Holey moley! Thank you so much everyone who bid on the Kim Family Benefit Auction items. I was simply blown away by the response and I believe that Lisa, Stephanie and Gerrie surpassed their goal five times over! Incredible.
Sorry for the lack of posting lately. I think I may have enjoyed the blogging break over the holidays way too much as it's been hard getting back into blogging. But I have been busy trying to meet a couple of deadlines for various projects as well as get through another crunch at work. I've also been crocheting like a madwoman. I got sick right after Christmas and while laying about blowing my nose I suddenly decided I needed to make the world's smallest amigurumi bear.
Coming in at just under 1 1/2 inches, I'm sure Guinness won't be calling anytime soon, but I was so pleased that I quickly became obsessed with making more. So that's what I've been doing since Christmas. Crocheting in the car while the Mister drives, in the courtyard while I wait for Bud at school, and at my desk during lunch. Unfortunately, like most of my crafting I'm super slow at crocheting too. And one would think little = less stitches, but they still take me hours to do. But despite the hours, eye strain and sore fingers, I'm hooked!
I guess this type of amigurumi is very similar to crocheted thread bears, but I'm calling mine "chibi dangos". Chibi is Japanese slang for small and dango is a small round mochi-like Japanese dessert. So chibi dangos because they're tiny and no bigger than a dango and dango are yummy like mochi my favorite food which is also the name of my cat and my blog and well, you get the idea.
Anyway, after the bear I went on to a tako with a jaunty beret,
a wee black pup, frolicking in a field of mini marshmallows,
a bug eyed pooch bundled up for the winter,
and a pair of little guys made especially for 2007 - the year of the pig.
And look what Lynn happened to post about on Friday. Chibi dangos must be in the air!
(Added: I made mine up as I went along and used a #8/1.50 mm hook with #10 crochet thread and DMC craft thread, but here's a pattern I found for a jointed thread bear if you want to give it a try. They use dental floss for the joints, now that's tiny.)
Those are the cutest things I've ever seen - beautifully made! And I love your "location" shots for each one :)
Posted by: crafty champloo | January 07, 2007 at 09:48 PM
what cute chibi dangos! my favorite is black pup....
Posted by: debbie | January 07, 2007 at 10:07 PM
You did a good jobmaking the chibi dangos. My favorite is the black pup too!
Posted by: Tracy | January 07, 2007 at 11:01 PM
Your little Chibi Dangos are wonderful!
Its fun to see what people are making, thanks again for sharing these photos of your work!
I've been making miniature bears and such for years and over time accumulated quite a collection. The smallest crocheted bears I have are 1/4 inch , I even have some sewn (turned and stuffed and jointed) that are that size. Those were made using facile ( a thin ultrasuede).
I should take some pics and post them on my blog to share too! :)
PS. I love mochi too!
Posted by: Ann C | January 08, 2007 at 12:05 AM
Oh my, what teeny tiny little cuties! And I LOVE the photos, they are great!
Posted by: Emma | January 08, 2007 at 12:44 AM
*giggles*
They make me giggly!
Posted by: Malin | January 08, 2007 at 01:16 AM
Oh my Gawd ! They are sooo cute. I love the little doggies.
And dental floss to joint something ? - we are all going to go blind one day. I'm definitely throwing in the towel when it comes to matching Japanese tiny-ness.
Posted by: lyn | January 08, 2007 at 02:15 AM
They are all wonderful but the tako (with beret..ackk!) and the wee pup are too much!
You do realize that you could have gotten several posts out of these photos, right? ;-)
Posted by: Jan | January 08, 2007 at 02:42 AM
they're so adorable! I hope in a few years when my twins are just a LITTLE older I can do such adorable fiddly little things. But meanwhile thanks for the eye candy, it cheers up a cloudy gloomy day here!
Posted by: kelly | January 08, 2007 at 03:26 AM
Oh they are so cute! I am planning on teaching myself to crochet- only because I am crazy for the amiguri! They are just so so cute. Yours are adorable and I love that tako with the beret!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: patti | January 08, 2007 at 03:35 AM
Very cute! Wasn't there a popular song about dango a few years back, Dango san-kyoudai or something like that? I wish I could crochet in the car but unfortunately I have to watch the road or I get car-sick. I'm very slow at crocheting too!
Posted by: Biscuitbear | January 08, 2007 at 03:53 AM
oh, Oh, OH! I am blown away by these....
They are so adorable, I could just eat 'em up (is that what you were thinking when you made them bite sized???) I attempted amigurumi last year, with not much of a start, but it's official - in 2007 I want to learn to crochet! (any recommendations of a good book, or website, with instructions???)
Posted by: lla | January 08, 2007 at 04:02 AM
The little octopus makes me so inordinately happy! I wish I could knit or crochet!
Posted by: sarah | January 08, 2007 at 05:49 AM
oh i just love amigurumi! that octopus is to die for :)
Posted by: gleek | January 08, 2007 at 06:11 AM
They are utterly fantastic, Myra! And you can't be *that* slow at crocheting, that's quite a collection you've amassed so far. Or maybe you did a *lot* of nose blowing and very little sleeping...? Happy new year to you and your family!
Posted by: Michelle | January 08, 2007 at 06:28 AM
so small and so cute!
Posted by: hannah | January 08, 2007 at 06:33 AM
such wonderful creatures! love the pigs, love them a lot.
Posted by: stephanie s | January 08, 2007 at 06:53 AM
From Sam (5 1/2 y.o.) I like the bug eyed pooch the best! I just want that because it's so cute!:)
Posted by: debbie | January 08, 2007 at 07:10 AM
you are killin' me with cuteness, LOVE IT!
Thanks for the inspiration, I will add this to my "to make" list-- I envision Chrismtas ornaments for next year-- and craftin' these up will be uber-travel friendly space wise in my bag.
thanks!
Posted by: amy in az | January 08, 2007 at 07:22 AM
I would love the pattern for the tiny pig on the left. Any chance that you will have patterns to sell? I'm very interested in they year of the pig now! And that started with last year's year of the dog postcard swap! Happy crocheting. It's fun, isn't it?
Posted by: carolb | January 08, 2007 at 07:43 AM
Very sweet! I'm a very slow crocheter, it would take me months to make this many little sweeties. My favorite is the tako. Love the jaunty beret!
Posted by: Amanda | January 08, 2007 at 10:34 AM
Myra, I just posted some mini bear pics on my site, please take a peek ( and maybe if you squint hard enough, the pics would look clear ) argh...macro...
Posted by: Ann C | January 08, 2007 at 12:45 PM
I love them, especially the little dog. I cannot imagine making anything so small, let alone so well.
So talented, you are.
Posted by: A.J. | January 08, 2007 at 12:56 PM
so nice to see your work - truly inspiring and i pore over the pics and ideas. my 4 year old wants all that you create ... me too.
Posted by: esther | January 08, 2007 at 01:34 PM
I am so impressed. Those things are SO CUTE. My daughter makes similar tiny creatures, except out of clay.
Posted by: Susan | January 08, 2007 at 02:36 PM