As we crochet crafters know, Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. Zoomigurumi takes it one step further and concentrates on animals found in the wild or domesticated ones we have as pets.
This series of twelve craft books features patterns for a wide variety of very cute and clever animals to crochet as huggable soft handmade toys. Each book in the series features from 12 to 15 animal patterns, each one by a different designer. The patterns range from beginner to advanced, so every crochet crafter can find one or more to fit their abilities. The series was produced by AmigurumiPatterns.net, a popular handicraft website.
The List of the Zoomigurumi Craft Books
Book 1 of 12. Zoomigurumi. 12 designers have teamed up in this first Zoomigurumi craft book to give you patterns for a Baby Bear, a Pig, a Toucan, a Tiger and a Pony, a Monkey and Lil Quack the Duck, a Lemur, a Fox, Dakota the Dog and Eduardo the Donkey, a Moose, a cute Mouse and a Bunny.
Book 2 of 12. Zoomigurumi 2. This volume has 15 cute and cuddly amigurumi animal patterns for a Turtle, a Cow, a Raccoon, a Beaver, a Kitten and a Dog, a Fox, an Elephant, a Bunny, a cute Skunk, two lovable Lambs, a Lion and a Tiger, Manfred the Mouse and Penny the Piglet.
Book 3 of 12. Zoomigurumi 3. This volume has 15 new Amigurumi animal patterns from 12 top designers. The patterns include Henry the Hippo, a darling Fawn, a Penguin, a Husky dog, a Duckling, a Giant Panda, a Cow, a Hedgehog, a Fox, a cuddly Lamb, a Turtle, a pair of Kangaroos, a Red Panda, a Bird and a Reindeer.
Book 4 of 12. Zoomigurumi 4. This book has 15 new animal patterns created by 13 talented designers from all over the world. Create your very own kitten, dolphin. elephant, giraffe, orangutan, deer, seahorse, and an adorable bumblebee wearing sunglasses. The craft book also contains seven more animal patterns.
Book 5 of 12. Zoomigurumi 5. Here we have 15 more cute Amigurumi animal patterns. My favorite is the Walrus. And the beautiful peacock on the cover is a darling pattern. There is also a camel to crochet, a flamingo, a rhino, a trout, and a teddy wearing a hoodie.
Book 6 of 12. Zoomigurumi 6. From the red panda on the cover to the owl in a sweater, to a sweet shark, a sloth and a swan, this book of 15 patterns will keep your crochet hook busy! Don't forget to check out the hummingbird, a panda, two dachshunds and Mortimer the Mammoth.
Book 7 of 12. Zoomigurumi 7. The mallard duck and babies on the cover will entice you to their patterns, plus some unusual ones such as a seagull, a Llama, a moose, a zebra, a stork, a pony and a chicken on a nest.
Book 8 of 12. Zoomigurumi 8. Come and crochet a parrot, a baby seal, a goat, a giraffe and a caterpiller. Don't forget the meerkat, the beaver and the raccoon. Such darling patterns from so many talented designers.
Book 9 of 12. Zoomigurumi 9. Fifteen more adorable patterns from the friendly horse on the cover to an anglerfish, an otter with his seashell, a sheep, and even a Gecko. From patterns that are beginner-friendly to some suitable for advanced crocheters, they are all accompanied by easy-to-follow instructions and clear illustrations.
Book 10 of 12. Zoomigurumi 10. The kangaroo and her 'joey' on the cover will keep you from resting that crochet hook. The 'zoomies' in book 10 include a feisty crab, a bouncy kangaroo, a lively squirrel, and a dainty bunny, along with a gorilla, a badger, a koala and Andy Ant!
Book 11 of 12. Zoomigurumi Endangered Animals. This is a special edition of the Zoomigurumi series featuring 15 of the wild animals on our planet that are threatened. Crochet a collection of these special animals, including a lovable giant panda, a precious monk seal, a gorgeous blue whale and a darling pangolin! There is also a mountain gorilla and her baby, a polar bear, and Cleo the Yellow-Crested Cockatoo
Book 12 of 12. Zoomigurumi Favorites. This crochet pattern book completes the Zoomigurumi series with 30 of the best-loved patterns from the other books. With Zoomigurumi Favorites. your house may transform into an entire amigurumi zoo!
Here are a few of the cute zoomigurumi animals I have crocheted from this Zoomigurumi series of crochet pattern books. My favorites, to date, are the wonderful walrus and the Giant Panda Bear. They are currently available in my Etsy Store Coastal Crochet Crafts. I DO so love to crochet and finding these darling patterns was a true delight.
*Review of the Zoomigurumi Series of crochet pattern books written by Wednesday Elf
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Readers of the book review of The Investigator here on ReviewThisReviews will remember who Letty Davenport is – the adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport from John Sandford's Prey novels.
