Taking the cake
Last month I became marginally obsessed with a slew of “reality” shows and documentaries based around the making of unique and interesting cakes. The entire month, shows like Cake Boss, Ace of Cakes, King of Pastries and other cake-centric programming dominated the living room TV. And while I badly wanted to make a crazy, fancy, artsy cake like the ones the master chefs were whipping up on the screen, I knew I could never in a million years make the cake I was thinking of.
OR COULD I?
The answer was yes. Yes I could. And it would be the best cake ever.
This triple-tiered lovely is biggest crocheted figure I’ve made so far… almost 2′ tall! Now, I know I’ll probably never have a bodacious stripper in a feather boa and pasties jump out of a cake for me in real life, but having this in the corner of the room is a nice replacement.
If she could just twirl those tassels a few times, the party would really get started. (See my personal tassel-twirling hero in action below.)
The Bunny Ring: A pattern and tutorial!
HOPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!
Nothing says Easter Sunday like some Silly Pink Bunnies, so in celebration of the season I’ve created my first Croshame pattern, a Bunny Ring!
The written pattern can be found here: BUNNY RING PATTERN
To go along with the pattern, I’ve created a little video accompaniment! (The pattern is in there somewhere, I swear.)
It’s my first venture into both the pattern-writing and video tutorial arenas, so they might be a little rough around the frayed, stained edges — but in the end, it’s all bunny love, baby. That, and some 20+ hours of editing. Enjoy!
Needle felting update
This is shaping up to be one of the longest projects I have ever worked on! Although it’s very rewarding, it’s also extremely frustrating seeing as I usually like to get things over and done with pretty quickly. Plus, there’s that very un-fun arm pain that comes along with it. Needle felting is pretty unpredictable as a medium — the sculpture keeps changing my original design slightly with each session. And I’m still only a litte over halfway done! For my next piece I’m pretty sure I will do part clay and part needle felting to save me some time and bouts of manic hair pulling (aka Trichotillomania).
Something for everybody! (Well, kinda.)
A few posts ago I mentioned that I had entered a Valentine’s contest over at clubdevo.com, the official site for the band DEVO. Well, I didn’t win the first prize Flip Cam as I had hoped, but I did place as a runner up, winning a new copy of DEVO’s latest album, Something For Everybody!
Little Marky and his favorite new album!
The album is pretty fantastic, and I’m not just saying that. Really. I don’t normally like it when “old-timey” 80’s bands try to get all new and hip with the times, but in this instance I enjoyed it. They’ve retained their usual simplistic yet masterful musicality with oddly significant lyrics, but now have a stronger production and fuller sound.
And will ya just look at that sexy blue vinyl! Purrrr.
There was some stiff competition in the contest, including two entries that I thought would win for sure (but oddly enough, didn’t) — a Spudly Pin-up Girl holding a potato bouquet and a fantastic plush rendition of the donut-french fry sex scene from the “That’s Good” music video. I’m not sure if the band actually made the final decision (swoon), but it’s probably far more likely that it was some random Warner Brothers PR intern pulling names out of a hat.
Oh well. Either way… I love me some DEVO!
Etsy Update 4.7.11
Just in time for Easter, here comes everyone’s favorite trouble maker…
S’tan the Man!
He’s red hot and rarin’ to go home with a lucky friend and follower!
S’tan may be one handsome devil…
…bur He’d rather rule in Hell than serve in Heaven!
S’tan comes with his very own gold chain, for He IS the master of all pimps.
All hail S’tan!
Available here!
St. Putrid’s Day
PADDY O’HURLIHEE
There once was a leprechaun sot,
A classy gent he surely was not.
When ale made him sick,
The lad had to think quick
and was forced to puke in his pot.
Japanese Disaster Relief
Having lived in San Francisco my whole life, I am well aware of the damage that earthquakes can do. However, I have never in my days seen or been through anything as mind-boggling and horrendous as what has happened in Japan recently. Therefore, I am putting my misanthropy on hold for a little while by donating 10% of all March and April sales from croshame.etsy.com to the Red Cross Japanese Tsunami and Earthquake relief fund.
If you would like to make a personal donation to the Red Cross yourself, please follow the link below. Thanks, everyone.
Never Felt Better!!
Well, that title may not be completely accurate, but it fits the post.
In mid-February I had the amazing chance to learn the art of needle felting from one of the medium’s most innovative and impressive artists, Stephanie Metz (http://stephaniemetz.com). I recently came across Metz’s work quite by accident, and was immediately impressed with her content and style. I had previously seen other needle felted animals and more primitive-looking felted objects before, but what Metz had done with the medium opened up a range of doors I didn’t think were possible. While perusing her site, I noted that she was teaching a needle felting workshop at my alma mater, CCA, so I jumped at the opportunity to learn this intriguing art form from this master fiber artist.
