CraftyisCool Mini Series!

In the interest of saving time, checking things off my to-do list, and branching out into “simpler” territory, I decided to design a new series of dolls, the CraftyisCool Minis! Don’t get me wrong. I really prefer making larger dolls like I’ve always done because of all the little details I can fit in. It’s not that they are even all that large, but they do have more parts and take a little more time than your average Amigurumi Monster.

It was about a week before the new season of Breaking Bad premiered and I had really wanted to make a set of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman to celebrate it. I didn’t think I’d have time to make the dolls, write the pattern, proofread the pattern, and then publish it before the show premiered. I decided to shrink my normal design into a cute little version, about 4″ tall.

Breaking Bad Amigurumi Minis

Little Walt and Jesse each have a hat, hazmat jumpsuit and tiny bag of crystal. I wrote a pattern to combine the two dolls, and really, they don’t take too long to make. The doll is mostly one piece from head to foot, with added arms. Lots of little details added make them recognizable, I think.

Where’s my gas mask?!

In his underwear, yo!

The blue stuff!

I was lucky enough that BoingBoing did a piece on the dolls and word got around. I’d love to hear from Bryan Cranston and/or Aaron Paul and send them their own sets! (So hey, anyone reading that can make that happen, yeah that would be awesome… 😉 )

Not long after I made the Breaking Bad dolls, my husband and I went to see Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom. LOVED. I’ve always been a fan of Wes Anderson movies. A friend of mine and I used to ask potential dates if they liked the movie Rushmore. It was a gauge of how compatible we were with that person. If he said, “Love it!”, check! If he said “Never seen it!”, potential was still there. If he said, “I don’t get it!/Not funny!”, deal breaker! In hindsight I guess that was pretty shallow, but it was a pretty good test! My friend’s potential partner hadn’t ever seen it so we scheduled a “screening.” The whole time he just had this puzzled “huh?” look on his face. It didn’t work out between them.

During Moonrise Kingdom there is a scene where the two leads, Suzy and Sam, get married and walk in slow motion out of a little chapel. As they were walking I leaned over and told my husband (sorry for talking during the movie, Alamo!), “I have to make dolls of them!” The next day I made these little guys.

Moonrise Kingdom Amigurumi Minis

If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll recognize Suzy’s blue eyeshadow and portable record player and Sam’s coonskin cap and glasses. Suzy’s record player snaps open and the record is removable. Sam is wearing his late mother’s pearl and gold brooch and a felt raccoon Khaki Scout badge.

Sam and his badges

Suzy, record player and binoculars

 What I love about these Minis is the quick turnaround time, the fewer pieces to assemble, and their overall cute factor. It enables me to do something trendy and of-the-moment without investing a huge chunk of time (a few days from start to finish, pattern and all, versus up to two weeks for larger dolls and patterns). I’m not sure who will be next in this Mini-series. Any suggestions? I’d love to hear them!

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