Now Letty returns in Dark Angel, Book 2 of 2 of what I suspect will be a continuing series. Fans of the Prey series starring Lucus will be delighted with the adventures of Letty Davenport. As always, anything by John Sandford is an excellent read!
Dark Angel Synopsis
In the first Letty Davenport novel, Letty proved herself as an investigator with incredible skills with firearms. Her actions drew the attention of several branches of the US government. Thus, the Department of Homeland Security and the NSA have now tasked her with infiltrating a hacker group intent on wreaking havoc.
Letty and her reluctant partner from the NSA (Rod Baxter, a computer whiz) pose as free-spirited programmers for hire. They drive to Los Angeles, headquarters of the hacker group, and begin the process of getting accepted by the Ordinary People group in order to uncover their plans.
Come to find out, the Ordinary People hacker group are not the real enemy. It seems the Russians have ulterior motives to eliminate the hacker group who have the ability to disrupt railway travel at a time when Russia is about to invade Ukraine.
Summary
Letty and a couple friends from other government agencies become bodyguards to the Ordinary People group while the group works on the solution to hindering Russia's plans, thus putting their lives in grave danger.
An exciting new Letty Davenport novel I highly recommend.
*Book Review of Dark Angel written by Wednesday Elf
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
This granite tile is at the entrance to the Overland Park, Kansas 9/11 Memorial.
It says:
Enter the 9/11 Memorial by walking across the granite flooring from the World Trade Center.
On September 11, 2001, 2977 people lost their lives in the horrendous terrorist attacks on our nation, including 441 first responders. Many cities around the country have built 9/11 Memorials, both large and small. I recently discovered one near me located in Overland Park, Kansas ~ a southern suburb in Kansas City. It tells the story of that fateful day, and specifically honors the 343 firefighters who died that day trying to save others. It is located next to the Overland Park Fire Department Training Center. These Kansas City firefighters are the caretakers of this memorial.
Visiting there, even 22 years afterwards, brought fresh tears to my eyes as I read the educational panels telling the story of each downed flight on that tragic day.
Overland Park’s 9/11 Memorial honors those who lost their lives on September 11, remembers their sacrifices, and teaches future generations about a day we will never forget.
At the Overland Park 9/11 Memorial you will experience:
*A 14-foot, 2.5 ton steel beam from ground zero.
Steel Beam from Ground Zero
This was acquired in 2009 by application from Overland Park firefighter Trevor Miller and Capt. Paul Bishoff.
See and touch a real part of the World Trade Center, and memorialize those who are no longer with us.
*Four educational panels tell the stories of each downed flight.
Educational Panels Depicting the 9/11 Attacks
American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 846 A.M.
United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 A.M.
American Airlines Flight 77 left Dulles International Airport in D.C., bound for Los Angeles, and struck the Pentagon in Washington D.C. At 9:37 A.M.
United Flight 93 from Newark, New Jersey, which was later assumed to have been headed either to the Pentagon or the White House, was brought down in an empty field in Shanksfield, Pennslyvania by the brave passengers who refused to let the highjackers bring about any more destruction in the United States.
At 9:45 A.M., barely one hour after the first attack, US Airspace is shut down under Operation Yellow Ribbon. This operation ordered all civilian aircraft to land at the nearest airport. This Operation prevented any further attacks by aircraft from occurring.
Medallions mark the time each flight crashed
On September 11 each year, the shadow of the 14 foot artifact crosses these panels and sunlight passing through a hole in the girder which follows that diagonal line, passing over the four medallions at the time they went down.
For a complete timeline, as depicted on the stories of each of these flights, click here.
*A victim’s panel which alphabetically lists all the names of those who died on 9/11. The side of the panel states:
Victim's Panel
No Day Shall Erase You From the Memory of Time ~Virgil
*A weeping wall fountain that represents those who survived.
Weeping Wall
*Granite tiles pulled from the World Trade Center after the attacks.
"Honoring Footsteps Gone Silent"
Summary
I encourage you to seek out such 9/11 Memorials in your area and help keep the remembrance alive by helping those too young to remember to learn about the terrorist attacks that claimed thousands of lives on September 11, 2001. Because, we SHOULD Never Forget!
Remember – Honor – Educate
YouTube Video of the 9/11 Memorial @ Overland Park 9/11 Memorial.
Location:
Overland Park 9/11 Memorial is located next to the Overland Park Fire Department Training Center
+All images are personal photos taken by Wednesday Elf
*Travel Review of the Overland Park, Kansas 9/11 Memorial was written by Wednesday Elf.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Earlier I reviewed the family owned
Hen House Supermarkets
located in the Kansas City area. They are part of the Balls Food Stores
begun one hundred years ago (1923) by Sidney & Mollie Ball. These
markets have been family owned all this time, first by Sidney &
Mollie, then by their son, and now by their grandson.
