keep calm and crochet Bower Birds!

There’s been so many exciting bloggy things lately that I don’t know where to start, so I’ll start with the bit you might be wondering about. Yes, I did change my blog theme, and it took a few hours of constant rearranging to get everything in the right place. I’ll still be tweaking and changing stuff, so if it looks a bit weird that’s why. I think this theme will be better in the long run since it’s not as cluttered. I’d love to know what you think of it – it’s the ‘Oxygen’ WordPress theme.

And for the news I’m probably way too excited about: we hit 100,000 views! 🙂 I kept refreshing my stats, wanting to see it, but this is the closest I got:

Okay, let’s get to the crochet part of this post, then. I’m sure you fellow Attic24 followers know what’s going on, but I’ll elaborate a bit for those who don’t. Almost two years ago, Lucy posted about her French Bower Bird that she made while in Provence, France (*imagines crocheting in France and sighs contentedly*), and they were so cute I knew I wanted to make one. So I, like hundreds of other crocheters, eagerly awaited the pattern.

Well, I am not a patient person, and eventually I was too excited to wait any longer (insert guilty look here.) So I scrutinized the pictures on the original post and slowly figured out a pattern – maybe not the exact pattern, but one that was close.

Enough talk, more pictures! This gray bird, Florence, is the first one I made.

I made two more later because you really can’t just make one. (I’m warning you! They’re like Granny Roses! You can’t just make one, and woe betide you if you have schoolwork or housework or chores to do, because it makes no difference.)

This one was actually inspired by the cover of The Fault in Our Stars, with the two-different-colored wings and bright blue body. Oooh, I wonder if I should make a Mockingjay too!

This was the most recent one I made, the only one with decorative stitching. I’ve discovered I really like doing the stitching and I think it makes the birds look a lot better, so I’ll definitely be doing it from now on.

Embroidery is a lot easier with yarn than thread! I think the tail stitching is my favorite part. 🙂

Wouldn’t you know, Lucy posted the pattern right after I had crocheted the third bird. It’s a beautiful tutorial, so easy to follow and very well written, as her tutorials always are. (HERE‘s the link.) I’m so, so excited and know I will most assuredly be making more Bower Birds…they’re my favorite thing to crochet right now. My version of the pattern had a few things that didn’t work, so I’m very relieved to have Lucy’s tutorial to follow. 🙂

Now I ask you, lovely followers – what fantastic things have you been crocheting (or making) lately? Also, I’d love to know what you think of my new theme…it will take some getting used to, I’m sure. 🙂 I hope you all have a wonderful day, I’ll be back soon!