November 8

Knit a Stuffed R2D2

As the designer theredlineknitter says its for the tiny Jedi in your life. You have to start them young, its the rules.  Small huggable and sure to be dragged on wild adventures. Knit in just a couple of pieces (body, arms), this guy is ready to roll. As the designer says:

This very huggable stuffed R2D2 is bound to become a favorite friend for any Star Wars fan. He’s big enough to be a sidekick, but small enough that he can be carried around by even the tiniest future Jedis.

theredlineknitter_r2d2

So grab your lightsaber knitting needles and head off on to adventure.

Category: Craft, Geek, Movies, Sci-Fi, Toys | 2 Comments on Knit a Stuffed R2D2
November 3

Minion hat (and costume)

Minion costume

Needing a Halloween costume for a party this year, I opted to be a Minion from the movie, “Despicable Me.” I found some overall shorts and a yellow shirt at a local thrift store, some yellow tights at Target, and borrowed the boots from my daughter.

But the crowning glory (pun intended) of the ensemble was the crochet Minion hat, thanks to a free Ravelry pattern by Jennifer Dougherty. It took me just two evenings to whip up – one evening for the yellow cap, and one evening for the goggled-eye.

While Halloween has passed, perhaps this project will still inspire you for holiday gift-giving. The pattern provides instructions for child-adult sizing, so you can create your own family of Minions in time for the holidays!

Links of Interest:

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October 29

Sulley from Monsters Inc. Costume

You probably don’t have time to construct something like this before Halloween on Thursday, but this Sulley from Monsters Inc. costume is really well done, so had to be shared.

Sulley costume

Posted on Instructables by user wmorey37, Sulley was put together using chicken wire, paper, glue, felt, fur, tube, old shoes, paint, duct tape, bouncy balls, bubble wrap and a hula hoop. Impressed? Head over to Instructables.com to check out how it was done.

Acknowledging that it is already one day to Halloween, however, if you are still looking for costume ideas that you have some chance of pulling off before the big night, perhaps you should check out these 15 Last-Minute, Inexpensive, Geeky Halloween Costume Ideas.

Category: Craft, Geek, Movies, Myths & Urban Legends, Tutorial | Comments Off on Sulley from Monsters Inc. Costume
October 16

Ray Harryhausen Embroidery

Wow. Just…wow. This embroidered tribute to Ray Harryhausen (who passed away earlier this year at the age of 92) was posted to our Geek Crafts Flickr Pool awhile ago, and it blew me away! It was stitched completely in redwork by the awesome Ellen Schinderman. Ray Harryhausen was a special effects artist specializing in stop motion animation and movie monsters. If you’re into horror or sci-fi movies at all, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen at least one of the movies he worked on, like Clash of the Titans (1981) or Jason and the Argonauts (1963). One of my favourites was The Valley of Gwangi (1969) because (of course) it was about a dinosaur!

Ray Harryhausen Embroidery

Category: Craft, Geek, Horror & Gore, Movies, Sci-Fi | 1 Comment on Ray Harryhausen Embroidery
October 15

“Search me, we’re just the knockers!”

I loved Jim Henson’s movie, Labyrinth, as a kid. Well, mostly. I do remember being rather scared of the Fireys, and the creepy bit in the rubbish heap. And I’m almost certain I had nightmares about the Bog of Eternal Stench.

Now, of course, the scariest thing about Labyrinth is David Bowie’s leggings, and I actually have very fond memories of the movie, which this wonderful hand-made replica door knocker helped bring flooding back this week.

Labyrinth Knocker

Made by Craftster forum user, chughes225, this knocker is made from a wooden block, foil, polymer clay, and is masterfully painted and glazed. Check out the Knocker from Labyrinth post on Craftster here.

I can’t wait to see the full set. These two characters were so funny in the movie, and I can even hear them bickering in my head now as I type…

“Mumble mumble mumble… you’re a wonderful conversational companion.” “You can talk – all you do is moan!” “No good. Can’t hear you…”

Category: Craft, Geek, Movies | 2 Comments on “Search me, we’re just the knockers!”