Reading the story of Mollie Ball, I discovered that she was no doubt a
pioneer in the field of take-home “Grab n' Go” meals.
When World War II began, many mothers and wives began working in defense
plants and found it difficult to find time to make dinner for their
families. Mollie said
“no problem, we'll make take-home dinners for you.” Her take-home
meatloaf, in particular, became famous throughout the
neighborhood.
Today it is easy to find 'ready-made' or frozen meals at the supermarkets,
ready to cook for a quick dinner. Not so in the 1940s, but Mollie made it
happen. She was a true pioneer when it came to 'take-home' meals. Mollie
Ball was known for her generosity and for caring about the larger
community.
Her original recipe for Mollie's Meat Loaf is shared below with permission
from the
Ball Food Stores.
Mix together the bread crumbs, flour, salt, pepper, onion, paprika,
mustard and sage. Work this into the meat.
Add beaten egg to the milk and knead into the meat mixture
gradually.
Mold into a loaf and place strips of bacon over top.
Cook at 375 degrees F for 2 hours
Makes 8 servings.
Summary
The Hen House and other Balls Food Stores in Kansas City are well-known
for their locally-sourced fruits, vegetables, bakery items and meats. Their
website also has a selection of recipes for your cooking and eating
pleasure.
*Mollie Ball's Meatloaf Recipe Review is written by Wednesday Elf
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
This reviewer previously gave you book reviews of Heather Graham's Krewe of Hunters series, along with her Harrison Investigations series and the Bone Island Trilogy.
Readers of these reviews may remember that the Krewe of Hunters are a group of unusual FBI agents who are called upon when something complex (and usually paranormal) is going on. In that series, Graham was up to book #37. Voice of Fear is the latest, Number 38, in the series that involves a murder mystery, a ghost story, a history lesson, and a love story.
Synopsis of Voice of Fear
This novel takes place in Washington, DC (headquarters of the Krewe of Hunters) and surrounding Virginia countryside. It involves one of the newer members of the Krewe team, FBI Agent Jordan Wallace. Jordan is close to solving a human trafficking case she has been working on undercover. She somehow makes a rookie mistake, letting her guard down, and the mission is almost botched. Then, Patrick Law, criminal psychologist, rescues her and several collage girls about to be abducted, but most of the kidnappers get away.
Jordan feels she couldn't have made a worst first impression, especially when she is then partnered with Patrick as the case moves forward.
Patrick Law has the ability to get inside a criminal's head and has been an asset for the Krewe of Hunters team, even though he is not an FBI agent. Patrick is one of triplets. One sister works for the Krewe of Hunters team. The other one is a book editor who also has the ability to decipher the criminal mind through words and 'consults' with this special team. All three have the same strange ability to 'see' and 'talk to' ghosts.
One of the girls who had been abducted by this group of criminals who kidnap, then sell to the highest bidder, gorgeous girls, is a girl named Susie whom Law Enforcement officer 'Alfie' had been helping. Alfie is killed in the line of duty while on a previous raid before Susie can be found. Now a ghost, and friends with several Krewe members who can see and talk to him, Alfie helps with solving this human trafficking ring while also searching for Susie.
We find several scenes in the book taking place in and around cemeteries, including the one where Alfie is buried; a cemetery specific for law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty. An interesting factoid in the story tells us the difference between a graveyard and a cemetery. A graveyard grows up around a church and a cemetery is freestanding, a place specifically for the dead.
Summary
It is quite obvious that the 'love story' part of this book will occur between Jordan and Patrick as they are partnered together to solve the case. And the 'ghost' part with Alfie is fun and fascinating. It makes you wish you too could be friends with ghosts.
I liked all the characters in Voice of Fear, many of whom will be familiar to previous readers of this book series. As the newest book in the Krewe of Hunters series, it was a fun book to read and I highly recommend it to readers of this genre.
Links to Previous Reviews of Books by Heather Graham:
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
From observation of children at play, it is easy to see that kids love to
imitate the grown-ups in their lives. Thus, it is easy to see why toy
manufacturers create toys that replicate a small version of the full-sized
items adults use in their daily lives.
In the summer, two of the things parents and other adults plan and do are
picnics and backyard grilling. To that end, I thought it would be fun to
find some mini versions of these summer-themed items.
My Little Picnic Playset
For the tiniest of tots, this 5-piece playset in plush is perfect for
babies and small children. The fun and friendly play food, including buttered
toast, soft toy cherries, a rattling avocado and a toy grape juice that makes
a sound, fit inside a cute soft picnic basket that baby can carry
around.
Manufactured by Baby Gund, a leader in excellent children's toys, this play
set will keep baby engaged in sensory play while encouraging exploration and
helping develop their dexterity.
