Meet Spocktopus: A Highly Logical Octopus

Spocktopus

Often when I can’t fall asleep at night, my thoughts turn to crafts. I solve all sorts of crafty conundrums in that drowsy half-dozing state – the perfect glue to adhere something, the right binding for a sewing project, where I last saw my size “P” crochet hook…

Plagued with menopause-induced insomnia, Karen at SewMuch2Luv lay awake one night and thought of crafts, too. That’s how she came up with the idea to combine an octopus with Star Trek for a friend. The result: Spocktopus.

I love that he has the gold rickrack on his tentacles – nice detail.

What kind of crafty meanderings keep you awake at night? Or what project would you work on if you had insomnia?

Have You Hugged a Nightmare Lately?

Have You Hugged a Nightmare Lately? Why would you want to do that?  Well, how about when the nightmare is a huggable version of Jack Skellington from the Nightmare Before Christmas?  Jack is crocheted in not-so-living black and white acrylic yarn.  The free pattern is the creation of April Folts of April Draven Designs.  When completed, Jack measures about fifteen inches tall and is worked in single crochet throughout.

 

Area and state regulations do not allow the Companion Cube to remain here, alone and companionless.

Area and state regulations do not allow the Companion Cube to remain here, alone and companionless. And the cube is not companionless once you crochet this mini weighted cube and Chell!  Chell even has her own Portal Device too.  Designed by Nerdigurumi, the pattern is free.  It uses various colors of worsted weight yarns and some wire for Chell to allow her to be posable.  Nerdigurumi warns that this pattern is a bit more than beginner as it requires some ‘cobbling and fiddling’ to assemble.

Do the Dodo

A friend of mine, Rudi, emailed me these photos of the Ffordian Dodo he recently cloned, and I couldn’t resist the temptation to show off on his behalf.

Vikwick is an early version 1.2 dodo, without wings – but since they are flightless that doesn’t seem to make any difference to her quality of life. Vikwick has recently been involved in the SpecOps 27 investigation into Adrian Lush, since the TV host recently opened a chain of bath & beauty product stores and is under suspicion of using the strong smell emanating from the shops to disguise a cheese smuggling operation….

Vikwick was made from socks, following the tutorial on my blog (tutorial includes wings, if you want the)  – the Sockie Dodo’s are 100% Jasper Fforde approved (his little daughter has one) and are really easy to make… but be warned, if you make one, they will steal all your marshmallows

Clone Your Own Dodo Tutorial

Steampunk Cthulhu

Who doesn’t love an adorable Cthulhu? SpookyPooky created this tiny (3 inch tall) Cthulhu stuffy for the One Tiny Stuffie swap over at Craftster. Her lucky partner’s survey said she liked “cryptids, sea creatures/monsters, anything a little unusual, steampunk, Neil Gaiman inspired…She also said she loves anything with a top hat and a mustache.” So Steampunk Cthulhu was born! I love that she added a mustache! You can see more pictures in the post, including his filigree-touched wings and the mini I, Cthulhu biography “written” by Neil Gaiman SpookyPooky made to go with it.

Crazy 4 Cult in Los Angeles, July 8-30

Crazy 4 Cult posterI know I mentioned it in my last post, but I thought folks might be interested in knowing a little more about Crazy 4 Cult, an annual art show exploring the intersection of fandom and fine art.

Held at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles, the show features pieces ranging from paintings to hand-sewn plushies. What all the art has in common, though, is a deep love for the movies that have made a mark on our cultural conscious, from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to The Shining.

This summer, the show celebrates its fifth year, as well as the publication of Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art. A 176-page book featuring some of the best art from the show’s previous years, it also boasts an introduction by filmmaker/pop culture connoisseur Kevin Smith.

Crazy 4 Cult 5 opens with a reception on Friday, July 8, 7-11pm, and runs through July 30. The galley also hosts a book signing for Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art on July 10 at 12pm, with many of the featured artists in attendance.

If anyone gets a chance to check out this awesome show, drop us a line and let us know what wowed you!

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And with that, dear readers, I am officially off for summer vacation! My husband and I are traveling to Southeast Asia for the first time ever, and I’ll be gone for most of the month. So, everyone have a great July (and a happy 4th to all U.S. Geek Crafters), and I’ll see you soon!