- An image of Stephanie Metz at work. Courtesy http://stephaniemetz.com
The workshop was small; there were only 4 other students (all female) in the class, which kept it really friendly and gave it a “Felting Bee” type atmosphere. The participants were all already artists and sculptors, so that lent itself to some really impressive and spectacular first-time projects. Stephanie was very easy to listen to and incredibly open, answering all the questions people had for her with great honesty and candor. She showed slides of other fiber artists as well as her own art, and even brought some of her pieces to show to people, including one of her “Overbred” creatures, an abstract piece, a teddy bear skull, and some teddy embryos in jars. The work is even more impressive in person, and after learning the basics of the medium, doubly so! She even let the students touch and hold her work, which helped us get a sense of the density and texture of what a finished piece should look like.
I am really excited about where I will go in the future with this new skill under my belt, and will be trying to do as much as my BCT (Burgeoning Carpal Tendonitis) will allow for. (Who’d have thought stabbing hair into shapes would be so labor intensive?) I’m looking forward to combining my more cartoony antigurumis with some more realistic, sculptural needle felting and taking my fiber art to another level.
Ever since the workshop I have been on the lookout for other talented needle felters, and am starting a new link section to showcase their sites. Please check out these wonderful artists work under the sidebar section “Needle Felting Artists.”
Here are some pictures of me in action, working on my current (grandiose) first project — I will hopefully be updating as the work progresses.
Happy V-Day… the Croshame way!
I’ve got a couple of Valentine’s Day cards for this year, both music-related!
First, from my more cynical side…
A Valentine for all those loveless creeps in the world, a crochet portrait one of the most despicable and unlovable men in punk rock history, G.G. Allin!
If you’d like to see more photos of the G.G. figure , I’ve created a Flickr album here! (WARNING: Contains possibly NSFW material including a cluster-stitch weiner, simulated poopstains, a yarn turd and several offensive homemade tattoos. Enjoy!)
And second, from my gushy, lovey side, is my entry for the “Devolved Valentines” contest going on over at clubdevo.com:
It’s a lovin’ portrait of DEVO frontman Mark Mothersbaugh!
Happy February 14th everyone!
Etsy Update – 2.10.11
Please enjoy these latest offerings from Croshame.etsy.com!
First, a new Croshame Wearable, the “Hogtied” pin! Have your pork & wear it too!
Next, an updated version of Grimm the Little Black Metal Guy!
Let this cute little church-torcher into your home and he’ll surely set fire to your heart!
And last but not least, we have Teen Wolfy!
This fuzzy heartthrob became the big wolf on campus after joining the school basketball team!
He even comes with his own little basketball.
And stay tuned for an upcoming Valentine’s update with more figures!
Etsy Shop Update – 1.24.11
Here’s this week’s Croshame Etsy addtions!
First up we have Very Rare Indeed.
He’s escaped from the clutches of a hungry fast-food patron and is looking for a nice patch of grass to rest his buns.
Introducing Croshame Wearables!
There’s the “Lambchopped” pin!
And over at my Doomed to Live store, you can find these knit and crochet-related tees!
Crothulhu (Currently sold out — I am hoping to get more made soon!):
Etsy shop update – 1.16.11
This year I will be trying to update the Etsy store on a weekly basis and making regular posts about it here. Not to worry though, the blog won’t become one gigantic commercial! I will also be posting more reviews, articles and some other fun stuff. (Youtube videos, anyone?)
Anyway, onto the current matter at hand:
New Etsy stuffs for your enjoyment!
Werewolf A-were-ness month is fast approaching us and Wolfy needs a home!
The perfect Valentine’s Day present for that special someone who stole your heart.
and Monkey Shines:
When a debilitating slip on a banana peel put him out of work at the Peanut Gallery, Mr. Shines just couldn’t face living anymore…
so why not let him hang out at your place?
Have your ‘shame and eat it too!
Normally, crocheted ice cream tends to look a little something like this…
But I’ve taken this amigurumi favorite and smothered it with a nice helping of Croshame.
Who wants
OUCH CREAM?
These cuties are now at the Croshame Etsy Store in four painfully delicious flavors!
Chocolate:
Vanilla:
Mint:
And strawberry:
As an added bonus, all Ouch Cream Cones come with their own sticker-tag!
Scoop ’em up quick before they all melt away!
HAPPY 2011!
Hope everyone has a safe New Year’s Eve tonight!
In celebration of the occasion I created a new member of the Croshame antigurumi family:
Wino Rhino the Party Animal!
