Contest Winners and Other Headlines

There were 49 ballots submitted! That's pretty darn cool for many reasons. Not the least of which is the fact that I was taken out of the decision-making process...Wooo Hooo!

Anyway, onto the show...



Drumroll please...

...Spaceship award goes to none other than The Shrone!

...Essay award goes to Cheryl from OUT OF THE BOX.....A Credit to my Haircolor!

Congratulations to the two new proud alien moms!

Thanks to all of the contest entrants! What an amazingly creative bunch! And can I say again how lucky I consider myself for not having to pick winners from this group? Anyway, I will be sending each of you fabuloso entrants a little thank you giftie for playing.

Everyone who entered, please email me your mailing addy when you get a chance. Cheryl and Lori, please send me alien color preference as well: pastel or blue.

Headlines from LabLinoleum

Number One Headline - Happy Blogiversary to me! Oh yes, one year ago March 31st, I decided to take the cyber plunge and foist the Vegetable Liberation Army and their kind onto the world wide webby stage. All I can say is, so far, so good. I love being a part of your 'puter filled lives, basking in the cumulative glow of your creative exploits, reading your rants and raves, dialoging from all parts of the globe. It just doesn't get much better than this! You all rock!

Number Two Headline - HUGE thank you's to everyone who left a comment about the Mixed Grill Wrap! I am overwhelmed and stunned by your commentation (yes, this is a word, ask Drew...) and continued support. I know that I said this above, but you guys rock my world!

Number Three Headline - Finally, I will be gone for a week. Oh, yes, I am taking a much needed vacation as the Cube Farm has been workin' my gray matter right down to its squishy center. Quite simply, I am spent. So, where does an overworked Cube Farm inhabitant with a penchant for hook, stick and yarnage go for a bit of rejuvenation? Two hints...There is wool and Guinness involved. Yep, I'm going to Ireland! In fact, I leave for the airport in a couple of hours! So, what the heck am I doing still sitting here at the 'puter??? I don't know! Signing off now...

Contest prizes will be sent out upon my return. Tales from Ireland are sure to come! Have a wonderful week everyone!

Mixed Grill Wrap

Who said a steak is only good for wearin' when beaten and bruised???

Well, I'm here to tell you that steaks (and other carnivorous delights) are fit for wearin' whenever you git yer kebab on! Okay, I don't really know what that means either...Whateva...

Introducing the Mixed Grill Wrap!



Modeled by my creative cohort (and fellow cube farm cell matey), Briana! And doesn't she look lovely swathed in grills, hot coals and burning flesh? Okay, said accoutrements are all made from yarn, but you get my point...

This is Monster Crochet Haute Couture I tell ya! Yes, it, is. Directly from my new Spring Line (yes, I do have a Spring Line, you're looking at it), this wrap is HOT. Pun before bun definitely intended.

Now, take a looksee at what's cookin'...

Kebabs!



Steak!



Cheeseburgers and franks!



All happily charring over hot coals of Rio de Plata...



I mean, does it get any better than this? Methinks not.

Crochet Stats-O-Rama

Yarns: Hot Coals - Rio De Plata; Everything Else - Cascade 220
Hook: H
Pattern: That's a given...

Oh yes there's so much more ahead here at Project Wrongway...Stay tuned!

Copyright 2006 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

Vote!

...In the Number One Monster Crochet Blogiversary Contest!

Awesome entries....

You are all free to gush over my webpage building speed and prowess with regard to this alien endeavor (pretty please???). Unfortunately, I've still not finished the freakin' Tomato gallery, but I will SOON! I promise!!!

