 times. (28 sts)
R5-13: Sc 28.
R14: *Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat 7 times. (21 sts)
Work on face – sew beak to head, position and attach plastic eyes with safety backings.
R15: Sc 21.
R16: *Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat 7 times. (14 sts)
Stuff
R17: *Sk 1 sc, sc 1*, repeat 7 times. (7 sts)
Bind off, leaving long tail to close hole, weave in loose end.

Wings
R1: Ch 2, 7 sc in second chain from hook.
R2: 2 sc in each sc. (14 sts)
R3-5: Sc 14.
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing, stuff and sew to body.

Egg Shell
R1: Ch 2, 7 sc in second chain from hook.
R2: 2 sc in each sc around. (14 sts)
R3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 7 times. (21 sts)
R4: *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 7 times. (28 sts)
Bottom:
R5-8: Sc 28.
Bind off, weave in loose ends.
Top:
R5-6: Sc 28.
Bind off, weave in loose ends.

How to add hair to your amigurumi

2008-10-03T09:46:00.018-04:00

This is how I add hair to my ami dolls, I hope it helps! Please write if you have questions and I'll add the answers to this post.

**I'll post the little pattern tomorrow, and Amigurumi 2 is coming in September 2009 :)**

I give hair to my amigurumi dollies as you would if putting tassels in a scarf: I cut a piece of yarn which is double the length that I want the hair to be, I fold it in half and put the loopy end through a stitch in the top of the head, starting in the front of the head, where I want the part to be. I then put the end pieces through the loop and pull so they are right next to the head. Repeat to form a vertical line right in the middle of the head (or where you want the part to be).

Once I’m done with one side of the part I do the other side, making sure to put the second row of hair right next to the first one:

After I’m done with the middle part, I move one of the middle parts all the way to the other side (see the first of the pics that follow) to work on the hair underneath the part (I hope this makes sense!):

I then do the same thing over and over so the whole head is covered by hair! I usually draw an imaginary line from ear to ear and put hair on the upper part of the line.

Pronto!

ps: new "Bed Time" pattern posted in the shop :)

Amigurumi 2 is coming your way!

2008-09-26T20:12:00.006-04:00

Hola!!!
Most of you probably read it over in my Etsy shop, but I'm working on a second book!!! Yay!!!
It all feels so unreal. I am so so SO lucky.
Thank you for all the nice -really nice- comments and for posting pictures and sending e-mails and liking Amigurumi World :)
I hope you'll like the new one too, I'm all done making the toys and they came out really cute.
I really wish I could just show you pictures and tell you all about it (specially because I'm horrible at keeping good news to myself)

I can, however share the new patterns I posted in Seriously Cute Crochet - the shop (doesn't that sound important, like I have some kind of seriously cute organization going on?)

Little cat & a pumpkin goodie bag w/candy corn :)

Little bunny & his mommy

A little dragon

My first teddy

Oh, and we have a puppy! His name is Santiago and I'm in love with him, I'll post pictures soon :)
Also, I'm taking another little pattern off the shop and I'll post it here some time next week.
I hope you have the nicest weekend.
No more rain, please!
:)
Ana

A Little Stump

2008-06-04T20:11:00.009-04:00

I'm taking this little stump pattern from the shop, so I'm sharing :)
It's nice to use it as a pincushion, or as a little seat for your tiny ami ;)

To make the little stump, moss and mushroom you will need:
Little amounts of worsted weight yarn in brown, white, red and green
Size F/5 (3.75 mm) crochet hook
Size E/4 (3.50 mm) crochet hook
Little pieces of white felt for mushroom spots
Fiberfill or stuffing of your choice
When I made it, the little stump’s diameter ended up being approx 3 inches, and the mushroom approx. 1.5 inches tall. Depending on your tension and the yarn you use, they might end up being a little bit smaller or a little bit bigger J

Abbreviations I use:
ch = chain
dc= double crochet
hdc = half double crochet (UK: half-treble crochet)
dec = decrease
R = round
sc = single crochet (UK: dc double crochet)
sk = skip
sl st = slip st (UK: sc single crochet)
st(s) = stitch(es)
* = repeat directions between * and * as many times as indicated

