Ritzy Ricki: 2018

Gentle Gigi

Gigi was very much a work in progress from long before yarn touched the hook. When my niece, Erica, announced her pregnancy, we were all elated! Remember when I mentioned all the babies in the last blog post? This is the second of the group for this year. Erica has always loved hippo's and everyone knows it. She commented on one of my elephant rugs requesting a hippo rug. I prayed there would be a hippo rug on Ira Rott's website, but she did not have one yet. I didn't like any other styles I found online, so I had to get creative.

I was desperate to make this happen, but I didn't know if it was going to be possible. I let Erica know I was going to attempt something, but I couldn't make any promises. Ira did have a pattern for a hippo lovey that was so adorable. As I looked over the features, I immediately knew I would make this for her, but I still wanted to find a way to make her a rug. After all, it was kind of a trademark for me now.

I printed out the pattern and looked over the design and then it hit me. Surely, I could figure this out on my own! I glanced over all of the patterns in Ira Rott's library and decided I could modify the Eh Moose rug to create a hippopotamus rug. Easy peasy, right?!? Well.....maybe.....but I was determined, remember! My husband can attest to how many times I wasn't sure it was going to turn out right. I wanted to stop at least ten times! I stayed the course and completed her in enough time to finish both the rug and the lovey in plenty of time.

She has a quirky attitude and you can see it in her eyes. She's not perfect, but that gives her a special flair!

Now let's talk about the lovey. I have decided stuffed animals are not my specialty. But, if I stand back and look at her with the same quirkiness of the rug, I am mostly satisfied. Erica is happy, so I am happy and that's all that matters. Just don't look to close at her and you won't notice the imperfections. I know I am harder on myself than I need to be, but if I were to ever do it again, I might hope for some improvement, but I won't count on it.

Baby Genevieve will be here before we know it, she won't care if the nostrils are crooked (I mean quirky). I hope she has the same love for hippos as her momma!

For more Gigi pics, click here to see the full album.

Until next time...There is still one more creation to come this year, so keep your eyes peeled! ~RR

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Babies! Babies! Babies!

All on the way!

You know what that means!

Time for more rugs!

Baby Landon (my great-nephew) will be here in just a couple of weeks! He is scheduled to arrive at the beginning of August. We don't really think he is going to wait that long to make his appearance, but only time will tell.

Both of these ladies are my nieces and both are pregnant with boys!

When I found out Kayla was doing the nursery theme in elephants, I was beyond excited! (They just make it too easy sometimes! LOL!) I officially started on Lexington on May 6th. The shower date was set for June 23rd. I know, I know, how absolutely crazy that I get started over a month early. (49 days to be exact.) What was I ever going to do with all this time? If I just do a little a day, I will be done with time to spare. Who just laughed at that? Come on, admit it! I am pretty sure you all know exactly how this went.

Day 1 - May 6th (Officially Day 1 of 49)

So optimistic, I have a lot of time to get this done! This is so uncharacteristic of me! (Feeling very confident!)

Just getting started! May 6th

Day 2 - May 7th (Officially Day 2 of 49)

Am I really going to keep this up? I am so good! A little a day and this will be done in no time!

Progress! Let's do a little every day! May 7th

Day 3 - May 12th (Officially Day 7 of 49)

Okay, I might not be able to work every day, but at least every few days. All is well in the world. Just keep working! Taking lots of pictures to show detail. Adding the trunk and hair at the top start to make it feel real! (Still feeling amazing! I can do this!)

This picture says it all!

Day 4 - June 9th (Officially Day 35 of 49)

Time for a chat. Let's stop and talk about everything that brought this project to a halt for almost a month! First, I was finishing a class and had lots of homework. Second, I started a new job. Third, Memorial Day weekend camping trip exhausted a whole chunk of time. The shower is officially in 2 weeks! I am starting to lose my optimism. But, I will get it done!

Starting the ears!

Day 5 - June 17 (Officially Day 43 of 49)

What the heck!?! Time is not passing normally. Days are just flying by! Learning a new job is exhausting. I just don't even want to make time to crochet! (Maybe, I won't get this done in time. How about some picture and a promise to Kayla that it will be done before Landon arrives? I feel this is acceptable. - I really don't, but it is a thought that went through my mind.)

Day 6 - June 20th (Officially Day 46 of 49)

I had a renewed ambition to finish. I really wanted to show my new co-workers my creation! The shower was 3 days away and I was going on vacation the following week. I didn't think I would have another shot to show him off! I completely finished the small details and assembled him late Wednesday night. The following pictures are taken in my office on Thursday. This all caused me to be finished 3 whole days early!

I always love how much better the pictures come out when you have great fluorescent lighting flooding the room.