Shawl Meditations

It may come as no surprise to you peeps, but your hostess with the mostess, Lady of the Linoleum is not quiet of mind nor of spirit. My cerebrum plays host to an almost daily raging and raucous par-tay where wine flows freely from the tap on the box (just kiddin’…kinda) and ideas shake their groove thangs until the wee hours of the morn. Needless to say these obnoxious idea partiers oftentimes keep me from sleep and definitely provide me with a healthy dose of sensory overload much of the time. Seriously, psychotropic drugs are not needed here, thank you very much. Timothy Francis Leary, move ova! This is your brain. This is your brain on LadyLinoleum. Ahem, I digress…

Various attempts to quell the screams of the par-tay goers and quiet my mind via traditional meditative practices basically result in me not speaking, sitting on a pillow, legs crossed, staring off into space and thinking about vegetables with beards, or how to make a crocheted spaceship give off an electrical glow, or even wonder whether two mermaid bodies chopped off at the waist, torsos discarded, then pushed back together at the waist would make a good shawl…um, yeah. However, all is not lost because recently I found a meditation that seems to work for moi, effectively shutting down the idea ravers continual confabulations, gray matter staid, psyche soothed.

What is my meditative masque inquiring minds want to know? Makin’ shawls. Yes, you heard me correctly. Making shawls is akin to a trip to a day spa for my mind. I like to knit ‘em and crochet ‘em. The more complex the pattern the better, whether it be my own or someone else’s. Making shawls is immersion therapy for my addled mind. And folks, I am hooked. Can you tell? Totally strung out on these fantastic fibrous wonders, happily channeling my Inner Granny.

First, I made this lovely bat-wing inspired little diddy using a free pattern from Elann (pic from Elann's site).



Mine is a stashbuster made from four hanks of black Cascade 220 (legacy from a paranoid purchase that consisted of double digit amounts of black Cascade 220, hey, you just never know about store supply levels and I need to have black wool around...save yer judgments...I've seen your stashes posted on yer blogs). At any rate it's a lovely and warm retro goth kind of item, imho.

Next up was a crocheted wrap which I will unveil in another post. It is a vintage Monster Crochet design which is sure to delight. Stay tuned for that one!

After completing those two projects I was in need of more shawl eye candy to tempt my needles to clicking so I purchased this book, which I LOVE and HIGHLY RECOMMEND if you find yourself in need of some knitted wrappage and want gorgeous patterns that levitate above and beyond the norm.



My future shawl making efforts will also lead me to explore this pattern and this one as well as a few that I plan to design myself.

So here I sit, completely content, quietly contemplating but not frantically cogitating, working hook and needle through the loops, breathing rhythmic, the world receding...life is good.

Alien Contest - Extended Deadline!

Extended Deadline - All Entries Due Friday (3/17)...

Unbelievable as it may seem, I will have been blogging for a year come March 31st. When I embarked upon this journey by setting up shop with this here little ole green bloggy, I'd no idea that anyone would (i) read my musings and look at my nutty crocheted creations, and/or (ii) enjoy them for that matter! I also had absolutely no idea that blogging would be such an effective vehicle for which to meet other crafty cohorts, who have, in short, changed my life. Yes, that means you! All of you. And yes, though I have a flare for the dramatic, I am not employing this skill at the moment. I mean it. You guys are awesome! Totally supportive, always have the ability to make me laugh and you inspire me with your incredible creative endeavors and zest for making. Crafty bloggers are the best!

So, in order to celebrate my Blogiversary in a style befitting Monster Crochet and at the same time pay homage to all those that actually read and interact with my little corner of the asylum, I think a contest is in order.

C'mon it'll be good. I promise!

First and foremost let talk PRIZES!

If you play, you have a chance to win a five foot tall blue crocheted alien!



Or a five foot tall pastel crocheted alien!



Okay, these alien dudes (or dudettes, winner may determine sex) are HUGE and their necks are a bit floppy, but hey, they'd look great reclining on your bed or sofa! And if you are lucky enough to win the right of alien companionship, you will own a very limited edition Monster Crochet creature as I only made two of these and you're looking at 'em!

You know you want an alien....I know you want an alien...Reach for the stars (pun intended) and seize the need for a little extraterrestrial action!

Two ways to play!

1. Write a story as to how these aliens ended up in your home.

OR

2. Create an alien spacecraft (your choice of materials, must be three-dimensional).

Submit your entries to me via email as follows:

Title email: Monster Crochet Contest - [Spacecraft or Essay]

Body of email should include:

1. your name and blog/website name and address (if you own one).

