Persepolis

Just saw Persepolis... it was awesome! I highly recommend it :)

fun websites for photos

Just a quick post today; here are two really fun websites that I've seen on other blogs that allow you to do stuff to your photos; the first "oldifies"/ages your pictures. Click right here for the link!It's actually in Japanese, but it was pretty easy to figure out where to upload and what buttons to press. Here's my example:

A lion dance from Chinatown, Honolulu, HI 2008

The other website is one I'm sure you're going to have hours and hours of fun with: it's called tiltshiftmaker, and it allows you tilt shift your pictures (which will make it look like a toy model set. I personally love this type of photography! This website is awesome too; they have a flickr group where you can post your tilt-shifted pictures. Some advice; choose your pictures carefully; some will look better tilt shifted than others... I guess you should just experiment :) Have fun!

The Forbidden City, Beijing, China, from my trip to China in 2006
View of Xian streets from the City Gate; Xian, China from my trip in 2006

Bear Lollipop Pattern- Edited!

--- I edited the written pattern to match the diagram; I've also added the Tips and Hints page: thanks Misty!

Yay! Here it is guys: a free bearpop lollipop pattern which you may use to make your own bear lollipops. It is actually a PDF with more pages, including a Pattern Information page and a Tips and Hints page. I would be emailing these to people who purchase them from my etsy shop. But you guys can have them for freegan, 'cause I love you so much! I only ask that if you are going to make and sell these on the internet or at craft fairs that you credit me (berrysprite), and even better, tell them about my etsy/ blog... it would be kindly appreciated! You can also post your pictures to the berrysprite amigurumi flickr group, so we can see how lovely your pops are!

Because this is my first pattern, I would love some feedback; if you use the pattern could you please leave a comment (its tres important!) on one or all of these things? Thanks so much!

1. pattern page- how does it look visually? Do you like the layout and the graphics, or do you think they are distracting (I tried to keep lots of colors off the page people would print out.
2. actual pattern- Is it easy to understand? Is it similar to other patterns you've seen? Are there any mistakes or is it unclear in a certain part?
3. Pattern abbreviations and diagrams: Are the abbreviations and diagrams easy to understand? Are they helpful?
4. Any other comments would be extremely helpful!

Thanks so much again guys, and I hope you love the pattern! Just click on the pictures to enlarge and print or follow the written instructions!


Abbreviation Guide:
R#= Row Number
sc= single crochet stitch
slip/st= slip stitch
dec= decrease
ch=chain
st= stitch
♥---♥= set of stitches to repeat while crocheting in the round

Head:
Begin: Ch 2, sc 6 in the second st from the hook; join ends with a slip/st in the first sc (6 st)
R1: ♥ 2 sc in each stitch around♥ , Repeat ♥ 6 times. (12 st)
R2: ♥1 sc in next st, then 2 sc in next st♥, Repeat ♥ 6 times. (18 st)
R3- R5: sc all the way around (18 st)
R6: ♥sc 1, dec 1♥, repeat 6 times (12 st)
R7: ♥dec♥, repeat 6 times until closed

Ears: make 2.
Begin: Ch 2, sc 4 in the second st from the hook; join ends with a slip/st in the first sc (4 st)


♥ ♥ ♥ After crocheting all the pieces, stuff the head with polyfil; then you can sew the ears onto the bear head, and use a bead of hot glue at the opening of your crochet to put the stick in your pop. Add the facial features last; it'll be easier that way! Finally, top him off with a kawaii little ribbon that you tie before-hand and glue on. ♥ ♥ ♥

Diagram Abbreviations:
˄= increase
X= single stitch
˅= decrease
st= stitches


Pattern Diagram:
Head:
Begin: Ch 2, sc 6 in the second st from the hook; join ends with a slip/st in the first sc (6 st)
R1 ˄ ˄ ˄ ˄ ˄ ˄ (12 st)
R2 x ˄ x ˄ x ˄ x ˄ x ˄ x ˄ (18 st)
R3 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x (18 st)
R4 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x (18 st)
R5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x (18 st)
R6 x ˅ x ˅ x ˅ x ˅ x ˅ x ˅ (12 st)
R7 ˅ ˅ ˅ ˅ ˅ ˅ (6 st)

Ears: make 2.
Begin: Ch 2, sc 4 in second st from hook; join ends with a slip/st in the first sc (4 sc)

Winners!

Hee hee, you guys know me and my secret prizes! Besides announcing the winner of the seal plush, I would also like to announce another winner for a special pack of mamegoma seal buttons!

Thanks so much everybody for leaving a comment and for entering the giveaway... I hope you guys had as much fun as I did! And while not everyone can win a mamegoma seal plush, I will be posting a free crochet pattern on my blog around Sunday. Wanna know what it is? Here's a big hint... think of lollipops! It'll partially be a test of my pattern writing skill, especially since I will be switching my etsy shop berrysprite to exclusively be patterns while I'm in DC. However, it's mostly going to be a special thank you for everyone who hearts me, has visited, or who has commented ever. (I think of you guys as my web buddies!)

So without further ado my buddies, here are the grand prize winners of May's giveaway (picked by random number generator!

The winners are:
cuteboo- mamegoma seal plush!
joanna- mamegoma button pack!

Will the winners please email me their mailing addresses (to berrysprite@yahoo.com)? Thanks so much!

PS. I use inkscape to do the banners!

Haupia

Here is a quick and easy recipe for Haupia; a coconut desert that has the consistency of Jello and is really popular at local parties and luau (because it's so `ono/ delicious!).

Ingredients:
2 cans of coconut milk
8 tbsp of cornstarch
10 tbsp of sugar (white, granulated)
1 1/2 cups of water

Makes: 8x8 pan or about 16 really thick pieces or 9 really huge pieces

Directions:
Mix sugar and cornstarch together in a bowl. Stir in the water, a bit at a time. Stir in the coconut milk. Add contents of bowl to a heavy pot on the stove on Med-Hi heat (leaning more towards high heat), stirring constantly. Keep on stirring until mixture is very thick (approximately 10 minutes) and has a thick pudding-like/ thick syrup texture. Pour hot mixture into baking pan; cover and chill overnight. To serve, cut using a butter knife and use a fork or spatula to scoop it out. Yay!

Giveaway!

I'm soooo close to the end; finals to grade, one exam to take and one to proctor (hee, hee... proctor). I can't wait!

To celebrate the end of school, I've decided to do a giveaway! If you leave a comment between now (5.14.09) and next Wednesday (5.20.09), you'll have a good chance to win this little mamegoma plushie! They're adorable, see; they have little accessories that come with them! The one you guys can win is especially cute... he comes with little bunny ears. I'm going to announce the winner on Thursday, who will be chosen as usual by a random number generator :)and then notify the winners, who will need to provide me with an address. Then he'll be on his way to his new home!