So when mom & dad are setting up the picnic table for a family picnic,
the youngest family member can enjoy being included with their very own soft
picnic playset.
One of the cutest toys I've seen in years, this BBQ Grill for kid's play
is perfect for 'little cooks' who want to copy dad doing his backyard or
camping grilling.
This particular BBQ grill is interactive, bringing realistic features to a
child's grilling experience. There is realistic smoke and sound functions
for fun pretend play. This 18-piece set comes with grilling utensils and
plates, plus a variety of food items. To add to the realistic look, the food
changes color as it switches from 'raw' to 'cooked'.
A fun toy grill that sparks a love for cooking and outdoor fun for a
complete pretend play experience.
So, for a fun summertime playtime for your children, check out these picnic
and BBQ grill playsets. Children really enjoy doing just what the adults
around them do. It's more than playtime; it's a learning experience.
*Summertime Toys for Tots Review written by Wednesday Elf
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
16 Creatures & Their Accessories to Crochet by Emilie Penou
Amigurumi is the Japanese craft of crocheting small stuffed animals and toys.
Funny Amigurumi Craft Book
This crochet craft book has 16 quirky creatures to create. Each one has a cute accessory.
These characters are portable, collectible and very giftable. They average about 4.5 inches tall, depending upon the yarn and the size crochet hook you choose to use. The author recommends a cotton yarn that is a sock/super fine weight 1 yarn used with a D hook I prefer to work in a worsted weight 4 acrylic yarn and almost always use an F hook.
Therefore, my version of the hedgehog, for instance, turned out to be 8 inches tall, about twice what the pattern in the book states. Crochet crafters will understand what I mean by preference. :)
The List of Characters in Funny Amigurumi include:
Mini Bunny and Carrot
Mini Bug and Aphid
Mini Tiger and Bow tie
Mini Fox and Mask
Mini Chicken and Cape
Dragon and Surfboard
Unicorn and Cloud
Owl and Witch Hat
Reindeer and Scarf
Frog and Crown
Hedgehog and Hairbrush
Donkey and Hat
Wolf and Broccoli
Penguin and Floatie
Sheep and Fox Blankie
Squid and Book
These patterns are fairly quick to crochet and most are good for beginners with easy-to-follow instructions. Most can be made in a day or a weekend. They are small enough to be portable for creating on the go!
Several of the characters/animals in this book are done in a similar style, with the body being sort of pear-shaped, such as the wolf and the unicorn.
There are several pages of crochet lessons at the beginning of the book. I found the lessons well worth reading and very helpful. In fact, I learned something I'd never known, even after crocheting for over 40 years.
I also really liked the fact that the individual patterns each give you specific instructions on exactly where to place the arms, legs, ears and features. Having followed many a pattern over the years, I have to tell you that having the pattern author tell you to, for instance, insert the eyes between row 18 and 19, with 15 stitches in between is invaluable. Many times I have had to look at a picture and try and figure out how many rows down the eyes or ears are placed, which naturally can be time-consuming and frustrating.
My Recent Creations from Funny Amigurumi
I loved the Hedgehog, one of my favorite animals to crochet. I got a big kick out of the Hedgehog accessory. He comes with a hairbrush, which makes sense as he will need one to comb out his 'quills'.
The quills are easy to make, but are a bit time-consuming as you cut strands of yarn, then insert the hook under a stitch, grab the middle of the yarn with the hook and pull it through the stitch. Then you grab the two tail strands of yarn and pull them through the loop on the hook. In my version, it took over 100 strands to create the quill look I wanted across the head and all the way down the back. Turned out really cute, though. :)
The Wolf was fun to make and turned out so nice. The picture in the pattern book looks like he is done in tan, but the pattern calls for gray yarn, which is what I used, since wolves are normally gray in color. The nose on the pattern appears to be embroidered in black yarn, but I have always had problems getting the embroidery to come out neatly when working on a yarn piece. Therefore, this time I came up with another idea. I simply crocheted a 6 stitch circle and sewed it onto the tip of the nose. Came out very neat, instead of the sloppy look my embroidery always gives me. LOL.
The Bunny was such a delightful plush toy to create. He reminds me of the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.
And I love the crochet carrot they included in the bunny rabbit pattern.
Such a cute accessory for a plush bunny!
Summary
So, if you are looking for a cute collection of 'funny' and fun creatures to crochet, Funny Amigurumi is a good book to have in your craft library.
If you liked the crafty critters I have featured here, but do not crochet, the Hedgehog, the Wolf, and the Bunny & his carrot shown in this review are currently available for purchase in my Etsy Store, Coastal Crochet Crafts. More will be along soon as I am busy with my crochet hook!
*Review of the Crochet Craft Book Funny Amigurumi was written by
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