2. Either essay text OR name and pic of spacecraft along with any relevant spacecraft information (i.e., mediums, processes, miscellaneous stats). If submitting spacecraft please make sure that picture resolution does not to exceed 96 dpi/300 x 300 pixels.

* Ship does not have to be to scale! But if you feel you need to create a ship large enough to fill your entire living room, who am I to say no...*

3. Please let me know if you would allow me to post your entry on my website as I would like to show off your creative endeavors!

You may submit one entry per category. However, each contestant may enter both the essay and spacecraft categories simultaneously (max 2 entries per person).

All contest entries must be received by March 15, 2006.

Voting will be open to the public.

Winners will be announced on March 25, 2006.

Have fun!

Any lingering questions? Email me.

Hurley Mato

All Hurley wanted was a little R&R. He was fed up. Tomato Fight Night Club ("TFNC") was testing his last little stem. Originally, Hurley joined TFNC in order to give his impoverished self-esteem a boost. Unfortunately most of the Tomatoes in TFNC were a couple seeds short of a fully ripened fruit. Surely, Hurley has issues with anger, but he's FAR from crazy. In fact, Hurley is one tough Mato.

Horribly disfigured from birth, having emerged from the vine with two eyes, not one like the rest of his red brethren, but two, and a tuft of curly human-like locks, the young plump-ette was ostracized by seed and fully ripened Mato alike all of his life. In spite of this adversity Hurley ripened. He ripened with issues, but ripened nonetheless, and in the process of ripening with issues sought many avenues for which to calm his Inner-Mato chaos and anger. TFNC seemed the answer to his prayers upon first encounter. He could surely work out his aggressions and self-loathing, hopefully gaining a little respect, for a change, in the process! Unfortunately, Hurley didn't take into account that the other MatoMembers of TFNC might have more serious issues than his own.

Once again, Hurley's life is mired in trial and tribulation. He cannot even take a vacation without becoming one of only a few survivors of a downed airliner, hopelessly LOST on a island God only knows where! At least his fellow survivors haven't said anything derogatory about his pair of eyes...


Crochet Stats
Yarn: Good Ole Red Heart Super Saver
Hook: G
Pattern: Monster Crochet Psychotic Tomato Pattern

I still have a lot of He and She-Matoes to add to the gallery peeps! I am also making my way through all of my emails and comments, which keep me sane at the Cube Farm I can assure you. Thanks to all for being so kind and patient with me!

Copyright 2006 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

The Origins Of The DudePire

Go over to Whip Up and revel in my DrewFest...

Princess Leah Leia O'Lantern

Unfortunately for the kids next door, Gordy and Geordy Gourd, Leah O'Lantern Princess Leia O'Lantern has watched Star Wars one too many times.

When Leah approached the Brothers Gourd about coming over to her patch to play Star Wars, neither Cucurbitaceae youngster envisioned becoming buns on the side of a wig! No, the boys were thinking wookies or storm troopers or something a bit more, um, interactive...With blasters! After all, boys will be boys, even ones of the squash variety. Face it, role playing donuts on a wig just isn't manly.

Humiliated but much the wiser, Gordy and Geordy Gourd now hide under the soil when they see Leah heading over to their patch to inquire if they're available for a play date...

Crochet Stats

Pattern: Monster Crochet O'Lantern Pattern (To be released eventually...)

Yarn: Koigu KPPPM (This is my new favorite fiber!)

Hook: C2

Miscellaneous: My daughter wants Gordy (dark green eyes) very badly. So much so that I had to hide the little gourd so that she wouldn't abscond with him before photographing!

Copyright 2006 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

I'm a Whine-O

As many of you may or may not know, I toil away at what I affectionately refer to as "my day job" (aka The Cube Farm) for nine hours each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday hoping to earn enough dollars to (i) pay my mortgage, (ii) put food on the table, (iii) keep clothes on the backs of my husband and child and (iv) buy more yarn. For the last five years I've done my daily duty and mostly escaped the current work-induced ailment that began plaguing me relentlessly very recently, Brain Fry.

