For as long as I can remember, I've loved to create. Whether it was baking cookies with my surrogate grandmother; dreaming up far fetched background histories for my stuffed animals and Barbies; fanfiction for my favorite comic books; cooking meals; making jewelry; making kids; I've always been fascinated with what I can create just by putting a little thought and effort behind it. So, when I was given an opportunity to quit my day job – creating fantastic food for people to enjoy at an equally fantastic price – and stay home with my littles, it was a huge surprise to the people who knew me, as well as to myself, that I jumped on it.
It has been three years since I last worked in a real kitchen, and while I can't say it's always been easy, or fun, it's always been interesting. While my littles are a lot of fun to be around, being the strong independent types that they are, they haven't always jumped for joy when I say “Hey, let's making something!” In fact, the usual response is “But Mooommmy!” followed by whatever the excuse du jour is.
That's when crochet fell into my lap.
My Story
The birth of a Voodoo doll
Actually, it didn't start with a Voo. It started with a wash cloth, then a little yellow and white bunny. I was in the craft store just looking for something to occupy my time when I found a "I can't believe I'm crocheting" book and kit in the clearance bin. Someone had stolen all but one of the hooks from the kit and it had been marked down to $1. Combined with a half priced spindle of yellow and white variegated cotton yarn, I armed myself with a new project and figured if I got board with it easily, or I just wasn't good at it, I was only out $6 and a little bit of time. I also figured the entertainment value of those few hours were worth the six bucks. Hay, it's cheaper than going to the movies, right?
The wash cloth didn't keep my attention. In fact, it's probably the most boring project I've ever worked on. Thankfully, it didn't stop there. The back of the book had pictures of "advanced" crochet projects, teddy bears and bunnies, juggling balls, dog toys. They were cute and intricate and I had this HUGE thing of yellow yarn I needed to do something with, so I hit the internet looking for "easier" toy patterns.
Then came Lion Brand's website and this cute bunny. Okay, he's not quite so cute anymore. This poor guy has been dropped out the window of a moving car, stomped into a mud puddle, pulled, fought over, played with by a dog; yet here he is, my first Amigurumi project and boy was I hooked. Pun intended. Bun here was followed by Goddess dolls, unicorns, Christmas ornaments, and dragons. If I could find a free pattern online, I was trying to make it. I made scarves, a purse, I even started working on an afghan -- which I still haven't finished, LOL. It wasn't long after I found this cute, free voodoo doll pattern that I made my first one. I posted a picture on Facebook and before I knew it, I had orders for them. I hadn't even thought to sell them, then my sister-in-law bought 4 of them!
Do you Voo?
I only made the first ten or so using this pattern before I was changing things around. I wanted a rounder body, feet that looked like feet, and arms that hung and didn't stick out from their sides. I used techniques I gained from other patterns to make something a little different, a little new. Before I knew it, I was making Doctor Who dolls, Clockwork Orange Voodoo dolls, comic book super heroes and villeins, Star Wars Voos. What started out as a little something to try and keep me occupied with all this free time on my hands has turned into a nice little business that pays for its self and offers me the opportunity to be creative and silly.
That, in and of its self, is worth its weight in yarn -- because yarn is so much better than gold.