INSTRUCTIONS

LITTLE STUMP
Using the “F” hook and brown yarn
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R5- *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (30 sts)
R6- *Sc 4, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (36 sts)
R7- *Sc 5, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (42 sts)
R8- Through back loops only:
*Sc 5, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (36 sts)
R9- *Sc 5, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (42 sts)
R10-11: Sc 42
R12- *Sc 6, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (48 sts)
R13-14: Sc 38
R15- *Sc 7, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (54 sts)
R16- Through back loops only:
*Sc 7, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (48 sts)
R17- *Sc 6, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (42 sts)
R18- *Sc 5, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (36 sts)
R19- *Sc 4, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (30 sts)
R20- *Sc 3, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R21- *Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
Stuff
R22- *Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (12 sts)
R23- *Sk 1 sc, sc 1*, repeat 6 times (6 sts)
Bind off, weave in loose end.

MOSS

Using the “E” hook and green yarn
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 3 sc in each sc around (18 sts)
R3- 3 sc in each sc around (54 sts)
Bind off, weave in loose end and sew to stump.

MUSHROOM

Using the “E” hook and red yarn
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R5-10: Sc 24
Cut out little round pieces of white felt and sew to mushroom
Change to white color yarn
R11- Through back loops only:
*Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R12- *Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (12 sts)
R13- Sc 12
R14- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R15-16: Sc 18
Push white part into the red part if you want the mushroom stubby, or leave it as is if you like it taller, stuff and sew to stump.

Another "Amigurumi World" giveaway...

2008-05-22T09:56:00.006-04:00

over at the Plush You blog!

Kristen Rask, the owner of Schmancy and author of the super fun and inspiring book Plush You! (one of my patterns is in the book too!) has always been supportive and friendly and really sweet. She was nice enought to interview me -I know I'm a super dork, but how important does that sound? ;)

& if you leave a comment over there you can win a copy of the book :)

How nice is that?

I hope everybody's doing great. We're freezing, what's up with this weather?

** La due~a de la jugueteria Schmancy, que es adorada, me hizo una entrevista -me estoy yendo para arriba que es una cosa loca ;) & si dejan un comentario aca pueden ganar una copia del libro :)

I feel like we haven't "talked" in years...

2008-05-15T12:56:00.018-04:00

I hope everybody's doing great. Thank you for all the nice comments and for posting pictures in our Flickr group (take a look, there's some really beautiful new ones). I've been super busy! It gets too stresful once in a while... too much stuff to make, way too little time. Plus I feel like at times I'm abandoning my Etsy shop :(
Hopefully around September I'll get back to my usual "making routine" :)

Espero que esten todos bien. Muchas gracias por todos los comentarios adorados y por poner tantas fotos alucinantes en nuestro grupo en Flickr :)
He estado ocupadisima, con un montonazo de trabajo que hacer y poquito tiempo. Sa ratos siento como que estoy abandonando mi tiendita en Etsy y me pone medio triste :(

On other news, Oli turned 5!!! & I adore her more and more each day. She is such an amazing little person, and so sweet and helpful and loving... I could go on and on and on, but I'm sure everybody feels the same way about their kids, so you can fill in the blanks :)
She was also sick all this week (started on Saturday, and still feels under the weather -she even wants to take naps!-). I think today's the last day. I'm crossing my fingers that Marti won't get it!

Oli cumplio 5! (parece mentira). Cada segundo la quiero mas. Es una nena tan adorada, tan dulce y tan buena gente... podria seguir y seguir, pero estoy segura de que todo el mundo siente lo mismo por los hijos, asi que puedan completar lo que falta :)
La pobre tambien estuvo enferma toda la semana, empezo el sabado y todavia se siente medio mal - hasta quiere dormir la siesta! (increible). Me parece que hoy es el ultimo dia... espero que a Marti no se le pegue...