Brain Fry is a terrible condition that results in an inability to think clearly due to nine hours of daily spreadsheet trauma. Until recently, my position at The Cube Farm had an ebb and a flow, Brain Fry setting in around the holidays and subsiding around the first of the year. Previous to this current constant and consistent Brain Fry and during my down time at The Farm, I was able to answer personal emails, blog a little and of course, read about what's happening out there in the blogosphere. Not. Any. More. Folks, I am literally buried. Buried under spreadsheets, projects, reams of paper for which some unsuspecting tree gave it's life in sacrifice to the Office God...Needless to say, I am just too exhausted after returning home from The Farm to even turn on the 'puter and catch up with you all. In short, my life sucks right now. I know, I'm being a Whine-O. Whateva. Whining is one way that I massage my bedraggled creative self.

Sometimes though, whining is just not enough to soothe this agitated chickadee. So how does one LadyLinoleum soothe her tortured and twisted soul upon emergence from the depths of her paper-lined crypt each day? Fluff up her flattened creativity? Rehydrate her cremated gray matter? She unearths all of her patterns and surrounds herself with needles and hooks. She drags out all of her crafty texts and attempts new processes for her brain is still capable of following directions, yet unable to jump-start the muse. LadyLinoleum may be running on empty, but she's still got a quarter of a tank left to get home so she keeps her fingers moving.

In short, the daily spreadsheet drama creates inhospitable conditions for the emergence of new Monster Crochet creatures, but conditions are suitable for knitted wardrobe expansion. In light of this situation, I bring you two FO's:

A pair of fabulous fingerless gloves courtesy of my size one dpns and a pattern from Holiday Knits...



And Bobbilicious...



...From which I reaffirmed that I have an aversion to chunky yarn. Yes peeps, I admit it. I cannot stand working with large fibers. The good news is this means more for you for I am a thread-head at the core of my being. And so it goes.

Okay, back to whimpering whine-O mode. Please peeps bear with me during this time of burial beneath paper. I am s-l-o-w-l-y making my way through the blogosphere to visit you all. I am attempting to answer emails whenever humanly possible. And I am fighting to get my work-life back into a routine so that this issue is NO MORE. Please hang with me...this is a rough patch and I will prevail to crochet creatures again!

Tomatoes From The Edge

Oh yeah, the tomato images and stories are rolling in! The one up above was created by Tampa Doll from the 'Ville. He's hot, don't ya think? If I were a Mato, I'd wanna squish up against him. Ahem, this is supposed to be G-rated. Sorry!

Go here to take a look at the gallery so far. I still have to post the individual tales, but I think it's coming along quite well.

You guys are making some wonderful Matoes!

Please remember to email me with your tomato image and story if you'd like to be immortalized in the Monster Crochet Tomato Gallery!

What Issues?

Now, I'm not one to complain. Who am I kidding. I complain all the time! However, this time I feel that my vocal vexation is completely justified.

Exhibit A

A gift of very cool vintage knit mags from a phenomenal blog buddy, Jessica! Thank you girlie! Actually, I used to own that issue of Vogue Knitting which went MIA at the time I relocated abroad. So needless to say, I am very happy to have that particular issue in my possession again for one cannot have enough magical mohair patterns in one's collection, IMHO.



Exhibit B

Courtesy of the United States Postal Service, I give you the mailing apparatus...



Notice the haphazard plastic sheathing combined oh so delicately with THE OFFICIAL USPS TAPE? Yeah well, what you cannot see in the photograph is the carefully sliced top of the envelope from which some faboo federal employee extracted more than half of the envelope's contents. However, thankfully leaving me something, anything of my gift intact, said faboo federal employee then considerately wrapped up the diminished contents for a not so safe delivery to its final destination, my UPS Store mailbox.

Are you kidding me??? Well, LadyLinoleum, apparently not. Who knew that a vintage book of crocheted cacti among other very cool vintage pattern book gems would be such a hit with our local postal consortium? Yeah, so much of a blockbuster that there is no longer even a need to cover up blatant postal theft? Ooops, you mean you never received the package at all??? So sorry ma'am. Fill out this form and we'll forward it to the Postal Inspector for you right away... Naaahhh! Just take that crocheted cacti booklet and other vintage pattern book gems right outta there, seal that puppy back up and ship it on its way! That chick'll never notice...The plastic wrap is transparent right?

