So, there has been a lot out there in crafty blog land about japanese craft books. I’ve envied the ones posted over on angry chicken over and over. There’s this hand made felt one I’ve been drooling over for months now. Then this blog got started and I started browsing the eBay sellers. Well, here’s what I got in the mail today:

I’m pretty excited about the baby elephant. It’s the perfect size for a punch-needle project. And my kids are definitely getting hedgehogs for Christmas. The patterns are clear and easy to follow, despite the fact they are in japanese.

I’m sure this won’t be my last japanese craft book.

Here’s a little tiny guy. Despite his diminuitive size, he’s taken a long time to make. I spun super fine lace weight merino yarn, then made the fabric for each pattern piece with punch needle emboidery. That took me awhile because it was my first punch needle project and I didn’t get the same density of loops on the pieces, and then I forgot to make one of the body pieces a mirror image of the other. I was working on this way back in April while I was listening to the General Conference broadcast. I took him to Boise with me too, in hopes of finishing him, but I was quilting.

Anyway, he’s done now and I love him! He’s pretty crooked and wonky. Sitting down he’s 4 or 5 inches tall, fully jointed, with glass eyes, and ribbon Amy sent me tied around his neck. Now he’s sitting on the book shelf by his big pal Rupert.

Here is the bunny my friend April made me for my birthday (with her own pattern, might I add). She’s knit with alpaca yarn. I’m not sure what kind of fiber the dress is– I think it’s some acrylic blend. I love the color! April is an awesome knitter.