I did manage to post two new patterns in the shop:

Igual me quede despierta hasta tarde un par de dias y puse dos patrones nuevos en la tiendita: un pancho & un conejito que vive en una zanahoria :)

Un panchito (in Uruguay we call hot dogs "panchos")

& a new "little ones and their homes" pattern: Little Bunny & her Carrot home :)
(I love these ones, they're so fun to make)

Oh, and four "Endangered Species" patterns are the Knit.1 Spring/Summer 2008!
I made a giant panda, an elephant, a spinner dolphin and a marine turtle. They're way bigger than the toys I usually make, and I think they turned out cute. I specially like the turtle. I'll post pictures soon -we *still* haven't connected the scanner! :p

That's it for now, big hug, and I hope you have the nicest weekend!

Feliz Dia de los Trabajadores!

2008-05-01T16:35:00.004-04:00

Happy International Workers' Day!

ps: I'm working on a new project, can't really say much yet, but it should be good news :)

New Pattern!

2008-04-09T15:02:00.004-04:00

One little squirrel under a tall, tall mushroom :)
-Pattern in my Etsy shop

Back in the day, when I was pregnant with Oli, I had the most scary, terrifying dream ever. I was walking to school (Oli was born the week before finals!) and all these ugly looking squirrels with huge teeth started to jump on my belly, trying to eat the baby! I've been terrified of squirrels since ever since. I see a squirrel and I cross the street! They just look at me funny, like they're ready to jump!
Oli thinks it's hilarious (she's almost 5 now) and tells everybody the story (only she tells it like it actually happened! - you should see the looks I get!)
So I made this little squirrel to start getting over this dumb phobia one tiny little squirrel step at a time :)

-Hace rato, cuando estaba embarazada de Oli, soñe que estaba caminando a la facultad (Oli nacio una semana antes de los examenes finales), y un montonazo de ardillas horribles y con unos dientes gigantes me empezaron a saltar en la panza tratando de comersela! Desde ahi que les tengo un terror totalmente irracional y malisimo. Cuando veo una ardilla cruzo la calle, porque en serio que me miran mal!
Oli piensa que es comiquisimo (cumple 5 a fin de mes), y le cuenta la historia a todo el mundo, pero como si hubiera pasado de verdad (la gente me mira como si estuviera loca!)
& nada, hice la ardillita esta para ver si de a poquito se me va el miedo tonto este :)

Thank you Lyn :)

2008-04-03T16:48:00.009-04:00

Long, loooooooooooooong overdue THANK YOU Lyn :)

Lyn, the girl that makes the most amazing wallets and little pouches and mini zippered thingies in the planet, nominated me a while ago for a "you make my day" award, and it made my day.

So thank you very very very much for being so nice.

**All the pictures in this post are from Lyn's Etsy shop**

She's super nice and has the most colorful, addictive Etsy shop & blog :)

And now let me show you my wallet, the cutest of them all ;)

This wallet is by far the most practical, durable and cutest wallet I've ever had. It's just perfect! It fits in the back pocket of my jeans, it's big enough to carry everything you usually carry in a wallet, and it even has a space for coins! And, it is serioulsy cute!
You HAVE TO check her Etsy's store: Florspace. You can tell she loves what she does, uses the most adorable fabric, and has a great variety of little and big fabric cuties to store your everyday needs :) The only bad thing is that they could so become an addiction... her stuff dissapears super fast, but I'm telling you, those cube wallets... I could have a million of them.

So now I'm supposed to nominate other people, and I suck at this sort of thing, so I'll just share a couple of blogs that I visit often, in no particular order:

They all make me happy :)
What blogs/sites do you like?

Miren lo que encontre :)

2008-03-20T12:00:00.005-04:00

This one's for the Spanish speaking people :)

Hola gente! Miren que buena esta pagina que encontre!
Es de needlepointers.com, y tiene la traduccion de los terminos de crochet de ingles a español.
Pense que por ahi ayuda un poquito, no?
Beso y que tengan un lindo dia,
Ana Paula

Rosita in Pajamas & her Bunny

2008-03-16T18:01:00.003-04:00

Easter's coming and I see bunnies everywhere!

Se vienen las pascuas y veo conejos por todos lados :)

(new pattern in the shop)

And the Winner is...

2008-03-14T11:40:00.005-04:00

# 7: Patty ! :)

I never thought so many of you were going to participate (I love how "participate" sounds btw).

Thank you SO SO much for all the nice comments and for being so nice.