I wonder if the postal worker with a penchant for crocheted cacti is one and the same as the individual who is planning to open a DVD rental store down the street stocked entirely with MY myriad missing Netflix shipments? Oh yeah, it's that bad over here in the postal code by the sea...

Fortunately, this gift did arrive safe and unharmed from none other than The Crochet Dude!



And yes, I will proudly admit that I have worn this bee-you-ti-ful example of fantastic fiber so often that my co-workers are wondering if I actually own any other articles of clothing besides this wondrously wooly extravaganza. They're just jealous...

Finally, another thankful refugee from the Planet Mail Fraud...



A fabulous eBay find! Oh yeah, circus characters constructed entirely from granny squares! And made entirely from Aunt Lydia's rug yarn no less...

In the words of my friend Ellen, "Granny squares are the building blocks of fashion." Or a strange rug yarn three ring circus at any rate...

Norman Batesmato

Ahhh yes, time for another Psychotic Tomato to join the Monster Crochet fold.

Meet Norman Batesmato!

Average small motel proprietor by day (proud owner of the Batesmato Motel). Green, psychotic, wig-donning, mother-channeling Tomato by night!

Norman is aware that he's got issues for he blacks out several hours per night several times a week. In an effort to seek answers to his conundrum, Norman has been to endless hours of psychotherapy, subjected himself to a battery of psychological tests and MRI's and even tried taking sleeping pills only to find himself again, awakened somewhere on the motel grounds, dirty, disheveled, wearing a wig that looks distinctly like the one his mother wore in her golden years while sporting an ax as a hairpin, confronted by yet another disappearance of one of the motel's guests. Very curious indeed.

Norman is determined to find others who suffer from a plight similar to his in the hopes that he can gain an understanding of his disturbing affliction. So far he's only been able to find one other Tomato interested in speaking with him and he has a meeting scheduled with this Tomato, Professor Rojo, at a local coffee shop on Tuesday...

Speaking of Professor Rojo...He is looking for new recruits and wants to open up Psychotic Tomato production to all! So, go here to print out your FREE Monster Crochet Psychotic Tomato Pattern and get started. Then, send me a pic of your Tomato Terrorist and a short description so that I can post all of the Terribly Twisted Tomato Recruits together on their own page. It'll be fun and I will link back to you so that you can take full credit for your Tough Tomato Creation!

Copyright 2006 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

Floored, Linoleum Floored

I am floored.

One of my SNB buds, Ellen of L.A. Is My Beat (FABULOUS blog that I highly recommend, btw), left me a voicemail last Saturday, which I didn't listen to until yesterday due to self-imposed hermit status (don't ask...long, sordid and ultimately LAME) about a certain someone's blog (yours truly) having been mentioned in the current issue of Vogue Knitting's Knit 1 magazine.

I almost dropped the phone. Are you kidding me???

Apparently not. And not only did author, Kim Piper Werker of Crochetme fame, mention moi, but she also mentioned Jessica's brainchild, Amigurumi-Along and Roxy Craft!

All I have to say to Kim is, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

And if this news wasn't enough to send me into outer orbit, Linda Scharf of CrochetLab fame wrote a very interesting article for Supernaturale about the vibrancy of today's crochet where she also mentions moi, Amigurumi-Along and Camilla Engman among others. How cool is that???

I am stunned AND floored or stunned on the floor. Anyway, you get my drift.

Thanks to everyone who purchased the Jellyfish pattern! I am so excited! Next pattern will be a freebie and I hope to have it done this weekend. Wooo Hooo!

Stay tuned.

Jellyfish Pattern!

It's big! Blue! And hairy! Oh, and it's of the sea...Mohair Jellyfish!



Mohair Jelly is special. Why, you might ask? Mohair Jelly was my pattern-testing guinea pig, um, I mean Jellyfish. Yep, I've done it! Finally finished a freakin' pattern! I know, I know, I deserve heaps of ridicule for my pattern authoring sloth. Whateva.

