Feature: June Gilbank of Planet June

(Links in this post are affiliate link, which means I may make a tiny amount of money if you make a purchase by clicking through. I am not being compensated for a favorable review, I just really like talking about books.) 

If you've ever wanted to learn how to crochet, but weren't lucky enough to have a family member teach you, then let me introduce you to June Gilbank. She is an amazingly talented artist and one of the greatest teachers currently online.

She runs a fantastic site, Planet June, where people can learn crochet basics with clear illustrations and videos as well as find some adorable patterns.

Reaching over to my pattern shelf, I have two books by June. The first is Crochet (Idiot's Guides).

I crochet mostly on what I half-remember from what my mother taught me when I was a child, so adding this reference to my book shelf has been invaluable. It gives all the basics, clearly explained and illustrated in full-color photographs. There are also some lovely patterns included to test your new found skills. 

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi (Complete Idiot's Guides (Lifestyle Paperback)) is awesome for anyone who is looking to crochet their own amigurumi designs. The book explains how to transform a vision into crocheted doll. Some of this information you can find on the Planet June website, but I like to have a hard copy on hand while I'm working. There are also some cute patterns!

Now you have the biggest leg up to becoming an amigurumi superstar! Go forth and make your tiny crocheted army!

Patreon Patron Gift Doll

Every month I create one special doll and give it away to a random Patreon patron of mine. All of my patrons are entered into the giveaway, no matter what their pledge level. For August, I'm giving away this sweet little Kappa doll!

For those of you unfamiliar, Patreon is a new way to support the artists you love. Patrons pay as little as one dollar per month and the artist is able to work on their art with a little less fear of those mounting bills or the price of buying the supplies they need to try out new things.

Won't you consider joining? You can get behind the scenes features, coupons, a voice in my future designs, plus these awesome giveaways. Check it out!

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And for those of you wondering, YES! The Predator Moon Bun preorders are now live! Grab one quick. I am only making up to 5 dolls at this time.

Into the Bunny Mines

Are you ready for the weekend? What are you planning to do? Any fun stuff?

I'm going to be working all weekend and it's glorious! There are so many dolls, which need to be made this weekend, so I can get to more fun dolls.

So, can you do me a solid?
If you see me online fiddling around, please tell me to get to work.

Have an amazing weekend!! Thank you!!

Predator Preorders!

I'm preparing to dive into this year's 31 Amigurumi in October series and since I've been terrible about this series since having children, I'm going to be doubling up on dolls. (It will make sense in October.)

But before I disappear into the Bunny Mines to work-work-work, I'm going to take up to 5 orders of Predator Moon Buns. The listing will go live on Monday, August 28. Please be sure to follow my twitter account (@MoonsCreations) for the exact moment these limited dolls become available.

No Stitch Markers? No problem!

I'm making this post today because I've seen so many of my amigurumi friends suffering the same thing...

Missing Stitch Markers

The most often culprit for me was leaving my markers inside my dolls! haha!

In a fit of frustration, I discovered a way to mark my stitches by using yarn!
Sound like a good idea? Follow me!

Above, you can see I've made a few increases and found it's time to mark my rounds. See that long bit of yarn from the magic loop? There's our answer! Put your hook through the stitch you want marked and pull the first loop of a single crochet through.

Wrap the loose end of yarn from your magic loop around your active yarn.

Finish your single crochet. Now you have one stitch with a bit of yarn wrapped around. This is your stitch marker!

Here is a picture of the stitch marker after I've worked 3 rounds. I know right where I am! No extra tools needed.

Bonus! If you need to mark again in the same doll, simply repeat the method again with the same piece of yarn or a small scrap of yarn. (below)

I do this all the time and it saves me so much frustration from losing my little stitch markers. I hope this will help you too!

If you have questions, please feel free to leave a comment. I'm here to help!

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I've started a Patreon account!

If you're not familiar, Patreon is an innovative way to support artists and pay them for their art. Patrons pay as little as one dollar per month and the artist is able to work on their art with a little less fear of paying the bills or buying the supplies they need to try out new things.

You can also get some cool bonus features, such as entry into a monthly raffle, discounts, early access to dolls, and tutorials, similar to this one by becoming a patron. 

Please won't you take a look and maybe consider become a patron?

I'm an idiot!

Haha! Yes, I'm an idiot and you can totally quote me on that.
So wanna know why I haven't posted in forever and ever and ever?

Well it was kinda the depression, but mostly it was because I couldn't figure out how to log into my blogger account without completely logging out of my google account and yeah...

Look, I never claimed to be brilliant, except those few times I did claim brilliance, but I was talking about bunnies. It doesn't count.

Anyway, so look at me now! I'm blogging again here and I'm blogging my personal/mother life over there and life is good.

"But Marcy," you ask. "What is going on with the dolls? What about Moon's Creations?"

Well my dear little bunny lovers,
well, well, well! Let me tell you. I am working my fingers off. That's right! The dolls you see above are all new pieces from Otakon, I've sketched out not one, but two series for this October, and I will be offering preorders for a special doll to be released in September in a limited quantity.
oooh yeah!

Now, not to toot my own horn too hard, but I've also got a Patreon page now and with membership you are automatically entered into a once a month drawing for a random doll and you get a good behind the scenes looky-loo at all the goings on before they hit here. So check that out, yeah?

Alright I promise I'll post more, now that I've got the hang of this blogging thing (and the mind crippling depression has released me.) Whoo!