Tools of the Trade

I took this pic with Instagram a while back, but I thought I would share it here as well. These are the tatting crochet hooks I use to make my micro crochet patterns... with a sewing needle for scale. They belonged to my great grandmother and in turn grandmother and now me. :D

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Hanasaurusrex Shop Highlights // Amigurumi Diner Meal

yummy combo stitch marker charms // cheeseburger + fries & hot dog + ketchup

Micro crochet cheeseburger is teeny tiny, under and inch!

Mmmm... the all American ball park treat, hello summer time!

crispy, golden fries, ready for snackin'

Last week I launched my big spring update and, in case you haven't been by, there are a bunch of new tiny treats in the Hanasaurusrex Etsy shop! Today, I'm highlighting my amigurumi diner meal.

At least once a week, I get a hankering—yes, hankering—for a cheeseburger. However you want to build it, it may just be one of the world's most perfect foods. And fries... well, fries are cheeseburger's yummy sidekick. Why, I have been known, from time to time, to slip some fries under my burger's bun—hello salty potato layer! 

Hot dogs and summertime go together like cheeseburgers and fries, but I couldn't crochet summertime. So, what else is a hot dog essential? Ketchup! Personally, I put mustard only on mine. Hey, that would make a fun poll. How do you love your hot dog dressed, mustard, ketchup or both?! My tiny hot dog charm has both 'cause I didn't want to leave anyone out!

And speaking of love, a lot of love goes into making these little babies! It takes over an hour using a tatting needle and cotton thread to make each one of these micro crocheted snacks, and when finished they are all under 3/4" tall. 

They make delicious knitting or crochet stitch markers or charms for your zippers or keychains, and you can choose whether you want them to come with loops or lobster clasps, depending on what you want to use them for. 

Collect them one at a time or buy the meal for a 25% discount!

Now, let's get to snackin'!

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Getting Back to Nature: Calaveras Big Tree State Park

I celebrated my 39th birthday this past Saturday in one of my favorite places, the forest. I remember when I was a kid, playing with my cousins in the woods across the street from my Grandmother's house in Texas, the crackle of fallen branches under my feel, the smell of the pine. Those were good times...

But those were woods. This was a forest, a vast, deep, beautiful, perfumed forest. Just two and a half hours from where I live now, Calaveras Big Tree State Park has some of the oldest and most awe inspiring Sequoias alive today. Some are thought to be as old as 2,000 years!

Talk about making a girl feel young on her birthday! Mission accomplished.

I can't wait to go back.

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RuBee's Crochet Party Hat

What's a party without a party hat?! And while we're on the subject, what's a party hat without an oversized pom pom?!! I mean, sure you can have a party without hats, and you can even have party hats without pom poms, but really?

I think it's safe to say, in the event the party goes bust, having a party hat with an oversized pom pom stashed somewhere could potentially save the day! Especially if it's being worn by a ridiculously cute puppy. Miss RuBee agrees, indubitably! 

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Swoon!

Crochet thread love.

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A Super Grouper!

The super grouper ring is FIN! Fin... get it?! I got more cheese where that came from!

This custom beaut was created for Scott Ohtoro, Navid Najafi and Illis It, who together make up the Hawaii hip hop group, Super Groupers. Scott hit me up and wanted to collab on this project to be used on their soon to be released album cover. 

This piece was sooo much fun to design! And, I love that Scott was down with me just running with his idea... I think most artists do their best work when they're allowed elbow room ;)

I'm pretty sure my favorite things about the design are the Swarovski crystal eyes! I mean really... what's a ring without bling?!!

POW!

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Hanasaurusrex + MakerAndGoods

I've teamed up with, Tracy and Chad, the awesome talent behind MakerAndGoods, to help them with their Indygogo campaign, which is raising money to realize their dream of creating a website... " that brings together the work and creative processes of incredible artists, designers, and craftspeople."

Here's a little more about their mission:

MakerAndGoods supports independent makers, small-scale artists, designers, and craftspeople, like me and many others, who dedicate themselves to the mastery of their craft. It is a vehicle to easily share their goods and creative narratives with a receptive, eager, growing audience. They also support discerning consumers. I think if you're reading this, you are probably a part of that very special group of consumers who care deeply about the origin of the goods they buy. MakerAndGoods will change the way you connect with the goods you buy. They are creating a dynamic marketplace where you can discover new artists, designers, and craftspeople. MakerAndGoods will take consumers into the artist's workshop to experience the skill, dedication, and love that goes into making the goods they produce. Another goal of MakerAndGoods is to create an engaging community. It will be an interactive community that fosters creativity, inspiration, and appreciation, a place where makers and fans can engage with each other, create richer experiences, and grow relationships.

And as part of the campaign they've put together a video for me! It's my first ever promotional video; so, I hope you enjoy it. And then head on over to the MakerAndGoods project on Indygogo and help us bring the love for what we do straight to you!

Signs of spring

I just love this tree outside my apartment... It looks like snow.

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