Anyway, I'm offering this particular pattern for sale (because it was a HUGE pain in the tush to write up), but have no fear it's cheap. I'd buy it! Okay, okay, not a good example.

Just look at how perty....



C'mon you know you want to give your hook a spin on this baby, I mean Jelly. You may purchase the pattern here...Free surprise pattern thrown in to sweeten the deal!

StyleMonger

Okay, no comments about the flash induced red-eye and lack of eye makeup PLEASE!

So, I give you my first FO from the Vintage Hat CAL, thank you very much. This groovy Gloria Swansoneque turbo turban was easy as pie to crochet. Literally it was a 37" by 7" strip of stripe-age. I thought to myself while working this fuzzy puppy up, "Self, this is going to work up in no time, piece o' cake, um, err, pie!" Well, the crocheting part was simple...However, ask me how many times I wrapped this thing on my head before finally pinning it into place to sew. C'mon I dare ya...

Let's just say I stood in the mirror for at least an hour the first night I attempted the wrap-age that resulted in me looking like a drunken version of the genie in Disney's Aladdin. The second night of wrapdown resulted in the configuration you see above. I still have issues with it, but thankfully, my issues are not detectable to anyone I modeled this turbo turban for. So, I am hailing the project a success and moving onto the flower encrusted muff and headband. Yee haw!

I finished another wearable this weekend as well. Yep, that's two FO's for moi in addition to cleaning my home and hosting a birthday extravaganza for my offspring. Neener, neener, neeee-ner...



Tackled the Vogue Knitting cover sweater above substituting Rio de Plata handspun for the yarn-age the pattern called for. Come to think of it, I rarely use the yarn called for in any given pattern. This means I always, always swatch. Call it a substitution occupational hazard. At any rate here's my very colorful version of the VK beauty pictured above, shown below:



And here's the $13 button I attached to the back (yes, I spent $13 on ONE button and just look at how bee-you-ti-ful it 'tis...worth each and every of the 1300 pennies I shelled forth):



Not a bad weekend. Finished some fun items and had a wonderful birthday celebration for my lovely daughter. It doesn't get much better than that!

Oh and speaking of Lena's birthday, she wanted me to let you all know that she was so touched by your wonderful birthday wishes. She actually teared up (as did I) upon reading your lovely sentiments. As always, you guys are really wonderful. My deepest heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you! Smooches all around!

Happy Birthday Lena!

This Sunday we will celebrate 13 years of her life. Magdalena, or Lena as she is called, is as gorgeous as she is goofy, as comedic as she is compassionate, as wise as she is playful, a creative mind to be reckoned with.

This daughter of my soul has been my artful companion since her conception. Always by my side in body and spirit, Lena accompanied me to my studio as a grad student and later to my classes where I would teach the art of making, the pair of us day-trippin’ through the fields of squishy paint flowers touching the creative recesses of hearts and minds in our midst. Looking back, I now know that this child of mine was taking everything in. She inhaled every word, every image, every drop of paint, every particle of graphite, every pinch of clay, yes, every fiber of yarn, every shred of dialog, every moment infused with blossoming creativity as if myriad seeds planted directly into the core of her being. And the seeds took root. And sprouted stems and leaves and flowers and more seeds…Whether nurture or nature, though I’d hazard a guess that both play a part, Magdalena is the most amazing creative mind I’ve ever had the privilege to meet, and this is not just proud mom speak. Take a look at the art that this child creates:


Sculpey monster.


Purplish bag of her own design.


Yes, it is lined.

Green clutch of her own design.

Also lined.

Above she sports a scarf and headband of her own design.

My beloved Lena is astounding to me. She is unceasingly inspirational. Her lovely smile, sweet laughter and abundance of creative energy are a daily reminder of my purpose on the planet.

Happy Birthday Magdalena Rae! I love you from the deepest recesses of my soul to the tips of my fingers and toes!

Whip Up

Have you heard the news? There's a new collaborative crafty blog out there and it's not to be missed!