This guy can find any excuse to pop the cork open on a new bottle of vino…
… but New Year’s is definitely Wino’s favorite holiday.
You can find Wino Rhino drinking himself into next year over at the Croshame Etsy shop. He also comes with the streamers, balloons and yarn confetti shown.
Merry Commish-mas!
Now that I’ve got all my Christmas crafting done, I’m finally ready to start taking order requests!
Pretty much everything that can be found in the “Antigurumi Gallery” is now available for commission (with the exception of The Exorcist Playset), as well as specific personal requests and ideas.
For further information on how everything works, refer to my new “Commissions and Sales” page, and please contact me at moviepuke@gmail.com or through the Croshame Etsy site if you’re interested. Thanks!
Lambchopped Redux!
Now available at the Croshame Etsy Shop:
LAMBCHOPPED!
This was the first design I ever made, so I decided she was due for an update.
Now complete with her very own axe!
You can find this little dear grazing in the Etsy shop HERE.
lostinasupermarket.com Interview!
The folks over at the super-fab online art and design collective (it’s not a website) lostinasupermarket.com asked me some fun, pressing questions and I did my best to answer them with my own brand of glee-filled apathy. Read the interview by clicking the pic below.
Rockawaii Horror Picture Show!
What do you get when you cross the Japanese form of cute known as “Kawaii” with The Rocky Horror Picture Show?
Why, THE “ROCKAWAII” HORROR PICTURE SHOW, of course!
My newest Etsy listing depicts four of the beloved characters from the cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with a kawaii twist!
There’s Frank-N-Furter:
Columbia:
Riff Raff:
…and Magenta:
The set featuring all four figures can be found over at the Croshame Etsy shop. Check ’em out here!
Q&A with Croshame!
SmoochPanda Crafts has just posted their “Amigurumi Designer of the Month” interview featuring yours truly! Check it out by clicking the pic below!
What’s that? You’ve got more burning questions for me? Well ask away over at my brand new Formspring page.
ETSY SHOP NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
Hooray everybody! After working tirelessly for the last two weeks, I have finally completed my first listings for the brand new Croshame etsy shop!
Meet the store’s inhabitants:
HOGTIED! Available here.
RODNEY RAMHORN! Available here.
And last but not least, the EVIL ELVES FAMILY! These elf guys are some of the biggest figures I have made so far!
There’s Grandpa GOREY! Available here.
MIDWICH, available here.
ADDAM, available here.
And finally, little Miss KAREN PINK. Available here.
Please stop on by and have a look, maybe drop a heart or two. 🙂
There will be more work posted soon, including some fun new Horror-day ornaments with a cult movie twist. I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but let’s just say that I can see you quivering with ANTICIP… ATION! (Hint, hint!)
Setting up shop — and a note on commissions
I’m excited to report that I will be opening a brand new Croshame Etsy shop this Saturday, November 27th!
Since the demand has grown significantly in the last week, I have been working my bird-like fingers to the bone to complete work for the shop. And for those who wanted to spread the Croshame spirit around for the (un)holidays, fear not! There will be some new, handcrafted “Horror-day” items listed just in time for Cyber Monday!
I also wanted to address the inquiries about having commission work done: I will be accepting special orders, requests and commissions for most things found in the “Antigurumi Gallery” AFTER Christmastime. I really wish I could have forseen this sudden influx in interest and take on some stuff right now, but unfortunately I have to finish some other projects first. I will let everyone know as soon as I am available for commission work, and will also be posting a whole page on the blog about pricing and what will be available.
And a big THANK YOU TO EVERYONE! It’s been great hearing from appreciative folks and meeting new people!
(Hey, look at me being thankful on Thanksgiving! Who would have thunk it…)
New internetty stuff!
First of all…
Say hello to croshame.com! No more typing that “wordpress” nonsense, unless you really want to (typing fetish, perhaps); and hey, if you got a website or blog, feel free to add that shit to your links page. Do people still use banner links? I can make some of those too, if it’s not too “2003” of me.
In other news, I fell prey to the seductive wiles of social networking. Here’s where I am on these things:
Croshame
Promote Your Page Too
WOAH.
So I guess a bunch of blogs are posting and re-posting my Exorcist playset, according to the astonishing increase in visits to this blog and my Ravelry page. Well, awesome-tastic! A big old welcome to all you people stopping in — I have a lot of new stuff coming out in the next couple of weeks, including some fun stuff for the Horrordays (aka un-Holidays), so stay tuned and thanks for stopping in!
P.S. Please feel free to let me know what you think!
P.P.S. Yes, I do internet searches for my own shit. Don’t pretend like you don’t do it too.
Croshame 