There's a little typo in the book... It's sad because you would not believe how many times it was reviewed! That part was fine, and I guess the printer left it out :(

On the Cafe con Leche cup, row 7 should read:

R7-15: Sc 28.

Please write if you find any other ones (I've been reviewing everything like crazy and haven't found anything else, but you know...) so I can post it here.

Thank you again and again and again for all the niceness :)

Ana Paula

ps: Muchas gracias a todos los que me leen y hablan espanol, me siento un poco mal de tener los patrones en ingles, y de a poquito voy a ver si los traduzco todos. Mientras tanto, si les interesa alguno y por ahi no entienden los terminos en ingles escriban y empiezo por el que uds. quieran, ta?

Amigurumi World Giveaway :)

2008-03-10T10:28:00.011-04:00

Amigurumi World is finally out, and I find myself looking for it in all the bookstores I come across with. I hold it, look at it, and put it back. And just to prove everybody once and for all that I'm the biggest dork, I even feel like kissing it! :p

Please write your name/e-mail address in the comments section of this post to get one as a little present from me. :)
If you already bought the book (THANK YOU) and don't want another copy you can pick a pattern deal from the shop instead (you can let me know when you win).

You have until this Thursday night. I'll do one of those number generator thingies on Friday morning and announce the winner!

By the way, a while ago I added a new Flickr set with pictures of all the toys included :)
And now a picture from Jennifer: momma duck and her favorite book! ;)

Amigurumi Bear & Pot of Honey

2008-03-05T20:31:00.006-05:00

-I don't know what I was thinking when I talked about posting the pancake pattern, that one's still in the shop! :p I hope you like this little bear instead :)
I'm posting again tomorrow about the girl that makes the most beautiful wallets in the planet, the book giveaway, a little typo and a little better Pablito the Penguin's arms'explanation.
Talk to you tomorrow!

For this little bear you'll need worsted weight yarn, fiberfill, a tiny little piece of felt & an F/5 hook :)

♥ LITTLE BEAR

Head
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each st around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next st*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next st*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R5- *Sc 3, 2 sc in next st*, repeat 6 times (30 sts)
R6- *Sc 4, 2 sc in next st*, repeat 6 times (36 sts)
R7-16: Sc 36
R17- *Sc 4, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (30 sts)
R18- *Sc 3, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R19- *Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R20- Sc 18
R21- *Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (12 sts)
Stuff firmly
R22- *Sk 1 st, sc 1*, repeat 6 times (6 sts)
Bind off, weave in loose end.
Ears
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each st around (12 sts)
R3-4: Sc 12
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing, sew to head.
Body
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each st around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next st*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4-8: Sc 18
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing, stuff and sew to head.
Arms & Legs
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
Arms:
R2-5: Sc 6
Bind off, leaving long tail for sewing and sew to body (no need to stuff them).
Legs:
R2-4: Sc 6
Bind off, leaving long tail for sewing and sew to body (no need to stuff them).

♥ POT OF HONEY

Base
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each st around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next st*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4- Through back loops only:
*Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (12 sts)
R5- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next st*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R6- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next st*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R7-10: Sc 24
R11- *Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R12- Sc 18
Bind off, weave in loose end.
Cut a little rectangular piece of white felt and embroider the word “honey” on
it, sew to pot :)
Top
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each st around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next st*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next st*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R5- Through back loops only:
*Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R6- Sc 18
Bind off, weave in loose end
Pronto!
Don't forget to share your little bear in our Flickr group :)

Re Cortito

2008-03-03T22:32:00.003-05:00

This one's going to be super short, and just to let you know that I'll start posting and making stuff more regularly from now on.
February was a bad month, with some very worrying stuff and just plain sad.
It is, however, getting better, and I'm sure everything will turn out muy bien :)
I'm posting the little pancake pattern from Tiny Ami 2 on Wednesday, and since I got my book copies , I'll post a little something so one of you guys can get one as a little present from me :)

Que lindo!

