Great Title, Catchy Subtitle!

So this is my first 3D item, and boy, was it a learning experience. I learned why people use stitch markers. I learned that I still don't like sewing. And I learned that darn, Totoros are cute. This guy has a lot of beginner mistakes -- the eyes aren't quite aligned (they're not as bad as they look in the first picture, though -- the kid isn't holding it up straight) and the ears aren't stuffed right so they kinda look like rejected parsnips. But my kid says it still looks pretty good, and I'm inclined to agree -- I'm just stupid proud of the way he turned out. Unfortunately, now I've got both kids begging me to make stuffed animals for them -- one wants complicated Pokemon and one wants unicorns. It is an exercise to the reader to match the gender of the child to the requested item.

From this great pattern.

I finally finished these blankets for a friend who is adopting twins this month. One boy, one girl. Both blankets are Bernat Baby Coordinates but different dye lots so one is yellower while the other is wheatier. Both patterns from Leisure Arts Heirloom Afghans for Baby; the pineapple pattern is Exquisite and the square one Enchanting, but with two extra border pattern sections and no frilly edging on it.

I couldn't figure out why it took me so long to make them since I've done both these patterns a million times, then I realized that since I've started working again, I don't crochet during the day, and the kids are older with later bedtimes, so my nighttime crocheting starts an hour later than it used to. Anyway, these are finally done and I can start working on more interesting projects again. Am about 2/3 done with a blue Totoro -- my first stuffed toy -- and it's frustrating to be doing something for the first time because it's just not perfect. Augh.