Why? Well, the creme de la creme of crafty blogdom will be populating the virtual pages with tips, tricks, profiles, ideas galore and tons of good ole crafty goodness. Just look at this A-List of contributors: Alison, Amy, Betsy, Camilla, Claire, Jane, Kathreen, Laural, Lisa, Lyn, Maitreya, Maria, Nichola, Nicole, and little ole me (your resident A-List wannabe).

This brainchild of Kath is sure to be a hit so grab a button and stroll on over there!

Robert J. Beet

Meet the Beet at the VLA Recruiting Office:



Mr. Beet joins Vegetable Liberation Army Headquarters as Administrative Head of its Recruiting Office. He brings a wealth of experience to the VLA's growing administrative ranks including his prior status as Head File Clerk in the US offices of the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers, Important Document Shredding Coordinator at The Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association and Executive Vice-President and National Head of Document Rotation at Beet, Tuber & Rootensky, LLP. Robert was also named World Champion Spreadsheet Jockey in 2002, 2003 and 2004, loves to watch US Congressional Session reruns on CSPAN and he's Celine Dion's biggest fan! Please join us in welcoming Mr. Robert J. Beet to VLA HQ!

Doesn't he look smashing in his hat?



Copyright 2006 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

Small, Medium, Large & X-Large News!

Before the x-large news, some small, medium and fairly large business items need attending to...


Okay so I missed Snowflake Monday by one day. It's not a crime! Anyway, here are thready masterpieces five and six presented to all in their unblocked glory...



I know, I know, it's Tuesday. I haven't blocked 'em. I'm a flake (pun intended). Nuff said...

Now, three HUGE thank you's to go out that are definitely overdue!

First one goes to Rose for giving Chad his relocation papers. We here at ChezLinoleum are so excited to have him as we don't have much Gourd representation in the VLA. All of the Produce welcomed him with open leaves.



Here he is, bags of stuff unpacked, waiting for the onset of Holiday Season '06 so his hat and Santa toy look a bit more apropos. Despite the Gourd's garb he still managed to find a girlfriend. Elspeth finds him attractive, if just a wee bit eccentric.

Second thank you goes to Mimi for Big Man!



Isn't he fabulous? And he looks quite at home in my favorite chair does he not? I'm in love...

Lastly, but not leastly thank you for the shroom Angharad!



Carnivorous Carrots has taken this little guy under their tops in an effort to research suitable eyeball donors. We'll keep you apprised of current developments with this situation as they arise.

I almost forgot! A fourth thank you needs to go out to the blogosphere...To each and every one of you who has left comments and sent me emails (even the ones that needle me about getting my patterns together), I thank you from the bottom of my yarn-encrusted heart. You guys are wonderful and your unwavering support and continual feedback really has touched me deeply. Smooches all around!

Okay now for the x-large news!

I've been interviewed! Yes, I, have! And here's the best part, you can download it and listen to me prattle on, and on, and yes, on, about my crafty pursuits. Jennifer (the brilliant mind behind this project) assured me that I don't sound too dork extraordinaire. So that's good, right? Anyway, you be the judge. And if you think I sound like a craft-tard, well, just keep it to yourself. I won't mind....

Go visit Jennifer at the Craft Sanity site and say hola!




Link to Podcast here! You must have iTunes to download.

Crabius Maximus

Here's the newest seafaring creature to grace the halls and NOT the kitchen of LabLinoleum, Crabius Maximus!



This crab is definitely king, sporting 600 yards of single crocheted Cascade 220 and measuring about 30 inches in diameter (tip of claw to tip of claw). He's constructed in two parts (top shell, and underside with appendages) which are sewn together upon completion.



Building on the lessons learned regarding segmented crocheted scorpion claws, I was able to perfect the process while practicing on this guy's ten appendages.



I think there may some themed crabs in the future...

As such, this pattern is definitely one I will build upon in creatures to come.

Speaking of patterns, I am in the final stages of pattern testing the jellyfish. So folks, get your hooks and your Koigu ready for action!

Copyright 2006 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.