2008-02-04T11:07:00.001-05:00

I always love to see the pictures of your versions of the toys following my patterns in our Flickr group. Some of you don't have a Flickr account and send them to my e-mail address:)
I got some that I just *have* to share, take a look:

Following the little mushroom pattern, Laurie Hinman made these cuties. She also painted the box :)

And then Ursula Reikes, the nicest technical editor in the planet :) made these Valentine Bears while following/reviewing the pattern included in my book, didn't they come out adorable?

Thank you very much as always for all the nice comments. If you have a questions about a pattern in the blog, it's easier if you send me an e-mail to anapaulaolicrochet@gmail.com, with "Pattern Question" as the subject line, that way I can answer faster! :)

It's super cold here in New Jersey and I'm making a new "Little ones & their Homes" pattern while I drink some mate. Yesterday I finished a new Moms & Babies one: Little Bee & Mom and it turned out cute :)
I'm retiring a little pattern from the shop tomorrow and will post the pattern here tomorrow or Wednesday. Hope you have the nicest Monday!

First Pattern of 2008 ♥

2008-01-24T12:15:00.001-05:00

Little Butterfly & her Strawberry Home :)
I'm making a lot more little ones and their homes patterns this year. I have so many ideas... I need more time!
Hope you like them :)

las primeras nenas del 2008

2008-01-23T17:45:00.002-05:00

The first dolls of 2008!

They're going to Quiet Hours Toys and I love them, specially this one... If I had more time I would make another one and keep her :(
The pattern, if you'd like to make your own, is in my shop :)

♥ Thank you, as always, for all the nice nice comments. It really means a lot to me ♥

Happy 2008!

2008-01-17T13:27:00.001-05:00

We're back! We had the greatest time in Uruguay (I'll post some pictures in Flickr if you want to take a look later). We needed the break huge time and the girls loved it.
I hope you had a great holiday season and that this new year is super crafty and healthy and nice.

anapaulaoli's started super nice:
I got featured in the Storque (Etsy's on-line newspaper type thing), and you can read the interview right here!
The pictures are kind of lame because I get all shy and uncomfortable when someone takes my picture and Franco wasn't making me smile like he should have ;) so I look all mad and in a bad mood (which I wasn't).
By the way, see the mess right next to me? Noone can ever sit there because the place is always full of yarn and plastic eyes and all the things I need!

And then I got the author's copy -it sounds oh-so-important, doesn't it? ;) of the book and I'm so happy with how it turned out, the pictures are adorable and it's all nice and shiny and it smells great (don't you love that new book smell?).

Oh, & the book people, who are super nice, sent me flowers!!!
I hadn't gotten flowers since forever, and I argued with the flower delivery guy for a while until he convinced me that they were in fact for me -and not for the girl upstairs, or the woman across the street, or some other Ana around the neighborhood :)

It's nice to be back. I'm working on a little order of Lucia dolls for Quiet Hours Toys & then I'm going to work on some new patterns. My notebook is full of ideas and I can't wait to start!
Big hug,
Ana

New Toys in the Shop

2007-11-20T13:05:00.000-05:00

Mrs. Cactus & Celeste.

We're going home for a month on December 5th, so the last day I'll be shipping toys will be on December 4th :)

Hope you like them...

Thank you & a Little Cactus

2007-11-10T07:06:00.000-05:00

Hi :) Thank you very much for the comments and the e-mails about my complaining. Lots of us have written to the one seller (the one that is the most obvious) and her answer was along the lines of "I know and I don't care and so what". And that's what really got to me. We've all flagged and Etsy doesn't do anything because of all this blahblahblah I don't feel like getting into right now (because then this will turn into another complaining post, and we should just get to the nice part).

So.... moving on to the things that really matter, like yarn and fiberfill and toys ;)
Here's the little cactus from Tiny Ami 2, that didn't make it into the book either. I was thinking yesterday night, that those of you who did buy TA2 when it was in the shop might feel a little cheated or something (you bought it and here I am posting it for free). So please send me a convo through Etsy and I can send you another little pattern that you want -like Tiny Ami Plants, or the cherries or something like that, ok? -don't forget to let me know which one you want and your e-mail address :)

Using an F hook and worsted weight yarn:
Plant
Using green:
R1- Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4-10: Sc 18
Work on face - Position and attach 6 mm plastic eyes with safety backings, embroider mouth.
R11- *Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (12 sts)
R12: Sc 12
Change to light brown/tan yarn and:
R13: Sc 12 through front loops only
R14: 2 sc in each sc around (24 sts)
R15-16: Sc 24
Sl st, bind off, leaving long tail for sewing.

Planter
Using whatever color you want (I used dark brown)
R1- Ch 2, 5 sc in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (10 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 5 times (15 sts)
R4- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 5 times (20 sts)
R5- *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 5 times (25 sts)
R6- Through back loops only:
*Sc 3, dec 1*, repeat 5 times (20 sts)
R7- *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 5 times (25 sts)
R8-10: Sc 25
R9- BPsc 25
Sl st, bind off, weave in loose end.

Stuff cactus (I used fiberfill), stuff planter (I stuffed it with poly-pellets) and sew cactus part in the inside of the planter using the long tail you left for sewing. I gave her a little red bow too :)

Pronto!
Don't forget to write if you have questions & to let me know how it comes out!

It's my blog & I'll cry if I want to ;)

2007-11-07T23:03:00.001-05:00

I'm all sad and into complaining today.
Etsy's getting full of ladies that are illegaly (w/no rights whatsoever) translating individual patterns from Japanese books, scanning the pictures, making pdf files and selling them. It makes me so sad. It's disrespectful to the artists that are in Japan not knowing that they are being ripped off, sad for all these nice, talented Etsy designers that actually do the work and make some beautiful stuff and have all the rights to sell them, and mostly sad for the human race, because honestly, how poor and wrong is your value system if you steal from others and don't even care? how unethical is it?
what is going on with the world people?!
:(

Gift Certificates!

2007-10-27T14:52:00.000-04:00

This is the first time I have gift certificates in the shop :)
I tried 10 million different layouts and finally decided for this one (front & back images):

They're postcard size & come in a nice red envelope :)
I noticed that some of the lines aren't even and it bothers me big time, but I was too excited and already ordered them :(
Oh, well...

Sharing...

2007-10-19T14:02:00.000-04:00

A little while ago I created a Flickr group to see how my toys turn out when you make them and add your own details and ideas . I just love to see how following the same pattern we can all make something that's so similar and yet so different at the same time. I think that through everything we make we show, or let shine through, a little bit of ourselves, don't you?

Take a look at this:
my boring, yet oh-so-cute ;) owls:

& now look at Else's!:

How extremely adorable & creative is that?!!!

This post is to invite you to share your pictures too :)
anapaulaoli crochet patterns Flickr group :)

a little jellyfish ornament to sweeten up the tree :)

2007-10-07T11:06:00.001-04:00

The picture isn't very good (i'm really bad at taking pictures of really small things), but I think a bunch of little jellyfish would look adorable in your x-mas tree, or you could hang them from your bag, or a window, or make one as a last minute stocking stuffer :)

When I made this one, it turned out to be approx. 4 inches/10 cm long (counting the tentacles).
Here are the instructions:

Using an F/5 crochet hook
R1- Ch2, sc 6 in second chain from hook
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R5-10: Sc 24
Work on face - Position and attach 6 mm plastic eyes with safety backings, cut out two little circles of pink felt and sew in place for cheeks :), embroider mouth.
R11- Sc 24 through back loops only (you'll use the front loops later when crocheting the little wavy things at the bottom)
R12- *Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R13- *Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (12 sts)
Stuff
R14- *Sk 1 sc, sc 1*, repeat 6 times (6 sts)
Bind off leaving long tail to close up the little hole, weave in loose end.

Wavy Part
Join yarn to one of the front loops you left in R11, chain 1, *4 sc in next st, sk 1 st, sl st 1*, repeat 7 times more. Bind off, weave in loose end.

Tentacles
Join yarn to the bottom part of your jellyfish (I left a long tail when joining so it would add a little more something something to the tentacles), chain 20. Bind off and leave the tail hanging if you want, or weave it in if you want a "neater" jellyfish. Repeat as many times as you want (mine has 9 tentacles, plus the 9 hanging pieces of yarn).

Please write if you have questions.
Happy crocheting!
:)
Ana